As you may know in the 1700’s and 1800’s European countries were involved in the Sugar Trade. They traded commodities for Africans and then shipped the Africans to their plantations to harvest sugar. On the ships, the slaves were packed together and were given little food and water. The slaves worked up to 18 hour shifts on the plantations and were beaten. Today in Santo Domingo not much has changed. Haitians looking for work cross the border illegally and live in compounds within the sugar plantations. On the Vicini plantation, for example, the workers have no electricity, toilets, or clean water. Male laborers receive 90 cents a day and pregnant women and children receive 25 cents a day. Guards carrying guns border the plantation and prevent the workers from leaving. The worst part of this Sugar production is that the U.S. buys most of its Sugar from Santo Domingo. As a country, we are fueling the bad conditions on the plantations. We need to change. Workers conditions need to be improved. They need electricity, clean water, and better pay. I strongly believe that we can all make a difference.  If everyone can sign this petition I will then send it to the White House, the Vicini family and other sugar companies to demand a change for their workers!!

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