11/4/13

National Farmworkers Association Today’s Topics: y que? 1. United Farm Workers & Dolores Huerta Cesar Chavez Pesticides 2. UFW as part of 1960s-70s cultural venacular

National Farmworkers Association From National Farmworkers Association member, you member, member… to United Farm Workers

Cesar Estrada Chavez Caesar Estrada Chavez

— Born in Yuma Arizona, 1927 — 1952, joined CSO -

— 1 of 5 children Community Service Organization — Family all migrant workers. — He was an organizer — 1944, Chavez joined the U.S. Navy for 2 years, served in the — Quit because they refused Pacific to organize farmworkers

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From National Farmworkers From National Farmworkers Association Association to United Farm Workers y que? to United Farm Workers Member, you Dolores Huerta member, member… — Born in Dawson, New Mexico.

— Stockton, CA, quit her teaching job and joined Chavez in organizing with CSO

— “ I couldn’t stand seeing kids come to class hungry and needing shoes.”

Dolores Huerta awarded the “Medal of Freedom” by President Obama 2012

Strike to support Delano, California, 1960s Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, large Filipino membership

— September 1965 – NFWA voted to join the AWOC strike

— 1966 – NFWA and AWOC merged to form

— Boycott Grapes throughout the world

— More than 14 million Americans boycotted grapes

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Strike to support “Sun Mad Raisins,” 1962 Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, large Filipino membership Ester Hernandez

— Screenprint on Paper — 1969 – UFW wins y que — 22” x 17” — Sign contracts with Delano Growers y que? — 1962 — Boycott start in 1965, with literally ZERO STRIKE — In response to hometown drinking water contaminated with pesticides FUND — “talks about the impact the overuse — i.e. they had no $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ of pesticides will have on the farmworkers consumers and the environment.” Ester Hernandez

Ester Hernandez, b. 1944 Sun Maid Raisins, 1916

— San Francisco based artists

— Mexican/ / Yaqui heritage

— UC Berkeley Graduate

— Visual art since the 1970s

— Feminist subjects

ê Sun Maid Raisins, Sun Maid Raisins, 1970s circa 1980s

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Sun Maid Raisins, circa 2000

— The previous slides (Sun Mad Raisins), showed the normal progression of of their packaging.

— But Ester Hernandez’s “Sun Mad Raisins” shows the real impacts that farm workers have to deal with exposure to pesticides.

— These images provided a framework for other Chicanos in the 1960s-70s to rally behind.

Pesticides and Farmworkers

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National Farmworkers Association Grape Strike, 1965-1970. Several continue to 2000s.

"A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride . . . When people see it they know it means dignity." Cesar Chavez

International Strike

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— The UFW flag was very visible and in many ways became the flag of the entire Chicano movement.

— It was easy to reproduce, which was good because anyone could make their own UFW flag/poster.

— In that way, anyone could be a part of the movement.

Pescide use in the 1950s and MOVIE: Chicano Struggle in the Field 1960s

— Watch the Documentary on Youtube.

— http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIgIaI5AVpY

— Or search with “Chicano! PBS Documentary - The Struggle in the Fields.”

— Pay special attention to the way art ( theater, skits, murals, music, etc…) were used in the UFW Grape strike and Chicano Movement.

— This was the essence of Chicano Identity.

Agent Orange sprayed in Vietnam, 1961-1971 Agent Orange Impacts? - 1962-1971: 12 Million Galls of Agent Orange sprayed on Vietnam

- Spray Agent Orange, approx. 80 million liters laced with dioxin

- Used “to save the lives of U.S. and allied Soldiers by defoliating dense vegetation In the Vietnamese jungles.” MONSANTO

- Spray area same size of State of Massachusetts

- Vietnamese mothers report birth defects

- - U.S. soldiers sons/daughters birth - defects

- Yale Biologists = tested mice and reported the same results and said they had no reason to believe the effect on humans was different

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Agent Orange Children in Agent Orange Children the U.S. and Vietnam — 4.5 million Vietnamese and — 2.5 million American veterans, may have been exposed to the pesticide — Dioxin, one of the main ingredients, is “known human carcinogen”

Agent Orange

— Agent Orange was sprayed at up to 50 times the — These slides are here to show you just how concentration recommended for killing plants. dangerous pesticides (and chemicals) can be….

— Former U.S. airbase in Da Nang is one of 28 “hot spots” — Farmworkers were especially in harms ways because in Vietnam where DIOXIN LEVELS are up to 365 they would literally spray over them in the fields. TIMES above acceptable levels. — As such, that helps construct an identity because many Chicana/os are working in dangerous working conditions. When that happens, people often band together to fight for safer working conditions.

Results from American Chemical Companies: Pescides and Frogs Chemical Use Today

— There are over 80,000 chemicals in use today.

— Most have never been tested – either for efficacy or safety.

— That is U.S. Law – ok to sell product before it is tested. If products is found to cause harm/ death, then action may be taken. UC Berkeley Biologist Tyrone Hayes links pesticides to deformities

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Dr. Tyrone Hayes, UC Berkeley Dr. Tyrone Hayes, UC Berkeley

Tyrone Hayes Pesticide: Atrazine Pesticide: Atrazine — Was # 1 Pesticide in the — Herbicide used on crops world — Mostly used on Corn — Used in 80 countries — Used for 50+ years — But banned in all of Europe — Use 80 Million Pounds Annually — Why? — Popular Pesticide — It’s even made in Europe (Germany), but it’s banned in its own country.

Results from American Chemical Companies Changes Sex of Frogs

— Atrazine promotes the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.

— Explains the demasculinization of the male larynx and the production of hermaphrodites.

— Study suggests – other amphibians could be at risk of impaired sexual development – or – change sex organs

— This endocrine disruptors may be a factor in global amphibian declines.

Atrazine

Pesticide Exposure

Atrazine

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J PAN: PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK, Atrazine – “um, good” "WHAT'S ON OUR FOOD"

Pescide Exposure Felipe Franco, California, circa 1980s Felipe Franco, California, circa 1980s

American Chemical Companies & Pesticides “The Corporation”

Cesar Chavez Speech on Pesticides

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El Malcriado, UFW UFW & Pesticides

El Malcriado, UFW UFW & Pesticides

Pesticides and Farmworkers Pesticides and Farmworkers

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1.1 Billion Pounds of Pesticides Annually

So what does all this mean?

1. The UFW was, in many ways, the heart and soul of the Chicano Movement in the 1960s-70s. As such, it greatly lead to the sense of Chicano Identity during the 1960s.

2. This will lead to a spin off of other Chicano artistic influences. Chicanos will reach back to their Pre- Columbian history.

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“Orale Raza”

“If I have to die it’s gonna be for Aztlan”

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“We are Not a Minority!!” Chicano Identity Manifested through Arts

— Be sure to watch the “Struggle in the Fields” Video found on Youtube. Instructions were placed earlier in this PowerPoint.

— In summation, the UFW struggle in the 1960s and 70s became an impetus for Chicano cultural manifestations.

— It was evident in music, art, muralism, posters, theatre, and other visual culture.

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