Immigration has been a contentious issue for Zero Population Group (ZPG), yet the organization has officially adopted a policy that comes down on the side of the immigrants. When Peter Kostmayer, ZPG's executive director visits Boston, he will be meeting with representatives of Boston's fifteen immigrant groups and conduct an interview on a Spanish language, ABC affiliated, television station.
Planning Mr. Kostmayer's three-day stay in Boston, this writer, the chair of ZPG Boston Area Chapter, coordinated the agenda for the visit with ZPG's office in Washington D.C. Besides meeting with ZPG members, legislators, the press, feminist groups, college students and environmental organizations, a meeting with immigrants has been organized. At the time the immigrant community was involved in a festival of immigrants along the Charles River. Pamphlets for the festival were printed in 13 different languages. Dance troupes, music and speakers representing the many cultures which inhabit the Boston area were scheduled to perform.
When the idea of ZPG was brought up at one of these organizing meetings, the immediate reaction was one of blank stares and incredulity. But the representative from the Chinese community, Tom Louie, praised ZPG and knew precisely ZPG's position on immigration and how it had won over the anti- immigration policy at the national level. In a moment he was able to convince the other members that ZPG and its mission need not be feared. Soon, people were open to learning more about ZPG. Immigrants are not the problem, nor is immigration. The problem is a worldwide explosion in the number of people being born, and immigrants need not be made the scapegoat. It is the problems that coerce immigrants to leave their homeland that need to be addressed.
Immigrants know too well the problems that can be caused by overpopulation and resulting environmental destruction, poverty and lack of opportunities. Yet there is diversity in their opinions as many immigrants blame the developed world for overconsumption, something the developed world is telling them now not to do as it continues to do so itself. There is interest in meeting with Peter Kostmayer to share their perspectives and to hear what ZPG suggests as a solution.
The immigrant community is celebrating the independence of Central America from Spain this week by raising the flags of their respective nations in front of City Hall in Boston, talking and dancing while offering free food as they cooked it in their home countries. ZPG has been invited and is sharing its ideas with them.