SWOPblogger

SWOP has accepted an invitation to take part in an Environmental Justice working tour through devasted gulf coast communities. SWOP's sister organization Southwest Workers Union (SWU) is a Co-Convener of the tour, along with Project South, Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) and Grassroots Global Justice Alliance.

Tour dates are November 2 - 5, 2005, with the tour starting in Jackson, Mississippi. The 4-day tour will include visits to LEAN, United Houma Nation and other grassroots organizations and delivery of needed money, supplies and volunteer hours. The tour will also include local tribunals, a day-long strategy session and a work brigade. Vans will be used to transport delegates and work brigades to sites in the area.

"Like many folks we were asking ourselves: What can we do?" says Genaro Lopez, SWU's co-director. "We wanted this to be about movement building, unconditional solidarity with people in the gulf coast, and to make real connections with local people and local struggles to make sure this never happens again."

What can you do?

• Participate in the Tour - call SWOP at 505 247 8832. (ASAP as airfare is getting more and more expensive by the day.)
  
• A "Gulf Coast Tour Fund" has been set up for monetary donations
  
• Relief can be sent to:
  Centro por la Justicia
  1414 E. Commerce
  San Antonio, TX 78205
  For specific arrangements or questions please contact:
  Jill Johnston (jillj@igc.org) or Genaro Rendon (Genaro@igc.org) at 210.299.2666,
  Or call SWOP at 505 247 8832 if you are here in NM.
  
• Also accepting supplies, materials and any sort of communications infrastructure (work gloves, computers, tools, etc.)
• There will be a work brigade during a visit to United Houma Nation, so folks who go should be prepared with work clothes...

"We also want to make working connections between the South and Southwest, Latinos and African Americans," added Lopez. "We share such a similar reality even though our physical surroundings may be different. This is definitely about race and class, and we think SWOP can make an important contribution to linking the struggles of folks, for example, in Pajarito Mesa and those in the gulf coast."

Pajarito Mesa, on Albuquerque's SW Mesa, is home to hundreds of families who have organized for basic services and infrastructure in their community for over a decade. The area was given emergency status three years ago when the USDA Rural Utilities Services agreed to grant the community's Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association some emergency funds to construct a well as a temporary solution (Phase I) to the lack of water services in the community.

"It is only supposed to be an emergency solution," says Sandra Montes, Pajarito Mesa Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association President and SWOP organizer. "We have a commitment for another phase to include water storage tanks and solar panels for members of the association."

For an emergency, the going has been slow. And there has been plenty of finger-pointing (and red tape) to go around.

"We'll take the blame if it means the well can be drilled tomorrow," says Montes.

Folks from the Mesa will be on the tour, and hope to make connections and share strategies with people in the gulf who are looking to make changes that result in better living conditions. SWOP delegates will also present proceeds, donations from the 25th anniversary concert, as well as supplies and materials people may want to donate.

"The images social injustice and environmental racism in the news following the hurricanes down there hit home," says Montes. "We understand people have to be organized and work together, especially during tough times. Our message will be one of solidarity, a commitment to work together in the future, and maybe most importantly, a message of hope."

*Logistical info - from SWU - 210 299 2666.

TRAVEL:

Please fly into Jackson, Mississippi by 5pm on Wednesday November 2^nd and arrange your flight to leave from Jackson on Sunday November 6^th (at any time)

Please send your itinerary to jillj@igc.org

During the site visits, we will be traveling in 15-passenger vans (3).

HOTEL:

People can stay with the delegation in a hotel from Nov 2^nd – Nov 6^th. Most rooms may be covered, but please contact us. We will be confirming the hotel this weekend and will send out the information soon.

On Thursday November 3^rd we will be hosted by the Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church & the St. James Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi. There will only be a small space on the vans for luggage, so please have a small bag for this night. Please bring a blow-up mattress or sleeping bag. If you need one to be provided, please email Genaro@igc.org

WORK BRIGADE:

There is plenty of work that needs to be done at each site (Gulfport, New Orleans, Houma Nation) such as construction, cleaning, etc. Please bring work clothes and if possible supplies (gloves, masks, boots, etc.)

FOOD:

The majority of the food is being coordinated by local organizations. There will be snacks and drinks in the vans. If you have any very serious diet needs, please email Genaro@igc.org

RELIEF & SUPPLIES:

We are asking that each organization participating on the tour (not from the Gulf Coast area) bring a donation to be distributed between the local sites (suggested $250-$1000) and/or supplies. The tour includes housing, food and local transportation. Please let us know your contribution, Genaro@igc.org

contact info for SWU:

Genaro L. Rendon
PO Box 830706
San Antonio, TX 78283
210.299.2666 fx. 210.299.4009
genaro@igc.org

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