FOOD JUSTICE NEWS 2012
To All Those Interested in Food and Justice...
A usually weekly update of news about hunger, nutrition, food prices and a host of other issues, focusing on things you can become involved in! (Targeted to the LA area, but we like all the rest of you too)
2012 Publications by Date:
Jan 11, 2012Jan 23, 2012Jan 31, 2012February 10, 2012February 17, 2012February 27, 2012March 6, 2012 March 12, 2012March 20, 2012March 27, 2012April 3, 2012April 10, 2012April 19, 2012April 24, 2012May 1, 2012May 7, 2012May 14, 2012May 21, 2012May 31, 2012June 4, 2012June 11, 2012June 18, 2012June 26, 2012July 5, 2012July 12, 2012July 16, 2012August 14, 2012August 18, 2012August 28, 2012September 6, 2012September 17, 2012October 2, 2012October 19, 2012October 23, 2012November 13, 2012November 26, 2012December 14, 2012Publications By Year:
ARCHIVES200920102011 20122013 HOMEFood Justice News on Twitter! 
@HungerActionLA
- 1. Hunger Action LA News: Save the Date Thurs Jan 10 for Budget Action
- 2. Proposed Book Addresses Big Business’ Interaction with Anti Hunger Programs
- 3. Weight of the Nation Community Screening, Saturday Dec 15
- 4. Restaurant Opportunities Center: Rally at Capital Grille Monday Dec 17: Diner’s Guide Smartphone App
- 5. Food Stamps and The Politics of Exclusion
- 6. Stunning Report on Produce Wasted In The Fields
- 7. What’s The Outlook for Small Farmers?
1. HALA News:
Next Hunger Action LA meeting is not until Friday Jan. 25, 2013. In the meantime:
Save the Date January 10, 2012, Noon-1 pm: That’s when California Partnership (which includes Hunger Action LA) will have an action to respond to the Governor’s proposed budget.
Activity will take place at the State Building in Downtown LA, 300 S. Spring St.
The Governor’s budget will be announced that day (sometimes they’re sneaky and do it sooner.) It’s anticipated that with increased revenue, we won’t have to be as much on the defensive as in the past about state programs that help the poor, seniors and disabled.
This should be the year we ask for Reinvestment in California Families and restoration of some of the things lost over the years, including dental care for Medi-Cal recipients such as the 750,000 seniors and people with disabilities struggling on SSI in Southern California.
More information: California Partnership 213 385 8010.
****************************************************************
2. Proposed Book Addresses Big Business’ Interaction with Anti Hunger Programs
(Editor’s note: This is a request for funds from my longtime colleague Andy Fisher. Although this book may even end up containing things I don’t agree with (heaven forbid!), I wholeheartedly endorse his endeavor to write it as it will spark a much needed discussion in our community. I encourage you to support this effort. He’s also offering premiums for those who donate! So check it out---Frank T.)
Andy Fisher: “Over the past two decades of food security activism, I’ve seen how big business has profited from hunger. They take in tens of billions of dollars from federal food programs such as WIC, school lunch and SNAP (food stamps).
They whitewash their reputation through partnerships with anti-hunger groups. They impede progress on ending hunger through shaping the way the public thinks about hunger and the issues on which food banks lobby.”
“ I am writing a book about this topic, and how we can bring to the forefront the social justice roots of the anti-hunger movement. It’s called Hunger Incorporated, and will be published by MIT Press. My hopes-and plans- are that this book will ignite a dialogue within the hunger movement about its future direction.”
“ I need your financial support to make this book a reality. I just launched the Hunger Incorporated campaign on Indiegogo’s crowdfunding site to make it easy to chip in. “
http://www.indiegogo.com/hunger-incorporated
“Please consider contributing $5, $20, $100, $200. Even a modest contribution means a lot to me and will move forward this important work. Even if you can’t contribute, or if you can, please forward this e-mail on to others who might be interested.I am trying to raise $10,000 to cover my expenses associated with writing this groundbreaking book. Any amount you can give is welcome!Find out more about my plans on my Indiegogo page.” http://www.indiegogo.com/hunger-incorporated
Happy Holidays, Andy Fisher andyfisher.pdx@gmail.com 310-487-0249
***************************************************************************
3. Weight of the Nation Community Screening, Saturday Dec 15
Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Community Health Councils, Concerned Citizens Community Involvement, and AT&T: Screening of the HBO film “The Weight of the Nation: Confronting America’s Obesity Epidemic.”
Location and time: Southside Church of Christ, 1655 W Manchester Blvd., LA CA 90047. Saturday December 15, 2012, 10 am to 1 pm.
Three years in the making , this four part film spotlights the nation’s most urgent public health issue and what individuals and communities can do to combat it.
The show is free (the “Diabetes” segment will be screened)followed by a panel discussion with Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, and Community Health Councils.
RSVP to tiffany@chc-inc.org or 323 295 9372.
******************************************************
4. Restaurant Opportunities Center: Rally at Capital Grille Monday Dec 17: (Also--Diner’s Guide Smartphone App Now Available)
From Restaurant Opportunities Center:
Please come support The Capital Grille restaurant workers! Restaurant Opportunities Center of Los Angeles and the Food Chain Workers Alliance will be delivering a Christmas Letter and festive holiday carols to demand better working conditions for The Capital Grille employees. Monday, December 17, 2012 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Meeting at CVS 8500 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
We hope that The Capital Grille does the right thing and gives workers the gift of paying back stolen wages, providing paid sick days, livable wages, and promotions for workers of color
RSVP to roc-la@rocunited.org if you are able to support The Capital Grille restaurant workers!
About The Dignity at Darden Campaign: The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United has launched a campaign against The Capital Grille and its parent company, Darden Restaurants, after Capital Grille workers in DC, Chicago, New York City, Miami and Los Angeles came forward with claims against the company ranging from discrimination to wage theft.
Please go to http://www.dignityatdarden.org/ for more information about the campaign.
Diners’ Guide Smartphone App
EXCITING NEWS! Our 2nd annual ROC National Diners’ Guide to Ethical Eating 2013: A Consumer Guide on the Working Conditions of America’s Restaurants IS OUT & entirely new, the ROC Diners' Guide smartphone app, created by Clay Ewing, Assistant Professor at the University of Miami, putting restaurant rankings at consumers' fingertips. The free app is available NOW for iPhone and Android mobile devices. |
The Guide makes it easy for consumers and companies to evaluate more than 150 restaurants and national chains based on a number of key criteria:
- Do they provide paid sick days to ensure that those who handle and serve food are not passing on illnesses?
- Do they pay at least $9 per hour to non-tipped workers and at least $5 per hour to tipped workers? (The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for non-tipped workers and just $2.13 for tipped workers.)
- Do they provide opportunities for advancement, so that at least 50 percent of their employees were promoted to those positions from within?
In the 2013 edition of the guide, ROC has included 73 restaurants that are committed to taking a “high road” approach to workers and consumers, up from 35 restaurants in the 2012 edition.Congrats to all the Gold and Silver star winners in the Guide (some of them might surprise you)!
So check out the 2013 ROC Nat'l Diners' Guide and DOWNLOAD THE APP - find out if your favorite restaurants have been naughty or nice...
Don't forget to leave a review if you like the app!
***********************************************************
5. Food Stamps and The Politics of Exclusion
For several years anti-hunger advocates in California have fought to lift California’s lifetime ban on CalFresh (food stamp/eBT) benefits by people who have had drug related felonies in the past (as long ago as 1996, will disqualify one from benefits.)
Even the fact that CalFresh benefits stimulate the economy hasn’t stopped our state legislative appropriations committees from somehow concluding , every time, that for California to reinstate this population’s right to survival food will cost the state too much money.
An article in San Diego's weekly newspaper (CityBeat) has a piece on the CalFresh drug felony ban suggesting that politics plays a greater role than economic considerations in this issue:http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-11280-food-stamps-and-the-politics-of-exclusion.html
**************************************************************
6. Stunning Report on Produce Wasted In The Fields
From Dana Gunders at the National Resources Defense Council:
The National Resources Defense Council has released a report on fresh produce losses at the farm and packing level.
The issue brief and report can be found here: http://www.nrdc.org/food/crop-shrink.asp .
Key findings:
- Up to 30% of fruit and vegetable fields are not harvested in some years; in other crops, up to 30% is removed because it does not meet cosmetic criteria.
- If just 5% of broccoli fields aren’t harvested, that’s equivalent to giving every child in the National School Lunch Program 11 4-ounce servings of broccoli.
- Unnecessary use of water, energy, and other resources (estimates laid out in report)
- “If we picked our friends the way we selectively picked and culled our produce, we'd be very lonely.” – David Masumoto, California Farmer and Author
*************************************************************************
7. What’s The Outlook for Small Farmers?
Monster.com has run a cheery article encouragingly titled “Is Your Job About To Become Career Roadkill?” Here is the short section on farmers:
“Between 2010 and 2020, some 96,100 farmers and ranchers will go out of business, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says.
“As land, machinery, seed, and chemicals become more expensive, only well-capitalized farmers and corporations will be able to buy many of the farms that become available,” the BLS predicts.
