Social Justice Movements Alternative Border Communities Conference
Social Justice Movements organize Alternative Border Communities Conference:
Organizations create alternatives to Border Militarization plans
Press Conference
August 23, 2006 @ 11 AM
Cristo Rey Church 2201 E 2nd Street Austin, Texas
A Bi-National convergence of grassroots organizations and networks representing communities along the border, migrant workers and families will announce the goals and visions of the II Alternative Border Communities Conference sponsored by the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice. This people’s conference is a counter to the US-Mexico Border Governors Conference hosted simultaneously in Austin whose governance has resulted in more deaths along the border, division of families, loss of jobs, loss of public services and further militarization and impoverishment of the US-Mexico border region.
“Migrant workers and communities provide a very important asset to the U.S. and global economy. We are not going to let the governors support racist laws that discriminate against migrant families or allow the military to continue low-intensity warfare against border communities.” stated Richard Moore, Executive Director of the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice.
Problems on the border do not derive from lax law enforcement or insufficient military might, but rather is rooted in economic problems associated with free trade, corporate welfare and unsustainable wages. It is illogical to attempt to address a problem that is of an economic nature with repressive enforcement measures. Migration and poverty is linked directly to Free Trade Agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA. These trade agreements create a ‘race-to-the-bottom’ scenario that drives displacement of families, workers and farmers on both sides of the border. It is these trade agreements that have to be changed to fair-trade agreements that create jobs and a living wage for all workers.
“Our families have been living along the border region for hundreds of years. The migrants crossing the border are in search of a better future for their family. Human rights are systematically violated for the benefit of a few multi-million dollar corporations,” stated Susana Almanza, Founder of PODER Austin, TX.
The just solution is to legalize all workers in the United States, allow them full right to jobs and to unionize, end the militarization of the border, reverse failed free trade policies and stop the campaign of fear against border communities. We demand immigration and trade policies based on equity between poor and rich countries. We demand legal and human rights for all families. We demand comprehensive border governance based on solving the economic problems of the poor and ensuring justice for workers rather than encouraging repressive and racist policy and practices.
Contact: Che , Southwest Workers Union, (210) 299-2666/ 378-5132-
Susana Almanza, PODER 512 472-9921
Organizations create alternatives to Border Militarization plans
Press Conference
August 23, 2006 @ 11 AM
Cristo Rey Church 2201 E 2nd Street Austin, Texas
A Bi-National convergence of grassroots organizations and networks representing communities along the border, migrant workers and families will announce the goals and visions of the II Alternative Border Communities Conference sponsored by the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice. This people’s conference is a counter to the US-Mexico Border Governors Conference hosted simultaneously in Austin whose governance has resulted in more deaths along the border, division of families, loss of jobs, loss of public services and further militarization and impoverishment of the US-Mexico border region.
“Migrant workers and communities provide a very important asset to the U.S. and global economy. We are not going to let the governors support racist laws that discriminate against migrant families or allow the military to continue low-intensity warfare against border communities.” stated Richard Moore, Executive Director of the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice.
Problems on the border do not derive from lax law enforcement or insufficient military might, but rather is rooted in economic problems associated with free trade, corporate welfare and unsustainable wages. It is illogical to attempt to address a problem that is of an economic nature with repressive enforcement measures. Migration and poverty is linked directly to Free Trade Agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA. These trade agreements create a ‘race-to-the-bottom’ scenario that drives displacement of families, workers and farmers on both sides of the border. It is these trade agreements that have to be changed to fair-trade agreements that create jobs and a living wage for all workers.
“Our families have been living along the border region for hundreds of years. The migrants crossing the border are in search of a better future for their family. Human rights are systematically violated for the benefit of a few multi-million dollar corporations,” stated Susana Almanza, Founder of PODER Austin, TX.
The just solution is to legalize all workers in the United States, allow them full right to jobs and to unionize, end the militarization of the border, reverse failed free trade policies and stop the campaign of fear against border communities. We demand immigration and trade policies based on equity between poor and rich countries. We demand legal and human rights for all families. We demand comprehensive border governance based on solving the economic problems of the poor and ensuring justice for workers rather than encouraging repressive and racist policy and practices.
Contact: Che , Southwest Workers Union, (210) 299-2666/ 378-5132-
Susana Almanza, PODER 512 472-9921
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