MONTHLY PLANNING MEETING FOR
PEOPLE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
AT THE UNITARIAN-UNIVERSALIST CHURCH BUILDING
1401 S. NEBRASKA AVENUE, SAN JUAN,. TX
THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH
7:00 PM TO ABOUT 8:15 PM
COME HELP PLAN OUR WORK FOR
PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Great event. mark your calendar for March 21st.
http://www.ournewanahuac.net/houston-immigration-convention-uniting-for-a-common-goal/2010/02/06/
| We need your signature to stop sexual harassment at Giumarra Vineyards
Last week we shared the story of a teenager who, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), was subjected to repeated sexual harassment while working for the nation’s largest table grape grower–Giumarra vineyards. Instead of dealing with the situation like a responsible employer, Giumarra Vineyards fired this young girl. It also fired two of her relatives and a friend who complained to management. More than 7,000 supporters responded and signed the online petition to Giumarra Vineyards. This petition will be handed in on February 15, by a delegation of women led by UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta. We don’t yet have your signature. Be part of this moment. Sign the petition now and send a strong message to Giumarra and their Nature’s Partner label that you will not accept this outrageous conduct. Thank you for always being there for "La Causa." Take Action at: http://action.ufw.org/eeoc Make a donation to help Giumarra workers fight back. Want to learn more about the Giumarra campaign? Want to see the EEOC Lawsuit & press release? |
Can you do one more thing?
To really drive the message home to Giumarra/Nature’s Partner, we want to ask you to take one more step. Can you please take 1 minute and post a comment directly on Nature’s Partner’s website? It’s easy to do. Just click on the link above and post a message like the below example. (If you can put it into your own words that would be even better.): I am astonished and dismayed at Giumarra’s disregard of the law. This is not medieval times. In the 21st century workers have the right to speak up to protect themselves and others. Giumarra is not above the law. It is astonishing that the EEOC was forced to file suit against Giumarra Vineyards for violating federal law by sexually harassing a teenage farm worker and retaliating against workers who came to her aid. As the world’s largest table grape company, your behavior helps set the industry standard. You should be ashamed of the example you are setting both in this case with the sexual harassment and retaliation and with your dismal history of worker protection. This behavior reflects negatively on your company and your Nature’s Partner label. Stop the sexual harassment and retaliation for field workers who speak up or support the UFW. Your consumers are watching. This extra step can do a lot to make sure Giumarra and it’s Nature’s Partner label are aware that their customers are watching them. Thank you! |
| Check out our website at: www.ufw.org and keep up with the latest news.
Check out the UFW’s Social Networking pages. Click to visit our Facebook Fan Page, Facebook Cause, YouTube, Flickr, MySpace,and Care2 pages. Please link to us and become our "Friend" and follow us on Twitter too! If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for the UFW List Serve. Please add us to your safelist: Please add ufwofamer to your address book so that our messages don’t get trapped in your spam filter. If you have questions about how to do this, drop us an e-mail. This email was sent to tejaztlana. United Farm Workers, P.O. Box 62, Keene, CA 93531, g |
2010 National Latino Congreso Results
Introduction
Approximately 1,000 leaders and activists attended the 4th National Latino Congreso (NLC) in El Paso at the Camino Real during Jan 29-31. The NLC hosted delegations from over 100 organizations and elected officials for the three day convention on politics and policy. The delegates, observers, speakers, and guests came from eleven states (Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Mississippi, Virginia, Illinois, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Washington, DC), as well as Mexico and Venezuela. Over 250 organizations, elected officials and prominent individuals endorsed the Latino Congreso, representing millions of Latino leaders and activists.
US Representatives Luis Gutierrez and Silvestre Reyes, as well candidates for Texas Governor and Lt. Governor addressed the Latino gathering. Issue experts and resource people as well as national Latino organization presidents also addressed the various plenary and break-out sessions. Some 54 resolutions amendments were approved by the delegates, they can all be viewed at: http://www.latinocongreso.org/resolutionsapproved.php?congreso_year=2010
Below is a sampling of the most noteworthy.
