Tobacco farming involves severe, arguably irreversible costs to farmers and their families. Some of these costs of tobacco farming are child labor, bonded labor and environmental degradation, all leading to worsen and perpetuate the conditions of poverty of the farmers.

April 7-18, 2008 workers from factories and fields abroad visited communities in Michigan and Ohio to raise awareness about labor conditions in Wal-Mart’s supply chains. The tour was organized by the International Labor Rights Forum and Sweatfree Communities and included a Cambodian garment worker and a Costa Rican pineapple picker.

FLOWERS. We give them to our loved ones as acts of appreciation, compassion, and kindness. A flower has the power to brighten a person’s day and fill a person with joy. We run to the grocery store last minute to pick up a perfect bouquet for our mother, our friend, or our spouse. We receive a lovely assortment, and don’t stop to think “How did I get roses in the middle of winter?” The last thing we would ever ask ourselves is, “Who grew these beautiful flowers?”

This letter from International Labor Rights Forum Executive Director Bama Athreya expresses ILRF's support for the proposed Section 3104 of the Farm Bill.