Welcome to Kiki's Corner

Save Public Broadcasting

2011-03-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, House Republicans passed an "emergency" bill that would ban any federal money from going to NPR. This is it: our last chance to save public broadcasting, after more than a decade of fending off Republican attacks. More than 600,000 people have already signed the petition, and we're aiming for 750,000 to show the Senate how much support public broadcasting has.I've signed the petition

Keep Your Info Secure on Facebook

2011-03-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

These instructions are part of CalPirg's new guide to help you control who can see your pictures and updates, whether or not outside websites can use your information, and much more. Check it out and pass it on.

Shame on Chevron

2011-03-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

After a nearly 18-year-long struggle pitting indigenous communities against the world's fifth largest corporation--Chevron, was found GUILTY of massive environmental contamination in the Ecuadorian Amazon and ordered to pay $8.6 billion to clean up its mess, provide potable water, and fund health care.I stand with Global Exchange and other allies in celebration and solidarity with the 30,000

2 surveys to take

2011-03-10T20:48:00.001-08:00

We are talking about personality types in my class. As part of homework, I took this survey and found that I am a "transcender." The leading edge. The Transcenders are the most self aware and contented of the Pioneers, but also the ones most likely to push their perceptual boundaries, in an attempt to gain greater harmony with their own value set and gain connection with

Facts About Women and Girls

2011-03-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy is a leading cause of death in young women aged 15-19.70% of the one billion people living in extreme poverty are women and girls.When a girl in the developing world receives 7 or more years of education, she marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children.53,000,000 girls in developing countries are denied access to primary school.Source: Because I am a girlOne out of every three

How to Support the Egyptian People's Call for a Peaceful Revolution

2011-02-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

Protest and March in solidarity with the Egyptian and Tunisian people; Join the International Day of Mobilization in San Francisco, Sat. Feb. 5th, 2011, 1 pm at the U.N. Plaza, Market and 8th, San Francisco, CA.Protest in front of Egyptian embassies near you.Blog, tweet, and share information! With access to internet and social media cut, we need to be the voice of the Egyptian people. For

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ MLK

2011-01-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

On this Martin Luther King day, let us do more than reflect and celebrate a visionary’s legacy. Let us become visionaries. Let us become change makers. Let us rub the sleep out of our eyes and get out of bed with a new hope. Let us live our dreams in full capacity.How? Start with a mission statement. Describe your personal mission. What is the fire in your belly that drives you? What gives you

Reflections of the old and hopes for the new decade

2011-01-06T21:34:00.000-08:00

2001 – School dances and football games. Aaron graduates from Laguna and begins at SCU. Al-Qaeda terrorists hijack four U.S. airliners and crash them into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.2002 – Yosemite, high school theater performances, concerts and scavenger hunts with friends.2003 – Renee and Jordan get married. Arnold Schwarzenegger elected state governor. Drama, dance, driver’s

Human Energy

2011-01-05T19:19:00.000-08:00

I went to my third, and largest, drum circle last night. The first two experiences where three years ago, so I was long overdue. This circle was led by a Shamanistic healers Norbeth Granado and Ayleen Augustine at the Center for Creative Living in San Jose. The power of 35 beautiful souls drumming in unison is an amazing sound and feeling. I entered the room knowing no one, but with just a few

Food, Photos and Links for You

2011-01-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!I hope you are moving in to 2011 with peace, passion, poetry, light, love, and laughter.Here are some web links that I'd like to share. Happy Reading!The holiday season is loaded with all my favorite foods. A bountiful recipe of indulgence mixed with guilt and baked to a bubbly golden brown. One of my favorite meals was a few weeks ago at my friend's co-op in

Leadership from the inside out

2010-10-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

I am enrolled in an awesome Environmental Leadership class sponsored by Acterra called Be the Change. We are reading a fantastic book, which I highly recommend for all changemakers: Stick Your Neck Out: A Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond by John Graham.Today we focused on exploring a sense of place. Our retreat location was Foothills Park in Palo Alto. Here is a

This summer has had it's ups and downs.

