The report, Fuelling Fear: The human cost of biofuels in Colombia, says the South American nation’s armed forces are colluding with right-wing paramilitaries who are killing hundreds of people and displacing thousands more to facilitate plantations of palm oil as an alternative to petroleum-based energy.
It says as much as 70% of the population of Nariño’s western mountain range in south-west Colombia has been forced off its land as
paramilitaries capitalise on biofuels
The National Federation of Oil Palm Producers cites Britain as the largest importer of Colombian palm oil, with the UK buying 48.5% of
the country’s exports. Besides the rush for biofuel as renewal energy, palm oil and related products are used in margarine, crisps, pastries,
detergents, soap and toothpaste.
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