---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Frank Tamborello <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 5:22 PM Subject: A little long, but lots of important stuff! To: [email protected]
*To All Those Interested in Food and Justice... * * * A (usually) weekly update on food issues, promoting access to sufficient, affordable, healthy food ---with a focus on campaigns you can become active in! **** *Follow us *on Twitter @HungerActionLA . Welcome to all the new people on the list: please respond to [email protected] if you wish to use a different e mail or be removed**** ** ** *Thursday Sept 6, 2012:* * * *1. HALA News:* * Market Match Coming to Monterey Park* * HALA Awards and Dinner Nov 15* * HALA Good Food Fair Sept 22* * Groups Join To Help Families Get Food Assistance* *2. Community Services Unlimited Grand Opening September 8:* *3. City Council to Hear Interim Control Ordinance Aimed at Limiting Big Box Stores* *4. Prop 37 Requiring Labeling of GE Foods To Be Voted This November!* *5. Rising Food Prices Will Hit Poor, Says World Bank*** *6. Drought and Farm Bill* *7. Perspectives on Poverty: Truth vs. Politics* * * ** ****** Hunger Action LA News**** ****** ******** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Check out the *Hunger Action LA website* www.hungeractionla.org for more information:**** ** ** ** ** *Market Match Expands to Monterey Park, Friday Sept 7***** ** ** *The Market Match Program* is helping boost buying power for seniors and low income families at farmers markets across LA County including Adams/Vermont, East Hollywood, East LA, Gardena, Huntington Park, Long Beach, Mar Vista, and Valinda. *On Friday September 7 well be adding the Monterey Park Farmers Market to that list, located at 318 S. Ramona Ave, Monterey Park library parking lot and open on Fridays from 4 pm to 8 pm.*Other events at the Farmers Market that day include Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez, O.D. who will be on hand to provide a cooking demonstration, a legislative update on health care and materials promoting being healthy, fit and happy.**** ** ** *HALA Good Food Fair at St. Marys, Koreatown, Sept 22* Hunger Action LAs third Good Food Fair, organized with parents from Koreatown, is Saturday Sept. 22 from 10 am to 3 pm at St Marys Church, 961 S Mariposa Ave, LA CA 90006 (actually, in the parking lot on Normandie, one block west.) In addition to activities for kids such as clowns and the inevitable jumper (and homemade piñatas!) , there will be **** **· **HALAs revamped Smoothie Bike (thanks to Woody of Bici Libre) **** **· **Healthy food preparation **** **· **Guest vendors Mamas Hot Tamales (home of the no-lard, giant tamale) **** **· **CalFresh outreach team from LA Regional Food Bank **** **· **A training for volunteers in getting the word out on Prop 37, requiring genetically engineered food to be labeled, with Ben Hellerstein of Pesticide Action Network **** **· **Meetings with residents will also explore the creation of a new childrens garden at the church and what to do about the loss of Liborio, a local mom-and-pop store that was a staple for Central American residents of the neighborhood. **** More info: 213 388 8228. **** ** ** ** ** *HALA Awards and Dinner Thursday November 15***** ** ** *Hunger Action LA will celebrate Champions Against Hunger and Poverty at their annual dinner on Thursday November 15, 2012 at Kavar, 4777 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. Funds* raised from this event will go towards the support of training and advocacy for the community on nutrition, food issues and policies; to support the publication of The Peoples Guide; and to support bonus food vouchers for low income consumers through the Market Match program at 8 Farmers Markets.**** *Purchase tickets now at **http://hungeractionladinner.eventbrite.com/* HALA recognizes that hunger is a problem that we all need to fight together and there are so many unsung heroes who are working tirelessly on behalf of others. Help us to identify them and celebrate them at the HALA Awards and Dinner Ceremony.**** *See nomination form at www.hungeractionla.org/dinnerandawards * If you would like to become a sponsor, or to purchase an ad space in the program, please contact Ivette Vivanco at [email protected] .**** Your donation is tax deductible. Tax ID #: 20-5142259. Valet Parking will be available.**** This promises to be a really fun event! We will celebrate the advocates fighting poverty all over the county, make new friends and see old friends. If youve been to any HALA events you know we dont do them quite the same as anyone else----come have a good time with us!**** *Purchase tickets now at **http://hungeractionladinner.eventbrite.com/* *Groups Join To Help Families Get Food Assistance* LA Sentinel recently covered the DPSS/Occupy Fights Hunger/Hunger Action LA extravaganza at Ralphs on Crenshaw, where 40 families newly enrolled in CalFresh. A mixed blessing: it is tragic that the current recession has resulted in 46 million Americans needing food assistance, but a truly great thing that unlike during the first Great Depression, this time a government program created by we the people and our representatives has existed to respond in a massive, if imperfect, way.**** ** ** http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9607:occupy-ralphs-educate-the-community&catid=122:crenshaw-around&Itemid=261 **** ** ** **[image: Text Box: Events]**** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *2. Community Services Unlimited Grand Opening September 8:* ** ** Save the date for Saturday September 8th Launch of New Community Services Unlimited CSU Space 11.30am to 3.30pm at their new address: 3655 South Grand Avenue, Unit HP, Los Angeles, CA 90007**** New office tel number: 213 746 1238.**** Community Services Unlimited Serving the People Body and Soul is operating several community garden and urban agriculture programs helping low income people, and after many years theyve moved to a new location. Come and help celebrate the launch of their new space at the Mercado La Paloma **** ** ** Cooking Demos**** Tastings**** Presentations**** Live music**** Spoken word**** ** ** *Check out this video and see CSU's new Village Marketplace storefront!