Fair food march (Photo credit: Coalition of Immokalee Workers)
“Up, up, with the fair food nation,
Down, down, with the exploitation!”
by CIW marchers
If you want to see what social justice looks like in action check out what the Coalition of Immokalee Workers is up to right now. I should have posted this sooner but if anyone is interested in joining the march, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers is in the midst of marching 200 miles from Ft. Myers to Lakeland, FL. Their destination is Lakeland, FL, to put pressure on Publix supermarkets corporate headquarters to sign the Fair Food Agreement that would give farmworkers, specifically tomato pickers in Florida, a 1¢ per pound increase in wages and other benefits currently denied many farm workers in the fields. I joined the march today in Sarasota, FL, and am hoping to march with them tomorrow in Bradenton, FL. They are currently ending day 8 of their 16 day march. I am working on doing a special post on the CIW but I realized I never gave a shout out to their march, in case there were any readers in the area that want to participate.
Great news, thanks for sharing and raising the awareness. I’m in the UK so won’t be joining but am thrilled this kind of activism is so alive:-)
Thank you Harula for your words of support. It’s always good to hear from you.
A nice post. Bravo for addressing such problems, as well. One of the main problems in agriculture, is the genetically manufactured seeds that have been allowed all over the world, without farmers being properly filled in about the consequences. They were aiming for bigger and better looking crops (which in many cases end up selling for fraction of the original price or throwing away, due to over production and the “laws of the market” ) but at the same time they were becoming DEPENDED from the big corporations for their seeds, since they give crops only for one or two years!!! Now seeds are very expensive and they can’t go back to the original seeds, that they produced less, but could be used again and again. I wonder why the governments allowed genetically mutated seeds with such time limit, when the result was so obvious. Only pawns in their game.
Vassilis, GMO is definitely a big issue. I read today that Whole Foods (not sure if they have Whole Foods in Greece) agreed to mandatory GMO labeling by 2018. That should give the multinational corporations enough time to find the loopholes. Your point about the farmers is well taken, every single aspect of the food chain has been compromised.
If you really want to organize; consider reading “Rules For Radicals”. It’s the BIBLE for political or citizen action success.. I wish you luck.
I saw on TV the other that the uS has more than enough food to feed our own. There is no reason for anyone to suffer malnutrition, except: lack of funds. My daughter used to tell me that in school- kids who had money, ans also had free luch tickets (or IF you weren’t hungry), would leave their tickets on the table, so the next lunch shift kids could use them. I always encouraged her to do so.
My area was lower middle class, but believe me; after hearing what my child was doing; I was really proud. She was sharing. She told me that a mlot of these kids parents did not want to be labeled as poor. They clearly qualified, but either did not do the paper work- but the kid suffered. My kid told me that some of her friends would have not eaten had it not been for the tickets left there.
Ther HAS to be a better, more effective way of feeding our own.
I haven’t read the Bible of activism you mentioned but the CIW is a real grassroots, coalition of the willing. They count as their allies the Student Farmworker Alliance, Interfaith Action and the Presbyterian churches. Their organizing skills and enthusiasm for the mission is unbelievable up close.
Personally know about the issues in Immokalee, I have a house in Lehigh. Glad you are there to join them as I’m not able to at this time. The living conditions for farm workers in Immokalee are atrocious, many of them living in overcrowded run-down trailers, or homeless on the street. Hope this effort helps improve the situation.
Thanks for joining in the discussion, you’re right about the conditions in Immokalee. The CIW has called it for what it is, modern day slavery. This march is not just about pressuring Publix but bringing awareness to the communities to think about the rights and dignities of the people who put the food on their tables.
OMGosh! How was it, Jeff? I’m signed-up for the 17th! If you plan on going again on that day let me know. I’ve been watching & praying for CIW every day, every step of the way!
Hi Maria, the coalition is amazing in their tireless dedication. Everyone I met was passionate about what they were doing. The march was well organized with everyone doing their part. I was only with the march Saturday and Sunday but it seemed to be well received by the people in the communities the CIW interacted with and the churches were key to feeding and housing the marchers. I’m planning to go on the 17th, I’d love to meet up with you.
I’ll see you in Lakeland!