Translated from the original article in
ElPais.CR
San José - The Deutsche Welle German television last week questioned the green image of Costa Rica, at a time when the president of the European nation, Christian Wulf, visited this Central American country.
In its report ( http://www.dw-world.de/dw/episode/0,, 14986021.00. html ), "Rain Forest: Natural Source of Income", argues that "the rainforest of Costa Rica The main attraction of the country, which attracts tourists from near and distant lands. "
However, he warns that "the pineapple industry, booming, is threatening to destroy the reputation of Costa Rica as a green oasis."
The information realized that Wulff had begun a tour of Latin America semanapor with the aim of boosting economic ties and partnerships in the region.
He stressed that the President was accompanied by a delegation of representatives of German companies.
He added that "Costa Rica's agricultural industry is strong, but tourism has become the largest source of revenue for the country in recent times, especially eco-tourism."
"While Costa Rica is the largest exporter of bananas, pineapple is growing and the country has large tracts of commercial cultivation of pineapple," the report said.
However, noted that "environmentalists say the pineapple plantations are beginning to affect the tropical paradise of Costa Rica by the intensive use of pesticides, which contaminate groundwater.
Following the German television reports, the leader of the environmental Yiski, Maria Helena Fournier, sent a letter to the President Laura Chinchilla warning about the bad image that is being forged outside Costa Rica, because of the destruction of environment.
He said "the German tourism brings an estimated 50,000 Germans in search of tourism," green ", but the seriousness of the health status of communities and environmental disaster product monoculture of pineapple in Costa Rica, this figure is in grave danger as they could drop drastically, or be a tourist boycott of Costa Rica for the pineapple, thanks to that in Germany and consumers are more aware and better informed than Costa Ricans obviously. "
"Because the pineapple monoculture ecological and rural tourism others will suffer the consequences of the disaster that is causing pineapple producers," he said.
Of questions that followed "is another war between tourism and pineapple producers, Like farmers and Piñeros?, That is, what's better now, we must choose wisely what we used to Costa Rica and do not say is between tourism and pineapple, it is clear the challenge we have to deal with wisdom and commitment to the solution and implementation of a system of planned development, equitable, fair, participatory, respectful of human rights, coexistence with nature .. .. "
A year ago, launched a campaign in Europe to denounce the precarious social and environmental conditions, which causes the production of pineapple in Costa Rica, which has a bitter taste for fruit transnationals and plantation owners.
Consumers International (CI) in April 2010 launched a campaign to expose the complicity of the major supermarkets on the continent with regard to unacceptable social and environmental conditions experienced by communities working in the cultivation of pineapples in Costa Rica.
Three quarters of pineapples sold in Europe come from Costa Rica, with supermarket chains to buy Del Monte, which exports 50% of Costa Rican pineapples, and the Aeon Group.
In addition, CI has launched a documentary that reveals the conditions of workers and their families in the pineapple plantations in Costa Rica, including those of Del Monte and Aeon Group.
The film Pineapple: a luxury fruit, at what price? will be followed by a report later this month disclosed showed:
Salary unworthy: Acon Group workers face wage cut continuous for long tiring shifts, six days a week, already well below a living wage.
Exposure to toxic chemicals: "I have a skin disease due to chemicals used while working on the preparation of the beds of pineapple ... I had gloves, an apron and a mask but that did not stop trouble." Ex Pindeco worker (a subsidiary of Del Monte).
"I was poisoned on two occasions. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, physical weakness, lack of energy and skin irritations .... I retired from work with chemicals for 15 days and had to do another job, but I have not had no time to recover. I had to return to work the next day. " Former worker Piñales, Santa Clara Plantation (provider of Del Monte).
Dangerous working conditions: "They work fewer night than during the day, since many workers do not like to do night shifts. In plantations at night snakes that sometimes bite workers. Three workers have died of So in the last year. The artificial lights are not giving us enough to cast shadows or from seeing. " (Trabajador, Grupo Acon). (Worker, Grupo Acon).
Water pollution: The communities have to use drinking water distributed by tank truck, because the local supply is heavily polluted by chemicals used in pineapple production to consumption. Residents are forced to continue using local sources of water for washing and attribute their skin problems and health to this factor. La Hacienda Ojo de Agua has been producing pineapples on the side of these communities for seventeen years. The company sells its Del Monte fruit.
Break the unions: "When they started mass layoffs were rehired only those who did not belong to the union, and they found that for the same work would receive a lower wage. In this period there was a reduction of wages by 40% and now the union membership fell to only 11 of the 90 workers it had before the layoffs began." (Alfonso, Grupo Acon)
These conditions are unacceptable despite the commitment of many supermarkets stock up responsibly.
Consumers International's research policies of the powerful European supermarkets concluded that these positive intentions are being undermined by price cuts at retail and aggressive recruitment practices that lead to reductions in wages for workers and fewer resources to developing better working practices.
Catherine Nicholson, Program Coordinator at CI said at the time that "consumers want low prices, but not at the expense of worsening the living conditions of farmers. While European supermarkets point to their social responsibility policies, price wars are having an unacceptable impact on the situation of workers in the pineapple in Costa Rica. "
"If supermarkets are serious about promoting fair working conditions in their supply chains need to pay a fair price to producers, working with them to improve conditions, and adopt purchasing practices that support this commitment," added Nicholson .
Consumers International (CI) is the only voice independent global campaigning voice for consumers. With over 220 member organizations in 115 countries, we are building a powerful international consumer movement to help protect and empower consumers everywhere in the world.
To learn more, check out this short video by Consumers International on YouTube
