INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WASTE PICKERS

The International Alliance of Waste Pickers is a union of waste picker organizations representing more than 460,000 workers across 34 countries
Supported by Logo WIEGO

Check translation:

After the request for support and solidarity by the Asociación de Recicladores de Bogota (the Bogota Association of Recyclers) messages of support have started to arrive from all over. We’ll be updating this post with all the the messages that arrive.

You can sign the  petition for an inclusive  recycling in Bogotá, Colombia, read the English version first!

Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis y la Red Latinoamericana de Recicladores

  
Waste pickers at the Expocatadores meeting Brazil this past Friday November 30th, representing waste picker organizations from 18 countries voted unanimously to support and recognize the struggle of their Colombian counterparts. You can download the original letter (Spanish) or watch the video.

We waste picker delegates from all countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Kenya, Benin, South Africa, India — united here at EXPOCATADORES, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil – send this letter to ARB (Recyclers’ Association of Bogota) to show our complete solidarity with all of the waste pickers of ARB, but also with Colombian society, which, like us, should be informed and declare its solidarity. (…)

Read the full letter.

Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA)

  

The Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA) sent a letter of support:

A la luz de los últimos acontecimientos vividos por la Asociación de Recicladores de Bogotá y los cuestionamientos a su actuar y los recursos con los que cuenta para desarrollar su tarea, quisiéramos expresar lo siguiente:

En Colombia, quien más ha aportado en este sentido ha sido la Asociación de Recicladores de Bogotá, ARB, un fuerte aliado y miembro nuestro. Su organización está compuesta por una gran cantidad de recicladores, y liderada por Nohra Padilla y Silvio Ruiz. Ellos no solo son un ejemplo de honestidad y compromiso con sus pares, sino con todo el movimiento ambiental de la región, y particularmente con aquel vinculado con los residuos.
(…)
Asimismo, la colaboración mutua con la ARB se ha concretado en un acompañamiento constante por las legítimas luchas que dicha asociación ha librado, cuyas conquistas y a la vez tesón, son inspiración para diversos grupos en la región. Así, la ARB mantiene un contacto permanente con nuestras listas de correo electrónico, nuestras redes sociales, y sus noticias, conquistas y dificultades, son siempre difundidas entre nuestros miembros así como en nuestros medios de difusión.
(…)
En el marco de una relación donde priman la honestidad, el trabajo voluntario y la coherencia, la ARB, como parte de nuestros miembros y aliados, nos llena de orgullo y legitima la lucha por la sostenibilidad y los derechos de las y los recicladores en el mundo entero.

You can download the full letter.

Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)

WIEGO sent a letter of support: 

Boston, December 18, 2012

To Whom it May Concern,

It is with deep respect that we recognize the achievements of Asociación de Recicladores de Bogotà (ARB) in organizing and supporting waste pickers for more than 20 years. WIEGO addresses this message to you as a clear expression of our appreciation of the productive link of institutional cooperation with ARB.

Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) is a global action-research-policy network that seeks to improve the status of the working poor, especially women, in the informal economy. WIEGO is made up of organizations representing informal workers, individual researchers, and development professionals working in the field of informal employment.

Since our formation 15 years ago, we have worked with more than 170 affiliated members in 42 countries around the shared concern that the working poor in the informal economy, especially women, are not well understood, appreciated or supported in policy circles or by the international development community. Recognizing this situation, WIEGO has actively worked with the Asociación de Recicladores de Bogotà (ARB) to improve the living conditions of waste pickers in Bogota, in Colombia and throughout the world.

We hope that this letter will help you to understand the important role that ARB has played in the history of the organization of the waste picker sector and the way in which it has worked in the trade union movement in a professional, dedicated and responsible manner.

ARB has played a fundamental role in organizing and defending the rights of waste pickers within Colombia and internationally. The association has been a pioneer in articulating the rights of workers, and played a founding role in establishing the current Latin American Waste Picker Network. At the same time, ARB has vigorously supported the movement to create a Global Alliance of Waste Pickers. Together with KKPKP, the union of waste pickers in Pune, India, ARB is the longest established, independent member-based organization in the world dedicated exclusively to waste pickers.

