Farm Workers and Consumers

Volume 6, Number 1 Just before ChristnUls, actor Food and Justice Esai Morales, one EDITORIAL ofthe stars of "La February 1989 Bamba," received the cross symboliz ing his participation FAST FOR LIFE Magazine of the in the national Fast United Farm Workers for Lifefrom asting has always been an important part ot of America, AFL-CIO Father Luis Olivares during a F ourfann workermovement. We learned from La Paz ceremony in Queen Gandhi and other spiritual leaders before him the Keene, CA 93570 ofAngels Church in Los Angeles. value of fasting for such personal purposes as Morales is shown preparation for a significantlife event, atonement, here immediately and self-purification. after the ceremony as he explains to Christ, for example, underwent a 40-day fast in National Executive Board: friends and the desert to overcome temptation, to purify him Cesar E. Chavez supporters his self, to ready himsclfto embark upon his ministry Dolores Huerta desire to fast three David Martinez days to "share the to create a more just and loving world. Arturo Rodriguez SUffering" offarm We also learned from Gandhi that the value of Arturo Mendoza workers who once Oscar Mondragon again are engaged fasting could be extended beyond the personal to in a grape boycott to Roberto de la Cruz the social: that a person who fasted and suffered regain their for a much-needed societal change broader than Editor: contracts and obtain protection just his own purposes could elicit from others the Cesar E. Chavez from deadly desire to share that suffering and thereby partici pesticides. Writers: pate in eradicating a specific social injustice. Fr. Ken Irrgang La Opinion When I ended the Fast for Life last August, Armando Cerda many good men and womenjoined the fast against pesticide manufacturers and grape growers who, Photographer: Fast for Life Victor Aleman in their irresponsible production and use of dan gerous pesticides, are causing so much misery for Production Director: fann workers, endangering consumers, and de Paul Chavez Still Multiplying stroying the environment. ast August 21, Cesar Chavez, with fast on August 21 and set in motion a Today, seven months later, it is heartening to L instinctive confidence in the funda national chain offasting shared in by the see that the number ofthose "sharing the burden" e1989 The title United Farm mental goodness ofthe majority ofpeople, Rev. Joseph Lowery,actorMartin Sheen, ofthe fast continues to grow. We are humbled and Workers of America, AFL declared in a statement issued at the end and many more celebrities and promi Cia, Food and Justice, is of his 36-day Fast for Life: nent national leaders. Another national gratified by the letters and calls we are receiving registered with the United "Today I pass on the Fast for Life to fasting chain was subsequently begun in from thousands who have already fasted and many States Patent and Trade hundreds of concerned men and women Canada. Both are still continuing. more who plan to do so in the future. mark Office. throughout North America and the world On December 23, Esai Morales ("La We encourage you to participate in our Fast for Food and Justice (ISSN who have offered to share the suffering.. .it Bamba") announced his three-day fast in Life byinviting yourfamily ora communitygroup 0885-0704) is published will multiply among thousands and then a ceremony at a Los Angeles church, and millions of caring people until every you are a member ofto organize a fast. We would monthly for $5 per year by on February 1 in New York, the Fast for the United Farm Workers poisoned grape is off the supermarket Life medallion was placed around the appreciate hearing from you and letting us know . of America, AFL-CIO, Old shelves." neck ofSandra Feldman, presidentofthe how it is going. Highway 58, La Paz, Chavez' confidence has not betrayed United Federation ofTeachers, to signal Thank you. Y Keene, California 93570. him. The Rev. Jesse Jackson took up the the start of her fast and that of 120 more

2 3 Easter, with an average of launched a month-long fast. On 10 students scheduled to February 6, the National Asso fast each day. Also, Tho ciation of Social Workers began mas Y. Hobart, president, a fast chain scheduled to con and at least 180 of his col tinue for two months. And on the leagues in the New York same day, President Tony Marti State United Teachers are nez and 50 members of Capital planning to "fast one day Branch 142 of the National As each for each day" of the sociation ofLetter Carriers initi approximately 180-day ated their fast. harvest in 1989. The Southeastern Pennsylva President Joe McDer nia Chapter of the Americans for 5" mott and members of the f Democratic Action continued a ! Civil Service Employees fast they began back in Novem '!) Association in Albany, ber when they hosted in Philadel ~ New York, are seeing to it phia the passing of the national ~ that the entire year of 1989 fast from ex-boxer and actor PresidentSandraFe/dnulnsignsupofficersandmembersof is