This afternoon we spent some time at Cietta—a center for investigation, experimentation, and transfer of ecological agricultural technology. We heard the president of the company and the women empowered to work there of their desire to know where their food comes from. They no longer want to see people getting sick from the toxins of pesticides and other chemicals injected into food. They do what we do on our very own Red Hill Farm—provide healthy, organic food for the local community!
They asked us to return to the states with a message for our legislators ... They spoke of their struggles with CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Act). They clearly understand trade will and maybe should happen but what they ask of us is to petition our legislators to remember the small farmers and to protect them in these policies.
Rural North America can relate ... Can we not? What has happened to our small farmers in the face of the genetically motified food of Mansanto? I have a friend who is allergic to apples ... Or so it appears as every time she would eat a store bought Apple she would begin to have trouble breathing. One day she picked an apple off a tree on her street—growing naturally with no chemical assistance—turns out she's not allergic to apples ... Her body is physically rejecting the chemicals smeared upon their skin! Our bodies are actually pretty smart if we allow ourselves to listen to them ... They tell us when something is poisonous ... If only we listen!
The work these women are doing is so vital to the health of El Salvador. They spoke of "food sovereignty" saying that "food security" is not enough ... Having enough food is one thing ... But having access to healthy food is what we should actually consider a basic need! I think we struggle with the same issue in the States —just look at what is allowed to be purchased when using EBT cards. Not the healthiest food options.
Seems food sovereignty is an issue not confined to El Salvador but certainly one for which they are taking a stand!
I want to close by sharing the importance of trees ... The president spoke of the trees being the only "crop" to last through times of drought... They spoke of all the gifts the tree gives us—shade, water retention, air—and now they plant mango and coconut trees because in addition to all these other things they give us food.
Cietta has commited to planting 100,000 trees in ten years. 30,000 have already been planted. Each tree costs $3, if you would like to donate a tree ... Or two ... Or more please contact me ... I will collect money to send through SHARE to Cietta.
Por ahora,
Sarita
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