damian trujillo: hello "comunidad del valle." i'm damian trujillo. and today, pesticides and farmworkers, the mission of one bay area latina, on your "comunidad del valle." male announcer: nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle" with damian trujillo. damian: we begin today by our monthly visit from the mexican consulate in san francisco. with me is consul jesus gutierrez on "comunidad del valle," along with irving velazquez, also with the consulate. welcome to the show. jesus gutierrez: thank you. damian: thank you very much. well, i mean, we're talking--the topic this week is la semana laboral, the labor week. tell us what that is and what it entails, if you can. jesus: yeah, thanks, the labor week is an effort made by the mexican embassy and the whole consular community in the united states. we have 50 consulates in united states, so the whole consular network, along with other consulates, in this case the

consulate general of peru, the consulate of guatemala, and the consulate of el salvador, we are all joining efforts, along with a lot of different agencies, labor agencies. the goal is to provide information to empower the hispanic workers. this year, the title of the week is "know your rights at work: the well-informed worker." damian: i mean, and that topic is not only for the spanish-speaking, the immigrant community. i mean, when you know your labor rights, you're talking about every american or immigrant worker. and we have some video, some examples of some of the workers out there. now, are the other countries, peru and other countries, joining in because they saw how well it's been working for you all and they say, "i wanna be a part of it"? jesus: yeah, exactly, we are joining efforts because this is not directly, as you say, just to hispanics. it's to the whole community, but the latin american consulates,

we are directing our efforts to our community because there's an important sector of our population that perform different works that involve certain risks. say, construction, agricultural, as you said, pesticides. so, in these areas of work, there's a lot of labor-related issues, but it's very important for the people to know their rights and to know how to--how can they make their rights. damian: all right, how to speak up for yourself, if you will. and irving, you know the specifics on semana laboral, labor week. tell us of the specifics. irving velazquez: yes, i do. i mean, well, first, thank you for having us here. and yes, this semana laboral, the labor rights week, is gonna be held from august 28 to september 1. we're gonna have labor talks at the consulate in san francisco, so we invite the community, not only spanish-speaking, but whoever feels that their rights have been violated, to know a little about what they might be missing from their protection.

so, we're gonna have health and security at work, wage and hour, we're gonna have worker's comp, and everything else that entails with violations in your--at work. and we're also gonna have community events in napa, san francisco, and in oakland. so, all this information can be found in our consulado website and our social media pages, on facebook and twitter. so, if you need more information, just go to those sites and hopefully you can participate. and at least know your rights and hopefully nothing--no violations happen in the near future. damian: so, like, overtime, if you're not getting overtime, anything like that, you can get more information here. irving: yeah, correct. damian: all right, and we'll have all that information on the screen in just a bit. i mean, and this is an important topic when we're talking about the rights of the workers. is there a concern that maybe some are fearful to speak up?

i don't wanna make myself known. if i speak up, me va ir peor. jesus: exactly. as we say, information is power. so, if you have the information, if you know what are your rights, you know that you have the right to demand a better salary, or to demand breaks on your work, that's important to have that information. otherwise, you are--you don't have ways to act. damian: what about the undocumented community, same rights? the rights--the labor rights apply to everybody. jesus: exactly, labor rights apply to everybody. they also have the rights. the labor laws apply to everyone, the breaks, the minimum wage. if someone unfortunately have an accident, they have the right to receive medical attention. so, it's very important for all of them to be conscious that they have their rights. damian: all right, so, whether you have a green card or not, citizen or not, you still have those same

labor rights as everybody else does. the semana laboral is taking place actually all across at all the consulates around the united states. there is the number for the mexican consulate in san francisco for more information. any final thoughts from either of you before we let you go? jesus: well, we just invite everyone to attend this event. there are several events at the consulate, and as my partner said, there's a lot of different other events in different venues. but we encourage the people to get informed, to visit our website, to read about their rights. damian: algo más, irving? irving: so, yeah, again, the labor rights week will be held from august 28 to september 1, and it's gonna be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the consulate. and for the community events, we're gonna have 'em in the evening. so, please visit our websites. and i guess last message is for the undocumented community. please don't be afraid. you have the same labor rights as any person who might happen

to be a citizen or maybe have a green card. damian: all right, good message, thank you all so much. jesus: thank you very much. irving: thank you very much. damian: and up next here on "comunidad del valle," the international san francisco latino film festival. you gotta see this clip. stay with us.

