A case study of the world's largest open-pit coal mine reveals the hidden costs of coal from Colombia - the effects on indigenous and Afro-Colombian villages.

The People Behind Colombian Coal: Mining, Multinationals and Human Rights, anthropologist Steve Striffler and his colleagues have assembled reports on the impact of the Cerrejon mine, located in northern Colombia. The expansion of the Cerrejon mine has led to the forced displacement of indigenous Wayuu and Afro-Colombian communities.

The Wayuu, indigenous inhabitants for hundreds of years, had retained autonomy while their region remained undeveloped. Although it is a large and complex tribal group, the Wayuu have no centralized political power, which has made it difficult for them to confront external pressures.

The book includes socio-cultural and environmental studies, human rights and health reports, and accounts of international support by nonprofit, environmental and religious organizations. English- and Spanish-language editions of the book are available.

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