*<http://csuinc.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=11e4599a6c9c422bd59d57069&id=d3b1732144&e=a4636cb7f3> **** Help CSU raise $5100 in the next ten days to complete the move----*please share this link*<http://csuinc.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=11e4599a6c9c422bd59d57069&id=4963262dc6&e=a4636cb7f3> **** **[image: Text Box: legislation]**** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** * * *3. City Council to Hear Interim Control Ordinance Aimed at Limiting Big Box Stores* * * Are we headed to a future in which the grocery industry is overtaken completely by big box stores like Target and WalMart? Recently, a proposed ordinance that would have stopped construction of a new WalMart in Chinatown, seen as a major threat to mom-and-pop stores and to standards for grocery workers, was undercut when city officials rushed through permits for the construction of the WalMart the day before the ordinance was heard. A massive protest against WalMarts entry into Chinatown ensued in June. Opponents of the WalMart appealed to the city, but the influential LA Planning Commission voted 5-2 against passing an ordinance to slow the growth of WalMart-type stores. **** ** ** But the story is not over. The city councils Planning and Land Use Management panel found that if the city doesnt act, an infusion of big-box stores could endanger the unique cultural character of Chinatown. The viability of the historic neighborhood is at risk, said committee Chairman Ed Reyes.**** ** ** Reyes and fellow committee member Jose Huizar instructed the citys Planning Department to prepare an ordinance that would temporarily ban chain stores larger than 20,000 square feet from gaining permits. *The proposed ordinance is scheduled to go to the full City Council for approval on September 19. *Due to the previous recommendation by the Planning Commision, though, in order for the ordinance to pass, it will need more than a simple majority (which would be 8 of the councils 15 votes.) It will need an overwhelming 12 votes of the 15.**** ** ** Expect to see alerts soon to make calls and visits to your city councilmembers and come out to the Council on Sept 19!**** For more information contact LA Alliance for a New Economy **** 213 977-9400**** www.laane.org **** * * *Albertsons to lose 18 stores in Los Angeles: * Traditional grocers are losing market share to the big-boxers:**** * * http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2012/09/06/supervalu-closing-19-albertsons-in-socal.html **** * * http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-albertsons-closing-box-20120906,0,7153862.story **** ** ** *4. Prop 37 Requiring Labeling of GE Foods To Be Voted This November!* * * *Do you know whats in your food? * Up to 80% of the food in grocery stores today contains genetically engineered (GE) ingredients. GE crops have increased the use of toxic pesticides that pollute our air and water. And we still dont know whether GE food is safe to eat or what effect it has on our health. *Everyone has the right to know what's in their food. *This November, Californians will vote on Prop 37, the California Right to Know initiative, to require labeling of genetically engineered food. Come learn how you can help pass Prop 37!* California Right to Know Campaign Kick-Off Meeting<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dExDY0dLZ1huOFhvN2ZVQmJycVNfNnc6MQ> When: Wednesday, September 19th Time: 7:00-8:00 PM Where: St. Johns Well Child and Family Center, 808 W. 58th St., LA RSVP Here!<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dExDY0dLZ1huOFhvN2ZVQmJycVNfNnc6MQ> * Monsanto, Dow Chemical, and other big companies have already spent $25 million to defeat Prop 37 and keep California consumers in the dark. To combat their money, we'll build people power by talking to thousands of voters at local events and on the phone, writing letters to the editor, organizing rallies and press conferences, and more.We know we can win in November, but we need lots of people to get involved and help spread the word. *RSVP here for the Kick-off Meeting, and bring a friend!<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dExDY0dLZ1huOFhvN2ZVQmJycVNfNnc6MQ> *** ** ** ** ** *But dont genetically engineered foods include nutrients that help people in the developing world?* This is an argument youll hear from proponents of GE, but it is a false flag. For example, Nigeria is combating vitamin A deficiency with a hybrid maize that, it should be noted,* is NOT genetically engineered:***** http://allafrica.com/stories/201208310649.html**** ** ** ** ** **[image: Text Box: More news and actions]**** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *5. Rising Food Prices Will Hit Poor , Says World Bank* ** ** We know how the drought is affecting our agriculture and food prices in the west but what about in the global South, where people already pay higher prices for food?**** ** ** The World Bank says that maize prices had increased by 113% over the past quarter in Mozambique, while sorghum had risen 220% in South Sudan.**** ** ** We cannot allow these historic price hikes to turn into a lifetime of perils as families take their children out of school and eat less nutritious food to compensate for the high prices, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said. He said countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East were among those most exposed to such price increases because much of their food was imported and food bills make up a large proportion of average household spending.**** ** ** http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/47054 **** ** ** In the West families, spend 15% of income on food - in the global South this rises to 80%.