In 2007, WIEGO co-organized, with the ARB and other national and international partners, the very successful first World Congress of Waste Pickers in Bogota, Colombia. In March 2008, member-based organizations representing waste pickers, researchers and support organizations from 34 countries met for three days in Bogota to share knowledge and discuss common issues. Having experienced first hand the excellent professional work of ARB and having established a good working relationship with ARB,performance of ARB, we have continued to work with them since then on a range of activities to organize and strengthen the waste picker sector.

In 2010, we supported the organization of a Seminar on Climate Change in the city of Bogota. Organized waste pickers from more than 10 countries in the region exchanged experiences and ideas. ARB was our local partner in successfully organizing this seminar. this initiative. Recognizing the link between solid waste and the potential inclusion of the waste pickers of Bogota within an integrated model of waste management, WIEGO cooperated with ARB in developing an Analysis Tool for the Payment of Waste Removal Charges, a financial mechanism for compensation of the work of waste pickers who provide an essential public service.

At the international level, ARB has always shown its commitment in helping to organize movements of waste pickers in other countries. In doing so, their only concern has been to improve the living and working conditions for this sector. WIEGO and ARB joined together in 2011 to produce a Map of Waste Pickers in Central America. Once again, ARB performed outstanding work as the secretariat for the international agenda of the Latin-American network, by coordinating the necessary steps and organization of resources in a transparent and effective manner, and by identifying representatives of waste picker organizations in 10 countries of Central America.

The process culminated with the very first Central American Congress of Waste Pickers in Nicaragua in February 2012 ARB played an important role in supporting local organizations and made it possible for waste picker organizations from more than 17 countries to actively participate in the above-mentioned meeting. In addition, in order to share knowledge and describe the results of the mapping activity, with the support of WIEGO and other partners, ARB coordinated the publication of a report listing all the information collected through the Central-American process. In December 2011, Decision 275 of the Constitutional Court upheld the rights of waste pickers in Bogota. This precedent-setting legal victory has immense importance both locally, nationally, and internationally. To give full meaning to this decision, WIEGO representatives worked side-by-side with ARB throughout 2012 to ensure waste pickers were included in the waste management system of the City of Bogota by means of an Inclusive Action Plan involving waste pickers in the city`s waste removal system.

We are also proud to describe the worthwhile contribution of the ARB technical support team as participants in a Research Project to Monitor the Informal Economy in 10 cities around the world. Bogota is one of the cities involved in the Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS), which examines how informal workers are affected by andrespond to economic trends, urban policies and practices, the dynamics of the value chain and other social and economic forces.

The Operations Manager of WIEGO conducted an audit of ARB in 2011 and found its financial system to be strong and well managed. This was corroborated through certificates and records that demonstrated the ARB`s good performance in managing the organization. We wish to publicly state that all funds identified for ARB activities were disbursed with full transparency by means of agreements for work and cooperation with specific and precise terms of reference.

It is our intention to continue this productive institutional relationship between WIEGO and ARB. The success achieved in the past five years is a source of justifiable pride, and we sincerely hope that the confidence we have in ARB’s role as a progressive and dedicated leader will be fully reflected at the local, national and regional levels. The leaders of ARB have played an historic role in improving conditions for the working poor and they deserve our respect and support.

Martha Chen, International Coordinator, WIEGO

Lucia Fernandez, Global Coordinator, Waste Pickers, WIEGO

Messages of Support from around the world

Hermanos y Hermanas Recicladores de ARB

Reciban de Nuestra parte nuestros mas sincero apoyo y respaldo de solidaridad por la violación de los derechos humanos y de la labor que el Gobierno Mayor de la Alcaldía de Bogota esta realizando contra los compañeros recicladores de la ARB nos sumamos y estamos también desde Nicaragua y de la secretaria operativa de la REDLACRE asiendo llegar dos cartas de protesta ala embajada de Colombia el día de hoy 06 de diciembre del 2012, en nuestro país y si nuestros hermanos no reciben respeto a sus demandas justas desde nicaragua estaremos serrando la entrada principal de esta embajada de Colombia en nuestro país por que si tocan a uno tocan a todos si tocan a uno tocan a todos por que no hay frontera para los que luchan seguimos de frente defendiendo el derecho de reciclar y de sobre vivencia

les decimos hermanos recicladores de Colombia que estamos con los ojos muy abiertos y con la mente fresca esperando que estos señores de la alcaldía mayor de Bogota se pronuncie a favor de los verdaderos recicladores y de las verdaderas organizaciones que realmente representan al gremio

atte

David A. Narvaéz Blanco
Presidente Nacional REDNICA / SOGR REDLACREE
Telf : 2253-9048/Cel mov.8460-2961/claro 87130348
email: rednica_2010@yahoo.es
Managua, Nicaragua