2010-06-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

Each morning I get my gear ready. Water bottle, gloves, work clothes, lunch, keys, phone? Check. I get on my hybrid road bike and start pedaling against the wind. The commute to the office is about 4.5 miles after a bus transfer. My legs feel strong. I meet my friends and we ride in a line like a chain. As the cars pass us, I imagine a carbon-free world with bike and walking paths that lead to

Change lives with just one click

2010-05-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Click Here to help Mental Health America fulfill its mission of "promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders and achieving victory over mental illness through advocacy, education, research and services." As many as 700,000 Americans are homeless on any given night. An estimated 20 to 25 percent of these people have a serious mental illness, and one-half of this subgroup also have an

Spring

2010-04-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Rich soil in my garden brings happy worms. Seeds sprout into green arms peaking out of the darkness. The sun warms us like an old blanket. Woody branches are dotted with pointy buds ready to burst open at any moment. Beautiful. The rocks are moist and cold. I like to feel the smoothness of the stones. My favorite is the scent of jasmine flowers. Delicious.

2010-04-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

Meanderings

2010-03-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a brief list that I compiled from various emails and action alerts. I spent the day in Santa Cruz meandering the streets. This post reminds me of my journey...a snippet of news headlines, chitter chatter at the coffee shop and a bulletin board plastered with posters, cards, flyers and drawings. I hope we can all take a moment to answer the call, spread the word and do something to pay

IWD March & Festival, 03.06.10, San Jose, CA

2010-03-13T22:11:00.000-08:00

2010 will be the decade of change

2010-01-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

...a renewed sense of optimism that communities of concerned people can indeed make history...In 2009, we saw many victories. And during the next 10 years, we will see many more:Gay couples getting married in all 50 statesNew and lasting environmental protectionHealthier living, including an increase of conscious consumers in search of sustainable food (have you downloaded the Trader Joe's

Reducing CO2 in 2010

2009-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Want a resolution that will really make a difference in the coming year? Try going on a different kind of New Year’s diet …a “carbon diet.”Begin by calculating your carbon footprint.Make it a family goal or compete with groups of friends to see who can shed the most carbon pounds! All you have to do is incorporate data on what percent each person’s carbon footprint is attributable to activities

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful to all my AMAZING friends and family. I love you all so much. You make me who I am and who I want to be. I am grateful for all the challenges we have been through. You remind me that there is light at the end of the tunnel...to keep hanging on...keep fighting strong, fierce, without hesitation, but with confidence and true spirit. Your words and embraces empower my soul and heart

San Jose = largest U.S. city to ban plastic bags

2009-10-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

By a vote of 9-1, the San Jose City Council approved an ordinance to ban single-use plastic and paper carry-out bags from the City’s retail establishments starting January 1, 2011. The first city in Santa Clara County to pass a ban was Palo Alto. With this recent vote, San Jose became the largest city in the nation to ditch the bag.The truth about plastic: Californians use about 19 billion

October is...

2009-10-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

Domestic Violence Awareness Month If possible, volunteer with a local domestic violence shelter. Distribute domestic violence materials in your community. Start a clothing drive for business clothing to donate to a local shelter. Breast Cancer Awareness Month Send a mammogram reminder to yourself, your mom, sister, friend, co-worker, aunty, neice, grandma and all the

46 million

2009-09-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

That's the number of Americans currently without health insurance. Did you know that some insurance companies actually consider domestic violence a "pre-existing condition"? That is, women whose boyfriends or husbands have beaten them could actually be denied coverage for that reason.1 In fact, one survey found that 8 of the 16 largest insurers in the country have used domestic violence as a

Jobs needed now, families can't wait

2009-09-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

With unemployment on the rise, why is Congress STILL stalling on President Obama's clean energy jobs plan, which would create more than 1.7 million jobs? Clean energy sources like wind and solar power create 2-3 times more jobs than old, dirty sources of energy like coal. That's why it makes so much economic sense to switch to clean energy. With so many still hurting, Congress needs to act now

Healh Care Reform - Let's all speak up and share our stories!

