Lourdes López
lourdes.lopez@laopinon.com
17 de marzo de 2007

Su experiencia de más de 25 años en asuntos comunitarios y su visión para encarar los graves problemas ambientales en vecindarios latinos hicieron que Irma Muñoz decidiera crear la primera organización ambientalista de latinas, Mujeres de la Tierra.

Antes de llevar a cabo ese proyecto Muñoz colaboró en organizaciones dedicadas a resolver problemas sociales. Destaca su lucha contra el sida y a favor de recaudar fondos para vacunar a menores, así como asesorara de latinos con deseos de iniciar negocios pequeños, entre otros.

Cuando Bill Clinton era presidente, Muñoz formó parte de su gabinete, colaborando en la Administración de Pequeños Negocios (SBA). Ocupó otro puesto gubernamental en la Legislatura Estatal de California con el asambleísta Peter Chacón, en San Diego.

El proyecto más reciente de la lideresa es ayudar a resolver los graves problemas ambientales ocasionados por el calentamiento global, la contaminación, la carencia de espacios verdes y otros aspectos que deterioran la calidad ambiental.

Durante dos años Muñoz investigó esas graves condiciones, sobre todo la problemática contemplada en el estudio del Consejo de Defensa de los Recursos Naturales (NRDC), hecho en 2004. Uno de los resultados que más le impactó mostraba que cerca del 70% de los latinos vive en áreas donde se violan los estándares de calidad del aire y los casos de niños latinos con plomo en la sangre duplican en número los casos de menores no latinos.

"Mujeres de la Tierra nació para inspirar, informar y educar a las mujeres latinas que han decidido mejorar su comunidad; nosotros les ayudamos y proporcionamos las herramientas para lograr ese propósito. Nuestra meta es empezar con la familia para seguir después con el vecindario y luego con toda la comunidad", explica la directora de esa organización, quien destaca que toda su vida ha formado grupos comunitarios.

Mujeres de la Tierra es una organización no lucrativa que capacita a mujeres de la comunidad para resolver problemas del ambiente.

La lideresa nació en Los Ángeles, pero estuvo varios años en San Diego, donde estudió leyes. Cuenta que su vida de activista la inició a los 15 años, algo que no resulta raro tomando en cuenta el ejemplo de sus padres, quienes ahora tienen más de 80 años y siguen trabajando. Su madre todavía se dedica a la limpieza de casas y su padre se encarga del cuidado de varios jardines.

"Soy afortunada porque Dios me dio talento para lograr un efecto positivo en otros; creo que eso se debe a la educación que recibí de mi padre. Siempre me recomendaba que hiciera mi trabajo de la mejor manera posible, ya sea en un banco, como abogada o como empleada doméstica", enfatiza.

Muñoz calcula que más de cien mujeres latinas forman parte de su organización y en un futuro próximo tiene la seguridad de que el número será mayor.

"Estoy convencida de que cada persona tiene un poder y con él puede cumplir sus metas si lucha por conseguirlas. Las latinas deben decidir lo que quieren hacer; nadie debe hacerlo por ellas", señala la abogada, y agrega que no importa que una mujer no tenga títulos ni hable inglés, siempre debe luchar por sus derechos y tener control de su vida.

By Rosanne Skirble
Washington DC
03 May 2007

 
Global warming has become a hot topic in the U.S. Congress. Several bills now pending with lawmakers address how to reduce the carbon emissions responsible for climate change. A coalition of leaders from Latino, African-American and faith communities recently came to Washington to urge lawmakers to incorporate their concerns into proposed climate-change legislation.

The two-day lobby session begins with a pep talk from Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network, a group that promotes grassroots environmental activism year

Environmental activist Irma Munoz fights oil drilling in her Los Angeles neighborhood

Irma Munoz founded "Mujeres de La Tierra" or "Women of the Earth" to address local environmental and health problems in Los Angeles. She says her neighbors talk about why their gardens are not producing or why oil wells are being drilled in their backyards. "We are all very upset about it."

Congresswoman Hilda Solis calls for environmental justice on Capitol Hill

Congresswoman Hilda Solis shares these concerns in Washington, where she represents a majority Latino section of East Los Angeles. Solis says she is working to prevent climate change from unfairly targeting communities like the one she serves.

Robert Bullard of the Environmental Justice Resource Center echoes those sentiments. He reminds coalition partners that by mid-century a majority of Americans will be

Robert Bullard says by 2050 communities of color will be the majority in the United States

Doing justice, says Reverend Peter Moore-Kochlacs of the Religious Coalition on Creative Care, means taking care of the Earth. "People of faith," he says, "have an ethical obligation, a moral obligation to protect future generations, to protect the integrity of creation, to protect the most vulnerable."

Kathleen Rogers with Earth Day Network says the most

Rev Peter Moore Kochlacs says communities of faith have a moral obligation to protect the Earth

Rogers says the law should also tax emissions by making polluters buy permits to emit climate-changing green house gases. Funds raised would be directed to alleviate the impact of climate change. "We are proposing that these permits be

Earth Day Network's Kathleen Rogers says Congress must consider minority views in future climate change legislation

Rogers also wants coalition partners to push for programs that will open new doors in the evolving green, or environmentally friendly, workforce. "The jobs of tomorrow are going to be green. We want to understand it and have our kids educated on these issues."

Rogers adds that while securing a piece of that action may take time, the most important immediate step in dealing with climate change is for more citizens to express themselves on the issue, and to become involved in the political process.

