INTRODUCTION
"A LONG HISTORY OF EXPLOITATION"
In these pages, the Foro
Emaús synthesizes aspects of the problems of the banana industry that are often
ignored now is a decisive moment of the struggles of the banana workers of the
Costa Rican Atlantic Coast. The campaigns carried out by transnational
companies and their local agents against this sector, attempt to hide the
problems around health, cultural, social, economic, labor, and environmental
issues, such as the daily poisonings, and the repressive system that pretends
to squash the workers and to deny communities the right to life.
After reading the reflections
and the analyses presented here nobody can ignore the true story behind the
curtains of this cruel history.
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE
FORO EMAUS:
Asociación Ecologista
Costarricense-Amigos de la Tierra (AECO-AT) (Costa Rican Ecologist
Association-Friends of the Earth), 223-3925
Asociación Nacional de
Empleados Públicos (ANEP) (National Association of Public Employees), 222-8360
Asociación
Pro-Desarrollo y Ecología (APDE) (Pro-Development and Ecology Association),
758-2233
Asociación
Servicios de Promoción Laboral (ASEPROLA) (Services and Labor Promotion
Association), 285-1344
Corporación
Educativa para el Desarrollo Costarricense (CEDECO) (Educational Corporation
for Costa Rican Development), 240-5866
Centro
Teológico Bautista Caribe (Caribbean Baptist Theological Center), 798-4703
Asociación
para la Conservación y el Desarrollo de los Cerros de Escazú (CODECE)
(Association for the Conservation and Development of the Mountains of Escazú),
228-0183
Coordinadora
de Organismos no gubernamentales con Proyectos Alternativos de Desarrollo
(COPROALDE) (Coordinator of non-governmental organizations with Alternative
Development Projects), 226-7283
Comite
Ambiental Barrio El Molino, Guápiles (Environmental Committee Barrio El Molino,
Guapiles), 710-6397
Coordinadora
de Sindicatos Bananeros (Banana Workers Unions Coordinator), 256-5225
Fondo
de Microproyectos Costarricense (FOMIC) (Costa Rican Fund of Microprojects),
227-9082
Iglesia
Luterana Costarricense (Costa Rican Lutheran Church), 226-6618
Fundación
Güilombé (Güilombe Foundation), 224-1770
Instituto
Centroamericano de Asesoría Laboral (ICAL) (Costa Rican Advisory Institute of
Labor), 283-8740
Fundación
Nairí (Nairí Foundation), 229-2767
El
Productor R.L. (The Producer R.L.), 255-0729
Universidad
Biblica Latinoamericana (Latin American Biblical University), 233-3830
Sindicatos
de Trabajadores de la Universidad Nacional (SITUN) (National University Workers
Union), 238-0986
Comisión
de Valoración y Promoción de la Mujer, Diócesis de Limón (Commission for the
Recognition and Promotion of Women, Diocese of Limon), 768-8276
Comisión
Diocesana de la Pastoral Social, Diocese de Limón (Diocese Commission of the Social
Pastorate, Diocese of Limon), 768-8276
Unión
Nacional de Empleados de la Caja y la Seguridad Social (UNDECA) (National Union
of Workers of the Social Security System), 233-6538
Asociación
Ambientalista La Cuenca, Sitio Mata, Turrialba (Environmentalist Association of
La Cuenca, Sitio Mata, Turrialba), leave messages at 531-1054
Asociación
Voces Nuestras (Our Voices Association) 224 86 41