Farmworker Awareness Week March 24.

PESTICIDES, HEALTH and SAFETY
SUNDAY MARCH 24

“Each year, an estimated 1 billion pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. farms, forests, lawns and golf courses… Pesticide applicators, farmers and farm workers, and communities near farms are often most at risk.” (http://www.panna.org/issues/pesticides-101-primer).

Not only is pesticide use increasing in agricultural production, but so are associated illnesses and health issues, such as increased risk of certain cancers, birth defects, neurological diseases and learning disabilities. Farmworkers may face long hours of arduous work exposed to these dangerous pesticides and are often fearful to report pesticide exposure because of the threat of losing their jobs. Many are also denied proper protective gear and even the most basic of amenities such as clean drinking water and washing water. About 90% do not have access to necessary medical care and insurance.

The following 3 minute video introduces why all of us need to be concerned about the pesticide exposure:

http://vimeo.com/album/2310640/video/62262941

For more about Farmworker Awareness Week 2013 go to the following website:

http://saf-unite.org/farmworkerawareness