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Appalled by environmental racism, Irma Muñoz launched Mujeres de la Tierra to help women improve their lives.

January 2007 | Features

by Nate Springer

Sporting a jovial smile, Antonio González strides across the dais to the sound of welcoming applause. As González reaches center stage, a hush overtakes the room. It is September, 2006 and the 1,200 Latino leaders gathered in Los Angeles for the Latino Congreso — the first comprehensive gathering of Latino leaders in 29 years — do not expect to hear about jobs, health care or even immigration this day. “The theme of today’s session is the environment and health — not usually associated with Latino issues,” González begins.

When the first Earth Day was held in 1970, few words in the eco-vocabulary translated into Spanish. Today, González is a prime example of a new flavor of green activist, the so-called Salsa Verde environmentalist. Named for a spicy Mexican green sauce of tomatillos and hot peppers, the Salsa Verde movement is built on words like familia, comunidad and esperanza. Concerns about parks, clean air, clean water and healthy neighborhoods are the themes of this emerging movement, and Los Angeles is its epicenter. Associated with the sounds and smells of their cultural heritage, Salsa Verde places Latinos solidly at the environmental table.

Bold and pragmatic, Antonio González is president of the influential Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, the largest and oldest non-partisan Latino voter participation group in the US. “In assuming responsibility for the Latino community and other communities, you have to take on broader issues,” he cheerleads the audience before introducing LA’s ebullient mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa. Villaraigosa approaches the podium and embraces González like an old friend.

González’ affiliations grant him access to influential officeholders like the mayor, whose plans include the greening of Los Angeles, and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, who passed a global warming bill in September heralded by activists for its ambitious approach to curbing climate change. In a year when historic immigration marches dominate the national agenda, González insists the environment also be a priority for the five-day Latino Congreso. Consequently an entire day is dedicated to environmental issues important to Latinos, with workshops on topics from wilderness to energy policy.

During one such workshop, speaker Robert Garcia, Executive Director of the City Project, stands in front of a map of LA county sprayed with tiny pinpoints, each dot representing a city park. Garcia, whose humble demeanor belies the inspirational leadership that has enabled him to transform so many of LA’s worst neighborhoods, adjusts his red tie nervously while reporting this grim fact: Los Angeles has fewer acres of park space per 1,000 residents than any major city in the country. “Children of color living in poverty with no access to a car are also the ones living farthest from parks,” he laments.

Garcia envisions an LA teeming with parks and schools. “It’s not just about protecting the Earth, it’s about taking care of the Earth and its people, and economic vitality,” he enthuses. A distinguished public interest attorney, Garcia articulates a case for environmentalism in service of the people. He has co-authored several policy briefs on parks and health, including statistics showing that LA County Assembly Districts with the highest proportion of overweight children correlate to the highest concentration of people of color. Lack of safe outdoor play space contributes to this problem, he insists.

Bolstered by hard evidence, Garcia started a coalition in 1999 to create the 32-acre site of the recent “Cornfields” experiment in a largely Latino community near Chinatown, where 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Following its success, he catalyzed support for a similar 40-acre park called Taylor Yards just north of downtown and Baldwin Hills Park in the heart of historic African American Los Angeles. Due to Garcia’s dogged determination, five such Los Angeles parks exist or are in development — and last September 23, the Cornfields was opened as Los Angeles Historic Park. “To go down there on the opening of Cornfields, to see children playing, is a very moving experience for me,” says Garcia. Victories like this, he says, “keep me going.”

While Garcia connects the dots on park inequities, Irma Muñoz leads people-powered environmentalism. Upon learning that Latinos are victims of environmental racism, disproportionately impinged upon by environmental problems, Muñoz launched a crusade. “We can fight for better jobs, housing and education, but what good is it if we’re getting cancer?” she asks.

Founding Mujeres de la Tierra — “Women of the Earth” — was Muñoz’ answer. The first Latina environmental organization in the country, it includes six chapters formed by women around LA County, focusing on critical environmental concerns in their neighborhoods. “Mujeres gives groups of women a platform so they can go to the City Council, the School Board and be a force to be reckoned with,” she explains.

Muñoz adorns herself with the confidence she hopes to instill in her neighbors. Dressed in vibrant purple and red, she greets each señora and her children at meetings. Her strength and self-assurance encourage the women, most of whom are focused on their families, many of whom struggle to make ends meet. With her experience in leadership development, Muñoz is a mentor to women hoping to improve life for their families.

Muñoz, who also serves as president of Mujeres, pushes for environmental changes people can see in their daily lives. Her eyes sparkle as she explains, “People don’t want to hear about big, general, vague ideas; people want to be part of something so that their contribution is valuable.” So in El Monte, a Mujeres chapter plans a neighborhood park. Women in Canoga Park help their neighbors participate in the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan.

González, Garcia, and Muñoz: three leaders with different approaches — and shared goals. Individually they have influenced California legislators, initiated five world-class parks and founded neighborhood improvement groups. Together, they are the core ingredients of Salsa Verde, a recipe for change in communities most affected by environmental problems. Perched atop the dais at the Latino Congreso, Antonio González trumpets their call. “Do you want parks? Si! Do you want clean water? Si! Do you want clean air? Pues, si!”

Nate Springer sips yerba mate while he contemplates the vida verde. He directs neighborhood projects in the San Gabriel Valley and writes about the environment and community service.