TWO APPEALS FROM THE UFW:
The United Farm Workers (UFW) of the USA have issued two new appeals for internet solidarity. The first is in regards to the recent cold weather in the south-western USA. The California government has responded to the appeals of the farm workers by waiving the waiting period for unemployment benefits and opening help centres, but the federal government of the USA has done nothing to date. At this time growers can apply for relief under emergency declarations, but the up to 28,000 farm workers and their families have no recourse. The UFW are asking that you petition the federal government of the USA to declare California as a "federal disaster area" which would mean the releasing of resources to the affected workers, as was done in 1998 and 1999. This would allow more provisions in food banks for the people affected and also possibly rent, mortgage and utility support. To sign up for this campaign go to:
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/freeze_bush
The UFW has also asked for support in their efforts to have the pesticide azinphos-methyl (commonly known as AZM) banned now rather than later. AZM is a potent neurotoxin to which farm workers are often exposed at high concentrations. Last November the EPA of the USA ruled that AZM "posed unreasonable adverse effects and must be banned", but it also allowed a six year "phase out" period in which the pesticide would continue to be used. An interesting sidebar to this ruling is that the EPA had previously ruled in 2001 that this pesticide should be phased out over the course of four years. The deadline came and went. To join the UFW in demanding that this chemical be eliminated now go to:
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/epa207
Molly