covered. At their con Carlos Palomino to former co the executive board ofNew York City teachers' union to fast vention in Lake Placid late median and activist Dick Gre with her in January and February. last year, McDermott an- President Joe McDermott and 450 members of the civil service employees' union in Albany, New York, gory. Chairperson Dolly Rieder nounced his intention of are conducting a fast that will last throughout 1989. and more than 100 ADA officers, officers, executive board members, and fasting four days in early December and board members, and other mem delegates. then 450 more delegates signed up to join and both fast together for one to three bers each signed up to fast one day, Feldman, whose union has 100,000 him. They have scheduled the individual days. which filled their fasting-chain calendar members teaching one million fasts to insure that one or more CSEA Two other groups headquar children in New York City, asked, in a members will be fasting every day un~l tered in New York combined letter to Kevin Gill and the New York thelastdayof1989! "Wecan makeadif their fasts with the observance City Board ofEducation, that they "stop ference," McDermott said at the start of ofthe January 15 holiday honor the serving oftable grapes in the schools the fast. "Wecan getby withoutgrapes as ing the birthday of Dr. Martin of New York City." long as we have to, but the California Luther King. During the Janu grape growers cannot get along without ary 15-16 weekend, 15 mem Coast to Coast in '89 consumers very long." bers of the national executive At the same time the national fast con Other groups in the New York area committee and staff of the Fel tinued, hundreds of others were started were also seeing to it that the fast and lowship of Reconciliation, a and completed, and new ones keptsprout boycottgotoffto a goodstartin 1989. On group started by King, fasted. ing up in hundreds ofdifferent places by January 18, President BettyeRoberts and And on January 15, the Rev. Dr. groups ofevery kind and size. Executive Director Bob McEnroe of Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., noted California table grapegrowers, already District Council 1707 of the American civil rights activist and execu reeling from the impact of the fast and Federation ofState, County and Munici tive director of the Commission boycott last year, have no reason to ex pal Employees launched a fast among for Racial Justice of the United pect this year to bring them relief. In fact, their members. On February 28, Stanley Church of Christ, and 30 com some fasts are already in place to insure Hill, executive director, and members of mission and staff members that the Fast for Life will go on through District Council 37 of the same union fasted. "Fasting to support the Bettye Roberts, president, andBob McEnroe, executive out the entire year of 1989. began theirs. Then Sonny Hall, president farm workers' struggle for jus director, District Council 1707, AFSCME, launch the For example, the Westchester Rain of the New York City Local 100 of the tice is a most fitting tribute to the Fastfor Life at delegates' meeting. bow Coalition in New York continued Transport Workers, and all 40 members life and work of Dr. King," into January a fast they started on Octo ofthe executive board inaugurated a fast. Chavis said. well into 1989. Other groups that began ber 21. And more than 400 students at And President Edward J. Cleary and the The first two months of 1989 also saw fasting chains about the same time in Aquinas High School in Rochester, New New YorkStateAFL-C10 began a unique the kickoff of fasts in Washington, D.C. Philadelphia were Brother John Tulley York, began a fast on Ash Wednesday fast in which each of the organization's On January 21, 30 members ofLocal 25 and the Missionary Servants ofthe Most (February 8) that will continue until labor lobbyists adopts a state legislator of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Holy Trinity, the Catholic Worker, and 4 5 exchanges in September and October, supermarket owners and grape growers. several fasts were started throughout the Toward the end of the grape season last state by students at The Lake University year, supermarket owners were badger and Incarnate Word College in San An ing grape growers to put a stop to all this tonio, the University of Houston in troublesome fasting and boycotting. Houston, the University of Texas in Angered by their demands, Bruce Ob Austin, Pan American University in bink, president of the California Table Edinburg, and Southwest Texas State Commission, complained to the press, University in San Marcos. Elsewhere, "Whatthe retailers want me to do is make churches and civic organizations organ them [boycotters] go away, but when ized fasting chains. In Dallas, several you're dealing with villains, that is not leaders of community organizations necessarily a simple matter." In a letter began a chain that lasted two months. to supermarket owners, Obbink's frus Andin thefarm workers' "home" state