In the farming community, climate change and working conditions for farm workers are some of the most pressing issues. Small-scale farmers play an important role in providing food to their communities, and they are particularly vulnerable by extreme weather conditions. Drastic changes in climate like drought, severe heat, and strong storms can have a devastating impact on a farmer’s ability to grow food. And poor working conditions and low wages for farm workers threaten the overall health and livelihoods of those who labor to feed our families.
Get Involved
You can take action to protect & nourish the planet! Join the “Summer’s Heating Up” campaign’s #SummerofAction by lending your voice to one or more of these important advocacy actions by WhyHunger’s partners and allies.
Petition #1: Call on Florida Lawmakers to Pass Heat Stress Protections
We invite you to join Florida farm workers in calling on lawmakers to pass common sense heat stress protections for outdoor workers. When farm workers cannot stop to drink water, they risk severe dehydration. When they cannot rest or find shade, they may experience heat stress, heat stroke, and even death. Excessive heat exposure can also lead to chronic dehydration and kidney failure. As our planet heats up, rising temperatures are expected to cause increased heat-related workplace injuries and illness. Simple solutions like access to water, shade, and breaks throughout the workday can be life-saving measures for outdoor workers.
No one should risk their health – and even their life – working to feed our communities.
Join the Farmworker Association of Florida and farm workers across the state in calling on lawmakers to pass heat stress protections for workers whose health is now more at risk than ever. Click here to learn more and add your voice!
Petition #2: Frontline Food Workers Are Not Disposable
It’s critical that Congress act to protect all workers in the next federal stimulus bill. Food workers on farms, in processing plants, warehouses, restaurants and retail are still on the job providing essential services even as COVID-19 spreads. Yet, many employers are refusing to provide workers with basic health and safety protections, putting workers’ lives at risk. Food and farm workers, who already earn poverty wages, are also not being adequately compensated for their work and the risks they are taking to ensure that we are all fed.
Join us and the Food Chain Workers Alliance in asking Congress to mandate premium pay for essential food workers, enforce healthy and safety standards to protect food and farm workers, and ensure support like unemployment insurance and SNAP benefits to all food workers in crisis. To learn more and get involved, click here.
Want to help spread the word about our #SummerofAction? Here’s some sample social posts to share with your networks:
Facebook
COVID-19 has pushed our global food system to its limits. Now more than ever, Food Justice is integral in the fight against Climate Change and to heal our planet. This Summer, learn how to build awareness & join @WhyHungerfans to take action: www.whyhunger.org/summerofaction #SummerOfAction
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<be sure to tag @WhyHungerFans on Facebook>
Twitter
#COVID19 has pushed our global food system to its limits. Now more than ever, Food Justice is integral in the fight against #ClimateChange and to heal our planet. This Summer, learn how to build awareness & join @WhyHunger to take action: www.whyhunger.org/summerofaction #SummerOfAction
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Instagram
#COVID19 has pushed our global food system to its limits. Now more than ever, Food Justice is integral in the fight against Climate Change and to heal our planet. This Summer, learn how to build awareness & join @whyhungerpix to take action. #SummerOfAction
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