Lissette Aliaga
AUSTIN, TX
social justice

Nicia Mafra
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL
Because this is my cause too! I’ve been working for recycling protecting the waste pickers for a long time! 

Srijana Devkota Adhikari
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
We are working in improving livelihood of inofmral waste pickers in Nepal

Subash Biswas
DISTRICT. MAGURA, DC 
ASD-Bangladesh aspires to improve status of women in informal sector and contribute in addressing climate change effects to protect lives and nature.

Neil Tangri
BERKELEY, CA
Los recicladores de base son los verdaderos héroes ambientales de Bogotá. Merecen inclusión en el nuevo sistema de gestión de residuos. 

Albina Ruiz
LIMA, PERU
because the work of waste pickers is very important for the planet

Carmen Roca
LIMA, PERU
Es importante reconocer y respetar el trabajo y la contribución de quienes se ganan la vida, al diario, sin pedir trabajo a nadie, y protegiendo el medio ambiente.

Sergio Sanchez
CAPITAL FEDERAL, ARGENTINA
Basta de robarle la fuente de trabajo a los recicladores, por la lucha y la unión siempre!

Jorge Eliecer Ospina Manco
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
asi siempre los lagartos y los que no son recicladores se quieren quedar con el trabajo de los verdaderos recicladores y solo nos queda un paso que es luchar hasta las ultimas consecuencias por lograr nuetro derecho el cual ya lo corte lo a ordenado

Maria Eugenia Duque
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
La Asociación Cooperativa de Recicladores de Bogotá, es una organización coherente y consecuente en la lucha por defender el trabajo de los recicladores, la permanencia en el oficio y la dignidad.

Si en este país defender la dignidad y el derecho al minimo vital es un delito????? entonces de que sociedades justas y ciudades humanas estamos hablando???????

Ana Menezes
MACEIO, BRAZIL
A participação dos catadores é condição para conquista do direito a trabalho decente e para alcançar a justiça social e ambiental.

Thilo Schmidt
CAMARAGIBE PE, BRAZIL
La formalizacion y inclusion dos papeleros y triadores de materiales reciclables es parte fundamental de una gestion integrada dos residuos solidos, de una gestion racional dos recursos naturales, y da responsabilidad social de la administracion local.

Elida Murta
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL
Porque a luta dos catadores é uma luta digna e eles têm de ser reconhecidos pelo importante papel que sempre desempenharam em nossa sociedade. Não é juto que eles trabalhem e o lucro fique para esses exploradores inescrupulosos.

Anna German
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
I care about workers’ rights and social justice

Lida Diaz
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
Los recicladores de oficio viven de los residuos, es la oportunidad a traves de la que generan su sustento diario, no puede ser posible que queden por fuera no se puede dejar sin su trabajo.

Subhash Lomte
AURANGABAD,INDIA
In Solidarity Support with Bogota Recyclers

Dan Moche Schneider
ITANHAéM, BRAZIL
A mesma luta em muitos países. viva a Organização dos Catadores! Viva os cumpacitos de Colombia

Ricardo Alvarado
BOGOTA-BUCARAMANGA, COLOMBIA
Colombia debe movilizarse para que estos grupos poblacionales mejoren su situacion economica y social a través del trabajo de reciclaje.

Juan keneddy gaona gaona machado
PANAMA, PANAMA
represento como delegado a los recicladores de panamá y estoy en la lucha.

Laura Fostinone
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
Estas personas son nuestros agentes ambientales y ten derechos de participar del trabajo decentemente!!!

