Message from Armando
Reply-To: Avi Chomsky
Reply-To: Avi Chomsky
Date: Aug 30, 2006 9:28 PM
OK, everyone... Although I strongly emphasized that we were in the "dreaming" stage, as far as the November delegation and bringing a doctor with us, people in the Guajira are moving quickly beyond the dream. Please, please, help me find a way to make this happen!
I translate below a message I just received from Armando.
Hola Avi: Hoy, Remedios y yo nos reunimos con Jaime de Luque, presidente de SINTRACARB”N, para comentar las iniciativas en materia de Solidaridad emanadas de las conclusiones del Encuentro de Riohacha 09 de Agosto y de tu reciente propuesta de impulsar el viaje de personas de norteamÈrica en noviembre con el doble propÛsito de apoyar a las comunidades afectadas en el tema de salud y el proceso de la negociaciÛn de los trabajadores del CerrejÛn. Obviamente que el sindicato recibiÛ con benepl·cito ambas iniciativas y est· dispuesto a colaborar en todo lo que le corresponda. Adicionalmente Jaime describiÛ una situaciÛn delicada de algunos trabajadores que padecen enfermedades derivadas de la exposiciÛn al impacto de las partÌculas de carbÛn y otros factores derivados de la condiciÛn de trabadores mineros. Concluimos que serÌa muy bueno que con anticipaciÛn los mÈdicos que vendrÌan en noviembre conozcan las hojas de vida mÈdicas de los casos que revisten una especial caracterÌstica, para que una evaluaciÛn previa les permita prepararse con equipos, drogas, etc, si fuere el caso. Este mensaje te lo envÌo con copia a Jaime para abrir la posibilidad de que le escribas contando tu percepciÛn sobre cÛmo articular una relaciÛn (comunidades afectadas, organizaciones sindicales, solidaridad y campaÒas internacionales). Ya habr· oportunidad para escribirte sobre otros temas.
Abrazos
Armando
Dear Avi: Today, Remedios and I met with Jaime de Luque, president of SINTRACARBON [the union at the Cerrejon mine], to discuss the initiatives in the area of Solidarity that came out of the August 9 Meeting in Riohacha, and from your recent proposal to organize a delegation of some people from North America in November with the dual goal of supporting the affected communities with respect to health issues, and supporting the negotiation process of the Cerrejon workers. Obviously the union was very happy to hear about both initiatives and it is prepared to collaborate to the greatest extent. In addition, Jaime described the delicate situation of some workers who are suffering from illnesses due to their exposure to the impact of coal particles and other factors deriving from their condition as mine workers. We concluded that it would be very good if the doctors who are coming in November could receive beforehand the medical records of the cases that have particular characteristics, so that they could evaluate them beforehand and come prepared with the equipment, medicines, etc., that they might need. I am sending this message with a copy to Jaime to open the possibility for you to write to him directly telling him your ideas about how to develop this relationship (affected communities, union organization, solidarity groups and international campaigns). Later I will write you about other things.
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