Immigrant Justice
1.NLC endorses CIR ASAP, Dream Act, AgJobs, and Proud Act, four paramount immigrant justice bills and urges immediate enactment by Congress and the President.
2.NLC announces plans for first ever Immigrant Justice Report Card to grade Congress and the White House on immigration policy.
3.NLC announces plans for coordinated Immigrant Justice Campaign of advocacy and mobilizations for CIR ASAP in February, March and May, 2010, including formation of c4 organization –the Latino Congreso Education Fund.
4.NLC announces plans for Immigrant Justice Accountability Project in the event that no immigrant justice bills are passed in 2010 including formation of a 527 and a PAC. IJAP will hold legislative incumbents accountability for their inaction during 2010 elections..
5.NLC criticizes Sen. Schumer principles underpinning proposed legislation. Calls for improvement of Schumer proposal along the lines of CIR ASAP before introduction to the Senate.
6.NLC calls for President Obama to put Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department into federal receivership pending Department of Justice investigations and calls for Department of Homeland Security to terminate all cooperative agreements between police and ICE in local jails.
7.NLC promotes slogan of “No Legalization, No Re-election (sin legalizacion no hay reeleccion!)” for immigrant justice campaigns.
8.NLC calls on White House and Congress to immediately abolish infamous 287G and Secure Communities programs that have resulted in racial profiling of Latinos and other minorities.
Building Jobs and Saving Homes
1.NLC calls for 2nd Economic Stimulus consisting of $500 billion jobs bill as well Moratorium on home mortgages, reforms of federal foreclosure and mortgage policy. Criticizes Obama $30 billion proposal as insufficient.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
1.NLC calls for Congressional enactment of Senator Boxer’s Climate Change bill in Senate by Earth Day, calls for amendment of cap and trade to take into account environmental justice impacts. Calls for inclusion of more funds for domestic and international adaptation funds in climate bills
Participation in 2010 Census
1.NLC urges full Latino and immigrant participation in the upcoming Census count. Calls on White House to declare moratorium on immigration enforcement measures like raids, firings and deportations during Census period. Also appeals for more federal outreach funds and preparation for “undercount statistical adjustment” for hard to count communities in the event of undercount.
US-Latin America Relations
1.NLC criticized President Obama’s tacit support of the Honduran coup d’état and also urged the international community to withhold recognition of the Honduran government until it proves its commitment to democracy and human rights.
2.NLC urged the White House to reverse course on the installation of military bases in Colombia and urged support for new development paradigms in Latin America that enable social and economic well being for the majority of people in the region.
3.NLC urged immediate release of most well know political prisoners in US –the Cuban Five.
Drug Policy Reform
1.NLC supports a resolution put forward by the City Council of El Paso, Texas calling for immediate action to end violence in Ciudad Juarez and calls for a paradigm shift in U.S. drug policy in order to reduce the harms associated with drug use and eliminate violence related to prohibition on both sides of the border.
This message was sent to dignidad by:
William C. Velasquez Institute
National Office
206 Lombard, 1st Floor
San Antonio, TX 78226
(210) 922-3118 California Office
2914 N. Main St., 1st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 222-2217 Florida Office
2646-A NW 21st Terrace
Miami, FL 33142
(305) 635-6965
National Geographic’s Border Wars – Online Video Game
The National Geographic Channel’s "Border Wars" TV show (which is bad enough as it is) now has an online video game where you can pretend to be a Border Patrol agent.
This game is extremely offensive as it sensationalizes real conditions on the US-Mexico border and makes light of a very serious issue. Thousands of people suffer and die as a result of contentions over the border and it is NOT a game. Please send a comment to the National Geographic Channel asking them to take this game off of their website and that you are boycotting the show, the website, and all things National Geographic-related.
http://www.facebook.com/l/a6192;channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/contact
Read Restore Fairness’s blog on the game:
Mobilizing Men Task Force
A gathering for activists against men’s violence
Join men and women from Austin and the surrounding area who are interested in mobilizing men to stand up against violence. Please register by February 18, 2010.
