Along with the global economy, recession was a catalyst for an emergent urban (dis)o rder, a global trigger for new protocols of urban resistance. Simultaneously multiple city centres and remote villages erupted denouncing abuse of power while developing their own lexicons and logics. From the occupy movement in Wall Street to the unexpected riots in London, Stockholm, to Marmato where mobilisations against open-pit mining plans have been taking place.
GCG Open pit plans for New Marmato Source: GCG edited by author
The last seven years have demonstrated the power of such events. Yamil Amar, President of Prodefense Committee, states: “Marmato is widely known for its mining but now it is also known for its social protest. At the beginning we thought it would be an impossible task, (to stop the open pit project). Today we have been able to tip the balance in our favour” (2013). At a national level the phenomenon against extractivist operations i.e. coal, oil, gold has increased dramatically. In Marmato mining has been contested, and today more than 10 mobilisations have been registered. Coalitions of small groups, through specific acts of urban (dis) obedience have been the only effective mechanism for Marmateños to postpone the “relocation” of the village (an euphemism by GCG that could be better described as a brutal act of 68