2009-09-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Chevron Offers Bribe to Court

2009-09-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

The legal battle between indigenous communities in Ecuador and oil giant Chevron is a fight sixteen years in the making. This unprecedented lawsuit holds Chevron accountable for the clean-up of the damages it has done to the once pristine Amazonian rainforest and the people who call it home.With all the evidence pointing to Chevron's guilt, a judgment of potentially $27 billion was expected to be

Favorite Quotes

2009-09-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

"Be who you say you are.. and say what you feel .. because those that matter, don't mind ... and those that mind, don't matter!" (?)"Speak your mind even if your voice shakes." (Maggie Kuhn)“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (Howard Thurman)“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the

Save the Bay

2009-08-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

Don’t flush your unwanted or expired medications down the drain -- take them to a safe disposal facility (the fish in the Bay will thank you!). List of facilities accepting old medications for disposal (Please call first - hours of operation and materials accepted may change).Did you know people spill, dump or leak 3 million gallons of oil a year into San Francisco Bay? In fact, regular people

Introduction

2009-08-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

For those who may be new to this blog, or blogging in general, let me welcome you!I started this blog several months ago with the intention to re-connect and discover myself. I titled it Kiki's Corner because "Kiki" is a family nick-name of mine. I wanted a space that draws from my roots. rooted in the past, a seedling sprouts rooted in love, the seedling grows in miraculous wonder s p

Top Five Health Care Reform Lies—and How to Fight Back

2009-08-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!!The truth: These accusations—of "death panels" and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill." What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical

Beat Gasoline: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

2009-08-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the picture I uploaded to a new campaign by YouthNoise! It's called Beat Gasoline, a contest that runs until August 15th. All you have to do is take a video or picture of yourself beating gasoline (aka, riding your bike to work, growing vegetables in your garden to reduce trips to the grocery, filling your tank with fast food grease, etc.), and then upload it to the website. Winners are

Slavery Used to Create Products Across the Globe

2009-08-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Former U.S. State Department Ambassador Mark Logan urges that the U.S. government create a public list of products made by forms of slavery and human trafficking and the countries where these products were produced.The goal? To inform consumers about potentially tainted products and to provide consumers and shareholders leverage to fight slavery across the globe.Despite a mandate from Congress in

Joining Hands: Obama Commits U.S. to Help Overseas

2009-08-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

At the G8 summit in Italy, President Obama met with world leaders and forged a commitment from them to dedicate $20 billion over three years for agriculture development. That commitment was $5 billion more than we thought we'd see.After the G8 summit, Obama stood in Ghana to urge Africans to fight corruption and take control of their own destiny – and African leaders called on him to do his part

Judge Sotomayor's Opening Statement

2009-07-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

President Obama's nominee for Supreme Court is right on. Judge Sotomayor is a leader of justice, truth and resilience. She grew up in a housing project in the South Bronx of New York. Her parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. She lost her father, and her mother worked six days a week to make ends meet. The conservative media has had a field day pointing out every opportunity to discuss gender,

America the beautiful

2009-07-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

So often we are faced with that decision to ignore, acknowledge or give. Someone asks for spare change, an extra dollar for the bus or your leftovers.Do you keep walking without even looking up? Do you apologize or respond with a sympathetic gesture? Do you put your hands in your pockets and fish out some coins? This decision is a moral/ethical, personal struggle between trust, faith and

Debt, Taxes, Trade & Hunger

2009-07-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

EDUCATIONThe House Education and Labor Committee reports that the average student now graduates with over $22,000 in total student debt. Because women are more likely to borrow money for college than men and will earn less on average after graduation, female graduates are more likely to struggle with their loan debt. Read more about American Association of University Women's recommendations for

Headlines

2009-06-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

Good News of the Week: Ann Wright, a former Sustainable Agriculture Coalition advocate, was named Deputy Undersecretary last week. Among other things, Wright will oversee the Agricultural Marketing Service, which is the branch of the USDA that houses the National Organic Program, and she will be in charge of the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service which monitors genetically engineered

Meet in the Middle 4 Marriage Equality Rally

2009-06-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Here are my pictures as promised...