WHEN: Friday, February 19, 2010
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: TAASA Office (6200 La Calma, Suite 110 Austin, Texas)
WHAT: V-Men Texas
Presented by Emiliano Diaz de Leon, TAASA Primary Prevention Specialist V-Men is a new program inviting the voices of men into the worldwide movement and the dialogue about ending violence against women and girls. During this presentation, we will explore how the V-Men Workshops can be used to encourage men to work in their community to address the issue of violence against women from a male perspective, addressing the root causes of the violence and the ways that boys and men can help end it.
FEE: FREE! Please register by February 18, 2010. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Space is limited. Please bring material about your effort/organization to share.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Emiliano Diaz de Leon, Primary Prevention Specialist 512-474-7190 ext. 35
Sponsored by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)
Robert E Elementary School (located 2 blocks north of campus ) needs your help to save the Spanish Instruction program. The program is currently funded by parents but the PTA decided to allocate money to other priorities.
The school is organizing a fundraiser event called Noche Latina on Friday April 30. The event will allow us to a) collect funds to keep paying the Spanish teacher and b) to celebrate Latin American and Latino culture in the school (which may be the first step to get more support from the school and the parents to continue Spanish instruction).
We need people who can volunteer their services for that event:
· can you design a flyer for the event?
· can you donate gift certificates, crafts, books or music for an auction?
· Are you a musician, dancer? can you perform for 20-30 minutes in the evening of April 30
Please let me know
thanks
SPANISH/FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
AT LEE ELEMENTARY
January 28, 2010
Dear Prospective Supporter:
I am writing to seek your support for Spanish language instruction at Lee Elementary School. Your contributions will help ensure that the children at Lee are exposed to the beauty of the Spanish language and the richness of Latin American and Spanish cultures.
Lee Elementary School is a K-6 school located in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The parents and children at Lee form a diverse community, and almost 25% of the children at Lee are Latino. As you probably know, numerous studies have shown that children who are exposed to languages other than English at a young age are more likely to become fluent in another language and to understand and relate well with people of different cultures. The Spanish language instruction provided at Lee is an important part of a well-rounded curriculum that gives the children the skills they need to succeed in school and in our community.
The parents at Lee Elementary raise the money to pay for Spanish language instruction. The current annual budget for the program is approximately $13,000, which covers the Spanish teacher’s salary and the purchase of instructional materials and other costs. This amount allows for one half hour of Spanish instruction each week for each child at Lee.
Neither the Austin Independent School District nor Lee Elementary are able to provide any public funding for the language program. The Foreign Language/Spanish Committee, composed of interested parents, raises money for the program by seeking donations from individual parents, community members and businesses. The Committee also holds several fundraisers a year, including a Latin American dinner at the school shortly before the winter holidays and a newly-inaugurated Noche Latina (Latin Night) celebration of Latin American music, food, dance and sports for families at Lee.
You can contribute to the Spanish language program in several different ways. Cash donations are always gratefully accepted and will go directly to pay for the Spanish instructor’s salary. Donations of food, books, crafts, services and the like also assist us greatly to reach our fundraising goals. Food can be served at our fundraiser events, and other items can be sold or auctioned during the Noche Latina. The funds raised will directly support the Spanish program. Of course, all donations are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your support of our children as they grow and learn and thrill in the beauty of language. We could not do it without you.
Sincerely,
Lee Foreign Language Committee
Action Alert: Call Aramark in the Texas Union!
Students and community members demand accountability, transparency, and human rights!
Since last spring, Fair Food Austin has participated in the national Dine With Dignity campaign calling on major foodservice providers to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to improve the wages and working conditions of farmworkers in their tomato supply chains. In Austin, we have met with Aramark representatives at the University of Texas on several occasions, as well as published op-eds in the Daily Texan. Still, Aramark has yet to sign an agreement with the CIW. Now it’s time to increase the pressure on Aramark, both locally and in communities across the country.
