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2007 National Latino Congreso:
Environment and Health Day, Sunday, Oct. 7
The 2007 National Latino Congreso took place in Los Angeles October 5-9. Environment and Public Health Day activities and sessions were attended by more than five hundred people. At the Plenary, Earth Day Network proposed three resolutions for consideration, all of which were approved unanimously. These are the resolutions:
Resolution 7.03 - Moratorium on Coal Production and on New Coal-Fired Power Plants
Resolution 7.05 - Resolution on Renewable Energy
Resolution 7.09 - Resolution on Green Schools
Environment and Health Day educated thousands of national, state and local leaders representing hundreds of Latino organizations across the country on issues ranging from Latino participation in green jobs and the green economy to urban greening and public health. Congresswoman Hilda Solis delivered the keynote speech of the day, which culminated in a fundraising dinner focused on climate change. SEE PICTURE GALLERY
The 2007 National Latino Congreso convened an even broader coalition of national and community leaders to evaluate progress on and advance the groundbreaking policy platform and action agenda that was adopted in 2006.
| Agenda for the 2007 National Latino Congreso:
Friday, October 5: “Maximizing Latino Voter Power in 2008 and Beyond: The Nexus between Elections, Immigration Reform and State and Local Electoral Policy Issues” 
Saturday, October 6: “Implications for Latinos of US Foreign and Trade Policy in the Iraq War, Globalization, and "Washington Consensus" Eras”
Sunday, October 7: “Saving The Globe for Our Children and Grandchildren: Strategies on Climate Change, Energy Alternatives, Urban Greening, and Public Health”
Monday, October 8: “Structural Challenges to Latino Prosperity: Strategies on Issues of Health Care, Social Security, Taxes and Debt”
Tuesday, October 9: “Developing Latino Policy Initiatives on Education, Economic Development, Criminal Justice and Wealth-Building” |
Each day featured small group workshop discussions and plenary sessions.
Background
In September 2006, EDN, together with LULAC, MALDEF, NALACC, NHEC, SVREP and WCVI and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, convened the 2006 Latino Congreso in downtown Los Angeles, the first comprehensive gathering of Latino leaders, organizations and elected officials since 1977. For five days, approximately 1,200-1,400 national, state and local leaders representing hundreds of Latino organizations gathered to discuss issues, participate in educational workshops, and draft policy resolutions on issues of critical importance to the fastest growing demographic in the U.S.
After four days of caucusing, deliberation, and voting, the attendees reached agreement on a broad set of topics ranging from climate change to human rights to voting to environmental health. More than 70 resolutions were passed, representing a major advance in the development of a cohesive, integrated political platform for the national Latino political movement.
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