February 2012 - Neighbors - lists.buenavistasocialclub.org

Why We Must Occupy Our Food Supply
by Ruth Ryals 28 Feb '12

28 Feb '12

I only just saw this and February 27 has come and gone. I pass it on because the stats may give you pause, and we may hear more about this issue in the weeks and months to come. Ruth ******************************************************** Why We Must Occupy Our Food Supply By Willie Nelson and Anna Lappe, Reader Supported News 24 February 12 http://readersupportednews.org/images/stories/alphabet/rsn-O.jpgur food is under threat. It is felt by every family farmer who has lost their land and livelihood, every parent who can't find affordable or healthy ingredients in their neighborhood, every person worried about foodborne illnesses thanks to lobbyist-weakened food safety laws, every farmworker who faces toxic pesticides in the fields as part of a day's work. When our food is at risk we are all at risk. Over the last thirty years, we have witnessed a massive consolidation of our food system. Never have so few corporations been responsible for more of our food chain. Of the 40,000 food items in a typical U.S. grocery store, more than half are now brought to us by just 10 corporations. Today, three companies process more than 70 percent of all U.S. beef <http://www.treehugger.com/economics/consolidation-food-us-infographic.html> , Tyson, Cargill and JBS. More than 90 percent of soybean seeds and 80 percent of corn seeds used in the United States are sold by just one company <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/28/AR200911280 2471_pf.html%22%20%5Ct%20%22_hplink> : Monsanto <http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_16844.cfm> . Four companies are responsible for up to 90 percent of the global trade in grain. And one in four food dollars is spent at Walmart <http://nlander.com/spokane/article-14915-anna-lappe.html> . What does this matter for those of us who eat? Corporate control of our food system has led to the loss of millions of family farmers, the destruction of soil fertility, the pollution of our water, and health epidemics including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain forms of cancer. More and more, the choices that determine the food on our shelves are made by corporations concerned less with protecting our health, our environment, or our jobs than with profit margins and executive bonuses. This consolidation also fuels the influence of concentrated economic power in politics: Last year alone, the biggest food companies spent tens of millions lobbying on Capitol Hill with more than $37 million <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/cereal-cookies-oh-whats-the -diff/> used in the fight against junk food marketing guidelines for kids. On a global scale, the consolidation of our food system has meant devastation for farmers, forests and the climate. Take the controversial food additive palm oil. In the past decade, palm oil has become the most widely traded vegetable oil in the world and is now found in half of all packaged goods on U.S. grocery store shelves. But the large-scale production of palm oil - driven by agribusiness demand for the relatively cheap ingredient - has come at a cost: palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia are razing rainforests, releasing massive quantities of greenhouse gases and displacing Indigenous communities. >From the global to the local, nothing is more personal than this threat to our food. And nothing more inspiring than the movement that is fighting back. On Monday February 27, tens of thousands of people - including farmers and food workers, parents and students, urban gardeners and chefs - will participate in a Global Day of Action to Occupy our Food Supply. Occupy our Food Supply is a day to both resist Big Food and highlight sustainable solutions that work for all of us. On February 27, more than 60Occupy groups as well as environmental and corporate accountability organizations are joining together. From Brazil, Hungary, Ireland, Argentina, the United States and beyond, people will be reclaiming unused bank-owned lots to create community gardens; hosting seed exchanges in front of stock exchanges; labeling products on grocery store shelves that contain genetically engineered ingredients; building community alliances to support locally owned grocery stores and resist Walmart megastores; and fighting back against industrial giants Monsanto and Cargill. The call to Occupy our Food Supply, facilitated by Rainforest Action Network <http://www.ran.org/> , is being echoed by prominent thought leaders, authors, farmers and activists including the Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva, Food Inc.'s Robert Kenner, and authors Michael Pollan, Raj Patel, Gary Paul Nabhan, and Marion Nestle, among others. As Michael Ableman, farmer, author, and founder of the Center for Urban Agriculture puts it: "We need to focus on what we are for as much as what we are against; occupying our land, our soils with life and fertility, our communities with good food. We need to work to rebuild the real economy, the one based on seeds and sunlight and individuals and communities growing together." If you eat food, grow food, love food, join us to Occupy our Food Supply. Anna Lappé is author of Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork (Bloomsbury USA) and a board member of Rainforest Action Network. Willie Nelson is founder and president of Farm Aid <http://farmaid.org/> . Ruth A. Ryals 115 Upland Rd. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-547-6453 617-834-4007 cell rryals(a)comcast.net "Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Barry Bloom's version of a Margaret Mead quote

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Living Well Network Movie Night - Tomorrow Night at 7PM
by Colin Barr 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

