It seems strange that I should have to travel thousands of miles to Washington, D.C. to get clarity on the fate of my land and community in Cameroon. But Herakles Farms, the American company threatening to destroy an area of rainforest where roughly 14,000 people currently live, myself included, is based here in the U.S.
It's my first time in the States, and while traveling around to discuss the threats facing my community and our forest, I'm struck by how easy this is thanks to the city's extensive public transport network. Back home in Mundemba I cover large distances on bad roads, in bad weather using a fairly basic motorcycle, to give voice to the villagers and farmers who have had little say in what will be done with their land.
I and many others have been resolute in peacefully opposing Herakles Farms' plans in Cameroon. The company wants to clear our rainforest to make way for a palm oil plantation. Since speaking out, we've been subjected to many acts of intimidation including threats, arrests, ambush and beatings. Most recently, some villagers including myself attempted to demonstrate against this project in the town of Mundemba, close to the proposed plantation area. We were arrested without charge and left in cells to contemplate our 'crimes'. We contemplated for two days; in the dark, forced to defecate into cups in front of each other because there was no toilet. Yet our only 'crime' was nothing more than organizing a peaceful demonstration about people's land being taken without their consent. Full story...
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It's my first time in the States, and while traveling around to discuss the threats facing my community and our forest, I'm struck by how easy this is thanks to the city's extensive public transport network. Back home in Mundemba I cover large distances on bad roads, in bad weather using a fairly basic motorcycle, to give voice to the villagers and farmers who have had little say in what will be done with their land.
I and many others have been resolute in peacefully opposing Herakles Farms' plans in Cameroon. The company wants to clear our rainforest to make way for a palm oil plantation. Since speaking out, we've been subjected to many acts of intimidation including threats, arrests, ambush and beatings. Most recently, some villagers including myself attempted to demonstrate against this project in the town of Mundemba, close to the proposed plantation area. We were arrested without charge and left in cells to contemplate our 'crimes'. We contemplated for two days; in the dark, forced to defecate into cups in front of each other because there was no toilet. Yet our only 'crime' was nothing more than organizing a peaceful demonstration about people's land being taken without their consent. Full story...
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