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El Laberinto, 1971-1987
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[in a box] Bueno Y Que? I am in my room staring at the wall and wondering why the heck did I volunteer to write a column for El Laberinto. After you read my column, you will probably wonder why, too.... Have you heard about our beloved first lady weathering crisis after crisis? It seems that Nancy was embarrassed at not having new china for the White House. Then, to make matters worse, the White House tablecloths were old and fringed at the ends. Poor Nancy finally solved the "China" crisis by persuading some people to donate a very, very expensive chinaware set to the White House. Now Nancy can pick up a plate and say, "Now isn't that a nice reflection of me." Bueno siquiera gente como Nancy have the essential things in life like expensive dishes, parties, and designer clothes given to them by generous philanthropists (who, of course, don't even think about the generous tax write-offs). In the meanwhile, people like us are also getting the essential things in life like free government surplus cheese and butter instead of financial aid for a college education, legal services, and other frivolities. Bueno y que pedo es esto y que podemos hacer? Today's reality is that if you're poor, very young, or very old, who cares about you because the government doesn't. What we can do is become aware of what's going on in magical D.C. and become politically active by voting, lobbying, writing letters, etc. At the very least, I urge every one of you who will be affected by the financial cuts to write your congressperson para ponerles presion. Make them aware that they're up there in Washington to represent the people and that you want representation or else they're not going to be up there next term. Bueno, let's give it a try. We have to fight for what we know is right-- higher education for all who want it and other necessary social services. Bueno hasta luego.... Yo se que van a espera mi sigiente column con mucha anticipacion. --Por Sabla Que Viva La Raza! With the increasing problems that this nation faces today, much of what Chicano and other minorities have accomplished in the past seems to be threatened. To protect ourselves from being forced backward, I believe that it is the duty of Chicano students and other minority students to take the initiative in leading the fight for prevention of such a measure from happening. I would like to propose that interested people and most of all Chicano students of this University, take the initiative by calling a major conference of Chicano students and leaders to discuss here at the University of Iowa the problems that face the Chicano and other minorities, and how to approach this dilemma. This is only a proposal, but the necessity of such a conference is more than imminent. It would undoubtedly require a massive amount of time and organization to pull off such a feat, but it has been done before and I feel that we can do it again. I'm sure there would be lot of help from others interested, too. This conference would reach out to all levels of Chicano representation throughout the nation. In a sense, it would be a call to unite the Chicano before any more damage is done. This may seem out of the question to many who have forgotten or are not aware of the success of the rallies and conferences which were staged but a few years ago at this same university with much success. of course, this type of affair requires a lot of long-range planning, but the sooner we initiate such a proposal, the sooner we can find out whether we really can take on something of this magnitude. If you're interested in such a proposal, contact me at 353-0684 or Teresa Garcia at 337-7506. Any other ideas of the same scope will be welcomed. --Humberto Silva Do You Know About The FLOC Boycott? The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) is a midwestern Farmworker's union representing workers in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. FLOC is currently in the fourth year of a strike and is demanding that farmworkers be included in contracts between canneries and growers. The union has come to realize that it is the multi-national corporations and not the farmers who hold the real power. Even those farmers who recognize the justice of the farmworkers' demands find themselves unable to provide liveable conditions and still stay in business. The canning companies require a contract from the farmer before planting. They usually require the farmer to buy seedlings from company nurseries, they specify the acreage to be planted, and they regulate fertilizer and pesticide application. More importantly, the contract between the cannery and the farmer sets the purchase price of the produce and they retain first rights to excess harvest. Even if the farmer's costs rise, therefore, he is saddled with a fixed sale price. The companies in effect, control the land and crop without owning it or assuming the risks of production. The farmers, like the farmworkers, are under the direct control of the canning companies. In conjunction with their strike, FLOC has called a consumer boycott of Campbell's and Libby's products. Another way to help is to contribute to FLOC's strike fund: 714 1/2 So. St. Claire, Toledo, OH 4360(?). FLOC is an independent union but maintains good relations with the United Farm Workers, AFLCIO, as well as the Texas Farm Workers and the Maricopa County Organizing Project. 3
