Witness for Peace SE welcomes Luz Marina Peñalosa to tour the southeast.  Luz works as a community organizer for CACTUS in Bogotá to improve the conditions for workers in the flower industry.  CACTUS provides training in labor rights, legal defense mechanisms, social and psychological understanding of processes, worker health and safety and relevant environmental issues.  They do research, education, communication and organization with flower workers and the local communities that are affected by the industry.

Date: Tuesday, October 10

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Maybank 100, College of Charleston

Sponsored by the College of Charleston's Latin American            and Caribbean Studies Program and Charleston Peace

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,  843-257-2556

FACTS ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN FLOWER INDUSTRY

• Colombia is the second largest flower exporting country in the world
• 78% of flowers grown in Colombia are sold in the US
• 12% of flowers grown in Colombia are sold to the European Union
• 70% of flower workers are women, many with little formal education.  The majority are heads of families.