“These larger, more productive farms are better able to withstand the adverse effects of climate and price fluctuations on farm output and income.”
“Farmers can either fight ‘em by niche marketing (think organic produce grown for local restaurants) or join ‘em by moving into farm management for an agribusiness corporation or, for those who like the business side of farming, agriculture consulting. If you’re up for a completely new career, consider agricultural appraising, says Cheryl L. Cooley, communications manager for the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.”
But is that true? USDA reported a 4% increase in small farms from 2002 to 2009, not exactly a “boom” but not a loss. Many of these farms do indeed fit in the category of organic produce, but it’s not just grown for local restaurants. This isn’t including the boom in urban agriculture, happening not just in the United States but contributing to increased self sufficiency in several African countries.
Here are some related articles:
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20090217/usda-census-part-i-small-farms-rise-america
http://www.planning.org/newsreleases/2011/mar03.htm
A long range examination of the decrease and growth of small farms from one bloggers’ personal perspective:
http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2012/09/small-farms-increasing.html
**********************************************************
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- 1. Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday Nov 30
- 2. Meet Activist Selma James after HALA Meeting, Friday Nov 30
- 3. Childhood Hunger: Panel on Taking Action, Dec. 3 Jewish Federation
1. HALA Monthly Meeting. Friday November 30, 10 am to 12 noon, at
LAANE 464 S Lucas, LA CA 90017.
Parking free (go for the top of the parking structure).
1.Post Election Update
What do the results of the federal election, the new make up of the state legislature, the passage of propositions 30 and 39, and the failure of prop 37 mean for the food justice/social justice movements in LA? We’ll discuss and share what we know
2. Next Steps on Local Food Sovereignty
Following up from the November 1 rally at City Hall, what are the next steps for urban ag, street vending, and grassroots food distribution? We’ll begin the discussion
3.Special Presentation: Worker Owned Cooperatives, An Idea That’s Succeeded
In September, longtime activist Nancy Berlin, Kitty Kroger and Adele Wallace traveled to Spain to learn first-hand about the Mondragon Cooperatives, a network of worker-owned co-ops in the Basque Country that's been up and running for over 50 years and now includes over 80,000 workers. Come hear what they discovered, and join us in thinking and dreaming about how the lessons of Mondragon might be used to create a more humane economy here at home.
RSVP Hunger Action LA 213 388 8228 or frank@hungeractionla.org
********************************************************
2. Meet Selma James, Coordinator of Global Women’s Strike!
Friday Nov 30, 12:30-1:30 pm, LAANE 464 S Lucas
Reception for Selma James, also at LAANE, at 12:30 pm after the Hunger Action LA meeting
Selma James, women’s rights, antiwar and anti-racist activist, author and international coordinator of the Global Women’s Strike, is returning to the LA area November 27th through Dec 1st.
Called “one of the key political thinkers and activists of our times,” Selma’s work has addressed the power relations within the working class movement, and organizing across sectors despite divisions of sex, race, age, etc., South and North.
Building on her well-received tour last spring on the publication of her book Sex, Race and Class, The Perspective of Winning -- A Selection of Writings, 1952-2011, Selma’s visit here is part of a tour in the US and Canada to help build the grassroots movement for change and launch the campaign to eliminate child poverty and value caregiving.
RSVP frank@hungeractionla.org Refreshments available!
********************************************************
3. Childhood Hunger: Panel on Taking Action, Dec. 3 Jewish Federation
(From the Jewish Federation)
Dear Friend,
Hunger is a daily reality for many thousands of children throughout Los Angeles and beyond. We are concerned about how this widespread problem affects our communities and schools and what it means for the future of our children.
As part of the Federation’s mission to engage with the community and make Los Angeles a better place, we’re hosting a panel of experts to share what’s being done and what we need to continue to do to combat this deeply-rooted crisis.
Join us on December 3rd for an enlightening panel discussion, Childhood Hunger: Taking Action. We’ll examine the issues and hear from some of our City’s most important change-makers, who are giving voice to this issue and working to alleviate hunger every day:
• Matt Sharp, Senior Advocate for California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA)
• Jessica Jones, Policy & Outreach Manager for the L.A. Regional Food Bank
• David Binkle, LAUSD Director of Food Services, Menu/Compliance
Be inspired: RSVP for this event today.
Who: The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
What: Childhood Hunger: Taking Action
Where: The Jewish Federation, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90048
When: Monday, December 3rd, 2012; 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Cost: Free
Light refreshments will be served; Dietary laws observed
This program is part of our Federation’s Community Engagement Initiative, connecting individuals who are passionate about building a better Los Angeles for us all.
For more information, contact me at (323) 761-8132 or FSchutzer@JewishLA.org .
I look forward to coming together as a community for this sobering, yet empowering, discussion.
Flori Schutzer
Program Director, Hunger Initiative
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
*****************************************
- 1. Hunger Action LA News
- 2. Food Chain : Protest at The Capitol Grille Tues Nov 20
- 3. Seed, A Weird Act of Faith – Open now till November 18th
- 4. How Are The Election Results Going to Impact Hunger and Poverty?
- 5. Fiscal Cliff---Or Fiscal Bluff?
- 6. Carrots Aren’t Enough: A Critique of Local Food by a Local Food Activist
- 7. World Hunger and Agriculture Briefs
**********************************
1. Hunger Action LA News
Still time to join us for the HALA Awards and Dinner this Thursday Nov 15—Honoring Champions Against Hunger and Poverty! Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and The California Endowment: Media Sponsor KPFK. Last we checked there were---let’s see here, 13, 14, carry the 1---about 30 seats left for the shindig at Kavar banquet hall, 4777 Santa Monica Blvd LA CA 90029, 6 pm to 9 am. Semi-formal (nothing too fancy please.) Mediterranean food. Honoring 15 people nominated by the community for their dedication to helping people. Tickets available online here for $60:
HALA Meeting Friday November 30: Yes, it’s the week after Thanksgiving but we will squeeze in one last meeting. Special guest Nancy Berlin will relate her experience visiting worker-owned businesses in Spain. Other topics will include a follow up to the November 1 Hunger Action Day rally calling for legalization of various food growing and distribution activities.Friday November 30, 10 am to 12 noon, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas, LA CA 90017. Parking free (go for the top of the parking structure).
Coverage of November 1 Rally :
A spirited group of about 75 food justice advocates, some dressed as fruit and grain items, held a rally and press conference on the west steps of LA’s City Hall on November 1. Led by Hunger Action LA, LA CAN, WORKS, East LA Community Corporation, and the LA Community Garden Council, the groups called for the city to unambiguously legalize street vending, the distribution of food to homeless on the streets, and planting gardens in vacant areas, particularly parkways (the green/turf part of the sidewalk). All of these issues have come up before LA City Council at one time or another. Here’s some media coverage from the day’s events:
Annenberg Radio: http://annenbergradio.org/index.php/main/storypage/demonstrators_ask_city_not_to_cite_them_for_distributing_food_on_skid_row/
La Opinion: http://www.laopinion.com/Marchan-por-necesitados
KPFK http://soundcloud.com/kpfa-fm-94-1-berkeley/anti-hunger-activists-call-for
The Lawyer’s Guild show on KPFK hosted by Jim Lafferty featured a panel of some of the activists on November 8:
http://archive.kpfk.org/mp3/kpfk_121108_190045lawyersguild.MP3
**************************************************************
2. Food Chain : Protest at The Capitol Grille Tues Nov 20
Protest at The Capital Grille Tuesday - November 20, 2012, 12:00pm to 1:00pm
8614 West Beverly Blvd., (at San Vicente Blvd.), Los Angeles, CA 90048
November 18 - 24 is International Food Workers Week.
Please join restaurant worker leaders, ROC-LA and the Food Chain Workers Alliance for a public demonstration outside of The Capital Grille to demand an end to racial & LGBT discrimination and wage theft, and access to paid sick days!
RSVP to Mariana@rocunited.org if you plan to attend.
Read our new report "A Dime A Day: The Impact of the Miller/Harkin Minimum Wage Proposal on the Price of Food" and sign our petition telling Congress: "Don't Let Food Workers Go Hungry"!
**************************************************************
3. Seed, A Weird Act of Faith – Open now till November 18th
From Community Services Unlimited: Live community theater is happening in LA, come out and support this important play and a very worthy non-profit. Pay what you can tickets - don't miss this event!
Experience the second play in Cornerstone Theater Company’s Hunger Cycle, SEED: A Weird Act of Faith, a fantastical tale that travels between an urban farm, a rural haven, and the contested space of agribusiness. Inspired by the community of South Los Angeles and those fighting for sustainable and healthful food choices, SEED follows a neighborhood struggling to grow greens amid concrete. The only hitch? The gods have deemed humanity bound for destruction, and our survival depends on the success of one urban farm. SEED takes you on a journey where you’ll dig deep into the dirt and ask, “What are we putting in, and what are we getting out?”
Come and see the play and check out CSU and others at the Creative Seeds Produce Stands before the Saturday and Sunday performances of the play at Chuco's in Inglewood.
This weekend will feature fresh produce from CSU as well as prepared food from Chichen Itza (yum).
