compañera corazón
So, I just returned from the SFA steering committee meeting in Immokalee. It was a trip that came up right at the last minute and, after some pre-airport hysteria (I’m ‘fraid to fly), I found myself once again in the warm and palm-treed town which I called home last year. The first night felt awkward; it’s always a little crazy that we all see each other in person only a few times a year. Other times it’s strictly email, myspace, sometimes phone. Take away the technology and present the actual human behind it and it’s disturbingly difficult to adjust (and what does that say about our society?).
But then it was just a great time: learned a lot, got new skills, made closer personal connections and got pumped for the 2nd year of the McD’s campaign. We met with the CIW and they laid out the plans for the tour which will not be a multi-stop education tour and march like last year…this year we’re focusing on mobilization and getting folks up to Chicago for two days of action and a huge street carnaval! We’re talkin floats and glamour, people! Well, glamour in the sense of color and noise and general ruckus. See you there!
It was interesting: at some points I’d just go walk down the street by myself for a few minutes and I’d get all these memories about my former life in Immokalee and it really would seem like rememberance from two different minds. I guess that’s natural, I mean, we’re always changing. Plus a lot that happens in Moklei makes sense only in the context of the place. Kind of like Miami Beach (actually, nothing like Miami Beach; nothing there makes sense at all). What am I saying? It’s such a hard place to live, no matter who you are, and when you remember certain things it feels very out-of-body. But not all the memories were unpleasant. I remembered waking up in the room I shared with a friend, with the sun coming in that one window and onto the carpet. Made the whole room smell like childhood. Hearing all that spanish, up and down the hallway. Tortillas at every meal. Mango soda. Being sweaty with friends and watching movies. Tecate. Red wine. All the workers in the office, coming in from the fields when we had AC. Fire ants. Dancing at the ranch. Tiles, sand and wind. Yeah…
So it was a really great weekend. But inevitably I had to get back on that damn plane. Not that it matters, I’m home now, and ready to kick this campaign into gear! Check us out:
Announcement from the CIW
PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY!
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers announces a major mobilization for farmworker justice, April 13-14, 2007, in the greater Chicago area. Make your plans to join us for historic actions that will usher in a new phase in the Campaign for Fair Food.
CIW: “Today, we are tired, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., of relying on the good will and understanding of those who profit by exploiting us.’”
___________________________
Nearly two years have passed since Taco Bell and the CIW announced an historic initiative to address the ever-deepening poverty and decades of degradation faced by farmworkers in Florida. At that time, Taco Bell challenged its fast-food industry counterparts to join in demanding fair wages and humane treatment for the workers who pick their tomatoes.
McDonald’s, the undisputed leader of the $100 billion fast-food industry, has refused to meet that challenge. Despite increasing public pressure on the fast-food giant, McDonald’s has refused to recognize the seriousness of the exploitation of tomato pickers exposed through the Taco Bell boycott, and refused to work with the CIW to address that exploitation. Instead, it has taken measures that appear aimed at undermining the hard won advances in wages and working conditions established in the agreement with Taco Bell.
Today, after nearly two years of waiting patiently for McDonald’s to join us in addressing the crisis of human rights abuses and sub-poverty wages in its tomato supply chain, we are tired of waiting. We are tired, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, of “relying on the
Good will and understanding of those who profit by exploiting us.”
Our members and allies feel that it is now time to intensify our efforts. As such, the campaign is entering a new phase this year, ad support from our allies across the country will be more important than ever. The action in Chicago this April will mark the first major engagement in this new phase of the Campaign for Fair Food.
Mark your calendars today and start organizing to bring members of your community to McDonald’s backyard this April to join us in a:
•Major rally outside McDonald’s global headquarters in Oak Brook, IL, Friday, April 13, 2007.
•Carnaval and Parade for Fair Food, Real Rights, and Dignity – Saturday, April 14, 2007 in downtown Chicago.
We strongly encourage our allies from across the country to join us in Chicago this April and to participate in the colorful carnaval and parade action. Groups are encouraged to organize their own floats and delegations for this action. Contact: workers@ciw-online.org for more info.
For background, campaign and action updates, and more information,
visit [LINK: http://www.ciw-online.org] http://www.ciw-online.org .
See you in Chicago! Thanks, Coalition of Immokalee Workers
get smart get down with the pow wow
So we celebrated the last night of the “old year” in style last night at the New Year’s Powwow in southern Louisville. It was small — well, smaller than the Seminole gathering — but had food and vendors and dancing. Whatever its size, it was great to be around Indian pride especially after all these weird-ass consumer holidays. At one point during the first inter-tribal dance I found myself tearing up quite unexpectedly and had to take several deep breaths and concentrate on the adorable little kids who were dancing around in front of us. Unfortunately we couldn’t stay all evening though since the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression was having their annual New Year’s awards ceremony…good people and good work being honored but we definitely missed some amazing lifelong activists who passed away during 2006. Henry Wallace, Sterling Neal, Earl Wilson (just to name a few) and especially Anne Braden. What amazing individuals. Here’s to their fighting spirit!
You know it’s weird: we went to the New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow and then had quite a few drinks at North End Cafe at midnight. I didn’t stop to dwell on it but it was a somewhat unsettling juxtaposition of cultures; strange how in the modern world we can be in so many different worlds at once (mostly due to so many people living so close together/the ease of travel here). Okay last night was really fun, but living like this does make me check myself and make sure I’m giving my full attention to whatever is happening at the moment. One exciting mid-evening treat that needed no concentration whatsoever was a three person dance party with me, Jessie, and Jacob “I need some liquid courage” Goessling. Fun city!
