March 30th, 2012 at 12:25 pm » Comments (0)

Every day this week we are highlighting a different farmworker issue, paired with a Loteria image, in honor of National Farmworker Awareness Week. Day 6 focuses on El Estudiante, the Student.

Latino and migrant children drop out of school at a rate higher than the general student population, often with dropout rates at higher than 50%. The increase in the Latino community has been accompanied by a rise in anti-immigrant groups that actively work to support discriminatory policies in education. Given this hostile environment, immigrant students face discrimination, as well as systemic barriers for attaining educational opportunities and access. Even though North Carolina’s 58 community colleges recently opened its doors to undocumented students (partly due to SAF’s advocacy), they have to pay out-of-state tuition and legislators continue to introduce bills that would take away this right.

For many farmworker students, education has been a window to get out of poverty; however, most of these students live in rural areas and often do not have role models or resources to support them to continue their education. Many of these students will only finish high school and then return to work in the fields, thus continuing the cycle of poverty. For those that migrate, they often attend multiple schools in one school year; this makes it difficult for them to create a community they can call their own. Having a safe place to work is essential for the well being of child laborers and their families. Agricultural labor is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States due to exposure to pesticides, operation of heavy machinery, and working under high temperatures. Farmworker children are especially vulnerable to the hazards of farm work and they have the additional burden of balancing work and school.

Young people, especially those from farmworker families, need opportunities to give back to their communities by participating in activities that address the root causes of injustices faced by their families. They need access to information about the educational system, as well as about what rights they have as immigrants and farmworkers. And they need to be connected with others that are advocating for systemic change.

TAKE ACTION! Support Access to Education for All:
http://adelantenc.org/

By: Melinda Wiggins – Executive Director, SAF
http://saf-unite.org/farmworkerawareness

Un 50 por ciento de los niños latinos y migrantes abandonan los estudios, una tasa más alta en comparación con la población general. El aumento en el número de integrantes de la comunidad latina ha sido acompañado por un alza en grupos anti-inmigrantes que apoyan en forma activa políticas discriminatorias de educación. Dado este ambiente hostil, los estudiantes inmigrantes enfrentan discriminación, así como barreras sistémicas para obtener oportunidades y acceso a la educación. Aunque los 58 institutos de enseñanza superior (community colleges) de Carolina del Norte recientemente abrieron sus puertas a estudiantes indocumentados (gracias en parte al trabajo de SAF), ellos deben pagar cargos de matrícula como estudiantes no residentes del estado, y legisladores continúan presentando proyectos de ley que les quitarían este derecho.

Para muchos hijos de trabajadores agrícolas, la educación ha sido una puerta para salir de la pobreza. Sin embargo, la mayoría de estos estudiantes viven en zonas rurales y frecuentemente no tienen modelos de conducta o recursos para ayudarles a continuar sus estudios. Muchos de estos estudiantes sólo se gradúan de la preparatoria (high school) y después regresan a trabajar al campo, de esta manera continuando el ciclo de la pobreza. Los estudiantes migrantes frecuentemente asisten a varias escuelas durante un año, lo cual hace difícil que puedan crear una comunidad propia. Es esencial que los niños que trabajan y sus familias tengan un lugar de trabajo seguro. La agricultura es una de las ocupaciones más peligrosas en los Estados Unidos debido al contacto con pesticidas, el uso de maquinaria pesada y las condiciones de trabajo en el calor extremo. Los hijos de los trabajadores agrícolas son especialmente vulnerables a los peligros del trabajo agrícola, y además cargan con la responsabilidad de balancear el trabajo y los estudios.

La gente joven, especialmente los hijos de los trabajadores agrícolas, necesitan oportunidades para hacer una contribución a sus comunidades al participar en actividades que tratan de resolver las raíces de las injusticias enfrentadas por sus familias. Necesitan acceso a información sobre el sistema educacional, así como los derechos que tienen como inmigrantes y trabajadores agrícolas. También necesitan estar conectados con otros que trabajan por un cambio sistémico.

