Pacha: Defending the Land – Extractivism, conflicts, and alternatives in Latin America and the Caribbean

Ever since colonization, Latin America and the Caribbean have been in comparison to the developed countries - internationally inserted under unequal conditions. While periphery, the function of the region was to produce and to export necessary raw materials to the development of rich countries. During the consolidation of national States, this primary-exporter model of production fortified itself, and, although the transformations, the region is currently one of the main raw material exporters in the world. In this pro- cess, it is fundamental to understand the role of extractivism understood as a form of accumulation and exploration of natural resources that doesn?t consider its limits nor the sustainability of the utilized techniques. Today, Latin America and the Caribbean stand as the region of the world with more murdered land rights defenders and environmentalists. According to Global Witness, of the 197 environmentalists assassinated in the entire world in 2017, 116 have died in this region. These activists and social leaderships were assassinated for denouncing and facing governments and companies who appropriated their lands and contaminated the environment. Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru are the most affected countries in the region; nevertheless, the neighbouring States also registered different forms of violence against them. And this is only one of many extreme means utilized to silence the denouncing voices who act in defence of their land. These people face different forms of criminalization of protests, such as threats, physical and sexual violence, and aggressive legal actions. 60% of murders are related to the agribusiness and the extractivism entailed to mining activities.