Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Decades ago, farmers lost their land to multinational interests. Now they're risking their lives to take it back and regenerate a territory depleted by years of extraction.
All over Colombia, the story is the same: half a century ago, corporate interests pulled off one of the biggest land grabs in history, centralising a vast network of indigenous and peasant-owned land into a wave of history and industry. These farms and vistas were the last vestige of freedom in a country where Spanish conquistadors had colonised as much of the land as they could control. They were also important refuges for the descendants of slaves who, despite the freedom granted their ancestors, were still rejected by Colombian society. The land provided roots, security, culture and a home for those without the resources of the urban elite. Their territory provided everything they needed. And then it was taken away.
In the South of Colombia, near Popayan, a group of peasant farmers are taking it back, illegally occupying territory which their families had depended on for generations, farming and stewarding the land until they were forced out. With very few options left, and a fervent desire to not be forced into wage slavery in neighbouring cities, these farmers are clearing the invasive species introduced by the multinational corporation, planting the foods of their childhood, and building shelters. They want to provide for themselves and their children. They want to take care of the land. One of them was killed for attempting to do so.
We filmed one of the groups who are occupying a tree plantation owned by Smurfit-Kappa, an Irish-American company who claims to be a leader in “sustainable packaging” despite their business model relying on planting invasive tree species which harms local flora and fauna, only to chop them down and send them to a saw mill. The farmers guard their occupied territory 24/7 and wear masks to protect their identities. We filmed them masked and distorted their voices for another layer of protection.
Their struggle is hyper local, but it is a story known, felt and told all over the world: more than just soil was lost when our land was taken from us. To liberate ourselves, we must liberate Earth. This is how.
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🌎 Support Planet: Critical: patreon.com/planetcritical
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Decades ago, farmers lost their land to multinational interests. Now they're risking their lives to take it back and regenerate a territory depleted by years of extraction.
All over Colombia, the story is the same: half a century ago, corporate interests pulled off one of the biggest land grabs in history, centralising a vast network of indigenous and peasant-owned land into a wave of history and industry. These farms and vistas were the last vestige of freedom in a country where Spanish conquistadors had colonised as much of the land as they could control. They were also important refuges for the descendants of slaves who, despite the freedom granted their ancestors, were still rejected by Colombian society. The land provided roots, security, culture and a home for those without the resources of the urban elite. Their territory provided everything they needed. And then it was taken away.
In the South of Colombia, near Popayan, a group of peasant farmers are taking it back, illegally occupying territory which their families had depended on for generations, farming and stewarding the land until they were forced out. With very few options left, and a fervent desire to not be forced into wage slavery in neighbouring cities, these farmers are clearing the invasive species introduced by the multinational corporation, planting the foods of their childhood, and building shelters. They want to provide for themselves and their children. They want to take care of the land. One of them was killed for attempting to do so.
We filmed one of the groups who are occupying a tree plantation owned by Smurfit-Kappa, an Irish-American company who claims to be a leader in “sustainable packaging” despite their business model relying on planting invasive tree species which harms local flora and fauna, only to chop them down and send them to a saw mill. The farmers guard their occupied territory 24/7 and wear masks to protect their identities. We filmed them masked and distorted their voices for another layer of protection.
Their struggle is hyper local, but it is a story known, felt and told all over the world: more than just soil was lost when our land was taken from us. To liberate ourselves, we must liberate Earth. This is how.
🌎 Support Planet: Coordinate: planetcoordinate.com
🌎 Support Planet: Critical: patreon.com/planetcritical
🌎 Subscribe: planetcritical.com