tration was also evident: "We will do of California, a flood of fasts from San Doug Hostetter, executive secretary, and Francisco in the north to Los Angeles and national executive committee members of southern communities in the Coachella the Fellowship ofReconciliation scheduled and Imperial Valleys rang out the old their two-dayfastto coincide with the birth Sonny Hall, president of New York City year and rang in the new. In Coachella, day of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the LocallOO ofthe Transport Workers, begins founder ofFOR. a fast that all 40 members ofthe executive Mayor Frank Duran and city council board are taking part in. members joined grape workers in an extended fast. And taking a cue from the "Villains" the Fox Chase Peace Reflection Center. national executive board of Church What all these hundreds of national And in Baltimore, 75 members of a Women United, whose 33 members and local fasts started in 1988 and con boycottsupportgroup and returned Peace fasted from November until Christmas tinuing in 1989 translate to, ofcourse, is Corps volunteers fasted. Eve, the local CWU in Pomona Valley millions of people engaged in the most In the Midwest, in addition to national started a fasting chain on February 1 that telling fast of all- a massive fast from fast exchanges in Chicago, St. Louis, was destined for a long life after 159 California table grapes. Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo, and Milwau women, organized by Beatrice Price And that translated to a sure sign the kee, several other fasts were carried out Russell, signed up to fast one or more boycott is working: fighting between at the end of the year and the start of days. 1989. Students at Chicago's Mundelein College are conducting a fast that will Alfonso Sanchez: "People in the cities are last through March. Other fasts were fastingandsacrificingfor us, and we haveto organized by students at Northwestern keepfasting and sacrifICing, too." and Bowling Green universities and by members of churches, labor unions, and other organizations in Minneapolis-S t. whatever we can to minimize it [the Paul, Flint, Ann Arbor, Pontiac, and boycott], but we can't be held liable for Grand Rapids. making it go away." The boycott will In the New England states, 200 stu go away, ofcourse. Not exactly the way dents at Brown University fasted last Obbink and California grape growers year when Rory Kennedy participated in would like it to, but it will. The Fast for the national fast. Later, Chicano students Life is multiplying among U.S. and atall nine Ivy League schools took part in Canadian "villains," as Chavez confi fasting chains. And in a particularly dently said it would, and it will continue poignant fast in Portland, Maine, the SoledadQuintero: "Whatever wedo,fasting to until every poisoned grape is off the mother of two children whose deaths The Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.: Fast or boycotting or picketing, we have to be supermarket shelves for good...until were believed to resultfrom a toxic waste ing for the farm worker cause "is a most united in the struggle because that is our growers sit down with workers and agree dump undertook a fast. fitting tribute to the life and work of Dr. only hopefor better conditions anda better to stop using dangerous pesticides and In Texas, after national Fast for Life King." future for our children. " give workers contracts. Y 6 7 have so far gotten grapes removed from south of the border, they had already the school cafeterias, the hospital, and identified California table grapes as poi two of the city's four supermarkets. sonous and were well on their way to getting them removed. Canadian per Viva Videos! capita grape consumption dropped Meanwhile, the extensive distribution sharply from 4.98 poundsin 1986 to 4.33 of"The Wrath of Grapes" video contin in 1987 - a decrease of two-thirds of a ued. In the last two years, more than pound perperson in one year. Thedrop is 15,000copies have been issued to groups expected to be even greater when figures and individuals. Leadingdistributors were for 1988 arereleased. Statistics also show the United Steelworkers, the Canadian that per-person grape consumption in Auto Workers, and the B.C. Teachers' Canada in the past decade in Canada has Federation, which sent out 1,800 copies always been higher than in the U.S., but Elias Stavrides to every secondary, junior high, and ele it has been lower since the start of the Kicking offthe nationalfastin Canada infrontofKnobHillF.arms, the largest s~permarket mentary school ill the province. But the boycott. chain in metropolitan Toronto, are Shirley G. E. Carr, president ofthe Canadwn Lab?ur of Citing another market report, David Congress and at herleft Leo Gerard director, District 6, United Steelworkers ofAmeTlca, video champs were the Ontario region andSean0'F &nn,forme~secretary-t;easure~ofthe C!ntario Federation ofLabour. Pictured the Canadian Labour Congress, led by Martinez, UFW boycott director in Can at