Beyond the Fence: A Journey to the Roots of the Migration Crisis
By Dori Stone
Inspiring stories of Mexico’s farmer to farmer movements restoring degraded hillsides and watersheds, reclaiming old methods of seed saving and seed exchange, and incorporating the latest agroecological techniques developed by other farmers and agroecology scientists and practitioners.
Concise explanations of NAFTA, the U.S.-Mexico border fence, maquiladoras, the Green Revolution in Mexico, U.S. agricultural guest worker programs, Mexican government support for agriculture, the U.S. Farm bill, direct marketing by small Mexican farmers, and genetically-engineered corn in Mexico.
Beyond the Fence explores aspects of migration largely unnoticed by the public and mainstream media. These are the root causes and complex realities, the stories and surprising possibilities that get lost in a debate over fences. They are the tales of people's desperation and irretrievable loss, but also of their growing visions for hope. They are the stories of farmers, politicians and activists on both sides of the border.
“Dori Stone travels with an open mind and open heart to investigate the deeper meaning of Mexican migration to the United States, and in her traveling asks dozens of good questions, and often comes up with excellent answers that will be of interest to a wide readership. Many will be inspired to want to take a similar trip, whether by actually repeating her steps, or intellectually, by further investigating the amazing array of urgent issues she explores. The combination of first-hand observation with serious research works beautifully. She not only travels far into Mexico for the issues, but she travels profoundly and always with a good spirit. The book is ideally suited for students, but I can think of few people who would not benefit from reading it.”
—Angus Wright, author of The Death of Ramon Gonzalez: The Modern Agricultural Dilemma (University of Texas Press, 2005)
Contents
Forward
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Food First Reality Tour Participants
Chapter I. Borderlands
Destinations
The Border Farmworker Center in El Paso, Texas, a homeless shelter and resource center for migrants farmworkers
Colonia settlements along the U.S.-Mexico Border, and a conversation with children across the border fence
Cervantes Inc, a large chile pepper operation in New Mexico, which employs migrant workers in its fields on both sides of the border
La Mujer Obrera, a grassroots community development organization in El Paso, in which unemployed former factory workers are revitalizing a neighborhood and creating new economic opportunities for themselves
Background Boxes
--Conditions for U.S. Farmworkers
--The U.S.-Mexico Border Fence
--NAFTA and the U.S.-Mexico Border
--Maquiladoras
Chapter II. Chihuahua
Destinations
Meeting with farmers’ organization El Frente Democrático Campesino, and Chihuahua state representative Victor Quintana, to learn about the history of migration from this agricultural region
Meeting with farmers in small town of Santa Isabel, Chihuahua, to hear their experiences and perspective on migration
Visit to El Ranchero Solidario, a rural, farmer-owned, cooperative grocery store creating new market opportunities and thus providing an alternative to migration
Visit to a nearby ejido or small farming community, to speak with local farmers and returned migrants about their struggle to start productive projects and make a living in agriculture here
Background Boxes
--Origins of the Green Revolution in Mexico
--Biofuels in Mexico
--Agricultural Guest Worker Programs
--Government Support for Agriculture in Mexico
--Direct Marketing in Agriculture
--Effects of Synthetic Fertilizers on Soil
Chapter III. Mexico City
Destinations
Regional forum of La Vía Campesina, the International Peasant Movement
Meeting with Diputada Susana Monreal Avila, member of the Mexican Congress, to discuss NAFTA and migration
Background Boxes
--La Vía Campesina: The International Peasant Movement
--The U.S. Farm Bill
--NAFTA: Effects on Agriculture
Chapter IV: Tlaxcala
Destinations
Campesino a Campesino (Farmer to Farmer) training center in the village of Vicente Guerrero, and local fields where sustainable agriculture practices are being implemented to increase soil fertility and crop yields
Background Boxes
--The Green Revolution and Peasant Agriculture
--Direct Marketing by Farmers in Central and Southern Mexico
Chapter V: Oaxaca
Destinations
Itanoní, an urban restaurant working to preserve traditional maize varieties by purchasing them from regional indigenous farmers
Meeting with activist Aldo González of UNOSJO, the Union of Organizations of the Sierra Juárez Mountains of Oaxaca, about the struggle to protect local natural resources from extraction by outside corporations, and the connection between environmental issues and migration
Meeting with leaders of CEDICAM, the Center for Integral Small Farmer Development of the Mixteca, about the connections between soil erosion, sustainable agriculture, and migration
Village of Saragoza, to learn from community members about their efforts to resist migration through sustainable agriculture and environmental restoration
Background Boxes
--Genetically Engineered Corn in Mexico
Epilogue
Update on U.S.-Mexico migration, the Farm Bill, NAFTA, and immigration policy
Overview of the Global Food Crisis and Mexican Tortilla Crisis
The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, and Technology for Development
Personal reflection on the issues and alternatives presented in this book, and how they are connected to our own lives
Appendix: Guide to Action
Endnotes
References for Background Boxes
About the Author
About Food First
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A companion 20-minute documentary with study guide, Caminos-The Immigrant's Trail can be purchased here;
http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2248
