On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Colombia, I welcome you all to the opening of the Exhibition SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. I feel very honoured to be accompanied tonight by Mr. Laurent Stokvis, Director of the Western Hemisphere of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and grateful for the support and the encouragement of the Ministry and the Municipality of The Hague. Thanks to their help the exhibition will be opened until the 8th of December and a smaller version of the photo-museum will travel to the main universities and to some secondary schools in the country in the first semester of next year.
Colombia is a highly unknown country. The wrong-doing of a minority overshadows the good-doing of the majority. Even the negative aspects are usually misconceived. Some have the perception of a country in civil war, which Colombia is not, or a nation of drug-traffickers which is not either. These ideas in the eyes of most Colombians, denotes a disappointing lack of knowledge. The good news is that every day, more people are taking the time to understand Colombia. To look deep inside and realize that although it is a nation with problems it is a great nation with great people, with a wonderful present and a promising future.
Colombia has had and still has high levels of violence. But it is not a violent country. Most Colombians are law abiding and not violent; it is wrong to generalize. Even more, when the levels of violence, measured in homicides and kidnappings, are decreasing sharply. Likewise, it is not a nation of drug-traffickers, as some sustain so. But a minority of its population is hooked to organize crime, starting with the FARC. Illegal armed groups which cause destruction; destruction of lives, of dreams and hope; destruction of the environment, which is our subject tonight: the damage caused by drugs, particularly cocaine, to global survival.
Criminal organizations, located in Colombia, which work hand in hand with criminals of other nationalities in other countries of the world, are responsible for the supply of most of the cocaine that is consumed. And thousands of people, all around the world, especially in North America and Europe, demand such drug. What many of them do not realize or just do not care, is that when they sniff cocaine, someone is killed in Colombia, and that each gram of cocaine that is consumed means the destruction of four squared meters of rain forest in Colombia. And that the rain forest already destroyed is the size of half of The Netherlands.
The destruction of the rain forest anywhere should be a global concern. The production of oxygen, the survival of species, including man, is at stake. If we are worried about global warming, as we should, we should be worried about de devastating impact of cocaine. It is not only about Colombia, although we suffer its direct impact, it is about life on earth, about the future generations which deserve a place to live. But we are not here tonight to blame anyone. It is not about blaming. It is about being conscious and doing something together about it. That is what SHARED RESPONSIBILITY is about; joining efforts, globally.
I began by saying that every day more people –and countries- are taking the time to understand Colombia better. The Netherlands has. The Royal House, the Government, business people, NGO’s, journalist, etc., have a growing positive interest in the country, with its virtues and its defects. The Netherlands is already doing its share: almost 20 Million Euros a year in development cooperation including environmental protection; the largest aid from any government in Europe. Beside the 16 Million Euros that His Highness Prince Willem Alexander provided last year for the protection of Colombia´s National Parks, threaten by coca crops.
There is only one life for all of us at least on earth; and there is only one earth where life is possible. We are here tonight not to blame ourselves or others. We are here to gain more consciousness of the damage caused by the consumption of cocaine to the environment. The fact that it takes place in Colombia is secondary; it could happen anywhere. And it will if we do not do something because crime in my country will not prevail and drug traffickers are used to relocating if there is a demand for drugs. I thank you for being here tonight. The environment is also at threat because of cocaine consumption. Spread the message; for our own sake.