the left is David Martinez, UFW boycott dIrector In Canada. Doug Tobin. He and his staffshowed the ada, said that, from January to August of video about 100 times at labor seminars, 1988, there was a 26% decrease in all conferences, and schools to more than table grape imports into Ontario, the larg The Fast and Boycott in Canada 9,000 rank-and-file trade union activists. est Canadian market, compared to the The B.C. Federation of Labour, be same period in 1987. Kenzie, Member of Provincial Parlia ast summer, a delegation of seven sides distributing the video and getting it As Auditor-General Dye madeclear to ment, Hamilton; Brian Burch, United L prominent Canadian labor leaders shown on many local cablevision pro the Canadian Parliament, chemical resi Church of Canada; Gary Wylie, presi visited Cesar Chavez in Delano during grams, enlisted the help of actor Martin dues in imported and domestic agricul dent, DistrictLabourCouncil, Cornwall; his 36-day Fast for Life. Afterward, Ca Sheen and produced three of their own tural products must be "identified, pre Doug Sword, president, Quinte Labour nadians inaugurated a national chain of 30-second spots for commercial televi vented and removed." Canadians are Council, Belleville; Sean O'Flynn, sec fasting "to share the suffering," as the sion that were broadcast throughout the definitely doing that with one imported Rev. Jesse Jackson put it on August 21 retary-treasurer, Ontario Federation of province and generated widespread agricultural product: table grapes from when he initiated a chain offasting in the Labour, Toronto; HomerSeguin, USWA awareness of the boycott. California. They're sending them "right U.S. staff coordinator, Sudbury; Roger Au back where they started from." y Thirty prominentCanadian labor, reli but, USWA staff representative, Sud Food Not Safe gious, political, and community leaders bury; Sisters ofSt. Joseph, Morrow Park, When Auditor-General Ken committed themselves to participate in Ontario; and John Martin, president, Dye made his annual report to the national fast. Among those who have USWA Local 1005, Hamilton. the Canadian Parliament in Ot already joined celebrities Lou Diamond At the same time, Canadians, as they tawa this past December 13, he Phillips, Charlie Haid, and Susan Ans did in two previous boycotts, were also warned Canadians that both the pach in public exchanges of the fast putting boycott pressure on local stores domestic and imported food they symbol (a wooden cross or, sometimes, a and supermarket chains. In British Co eat is not safe: "We have con Fast for Life medallion) and have com lumbia, the B.C. Federation of Labour, cluded that inspection practices pleted three-day fasts are: Shirley G.E. guided by boycott coordinators Astrid need to be strengthened...to pro Carr, president, Canadian Labour Con Davidson and DaveWilson, carried outa vide reasonable assurance that gress, Ottawa; Sister Eleanor Holland, massive leafleting campaign against human health and safety threats Sisters of Loretto, Toronto; Dan Heap, supermarkets in the entire province. In I caused by chemical or bacterial Member of Parliament, Spadina, and the Vancouver area, 70 ofthe 100 super- l hazardsassociated with food and activist Alice Heap, Toronto; Ralph Ort markets are now being leafleted, with agriculture products are identi lieb, United Food and Commercial grapes already removed from several fied, prevented, and removed." Workers, Toronto; Leo Gerard, director, stores and all city institutions. And in Conferring with actor Martin Sheen during thefilm Canadians were already one District 6, United Steelworkers ofAmer smaller cities, too, local unions have ing ofboycott adsfor commercialtelevision in British step ahead ofDye in at least one ica, Ontario, his wife, Susan, and 17 waged successful boycott campaigns. In Columbia are Ken Georgetti (right), president ofthe area. Having heeded the warn B.C. Federation ofLabour, and Tom Fawkes, admin year-old daughter, Kari-Ann; Bob Mac- Port Albernie, for example, boycotters ing oftheir farm worker friends istrative assistant. 8 9 FARM WORKERS AND CONSUMERS Farm Worker Pesticide Poisonings Up 41 %! More Pesticide Fears For Consumers arm workers in California were the and no one yet is even counting chronic, onsumers have more to fear from Assessment, the bipartisan research arm F majority of the victims ofa frighten- long-term disease such as sterility, birth C pesticide poisoning after another of Congress. The OTA report, entitled ing jump in total pesticide-related poi- defects and cancer." government report issued last October "Pesticide Residues in Food - Tech sonings in 1987, and, no surprise, among revealed that only about half the pesti nologies for Detection," also cited an the most vulnerable were grape pickers. Poor Records cides that may contaminate fruits and earlier federal study that found routine During 1987, there were 2,897 pesticide The CDFA report may be even more vegetables can be.detected by federal FDA testing failed to detect 33 