Bogota, Colombia | March 21, 2023
On March 16th, a delegation integrated by Greenwood Energy executives and Arhuaco authorities was welcomed to the Colombian National Capitol to talk about TERRɅ INITIɅTIVE and the importance of the indigenous towns to be built next to the solar plants of this project.
Since the Spanish colonization in 1500, the indigenous communities of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta have been progressively pressured to move to higher grounds to be able to preserve their culture and traditions. During the last decade, due to demographic expansion and the topographic limits presented by the mountains, indigenous people have been dealing with considerable challenges to maintain a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The Arhuaco governor for Magdalena and Guajira, Danilo Villafaña, explained during the visit how “through the construction of new traditional indigenous towns in the lower parts of Sierra Nevada, TERRɅ will help our community to make a better use of its territory, bringing relief to hundreds of people currently living in unsuitable conditions in higher lands”. Danilo was joined in his reflections by Greenwood Energy’s CEO, Guido Patrignani, the company’s Business Development Manager, Javier Reyes, the Chief Council of Arhuaco Mamus, Camilo Izquierdo, the Head of the Arhuaco department for Children, Teenagers & Women, Margarita Villafaña, Elder Arhuaco Authority from Katansama Jose Manuel Villafaña, and Arhuaco indigenous political scientist, Ati Gunnawi Viviam. To learn more about the importance of preserving the indigenous culture and lifestyle visit https://bit.ly/3JsR01Y.
During a guided tour of the 97-year-old Capitol building, Arhuaco leaders were able to share their views on Mother Earth with representatives and staff, enabling an intercultural exchange that included Q&As, indigenous blessings, and story sharing.
By the end of the day, the delegation was received by the President of the Senate, Roy Barreras, who learned more about the Arhuaco culture and the TERRɅ INITIɅTIVE, concluding that “the Mamus of Sierra Nevada deserve to return to the base of their world, as for several centuries they have been displaced up the mountain. What a good energy. How much peace and goodness”, he added. [https://bit.ly/3Fxn9Ev]
We thank the representatives and Capitol staff for their hospitality and allowing us to present this unprecedented project developed jointly by Greenwood Energy and the Arhuaco people, and special thanks to the President of the Senate for his support to TERRɅ INITIɅTIVE and the Arhuaco community.