LWN Movie Night Presents Flow: For the Love of Water Join Us This Tuesday at 7PM! The LWN Movie Night and Discussion series began in 2011 as a way to watch and discuss movies within a community setting. Our current series focuses on social justice themes and we explore the issue of global water resources with the documentary, Flow: For Love of Water (more information at: <www.flowthefilm.com>) at the Maud Morgan Arts Center. Admission is always just $3 per person. (LWN members attend free!) Date: Tuesday, February 28th Time: 7 PM Location: 2D Studio, Maud Morgan Arts, 20A Sacramento Street Disability Accessible --------------------------- Colin Barr Computer Lounge Coordinator Living Well Network Agassiz Baldwin Community http://agassiz.org/ cbarr(a)agassiz.org 617-349-6287 x10 ---------------------------

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Living Well Network Computer Lounge Drop-In Session- Wednesday, 1PM
by Colin Barr 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

The Living Well Network Computer Lounge sessions and classes are educational, informative and fun while we solve simple and complex technology problems in a low stress, supportive environment every Wednesday. Haven't been to the Lounge in a while? Here are some of the positive changes happening to better support you: * More volunteers: Kate, Russ, Helena, Eric, and Sebe are all available to help you one-on-one. * We now have wifi for your laptop. * Most of our computers can boot either as a Mac or PC. * We have membership support to make the future of the Lounge more exciting! Our next Lounge drop-in session is this Wednesday so bring in your questions! Date: Wednesday, February 29th, 1-3 PM Location: North Hall, 1651 Mass Ave. (Use side entrance on Wendell St. marked ANC community room, disability accessible) See you at the Lounge! --------------------------- Colin Barr Computer Lounge Coordinator Living Well Network Agassiz Baldwin Community http://agassiz.org/ cbarr(a)agassiz.org 617-349-6287 x10 ---------------------------

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FW: Live Better Porter Square
by Ruth Ryals 26 Feb '12

26 Feb '12

A good summary of the info we heard at a recent Porter Square Neighborhood Association meeting: * Live Better Porter Square project Meghan Shaw, who is Community Outreach Director for the Cambridge Energy Alliance, spoke about CEA's new 3-4 month pilot project. "Live Better Porter Square" is intended to bring together faith groups, schools, community gardeners, business leaders, students and more, to encourage thinking and acting locally about energy efficiency. They have chosen to start in Porter Square because of the existence of active neighborhood groups and involved merchants. Last year 550 Tags Hardware customers took advantage of CEA's $125 voucher offer to swap old air conditioners for new ones. The core of the program is free energy audits for homeowners. Tags and other stores will give you a $10 coupon for signing up for an audit. Or, you can sign up local schools which then get the $10. You have a choice of auditing companies. After assessment you may be eligible to receive free CFL's, free targeted air sealing, discounted insulation, and rebates on high efficiency equipment. CEA is looking for volunteer "Neighborhood Captains" to promote the program through advocacy, word of mouth, arranging tours, and similar activities. There will be an information meeting for potential volunteers at 6:30PM on Wednesday, February 22, at the City Hall Annex. CEA also has a solar hot water grant program to help residents and businesses to install solar hot water heating. Even here in New England a solar heater can provide 50 to 75 percent of hot water needs. References: - http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/calendar - http://cambridgeenergyalliance.org/resources/additional-resources/solar-hot… - http://nextsteplivinginc.com/ **************************************************************************************************** Begin forwarded message: From: "Shaw, Meghan" <mshaw(a)cambridgema.gov> Date: February 22, 2012 12:33:51 PM PST Subject: Live Better Porter Square Bill Deignan at the City of Cambridge mentioned that you’ve been active in the Mass Ave project. I just wanted to touch base to let you know about the Live Better Porter Square program the Cambridge Energy Alliance is launching. Live Better Porter Square is a brand new pilot project to make Porter Square and its neighborhoods a better place for residents and businesses. Over the next four months we’re getting neighbors to boost the local economy by lowering their energy bills through energy efficiency and renewable energy, so more money stays in our local economy. We are recruiting people who are interested in promoting community involvement and highlighting Porter Square as a model for the rest of the city in terms of thinking locally. Neighborhood Captain Training Saturday, March 3rd Main Library – Beech Room 449 Broadway, Cambridge MA If you would like to share this opportunity with your connections in the community, please pass it along. Here’s a sign –up form for those who want to get involved or learn more. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGpiWnFVaXgzTktsM3pkeT… Best, Meghan Shaw Cambridge Energy Alliance: Save money. Save the planet. www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org <http://www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org/> -- Meghan Shaw, Community Outreach Director 617-349-LEAF office NEW! 344 Broadway • Cambridge • MA • 02139 NEW! mshaw(a)cambridgema.gov <mailto:mshaw@cambridgeenergyalliance.org>

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FW: Please read the attached poster
by Ruth Ryals 25 Feb '12

