The Spirit of Cesar Chavez Will Never Die!

More ways to promote peace, justice, and holistic sustainability with presente.org:

A couple of months ago thousands of us stood with the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) to ask Governor Jerry Brown to pass the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act. But Gov. Brown didn't listen to us. Instead, he vetoed the act.

So what is the UFW doing now to make sure Gov. Brown listens? Walking—the same thing Cesar Chávez did many times when he gained the support of the nation. The UFW is currently on a 13-day, 200 mile march to Sacramento, CA. If you can't join them on the actual march1, the UFW is asking you to join them in a virtual march for the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, and a bill that would give farm workers the right to overtime after and 8-hour workday.2

http://act.presente.org/sign/ufw_march

Farm labor is consistently listed as one of ten most dangerous jobs in the U.S.3 Last time we wrote you about the Fair Treatment For Farm Workers Act we told you the story of 17 year-old María Isabel. After picking grapes in the hot California sun for nine hours, she was rushed to the hospital in a coma and a body temperature of 108 degrees. The nearest water cooler was a 10-minute walk away, but workers say the strict foreman didn't allow them a long enough break to stop and get a drink. She died two days later.4 



That's why farm workers like Maria Escutia, who has been picking grapes for 10 years, have decided to march the full 13 days. When asked why she said: "I am doing this because I am very upset. I believe we work in dangerous conditions, in the heat, in the cold and I believe we deserve to be treated better without being intimidated at work; we deserve the right to have benefits. We deserve this and more." Will you stand with farm workers like Maria Escutia during their march and sign this petition?

http://act.presente.org/sign/ufw_march

Gov. Brown stood with Cesar Chávez when he was governor, before, can you help give him the courage to stand with his spirit again?

http://act.presente.org/sign/ufw_march

Thanks y ¡Adelante!
Laurie, Felipe, Kyle, Favianna, Roberto, Carlos and the rest of the Presente.org team

1. Capitol Rally - Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Now, United Farm Workers, 9/6/2011
http://action.ufw.org/page/event/detail/onedayevent/wrl8

2. Farm workers are marching to Sacramento. Join Them Virtually, United Farm Workers,
http://action.ufw.org/page/s/200milemarch

3. Think Again: Is Farm Work Funny, Mr. Colbert, Center for American Progress, 09/30/2010
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/09/ta093010.html

4. Teen Farmworker's Heat Death Sparks Outcry, National Public Radio
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91240378

Get Educated About Unjust Deportations!

Dear Activist,

More than 20,000 Presente.org members have called on President Obama to end the dangerous Secure Communities (S-COMM) program, after his Administration’s decision to aggressively expand the use of local police officers as immigration agents.

Already, we’re helping make an impact together. The New York Times just ran an editorial saying that S-Comm, “has been plagued since its inception by miscommunication, deception, opacity and suspicion …a program whose plug desperately needs pulling.”1 The Los Angeles Times editorial board similarly told Obama to “Shelve Secure Communities.” 2

In Boston, the city where S-Comm got it’s start, Mayor Tom Menino now wants the program out, stating, “People will start to say the police are gestapos. My police aren’t gestapos.”3 Many more community organizations led by the National Day Labor Organizing Network are set to protest S-Comm at ICE forums around the country.4 The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is leading a national call-in day to the White House against S-Comm. 5 This is exactly the kind of massive outcry needed to tell the Obama administration that 1 million deportations is enough! ¡Ya basta!

http://act.presente.org/sign/scomm/


— from Favianna, Felipe, Carlos, Roberto, Laurie and everyone else from the Presente.org team.

Here's more background information:


1. “The Widening Dragnet," New York Times, 08/14/2011
http://nyti.ms/nkrm1d

2. “Shelve Secure Communities,” Los Angeles Times, 08/12/2011
http://lat.ms/qyFMYc

3. “Resistance Widens To Obama Initiative on Criminal Immigrants,” New York Times, 08/13/2011
http://nyti.ms/nSRaZh

4. NDLON/Turning the Tide event page, http://bit.ly/pM6D3r

5. NNIRR Action Alert, http://bit.ly/oW6AWN

New York Makes a Mark for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability!