Dr. George Tiller murdered in Wichita, Kansas

2009-06-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

This website was created as both a memorial to the lifework of Dr. George Tiller and as a living testimony to the courageous lives of abortion providers. Here you will find stories of individuals who have dedicated their lives to making abortion safe, legal, healthy, and accessible to women and girls. These people may be nurses, counselors, escorts, volunteers at abortion funds, or abortion

Don't take our state parks!

2009-06-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

Gov. Schwarzenegger, I understand that we've got some tough decisions facing us as we try to deal with the budget crisis.As a very small part of our budget, I am asking you to protect California's state parks from massive closings. For every dollar the state puts into our state parks, they bring $2.35 back to our economy through tourism.Last year alone, there were over 80 million visitors to

Dear Senators,

2009-06-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

As your constituent and a supporter of the Human Rights Campaign, I am writing to express my strong support for the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Protection Act. I hope you'll do everything in your power to pass it.This bill, which passed both houses of Congress in 2007 but did not become law, would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from

This past Saturday I met in the middle for marriage equality.

2009-06-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

I joined my friends Julia and James on a caravan to Fresno, CA. (Thanks Julia for inviting me!) For those who have not met Julia, you will... for she is a marriage equality rock star, unitarian universalist leader, geography buff, hiking enthusiast and a phenomenal phenomenal woman, teacher and friend. In 2002, we initiated a Gay-Straight Alliance together to create a safe space at our high

Prop. 8 Supreme Court Ruling

2009-05-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

It's up to us - the people/la gente - to organize, fight, and vote! We must use this as an opportunity to move forward in the fight for marriage equality for all Californians. Remember that love is the answer. Hate, anger and violence will get us no where. Let us rise above ignorance and make new friends!3 Actions to take:1) Display a marriage equality logo in your car. You can get a free sticker

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW about Obama's Public Health Insurance Plan

2009-05-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

The choice of a public health insurance plan is crucial to real health care reform. But right now, it's being smeared by conservatives and insurance-industry front groups. Here's what you really need to know:1. Choice, choice, choice. If the public health insurance option passes, Americans will be able to choose between their current insurance and a high-quality, government-run plan similar to

Ingredients need to be added to cleaner labels!

2009-05-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

Each year about six out of every hundred professional janitors are injured by the chemicals that they use. Burns to the eyes and skin are the most common injuries, followed closely by breathing toxic fumes. Some manufacturers, like SC Johnson and Sunshine Makers, have agreed to file ingredient reports as required by the law. But Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Church and

EPA Declares Six Gases Harmful to Our Health...We Need Regulation, NOT Sympathy

2009-05-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

On April 17, EPA formally declared carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases to be pollutants that endanger public health and welfare, setting in motion a process that will lead to the regulation of the gases for the first time in the United States. This is a huge step forward in the fight to curb global warming - especially in light of the Senate's refusal to act on this particular issue

Americans demand answers on the Bush torture program

2009-05-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

MoveOn put together a powerful new video reminding people why we can't trust Cheney's judgment, and calling for an honest investigation into the Bush torture program.

Mother of the Year: Tehani...aka my mom!

2009-05-08T22:47:00.001-07:00

Thanks to MomRising.org, my mom was awarded Mother of the Year!Did you know...- In a Harvard study of over 170 countries, the U.S. was one of only four nations without any form of paid leave for new mothers. (The others were Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea.)- Women without children make 90 cents to a man’s dollar, but mothers make just 73 cents, and single mothers make even less -- about

My First Cinco De Mayo in San Jose

2009-05-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've celebrated cinco de mayo before...margaritas, fiestas, honoring our ancestors and heritage with traditional frijoles and salsa verde...but today was a first. Never have I seen or felt so much pride for chicano/a heritage! The streets of downtown San Jose were filled with cars waving banderas and blasting mexican music. After work, I went downtown to get some stuff from the 4th

