DONOR SPOTLIIGHT Manijeh Saba's Personal Experiences Guide Her Life of Activism Please introduce yourself to our readers. My name is Manijeh Saba. I’m an Iranian- born human rights activist and former educator of Sociology and Women’s Studies at several colleges, including Rutgers University and New York University. I left Iran in the 1970s to pursue graduate studies in the United States. I consider myself a citizen of the world with deep ties to both my homeland and the United States. I now live in Somerset, New Jersey. When did you first become interested in environmen- tal issues? My first direct exposure to environmental issues came in 1982, at an anti-nuclear march. There, I met Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings who spoke about catastrophic environmental pollution, especially radiation contamination of soil, water, and air. Their stories left a lasting impact on me. How do the issues Food & Water Watch works on impact you personally? When I lived in Iran, we ate fresh, season- al, home-prepared foods every day. After leaving, there was a period in my life when I developed devastating health issues due to eating commercially processed food and being exposed to unhealthy environmental factors such as air and water pollution. After three prominent dermatologists gave me three different diagnoses and treatments, each making my condition worse, a nutrition researcher helped me understand the harmful effects of industrial food production and envi- ronmental degradation on human health. This knowledge helped me find a way to regain my health. Experiences like this shaped my awareness of how deeply our health is connected to our environment. Recognizing environmental hazards empowers us to shape our present and
The belief that 'the personal is political' has guided my life and activism. future. The belief that “the personal is political” has guided my life and activism. How did you hear about Food & Water Watch, and what motivated you to make your first gift? My dear friend Jim Walsh, Food & Water Watch’s Policy Director, introduced me to the organization when the New Brunswick, New Jersey, office opened, and he became its direc- tor. Because food and water are the most basic necessities of life, the organization’s straightfor- ward name resonated with me. I met its founder, Wenonah Hauter, back in 2012 atop the Bus for Progress at the Stop the Frack Attack rally in Washington, DC. I expected to encounter a serious, humble, no-nonsense visionary — and I was not disappointed. If you were talking to someone about getting involved with Food & Water Watch, what would you tell them? Food & Water Watch has grown impressively — expanding its volunteer base, strengthening its organizing, building coalitions, and relent- lessly pursuing legislation. Its achievements are significant. Because I am deeply impressed by Food & Water Watch's vision and accomplishments, I trust the organization to allocate my donations where they are most needed to advance its goals. Manijeh Saba (right) standing with Food & Water Watch's New Jersey State Director Matt Smith at a rally on the steps of the New Jersey State House.
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