Latina Students Fight Pesticides In California

And now for a great story out of California, where a group of young Latinas and other high school students organized to protect their families from a harmful pesticide, convincing the Watsonville city council to adopt a formal resolution against methyl iodide as a pesticide.

The story by the Sierra Club talks about how young high school students were able to successfully change hearts and minds in their community against the billion-dollar strawberry business and to the favor of the health of those that pick them. Here’s a snippet:

After getting their schoolmates on their side, Carolina and Jojo, with the help of the Brown Berets and other community groups, went further. They made anti–methyl iodide presentations to the school board, the Watsonville City Council, and the mayor, all of whom adopted formal resolutions against the fumigant. They handed out bilingual flyers at the Friday mercado, got campesinos to sign their petition, and talked about the health risks to their moms, dads, brothers, sisters, tias, and tíos—anyone who would listen.

Carolina and Jojo were well on their way to embodying Laskin’s bold style of activism when they learned a hard lesson. On December 1, the day after the girls’ triumphant presentation to the Watsonville City Council, the DPR [California Department of Pesticide Regulation] announced its approval of methyl iodide.

It’s the same fight people have been fighting for so many decades, but it’s pretty heartwarming to see it taken on by young women who are taking charge of their communities. Read the rest of the story here, and let us know what you think.

Thanks to Melissa for the tip!

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD