Friday, February 23rd, 2007
Join us on Thursday, March 1st for a presentation on:
Farmworkers’ Grassroots Resistance in the US: Human Rights, Migration, and Globalization
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a grassroots worker organization made up of over 3,000 members largely of Mexican, Guatemalan, and Haitian origin working in the agricultural and other low-wage industries in southwest Florida. The CIW is an award-winning example of grassroots resistance to the harsh labor and living standards immigrant workers face. This presentation is an opportunity for students and community members to learn how they can join in the struggle for labor and human rights for immigrant workers.
WHEN: March 1st, 2:30 – 4pm
WHERE: NYU Law School, Vanderbilt Hall, 40 Washington Square South (same street as W4th), room 204
WHAT: A discussion about the exploitation of farmworkers in the US and their struggle to better their working conditions
WHO: Celeste Escobar, an immigrant and grassroots organizer
Directions:
1. From ACE/BDFV subway lines: Exit West 4th. Then head East on W. 3rd and go one block North on MacDougal and turn right on Wash. Square and go into the first building on the right, the one with the arches.
2. From the 1/9: exit Christopher St. Then go East on W 4th St. until it turns into Washington Square, and go into the building on the right with arches in front, the first building after passing MacDougal.
3. From the NRW: Exit 8th St./NYU. Go South on Broadway, turn Right on W. 4th St. Enter the last building on the Left before MacDougal (the building with arches).
4. From the 4/5/6: exit Astor Place. Go South on Lafayette, turn Right on W. 4th St. Enter the last building on the Left before MacDougal.
This event is sponsored by LALSA, National Lawyers Guild, Practice, and Fair Food NYC
To learn more about Fair Food NYC, visit us at www.fairfoodnyc.org or email us at fairfoodnyc@gmail.com
Thursday, February 22nd, 2007
(Baltimore Sun Opinion > op/ed) By E. G. Vallianatos
Originally published February 22, 2007
The tale is familiar by now, but that makes it no less horrifying: Migrant men and women, most of them from Mexico and Central America - along with some poor blacks and whites from the United States - following the growing and harvest seasons, working hard for pitiful wages while enduring dangerous lives.
In 1979, I was a new Environmental Protection Agency employee attending a government-funded seminar about the plight of farm workers. Expert after expert described conditions of horror. The threat came from farm sprays - the farm workers’ worst enemy. Many farm workers didn’t understand the instructions on the pesticide can or the advice of the farmers on when to enter sprayed fields. Sometimes workers were sprayed while harvesting crops, but most often the workers harvested crops with the toxin still on the leaves and fruit.
More than 25 years later, little has changed.
More…
Thursday, February 22nd, 2007
Hello everyone,
There is some exciting news as we prepare for the CIW’s upcoming McDonald’s Truth Tour!
The Rev. Michael Livingston, President of the National Council of Churches, Catholic Bishop John Manz, Kerry Kennedy, and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, will all join CIW farmworkers this April, either for the rally at McDonald’s Headquarters on Friday, April 13th or the parade for Fair Food in downtown Chicago on Saturday, April 14th.
We invite you to join CIW farmworkers in the Chicago area on April 13 & 14th! For two years now, we all have been patiently encouraging McDonald’s to improve sub-poverty wages and abuses in its tomato supply chain and McDonald’s has steadfastly refused while farmworkers continue to suffer. Make your plans now to join the CIW at McDonald’s Headquarters this April for historic actions to call on McDonald’s to do the right thing! Buses will be leaving from cities across the country to join the CIW in ushering in a new phase in the McDonald’s Campaign and we invite you can join us as well! For more information or help with logistics for transportation and lodging, contact info(at)interfaithact.org or 239-986-0688.
More…
Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
People of New York!!!
Fair Food NYC is organizing two caravans of justice headed to Chicago for the CIW mobilization in April and we want you to come!
What: McDonalds Truth Tour and major CIW mobilization in Chicago
When: The bus from NYC leaves late evening Thursday April 12th, and returns late night Sunday April 15th
Who: Students, workers, community groups, people of faith and folks from around New York City
Why: To rise up with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers for their annual Truth Tour and to tell McDonalds that we won’t back down until they agree to work with the CIW for farmworkers rights and a penny more per pound!
To secure your place on the bus, email Leanne at lentejasrojas(at)gmail.com with your name, email address and phone number and we’ll take it from there.
Additionally, the week of February 26th, Celeste from the Student-Farmworker Alliance will be in New York meeting with some local groups and there will be a few public events you can attend to learn more about the local campaign and the trip to Chicago. Look for emails soon about a final schedule for those.
See you in the streets!
Fair Food New York CIty
More…