and that means lucho ramirez is back on "comunidad del valle." he's back on the show to talk about this year's festivities, and you're back with a splash. i mean, this is a really great event. lucho ramirez: we're very excited, very excited. we're going into our 9th season, and very excited about our programming, which kicks off on september 15. and we go for 2 weeks, through the end of the month, screening about 60 films in total, 24 feature-length films including about a dozen documentaries. damian: wow, you've sent me a trailer of one called, "ruta--" with an r, "ruta madre," and it is--i was rolling. tell us about "ruta madre" and we're gonna show the clip after. lucho: it's a fantastic film. it's a film out of--technically out of san diego, but it's a binational, bicultural film, bilingual i would say too.

written and directed by--written by alfonso molina, who is the inspiration of the film. it's something that experienced being someone who lives in san diego, but is somewhat disconnected to his mexican heritage. so, the film is a combination of road trip and cultural reawakening. damian: and you'll recognize some popular names there, carmen salinas and comedian paul rodriguez. here's that clip. ♪ male: so, what's up with her, man? is she, like, your chick or what? daniel: not yet, but i'm working on it. daniel: i've been in love with you since we were kids. daisy: daniel, i can't be with you. [knocking] rodrigo: abre la puerta! get in the shower, i'm taking your ass back to mexico. ♪ grandma: you are getting a haircut. daniel: i can't cut my hair. this is my source of rock and roll power.

[speaking foreign language] mirna: rodrigo, ahhhh!! rodrigo: ay, get in the car! [screaming] mirna: you can run, but you can't hide! daniel: what kind of doctor is this? rodrigo: she's no doctor. [speaking foreign language] agata: you are going to die. [speaking foreign language] daniel: so, there's no problem with the drinking and driving here? [speaking foreign language] daniel: this guy's gonna screw us over, is he? el flaco: not if you don't give me no reason to. ♪ [yelling]

[gasping] [speaking foreign language] daniel: you know, i've never seen a picture of my mom. daniel: i'm dying. ♪ rodrigo: daniel! ♪ announcer: ruta madre. ♪ damian: well, that is just hilarious, and you could totally put yourself in the shoes of, you know, the young kid who's trying to re-find himself. lucho: that's so true, and it's one of those films, i think, that will really connect, you know, across cultures. i think it probably does have a life after the festival tours that it does, so i'm really excited about that film and so many others. damian: yeah, go ahead, 'cause you have a long list. i wanna make sure you get across what you need to. lucho: well, there's a lot of films. i mean, it's really a matter of what do you like. if you want documentaries, we have some fantastic

documentaries that revolve around social justice, chicano history, music. there's a lot of that, but we also have some great narrative features that come out of mexico, cuba, and peru. i think for people who like action and thrillers, you know, crime dramas, we have probably one of the best examples coming out of ecuador, so we're really happy about those titles. it's a matter of visiting our website to get all the details, but don't miss the week that we'll be spending at the opera plaza cinema, and then at the roxie theater. and so, we'll have all of the feature-length films showing at those spaces. damian: are you at the point where when you do a call for entries, it's automatic? it sounds like you don't have to ask, and ask, and ask. it sounds like they're just coming in. lucho: we do, we do, and i'm really happy that we do. we get probably about 300 films submitted of various lengths,

you know, feature-length, mid-length, short films, and then we parse it down. and there's definitely some films that are, you know, part of what we call the festival circuit, whether it's in rotterdam, or cannes, or berlin. and so, we definitely have those art house films and there's some surprises with some films that are a little bit more popular, you know, box office. so, we try to mix it up between films that are coming out of that genre and films that are more, i would say, typical of a film festival, which at the end of the day really is there to give a platform to a lot of films that have a hard time breaking through. damian: so, in the spring, you stock up on popcorn so you can get through all the entries? lucho: i wish, i wish. no, we have a lot of films, including local films and local filmmakers. so, part of the call for entries is to get some of those films and pepper our films that come in from latin america with some of the films that are produced locally. damian: all right, it's the latino film festival, it's back

in san francisco bay area, and there is the phone number for more information and also the web address. any final thoughts before we let you go? lucho: so, we're definitely starting on september 15 at the alamo drafthouse, and you know, with "ruta madre" we'll have some visitors from those films. and then, just check out the schedule, plan on spending the whole day on the weekend and every evening until the end of the month. damian: all right, so that should be september 15 is your start date. lucho, thank you so much for bringing these films back to the bay area. lucho: thanks for having us. damian: all right, gracias, and up next here on "comunidad del valle," pesticides and farmworkers, and one latina's fight. stay with us.

