Fruits of the Harvest

My family went apple picking over the weekend. It was a gorgeous, warm day at the orchard. We climbed the hill, carried our cloth bags into the rows of trees and marveled at the abundance of the fruit weighing down the branches. In a short time, our bags were very full and heavy. We began the trek back to the building where our apples would be weighed and we would pay for them.

As we rounded the final corner toward the weighing shed, we ran into a group of professional apple pickers. They were at the orchard for the apple harvest and would move on when it was finished. They carried huge, nylon slings filled to the top with apples and were headed to the weighing shed as well. As we walked, we chatted a bit about kids (they were parents too), the weather, the popularity of certain apple varieties. We wished them well in their work and parted company when we reached the visitors’ weighing shed.

My family picked 30 pounds apples at the orchard. We added a gallon of fresh apple cider to our apples, paid for everything and loaded it into our car. During the ride home, I thought about how much fun we had together, how much I enjoy knowing where the food we eat comes from, how I like supporting local farmers. And, I thought about the farm workers who pick apples as a way to provide for their families, not as a fun family activity.

Kate Kenny is the managing editor of Columban Mission magazine.

New Laws Bring Hope in the Philippines

There is good news from the Philippines as we celebrate the passing of new human rights legislation and the progress that has been made on other important pending legislation in the Philippine Congress.

The administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is striving to leave behind an impressive body of new legislation. After many years of hard work by non-government organizations, human rights groups, women’s organizations, people’s associations, church activists and letter-writing supporters, a women’s rights bill was signed into law by President Macapagal-Arroyo. The Magna Carta of Women, as the Republic Act 9710 is called, was signed into law after seven years of struggle.

Its key importance is the recognition that “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights.” The new law says that all “rights,” as stated in the constitution and in international conventions ratified by the Philippines “shall be the rights of women under this act to be enjoyed without discrimination.” The law forbids any form of discrimination against women and promotes equality and dignity of women. In addition, there must be gender balance in the police departments and other government service personnel within five years under the law. Government developmental councils must have 40% female members, and political parties with women's agendas will get incentives. The law also protects pregnant women and single mothers from any kind of discrimination in school or the work place.

A law banning torture by government officials, their agents and any private person is near the final voting. The bicameral conference committee reconciling the house and senate versions approved the consolidated version of the bill, and it will be ratified within the week.

These new laws are good news indeed, but will they ever be implemented? Those of us working for justice and peace believe that I mplementation will be the biggest challenge.

Visit www.preda.org for more related articles. Contact Fr. Shay Cullen at the Preda Center, Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City, Philippines. e-mail: preda@info.com.ph