¡ACTÚÁ YA! Apoya el acceso a la educación para todos:
http://adelantenc.org/

Por : Melinda Wiggins – Directora Ejecutiva, SAF
http://saf-unite.org/es/content/semana-nacional-de-campesinos

March 28th, 2012 at 3:17 pm » Comments (0)

By Western Growers Association

IRVINE, Calif., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –

Speakers:Tom Nassif, president & CEO of Western Growers Brian Nienaber, vice president at The Tarrance Group Dave Puglia, Western Growers senior vice president of communications & government affairs Ken Barbic, Western Growers senior director of federal government affairs

In a groundbreaking new survey on the public’s views of agriculture and immigration, 70 percent of voters surveyed said they would support a streamlined and sensible guest worker programallowing immigrant farm workers to come into the country legally. In fact, a similar majority does not believe migrant workers cause unemployment or take jobs away from Americans. Those findings are from a new Western Growers survey conducted by The Tarrance Group, a well known and respected national polling firm.

The guest worker program in the survey includes: a requirement to first offer jobs to U.S. workers, restrictions on entry points and length of stay, market-based limitations on visas awarded, strict oversight of participating employers and withholding of worker payroll taxes. The program also allows existing workers to participate in the program without receiving amnesty.

“It is clear that American voters aren’t caught up in the harsh rhetoric claiming immigration reform should be about punishing hard working farm workers or leaving American family farmerswithout a work force. Americans know that we need a practical and well-regulated national program that allows immigrants to come out of the shadows to work here on our farms,” said Tom Nassif, Western Growers president & CEO.

“The fact of the matter is that Americans know farm work is and will continue to be done by foreigners, and they accept that reality. That’s why an overwhelming majority of voters in both parties support a smarter way for the federal government to handle agricultural guest workers who help produce the healthy food on our plates.”

The survey found overwhelming support from all likely voter groups including Republicans, strong Tea Party supporters, Democrats and Independents. Among self-identified Tea Party supporters, 70 percent surveyed are more likely to vote for a Congressional candidate if they support this sensible guest worker program.

More than 85 percent of survey respondents agree that both creating these legal channels for temporary immigrant farm workers, and developing the ability to register and track them will improve the nation’s security and allow for better control of the border, according to the Tarrance Group survey data.

Seventy-eight percent of likely voters favored withholding Social Security and Medicare taxes taken from the paychecks of temporary migrant farm workers. As an incentive, the program would refund Social Security taxes to the workers after they return to their home country. Medicare taxes would go towards covering any costs of treating uninsured patients in local hospitals.

About Western Growers:Since 1926, we have represented local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona and California. Our members provide half the nation’s fresh fruits and vegetables including a third of America’s fresh organic produce. Some also farm throughout the U.S. and in other countries so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices as the first line of defense against obesity and disease. You could say we grow the best medicine in the world.

SOURCE Western Growers Association
Read more here.

March 28th, 2012 at 1:33 pm » Comments (0)

Every day this week we are highlighting a different farmworker issue, paired with a Loteria image, in honor of National Farmworker Awareness Week. Day 4 focuses on El Abuso, The Abuse.

85% of the fresh fruits and vegetables that we eat are hand picked by one of the most vulnerable and invisible work forces in the USA. The everyday work conditions of farmworkers can include risk of heat stress, pesticide exposure, and dangerous equipment, while farmworkers are not afforded equal protections that most other workers have such as worker’s compensation, overtime pay, a minimum wage, protection to organize with their coworkers, and children as young as 10 are legally allowed to work in the fields. Furthermore, six out of 10 farmworkers are undocumented which can increase invisibility and fear due to anti-immigrant measures leaving workers targets for intimidation, sexual harassment and abuse, and has drastic psychological impacts. Some migrant children are not able to access higher education due to the cost of out-state tuition which teaches them to stop dreaming.

Farmworkers do not deserve to have these abuses and inequalities. Farmworkers make the United States one of the best-fed nations in the world. We should honor, respect, celebrate, and thank farmworkers for their hard work. We cannot allow farmworkers to continue to be pushed to the edges of society. As consumers, as fellow human beings, we must lift our voices and shine the light on farmworkers’ many contributions. Workers and consumers can stop these abuses with raising awareness, speaking out, using our consumer power, and building solidarity to stand up for a more just agricultural system.

You can join the campaign to stop the abuse of tobacco farmworkers in North Carolina with the Farm Labor Organizing Committee. Attend the annual Shareholder’s meeting and rally in May to tell the RJ Reynolds Company to be accountable to the workers who pick their tobacco.

