the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843

CONTENTS VOL 169 NO 25 3 Editorial the Fox Report

Colombia and the cost of gold Edited by Judy Kirby; written by Rachel Seifert; additional research and interviews by Moritz Tenthoff. 4 The new gold rush 6-7 Colombia’s riches 9 Refugees in their own country 10-11 Small and endangered 12-13 Green gold: will we buy it? 14-15 Greenwashing

The Fox Report: The Fox report is the investigative arm of the Friend, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and directed by Judy Kirby.

Rachel Seifert: Rachel is a documentary filmmaker with a particular interest in international social issues. Recently she directed a featurelength documentary filmed across Latin America exposing the human costs of the War on Drugs (‘Cocaine Unwrapped’) and produced a Dispatches investigation into the treatment of children asylum seekers in the UK (‘The Kids Britain Doesn’t Want’). rachel.seifert@gmail.com

Moritz Tenthoff: Moritz works with several human rights organisations in Colombia.

Letters: Please note letters will return next week.

16 Homes for older people 17 Friends & Meetings

2

Cover image: La Toma, Colombia Photo: Damien Fellous/Libre Arbitre. See the Fox report pages 3-15.

Image right: La Toma, Colombia Photo: Damien Fellous/Libre Arbitre. See the Fox report pages 3-15.

Please note: Some names have been changed to protect people.

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Editorial

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the Friend 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Tel: 020 7663 1010 Fax: 020 7663 1182 www.thefriend.org Editor: Ian Kirk-Smith editorial@thefriend.org • Sub-editor: Trish Carn trishc@thefriend.org • Production manager: Elinor Smallman production@thefriend.org • News reporter: Symon Hill news@thefriend.org • Production/editorial assistant : Harriet Hart harriet@thefriend. org • Arts editor: Rowena Loverance arts@thefriend.org • Environment editor: Laurie Michaelis green@thefriend.org • Subscriptions officer: Penny Dunn subs@thefriend.org Tel: 020 7663 1178 • Advertisement manager: George Penaluna, Ad department, 54a Main Street, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL Tel: 01535 630230 ads@thefriend.org • Clerk of the trustees: A David Olver • ISSN: 0016-1268 The Friend Publications Limited is a registered charity, number 211649 • Printed by Headley Bros Ltd, Queens Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HH

the Friend, 24 June 2011