Permalink: https://media.greenpeace.org/archive/Village-nearby-Cerrejon-Coal-Mine-27MZIFLW4IRU.htmlConceptually similarChild on Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L21Completed★★★★Tamaquito Community HouseGP01L15Completed★★★★Mining OperationsGP01L1YCompleted★★★★Mining OperationsGP01L1ZCompleted★★★★Mechoacan Community MemberGP01L0UCompleted★★★★Mechoacan Community MembersGP01L0YCompleted★★★★Mechoacan Community MembersGP01L0ZCompleted★★★★Mechoacan Community MembersGP01L11Completed★★★★The Cerrejon Open Cast Coal MineGP01L1NCompleted★★★★View AllGP01L1TVillage nearby Cerrejon Coal MineHouses of a village nearby the Cerrejon coal mine. Even the health of those not working in the mines is affected by mining operations. Air pollution drifts into nearby villages, causing respiratory problems and skin rashes in the communities. Locations:Colombia-Guajira-South AmericaDate:28 May, 2008Credit:© Greenpeace / Steve MorganMaximum size:4368px X 2912pxKeywords:Air pollution-Cerrejon Zona Norte (CZN) coal mine-Climate (campaign title)-Coal-Day-Energy-Houses-KWCI (GPI)-Mining-Outdoors-Poverty-Trees-VillagesShoot:Coal Mine Affected Communities Documentation in ColombiaColombia is the fourth largest coal exporting country in the world. The Cerrejon Zona Norte (CZN) mine on the Guajira peninsula is the largest opencast coal mine in the world. The site is also infamous for the widespread human rights violations against indigenous and Afro-Colombian people. The CZN mine covers 150 square miles in southern Guajira, the site consists of an integrated mine, railroad and a coastal export terminal. The Colombian government claims that the mine brings progress to the poverty-stricken region of La Guajira. But the reality is that Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities are under siege by the mine as much of the land close to the mine is uninhabitable due to blasting, dust and contamination. Miners and local communities suffer from poor health and the loss of land, homes, livelihoods and even life. The surrounding air is polluted by fly ash and methane and the water is contaminated by waste sludge and a cocktail of other chemicals. Local communities are being displaced by force to allow the expansion of the mine.