|It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of farmworker Oscar Pimentel, who tragically passed away at a local agricultural farm in Ventura County. We have been informed that the cause of death has yet to be determined and that he passed on Saturday afternoon on September 7th, 2024 during an excessive heat warning. "
https://friendsoffieldworkers.org/oscar #heatwave #death #Oxnard #VenturaCounty #ClimateEmergency #agriculture
@ai6yr I'm so sorry. I hope he lived to a good age.
As a native Californian, now living in West Virginia, and in the restaurant business, it bothers me that people don't appreciate those who put food on the table, every day. If it wasn't for farm workers these people would be eating insects with a side of tree bark.
I salute your friend.
@shuttersparks Ah, not my personal friend, but someone who lived here and indeed was putting food on the table for all of us. Very sad to see these heat deaths occurring, even here, where there should be more awareness of this!!
@ai6yr Yeah, but it's hopeless. As long as the food keeps coming and they have their six pack for football, it's all good. They don't care.
Maybe I'll live long enough to see them experience a lack of food. Not that I wish ill on anyone, and knowing that it would affect me as well, but if it happened I won't have much sympathy.
Live and learn -- or don't.
@ai6yr Tell me about it. Working the broiler during the 95+ temps we had this summer finally got to me. Almost passed out a few times and got into heatstroke.
And it's only going to get worse. I can't wait for winter to come.
@shuttersparks Well, at least here in California, new rules to help address that issue. I hope it works! https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2024/2024-59.html
@ai6yr Good to hear. I'm in West Virginia, where such rules may appear in another 100 years. Haha.
There are no rules here. Health Department, Fire Department, fire codes, electrical codes, are all unheard of here. Do whatever you want.
And why is it different from California? Because nobody sues anyone here, ever. Lawsuits is what keeps businesses in Los Angeles in line. But here, there are no lawsuits.
The main reason for that is this state is run by a hierarchy of families, much like a third-world country. With one phone call from the right person, a lawsuit is dismissed. Also criminal charges -- a phone call and it's all gone. Caught with 25,000 doses of ecstasy? If you're the mayor's son, poof, all gone, never happened.
This is the difference between California and West Virginia. Like night and day.
Having lived in third-world countries, I figured this out quick when I moved here to WV and became close with a local family with clout.
@ai6yr Hah. Yeah. Well, now you know how to conduct yourself should you find yourself in a third-world country or a state like West Virginia. It's not a problem if you're smart and are white.
@shuttersparks There's been a bit of awareness of the heat risks inside the restaurants here, too -- hoping that (at least locally!) those efforts pay off... you know how hot it gets in the kitchen, it's a real health risk during heatwaves here nowadays!!