among farmworkers victoria sanchez de alba is my guest here on "comunidad del valle." victoria, welcome to the show. long time colleague. there's an image i wanna show that's been disturbing to me. i remember it as a child, you remember it as a child.

let me show you these images. you tell me what crosses your mind when you're seeing this. victoria sanchez: oh gosh, i remember this when i was a young girl and working in the fields, and being sprayed over by pesticides, and getting sick too. damian: i remember i was laying down sprinkler pipes once and the sprayer was right behind us. and fortunately, there was a guy, an inspector with the monterey county health department, who saw what was going on and he immediately closed down the farm and said--and he fined the sprayer and whatnot. but that's what our people are going through on a daily basis. victoria: exactly, exactly. damian: tell us what your concerns are, then we'll get into all the other stuff. victoria: well, my concerns is that people are not aware of this. i mean, i'm surprised even our own latinos, i mean, in san francisco. during my campaign with the leukemia & lymphoma society, i was nominated for the, you know, man and woman of the year candidate, and i chose to focus

on farmworkers exposed to pesticides. and i wrote about it, and people were not aware of the issues, and these are the people who bring food to our tables. and i mean, this is my community. i grew up in salinas. damian: and this--that was old footage, but we're talking this spring. there's farmworkers in salinas who had to be hospitalized because they were exposed. victoria: exactly, in june, within a week in salinas and in watsonville. i mean, that's really crazy. damian: now, like you, i lost my father to cancer. i can't prove that it was caused by pesticides, but you can't tell me that it wasn't. victoria: it is, because there is scientific proof and there is research now. so, my dad, he died of non-hodgkin lymphoma due to pesticide exposure.

and i remember being with him at the--getting his chemotherapy, and there were lots of other farmworkers hooked up. so, you tell me it doesn't affect them. and so, anyway, it's really sad that we still-- that this is going on. damian: and now, this is your-- part of your mission, right? i mean-- victoria: part of my mission was to get the message out. i was able to get my message out. you know, as i mentioned, i was nominated with the leukemia & lymphoma society woman of the year candidate, and for me the title didn't matter. what mattered to me was giving voice with a national organization's platform. and it was a large audience, and i said, "this is what's happening." and farmworkers who are working, i mean, they are in the front

line, and they are exposed, and they are at risk of getting cancer. damian: i mean, just to simplify it, they're spraying pesticides. the idea is to kill the insects and pests that live on the plants, so if it's gonna kill insects, what do you think it's gonna do to humans? victoria: exactly, exactly. what surprised me when i was nominated and i was looking, at first i said, "yes," and you know, "hey, yes, my dad died of this. absolutely, i'm gonna do it for my dad and i'm gonna do it for all the farmworkers who are exposed to pesticides." and what really, really surprised me, it was that this group who is at risk of getting cancer was underrepresented. so, i said, "okay, i'm gonna give it my all and i'm gonna make noise." so, i wrote articles, like, you know, i mentioned in the "san francisco chronicle," "half moon bay," and "pacific tribune" exposing all of this. damian: do you think anything has come of it

or will come of it? victoria: it is, because it's interesting that you ask, because i got a--i received an anonymous letter from someone who lives near a farm in san mateo county, and he said that if he gives his name out, his fear of retaliation. but he told me about all the issues that are happening there with the contaminated water, still using short hose, and pesticides. so, i took--i sent it to you, i remember, and also to-- i sent the letter to county and state officials, and it's under investigation right now. damian: so, basically, breaking every farm and labor law that you can imagine. again, this is an effort to kind of draw attention, draw a spotlight to the pesticide concerns among farmworkers. there is the 800 number to the national pesticide center if

you're concerned, and also dealba.net is victoria's personal website where you can get more information as well. we'll be back and talk more on this topic. stay with us. ♪

here on "comunidad del valle." and because of your work, you were mentioning that there was a grant that had expired that now you helped kind of revive. victoria: sure, with the organization, the organization gave--there was a funder who funded a grant for patient care. it's called patient access outreach coordinator in northern california, northern bay, in sonoma county. and it's to implement culturally-appropriate programs and services for spanish-speaking patients, caregivers, families, and community.

