The
Indian Gaming Industry is now the largest single employer of Native
Americans.
I find it ironic no mention is made here by the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH of the need to end
smoking in these casinos since workers are now spending a good part of
their lives in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos being paid
poverty wages and forced to work without any rights under state, federal
and international labor laws and in complete violation of everything
the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands for.
Putting an end to smoking in these casinos of the Indian Gaming
Industry so workers are employed in a healthy and safe working
environment should be a very simple reform compared to putting an end to
the K-XL Pipeline, fracking and sulfide and peat mining which we
also join you in opposing; but remind you, that to many people it seems a
bit hypocritical not to include the demand the Indian Gaming Industry be
smoke-free.
Failing to insist that the Indian Gaming
Industry be smoke-free thus leaves open a door to the energy and mining
industries to point out this hypocrisy which severely weakens any
movements for clean air and water and protection of the land and all
living things.
Is there a reason making these workplaces
smoke-free given the medical and scientific findings of the adverse
health impact on human beings subjected to second-hand smoke is not included in the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH?
Second-hand smoke is especially life-threatening to people who already
have heart, lung and problems with diabetes, young women of
child-bearing age and nursing mothers... thus, second-hand smoking in
the Indian Gaming Industry not only adversely impacts the health of tens
of millions of casino workers and casino patrons but the health of the
unborn, babies and entire families forced to suffer when a loved one
gets sick and/or terminally ill.
It seems to me it would be natural to include the demand that the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free.
This Sacred Walk through 6 RESERVATIONS, 5 HO-CHUNK NATION COMMUNITIES
AND 3 MAJOR MIDWEST CITIES of the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH would be the appropriate time to bring the
need for the Indian Gaming Industry to go smoke-free forward since it is
all about the environmental quality of the workplace which is every bit
as important as the air we breath, the water we drink and the land we
live on and is every bit the threat as pipelines, mining and fracking.
With the Indian Gaming Industry now comprising well over 350 casinos
across the country the impact on the lives of people when it comes to
second-hand smoke becomes just as pressing and important an
environmental issue as pipelines, mining and fracking--- especially when
it should be so much easier to put an end to second-hand smoke.
But, like with the pipeline, mining and fracking industries it seems
that profits are once again the obstacle to ending smoking in the Indian
Gaming Industry where profits come before the health and welfare of
people.
The Indian Health Service and many Indian Nations have taken up the campaign to end second-hand smoke yet they fail, like the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH to take up the need to end smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry: why?
And why have the congregations of churches and synagogues engaged in supporting movements for environmental justice which refuse to take up the need to end smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry?
And what about all of these foundation-funded environmental organizations like the Sierra Club? Again, refusing to acknowledge the health and welfare of workers in their workplaces and the right of workers to a healthy and safe working environment.
A SACRED WALK THROUGH 6 RESERVATIONS, 5 HO-CHUNK NATION COMMUNITIES AND 3 MAJOR MIDWEST CITIES
A Sacred Walk with the intent to create public awareness of the global
destruction that threatens the fate of our Sacred Mother Earth. With the
Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline on the verge of receiving approval for
completion in America, we all need to wake up the world and stop the
pipeline. As the 7th Generation, it is our destiny and responsibility as
caretakers of Mother Earth to unite as Indigenous Peoples of the Americas to preserve this sacred planet for future generations.
With the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline, Natural Gas Fracking, Frac
Sand Mining, Iron Ore Mining, Uranium Mining, contamination of our
Sacred Water, Sacred Site Desecration, and the loss of species at an
alarming rate...we need to intensify and direct more attention to the
ill fated plight of Mother Earth and the impending doom for our youth
and the unborn.
How Much longer will this hypocrisy endure?
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing, Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
The
Indian Gaming Industry is now the largest single employer of Native
Americans.
I find it ironic no mention is made here by the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH of the need to end smoking in these casinos since workers are now spending a good part of their lives in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos being paid poverty wages and forced to work without any rights under state, federal and international labor laws and in complete violation of everything the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands for.
Putting an end to smoking in these casinos of the Indian Gaming Industry so workers are employed in a healthy and safe working environment should be a very simple reform compared to putting an end to the K-XL Pipeline, fracking and sulfide and peat mining which we also join you in opposing; but remind you, that to many people it seems a bit hypocritical not to include the demand the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free.
Failing to insist that the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free thus leaves open a door to the energy and mining industries to point out this hypocrisy which severely weakens any movements for clean air and water and protection of the land and all living things.
Is there a reason making these workplaces smoke-free given the medical and scientific findings of the adverse health impact on human beings subjected to second-hand smoke is not included in the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH?
Second-hand smoke is especially life-threatening to people who already have heart, lung and problems with diabetes, young women of child-bearing age and nursing mothers... thus, second-hand smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry not only adversely impacts the health of tens of millions of casino workers and casino patrons but the health of the unborn, babies and entire families forced to suffer when a loved one gets sick and/or terminally ill.
