We will make a film and will develop educational materials that draw attention on poverty and environmental degradation in Colombia's largely forgotten Choco region. The film will show exclusive images of the hard reality of the Atrato together with portraying those who live along the river and are confronted with the environmental and violent social realities of the region. The project will be led by acclaimed artists and environmentalists and its results will be widely disseminated.
Predominantly afro-Colombian, Choco is the poorest region of Colombia. Surrounded by lavish rainforest, its rivers constitute the lifeline for local communities. But they also bring violence. With the Colombian government largely absent, communities have long been controlled by paramilitary and guerrilla groups. They also bring pollution. Illegal gold and platinum mining and deforestation lead to high levels of mercury and reduction of fish stocks. Very few people know about these realities.
SINFONIA TROPICO, a Colombian non-governmental organization, has brought together a group of acclaimed artists and scientists to develop a set of visual, acoustic and educative materials that draw attention on this largely forgotten region of Colombia. The group will make a film, compose music and produce a set of information materials that can be shown in Colombia and abroad, and that will be widely disseminated via the Internet and social media.
Using the arts, we will raise awareness about the ecological relevance of the area and its unique biodiversity. The film, music and materials will be widely disseminated by Sinfonia Tropico's team, advisors and media partners. It aims at bringing attention to the problems of the people and rivers of the Choco, pushing for implementing and enforcing environmental regulation, involving into the national post-conflict dialogue.