Click on the link below to see details of venue, a sneak peak of the play and to purchase tickets (or you can pay at the door)!
http://cornerstonetheater.org/seed
************************************************************************
4. How Are The Election Results Going to Impact Hunger and Poverty?
Much of the answer to this question may depend on what’s discussed in the next section regarding the budget negotiations that the President and Congress will soon find themselves tangled in. Every federal program impacting very low income people---Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare being the largest but no doubt also including SNAP, WIC, TANF and everything else---will be targeted for cuts.
These budget negotiations also may lend a new urgency to the Farm Bill, as each side will look to have some cuts ready to offer on their part of the negotiation.
For Californians, as much if not more impact on what we call “social” programs was potentially locked up in the outcome of Prop 30. The proposition passed definitively with 54% of the vote, meaning that there will be tax increases on higher income earners in our state to pay for education. This will free up money in the general fund currently going to education, for state-funded (or state portions of) programs such as CalWORKs and In Home Supportive Services that have suffered repeated reductions over the last several years, squeezing personal incomes to the breaking point for very low income Californians and resulting in reduced assistance for and mobility of many people with disabilities.
The defeat of Proposition 32, which would have demolished unions’ abilities to raise money, is also likely a big help as unions have consistently supported legislators who have worked to defend the safety net.
A final factor is that the Democrats have achieved a 2/3 majority in both the Assembly and Senate, which will reduce the obstacles to more proposed sources of revenue. This is possible even without taxing personal income or increasing burdens on small business. For example, California is one of the only major oil-producing states that does not charge an extraction tax for taking the oil out of the ground. The argument that corporations will take their business elsewhere doesn’t work in this case, as California oil is only on California ground.
Revenue is needed not for any imagined vast expansion of the “welfare state”, rather to restore some amount of adequacy to programs that have been cut or not maintained at levels matching the inflation rate for decades.
For food justice advocates, there was disappointment in the defeat of Prop 37 which would have required that genetically engineered food be labeled. Opponents such as Monsanto, Coca Cola and Pepsi spent $46 million to defeat the proposition, and were even said to have used tactics such as telephone calls falsely claiming to be from the Police Department or the Democratic Party claiming to be against the proposition. Campaign organizers point to the renewed exposure given to the issue as a sign of hope, and over 4 million Californians did vote for the proposition.
Finally, Proposition 39 passed. It will raise revenue by closing tax loopholes exploited by companies doing business in California among multiple states, and part of the money will go to create “green” jobs.
*********************************************
5. Fiscal Cliff---Or Fiscal Bluff?
Cenk Uygur (host of “The Young Turks” ) offers a scathing commentary on the next big issue to be tackled by President Obama and a hostile House of Representatives, the so called “Fiscal Cliff”. This directly impacts poverty in the USA because Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts are likely to be offered in exchange for cuts to military spending and revenue measures (possibly tax increases or the Republicans’ stated preference for closing loopholes which they say will increase revenue.)
The problem is that the “negotiation” begins with an offer of $3 in spending cuts for each $1 in revenue. Starting the negotiating at such s lopsided point only means that the final product will probably be much worse.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/fiscal-cliff-grand-bargain_b_2115597.html
A larger problem may lie in the very usage of the term “fiscal cliff”. This is a human-created crisis, not a natural disaster that can’t be stopped, and there’s no end to the number of ways it could be averted. The “debt crisis” which affects the US is not the same as that which affects, for example, Greece. The United States remains the dominant economic power in the world and it would be silly to imagine an army of creditors (many if not most of whom are US financiers and bondholders) rushing to shut down business if these debts are not paid. They would certainly be slowing down economic growth just as economists such as Paul Krugman have warned us will happen if government spending is reduced, thereby resulting in layoffs of government workers, and reductions in benefits to people who spend them and stimulate the economy. The SNAP program is the prime example of such a program, followed by unemployment benefits.
The anxious rush by each side to look for the spending cuts it wants (military spending and corporate welfare for the Dems, programs for the poor including SNAP as well as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for the GOP) means there may indeed be a rush to finish a Farm Bill before the end of 2012.
Advocates seeking reform in America’s industrial ag system and its feed trough for the big food corporations decried the failure to pass a Farm Bill before the Sept 30 deadline this year, but from an anti-hunger perspective such a hastily crafted measure could only include massive cuts in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $5 billion in the “moderate” Senate version and $16 billion in the “big” government-hating House version.
Another possibility is that there will be an extension of the Farm Bill into 2013 for the next Congress to deal with. If this results in a more measured consideration of the SNAP program, that would be a very desirable outcome for the millions of Americans who in the last six years have found themselves struggling, and very much in need of help just to get the groceries they need.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/10/farm-bill_n_2110245.html
**********************************************************
6. Carrots Aren’t Enough: A Critique of Local Food by a Local Food Activist
San Diego Hunger Coalition’s Parke Troutman offers a critique of the local food movement chock full of history, not just of the movement but of human food production in general, asking if we are doing things that are convenient but ineffectual, as opposed to figuring out where we want to go and working toward that, however difficult. Read it and see what you think:
********************************************************
7. Briefs on World Hunger And Agriculture
I include these because in this age so awash in information, nobody seems to realize that tremendous change is happening around the world. The issue of food sovereignty is in the forefront like never before, due to the economic crisis which has manifested itself especially in higher food prices.
Growing local food, for example, is not just a hot topic in the United States. It is even more so in Africa and Latin America where it’s not just a trend, but a potential shift in the countries’ fundamental economic structure. It makes more of a life and death difference in peoples’ ability to survive.
It’s also notable that other countries in the developing world are moving forward with solutions to protect the environment more quickly than we are here, and are dealing with obesity as well as hunger.
Africa Four Lessons to Help Connect Farmers to Markets: http://m.allafrica.com/stories/201211091151.html/
Africa’s Drive for Food Self Sufficiency: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210210294.html
Mexico’s Homeless are targets of social cleansing: A coalition of non-governmental organizations in Mexico is complaining to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the forced removal of people living in the streets. Sound familiar?
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/11/mexicos-homeless-are-targets-of-social-cleansing/
Zero Hunger Plan in Guatemala not working: Guatemala’s right wing president has launched a program combining existing initiatives including a program for mothers, promotion of business chains for small rural producers, financial support and production of fortified maize tortillas, the staple food. But it is not yet reaching its intended targets:http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/zero-hunger-plan-in-guatemala-still-grounded/
Guatemalans Turn To mutual Aid to Fight Poverty: Business incubation and co-ops are becoming more widespread:http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/guatemalans-turn-to-mutual-aid-to-overcome-poverty/
Rwandan Youth Contribute to Somalia: This particularly caught my eye as we have a stereotype of “First World” inhabitants piously donating money to the impoverished “Third World”. Rwandan youth collected and donated 30 million Rwandan francs to help refugees in Somalia. The campaign used Facebook and 300 youth contributed within 24 hours. In US dollars the money is worth $ 47,732. This, from a country that itself is considered undeveloped and that underwent a nightmarish genocide less than 20 years ago: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210280016.html
World Food Day Let’s Talk About The Oceans: This is the most optimistic article I’ve seen about the overfishing crisis and the comments reflect contrary opinions and their reasons:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/andrew-sharpless/world-food-day_b_1971966.html
Ag Waste A source of Energy in Argentina:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/agricultural-waste-boosts-energy-production-in-argentina/
Argentina fights child obesity: Did you think this was an issue only in America? “Pediatricians and nutritionists stress that there is no single factor explaining why Argentina is the country in Latin America with the highest rate of obese and overweight children.“In Argentina, between 2.5 and 3.0 percent of preschoolers were obese in the 1980s, compared to 10 percent today,” Dr. Esteban Carmuega, with the Centre of Studies on Child Nutrition (CESNI), told IPS. “We lead the statistics in the region.”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/argentina-fighting-the-worst-child-obesity-rate-in-the-region/
Amid food Crisis Caribbean Agriculture Going to Seed: “With the average age of a farmer in the Caribbean now 62 years old, there is growing concern that commercial agriculture is on a path to extinction – a dire scenario for a region already shouldering a massive food import bill.” Again---did you think the aging-farmer problem was only in America?
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/amid-food-crisis-caribbean-agriculture-going-to-seed/
Oct 23: These next two weeks are loaded with food events, as the election nears and the polls tighten on Prop 37, the Right to Know campaign to label genetically modified food. Today’s update includes a lot of things happening TOMORROW, Wednesday Oct 24, and shortly thereafter
Oct 24—Rally and City Council hearing on Prop 37, LA City Hall: Teach-in on GMOs, Tarzana: How to Set Up a Phone Bank to make calls for Prop 37: Food Day in LA, also at City Hall, same time
Oct 26---HALA Meeting, 464 S Lucas Ave 10 am-Noon
Nov 1—Hunger Action Day, Spring St. Steps of City Hall, Downtown LA, 10 am-noon
Nov 2-4—Good Food Festival
See below for details and flyers for these events.
