Across the Americas

Cacarica: July 18-August 7
San José de Apartadó: July 18-31

Executive Report
Our delegation of 17 persons has written an executive report summarizing their experiences and offering recommendations based on what they learned. If you're looking for a concise analysis of recent developments in Colombia, along with accounts of the important work of numerous human rights groups and the communities of Cacarica and San José de Apartadó, you're welcome to download this Executive report (pdf file)

Firsthand Reports
The "firsthand reports" which are linked below were written and sent back to the U.S. periodically through the course of the delegation. They will give you more flavors, sights and sounds of the group's day-to-day experiences.

•  Firsthand report #1
•  Firsthand report #2
•  Firsthand report #3
•  Firsthand report #4 (SJA group)
•  Firsthandreport #5 (SJA group)
•  Firsthand report #6 (SJA group)
•  Firsthand report #7 (Cacarica group)
•  Firsthand report #8 (Cacarica group)
•  Firsthand report #9 (Cacarica group)

organizers
Chicagoans for a Peaceful Colombia
and
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)

cosponsors
- Global Exchange
- The Greater New Orleans Green Party
- Colombia Peace Project, Los Angeles
- The U'wa Defense Project
- The Office of the Americas
- AFRODES USA
- Kentucky Interfaith Taskforce on Latin America

The communities of Cacarica, Chocó province, and San José de Apartadó, Antioquia province, have histories of courageous nonviolent resistance to the predatory violence of armed groups in Colombia’s long-running civil war. Both have declared their refusal to cooperate with the armed groups, to give them information or even sell them food. Both have lost many members by assassinations, massacres, and forced disappearances.

Both continue to face economic blockades, legal harassment, and threats of violence.

The FOR has a permanent accompaniment team living in San José de Apartadó. Chicagoans for a Peaceful Colombia has a long-standing relationship with Cacarica.