Frack fight risks Colombian activists discuss harmful practices of companies By LINA CHUNG his human rights activist’s hope for the future is that his son and daughter will grow up in a more peaceful Colom- bia. Ivan Madero is one of three Colombian human rights activ- ists who were invited to come to Langara College on Nov. 6 to talk about their country’s recent political history and the Canadian resource companies that want to conduct hydraulic fracking in Colombia. Madero, speaking through an interpreter, said he recently found out that a paramilitary leader had put a 5 million peso bounty on his head and that a grenade had been ordered to be planted in his car. “You get used to it,” Madero said. He also said that his wife and two kids understand the work he does, and it helps that they receive support from psychologists to handle the stress. Colombian lawyer Julia Figueroa has been involved in social, environ- mental and human rights causes for 20 years; she said, “it’s our life project because all we have is blood.” The Canadian resource companies who are in Colombia are doing more bad than good, Figueroa said, “their presence in our country is affecting our water, our animals, our plants, our very livelihood.” Brent Patterson is the Canadian chapter executive director of Peace Brigades International, a non- governmental human rights organi- zation, and has been accompanying the human rights activists on their Canadian tour. “Since the [2016 Colombian] peace agreement was signed, 738 human rights defend- ers have been killed,” Patterson said, “[That’s] two activists killed every week.” Patterson also said that one of the most harmful issues discussed among the Colombian activists is fracking, which is a process of blast- ing water and chemicals into the ground to retrieve petroleum and that, “it is more polluting than the regular extraction process of oil.” Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signs cease fire peace deal with government Number of overall fatalities from the previous five decades of conflict Ex-combatants killed, after peace deal SOURCE: REUTERS.COM "ae Michelle Lang (left) and then-Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk (right) pose for a photo during her journalism assignment covering the Afghanistan War a decade ago. GARY LUNN PHOTO A photo of the commemorative plaque that will be placed on the walls of Magee Secondary School in Kerrisdale, in remembrance of alumni Michelle Lang. KaisTEN HoiLioAy PHOTO Catherine Lang, Michelle's aunt, delivers a speech at the event in Magee Secondary School. «aisTEN HOLLIDAY PHOTO LANG: school commemorates the war journalist's legacy LANG'S LOVE continues from page 7 “We've always had two news- papers coming into the house, we discussed a lot of news at the time,” Sandra said. “She was very well informed, and she loved to write.” Catherine said politicians and officials, “learned to duck,” when they saw her coming. “She lambasted them on many occasions, and drew attention to the shortcomings in the delivery of healthcare in Alberta,” she said. “She worked incredibly hard, and was often the last reporter to leave the office.” Kelly Cryderman, a Globe and Mail journalist and a former colleague of Lang’s at the Calgary Herald, also reported from Afghani- stan. In an inter- view with The Forces’ work there, about telling Canadians as much as we could about what was going on a Voice, she said “We lost a loved one. world away.” Lang did a . Cryder- lot of research Canada lost a fine man said she before goin * aun remembers overseas. 5 journalist. Lang as a tena- “She met — CATHERINE LANG, MICHELLE'S AUNT cious yet kind with everyone reporter, who who had been cared about there already and peppered them with questions,” Cryderman said. “We often talked about the dangers, but we talked about the important stories too, about women, about poverty, about the Canadian Art and Sandra Lang, Michelle's parents, hold an award posthumously commemo- rating Michelle's work as a journalist. KR/STEN HOLLIDAY PHOTO accuracy and communicating the facts. “Tl never forget her sitting across from me, and her beautiful smile, and her interest in everything,” Cryder- man said. In December 2009, Lang left for Afghanistan. She had only been in the country for two weeks when the light armoured vehicle she was trav- elling in was hit by a series of impro- vised explosive devices. Lang and four Canadian soldiers were killed. Catherine Lang says the event has left an “inescapable” impact on her family. “We lost a loved one. Canada lost a fine journalist,” Catherine said. “I carry it with me all the time, as of course do all her family and friends. It comes with a sense that life is ever so fragile and that we are obliged to be vigilant in preserving it.” Michelle Lang smiles at a colleague on a tour of Afghanistan forward operat- ing bases to spread Christmas greetings to the troops. Gary LUNN PHOTO