SWATE Again

September 19, 2008

 We had a really long day today.  We set out bright and early to visit a market in Karur.  This was a really interesting place because we got to see all of the different types of fruits and vegetables being sold and how some people make a living.  Some of these people grow plants themselves and others buy from a farmer and then sell the goods for a higher price.  After we walked through the crowded market we came to a canteen run by the women of SWATE.  This canteen is one of the ways in which these women earn money for themselves and for their group.  They all welcomed us to the area by giving us jasmine to put in our hair and placing a small red bindi on our foreheads.  Everyone was excited to have us around.  We were invited to go to one more of their local shops.  We were told that there would be lots of handicrafts to buy but when we got there the store was nothing to get excited about.  It was hotter than heck inside and all they sold was crap.  We were pressured into buying a couple of things.  So I bought some bracelets and a couple other things.  I guess that the money that I spent might do some good but I just don’t know. 

In the afternoon we met with the high up leaders of SWATE in the area. They were happy to have us and really wanted to us to know about their organization.  It was interesting to see these people face to face and to get a better understanding of what they are all about.  One of the major things that we talked about was sand mining in Talmin Nadu.  Sand mining is a huge problem in this area because it has dropped the water table greatly.  It has placed unnecessary strain on the people relying on the water.  The environmental consequences of this are great.  The women of SWATE have used social movements to try to change this environment crisis.  Some changes have occurred but not enough to make a great difference yet.  The government is in control of the sand mining and does not want to stop because it is a great way to make money.  The social movements have been a good way for the people of the community to come together for a common cause.