Oct 23: These next two weeks are loaded with food events, as the election nears and the polls tighten on Prop 37, the Right to Know campaign to label genetically modified food. Today’s update includes a lot of things happening TOMORROW, Wednesday Oct 24, and shortly thereafter
Oct 24—Rally and City Council hearing on Prop 37, LA City Hall: Teach-in on GMOs, Tarzana: How to Set Up a Phone Bank to make calls for Prop 37: Food Day in LA, also at City Hall, same time
Oct 26---HALA Meeting, 464 S Lucas Ave 10 am-Noon
Nov 1—Hunger Action Day, Spring St. Steps of City Hall, Downtown LA, 10 am-noon
Nov 2-4—Good Food Festival
See below for details and flyers for these events.
******************************************************
Support Prop 37 : Two Events and One Other Opportunity
From the Yes on 37 Campaign:
Rally tomorrow (Wednesday Oct 24) to support Prop 37:
Rally and City Council Hearing
On Wednesday, the City Council will vote on whether to endorse Proposition 37. Can you make a phone call right now to ask your council member to vote “Yes” to endorsing Proposition 37? The phone numbers are below.
On Wednesday morning at 8:30 AM we’ll have a rally outside of City Hall. Media will be present. After the rally we’ll attend the council hearing and ask the City Council to vote yes. Even if you’re not in Los Angeles proper, we hope you’ll join us for the rally to help demonstrate all of the public support for Proposition 37.
Let this be a show of strength to our councilmembers and California press and media outlets. Below are the phone numbers for your representative on the City Council. After you call, please tell us how they responded here.If you need to find your representative, here’s the website.
* * * *
Councilmember Ed Reyes (213) 473-7001
Councilmember Paul Krekorian (213) 473-7002
Councilmember Dennis Zine (213) 473-7003
Councilmember Tom LaBonge (213) 473-7004
Councilmember Tony Cardenas (213) 473-7006
Councilmember Richard Alarcon (213) 473-7007
Councilmember Bernard Parks (213) 473-7008
Councilmember Jan Perry (213) 473-7009
Councilmember Herb Wesson (213) 473-7010
Councilmember Bill Rosendahl (213) 473-7011
Councilmember Mitch Englander (213) 473-7012
Councilmember Eric Garcetti (213) 473-7013
Councilmember Jose Huizar (213) 473-7014
Councilmember Joe Buscaino (213) 473-7015
Contact: 14 Days to Victory!Judson Parker, Yes on 37
*****************************
Teach In, Temple Judea, Tarzana
Celebrate Food Day with Netiya at the TEACH-IN about GMOs on Oct 24th at Temple Judea in Tarzana.
Activities include: a panel discussion with leading GMO expert Jeffrey Smith, Rabbi Noah Farkas and Albie Miles.
There will be a screening of the documentary BITTER SEEDS (about the impact of GMO seeds on Indian farmers), a GMO-free cooking demonstration, an organic garden tour and samples and information from local farms, businesses and organizations.
This is a FREE event - please spread the word. Click here for more information and to RSVP:http://fooddayteachin.eventbrite.com/#
**************************
Host a phonebanking event for Prop 37!
WHAT:
Get five or more people (staff members, volunteers, friends, family, etc.) together for a three-hour phonebank to support the YES on 37 campaign. We will be making calls to undecided voters to educate them about Prop 37 and ask them to vote YES.
WHY:
We have a historic opportunity here in California to protect our right to know what's in our food. If we pass Prop 37 on November 6, we will kick off a nationwide campaign for safer, healthier, more sustainable food. But if we lose, it could be years before anyone proposes another GE labeling law — and that means that pesticide use will continue to rise and families will continue to be exposed to potentially unsafe food.
We're only two weeks out from Election Day, and the polls are showing a very close race. We've got to talk to as many voters as possible before Election Day if we want to make sure that we win. Phonebanking is the most effective and persuasive form of voter contact, and that's why we're asking for your help to organize a phonebanking event.
A single phonebanking event can contact over 200 voters, making a big difference for the campaign. You can have a huge impact, and it doesn't take a lot of work to put it together.
NECESSARY MATERIALS:
- a location: Ideally, this is an office with computers and telephones we can use, but it can also be someone's living room or a coffee shop.
- an internet connection: Our calls are connected through an easy-to-use website, so each volunteer will need to have a computer with an internet connection. Volunteers can bring their own laptops or iPads to use with a wifi connection, or we can use office computers if they are available.
- a phone for each volunteer: This can be an office landline or the volunteer's personal cellphone.
- PEOPLE: A successful phonebanking event will have at least five people making phone calls, in order to maximize our impact. The more people we have, the more likely our chances of passing Prop 37 on November 6!
WE WILL PROVIDE:
- A calling system that volunteers will connect to over the internet.
- An easy-to-follow script that volunteers can use to talk about the issue.
- A fifteen-minute training on how to use the calling system.
- Support and guidance throughout the entire planning process.
THREE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HELP US ORGANIZE A PHONEBANK:
- You'll have a huge impact. This race will be close, and the number of phone calls we make in the next two weeks will determine whether we win or lose. Help us kick off a nationwide movement for better food!
- The time commitment is small. A host will probably spend about 3 hours to prep for the event, and another 3 hours at the event itself.
- It will be fun! Phonebanking parties are a great opportunity to bond with people and work together on a really pressing and important campaign.
Please contact Ben with any questions, or to sign up to host a phonebanking event (ben@greencorps.org, (914) 420-9706). Thank you!
*************************************
Oct 24 is Los Angeles Food Day!
Please join the LA Food Policy Council & special guest speakers on Los Angeles Food Day, Wednesday Oct. 24
Featured speakers include:
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
• Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and County Health Officer
• Members of the Los Angeles City Council
• David Binkle, Food Services Director, Los Angeles Unified School District
Representatives from the LAFPC Working Groups will be on hand throughout the morning to share progress on their initiatives and highlight exciting recent accomplishments.
OCTOBER 24, 2012
9:00AM
Los Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Meet at City Hall Rotunda, 3rd Floor
We will proceed to Council Chambers shortly after
For more information, please email: info@goodfoodla.org
#goodfoodla • www.goodfoodla.org
Following keynote remarks, we will move to City Council Chambers to celebrate a Food Day Resolution
presented by the Los Angeles City Council, declaring its support for Good Food policy priorities and
recognizing LA’s commitment to Good Food. THE FOOD DAY RESOLUTION calls for:
• Equitable access to affordable, healthy food for all Angelenos.
• Building healthy, vibrant neighborhoods and eliminating health disparities through street food vending,
• urban agriculture, farmers’ markets and community market conversions, and healthy school food
• environments.
• Creating markets to support local growers, sustainable agriculture, and fair pay and working conditions for food chain workers.
************************************
Good Food Festival in LA, Nov. 2-4:
Join us and experience the movement that’s transforming the way we eat.
The Good Food Festival & Conference is a nationally-significant event connecting the NGOs, businesses, and individuals who are driving the Good Food movement. This November we’re back in Southern California with a big weekend celebration, including panel discussions, entertainment and, of course, great food.
The purpose of the Good Food Festival & Conference is to link some of the best local farmers and family-owned producers of food and farm products with the public, trade buyers and leaders in the field to foster relationships that facilitate the growth of local food systems. FamilyFarmed.org now works with many of the nation’s largest buyers of local food including Whole Foods Market, Sysco, Compass Group, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Goodness Greeness, and others to connect them with local food sources.
http://goodfoodfestivals.com/la/
******************************************************************************
Hunger Action Los Angeles
MONTHLY MEETING
Friday October 26 2012
10 am to 12 Noon
Location: Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy ---
*Look for signs at building for room location as they are doing remodeling
464 S. Lucas St. LA CA 90017
(Just west of downtown, on Lucas btw. 6th and 3rd st.: Free parking! )
Agenda
Upcoming November 1 Hunger Action Day in LA
The 4th annual LA Hunger Action Day will be held downtown to oppose the criminalization of growing, distributing and selling food. Help us plan the day’s proceedings and visuals!
Please RSVP: frank@hungeractionla.org or (213) 388 8228
SPONSORED BY HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES
- 1. Hunger Action LA Calendar:
- a. HALA Meeting Oct 26
- b. Hunger Action Day in LA Nov 1
- c. Awards and Dinner Thurs Nov 15
- 2. After World Food Day, What Is The Hunger Situation Globally?
- 3. Oct 24 is Los Angeles Food Day!
- 4. Good Food Festival in LA, Nov. 2-4:
- 5. Cornerstone Theater Presents “SEED: A Weird Act of Faith”, Oct 25-Nov. 18
- 6. Add Your Voice: Stop Dismantling Social Security
- 7. Last But Not Least, There’s An Election On Nov. 6
Hunger Action LA meeting Friday October 26, 10 am-noon LAANE 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90017: Final planning and preparation for Hunger Action Day (see below).
Hunger Action Day in LA: November 1:
Dear Friends and Allies,
I want to personally invite you to an important morning of action on Thursday, November 1st at 10am at City Hall. I am sending you this because of your commitment to building a vibrant, equitable and just food movement for the City of Los Angeles. Like you, I believe that our City can and should be a place where everyone can freely grow, sell and distribute healthy food, especially in food scarce neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the City of Los Angeles is home to some of the most egregious laws and practices that prohibit people from doing this, including a growing crack down on street food vendors, harassment and penalties for those who feed the hungry and policies that prohibit the expansion of urban gardening efforts.
