Orlando Gil
Latinos... “Low Hanging Fruit” For Animal Rights Activists?
When you look at efforts from just about every industry in the United States trying to tap into the emerging Latino market, one has to wonder when Animal Rights Activists will follow suit.
Companies are investing millions of dollars trying to reach this segment of the population. With some estimates putting Latino purchasing power at more than a trillion dollars, it just makes sense that companies would invest money and resources in this growing demographic.
Latinos are the largest and youngest minority group in the United States. According to data from the Pew Hispanic Center, by 2020, about 25% of all US children will be Latino. By 2025, 1 out of every two persons entering the workforce will also be Latino. The implications of these demographic changes will certainly influence how companies will conduct business in the very near future.
A study done at the Social Work Department of the University of New Hampshire by Jerry D. Marx in 2008 indicated that Latinos were eight times more likely to donate to human service organizations when using payroll deduction. In addition, Latinos who were solicited for donations over the phone were twice as likely to donate to educational organizations as Latino donors not solicited by phone. This could mean an opportunity for organizations funded by private donations to sustain their activist agendas.
What has been done by leading animal rights organizations to reach out to this market? Not a lot as far as I can tell. The HSUS does have a publication in Spanish available at one of their websites – “Spanish 101 for Staff at Animal Shelters”, but other than that, not much else I could find.
However, back in 2008, PETA (which is funded by HSUS according to an IRS disclosure on their website) made unsuccessful attempts to buy ads from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to be placed at each of the nine southwest border sectors, apparently without success. Nonetheless, it seems they are aware of this population segment to market their messages. If ads had been approved, then those considering entry into the United States would have read this message: "If the border patrol doesn't get you, the chicken and burgers will. Go vegan" (or, in Spanish, "Si no te agarra la migra, te atraparán el pollo y las hamburguesas. Sé vegano").
Then, just recently, PETA again proposed to help the U.S. Custom and Border Protection agency secure the border by providing funds if they were allowed to hang their "Say No to Pot (Roast)" signs on the border.
Are Latinos a ground-floor opportunity for Animal Rights Activists? Time will only tell, but as someone might say, those who get there first, may get the first pickings!
I thank you for reading, and for your comments.
Orlando Gil TCTS LLC
Training Connections-Translation Services
“Helping Bridge the Gap with the Latino Workforce in the Ag & Food Industries”
translat@mtcnet.net
Arizona, Here We Come...NOT!
Friday, April 23, 2010 was a day that will be remembered by many. On this day, Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, signed into law bill SB 1070 – “Immigration; Law Enforcement; Safe Neighborhoods”.
While the controversial law (which goes into effect sometime this summer) is written to require that lawful contact be made, law enforcement officers might stop any person with reasonable suspicion of being illegal and ask about their immigration status. If the person cannot produce documentation that would validate their legal status, they would be arrested.
Some are concerned that the Arizona law promotes racial profiling and division in communities. Others feel this was a necessary step to control the immigration problem in the state. Arizona, with an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants has the busiest stretch of illegal crossings in the country.
The Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Alessandra Soler Meetze, commented: "By signing this bill into law, Brewer has just authorized violating the rights of millions of people living and working here. She has just given every police agency in Arizona a mandate to harass anyone who looks or sounds foreign, while doing nothing to address the real problems we're facing."
President Obama has asked the Justice Department to investigate possible civil rights implications as he felt the law threatens to "undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe…"
At the signing of the law, Governor Brewer, acknowledging the law being highly controversial, stated, “We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act”.
There is talk now in Washington to make immigration reform a priority both in the Senate and in the House.
Will Immigration Reform still happen this year? It might… One thing is for sure though; this debate will most probably continue to bring the best and the worst out in each of us.
No matter what happens, our summer vacation plans may not include Arizona this year… You know, I wouldn’t want to be stopped “while driving brown…”
I thank you for reading, and for your comments.
Orlando Gil
TCTS
Training Connections-Translation Services
“Helping Bridge the Gap with The Latino Workforce in the Agricultural Industry”
translat@mtcnet.net
While the controversial law (which goes into effect sometime this summer) is written to require that lawful contact be made, law enforcement officers might stop any person with reasonable suspicion of being illegal and ask about their immigration status. If the person cannot produce documentation that would validate their legal status, they would be arrested.
Some are concerned that the Arizona law promotes racial profiling and division in communities. Others feel this was a necessary step to control the immigration problem in the state. Arizona, with an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants has the busiest stretch of illegal crossings in the country.
The Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Alessandra Soler Meetze, commented: "By signing this bill into law, Brewer has just authorized violating the rights of millions of people living and working here. She has just given every police agency in Arizona a mandate to harass anyone who looks or sounds foreign, while doing nothing to address the real problems we're facing."
President Obama has asked the Justice Department to investigate possible civil rights implications as he felt the law threatens to "undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe…"
At the signing of the law, Governor Brewer, acknowledging the law being highly controversial, stated, “We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act”.
There is talk now in Washington to make immigration reform a priority both in the Senate and in the House.
Will Immigration Reform still happen this year? It might… One thing is for sure though; this debate will most probably continue to bring the best and the worst out in each of us.
No matter what happens, our summer vacation plans may not include Arizona this year… You know, I wouldn’t want to be stopped “while driving brown…”
I thank you for reading, and for your comments.
Orlando Gil
TCTS
Training Connections-Translation Services
“Helping Bridge the Gap with The Latino Workforce in the Agricultural Industry”
translat@mtcnet.net