It seems to me it would be natural to include the demand that the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free.
This Sacred Walk through 6 RESERVATIONS, 5 HO-CHUNK NATION COMMUNITIES AND 3 MAJOR MIDWEST CITIES of the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH would be the appropriate time to bring the need for the Indian Gaming Industry to go smoke-free forward since it is all about the environmental quality of the workplace which is every bit as important as the air we breath, the water we drink and the land we live on and is every bit the threat as pipelines, mining and fracking. With the Indian Gaming Industry now comprising well over 350 casinos across the country the impact on the lives of people when it comes to second-hand smoke becomes just as pressing and important an environmental issue as pipelines, mining and fracking--- especially when it should be so much easier to put an end to second-hand smoke.
But, like with the pipeline, mining and fracking industries it seems that profits are once again the obstacle to ending smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry where profits come before the health and welfare of people.
The Indian Health Service and many Indian Nations have taken up the campaign to end second-hand smoke yet they fail, like the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH to take up the need to end smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry: why?
And why have the congregations of churches and synagogues engaged in supporting movements for environmental justice which refuse to take up the need to end smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry?
And what about all of these foundation-funded environmental organizations like the Sierra Club? Again, refusing to acknowledge the health and welfare of workers in their workplaces and the right of workers to a healthy and safe working environment.
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing, Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
I find it ironic no mention is made here by the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH of the need to end smoking in these casinos since workers are now spending a good part of their lives in these loud, noisy, smoke-filled casinos being paid poverty wages and forced to work without any rights under state, federal and international labor laws and in complete violation of everything the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights stands for.
Putting an end to smoking in these casinos of the Indian Gaming Industry so workers are employed in a healthy and safe working environment should be a very simple reform compared to putting an end to the K-XL Pipeline, fracking and sulfide and peat mining which we also join you in opposing; but remind you, that to many people it seems a bit hypocritical not to include the demand the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free.
Failing to insist that the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free thus leaves open a door to the energy and mining industries to point out this hypocrisy which severely weakens any movements for clean air and water and protection of the land and all living things.
Is there a reason making these workplaces smoke-free given the medical and scientific findings of the adverse health impact on human beings subjected to second-hand smoke is not included in the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH?
Second-hand smoke is especially life-threatening to people who already have heart, lung and problems with diabetes, young women of child-bearing age and nursing mothers... thus, second-hand smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry not only adversely impacts the health of tens of millions of casino workers and casino patrons but the health of the unborn, babies and entire families forced to suffer when a loved one gets sick and/or terminally ill.
It seems to me it would be natural to include the demand that the Indian Gaming Industry be smoke-free.
This Sacred Walk through 6 RESERVATIONS, 5 HO-CHUNK NATION COMMUNITIES AND 3 MAJOR MIDWEST CITIES of the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH would be the appropriate time to bring the need for the Indian Gaming Industry to go smoke-free forward since it is all about the environmental quality of the workplace which is every bit as important as the air we breath, the water we drink and the land we live on and is every bit the threat as pipelines, mining and fracking. With the Indian Gaming Industry now comprising well over 350 casinos across the country the impact on the lives of people when it comes to second-hand smoke becomes just as pressing and important an environmental issue as pipelines, mining and fracking--- especially when it should be so much easier to put an end to second-hand smoke.
But, like with the pipeline, mining and fracking industries it seems that profits are once again the obstacle to ending smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry where profits come before the health and welfare of people.
The Indian Health Service and many Indian Nations have taken up the campaign to end second-hand smoke yet they fail, like the EAGLE & CONDOR SACRED WALK FOR MOTHER EARTH to take up the need to end smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry: why?
And why have the congregations of churches and synagogues engaged in supporting movements for environmental justice which refuse to take up the need to end smoking in the Indian Gaming Industry?
And what about all of these foundation-funded environmental organizations like the Sierra Club? Again, refusing to acknowledge the health and welfare of workers in their workplaces and the right of workers to a healthy and safe working environment.
A SACRED WALK THROUGH 6 RESERVATIONS, 5 HO-CHUNK NATION COMMUNITIES AND 3 MAJOR MIDWEST CITIESHow Much longer will this hypocrisy endure?
A Sacred Walk with the intent to create public awareness of the global destruction that threatens the fate of our Sacred Mother Earth. With the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline on the verge of receiving approval for completion in America, we all need to wake up the world and stop the pipeline. As the 7th Generation, it is our destiny and responsibility as caretakers of Mother Earth to unite as Indigenous Peoples of the Americas to preserve this sacred planet for future generations.
With the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline, Natural Gas Fracking, Frac Sand Mining, Iron Ore Mining, Uranium Mining, contamination of our Sacred Water, Sacred Site Desecration, and the loss of species at an alarming rate...we need to intensify and direct more attention to the ill fated plight of Mother Earth and the impending doom for our youth and the unborn.
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing, Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
