San Diego residents visit Tijuana to support local workers

They are raising awareness of the connection between both communities

SAN DIEGO.- Social organizations are encouraging San Diego residents to visit the "maquiladoras", and other parts of Tijuana (Mexico), so they can see of the types of problems these workers are having, and raise funds to help them.

"The main purpose of doing this, is so that the people can see how interconnected both communities are with each other, and although we are in two different countries, the population that lives in this area are fairly homogenous, and what one person does on one side, can very much affect its neighbor on the other side", said Mar Cardenas Loutzenhiser to Efe.

Loutzenhiser member of "Iniciativas Ciudadanas" and one of the organizers of these visits explained that the objective on doing this is so that the citizens of the U.S. can see for themselves the everyday life of the people in Tijuana and the challenges they face, and also get a sense of why some people decide to immigrate to the U.S.

In this initiative they are looking to increase the collaboration from both sides, to be able to come up with solutions to the problems that both sides of the border are having. Also it is being asked from every participant to donate at least between 20 to 50 dollars in this effort.

The next visit is scheduled for October 20th to the parque industrial in Otay, and the community chosen for the visit will be Chilpancingo-Rio Alamar, where they will meet with workers, and see the environmental effects that the maquiladoras has had on health and urban development.

Visits are put together and organized by many groups like Ollin Calli Tijuana, el Colectivo Chilpancingo para la Justicia Ambiental, la Red de Solidaridad con Trabajadores de Maquiladoras San Diego, la Coalición de Salud Ambiental and la Coalición para la Justicia en las Maquiladoras.

Every group or agency that participates, said the activist, has their own objectives which are from the defense of workers, the environment, and also those who look to improve the cultural understanding in Tijuana and fight the prejudices in this area, which is a very dangerous one as well.

"Iniciativas Ciudadanas" is also looking to invite other communities, like the people of Kumeyaay next week to celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, instead of Columbus Day that is also celebrated that same day in the U.S.", said Loutzenhiser.

Editorial@sandiegored.com

Translation : Omar.Martínez@sandiegored.com

Comments

  • Facebook

  • SanDiegoRed

 
 
  • New

  • Best

    Recent News more

    Subir
    Advertising