If you are like me, and you want our City’s leaders, policymakers and law enforcement agencies to end the criminalization of LA residents who simply want to put food on their tables, then join us for Hunger Action Day on November 1st.
If you cannot attend, please feel free to spread the word. Let me know if you have any questions and if you are able to attend.
In solidarity,
Frank
HALA Awards and Dinner November 15:
“Honoring Champions against Hunger and Poverty”
November 15, 2012 6:00 p.m. - Reception 7:00 p.m. - Dinner and Program
Location: Kavar 4777 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 map
We’ll be honoring various unsung heroes from the private, nonprofit, professional and volunteer sectors who fight poverty and hunger every day in their work! Rumor has it there will also be a monkey riding a unicycle! For more and to pony up, follow the link below:
www.hungeractionla.org/dinnerandawards
2. After World Food Day, What Is The Hunger Situation Globally?
World government farm ministers fail to reach agreement on holding strategic reserves of grain and controlling speculation on food prices:
World Leaders Discuss Food Prices
“During events at the 2012 World Food Prize taking place in Des Moines, DuPont announced an enhancement to the Global Food Security Index that was commissioned by DuPont and developed by the Economist Intelligience Unit (EIU). The tool was designed to capture the impact of changes in global food prices at the national level. In response to the rising cost of food, the Index recorded a slight decline in global food security.” See:
With a billion going hungry now in the world and population expected to increase by 2 billion more people in 2050, a growing list of national and international leaders favors a shift to a more bottom-up approach to development. At the core of this approach is the cooperative business model. Cooperatives are businesses owned and democratically governed by their members. See:
Can Cooperatives Play Key Role In Fighting World Hunger?
Huffington Post highlights ways to help feed hungry people overseas:
3. Oct 24 is Los Angeles Food Day!
Please join the LA Food Policy Council & special guest speakers on Los Angeles Food Day, Wednesday Oct. 24
Featured speakers include:
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
• Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and County Health Officer
• Members of the Los Angeles City Council
• David Binkle, Food Services Director, Los Angeles Unified School District
Representatives from the LAFPC Working Groups will be on hand throughout the morning to share progress on their initiatives and highlight exciting recent accomplishments.
OCTOBER 24, 2012
9:00AM
Los Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Meet at City Hall Rotunda, 3rd Floor
We will proceed to Council Chambers shortly after
For more information, please email: info@goodfoodla.org
#goodfoodla • www.goodfoodla.org
Following keynote remarks, we will move to City Council Chambers to celebrate a Food Day Resolution
presented by the Los Angeles City Council, declaring its support for Good Food policy priorities and
recognizing LA’s commitment to Good Food. THE FOOD DAY RESOLUTION calls for:
· Equitable access to affordable, healthy food for all Angelenos.
· Building healthy, vibrant neighborhoods and eliminating health disparities through street food vending,
· urban agriculture, farmers’ markets and community market conversions, and healthy school food
· environments.
· Creating markets to support local growers, sustainable agriculture, and fair pay and working conditions for food chain workers.
4. Good Food Festival in LA, Nov. 2-4:
Join us and experience the movement that’s transforming the way we eat.
The Good Food Festival & Conference is a nationally-significant event connecting the NGOs, businesses, and individuals who are driving the Good Food movement. This November we’re back in Southern California with a big weekend celebration, including panel discussions, entertainment and, of course, great food.
The purpose of the Good Food Festival & Conference is to link some of the best local farmers and family-owned producers of food and farm products with the public, trade buyers and leaders in the field to foster relationships that facilitate the growth of local food systems. FamilyFarmed.org now works with many of the nation’s largest buyers of local food including Whole Foods Market, Sysco, Compass Group, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Goodness Greeness, and others to connect them with local food sources.
http://goodfoodfestivals.com/la/
*****************************************************************************
5. Cornerstone Theater Presents “SEED: A Weird Act of Faith”, Oct 25-Nov. 18
SEED: A Weird Act of Faith
Written by SIGRID GILMER
Directed by SHISHIR KURUP
October 25 – November 18, 2012
Experience the second play in Cornerstone Theater Company’s Hunger Cycle, SEED: A Weird Act of Faith, a fantastical tale that travels between an urban farm, a rural haven, and the contested space of agribusiness. Inspired by the community of South Los Angeles and those fighting for sustainable and healthful food choices, SEED follows a neighborhood struggling to grow greens amid concrete. The only hitch? The gods have deemed humanity bound for destruction, and our survival depends on the success of one urban farm. SEED takes you on a journey where you’ll dig deep into the dirt and ask, “What are we putting in, and what are we getting out?”
TIMES & DATES
October 25, 2012 – November 18, 2012
Thursdays – Saturdays @ 8:00 pm
Sundays @ 2:00 p.m.
*Note: no performances on Friday, November 9
Join us for our pre-show Produce Stand every weekend! Saturdays @ 6-8 p.m. & Sundays @ 12-2 p.m.
LOCATION
Chuco’s Justice Center
1137 E. Redondo Blvd.,
Inglewood, CA 90302
(At the corner of Redondo & West)
TICKETS
Pay-What-You-Can, suggested donation $20
For group sales ticketing options, contact Lea Blair.
Limited tickets available at the door.
http://cornerstonetheater.org/seed
6. Add Your Voice: Stop Dismantling Social Security
From Social Security Works (an organization advocating to keep Social Security from devastating cuts):
Two days ago (Oct 16) the Social Security Administration announced that the Social Security Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2013 will be 1.7%.We need your voice to stop those who want to CUT the COLA:
http://signon.org/sign/stop-dismantling-social-1?source=c.fwd&r_by=4660722
The adjustment applies to the monthly payments received by the more than 56 million seniors, people with disabilities, spouses, divorced spouses, surviving spouses, children, and others.
Medical costs rose 4.3% this year, and with other costs going up rapidly the 2013 COLA is not keeping up with the costs faced by millions of those relying on Social Security.
That is why it is stunning that RIGHT NOW there are discussions in DC about cutting future COLA. This would break faith with today's seniors and people of all ages.
We need your voice to stop them. Click here to add your voice.
Social Security Works has joined with Senator Bernie Sanders and SignOn.org because we need an army of Americans to stand strong against this assault by Wall Street on our foundational systems. Organized people can and will defeat organized money, we just need to turn up the volume.
We can stop them. But we have to act now. Click here to add your voice.
We aren’t going to stop those who want to slash millions of Americans’ earned benefits to pay for tax cuts for billionaires with a petition alone. This petition is the first step in a campaign to make sure that every single member of Congress hears directly from their bosses; the American people.
Nancy Altman and Eric Kingson
Founding Co-Directors
Social Security Works
7. Last But Not Least, There’s An Election On Nov. 6
If you are not registered to vote, or if you have moved or changed your name, please visit the
California Secretary of State's website today!
Or you can also check whether you are registered and register at
Hunger Action LA members recommend on California ballot propositions. All relate to hunger and poverty in that 30 and 39 concern revenue that can fund education and social services, reducing poverty: Prop 32 is about allowing organizations to raise money for campaigns to elect people who in turn can propose and enact such policies relating to the state budget: Prop 34 is about ending the costly death penalty: and prop 37 about our right to know what is in our food:
Yes on Prop 30:
· Stop another $6 billion in cuts to our schools this year.
· Prevent steep tuition hikes for college students and their families.
· Invest in our schools and colleges so we can prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future.
No on Prop 32:
· Prop 32 supporters claim the law will limit big campaign spending from all sides. But the reality is that it would restrict everyday Californians from coming together to have a voice in elections while creating massive special exemptions for the same groups funding the campaign.
· Prop 32 exempts thousands of big businesses, which aren't technically "corporations," but rather "LLCs" or "real-estate trusts" or any other form of business structure. This includes hedge funds, big Wall Street firms, insurance companies, and thousands of other business entities.
· Prop 32 creates special exemptions for secretive Super PACs, allowing them to continue spending unlimited amounts of secret money to influence California elections.
http://www.stopspecialexemptions.org/
Yes on Prop 34:
End the death penalty in California. There are lots of reasons, and some that you wouldn’t suspect are in this editorial by San Francisco DA and former police chief Greg Gascon:
Greg says that: (1) The criminal justice system makes mistakes and the possibility of executing innocent people is both inherently wrong and morally reprehensible; (2) My personal experience and crime data show the death penalty does not reduce crime; and (3) The death penalty wastes precious resources that could be best used to fight crime and solve thousands of unsolved homicides languishing in filing cabinets in understaffed police departments across the state.
http://www.safecalifornia.org/
Yes on Prop 37:
Genetically modified foods should be labeled. Already people have suffered due to ingredients passed through those foods to which they were allergic. We do not know the long term consequences of consuming genetically modified foods. We have the right to know what’s in our food, just as the big food companies have the right to try to sell it. Studies potentially link consumption of some GM food to cancer, and GM crops were shown recently to be less drought resistant than conventional crops. That should put an end to the canard that GM foods can end world hunger, or that food prices will skyrocket if GM foods have to be labeled.
