July 23rd, 2003

Wednesday, our visitors fifth full day, started with the delegates meeting everyone with their wide smiles, hugs, and general “I love you” feelings. It is comforting experience to be a part of this group. Custom upon arrival is to greet people, introducing themselves, if they are not familiar with them. A greeting consists of hand shaking and hugs with a kiss.

The group met at the Resource Center of the Americas in South Minneapolis. It is a half a block off Lake Street on Minnehaha Avenue. Previously the building was a sauna with prostitution. Four years ago, a donation gave it to the Resource Center and they redeveloped it into a mini Latino community. The agency began twenty years ago during the wars in Central America. Their philosophy was in education of human rights.

The Resource Center, originally located by the University, works academically on issues. At the present location there are many Latinos in the neighborhood, so they are a community that works to help people of the area by education and advocacy when needed. They have meeting rooms, a library, bookstore, and a restaurant. People come for coffee hour on Saturdays to hear talks on the issues of human and workers rights. They have classes for Latinos in English, which are free and Spanish for others at a cost. Language learning classes center on the issues. They give approximately twenty-five classes and seven workshops a year. The workshops are for social workers, teachers, and others who help with immigrants.

The Resource Center BookstoreS

The morning started with a meeting to discuss trade issues. Besides Kay, a Resource Center employee, we had two interns working on the education of sweatshop labor. They have participated in Tag Campaigns, as our SJA Youth did earlier this year. The goal is to change one sweatshop at a time by letting workers unionize, giving them rights and a say in their work place, not shut down the shop. Boycotts hurt the people, not help them.

Delegate Mari explained that she was a domestic, working long hours for little money. A sweatshop came and she was able to work less hours for more pay. Her son also worked in a shop; it closed, causing great hardship on the family. They do not want the shops closed, as then there is no job or money.

Alba stated 90% of Guatemalans work in sweatshops. Some shops have made changes. Now, while working on Mother’s Day, they can have music all day.

Delegates talk in front of the giant mural at the Resource Center of the Americas. For more pictures of the mural and an explanation, read Nancy's Description.

Timo animatedly explained the workings of his government. He feels the US has better access to speak with the government officials.

Dorita expressed her thanks for the help given to Latinos. She feels we are able to help things change in Guatemala.

The interns talked about the habits of consumers. The US is 4 to 5% of the world population, but we use 50-60% of world resources. This is a large problem.

Marlen tells of working to explain rights to workers only to have her bosses unhappy with her. She struggles with the philosophical versus the practical.

Bernardo finished the discussion speaking on the effectiveness of churches and their ministries. Do they realize the power and influence they can make in helping the world? What can we do to change these situations? Become educated, speak to groups, and maintain relationships with agencies like the Resource Center of the Americas. Relationships help get things started.

Lunch at the Resource Center restaurant continued the lively discussions of the morning. Loading into numerous cars and vans, part of the group were off to Como Park to play, others went to the Solar Oven Society.

one of the jigs

The owner of the Solar Oven Society inundated the group with more facts. Much of the world is without firewood, especially Africa and Haiti. Firewood utilizes 52% of trees cut around the world. In addition, many children die from drinking bad water, while boiling can make water safe for drinking. Sunny days with solar ovens can help solve these problems.

A tour of the shop showed production of the ovens, assembly, and packaging for shipping. The entire production uses no electricity; there is a jig for each step of the operation. Waste not, every piece planned out for use.

In production, small orders are readied by volunteers. On larger orders, all parts go to the country and a factory there puts them together.

Completing the tour on this sunny day, the Society and their solar ovens had prepared a meal for us. Potatoes, yams, corn, a beef and potatoes mixture, chicken breast and even a yellow cake were prepared in the solar ovens sitting in front of the building.

During the meal, discussion turned to the cost of a gas cylinders needed for cooking. Bernardo, his family of three, uses one a month at the approximate cost of $10. Dorita uses one every 10 days for her family of seven and Marlen buys one every 15-20 days for her family of six. Solar cooking would save them money.

The Society has a sponsor program where someone, such as a church, purchases the ovens and the recipients pay back the loan, set up with a bank in their country using the money saved from not purchasing gas. Bernardo, a banker, felt this was a possibility.

and

Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children." Nancy can be reached at nalynch@aol.com.

It was a feast of amazing tastes, (even though we had eaten lunch only a short time before), and conversation with caring people that I truly admire. I felt privileged to be a part of this day.