pesticides related illnesses or injuries reported by alarming for information it doesn't con tests. Just as alarming, officials of the with moderate to high risks for such doctors, 33% higher than in 1986 and the tain - that is, the estimated thousands of Food and Drug Administration seemed health problems as cancer and birth de highest total ever since pesticide poison pesticidepoisonings neverreported. Most relatively unconcerned about it. fects. ings began being recorded annually in doctors are still unable to diagnose pesti "Itis obvious," saidSen. PatrickLeahy, California 17 years ago. cide poisonings accurately and conse "...there are extraordinary D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Agricul The rise in farm worker poisonings quently do not report them. Even worse, ture Committee, "that there are extraor was even higher - 41 %. The highest doctors mostfarm workers are sent to are deficiencies in our ability dinary deficiencies in our ability to de number in agriculture occurred in Kern "company" doctors who are not disposed to detect pesticide tect pesticide residues in food." County, the heart ofthe California table to report anything that might put their Besides the poordetection ofpesticide grape industry. Again, no surprise. Said own employers in an unfavorable posi residues in our food." residues, the report also said that, even Dr. Michael O'Malley, elaborating on tion. though the technology exists to improve the report issued by the California De Doctors are practically never cited by pesticide tests, the FDA has been slow to partment of Food and Agriculture late grower-influenced county health depart The multi-residue tests used by the adopt more up-to-date methods. Mean last year, "When the grape harvest starts ments for failing to report pesticide poi FDA can detect only 163 of the 316 while, new pesticidesare being approved in Kern County, probably 50,000 work sonings, and, when they are, they face a pesticides registered with the Environ and registered for use even though the ers are involved in one capacity or an trifling $250 fine - not exactly a dis mental Protection Agency for use on FDA has not developed new detection other." couraging word home on the rich Cali fruits and vegetables, according to the methods. "Weall know why grapepickers are so fornia medical range. Y study done by the Office of Technology vulnerable to pesticide poisonings and Official Indifference why there are so many birth defects and "In contrast to the general public's WE 'RE AGRI BUSINESS cancer cases among their children," said uneasiness over pesticide residues in Dolores Huerta, first-vice president of food," the OTA report said, "the federal the UFW and director of the grape boy agencies responsible forregulating foods cott. "Grape workers come in direct do not have the same level ofconcern for contactwith the sprayed vines and leaves, the existing situation." A weak response and that accounts for the high number from FDA confirmed the OTA accusa poisoned every year - another of the tion. Said Pasquale Lombardo, manager many reasons to be boycotting grapes ofthe FDApesticides program: "It's safe before any other fruit or vegetable." to say the FDA does not think pesticides Ralph Lightstone, pesticide expert for in foods are the No. 1 threat. But we care the California Rural Legal Assistance about pesticides." Foundation, deplored the fact that the The FDA may not think pesticides are number of pesticide poisonings in Cali the No. 1 threat, but several polls con fornia agriculture keeps rising. "This ducted last year showed that the most report means that the system has again consumers do. One of them, a nation failed to protect farm workers who work wide survey conducted by the Food in the field producing the food we eat," Marketing Institute in Washington, D.C., he said. "In the 1980s, pesticide poison found that pesticide contamination of ings should have decreased. Instead, huge food is the number-one worry of 75% of worker poisonings continue to increase, the consumers consulted. Y 10 11 San Francisco Boycott Endorsement Infuriates Grape Growers

In 26 states, 46 different pesticides used in agriculture caused ground water contamina n the face of exaggerated tion. I economic threats from Cali fornia grape growers, the San The Cost ofFree Water FranciscoBoard ofSupervisors Art Agnos (right), former city councilman and now f "the best things in life are free" ers, simply assumed, without sufficient on December 12 passed a reso mayor ofSan Francisco, and Walter Johnson, secre ever included safe drinking water, it preliminary scientific research, that the tary-treasurer of the San Francisco Labor Council, I lution by a vote of 8-2 to sup pledged their support shortly after the UFW table doesn't anymore. Anyone who wants pesticides would either bind to the soil or port the UFW grape boycott of grape boycott began. water to be safe these days better buy break down into harmless chemicals. But California table grapes. bottled water. Anyone who