TAKE ACTION! Support justice for Tobacco Farmworkers:
http://supportfloc.org/default.aspx

By: Nadeen Bir – Advocacy and Organizing Director, SAF
http://saf-unite.org/farmworkerawareness

El 85 por ciento de las frutas y verduras frescas que comemos son cosechadas a mano por una de las plantillas laborales más vulnerables e invisibles en el país. Debido a las condiciones de trabajo en el campo, los campesinos corren el riesgo de sufrir insolación, exposición a pesticidas, y heridas por equipo peligroso. Los trabajadores agrícolas no cuentan con las mismas protecciones que otros trabajadores, tales como seguro de indemnización, pago por trabajar horas extras, salario mínimo y protección para organizarse con sus compañeros. La ley permite que niños de 10 años de edad en adelante trabajen en los campos. Además, seis de cada 10 trabajadores agrícolas son indocumentados, lo cual causa que sean aún más invisibles debido al miedo. Las leyes anti-inmigrantes han causado que los trabajadores sean el blanco de intimidación, acoso sexual y abuso, lo cual tiene un impacto psicológico importante. Algunos hijos de trabajadores agrícolas migrantes no tienen acceso a la educación superior debido a que tienen que pagar el costo de la matrícula para residentes de otros estados. Esto causa que abandonen sus sueños y aspiraciones.

Los trabajadores agrícolas no se merecen esta desigualdad y abusos. Gracias a los trabajadores agrícolas, los Estados Unidos es uno de los países con la población mejor alimentada. Debemos de reconocer, respetar, celebrar y agradecer a los trabajadores agrícolas por su arduo trabajo. No podemos permitir que los trabajadores sigan siendo empujados al borde de la sociedad. Como consumidores, como seres humanos, debemos alzar nuestras voces y reconocer el sinfín de contribuciones que hacen los trabajadores agrícolas. Los trabajadores y los consumidores pueden detener estos abusos al crear conciencia, hablar a favor de ellos, usar nuestro poder como consumidores y actuar en solidaridad para demandar un sistema agrícola más justo.

Tú puedes unirte a la campaña de FLOC (Farm Labor Organizing Committee) para detener el abuso de trabajadores de tabaco en Carolina del Norte. Asiste a la reunión anual y manifestación en mayo para pedirle a la Compañía RJ Reynolds que actúe en forma responsable con los trabajadores que cosechan su tabaco.

¡ACTÚA YA! Apoya la justicia para los trabajadores del tabaco:
http://supportfloc.org/default.aspx

Por: Nadeen Bir – Directora de Defensa y Organización, SAF
http://saf-unite.org/es/content/semana-nacional-de-campesinos

March 27th, 2012 at 12:40 pm » Comments (0)

Every day this week we are highlighting a different farmworker issue, paired with a Loteria image, in honor of National Farmworker Awareness Week. Day 3 focuses on Los Pesticidas, Pesticides.

“It was a normal day like any other for all the people who work in the fields. We all began work very early, around 6 in the morning. What no one knew was that the field had been sprayed with pesticides a few hours before we began to work… One of my cousins approached me and said he felt very dizzy, and I told him I felt the same, but that we had to keep working. Later we went back to work and when we got started in the furrow my cousin fainted. I yelled at my dad and he came quickly. When we got to where my cousin was, it was like he was suffocating- he couldn’t breathe. We didn’t know what to do. It was a horrible moment because my dad desperately tried to give him first aid; he held him in his arms and tried to help him. My cousin gave one last breath and he was gone, dying in the arms of my father.”
-2007 SAF intern, Elizabeth Arias

Farmworkers endure the highest rate of toxic chemical injuries and skin disorders of any workers in the country. Nausea, vomiting, cramping, and itchy/burning eyes are known short-term effects of acute pesticide poisoning while long-term health effects of pesticide exposure include cancer, neurological disorders, miscarriage, memory loss, and depression. Green tobacco sickness, or nicotine poisoning through the skin, is experienced at least once in a growing season by 24% of tobacco workers. In just one day, workers can absorb the amount of nicotine found in 36 cigarettes.

TAKE ACTION! Tell EPA that it has ignored numerous health effects of pyrethroid insecticide and that these pesticides do pose unacceptable risks to human health given the availability of alternatives.


