California NOW

Huffington Post isn't exactly cutting edge when it comes to women

California NOW Action VP, Linda Long

Ok Huff Post…you really need to “lean in” on women’s issues!

Why does nearly every article on the Women’s Voices page have to do with relationships, beauty, weight or “Girls”? Really? I get that women will only eat Haagen-Das if that is all that is offered, but it doesn’t mean that is all we want or need!

The Black Voices page offers articles on the politics of being black, the problems of being black in America, and solutions to the problems. The Latino Voices page more of the same. But, holy cow, if you believe the voices on the Women’s page, we are a shallow bunch of white 1%ers.

There’s nothing on the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the problems with passing the Violence Against Women resolution because of the Vatican’s opposition citing tradition and religion? Considering how the issue of rape has been on every woman’s Facebook page every day this week, seems like someone would have mentioned that the Vatican is more worried about controlling women than protecting them.

There’s nothing on the ongoing problems with health care implementation in states which are doing everything to exclude women because we are “expensive.” I mean, really - those darn women who want to have the children to guarantee our future. The gall of them!

There’s nothing on raising the minimum wage (that was on the Latino Voices page) even though the majority of minimum wage earners are women and a huge bunch of them are home health care workers, none of whom is protected under National Labor Relations Act! No, just the stupid “Lean In” crap which probably makes the majority of women who struggle every day to afford child care and food on their tables want to “LEAN ON” a few of the 1%er women who don’t pay their fair share of taxes, or offer their child care workers a decent salary, overtime or even health care.

Frankly, I can’t imagine how much more leaning without falling over a woman for whom one sick day can make the difference between eating at the end of the week or not can do!

There are lots of articles on makeup…most of which is toxic and can’t even be sold in Europe where the standards are much higher than in America (darn those socialists…always thinking of women’s health)!

There are articles on stay-at-home moms which fail to talk about advocating for social security to be paid into the system by the society which supposedly “values” them so much. We forget to tell those stay-at-home moms that they will get nothing for their retirement. Their work has so much “value” it’s free! Bet that is going to help them eat in 50 years.

Let’s face it, women are complex. We do care about relationships and the way we look but all of that is the Haagen Das and we only eat that after getting out of a really bad relationship. What we need is a real meal (steak, vegetables, salad and maybe some wine) and we want the media to stop trying to make us only eat the ice cream and, instead, offer us up some nutrition because that is something we can “lean in” to.

2012 California NOW Activist

The state Legislature is in recess and everyone has returned to their home districts to campaign for the November 2012 election, which is now just 29 days away.  For those of you who are absentee voters, your ballot is on the way, so we wanted you - the California voter - to have the facts about what's at stake for women before casting your vote.

This year's propositions are enormously important for California's women and girls, especially for their equality and empowerment.  Read the Activist to find out why voting NO on Prop 31 and 32 matters - why voting YES on Prop 38 and 39 is a better path forward and why voting YES on Prop 34, 36 and 37 is the better choice for women and their families.  Click here to read the 2012 Activist.

Read the Activist because it shows what happens when women stay home - only 24 percent of unmarried women voted in the 2010 election.  As a result, the anti-women extremists who took control of the House voted 12 times to restrict women's reproductive health care, redefine rape, cut ALL Title X funding, and voted against the Fair Pay Act and the Violence Against Women Act.

EVERY SINGLE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN CONGRESS MEMBER VOTED FOR THOSE EXTREME BILLS.

We hope you'll be joining us in doing our part to demand Congress be Pro Woman.  Click here to access the California NOW PAC 2012 Voter Guide.

There is no doubt that this year and the previous years have been a struggle for all of us both economically and politically.  As Hillary Clinton stated, "The big challenge we face in these early years of the 21st century is how to grow our economies and ensure shared prosperity for all nations and all people. We want to give every one of our citizens, men and women, young and old, greater opportunity to find work, save and spend money, pursue happiness – and ultimately live up to their God-given potential. That is a clear and simple vision. But to make it real – to achieve the economic expansion we all seek – we need to unlock a vital source of growth that can power our economies in the decades to come. That source of vital growth is women."

California's women should expect and accept nothing less.

For Equality & In Solidarity,

 

Patty Bellasalma
President, California NOW

Monday's Action List

This week we're focused on health.  Women's health, children's health, our family's health.

Here in California, there's a proposition on the November ballot (Prop 37) that will require clear labels letting consumers know if foods are genetically modified. We already have food labels showing nutrition, allergy information and other facts consumers want to know. This measure adds information telling us if food is produced using genetic engineering, which is when food is modified in a laboratory by adding DNA from other plants, animals, bacteria or viruses.  Over one million people have contacted the FDA and told them we have a right to know what’s in our food. Become part of this growing movement and join them today. Take Action NOW:  Sign this important petition to the FDA and make sure your voice is heard!