and the focus is to address the disparities of latinos and other underrepresented communities in patient access, education, and support. and so, that was part of my work, and also too, i'm proud to say that they're gonna be forming some type of partnership with ufw, united farm workers, too, so they can be aware of what type of patient care access that their workers may want--need. damian: i know that ufw has been strong in fighting methyl bromide, which they use on strawberries all over watsonville and whatnot. i mean, is this--i know that the national labor relations board has been implementing some--also some restrictions on what kind of pesticides are used, but the growers are a strong lobby and the growers want their pesticides so they can make their crops grow. victoria: exactly, like for example in bakersfield on cinco de mayo of all days, there were some farmworkers

who got--who were sick and they were hospitalized. and this chemical was supposed to be banned during the obama administration in march, but this administration canceled the ban. so, you know, there has to be--there's some--i mean, they said because there wasn't enough evidence. and it was that pesticide that it's called chlorpyrifos. i don't know if you've heard of that, but it's really toxic, nausea. i mean, it gets you sick if you touch it. i mean-- damian: what does it tell you about this farmworker--i'm assuming it's a farmworker in san mateo county who was even reluctant to identify him or herself? what does that say about still the fear factor that exists? victoria: exactly, and whoever sent me--please, i wanna make this message. whoever sent me this letter, please come forward. contact me. your identity will be protected. damian: and cc me when you're e-mailing.

victoria: no, really, and it will be protected, so please. you know, i'm asking that person, whoever sent me this letter, thank you, and we are looking into it, but please come forward. contact me. your identity will be protected. it's the only way it's gonna help to resolve the issue. damian: i know the feeling, but describe it for our viewers. what's the feeling to know that your father is there, going through chemotherapy, and knowing that his days are numbered? victoria: oh my gosh, it was horrible. it was--he wanted to live. he fought so hard, damian. quería vivir, and this cancer just took him. and it's just so sad. i don't want this to happen to anyone. that's why i'm doing this. that's why i care. damian: and so, you started this battle, and then again, going back to what happened in salinas and watsonville, you see it happening as recently as a few months ago, and you just

shake your head 'cause it's still happening. victoria: it's still happening. and also too, there's some research to--oh yes, i have to read this here. more than 1,000 people in california were sickened by pesticide exposure in 2014, the most recent year for which the department of pesticide regulation has such data. in that year, there were 51 confirmed cases in santa cruz county and 39 in monterey. damian: those are my strawberry-growing peeps in watsonville. victoria: exactly, exactly. damian: again, this is victoria's mission, and there's a few websites and phone numbers. that 800 number is for the national pesticide center, where you can either file a report or get more information as well. victoria, thank you so much for your efforts and good luck. victoria: thank you very much for having me here. damian: all right, thank you very much. and now, here's what's happening in your comunidad on "que pasa." ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ damian: and our saludos for those celebrating a special day, felicidades. ♪

♪ damian: and here is our contact information. you can also follow me on twitter. my handle is @newsdamian. also, you can pick up a copy of "el observador" newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies all across the bay area. you can also watch us in español. your "comunidad del valle" every sunday. we usually air at 11 a.m. on telemundo canal 48. the next few days--the next few weeks, actually, are at 6:30 a.m., but 11 a.m. is our slot. "comunidad del valle" every sunday in español, telemundo canal 48 on sundays. we thank you once again for sharing a part of your sunday. we will see you again here next week. pase usted buenos días. ♪

just brilliant. >> delivers the most dominant in olympic history. >> this is presentation of the olympic channel. welcome to the u.s. bank nbc sports report. >> hello, everyone, we will get you out o anaheim for the p and g gymnastics championships in moment but, we start with soccer. wembley taking home chelsea who lost their opener a week ago and it will be chelsea who would strike first. scoreless in the 24th minute then a