Coming from the township of Remolinos del Caguán, the village of La Primavera and the urban area of Cartagena del Chairá, 44 leaders met on September 24 in the community hall of the El Centro neighborhood, to participate in a new day of capacity building, which articulated faith, science, citizen participation and ethical commitment to promote the protection of the Amazonian tropical forests.
“This day will allow us to advance in knowledge to analyze the problem of deforestation in depth and understand the dynamics of the flow of moisture provided by the Amazon tropical forest through flying rivers,” said the national coordinator of IRI-Colombia, Blanca Lucía Echeverry, who began the training process, whose central axis was the care of water.
Throughout the day and with the help of three experts, the members of the local chapters of IRI-Colombia in Cartagena del Chairá, had the opportunity to reflect on the spiritual values of water; learn about the relationship between Amazon forests and the water cycle; and acquire the necessary tools to formulate and implement political advocacy strategies in favor of the forest and the defense of the vital liquid.
“It speaks to us of creation, renewal and healing; but also of the risks we face when we do not take care of the Common Home,” said the secretary general of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network, Juan Felipe Martínez, who gave the conference “Water, God’s precious gift.” During his presentation, the executive secretary of REPAM Colombia reflected on the Christian vision of this important resource, its symbolic value and the relationship between its defense and faith.
In turn, the biologist Diego Fernando Campos gave the lecture “The flying rivers of the Amazon”. The professor from the District University explained how this territory acts as a gigantic water pump that distributes moisture throughout South America, helping to stabilize the region’s climate and contributing to the well-being of millions of people.
Finally, the leaders participated in the workshop “Community and advocacy action for the care of water”, led by José Adolfo Castañeda, master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations, and Ph.D in Political and Social Sciences.
This space was divided into a practical exercise and a conference. In the first, the participants carried out a social mapping exercise to identify the main water sources in their territory and the threats they face. In the second, the expert gave the participants the conceptual tools necessary for the formulation of advocacy strategies that allow communities to influence public policies and participate in decision-making spaces that guarantee the protection of the territory.
“The defense of forests and the conservation of water are the same cause, because the life, health and well-being of our communities depend on them,” José Adolfo Castañeda.