Great job New York! You're now the sixth conscious state to allow same sex couples to marry!

Who's next?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/nyregion/gay-marriage-approved-by-new-york-senate.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/25/new.york.gay.marriage.lawsuit/

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57749.html

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-24/news/29724140_1_gay-marriage-gay-couples-james-alesi

Support All Peoples Right to Celebrate their Partners!

Read up, if you haven't already, about what's happening in NY to push forward an agenda of justice for same sex marriage. No one should ever be denied the right to celebrate love with their partner regardless of arbitrary rules, policy, law, legislation, and conservative ideology.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/01/new.york.same.sex.marriage/

http://nation.foxnews.com/culture/2011/07/01/ny-town-clerk-i-wont-sign-gay-wedding-license

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jul/01/barack-obama-gay-marriage

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/24/us-gaymarriage-newyork-idUSTRE75N0JS20110624

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/nyregion/gay-marriage-approved-by-new-york-senate.html

The Film, The Last Mountain, Premiers in L.A. Today!

From www.grist.org

In the heart of Appalachia, a battle rages over the fate of the last great mountain: A mining giant wants to obliterate Coal River Mountain for the coal that lies inside. Meanwhile local families fight to defend their community, their heritage, and their futures.

The mining and burning of coal is at the epicenter of America’s struggle to balance its energy needs with environmental and public health concerns, so the daring solution proposed by this small Appalachian community quickly takes on national significance. And when Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. joins Appalachian families and activists, harnessing the power of citizen democracy to fend off the extraordinary and insidious power of Big Coal, the conflict flares.

The film The Last Mountain follows waitresses, college students and former marines taking extraordinary risks to stave off the Coal Industries lobbyists and politicians, sparking a revolutionary fight to save Appalachia — and our collective future.

Watch the film's trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8WpxjwxGns

Thoughts and questions for the weekend...

The Supreme Court has ordered the release of more than 33,000 California inmates. This ruling comes in response to incredibly overcrowded prisons across the state that have only gown more inhumane through the past 20 years of critique. Will this action help unravel the atrocities of the prison-industrial complex, and pave a greater path for ideas revolving around therapeutic treatment of prisoners to treat them and educate them rather than tax people to continue frivolous and racially based incarcerations? Especially those with minor infractions?

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/retroactive?akid=1989.484908.N6idfB&rd=1&t=4


A hate filled ruling came down for the state of Arizona recently that once again proclaims economy and corporate business interests are more important than the people who help keep this country running. Read this ridiculously toned piece and imagine what ripples certain (small) businesses will face in light of this ruling.

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/05/26/us-chamber-v-arizona

Then click on this link to regain your sanity, http://altopolimigra.com

What will it take for Israel and Palestine to recognize each other's right to be?

What lessons can be drawn and are still forming in regards to the continued uprisings in Syria, Yemen, and the greater Middle East?

What Are The Root Causes of "Terrorism"?

In the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden we must ask ourselves this question. We must also ask where is justice when one rejoices a "job well done and served" by killing another. Why are there still troops in Afghanistan? What shift must take place in order for humans to stop fostering war as a way to "control" life?

We're the most evolved species on the planet. Even though we know things like war, racism, destruction of the environment, homophobia, and the like are created by humans unnecessarily, they still persist. When will an evolution take place where leaders rise above the past to create the possible future? When we look at some views in the media rejoicing the death of bin Laden, proclaiming it as a victory for the U.S., patriotism, and the war on terrorism, we must recognize that offing this leader of extremism is not a battle won in the "war" for peace.

Several thought provoking pieces to further question the mentality of victory in this case as well as ponder the future steps needed to move toward actualized Holistic Sustainability.

http://www.democracynow.org/tags/osama_bin_laden