Here’s all the info you need — plus a sample script — to make your call to Aramark today.
- Henry Jackson, Aramark Director of Dining Services (UT-Austin), 512.475.6500
- Cory Bourg, Aramark District Manager, 210.232.7063
If Mr. Jackson does not answer the phone, leave a voicemail. If he does answer, be firm yet polite. Here are some talking points:
- "Hi, my name is X, (I’m a student / community member / member of X organization), and I’m calling in support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a Florida-based farmworker organization."
- "I’m concerned that Aramark has yet to sign an agreement with the CIW to improve wages and working conditions for Florida tomato harvesters, especially since Aramark’s competitor — the Compass Group — signed sfaatx so we can track participation!
Thanks — Fair Food Austin
RIO GRANDE VALLEY: Migrant Clinicians Network Seeks Family Violence Initiative Manager
tejaztlan, border, south[\category]
job, family violence, rio grande valley[\tags]
The Migrant Clinicians Network(fv.
Interview with Ronald Molina – Indefinite Hunger Strike at the Port Isabel Detention Center
Please download once to repost thank you. There is a limited times for download. Please repost on media and indymedia sites. See link after original briefing.
SOUTHWEST WORKERS’ UNION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Anayanse Garza, 956.207.2571, SWU RGV
February 01, 2010
Indefinite Hunger Strike Continues at the Port Isabel Detention Center in Bayview, TX:
Marlene Ramos interviewed Hunger Strikers at the Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC) in Los Fresnos, TX about the reasons behind the Hunger Strike at PIDC. Please forward this testimony to other news outlets. The Indefinite Hunger Strike began on the National Day of Action Against Sherriff Arpaio, The Hunger Strike grew in Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
SEE ORIGINAL BRIEF BELOW:
“Some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony, but we must speak. We must speak with all the humility that is appropriate to our limited vision, but we must speak.”- MLK, Jr. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 18, 2010, immigrants at the Port Isabel Detention Center called the South-west Workers’ Union to notify the public that they (70 detainees) were on Indefinite Hunger Strike since Saturday January 16, 2010, the National Day of Action Against Arpaio of Maricopa County, AZ.
Although retaliation of Hunger Strikers is certain, the strike grew yesterday in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream for a world where Justice and Human Rights for everyone, including immigrants, is possible.
THE REASONS LISTED FOR THE HUNGER STRIKE WERE:
Solidarity with the People of Haiti in their time of greatest need
Solidarity with Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Solidarity with the Fast For Our Families in Miami, Florida and Jean Montrevil and his family in New York
Solidarity with the March against Sherriff Arpaio and against his abuse of authority and militarization of the US-Mexico border
Respect Human Rights
THEY CALL FOR:
1. Suspend the detention and deportation of immigrants with U.S. citizen children, spouses, and immigrant students until there is resolution on the passage of comprehensive immigration reform;
2. Work permits for immigrants with U.S. citizen children and spouses whose detention and deportation have been suspended until there is resolution in Congress on the passage of immigration reform;
3. Creation of an honest, transparent process by which the best interests of communities, families, and chil-dren are weighed before detaining and deporting any individual
4. The right to Due Process
5. End the abuse of Human Rights in detention (lack of medical access, indefinite detention, inadequate food, physical and verbal abuse)
6. End the unjust deportation
7. End raids on immigrant communities
They released their statement by calling Southwest Workers’ Union to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. The Dream Dr. King had begins with breaking the silence. Because as Dr. King said, “there comes a time when silence is also a betrayal.” According to detainees their struggle is the same as all the immigrants and people.
For more information call: Anayanse Garza at 956.207.2571
Thank you,
Anayanse Garza
Southwest Workers’ Union RGV
Cell. 956.207.2571
| Link to file: | |
| https://rcpt.yousendit.com/812045372/d4dfa05d6f7485a70b95b46436054978 | |
