Money and Madness - Colombia

October 1998
Penetrating the shady world of Colombia's emerald dealers we meet private armies and pistol packing miners.

Colombia is a nation that boasts some gruesome statistics. The leading cause of death for individuals over the age of ten is violence. And it's the tussles for power over smuggling narcotics and emeralds that control it's jungle politics. Penetrating the emerald business we meet Jose. With his bullet proof clothes and shiny gun he's just an ordinary emerald dealer. Accompanying him on a buying trip we enter Victor Carranza's notorious emerald zone. Outside his mine is a menancing collection of blackened miners. Their pockets bulge with stolen emeralds and loaded pistols. Stealing is part of the rules in Victor's empire. His workers are simply supervised to ensure they don't steal more than their labour deserves. In this feudal system favours are given by the powerful and loyalty is shown in return. The poor must be content to search through the scraps thrown out by the powerful. It's a ruthless system, but as Jose puts it "Where's there's money there is madness. it's the same all round the world."

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Colombia
• emerald
• dealer
• lords
• of
• war
• drugs
• Victor
• Carranza
• peasant
• miners
• journeyman
• pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman pictures

[thestreetdogg]

Colombians are wonderfull people.

They are not racists or at least they don't show it.

My Colombian Wife goes through dicrimination more in my country than me in their country.

Go to CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA a wonderful place, great great food uhhhhh,

Tropical weather, if ur single you will fall in love with COLOMBIAN GIRLS.

Very safe place, Airport people extreamly nice, Police will take care of you.

People in street very safe, and they are very friendly.

I am going there again this summer.

[thestreetdogg]

Did u know that COLOMBIANS are the most happy people in the world!?

I have been there many times and i will go there until I die.

My wife is from there and i have a Doughter.

Colombia is so safe that i don't think twice to take my 15 months doughter there, which i did in the past.

I wuld never let my doughter play outside my house in USA for sure.

I had no problems in COLOMBIA never, I had problems in USA where my house was broken, bike stolen, and IDENTITY THEFT.

[xl957]

jajaja con todos esos hombres de victor carranza ni se le asoma guerrillero o si no lo sacan a plomo jajajjajajaj

[ftwgmg12]

They have mullets in 98?? Come on Columbia!

[fgj4001]

the driver taxi said this coin is of 1000 pesos. That coin dont already exist and pastrana was the worst president in colombia

[thestreetdogg]

@JustinCase10261, Now my daughter is 3.5 years, still going to Cartagena, Colombia still feeling safe and still loving the weather, food, People,Music, and beer. When u go there eat sea food, and try their chicken and stake u will go crazy . We are working hard to save some money to actually buy a house in Cartagena. Colombia not the best security in the World but very safe. Colombians are happy because they are not stressed/depressed like we are here. Its their nature. Thanx god for COLOMBIA.

[thestreetdogg]

@JustinCase10261, I say Colombia is just as safe if not safer than USA. In usa Houses are in alarm, most of ppl have guns, and some ppl drive armored vehicles. In Miami,fl every Truck Stop/rest area is secured by a police officer. In new jersey ,new york, los angeles, Memphis, tn, Detroit, Chicago, DC, Atlanta, etc etc is so bad in crimes is so unsafe that when i go to Cartagena, Colombia I feel peace. Ur not even safe in Universities from crazy ppl.

[thestreetdogg]

@JustinCase10261, continue 2. The people or the Farmers in Colombia that actually grow the cocaine dont profit much or just enough to put food in the table. Its the Mobs/Politicians like in Europe/USA that profit most. Because of that Colombians are its self Victims of DRUG addicts in USA and Europe. Drug Trafficking its not a colombian Issue only. Cut Demand, cut users, people will not produce.

[thestreetdogg]

@JustinCase10261, No. See you are making look like Colombia is the Reason why People around the world are addicted to drugs. NO my friend.

Colombia, filled the gap with demands on cocaine, just like other countries, including urs. The only reason why Colombia was the main source is because Colombian Nature produces some of the Best cocaine that is there. Most Colombians are it self Victims of Drugs because Most Colombians do not benefit or enjoy the profits.... continue1

[JustinCase10261]

@thestreetdogg they're the most happy cause they're sitting pretty in coke fields or counting the money they've made off of the millions of people around the world addicted to their money crop...Colombia is NOT "so safe" at all...why you tell people this is beyond me...people driving in armored vehicles and wearing bullet proof clothes? sounds REAL safe to me

[Rockolombya]

This idiot just show the worst part of the country,is like you go into of any ghetto in US or show life in the worst part of the bronx,new orleans,detroit etc. come on..this is bull shit!! Colombia have a lot of nice ,beautiful places and beautiful people,specialy girls!!

[solimiansky]

@thestreetdogg arroz con pollo hermano arroz con pollo