Chiquita Brands was initially the United Fruit Company, famous in Colombia for the massacre of workers in 1928 in Cienaga. Chiquita Brands International is now a leading international marketer and distributor of fresh food and related products. It is one of the largest banana distributors in the world and it has been operating in Colombia since last century. National and International labour, environmental and human rights protection advocates have denounced Chiquita Brands for its environmental, social and health impacts caused by the violation of the basic rights of banana plantations workers and the financing of paramilitary groups in order to suppress protest. Forjando Futuro is a foundation helping those dispossed. In 2012 it announced that there was an estimate of 19.5 USD million that Chiquita has paid paramilitary groups un Uraba but that the true figure acknowledged by the paramilitary themselves was 40 USD million. Among the paramilitary forces, the AUC, a terrorist group, was paid too by Chiquita Brands. There were several court cases opened in the United States and in Colombia against Chiquita Brands. |
Chiquita Brands enjoys impunity in spite of the fact it has been proved it has repeatedly remunerated paramilitary forces oppressing the local population.
| Name | Chiquita Brands, Colombia |
| Country | Colombia |
| Province | Antioquia and Magdalena |
| Site | Uraba |
| Accuracy of Location | MEDIUM regional level |
| Type of Conflict (1st level) | Biomass and Land Conflicts (Forests, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Management) |
| Type of Conflict (2nd level) | Land acquisition conflicts Plantation conflicts (incl. Pulp Military installations |
| Specific Commodities | Water Land Fruits and Vegetables |
| Project Area (in hectares) | 17000 |
| Type of Population | Unknown |
| Start Date | 28/11/2012 |
| Company Names or State Enterprises | Chiquita Brands International |
| Relevant government actors | Government of Colombia;, Armed Forces; |
| International and Financial Institutions | Organization of American States (OAS) European Union (EU) |
| Environmental justice organisations and other supporters | Lawyers collective “José Alvear Restrepo” (CCAJAR), Corporación Jurídica Libertad (CJL), Rainforest Alliance - USA, Fundación Ambio de Costa Rica, Tsuli Tsuli/Adubon - Colombia, Earth Right Internacional, Peuples Solidaires, Fundación Forjando Futuros |
| Intensity of Conflict (at highest level) | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| When did the mobilization begin | UNKNOWN |
| Groups Mobilizing | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Informal workers International ejos Local ejos Landless peasants Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions |
| Forms of Mobilization | Boycotts of official procedures/non-participation in official processes Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Street protest/marches Strikes Boycotts of companies-products |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Genetic contamination, Global warming, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Waste overflow, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion Potential: Air pollution, Desertification/Drought |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..) , Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases Potential: Malnutrition, Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Health problems related to alcoholism, prostitution |
| Socio-economic Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Increase in violence and crime, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Pathways for conflict outcome / response | Corruption Criminalization of activists Deaths Court decision (failure for environmental justice) Repression Application of existing regulations |
| Development of Alternatives | Indemnities for displacement by paramilitary groups paid for by Chuqita, workers also demand a decent salary. They are desperate about the stop of the use of pesticides in the cropping fields. They also want their land back, they don t want to continue being displaced. |
| Do you consider this as a success? | No |
| Why? Explain briefly. | Although these violations have led to judicial activism, no relevant court decisions have been given yet in favor of the affected population. |
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| Contributor | Lucie Greyl & Joan Martinez Alier & Talia Waldron |
| Last update | 04/01/2016 |