環(huán)球英語20160229：Cesar Chavez: Fighting for Workers Rights

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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Colin Lowther.

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And I’m Katy Blake. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

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"He faced strong, often violent, opposition without violence. And he was victorious. Cesar Chavez left our world better than he found it. And his work encourages us still. He was, for his own people, a leader to freedom. Farm workers in the fields wanted to gain respect and support themselves. They looked for hope to this man. Cesar Chavez had faith and worked hard. With gentleness and amazing inner strength, he led a very courageous life."

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These are the words of President Bill Clinton of the United States. He was speaking in 1994 about a man named Cesar Chavez. Clinton awarded Chavez the Presidential Medal of Freedom. By that time, Chavez had died. But his example continues to encourage thousands of people. Today’s Spotlight is on Cesar Chavez and his fight for farm worker’s rights.

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Cesar Estrada Chavez was born in Arizona in the United States in 1927. When Chavez was 10 years old, his family had to leave their farm and house. They became migrant farm workers in the state of California. There were many families like the Chavez family. Many of these farm workers were from Mexico. In California, they moved from farm to farm. They worked for a short time at each place. Cesar Chavez went to 37 different schools. And at age thirteen he left school completely. Instead, he worked like an adult on a farm, to make money for his family.

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At that time, farm workers like Chavez were not treated well. Almost all of them were very poor. The employers who owned the farms did not pay them much money. Adults and children often worked many hours a day in very bad conditions. The workers’ homes had no electricity or running water. Some farm owners even used chemicals on the fields while the workers were there. This was very dangerous for the workers’ health.

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Chavez wanted to better conditions for all farm workers. He began to work with more and more people. Chavez found that the way to make a change was to help people to work together. When workers came together as a group they had more power. Chavez said:

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"I had a dream that the only reason the employers were so powerful was that we were weak. We could somehow begin to develop some strength among ourselves. Then we could begin to equal that, balancing their power in farming."

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Chavez encouraged farm workers to demand rights such as fair pay and education for their children. He also wanted to change some laws. At this time it was illegal for farm workers to join a union. These groups work for better treatment of workers. Chavez fought very hard to form a farm workers union. But this fight was not violent. Chavez only used peaceful methods. Chavez said:

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"Non-violence is a very powerful weapon. Most people do not understand the power of non-violence. Those who have been involved see the difference between violence and non-violence. We are deeply committed to a lifetime of non-violence. It is not easy, but it is an effective and very powerful way."

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In 1962 Chavez formed the National Farm Workers Association. They did many non-violent actions such as demonstrating and marching. Because of these actions, many people learned about farm workers’ problems. Chavez became famous for his fasting. He would not eat for many days. Once Chavez went for over 30 days without food. This made people see that Chavez and the workers were serious about change.

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One of the National Farm Workers Association’s most successful actions was a boycott. This is when people stop using a service or stop buying something. Boycotts often make business owners lose money. A boycott can force a business to make a change. In 1965 Chavez organized a boycott of grapes. Farm workers picked this round sweet fruit. But the workers wanted people to see their bad living conditions. They wanted the farm owners to pay and treat them fairly.

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So they began to march and hold up signs. They told people about the poor conditions of the farm workers. They asked people to boycott, or stop buying, grapes. And many people joined them. This forced the farm owners to make a deal with the farm workers. The workers won the right to higher pay and other forms of protection. They also won their right to come together to form a union.

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The grape boycott was a big success for Cesar Chavez. But he gave the credit to all the people who worked together. Chavez was encouraged by the farm workers who worked so hard. He was also greatly influenced by his faith in God. Chavez was a Christian. He followed the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus often talked about the importance of poor people. Chavez said:

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“Jesus' life and words are a challenge at the same time that they are Good News. They are a challenge to those of us who are poor and oppressed. By His life He is calling us to give ourselves to others. We are called to share our lives with our brothers and sisters who are also oppressed. He is calling us to "hunger and thirst after justice" in the same way that we hunger and thirst after food and water. That is, by putting our desire into practice."

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Cesar Chavez continued his work for farm workers’ rights until his death in 1993. His organization, the United Farm Workers union, still works for the rights of farm workers in the United States. Many people still remember and respect Chavez’s hard work. But more than that, people remember Cesar Chavez for his love. As he said:

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"I have met many, many farm workers and friends who love justice and who are willing to sacrifice for what is right. They remind me of the teachings of the Bible. They are living examples that Jesus' promise is true. They have been hungry and thirsty for righteousness and they have been satisfied. They are determined, patient people who give strength to others. They have given me more love and hope and strength than they will ever know."

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The writer of this program was Rena Dam. The producer was Bruce Gulland. The producer was Nick Mangeolles. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. Quotes from Cesar Chavez come from the United Farm Workers website. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at w www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Cesar Chavez: Fighting for Workers Rights’

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