California NOW

Monday's Action Checklist

This week we're spotlighting two important videos that come to us from San Francisco NOW.

The first one is an impassioned personal video from Linda, a breast cancer survivor herself, who talks about what cancer is and what it is not.  She made this video in response to the decision by Susan G Komen for the Cure Foundation to politicize the disease by discontinuing their grant program to Planned Parenthood who provides breast cancer screenings throughout the country.

After watching the video, we hope you'll visit BreastCancerAction.org where you can learn about another problem - that of the "pink" products associated with breast cancer which have absolutely nothing to do with finding a cure.  This site discusses the corporate politics behind breast cancer and helps you understand how important it is to "Think Before You Pink."

 

The second video we're spotlighting this week also comes from San Francisco NOW and talks about GMO Labeling - an issue that is not discussed as often or as widely as it should be, especially since it affects every single one of us.

To learn more about this important issue, please visit LabelGMOs.org

Monday's Action Checklist

After hundreds of thousands of angry calls and letters to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, they reversed their politically motivated decision to cut funds to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. Unfortunately, our work is not yet done.  Komen refuses to commit to funding breast screening and mammogram referrals at Planned Parenthood beyond this year.  Take Action NOW:  Sign the petition to the Komen foundation demanding they commit to continue funding breast screenings at Planned Parenthood.

Before leaving office, Governor Schwarzenegger made the unfortunate decision to permit the use of the cancer-causing pesticide, methyl iodide to be sprayed on our state's strawberries.  For over a year, Governor Brown has refused to reverse that action, saying that the decision must rest with the incoming head of Department of Pesticide Regulation. That person, Brian Leahy, has just been appointed.   More than 85% of the country’s strawberries are grown in California so actions here will have national implications. It may give the EPA a new opportunity to re-evaluate this chemical that has no safe place in agriculture.  Take Action NOW:  Click here to ask Dr. Leahy for immediate action on methyl iodide.

A few months ago, we all heard Warren Buffet complain that his secretary was in a higher tax bracket than he was.  During the State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to fix this injustice, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island stepped up in a big way. He has introduced legislation - called the "Paying a Fair Share Act" - that would require people making more than a million dollars a year to pay a minimum of 30% of their income in taxes.  Senator Whitehouse is standing up to champion the cause of the 99% and we should show him he has our support.  Take Action NOW:  Click here to thank Senator Whitehouse for his leadership on correcting an injustice.

Sexual and reproductive health is intimately tied to every woman’s quality of life. Women spend most of their youth and into midlife trying to manage their reproductive health needs, mostly related to pregnancy, childbirth and contraception.  As a part of their ongoing campaign to understand the factors that contribute to Black women’s and Latinas’ decisions about contraception, Black Women's Health Imperative has created a surveyfor Black women and Latinas, ages 18 - 34, across the U.S.  The survey continues until February 13, 2012.  To take the brief survey, click here.

Monday's Action Checklist

The California Domestic Workers Coalition, representing thousands of childcare providers, caregivers and housekeepers from around the state, along with labor and community supporters, are pursuing the passage of AB 889, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.  This bill will provide equal pay for equal work for thousands of Californians who have been excluded from basic labor protections for decades.  Take Action NOW:  Click here to sign the petition asking state legislators to support AB 889.

Arsenic and mercury residues from power plant air pollution are ending up on our fruits (and in our fruit juice), in our water ways, and in our fish. These toxins, in turn, end up in consumer products like the apple juice boxes that we give our kids. This is one of the key reasons why it’s so important we strengthen clean air protections for pollutants.  Take Action NOW:  Click here to sign the petition asking President Obama and the EPA to move forward with a strong Mercury and Air Toxins rule to defend public health and protect our children from toxic arsenic and mercury.

After 4 years of marketing research, LEGO has come to the conclusion that girls want LadyFigs, a pink Barbielicious product line for girls, so 5 year-olds can imagine themselves at the café, lounging at the pool with drinks, brushing their hair in front of a vanity mirror, singing in a club, or shopping with their girlfriends.  LEGO doesn't seem to understand that little girls like minifigs. They also like Star Wars and Harry Potter, and they like being creative and making up stories that involve adventures and good and evil and things blowing up.  Take Action NOW:  Sign this letter to LEGO telling them that narrow stereotypes associated with pink and blue simply box kids in from an early age and that raising healthy girls and boys is all about creating a wide range of possibilities and options.

Dow Chemical is currently requesting an unprecedented USDA approval: a genetically engineered (GE) version of corn that is resistant to 2,4-D, a major component of the highly toxic Agent Orange. Agent Orange was the chemical defoliant used by the U.S. in Vietnam, and it caused lasting ecological damage as well as many serious medical conditions in both Vietnam veterans and the Vietnamese.  Take Action NOW:  Click here to tell the USDA to do its job and reject 2,4-D resistant GE corn

Let's Keep Kids Safe in the Fields!

Do you really think a child as young as 12 should be driving this tractor?

Unfortunately, it's being done and it's legal.  But that doesn't make it right.

In the US, children as young as twelve can legally work in the fields. They can pick your berries and even drive a tractor. According to a US Department of Labor (DOL) report, tractor-related accidents are the leading cause of death for young farm workers.

Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about the children of growers, but children as young as twelve employed as farm workers.

Much to the dismay of many in agriculture, the DOL has proposed new rules that would begin improving safety for children in the fields--including a ban on children younger than 16 driving tractors.

There’s still so much that needs to be done to bring justice to our food production system. The DOL’s proposed rules are a step in the right direction. Please join us in supporting these improvements and send your comment TODAY.

Click here to send a comment in support of the proposed regulations.

Monday's Action Checklist

We've written about this before but until it's taken care of, it warrants another mention.  Governor Brown has still not stopped the spraying of strawberries with cancer-causing Methyl Iodide, even after scientists have labeled it one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet.  What is he waiting for?  In addition to causing cancer, it's also known for inducing late-term miscarriages.   Take Action NOW:  Send a message to Governor Brown asking that he put a stop to this now.

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, announced last week it would be making dramatic cuts to the health care options it provides to associates. Premiums are going up by 20-60% for full time associates and those working less than 24 hours a week won’t be eligible for coverage at all.   Although Walmart employees have always made low wages, in the past year, they’ve seen their few benefits be cut significantly.  Take Action NOW:  You can help by going into Walmart (I know you typically never shop there) and hand this flyer to all the associates you can find, encouraging them to band together to say enough is enough.

The ACLU has uncovered and analyzed thousands of FBI documents and found that America's most powerful law enforcement agency is using its vastly expanded investigative authority to collect racial and ethnic information and "map" American communities around the country — based on crude stereotypes about which groups commit different types of crimes.  Take Action NOW:  Tell Attorney General Holder to put an end to this unconstitutional use of racial profiling.