In support of peace — the blockchain and Colombia’s civil war
Last November, the Colombian Congress ratified their nation’s treaty with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). After the failure of a first treaty to pass a month prior, this marked a significant step in bringing an end to the civil war that has ravaged the country for more than 50 years, resulting in the deaths of more than 200,000 and displacing 7 million people.
This peace treaty is critical, but it is just one step on the long road toward peace; there is still a lot that needs to be done. In order for peace to flourish, rural regions of Colombia must rebuild, and legitimate economies must supplant the economies of war and violence. This is why, Topl has teamed up with the [BC] Lab to support sustainable agriculture across the country.
We are incredibly excited about this partnership, and this excitement comes from our belief in the mission and strategy of the [BC] Lab.
The [BC] Lab was started by Luc Lapointe and David Clemmons around a simple but profound view of what stands in the way of sustained development and growth in rural Colombia (and other underdeveloped regions around the world). They understood that the key to development is a careful blending of different forms of capital (human, social, intellectual, financial, etc). The infusions of these different capitals must be coincident with each other and well orchestrated.
Over our many conversations, Luc, David, and I came to realize just how well their vision and strategy could be married with Topl’s protocol. This realization emerged from the fact that while the provision of financial capital is an undoubtedly important component of what Topl can offer, no less important are the human/informational capitals provided by the Divine reputation system or the logistical capital provided by Topl’s Hubs. Additionally, the trust and transparency that Topl’s blockchain can provide in ensuring the provenance of both financial capital and goods will play a central role in attracting investors, who seek to ensure that their funds aren’t being diverted for illicit purposes.
We know that there is a long road ahead and a great deal of work needed to achieve our vision. However, we are excited about these challenges and eager to prove to the world that the blockchain is more than just a tool for black markets and get-rich-quick ICOs.
To learn more about our efforts in Colombia or if you would like to join us in this cause, take a look at our latest working paper, reach out to us via Slack, or follow our blog.
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