Yes on Prop 39:
Prop 39 closes a corporate tax loophole that costs Californians $1 billion each year. At the end of the 2009 state budget negotiations, in a last-minute, middle-of-the-night deal, lobbyists and legislators created a tax loophole that rewards companies for creating jobs outside of California. Prop 39 closes this loophole, bringing back much needed revenue to reduce the budget deficit, help fund our schools, and invest in clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Join us. Let’s close this corporate tax loophole, restore fairness to the tax system, and bring dollars and jobs back to California.
http://www.cleanenergyjobsact.com/
Lastly: if you work for a nonprofit organization don’t be intimidated into silence on how people should vote on ballot propositions. From Alliance for Justice:
In general, regardless of how it measures its lobbying, a 501(c)(3) can:
• Publicly endorse or oppose ballot measures;
• Propose ballot measures;
• Draft language for ballot measures;
• Organize volunteers to gather signatures on petitions;
• Send staff to gather signatures or conduct other ballot measure campaign work;
• Contribute money to ballot measure campaigns;
• Loan money to ballot measure campaigns;
• Host ballot measure campaign events at their offices; and
• Register people to vote and encourage them to vote for or against a ballot measure.
http://www.afj.org/assets/resources/resource1/Ballot-Measures.pdf
With so much corporate money blatantly influencing elections, it’s important we know what our rights are.
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- Hunger Action LA News
- Hunger Action Day in LA Nov 1
- Awards and Dinner Thurs Nov 15
- Farm Bill Not Gonna Happen For Now, Anyway
- Governor Passes Cottage Food Law
- Governor Vetoes Anti-Hunger and Farmworker Legislation
- October-November Busy Months For Thinking About Food:
- World Food Day Oct 16
- Food Day Oct 24
- Good Food Festival LA, Nov 2-Nov 4
Check out the Hunger Action LA website www.hungeractionla.org for more information:
Hunger Action Day in LA: November 1: On Thursday November 1, Hunger Action LA cosponsors Hunger Action Day in LA, this year calling attention to the criminalization of those who are trying---in the midst of a recession no less---to feed the poor, sell food to support their families, and grow food in unused spaces.
These actions can get you arrested or cited currently in LA, or bring down the wrath of the local Neighborhood Council, but in an era of global warming, increasing food prices and no magic solution to unemployment, we need to increase our self reliance in food and small scale free enterprise. These food and income sources may seem a small percentage of what we eat compared to the industrial food system, but it’s a lifeline for many in our city, and what may seem symbolic now could become very significant if our environmental and economic decline continues.
Details and Save the Date flyer forthcoming: but mark your calendar forThursday Nov 1, Downtown LA, 10 am.
Hunger Action LA will celebrate “Champions Against Hunger and Poverty” at their annual dinner on Thursday November 15, 2012 at Kavar. 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 People’s 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/
If you would like to become a sponsor, or to purchase an ad space in the program, please contact Ivette Vivanco at ivette@hungeractionla.org . 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 you’ve been to any HALA events you know we don’t do them quite the same as anyone else----come have a good time with us!
Purchase tickets now at http://hungeractionladinner.eventbrite.com/
Hear Hunger Action LA director Frank Tamborello on KPFK’s Access Unlimited from last week:
http://archive.kpfk.org/mp3/kpfk_120919_190050au.MP3
2. Farm Bill Not Gonna Happen For Now, Anyway
Farmers are frustrated that the Farm Bill did not meet the end of September deadline for passage. But most farm and nutrition programs will continue with no change at least until January. The billions of dollars in proposed cuts to SNAP won’t happen for the time being, meaning the millions of Americans who are unemployed or under-employed, with neither of our presidential candidates speaking in any detail about how they would attempt to fix that situation, would at least have a source of food for their families.
It’s also possible Congress may try to rush through a Farm Bill between the election and January.
The proposed cuts in food assistance had been enormous, even resulting in a statement from Kraft Foods that it opposed the cuts---a rare instance of the retail food industry acknowledging the extent it benefits from SNAP (the old food stamp program.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/09/10/kraft-food-stamps_n_1871334.html
3. Governor Passes Cottage Food Law
The Governor signs AB 1616—allowing the sale of certain homemade food products, namely: baked goods (but with no cream or meat fillings), jams and jellies, granola and other dry cereal, popcorn, waffle cones, nut mixes, chocolate covered non-perishables (such as nuts and dried fruit), roasted coffee, dried herbs, dried tea, dried fruit, honey and candy.
http://www.theselc.org/cottage-food-laws/
4. Governor Vetoes Anti-Hunger and Farmworker Legislation
The Governor killed some common sense and widely supported legislation that would help end hunger in our state, and would have mandated humane conditions for farmworkers toiling in the intense heat.
He vetoed SB 970 (de León) which would have required that the new single application for healthcare coverage required by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) allow applicants to use that information to start an application for public programs.Click here for veto message.
AB 1594 (Eng) Vetoed would’ve required charter schools to offer school meals to eligible children. Click Here for Veto Message. This bill was one of the measures supported by hundreds of advocates and low income people statewide during this year’s Hunger Action Day in Sacramento.
Gov. Jerry Brown also killed legislation Sunday that would have made it a crime for farmers not to provide adequate shade and water to their field workers:
5. October-November Busy Months For Thinking About Food:
Oct 16 World Food Day
When you sit down to eat every day, do you think about how the meal that you are eating is the product of a complex, and broken, global food system? ThisWorld Food Day, Oxfam is teaming up with a host of allies like you across the US and around the globe. We have a simple yet compelling idea—to host a World Food Day meal on October 16th where you can have a conversation about where your food comes from, who cultivates it, and how you can take personal actions that will make the food system more just and sustainable. Conversations that start this World Food Day can turn into actions that transform our world.
You can find out more about World Food Day on our website.
Oct 24 Food Day around the U.S. and here in LA:
Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement toward more healthy, affordable, and sustainable food.
Food Day, created by CSPI, is powered by a diverse coalition of food movement leaders, organizations, and people from all walks of life. Food Day takes place every year on October 24th to address issues as varied as health and nutrition, hunger, agricultural policy, animal welfare, and farm worker justice. The ultimate goal of Food Day is to strengthen and unify the food movement in order to improve our nation’s food policies.
You can join this push for a stronger, more united food movement by signing up to organize or attend Food Day events in your community.
To visit the national Food Day website, please go to www.foodday.org
Good Food Festival in LA, Nov. 2-4:
Join us and experience the movement that’s transforming the way we eat.
The Good Food Festival & Conference is a nationally-significant event connecting the NGOs, businesses, and individuals who are driving the Good Food movement. This November we’re back in Southern California with a big weekend celebration, including panel discussions, entertainment and, of course, great food.
The purpose of the Good Food Festival & Conference is to link some of the best local farmers and family-owned producers of food and farm products with the public, trade buyers and leaders in the field to foster relationships that facilitate the growth of local food systems. FamilyFarmed.org now works with many of the nation’s largest buyers of local food including Whole Foods Market, Sysco, Compass Group, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Goodness Greeness, and others to connect them with local food sources.
http://goodfoodfestivals.com/la/
Food Prices:
Pork Shortage
Why US and Mexico fighting over tomatoes
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/why-us-and-mexico-are-fighting-over-tomatoes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/09/30/us-mexico-tomato-agreement_n_1926751.html
California dairies going broke due to feed prices and milk prices:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-09-29/calif-dot-dairies-strained-by-feed-milk-prices
USDA trying to save money on chicken inspections: what does it mean for food safety?
Agriculture:
Focus on the “right” kind of organic farming
Farming for an uncertain future:
Farm Fresh tells you everything you need to know about buying fruits and vegetables
Organic Food debunker was a Tobacco I nstitute Researcher in 1976
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Organic-Food-Debunker-was-by-Michael-Collins-120906-964.html
Obesity and Nutrition:
Military says too many active duty are obese:
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/25/military-leaders-were-still-too-fat-to-fight/
Come up with exciting names for vegetables, and kids will eat them:
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/28/want-kids-to-eat-veggies-try-a-good-marketing-plan/
John Stewart skewers the kids/teachers protesting the USDA’s new nutrition standards---kids are saying they’re still hungry because not enough is given at lunch, yet they’re throwing it away in record numbers. Meanwhile conservatives whine about the “nanny state” while ignoring the obesity crisis and overlooking their own arguments about control over what our tax dollars are spent on
Hunger:
Former Santa Monica College student launches denim company to fight hunger
*****************************
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- Hunger Action LA News:
- Good Food Fair Sat. Sept 22
- Monthly Meeting Fri Sept 28: Hunger Action Day in LA Nov 1
- Awards and Dinner Thurs Nov 15
- 6. More News On Food Security:
- Labor and Hunger
- Hunger and Poverty in the US
- Hunger Around the World
- Healthy Eeating in the US
Hunger Action LA Good Food Fair at St. Mary’s Church, 961 S Mariposa LA 90006, Saturday Sept 22 10 am-3 pm, will be held in the parking lot which is actually on Normandie in back of the church.