still expects they don't. The American Farm Bureauand seven Also, onegrouphas already announced drinking water to be free better be pre other farm groups threatened to cancel it would hold its convention in March pared to pay for it in doctor and hospital The DBCP Lesson conventions in the city if the resolution 1990 because of the city's support of the bills later. Unless quick action is taken, One of the most tragic lessons to learn was adopted and warned that the. city boycott. The city's position "was a plus something the Environmental Protection from, but one that appears to have had could lose nearly $60 million in conven that enhanced our decision," said Jane Agency has never set any records for, little lasting impact, is the story of what tion-related business. However, Super Delgado, head of the National Coalition safe and free drinking water is quickly happened with the cancer-causing pesti visor Jim Gonzales, sponsor of the reso of Hispanic Health and Human Services going the way of the horse and buggy. cide, Dibromochlopropane (DBCP). lution, discovered that only one agricul Organizations. Delgado estimated that In mid-December, the EPA issued a Starting in the 1950s, tons and tons of tural group had booked a convention in more than $1 million would be spent by grim interim report showing that ground DBCPweredumped on California fields. San Francisco in the next 12 years. the 2,000 conventioneers expected to water in at least 38 states is contaminated Then, in 1977, after 90 men working at a "The pesticide issues and the issue of attend. by 74 differentchemicals. In 26 states,46 chemical plant in Lathrop, California, justice in the fields are everybody's is Joining the AFB, the Kern and Fresno different pesticides used in agriculture were rendered sterile by DBCP, Califor sues," said Gonzales. "For me, the boy County Boards of Supervisors passed caused the contamination,and in 12 more nia banned its use, and two years later it cott is a call for economic justice. And it resolutions in January to boycott San states 28 other chemicals from unknown was banned nation-wide by the EPA. is important that we eliminate from soci Francisco. "Those boards are showing sources were blamed. And that's just the Now, 40years afterDBCP's initial use ety, once and for all, those poisonous the world their blatant bias and indiffer interim report. "Many agricultural areas and 12 years after first being banned, it is pesticides that are causing cancer." ence to the health of farm workers and have not been sampled and are not statis still being found in drinking water. In The American Farm Bureau (AFB) consumers," said Dolores Huerta, first tically represented," said Victor Kimm, fact, every year more and more DBCP cancelled its convention in San Fran vice-presidentoftheUFW. "Thesecoun EPA acting administrator in charge of contaminated wells are being found cisco. Henry Voss, California Farm ties have the largest number ofvictims of pesticides. because that carcinogenic pesticide is so Bureau president, said that action would pesticide abuse in the country." The EPA report was no surprise to persistent in soil and ground water. keep 8,000 people out of San Francisco When interviewed about the Kern and Diane Baxter, staff scientist of the Na TheEPA'srecentreportdidn'texactly for one week and would cause the city a Fresno County resolutions, Mayor Art tional Coalition Against the Misuse of elicit dramatic concern from pesticide loss of $7 million. Agnos said that if residents were to fol Pesticides. "This is just the tip of the manufacturers. John McCarthy, vice However, San Francisco's budgetana low such recommendations, they would iceberg," she said. "As more samples are president of the National Agricultural Iyst projected that the city would lose almost have to stay home since the table taken, we are going to find more in Chemicals Association, said, "EPA's only one-tenth of 1 percent ofthe annual grape boycott has been endorsed by over stances of contamination." current sampling is the kind of informa hotel tax revenues now received. In 30 major city councils, including For almost 40 years, growers have tion we will look to as to whether there addition, the cancellation of grape pur Oakland, New York, Boston, Detroit, used pesticides on their fields without a may be a health issue." chases for city jails and hospitals would San Jose, West Hollywood, Los Ange thought about the safety of the water. Fantastic. Y produce an estimated annual savings of les, Toronto and two state legislatures, They, along with pesticide manufactur- $4,000 to $5,000. Maryland and Massachusetts. Y