Playing for Change: Peace Through Music

2009-05-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.Many

Special Election: Vote by 5/19

2009-05-04T21:31:00.000-07:00

You may have already received a vote-by-mail ballot for the May 19 election, but perhaps you haven't made your choices yet. The six initiatives on the ballot are complicated. But no need to fret, the Courage Campaign is providing a May 19 Progressive Voter Guide for the special election ballot. You'll see not only the Courage Campaign's recommendations, but also those of other leading progressive

Denim Day and Earth Day: April 22

2009-04-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

In 1998, an Italian Supreme Court decision overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore jeans, reasoning she must have helped her attacker remove them. People all over the world were outraged. Wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault. Last year, on Denim Day an unprecedented 600,000 individuals and

Headlines

2009-04-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

Landmark tobacco control bill passes the HouseA bill giving the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulating authority over tobacco products (Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - HR 1256) has passed the House of Representatives and will likely be voted on this spring in the Senate. International Policy Director Kathy Mulvey calls the bill an important step, but in need of more teeth

Shiite Women

2009-04-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Six years into the occupation… - 72 months of destruction- $607 Billions spent on the war- 3 Million Iraqis forced to leave the country- 338 dead journalists- $400 Billion required to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure- 24 car bombs per month- 4260 Americans dead- 10,000 cases of cholera per yearAnd now our government is sending tens of thousands of troops (and tens of billions of dollars) to

Nestlé Bottled Water

2009-04-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

For years Nestlé has run roughshod over community and environmental concerns when taking and bottling water for brands like Poland Spring, Deer Park, Ice Mountain and Arrowhead. Nestlé is now looking to increase the number of bottling facilities it owns and operates across the country, in places like McCloud, California and Salida, Colorado. This month, Nestlé will try to avoid responsibility

Tell Obama Not to Appoint Former Monsanto Lawyer on White House Food Safety Panel

2009-04-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

President Obama announced on March 14th the creation of a White House Food Safety Working Group to improve and coordinate the governments approach to the nationwide food safety crisis. Included in President Obama's short-list of working groups members is Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto executive who has a long history of lobbying for Monsanto and fast tracking Monsanto's controversial rBGH

Mars Chocolate and Child Slavery

2009-04-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, Snickers, M&Ms, Twix...Last week, Mars, Incorporated announced a commitment to source 100,000 metric tons of cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance annually for use in Mars products. Over 40 percent of the world's conventional chocolate (i.e. non-organic and non-Fair Trade) comes from Africa's Ivory Coast, where the International Labor Organization and US State

Crisis in Darfur

2009-04-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

Despite international diplomatic pressure, the Government of Sudan continues to impede the deployment of UN-African Union peacekeepers in Darfur, leaving countless civilians vulnerable to armed attack, rape, and displacement. The Government of Sudan must receive pressure from key economic interests, including the oil companies they depend on for 90% of their export revenue.

Marriage Equality

2009-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

The "National Organization for Marriage" is responding to the amazing marriage equality victories in Iowa and Vermont with this national TV ad filled with fear about a same-sex marriage "storm" gathering across the country. This disturbing ad -- airing across the country and 8 times a day in California -- uses actors to push lies claiming that marriage equality threatens personal freedoms. With

Happy Birthday César Chávez!

2009-03-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

Organic 'Victory' Garden Planted at White HouseIn a major victory for organic and local food activists, First Lady Michelle Obama broke ground on the White House's first organic kitchen garden since the Roosevelt Administration. According to the First Lady "I've been able to have my kids eat so many different things that they would have never touched if we had bought it at a store because they

Cadbury Bunny Gets Fair

2009-03-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Okay so you know those Cadbury Cream Eggs available only during the Easter season? Yeah, how can you forget the commercial with Mr. "Clucking Bunny." Everyone wants to be the Easter Bunny right? Well did you know, that Cadbury has announced plans to begin using Fair Trade certified cocoa in the summer of 2009? Cadbury will be the first major chocolate brand to go Fair Trade certified with one

Climate Change Bill

2009-03-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Congress just passed a stimulus package that includes strong provisions promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency -- an important down payment on our country's transition to a cleaner energy future. But the science is clear and it's urgent: to prevent the worst effects of global warming, Congress must go further, and it must act now. Comprehensive climate policy can curb

Spring is here!

