SAVING OUR PEOPLE
By: Gabriela Castañeda Otálora 10A
For decades Colombia has lived a terrible situation of violence, due to the difference between political parties. This has consumed most of our income which has caused difficulties in our country’s progress. And although this is an extremely important matter that should be taken care of, we need to attend more urgent matters, such as Guajira’s situation. Although, you may not be well informed about the events happening in la Guajira, they are completely important to our country. I will give you a little summary:
First of all la Guajira is located at the northern most part of Colombia, it is mainly dessert and its habitants are mainly part of the indigenous tribe of “Wayuu”. It is known for being a poor region, most of all for its difficulties in obtaining resources such as food and water. The situation mentioned early is causing hundreds of deaths especially in children, which is an outrageous thing to happen in a country filled with resources.
Now you may ask why it should be our priority, when we are in the middle of a peace process. The answer is because lives matter. Our children matter most and if we do not fix the problem of inequality and if we do not demonstrate that all inhabitants of our territory have the same value, more conflict will appear in other ways. I can not imagine a mother that could bear to live in a country who lets its future die and does not even bother to provide any sort of aid.
Additionally, this problem is another proof of the mediocrity of our politicians, we have the money and the resources to solve this type of problems, but they refuse to do so. Why? Because they are more concerned with their images than for the kids that starve to death. It is also a murder to our culture because Wayuu’s are one of the few indigenous tribes left in our country and if they die their traditions die with them, killing our past.
Nevertheless, it is worthless to sit around doing absolutely nothing just judging our government. We as Colombians need to do something, because although they might be far from your house, different from your family and you might never see them, they are our people. They are Colombians as well, and even if they were not, they are humans, and that is enough reason to feel there pain and look for ways to solve it.
In conclusion, I know that our peace process is important and I do wish conflict is resolved. However, in a country such as ours where food and water are not a problem, where there are several food supplements for undernourished children it is disgraceful that kids die from hunger. Additionally, it should be a universal rule that death caused from starvation becomes a country’s number one issue, and should be resolved immediately. Finally, we need to preserve our culture and take care of our weakest members, it is impossible to do a peace treaty without resolving the matters that cause conflict. It is rather illogical to think that signing a bunch of papers will reverse the damage done to our country’s population , without realizing it is the governments lack of interest in its people that produces discomfort and it is citizens themselves who should take part in their communities and for once think about other people than themselves. So, I hope that in a not so distant future you as a citizen take part in your country’s development and do something for it.