Food demos and food for lunch include dishes by local Koreatown parents, Community Services Unlimited, Maggie’s Tapas, Food Not Bombs, and SEE-LA. Smoothie bike, clowns, jumper, and piñatas for kids.
Special presentations:
·Meeting at 10 am to plan on new children’s garden on Mariposa, open to anyone with ideas!
·Screening of USC student film “Buen Provecho” about “food swamps” , (you can check it out on Vimeo here: http://vimeo.com/47783539.)
·Training on Prop 37 (to label genetically engineered foods)
·Briefing and materials on Deferred Action For Child Arrivals (the “dream” kids).
·Oaxacan Dance Group performs!
·People can apply for CalFresh and MediCal at the event, with the CalFresh enrollment team from LA Regional Food Bank and MCH Access.
·DPSS is also providing a Korean translator as well as Spanish translation for all events
·Voter registration
Free and open to the public.
HALA Monthly Meeting Friday Sept 28, LAANE 464 S Lucas. 10 am-12 noon. Planning for this year’s Hunger Action Day in LA event for Nov. 1, focusing on poverty and the criminalization of certain types of growing, selling and distribution of food. Also we’ll hear from volunteers on the campaign for Prop 37 to require labeling of genetically modified foods. Free and open to the public. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org
Hunger Action LA will celebrate “Champions Against Hunger and Poverty” at their annual dinner on Thursday November 15, 2012 at Kavar. 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 People’s 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/
If you would like to become a sponsor, or to purchase an ad space in the program, please contact Ivette Vivanco at ivette@hungeractionla.org . 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 you’ve been to any HALA events you know we don’t do them quite the same as anyone else----come have a good time with us!
Purchase tickets now at http://hungeractionladinner.eventbrite.com/
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 Downtown, Mar Vista, Monterey Park , Santa Monica, and Valinda. In October we will add two additional markets in Long Beach as well as Altadena. CalFresh, WIC and SSI participants get $5 to spend at the market. More information : www.hungeractionla.org see Market Match at top of website.
2. Urge Congress to Save Vital Services and Prevent Poverty: Deadline Sept 19
(From Jessica Bartholow, Western Center on Law and Poverty): The Coalition on Human Needs is circulating a sign-on letter urging Congress to SAVE vital services and prevent rising poverty. We hope you will sign on and forward to your networks. The deadline for signatures is Wednesday, September 19.Click here to read the letter.
http://www.chn.org/pdf/2012/SAVESignOnLetter2012.pdf
Click here to sign the letter. http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/125/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11357
There are millions of reasons to sign this letter. Here are some pretty important ones:
• 750,000 fewer infants, toddlers, and moms receiving WIC.
• 1.5 million fewer low-income people provided anti-poverty help by community action agencies.
• More than 460,000 adults and youth will lose employment/training services, including 51,000 veterans.
• 734,000 fewer households with home heating/cooling assistance.
• 1.8 million fewer low-income schoolchildren with reading and math help.
• 185,000 fewer low-income households will receive rental vouchers.
All these and more vulnerable people will lose vital services if Congress allows automatic cuts to kick in starting in January. At the same time, Pentagon cutbacks are scheduled. And Congress has to decide whether to let all the Bush-era tax cuts expire, let just the extra breaks for the top 2 percent expire, or extend all of them.
3. Charter School Meal Requirement Heads to Governor
AB 1594 would extend the needy-student meal requirement to California charter schools ensuring that all low-income public school students have access to affordable meals. In May, 400 advocates rallied at the state Capitol and educated their legislators on this bill. Currently charter schools aren’t required to provide any food whatsoever to students.
AB 1594 is now headed to the Governor. He must sign or veto legislation by September 30. Give him a call at 916 445 2841 to ask for signature of AB 1594. View a sample letter here from our colleagues California Food Policy Advocates, who sponsored the bill:
http://cfpa.net/ChildNutrition/ChildNutrition_Legislation/AB1594-CFPAGovSupportLtr-2012.pdf
4. State Propositions Of Interest:
Proposition 30 : Raises 1% on households making $500,000 or more per year and 2% on households making $600,000 or more per year and 3 % on households making $1,000,000 or more. Funds raised will go to K-12 and community colleges. This will also free up funding that can pay for child care, health care, and other social services. By funding education, $5 ½ billion general fund dollars are freed. Sales tax is raised by ¼ of a cent for 4 years. Prop 30 is the first step to investing in California’s families -- our future. Our families can’t succeed unless our schools have teachers, colleges are affordable, libraries stay open, and neighborhoods stay safe.
http://www.reclaimcaliforniasfuture.org/
Proposition 37 : Proposition 37 is a common-sense November ballot measure that will help consumers make informed choices about the food they eat. Written with broad input from food groups, industry, science, legal and health experts Prop. 37 (The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act) requires 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 simply adds information telling us if food is produced using genetic engineering.
5. Farm Bill: Urge Congress To Protect Nutrition Programs
The Farm Bill has about seven working days in Congress to be passed. It will likely not pass, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While the Senate passed a Farm Bill reducing (or, apparently reducing) many of the corporate giveaways in farm subsidies, it also had $5 billion in cuts to SNAP (food stamps). The House of Representatives, after contentious negotiations, has been unable to get a Farm Bill onto the floor for a vote. This has created anxiety among farmers suffering from the drought, but they will likely get assistance even if a new Farm Bill doesn’t pass. But notably, the House proposal for the Farm Bill had $16 billion in cuts to SNAP---far more than the Senate version. And yet, that was the COMPROMISE number the House Republicans came up with!
Any Farm Bill passed hastily before the end of September will likely include vast cuts to SNAP.
If the Farm Bill doesn’t pass, there will likely be an extension of the current bill for a year, or a reversion to a 1949 version of the law. In either case, SNAP would be funded as usual—until next year’s budget negotiations, Farm Bill negotiations, or Ag Appropriations fight.
In the meantime, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and other groups are encouraging people to contact their Representatives and urge them to support and protect nutrition programs in the farm bill. House Democrats including Rep George Miller (D-CA)have sponsored Resolution 760, a Sense of the House Resolution opposing SNAP cuts. Please ask your Representative to co-sponsor House Resolution 760. You can view the House Resolution 760 PDF and the the current list of co-sponsors PDF
Labor and Hunger:
WalMart Warehouse Workers Pilgrimage : 50 workers each day are walking off the job at warehouses in the Inland Empire that supply WalMart and marching to LA. They’re carrying a letter appealing to the retail giant to help them improve conditions at the warehouses that contract with WalMart. Conditions faced by workers include:” forced to work in 120 degree heat without a fan, that the heat and pollutants make the workers vomit and get bloody noses, and that workers are made to work without clean water or regular breaks and with faulty, dangerous equipment”.
Poverty in the US:
Gordon Ramsay conundrum: Columnist Nina Burleigh writes on the paradox of the explosion of celebrity chef reality TV shows and “food porn” at a time when more Americans are hungry than ever:
Can You Survive on $4 of Food a Day?: SNAP challenges---eating on a “food stamp” budget of $4 a day---have been around at least five years, but they’re still an effective way of really showing armchair theorists and professional TV pundits what poverty is like:
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2012/09/14/can-you-survive-on-4-of-food-a-day
Hunger and Poverty Around the World:
Poverty Down, but Inequality and Hunger Up?: Frances Moore Lappe shows how the World Bank has used funny math to claim that poverty is down.
Food Justice for Women in India: Kiran Sharma, PhD student in India, points out the gender disparities in poverty and hunger in the developing world:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/NI13Df04.html
Some African Farmers Adapting to Extreme Climate Change: Farmers of small plots have adopted practices based on long held knowledge, such as planting trees on their land and rotating crops, to deal with drought conditions exacerbated by climate change. The downside is that farmers struggling with their own hunger have the least flexibility in adopting new methods:
World Hunger, the Problem Left Behind: An economist argues that the U.S. should put a higher priority on food issues, and also stop subsidizing ethanol production to help stop the rise of food prices affecting not just us, but the whole world:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/business/world-hunger-the-problem-left-behind-economic-view.xml
Healthy Eating in the US:
New York City bans humongous drinks: We used to call ‘em “bladder-busters”.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-soda-ban-20120914,0,7620611.story
New York’s soda limits could boost similar efforts in California:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/09/california-soda-limits-new-york.html
Kids Eating Too Much Dang Salt: Researchers at Center for Disease Control found that 15% of kids surveyed had high blood pressue from eating 1000 mg too much of salt per day. The article also links to a list of the major foods contributing to a high sodium diet, including salty snacks, saucy meat and pasta dishes, cheese, sandwiches, canned soup, chicken and surprisingly bread:
*********************************
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- 1. HALA News:
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 we’ll 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. Mary’s, Koreatown, Sept 22
Hunger Action LA’s third Good Food Fair, organized with parents from Koreatown, is Saturday Sept. 22 from 10 am to 3 pm at St Mary’s 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
· HALA’s revamped Smoothie Bike (thanks to Woody of Bici Libre)
· Healthy food preparation
· Guest vendors Mama’s 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 children’s 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 People’s 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 ivette@hungeractionla.org .