12 13 SisterTheresa Spinierhas been instru mental in helping forge a strong base of Boycott Supporters Write support for the grape boycott with the Benedictine Sisters at St. Scholastica he grape boycott has raised con Along with a check she enclosed, Priory in Duluth, Minnesota. "Ijustgave Tsumer concern and enlightened Downey requested additional buttons to a talk and used 'The Wrath of Grapes' manytothedangersofpesticides.Many sell and literature to distribute at upcom video at S1. Mary's Medical Center," she who care about their health and the ing conventions. "We are also continu wrote. ''The administration was in com rights offarm workers are making the ing our picketing at the Rainbow and plete agreement with the grape boycott boycott work through a variety of in other grocery stores here. And that's not - so grapes are no longer served at the dependent actions. Below are a few of all. I have talked to three people in the hospital. the many people who have written to state legislature and we're going to go "We also have a college, S1. Scholas tell us about their boycott actions and there and ask them to pass a resolution tica, that does not serve grapes, either. to encourage us in our struggle. about pesticides." Your struggle for justice does not offer Pat Downey, a faculty member of the you much affirmation, I'msure, butknow Robert B. Hall When Barbara D. Stirton, Sonoma, that the Benedictine Sisters here in Du California, was on a USAir flight from luth support you. Mr. Hall knows about the adverse ef Burbank to San Francisco, she was taken ''I'm not only concerned with the pes fects suffered by farm workers whocome aback when the flight attendants served ticides in the grapes, but I'm concerned in contact with pesticides. "We are out her grapes for a snack. "I wrote a letter to with the pesticides in general- the tre raged at the continued excessive use of USAir regarding the serving of grapes. I mendous pollution that we have on our dangerous pesticides by fat-cat growers. got a letter back from the company say earth rigat now," she said. Sister Theresa One also suspects that pesticide residues ing, 'Yourcomments regarding the grapes said she hoped everyone would see the have a similar but less obvious effect, so have been forwarded to our Dining and "The Wrath of Grapes" video, which is far unknown and not yet well-investi Cabin Services Manager for review and distributed free by the UFW. "I think that gated, on consumers ofgrapes. future consideration.' really helps touch people's hearts and "Wehope that the growers will change "I thought you'd like to know that there makes them see the danger in all this. their practices and that those who do will are some not-so-little-old ladies out here God bless you, and I pray for you daily." prosper in comparison with the greedy protesting the use of life-threatening ones who persistin poisoningtheir work chemicals on our food crops - danger ers and the consumers." ous to farm workers - and that I support Hall said agricultural colleges should the grape boycott. "increase research on natural biological "Instead ofbuying grapes, I have a little methods of pest controls in place of the grapevine of my own in my back yard Jennie Downey poisonous chemicals which are so haz and that's all I depend on. I never buy ardous to agri-workers as well as to those any." Minneapolis Community College, re who consume the produce still tainted cently asked his local UWI to support the with chemical residues." Boycoll actions in Minneapolis, Min grape boycott. "No grapes were served nesota, by long-time supporter Jennie for the Board of Directors meeting at Downey, her husband Pat, and friends Rutgers University," Jennie reported. "I am a 17-year old high school stu have resulted in increased boycott sup Jennie and Pat Downey have been dent and have always loved grapes," port in the city. "I ordered a packet of staunch supporters of the UFW since wrote Jennifer Fuller of Raleigh, North buttons and signature forms from the 1968, when farm workers first started Carolina. "But now I am aware of the boycott office and am passing them out organizing in Minneapolis. "My husband horrors associated with them. I haven't and getting people to support the boy and I wentoutto picketthere [California] eaten grapes since my father enlightened cott," she wrote the UFW. "I have spoken in the '70s. It was a pretty rough when Sr. Theresa Spinier me on poisoned grapes. I wore a 'Boy and shown the video ['The Wrath of security guards, Teamsters and police cottGrapes' shirt to school lastweek and Grapes'] at the Central American Re were beating up a lot people. Once we "Welovegrapes," wroteretired senior opened a number ofeyes. Don't anyone sourceCenter,Lutheran Women'sGroup, stayed in a motel in Indio and they blew Robert Hall ofLakewood, Colorado,"but out there give up the fight against the Catholic churches and other groups and up part of it." there has notbeenonegrapeconsumed in pesticides. You'regetting moreand more have gOllen good support." our house for a year." reinforcement every day." Y 14 15 I will fast for days and invite my family, my organization, community leaders, and public officials to join this fast. You may wish to contribute what you normally would have spent on food to FAST FOR LIFE, La Paz, CA 93570. Envelope enclosed. For more information, call 1-800-27-CESAR.

01 SAMUEL B TRICKEY 723 NW 19TH ST GAINESVILLE FL 32603