Read more and sign the petition here:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/7106/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9266

By: Joanna Welborn – Assistant Director, SAF
http://saf-unite.org/farmworkerawareness

“Era un día normal como cualquier otro para la gente que trabaja en el campo. Todos empezamos a trabajar muy temprano, alrededor de las 6 de la mañana. Lo que nadie sabía era que el campo había sido rociado con pesticidas unas horas antes de que empezamos a trabajar… Uno de mis primos se me acercó y me dijo que se sentía muy mareado, y le dije que yo me sentía igual pero que teníamos que seguir trabajando. Después regresamos a trabajar y cuando empezamos con el surco mi primo se desmayó. Le grité a mi papá y él vino rápido. Cuando llegamos a donde estaba mi primo, se estaba como sofocando- no podía respirar. No sabíamos qué hacer. Fue un momento horrible porque mi papá trató de darle primeros auxilios con urgencia. Lo sujetó en sus brazos y trató de ayudarlo. Mi primo exhaló el último suspiro y se fue, muriéndose en los brazos de mi padre”.
-Participante de SAF de 2007, Elizabeth Arias



Los trabajadores agrícolas tienen el índice más alto de heridas debido a químicos tóxicos y problemas de la piel que cualquier otro grupo de trabajadores en el país. Nausea, vómito, calambres y ardor/picazón en los ojos son efectos de corto plazo del envenenamiento agudo a causa de pesticidas. Los efectos a largo plazo incluyen cáncer, trastornos neurológicos, aborto espontáneo, pérdida de memoria y depresión. El 24 por ciento de los trabajadores agrícolas que trabajan con el tabaco sufren síntomas de la enfermedad de tabaco verde, o el envenenamiento por nicotina a través de la piel por lo menos una vez durante la temporada agrícola. En sólo un día, los trabajadores pueden absorber la cantidad de nicotina que contienen 36 cigarros.

¡ACTÚA YA! Dile al EPA que ha ignorado los efectos considerables de los insecticidas piretrioides (pyrethroids) y que estos pesticidas representan un peligro inaceptable, ya que hay otras alternativas disponibles.

Lee más y firma la petición aquí:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/7106/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY…

Por: Joanna Welborn – Directora Adjunta, SAF

http://saf-unite.org/es/content/semana-nacional-de-campesinos  

March 27th, 2012 at 11:54 am » Comments (0)

From our friends at National Latino AIDS Action Network (NLAAN), a study that will be presented at XIX International AIDS Conference in DC, July, 2012.

Sexual Health of Latino Migrant Day Laborers Under Conditions of Structural Vulnerability

In a recent study,¹ Kurt C. Organista, Ph.D.,² and his colleagues explored the context of sexual health of Latino migrant day laborers (LMDLs), including challenges and ways of coping. Special attention was paid to conditions of structural vulnerability that permeate the lives of this unique Latino population. The term structural vulnerability refers to the positionality of a population in society characterized by harsh living and working conditions that are created by particular sets of economic, political, social, and cultural factors.

The project was designed to develop and test a structural–environmental model of HIV risk and prevention in LMDLs. As part of year 1 of a larger 4-year research project, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 LMDLs recruited through purposive sampling in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2011.

The researchers found that LMDLs have sexual health aspirations deeply embedded in the core value and practice of Latino familismo—of which the central goal is families headed by men as breadwinners and husbands/fathers who are present in the home and available to their families. This goal is frequently thwarted, however, by poverty-engendering work and prolonged separations from home. The resulting frustration, combined with pent-up sexual urges, often leads to sexual risk-taking as LMDLs seek to cope with challenges to their sexual health.

This study has implications for Latino HIV prevention: unless community, state, and national interventions and policies are developed to mitigate the harsh living and working conditions of LMDLs, individual interventions to promote sexual health are unlikely to be effective.

In addition, this research has important implications for AIDS 2012. It is crucial to continue advocacy for community-based efforts to develop, implement, and test local theories of HIV risk and prevention within the many diverse Latino communities. Such efforts can be expedited through collaborations between researchers, community-based agency partners, and members of vulnerable populations, and through the use of mixed qualitative and quantitative research methods that provide the depth and breadth of knowledge to prevent HIV in Latino communities.

For more information: aids2012@s-3.com

¹ Sexual Health of Latino Migrant Day Laborers Under Conditions of Structural Vulnerability. Organista, Kurt C., Paula A. Worby, James Quesada, Sonya G. Arreola, Alex H. Krall, and Sahar Koury. This research is supported through a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health.

²Kurt C. Organista, Ph.D., is Associate Dean and Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley. He teaches courses on psychopathology, stress and coping, and social work practice with Latino populations. Dr. Organista conducts research in the areas of HIV prevention with Mexican/Latino migrant laborers. He is author of Solving Latino psychosocial and health problems: Theory, practice, and populations (2007). Dr. Organista currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, Hispanic Journal of the Behavioral Sciences, Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos, and the American Journal of Community Psychology