No one should have to spend every working day in a toxic environment, and this week dozens of salon workers from across the country are descending on Washington, DC, sharing their stories with lawmakers and demanding safer products and safer hair and nail salons--and they need your support! While each of us is exposed daily to a cocktail of toxic chemicals when we use personal care products, salon workers are also exposed to highly toxic products as they work (like hair dyes and straighteners and nail glues and solvents) -- all day, every day. And, due to a labeling loophole, salon products aren’t required to list ingredients, which means workers (and their customers) can’t make informed decisions about what they’re using.  Take Action NOW:  Stand with salon workers in demanding safer products for a safer workplace! Write to your member of Congress today!

Did you know that that air pollution can stunt growing lungs, particularly in children who spend a lot of time outdoors? Exposure to air polluted with nitrogen dioxide, acid vapors and particulate matter (soot) has been found to have the greatest association with impaired lung growth.  The EPA has proposed new Soot Standards, which would decrease the allowable limit of soot in the air from the current 15 micrograms per cubic meter to as low as 11 micrograms per cubic meter.  The EPA is now taking public comments that will be used to determine the final standard.  Your voice will be critical in this comment process to help drown out the specious arguments of pro-polluters! Take Action NOW:  Ask the EPA to say "no" to soot!

Monday's Action Checklist

We believe that the Department of Defense should make the film, "The Invisible War" required viewing for all future commanders as well as for military personnel who train incoming recruits.  The current policy of Zero Tolerance is not backed by a realistic training program. This award-winning film explains sexual predation in a clear and compelling manner, leaving the viewer with an honest explanation of the problems facing our US service members. Using the DoD's own numbers, the film makes a direct connection between incapable commanders and incidents of rape. Take Action NOW:  Tell the DOD that it's time for those taking on the responsibility of command and of those training our new recruits to understand what they are up against.

California Assemblymember Charles Calderon has written a new United Farm Workers-sponsored bill (AB 2676) that applies criminal sanctions for employers whose mistreatment of farm workers causes their deaths or illnesses from exposure to extreme heat. Longstanding penalties in the state Penal Code apply to anyone who "inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather." Now AB 2676, called the Humane Treatment of Farm Workers Act, says agricultural employers must treat farm workers at least as good as animals or face the same criminal penalties.  Take Action NOW:  Tell the state senate to pass this bill which protects our state's farmworkers.

Here in America, nearly 80% of low wage workers and 40% of private sector workers don't have access to a single paid sick day which means that many people have little choice but to go to work sick--rather than staying home to get better and risk losing a day’s pay or even losing their job.  That's 40 million employees.  Take Action NOW:  Tell Congress that paid sick days are critical for American families’ economic security. It’s not okay for families to be one virus away from losing income or becoming unemployed. We need you to support and pass the Healthy Families Act.

Monday's Action Checklist

Today, a female soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan is more likely to be raped than killed or injured by enemy fire.  Every day American service women and men, who have pledged their lives to protect our country, are being raped and sexually assaulted. Not by the enemy, but by their fellow soldiers, commanders, and officers – by the people whose job it is to protect them.  Take Action NOW:  Click here to learn more about the movie that we need to be talking about.

Farm workers are dying from heat. In fact, since California issued its landmark 2005 regulations to keep farm workers from dying of extreme heat, preventable farm worker deaths are still occurring at a similar pace as before.  That's why the United Farm Workers has taken matters into their own hands and sponsored AB 2346, the Farm Worker Safety Act (Butler). This bill will allow farm workers to be able to enforce mandatory shade and drinking water requirements by taking delinquent employers to court.  It will also make growers jointly liable along with farm labor contractors they hire   Take Action NOW:  Click here to show your support for AB 2346!

Right now 7 million U.S. kids have asthma and that number is rising every day. Limiting carbon pollution could cut down on smog, and on asthma attacks.  The proposed new carbon rule will reduce pollution by 123 billion pounds of carbon annually (Yes!  That's billion with a "B"). If the EPA is overwhelmed by the support the public shows for clean air, then they will likely recommend a much-needed, strong carbon rule for President Obama to sign. Take Action NOW:  Click here to sign the petition.

We need your help to beat back a new industry bill that would actually make things worse for consumers.  The Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012” was written by the Personal Care Products Council, a trade association that represents the big multinational cosmetic companies.  Even though it may sound like a step forward on the surface, the “fine print” inside the bill would allow industry to continue placing profits over public health.  Take Action NOW:  Contact Congress to demand meaningful reform that protects our health.