FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA : September 8, 2022
CONTACT / CONTACTO : Yamiles Nunez, Social Media and Communications Specialist, yamiles.nunez@campesinasunite.org
Farmworker Women Demand Ban of Pesticides, Call on Congress to Act Now
Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (Alianza) applauds Representative Nydia Velazquez’s introduction of the Banning All Neurotoxic Organophosphate Pesticides from our Food Act (The BAN OPs Act). Farmworkers have long-suffered the consequences of being exposed to this deadly pesticide. We urge Congress to stand with farmworkers and their families in banning the use of organophosphates in our farm and food systems.
Alianza has tirelessly advocated to protect farmworkers from pesticide exposure for years. Organophosphates are a particularly harmful group of chemicals that can be lethal even when workers wear proper protective clothing. Studies have shown that exposure to organophosphates can cause long-term health effects, including neurological and behavioral harm. Pregnant workers are especially at risk, as organophosphates have been linked to congenital birth anomalies in children.
Farmworker women care for their families and the Earth. Unfortunately, many are unaware that they are being exposed to harmful pesticides while they work. Others have no choice but to work under such dangerous conditions due to a lack of immigration status and resources.
Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally banned one of the most widely used organophosphate pesticides, chlorpyrifos. While a step in the right direction, banning just one pesticide in this larger class of lethal chemicals is not enough to protect our communities.
We urge our lawmakers to ban all organophosphates from our farm and food systems to protect our nation's farmworkers. They can do this by passing the BAN OPs Act as soon as the August recess is over - farmworkers and their families deserve as much.
Statements from our Executive Director and partners:
“We cannot allow any more farmworkers, especially farmworker women and their families, to be exposed to pesticides. Farmworkers have suffered far too long from the damaging effects of these chemicals. We must act now and ban the use of deadly pesticides,” said Mily Trevino-Sauceda, Executive Director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas.
“Whether we grow our food in buckets, backyards, farms, or if we sell, process, buy and consume the products of growers,” said Suguet Lopez, Executive Director of Alianza member organization, Líderes Campesinas. Continuing, Lopez said, “this is an opportunity for humanity to reconnect, put our heads together, and collectively work towards sustainable food and agricultural practices.”
“Farmworker women, as the most exposed, have led in opposing the use of dangerous chemicals,” said Lorette Picciano, Executive Director of Alianza member organization, Rural Coalition. “Eliminating organophosphates and making the transition now to more sustainable methods of production is an important investment in the health of our children and the future of our planet,” Picciano added.
"Farm workers deserve better. The people who pick, sort and pack our food, the ones who participate in the agricultural work of this country deserve to be protected from dangerous pesticides that can damage, harm or even kill them or their families. These are the people closest to the ground where these chemicals are applied. Ban Organophosphates NOW! Farm workers should have healthy places to work," says Julie Taylor, Executive Director of the National Farm Worker Ministry.
“As an organization of farmworker women, in a state that produces a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, we ask that organophosphates be banned and withdrawn from the market.” said Rebeca Velazquez, Executive Director of Alianza member organization, Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas. “These pesticides affect the environment and the health of farmworker women and their families.” Velazquez added.
Campesinas Exigen la Prohibición de Pesticidas y Piden al Congreso que Actúe Ahora
Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (Alianza) aplaude la introducción de la Ley para Prohibir Todos Los Pesticidas Organofosforados Neurotóxicos de Nuestros Alimentos (BAN OP, por sus siglas en inglés) por parte de la representante Nydia Velázquez. Lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas han sufrido durante mucho tiempo las consecuencias de estar expuestxs a estos pesticidas mortales. Exigimos al Congreso a apoyar a lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas y sus familias para prohibir el uso de organofosforados en nuestros sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios.
Alianza ha abogado incansablemente por años para proteger a lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas de la exposición a pesticidas. Los organofosforados son un grupo de sustancias químicas particularmente dañinas que pueden ser letales incluso cuando lxs trabajadorxs usan ropa protectora adecuada. Los estudios han demostrado que la exposición a los organofosforados puede causar efectos en la salud a largo plazo, incluidos daños neurológicos y de comportamiento. Las campesinas embarazadas corren un riesgo especial, ya que los organofosforados se han relacionado con anomalías congénitas de nacimiento en lxs niñxs.