2009-03-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here are few links that helped me spring into action! Check them out...Troubled Tuna ~ learn why the world's favorite fish are disappearing. And, discover what's in your can of tuna.Demand that AIG stop paying bonuses with taxpayer money:sign the petition. Mad? Help MoveOn.org throw 1 million virtual tomatoes at AIG.Show your support for federal same-sex equal rights by signing the Campaign's

Mariposas for Justice!

2009-03-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

In May 2006 over 45 women were arrested without explanation in San Salvador Atenco, Mexico. Many were subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence by the police officers who arrested them and then held in prison for days before being released on bail. More than two years later, they are still waiting for justice. None of the officials responsible for their abuse have been adequately

A Birthday Wish

2009-03-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hoy es el día de mi cumpleaños. El 22 del Marzo es el día del agua también. Water represents the rise and fall of life. Water is life itself. I love water because it comes in so many forms, moods, tempos, tastes and smells.Yesterday, I went to la Academía del Ciencías del California en el parque de Golden Gate. I experienced water's beauty in a variety of ways. I found myself floating in a coral

Blog Spotlight

2009-03-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

Jeff for America is one of my favorite new blogs to read. Besides being a dear friend, Jeff is an inspiring teacher and activist. His blog features unique insight into the experiences of a junior high school teacher. His anecdotes - ranging from food to politics to daily life - always have meaning.For instance, check out the posts under the "Giving" category which feature Jeff's amazing work on

The California Clean Cars Program is the first in the nation to reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles

2009-03-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

Passed by the California legislature in 2002, the law requires a 30 percent reduction in global warming pollution from new cars by 2016. Under federal law, however, California needs approval from the EPA to enforce its program, and in late 2007 the Bush administration denied California this approval.Although we expect the Obama administration to reverse this decision, automakers and their allies

Pocket Guide for Carcinogens

2009-03-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

As noted in last week's Organic Bytes, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) released a new study that assesses levels of the petrochemical carcinogen 1,4-Dioxane in leading conventional as well as "natural" brands of personal care and household cleaning products. This cancer-causing contaminant is all too frequently found in products directly applied to the skin, but it is not listed on

Your Light Switch is Your Vote

2009-03-13T21:48:00.001-07:00

With the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote, Vote Earth is a global call to action for every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet.

Economy got you down? Rise up in sisterhood!

2009-03-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

March is Womyn's Herstory month and today is International Womyn's Day. While we have overcome many challenges, there is still much work to do. This post is for all my sisters AND brothers of the world. There is not a day that goes by where I do not reflect on the struggles of farming families, immigrants workers, teachers, refugees and everyday heroes. I hope the following actions offer some

Love IS the Answer

2009-02-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

I make it a point in my personal life to avoid commercialized holidays. That's why every February I celebrate a different kind of V-day. Instead of worshiping cupids and doily hearts, I join millions of women around the world in looking inward. Self-love and respect is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Love and compassion is the answer to conflict and discrimination. Love your enemies,

Action Alerts on Nuclear and Coal: deadline 2/23

2009-02-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the proposal to add $50 billion in federal loan guarantees to nuclear power and liquid coal technologies? The Senate proposal would be added to Obama's economic stimulus and recovery plan.Democracy Now! hosted a debate last Thursday between independent journalist and longtime anti-nuclear activist Harvey Wasserman and Patrick Moore, a Greenpeace co-founder and member of the

This Valentine's Day...Choose Love, not Hate

2009-02-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Take Action

2009-02-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Eve, Oscar Grant was shot by transit police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California. He was shot in the back while lying face down on a subway platform, unarmed and restrained by other officers. Despite video evidence, it took nearly two weeks for the District Attorney to arrest Mehserle and charge him with murder. The DA admitted that it was only due to massive public

Call 916-445-2841 to oppose the vet tax proposal

2009-02-02T20:43:00.001-08:00

Let me introduce you to Peluche the dog. My partner and I adopted Peluche from the Humane Society in November 2008. He is a great little guy who loves to play and give kisses. Did you know that instead of raising legitimate taxes and getting rid of the loopholes such as no taxes on yachts, our Govenor is trying to impose a 9% tax on all veterinary services, including meds? Please contact the