**** ** ** http://allafrica.com/stories/201208310758.html **** ** ** *UN recommends urban agriculture:* Policymakers in African cities must implement green measures to make sure that growing urban areas can meet the increasing demand for food, according to a report released today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).The report, which draws on surveys and case studies from 31 countries across the African continent, found that market gardening in cities in 10 countries is already the single most important source of locally-grown fresh produce. However, this practice has grown with little official recognition, regulation and support, and in many cases has become unsustainable as farmers are increasing the use of pesticides and polluted water.**** ** ** http://allafrica.com/stories/201209010170.html **** ** ** *6. Drought and Farm Bill* ** ** *Drought hurts catfish farms too:* The drought is hurting catfish farms in the US, who can now get only 85 cents a pound for their catfish while paying 75 cents on feed for each pound of grown fish. The government is buying $10 million worth to help the farmers.**** ** ** http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/business/markets-and-drought-hurting-us-catfish-producers.xml **** ** ** *Mainstream agriculture getting nervous about passage of Farm Bill: * More than 40 agriculture groups took center stage last week at the annual Farm Progress Show to urge Congress to pass a new, comprehensive farm bill before current programs expire in September. The coalition, known as Farm Bill Now, represents commodity groups, livestock, dairy, specialty crops, farm cooperatives, financial groups and the nations two largest farm groups: American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union.**** ** ** The Farm Bill has been on indefinite hold for months, as the House of Representatives proposed massive $16 billion cuts to the SNAP (food stamp) program. At a time when recovery is barely beginning in America, we cant afford to leave millions of families in misery. But with the election coming up, its not likely the Farm Bill will pass before the Sept. 30 deadline, meaning most likely that they will continue the funding and other content from the current Farm Bill. This is causing a lot of stress among Americas farmers, who are hoping to get more relief from the drought by passage of a new bill. **** ** ** http://www.pal-item.com/article/20120901/MONEY/309010019/Farm-Notes?odyssey=nav%7Chead&nclick_check=1 **** ** ** *7. Perspectives on Poverty: Truth vs. Politics* * * Our economic system has ups and downs. Thats capitalism. Times of high speculation---bubbles in real estate, or in internet start ups for those nostalgic for the 90s---are followed by collapses, recessions and generally bad times. In America, we have programs such as SNAP and cash assistance for families designed to help maintain some sort of stability when people become unemployed---knowing as we do from statistics that most of those people will be working again when time is right.**** ** ** But that cash assistance, and even food assistance, becomes used as a political hammer to bash ones opponent and claim that people have become overly dependent on government. **** ** ** Its such a potent tool that candidate Mitt Romney has accused the President of removing work requirements for cash welfare, a claim that is patently false---the President in fact was responding to requests from Republican governors looking for a way to help their states struggling families. Republican ex-candidates like Newt Gingrich tried to make hay off Barack Obama being the food stamp President. **** ** ** Looking beyond the hyperbole, people of all parties would be very thankful that we have these programs if they could travel back in time to the Depression, when people starved literally to death in the U.S. **** ** ** Republican governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback, admits here on video that Mitt Romneys ads saying that President Obama has taken away work requirements from welfare are untrue.**** ** ** http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/gov-sam-brownback-admits-romney-ads-lie-abo **** ** ** Sacramento Bee: The food stamp program, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP as it is formally called, is a measure of our collective good. In hard times especially, it needs to be supported not attacked by politicians wanting to score points stigmatizing those who have fallen on hard times.**** ** ** http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/06/4791198/food-stamps-shouldnt-be-a-partisan.html#storylink=cpy **** ** ** Jessica Bartholow, a longtime fighter in the struggle against poverty, shares her own personal story and some questions for candidates Obama and Romney:**** ** ** http://www.thenation.com/blog/169673/talk-about-poverty-talkpoverty-jessica-bartholows-questions-obama-and-romney **** ** ** A final thought. **** Bill Clinton passed welfare reform in 1996 under extreme duress from Republicans in an election year---a reform that he knew would not work and that has generally not succeeded in spite of the hype, and left many in these days without the help they need. But he has embraced this awful policy due to political pressure, and always counts it as one of his great accomplishments. **** ** ** Mitt Romney passed the countrys first universal health care program in Massachusetts, which for all its flaws is a historic attempt to make sure everyone has medical coverage. But due to his own political partys opposition to the idea of public health coverage, he cant even talk about it.**** ** ** Two politicians, one forced to embrace one of his major failures as a success, the other forced to deny the existence of his greatest success, all because of politics and our countrys addiction to media sound bites and unwillingness to take the time to look at the truth about poverty.**** ** ** ************************************* ** ** Frank Tamborello**** Hunger Action Los Angeles**** 961 S. Mariposa #205**** Los Angeles CA 90006**** 213-388-8228**** [email protected]**** ** ** ** ** ** ** Frank Tamborello**** Hunger Action Los Angeles**** 961 S. Mariposa #205**** Los Angeles CA 90006**** 213-388-8228**** [email protected]**** [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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