25 Feb '12

I couldn't say it better. From: Margot Welch [mailto:margot.welch@verizon.net] Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 7:17 AM To: ALAN Harwood Cc Subject: Please look Friends, I've tried to be selective in sending this message but I feel so strongly about what's happening right around the corner from all of us here in Massachusetts. Hard times are making everyone more fearful and easy targets for people's helplessness are the thousands of undocumented immigrants who are living in all our neighborhoods. These are the people who, in fact, are tirelessly building our buildings, keeping our floors clean, working all night to ready stores where we shop, keeping our gardens lush, our factories running, our greenhouses stocked, our floors clean. Their children - many of whom came with their parents when they were very young and know no other country as home - are working very, very hard in schools to realize their parents' dreams of a better life for the next generation. The 2010 Massachusetts Dream Act - which would have given bright young people who have been in our country since they were very young access to tuition assistance for in-state colleges and universities - was predicted to pass in our legislature: on the day the vote was to be taken, right wing talk show hosts ranted and raved,instructing all listeners to call their legislators, and the bill failed. This bill, S.20161, scheduled for a vote this week, goes much further and is much more oppressive and dangerous. Please call your legislators at the State House on Monday: 617-722-1639.

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The Living Well Network Computer Lounge- Wednesday, 1PM
by Colin Barr 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

This is a reminder that The Living Well Network Computer Lounge is offering a drop-in session, so bring in your computer questions. Please Join Us This Wednesday! Our Computer Lounge sessions and classes are educational, informative and fun while we solve simple and complex technology problems in a low stress, supportive environment every Wednesday. Date: Wednesday, February 22nd, 1-3 PM Location: North Hall, 1651 Mass Ave. (Use side entrance on Wendell St. marked ANC community room. We are disability accessible.) See you at the Lounge! --------------------------- Colin Barr Computer Lounge Coordinator Living Well Network Agassiz Baldwin Community http://agassiz.org/ cbarr(a)agassiz.org 617-349-6287 x10 ---------------------------

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The Living Well Network Computer Lounge- Wednesday, 1PM
by Colin Barr 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

This is a reminder that The Living Well Network Computer Lounge is offering a drop-in session, so bring in your computer questions. Please Join Us This Wednesday! Our Computer Lounge sessions and classes are educational, informative and fun while we solve simple and complex technology problems in a low stress, supportive environment every Wednesday. Date: Wednesday, February 15th, 1-3 PM Location: North Hall, 1651 Mass Ave. (Use side entrance on Wendell St. marked ANC community room. We are disability accessible.) See you at the Lounge! --------------------------- Colin Barr Computer Lounge Coordinator Living Well Network Agassiz Baldwin Community http://agassiz.org/ cbarr(a)agassiz.org 617-349-6287 x10 ---------------------------

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more MBTA
by Ruth Ryals 13 Feb '12

13 Feb '12

Will Brownsberger has also posted a draft letter re the MBTA on his website. http://willbrownsberger.com/index.php/archives/9533 Ruth A. Ryals 115 Upland Rd. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-547-6453 617-834-4007 cell rryals(a)comcast.net "Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Barry Bloom's version of a Margaret Mead quote

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MBTA proposed cuts in service, raises in fares
by Ruth Ryals 13 Feb '12

13 Feb '12

Neighbors, As most of you know, the MBTA is seriously underfunded and saddled with a lot of debt (including from the big dig-how you ask?). In this economic climate that is prelude to some serious slashing. I am including the link to an op-ed that Alice Wolf authored on the subject of the T. http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/features/x574391607/Guest-Commentary-No -more-magical-thinking-dealing-with-the-MBTA#axzz1ldDrPyxx I am also including a link to the Cambridge City Manager's letter on the subject. http://www2.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/MBTAfareincrea se%20pdf.pdf. I hope some of you will plan to attend one of the public meetings on the subject. And let your state representative and state senator hear from you. The T will be on the agenda at this month's PSNA meeting as well (Thursday at 7-North Cambridge Senior Center). Finally, I will leave you with a link to the "OccupyMBTA" site with a list of the upcoming public hearings, and many action items. http://wiki.occupyboston.org/wiki/OccupyMBTA Thanks! Ruth Ruth A. Ryals 115 Upland Rd. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-547-6453 617-834-4007 cell rryals(a)comcast.net "Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Barry Bloom's version of a Margaret Mead quote

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Living Well Network Computer Lounge Drop-In Session this Wednesday
by Colin Barr 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Computer Lounge Drop-In Session this Wednesday Our Computer Lounge sessions and classes are educational, informative and fun while we solve simple and complex technology problems in a low stress, supportive environment every Wednesday. Here are some questions we explored last week: How do I download a free iPhone MBTA app? What is a 'bookmark' and how do I work with them? How do I set up a spreadsheet in Excel? Our next Lounge drop-in session is this Wednesday so bring in your questions! Date: Wednesday, February 8th, 1-3 PM Location: North Hall, 1651 Mass Ave. (Use side entrance on Wendell St. marked ANC community room) Disability Accessible See you at the Lounge! --------------------------- Colin Barr Computer Lounge Coordinator Living Well Network Agassiz Baldwin Community http://agassiz.org/ cbarr(a)agassiz.org 617-349-6287 x10 ---------------------------

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