Ph.D. in Environmental Studies, UC Santa Cruz, 2002 Dissertation Title: From the Farms of West Central Mexico to California’s Corporate Agribusiness: The Social Transformation of Two Farming Regions.  http://www.farmworkerfamily.org/mission/

The current agro-industrial farming model is anathema to ecological principles that maintain and restore the biosphere.  Agro-industrial farming is responsible for 30-40% of so-called greenhouse gases, using a tremendous amount of oil-based synthetic agrochemicals and pesticides with much of it is dependent on a virtual class of slave laborers who often live in grinding poverty.

Illuminating the dark side of economic globalization---Dr Ann Lopez shares a rare insider's view of the migrant farm workers life.  With up-to-date research portraying a world hidden from most Americans—a world of inescapable poverty that has worsened considerably since NAFTA was implemented in 1994.  In fact, today it has become nearly impossible for rural communities in Mexico to continue to farm their land sustainably, with cheap corn from the USA flooding their markets, they are unable to compete,  leaving few survival options except the perilous border crossing to the United States, arriving as undocumented workers with literally no rights, women and children often the most vulnerable.

This current global laissez-faire economic model is aggravating negative trends in the name of profits over the health and well-being of people and planet.  Scientific studies have shown that there are alternatives that can protect and restore the planets ecosystems, while providing a sustainable life for the farm workers who maintain the crops.  This talk explores three of the most common cropping systems: agro-industrial farming, agro-industrial organic farming, and agro-ecological farming.  We will discuss the plight of the farm workers that are hired into these systems and conclude with a solid direction for the future well-being of the earth and all its inhabitants.

Farmworker Reality Tours in Watsonville/Next one August 21, 2016

contact: http://www.farmworkerfamily.org/events/

This tour will include members of the Lantern League (a nonprofit that supports women and girls). Tour participants will be challenged to learn about three current farming practices in the area, the role of NAFTA in forcing farm worker immigrants out of Mexico and into the U.S. as NAFTA economic refugees, and the conditions farm workers live with in the U.S. as they and their families struggle to survive grinding poverty, poor diet, crowded housing conditions, pesticide exposure, sexual harassment and no health insurance. These factors contribute to an average life expectancy of only 49 years for farm workers . Farm workers provide the labor responsible for the nation's supply of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Participants will assess whether or not we are doing enough to support the individuals that make up this critical labor force.

Talk Description:

The presentation focused on the NGO Grampari's work mainly with watershed management in villages of the Western Ghats mountain ranges of Maharastra; an Indian state increasingly affected by drought and climate change in India.

Grampari is a small non profit organization working with rural communities within this biodiversity hotspot.  The main thrust of Grampari's watershed work is on protection and recharge of springs and aquifers through a a community based approach.  The implementation of springs management and spring-shed development methods have had a direct impact on drought mitigation and increased accessibility of water for villagers and farmers in 14 villages. 

The presentation highlighted how a large amount of strategic, determined and compassionate community building work has created a space for the emergence of an understanding of water as a common pool resource and the formation of the Ghujaldharak Samiti (Aquifer Protection Committee).  This committee is the first of its kind in India, and its members are from 6 villages dependent on the health of the aquifer.  These simple solutions aim at providing both long-term ecological conservation and deep

personal change.

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network presents

A Special Evening Gathering

 Reporting Back from 

the 2nd Annual International Soil Not Oil Conference

Thurs, Sept1, 7-9pm, 2016 - FREE

Location: Art from Scrap Art Center (outdoors)

302 E Cota St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

 

Discussion & Short Films about Soil & Carbon Farming

 including excerpts from

 the soon to be released Seeds of Vandana Shiva documentary; The Soil Solution to Climate Change by Jill Cloutier & Carol Hirashima;

Losing Ground, with Guner Tautrim, & Kiss the Ground short film narrated by Woody Harrelson

Conference reports from Margie Bushman, Wes Roe of Santa Barbara Permaculture Network & others

Regenerative agriculture provides answers to the soil crisis, the food crisis, the climate crisis & the crisis of democracy. Vandana Shiva

This event a part of the ongoing Civics 101 for Climate Change series

The 2nd Annual Soil Not Oil Conference in Richmond was organized to bring together farmers, ranchers, scientists, policy makers, NGOs and community leaders to explore how sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices can help mitigate global warming. 

Speakers at the two day conference were both local and international and came with plenty of expertise & positive solutions.  Among the many presenters were John Roulac of Nutiva foods, speaking about the exciting developments of Green Wave 3D Ocean farming; Anandi Ghandi, talked about India's water crisis, especially in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hot spot, where both wildlife and farmers are under extreme duress; Kiss the Ground, a group of young activists from California shared their strategies for making carbon sequestration and carbon farming understandable to mainstream America.

In the area of social justice, Dr. Ann Lopez of the Center for Farm Worker Families spoke passionately about her long term research on the impact of NAFTA on Mexico's farmers creating a flood of economic immigrants to the U.S. while losing the caretakers of the seeds and soils in Mexico.  SNAP (food stamps) were suggested as a creative way to support farmers who use best sustainable practices for the soil by encouraging use of SNAP benefits at local farmers markets.

Local politicians enthusiastically participated in the conference, including California Congressman Jared Huffman, Richmond's Mayor and Council members, with many citizen activist groups from the region in abundance.  Andrew Kimbrell, founder & Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety, and author/editor of Fatal Harvest, was the excellent keynote speaker who updated the audience on current legislature in Washington around food safety issues.

Come with your thoughts about positive directions for soil and the planet.  Event discussion will be facilitated by Wes Roe & Margie Bushman of the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network.

 
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie@sbpermaculture.org
http://www.sbpermaculture.org

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