Las campesinas cuidan de sus familias y de la Tierra. Desafortunadamente, muchxs no saben que están expuestxs a pesticidas dañinos mientras trabajan. Varixs no tienen otra opción más que trabajar en condiciones peligrosas debido a la falta de estatus migratorio y de recursos.
El año pasado, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA) finalmente prohibió uno de los pesticidas organofosforados más utilizados, el clorpirifos. Aunque es un paso en la dirección correcta, prohibir solo un pesticida en esta clase más grande de químicos letales no es suficiente para proteger a nuestras comunidades.
Exigimos a nuestrxs legisladorxs que prohíban todos los organofosforados de nuestros sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios para proteger a lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas de nuestra nación. Pueden hacer esto aprobando la ley tan pronto como termine el receso de agosto- lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas y sus familias se lo merecen.
Palabras de nuestra Directora Ejecutiva y socios:
“No podemos permitir que más trabajadorxs agrícolas, especialmente las campesinas y sus familias, estén expuestxs a pesticidas. Lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas han sufrido durante demasiado tiempo los efectos dañinos de estos químicos. Debemos actuar ahora y prohibir el uso de pesticidas mortales”, dijo Mily Treviño-Sauceda, Directora Ejecutiva de Alianza Nacional de Campesinas.
“Ya sea que cultivamos nuestros alimentos en cubetas, patios, granjas, o si vendemos, procesamos, compramos y consumimos los productos de los productores”, dijo Suguet López, Directora Ejecutiva de organización miembra de Alianza, Líderes Campesinas. Continuando, López dijo, “esta es una oportunidad para que la humanidad se vuelva a conectar, juntar nuestras cabezas y trabajar colectivamente hacia prácticas agrícolas y alimentarias sostenibles”.
“Las campesinas, como las más expuestas, han liderado la oposición al uso de químicos peligrosos”, dijo Lorette Picciano, Directora Ejecutiva de organización miembra de Alianza, Rural Coalition. “Eliminar los organofosforados y hacer la transición ahora a métodos de producción más sostenibles es una inversión importante en la salud de nuestros niñxs y el futuro de nuestro planeta”, agregó Picciano.
“Lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas merecen algo mejor. Las personas que recogen, clasifican y empacan nuestros alimentos, lxs que participan en el trabajo agrícola de este país merecen ser protegidxs de pesticidas peligrosos que pueden dañarlxs, o incluso matar a ellxs o a sus familias. Estas son las personas más cercanas al suelo donde se aplican estos productos químicos. ¡Prohibir los organofosfatos AHORA! Lxs trabajadorxs agrícolas deben tener lugares saludables para trabajar", dijo Julie Taylor, Directora Ejecutiva del Ministerio Nacional de Trabajadores Agrícolas.
“Como organización de campesinas, en un estado que produce una gran variedad de verduras y frutas, pedimos que prohíban y retiren del mercado los organofosforados.” dijo Rebeca Velazquez, Directora Ejecutiva de organización miembra de Alianza, Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas. “Estos pesticidas afectan al medio ambiente y la salud de las campesinas y sus familias.” agregó Velazquez.
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Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Inc. (Alianza) is the first national farmworker women’s organization in the United States founded and led by farmworker women, and those who hail from farmworker families. A coalition of 15 grassroots, farmworker organizations across 20 states and the District of Columbia, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas advocates for the civil, constitutional, and human rights of our country’s more than 700,000 farmworker women, and other women workers, who form the backbone of our farm and food systems.
Rural Coalition/Coalicion Rural is an alliance of over 50 organizations representing farmers, farmworkers, indigenous, migrant and working people from the United States and beyond working together since 1978 toward a new society that values unity, hope, people, and the land. We are a founding member of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas.
Líderes Campesinas, Inc. is a 34 year old and the only statewide network of farmworker women and girls in California focused on strengthening the leadership of female farmworkers to be agents of social, economic and political change to ensure their human rights.
National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) represents consumers, advocates and people of faith and conscience who want to support the Farm Worker Movement.
Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas is a group of farmworker women who create economic development and promote leadership among women in their community. They share, coexist with other women, and learn new skills. Members of Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas (MLP), strive to improve their living and working conditions. They recognize that women overcome exploitation and injustice when they organize and reclaim their rights. They believe there should be respect between workers. As a group of farmworker women, they strengthen their pride, dignity and advance their cause.