Superbowl Impressions

2009-02-01T21:41:00.000-08:00

Okay so I watch the Superbowl just about every year. Why? I don't know really...I guess it's because everyone else is watching it and I have to see what the fuss is all about. Or maybe it's for the food...who can say "no" to chunky guacamole and gooey mozzarella sticks?When you think about it, the Superbowl is an interesting phenomenon. Across the country, families and friends join together in

News Briefs

2009-01-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share these inspiring news briefs. As an animal lover, I hold each of these victories dear to my heart.A report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare followed a three-month investigation that tracked more than 7,000 wildlife product listings on 183 Web sites in 11 countries and singled out eBay as the largest platform with their users responsible for almost two-thirds of the

Dear Minister Jim Prentice, Environment Canada:

2009-01-31T13:29:00.000-08:00

I am very concerned about the way in which Alberta is mining and drilling boreal forests and wetlands for tar sands oil. In particular, I am concerned about the huge threat that tar sands development poses to migratory bird populations, which depend on the boreal forest for survival.Tar sands development has been called the "most destructive project on earth" because of the excessive global

Eco-nomics

2009-01-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have to say that things are getting pretty scary around here. Normally I am not easily phased by mainstream media, but in this case, the truth is out and the heat is on. From CA's budget crisis to the mess in Washington, we are surrounded in debt!As a child I was raised on frugality. Money was tight. My parents and grandparents pinched every penny and stretched every dollar. Now that I am older

Message to the Obama Administration and State leaders everywhere:

2009-01-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

STOP spraying toxic pesticides on school property, playgrounds and in buildings, and convert to integrated pest management practices.KICK junk foods and junk food ads out of our schools.START converting school lunches to healthier menus, using locally grown and/or organic and transition to organic ingredients (no pesticides, antibiotics, hormones,

New Study Finds HFC Syrup Contaminated with Mercury

2009-01-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

According to a new article by Dufault et al. published in the scientific journal, Environmental Health, Mercury was found in nearly 50 percent of tested samples of commercial high fructose corn syrup. A separate study by David Wallinga, M.D., Janelle Sorensen, Pooja Mottl and Brian Yablon, M.D. of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) detected mercury in nearly one-third of 55

Ten Changes to Promote a People-Centered Globalization

2009-01-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

Top 10 priorities for the Obama Administration....Transform the U.S. into a global leader and ally in tackling Climate ChangeReBuild and RePower America with a Green Stimulus PackageReTool our Transportation IndustryDecriminalize immigrants and address root causes of migrationDevelop and promote Fair Trade policies that protect workers and the environmentWithdraw troops immediately and

Goldcorp

2009-01-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

In January 2008, I traveled to Guatemala to connect with the people's movement for life and land. Rights Action recently reported on the “Goldcorp 8” – eight Mayan-Mam woman who have criminal charges against them, because they are protesting the illegal activities of and harms being caused by Goldcorp’s open pit, cyanide leaching mine in San Marcos, western Guatemala. To learn more, check out

Multiple 2008 Studies Confirm Genetically Modified Crops Damage Human Health and the Environment

2009-01-15T20:56:00.000-08:00

Although genetically modified (GM) corn is banned in most of the world, it has been approved as "safe" for human consumption in the U.S. for 12 years and is now likely unknowingly consumed, in one form or another, by more than 90% of Americans on a regular basis. But a recent series of peer-reviewed studies were published in 2008 confirming previous studies indicating potentially severe health

Celebrate Food!

2009-01-15T20:20:00.000-08:00

Number of Operating U.S. Farmers Markets Over the Years:1994: 1,7551998: 2,7462002: 3,1372008: 4,685Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing ServiceSick of flavorless, genetically modified, pesticide-drenched franken-vegetables?Use the Organic Consumer Association's Buying Guide to find Farmers Markets, CSAs and organic goodies near you!Break the Chains of self-destructive consumerism by boycotting