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[in a box] Bueno Y Que? I am in my room staring at the wall and wondering why the heck did I volunteer to write a column for El Laberinto. After you read my column, you will probably wonder why, too.... Have you heard about our beloved first lady weathering crisis after crisis? It seems that Nancy was embarrassed at not having new china for the White House. Then, to make matters worse, the White House tablecloths were old and fringed at the ends. Poor Nancy finally solved the "China" crisis by persuading some people to donate a very, very expensive chinaware set to the White House. Now Nancy can pick up a plate and say, "Now isn't that a nice reflection of me." Bueno siquiera gente como Nancy have the essential things in life like expensive dishes, parties, and designer clothes given to them by generous philanthropists (who, of course, don't even think about the generous tax write-offs). In the meanwhile, people like us are also getting the essential things in life like free government surplus cheese and butter instead of financial aid for a college education, legal services, and other frivolities. Bueno y que pedo es esto y que podemos hacer? Today's reality is that if you're poor, very young, or very old, who cares about you because the government doesn't. What we can do is become aware of what's going on in magical D.C. and become politically active by voting, lobbying, writing letters, etc. At the very least, I urge every one of you who will be affected by the financial cuts to write your congressperson para ponerles presion. Make them aware that they're up there in Washington to represent the people and that you want representation or else they're not going to be up there next term. Bueno, let's give it a try. We have to fight for what we know is right-- higher education for all who want it and other necessary social services. Bueno hasta luego.... Yo se que van a espera mi sigiente column con mucha anticipacion. --Por Sabla Que Viva La Raza! With the increasing problems that this nation faces today, much of what Chicano and other minorities have accomplished in the past seems to be threatened. To protect ourselves from being forced backward, I believe that it is the duty of Chicano students and other minority students to take the initiative in leading the fight for prevention of such a measure from happening. I would like to propose that interested people and most of all Chicano students of this University, take the initiative by calling a major conference of Chicano students and leaders to discuss here at the University of Iowa the problems that face the Chicano and other minorities, and how to approach this dilemma. This is only a proposal, but the necessity of such a conference is more than imminent. It would undoubtedly require a massive amount of time and organization to pull off such a feat, but it has been done before and I feel that we can do it again. I'm sure there would be lot of help from others interested, too. This conference would reach out to all levels of Chicano representation throughout the nation. In a sense, it would be a call to unite the Chicano before any more damage is done. This may seem out of the question to many who have forgotten or are not aware of the success of the rallies and conferences which were staged but a few years ago at this same university with much success. of course, this type of affair requires a lot of long-range planning, but the sooner we initiate such a proposal, the sooner we can find out whether we really can take on something of this magnitude. If you're interested in such a proposal, contact me at 353-0684 or Teresa Garcia at 337-7506. Any other ideas of the same scope will be welcomed. --Humberto Silva Do You Know About The FLOC Boycott? The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) is a midwestern Farmworker's union representing workers in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. FLOC is currently in the fourth year of a strike and is demanding that farmworkers be included in contracts between canneries and growers. The union has come to realize that it is the multi-national corporations and not the farmers who hold the real power. Even those farmers who recognize the justice of the farmworkers' demands find themselves unable to provide liveable conditions and still stay in business. The canning companies require a contract from the farmer before planting. They usually require the farmer to buy seedlings from company nurseries, they specify the acreage to be planted, and they regulate fertilizer and pesticide application. More importantly, the contract between the cannery and the farmer sets the purchase price of the produce and they retain first rights to excess harvest. Even if the farmer's costs rise, therefore, he is saddled with a fixed sale price. The companies in effect, control the land and crop without owning it or assuming the risks of production. The farmers, like the farmworkers, are under the direct control of the canning companies. In conjunction with their strike, FLOC has called a consumer boycott of Campbell's and Libby's products. Another way to help is to contribute to FLOC's strike fund: 714 1/2 So. St. Claire, Toledo, OH 4360(?). FLOC is an independent union but maintains good relations with the United Farm Workers, AFLCIO, as well as the Texas Farm Workers and the Maricopa County Organizing Project. 3
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