Gold, wood, religion: Threats to Colombia’s isolated indigenous peoples

Although it’s difficult to truly understand their problems, experts consulted by Mongabay Latam say they’re probably very similar to those faced by the majority of indigenous communities in the department of Amazonas, which borders Brazil to the east and Peru to the west. Robinson López, human rights coordinator for the National Organization for Indigenous People of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC by its Spanish acronym), said the Witoto, an indigenous group in the area that is in contact with the outside world, “are slowly dying” from mercury pollution left by illegal mining. He fears the same is happening to the isolated tribes.
read more... https://news.mongabay.com/2019/06/gold-wood-religion-threats-to-colombias-isolated-indigenous-peoples/?n3wsletter