Ernesto Casabianca
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
Los conozco y se lo duro que se ha trabajado por la defensa de un gremio que no han mirado sino hasta cuando se dieron cuenta que mueven una industria y que la pueden explotar ahora otros interesados que solo desen el beneficio propio

Patricia Vidales
TLALPAN, DF, MEXICO
We need to value the importance of the “recicladores” and their contribution to keep cities clean.

felipe rosario nolazco
SANTIAGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
no piense solo en lo que ganara sacando a los recicladores. piense en las persona que como siempre quedaran desprotegida y con una familia que mantener ante de tomar la decision pongase en lugar de ello y digase usted mismo que aria yo si no tengo de comer para mis hijo mi para mi y ellos yoran de hambre( recuerde que por grande que se una persona no sera lo suficiente mente grande para impedir que el chiquito se supere ) su decision marcara para bien la historia del reciclador desde republica dominicana somo 523 familia de recicladores que confiamos en que usted ayudaras a esos municipe felicidade por ayudarlo felicidades por ayudarno porque si tocan a uno tocan a todo

Aurelia Annina
OAXACA, MEXICO
Trabajo para los Recicladores de México.

Gbenga Komolafe
LAGOS, NIGERIA
Waste pickers provide very important services that should be appreciated and supported not maligned and repressed. My work with waste pickers in Nigeria show that they endure so much marginalization and criminalization. It is important to stand up for the human rights of such vulnerable workers!

Jyoti Mhapsekar
INDIA
Because it is the question of dignity and livelihood of waste pickers

Poornima Chikarmane
INDIA
The persons who have been doing this work for generations should have first right to the recyclables and to work in the new scenario because they have earned it. The move on the part of the companies to induct non waste pickers by registering different organisations is an attempt to continue accumulation and profiteering by dispossessing waste pickers. It is deplorable and against any principle of justice. More power to waste pickers struggling for their rights. Do not let the companies break your solidarity. In solidarity with your demands.

Eric Lombardi
BOULDER, CO
Creating a Zero Waste World is a social issue first, and a market issue second. The traditional waste industry has no interest in social justice or environmental protection, but wastepickers do and are the best recyclers!

Jessica Koehs
BROOKLYN, NY
Everyone should have the right to work, take care of the environment and take of their children. The Recicladores of Bogota are fighting for this right.

Neil Seldman
WASHINGTON, DC
I have worked with Colombian basuriegos in Medellin and know how hard they work and how cooperatively they work. Yet they get no benefits from the cities they serve. Their institutions need support.

Neil

Samuel Mburu
NAIROBI, KENYA
Recognize the Constitutional Court ruling in favor of waste pickers and the Association of Waste Pickers of Bogotá (Asociación de Recicladores de Bogotá) for its historic defense of all waste pickers.

Magda Quisquella Barinas Villamizar
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
Por que gracias a la Gestion de los recicladores de oficio a traves de sus organizaciones sea podido llegar a que se empiece a reconocer nuestro trabajo y porque gracias a organizaciones como la ARB y la ANR los recicladores podemso tener escuela para aprender y de esta manera generar nuestros propios procesos porque sin estas organizaciones ni sus lideres hoy la historia de los recicladores fuera totalmente diferente y nos mantendriamos en el anonimato

Alfonso Sánchez Uzábal
MADRID, SPAIN
Porque los recicladores hacen una función importante para la ciudad, y su oficio supone un modo de ganarse la vida para mucha gente.

Angélica Acosta
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
Este es el momento de aportar con nuestro apoyo como una mímina acción contra la discriminación de este gremio.Why is this important to you? (Optional)

Davi Amorim
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
viva os recicladores!

Heather MacIntosh
OTTAWA, CANADA
The lives of these women and their families, the livelihoods taken away and the environmental impacts

pablo rey
MADRID, SPAIN
Apoyo la lucha de ARB. Es un ejemplo de trabajo desde la base para conseguir un sistema integrado en la gestión de los residuos en Bogotá y un mundo más justo.

Lucia Fernandez
MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY
Conozco a la ARB desde hace 10 años y merecen reconocimiento, respeto, asi como todos los recicladores de Bogota deben ser parte de un modelo integrado e inclusivo de manejo de residuos