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 you’ve been to any HALA events you know we don’t 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 Ralph’s 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.
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 they’ve 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!
Help CSU raise $5100 in the next ten days to complete the move----please share this link
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 WalMart’s 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 council’s Planning and Land Use Management panel found that if the city doesn’t 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 city’s 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 council’s 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
Albertson’s 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 what’s 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 don’t 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
When: Wednesday, September 19th
Time: 7:00-8:00 PM
Where: St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, 808 W. 58th St., LA
RSVP Here!
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!
But don’t genetically engineered foods include nutrients that help people in the developing world? This is an argument you’ll 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
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
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 nation’s 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 can’t afford to leave millions of families in misery. But with the election coming up, it’s 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 America’s farmers, who are hoping to get more relief from the drought by passage of a new bill.
7. Perspectives on Poverty: Truth vs. Politics
Our economic system has ups and downs. That’s 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 one’s opponent and claim that people have become overly dependent on government.
It’s 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 state’s 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 Romney’s 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:
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 country’s 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 party’s opposition to the idea of public health coverage, he can’t 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 country’s addiction to media sound bites and unwillingness to take the time to look at the truth about poverty.
- 2. Speakers Training on Prop 30 August 29
- 3. Community Services Unlimited Grand Opening September 8
- 4. Heifer International Dinner Sept 21
- 6. One in Five Americans Struggling To Afford Food
- 7. Half of Food in America is Thrown Away: And How That Connects to Water
- 8. Environmental Working Group : Cooking Healthy On a Budget
Check out the Hunger Action LA website www.hungeractionla.org for more information:
The Peoples Guide to Welfare, Health and Other Services is available for order onlilne. Published since the late 1970s, the Peoples Guide has become the standard guidebook of public social services for people working in the field, people in need of help, and those just helping their neighbors. This 68 page booklet includes vital information on: financial assistance for individuals and families, unemployment benefits, job training, help for people in re-entry, Dept. of Rehabilitation, child care, foster care, tax rebates, Social Security and SSI, CalFresh, child nutrition and WIC, help with car insurance and smog check costs, low cost phone service, utility bill assistance, housing (including assistance for transitional foster youth), and phone numbers for legal assistance. Seewww.hungeractionla.org for pdf and send orders for printed copies to:orders@hungeractionla.org
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 September 7 we’ll 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.
HALA Awards and Dinner are Thursday November 15, 7 pm-10 pm at Kavar, 4777 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029. We will be honoring Champions Against Hunger and Poverty. You can go to the link below for information and how to nominate someone to be honored as a Champion! Early bird tickets available soon at
www.hungeractionla.org/dinnerandawards
2. Speakers Training on Prop 30 August 29
Prop 30 would raise essential revenue to keep the state from making further funding cuts to education. There is a speakers training offered this Wednesday, August 29th from 10am-2pm on Prop. 30, with limited space available. If you are interested in getting the training please RSVP below.
When RSVP’ing please change the name/profile to yours. The training is being provided by the grassroots campaign on Yes on Prop. 30, Reclaim California’s Future
3. 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
New office 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 they’ve moved to a new location. Come and help celebrate the launch of our new space at the Mercado La Paloma
• Cooking Demos
• Tastings
• Presentations
• Live music
• Spoken word
4. Heifer International Dinner Sept 21
Heifer International will host "Beyond Hunger: A Place at the Table," on September 21, 2012 at the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. Heifer International works with smallholder farmers in more than 40 countries, providing gifts of livestock and training to empower self-reliance and ensure nutritional and economic security.
5. Proposed Legislation Prevents Discrimination Involving Breastfeeding
State and federal law changes have been proposed to keep employers from punishing women for breastfeeding their children
AB 2386 (Allen) would make it unlawful to engage in specified discriminatory practices in employment or housing accommodations on the basis of breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding. For more information on the bill, please contact Genevieve Thomas Colvin of the Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles.
http://workfamilyca.org/blog/?p=426
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011 in Congress would extend civil rights protections to breastfeeding moms, to keep them from being fired for taking time to breastfeed:
Mayor Villaraigosa highlighted his support of breastfeeding mothers and their right to breastfeed in public, a law he introduced and help pass in 1997.With the support of the City of Los Angeles' Commission on the Status of Women and the Office of the Mayor, the City of Los Angeles dedicated a mother's lounge at City Hall on August 14th.
6. One in Five Americans Struggling To Afford Food
The Food Research and Action Center just announced that the Gallup polling shows that nearly one in five American households reported inability to afford enough food between January and June of 2012. Here's the link to the Gallup-Healthways Well Being Index just issued yesterday with a table showing results for all states: http://www.gallup.com/poll/156806/one-four-mississippi-residents-struggle-afford-food.aspx#1
Story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/afford-food-americans_n_1818280.html
This news is especially sobering, considering that the USDA is estimating increases in food prices during the coming year as a result of the drought.
Anti-hunger members of the House of Representatives have introduced Sense of the Congress 760 which opposes SNAP cuts proposed in the House Farm Bill. California Representative George Miller was one of those originally introducing the bill which is now con-sponsored by California Representatives Baca, Miller, Lee, Waters, Waxman and Holmes Norton. Please call your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor as well.
Text of the bill : http://www.frac.org/pdf/HR_760_McGovern.pdf
List of co-sponsors: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5118/p/salsa/
web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10375
7. Half of Food in America is Thrown Away: And How That Connects to Water
So with one in five American families struggling to afford food…..we find that Americans throw away nearly half their food every year, waste worth roughly $165 billion annually, according to a study released on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/21/us-food-waste-idUSBRE87K0WR20120821
Water Institute Calls for Reduction in Food Waste: “World Water Week commenced this morning with a global call to action. This year's annual summit led by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) opened with a global appeal to reduce food waste as a means to preserve water.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/world-water-week-food-waste_n_1833107.html
Farmer Led Irrigation Schemes Could Change Food Security In Africa:
As food prices escalate globally due to the failed monsoon season in Asia and the "super drought" in the US, a new study finds that smallscale irrigation schemes can protect millions of farmers from food insecurity and climate risks in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR consortium research center, released the paper ahead of Stockholm World Water Week.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201208241130.html
8. Environmental Working Group : Cooking Healthy On a Budget
The Environmental Working Group's guide to Good Food on a Tight Budget will help you fill your plate with delicious, healthy food—and save time and money. They produced it in conjunction with Share Our Strength, a national anti-hunger organization. This group has worked many years to disseminate info on how to buy food that’s nutritious and pesticide-free. Check out the book here:
1. Hunger Action LA Meeting Aug 24 Special Guests
Next HALA Meeting is Friday August 24: Our special guests include Andi Lane of Senator Carol Liu’s office who will give us an update on the Senator’s “Road to Resilience Tour: Overcoming Hunger and Homelessness” and the hearings on senior hunger occurring right at this time
http://sd21.senate.ca.gov/news/2012-08-06-senator-carol-liu-hosts-tour-showcase-poverty-homelessness
We’ll also have special guest Jessica Choy of UNITE HERE, the union that represents hotel and food service workers and their initiative called Real Food Real Jobs, building relationships with organizations and people doing work on food issues.
Meeting is at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90017, 10 am to 12 noon . RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org . Free, and all are welcome.
Check out the Hunger Action LA website www.hungeractionla.org for information on the Peoples Guide to Welfare, Health and Other Services, available in English and Spanish, as well as the upcoming HALA Awards and Dinner, November 15, 2012.
2. State Legislation: Charter School Lunch Requirement Moves On to Senate: Nutrition for People in Recovery Fails To Get Out of Committee
(Thanks to California Food Policy Advocates and others for these updates)
The struggles begun at the beginning of the year to smooth out the huge crinkles in California’s system of getting food aid to people are entering a new juncture. Two bills that we all fought hard for---AB 828 to allow people in re-entry to access CalFresh (food stamps) and AB 1560 to align food stamp eligibility closely to Medi-Cal—did not get out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Why our state leaders still do not recognize the CalFresh program as bringing in federal dollars to stimulate the economy in addition to its obvious role in alleviating hunger is hard to fathom, in a state that is supposedly scrounging for as much cash as possible.
These fights will continue and we invite all of you to participate as we enter next year better prepared, better informed, and building upon a groundswell of new recruits.
There was some good news coming out of those final Senate Appropriations Committee hearings in Sacramento. Two bills that will help our children get nutritious meals passed the Committee gauntlet and will next be voted on by the entire Senate: if they pass there, they will continue to the desk of Governor Brown.
AB 1594 (Eng) would extend the needy student meal mandate to California charter schools, ensuring that all low-income students have access to these essential benefits. Our friends at California Food Policy Advocates have prepared an alert for that bill as it moves to its next stage, the floor of the Senate:
http://cfpa.net/ChildNutrition/ChildNutrition_Legislation/AB1594-SenateFloorAlert-2012.pdf
AB 1872 (Alejo) Improving Child Care Nutrition sets the same minimum nutrition standards for foods served in licensed family day care homes as is currently required in all licensed child care centers and requires licensing authorities to inform all child care providers about the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Once again, the good folks of CFPA have prepared an alert for our Senators:
http://cfpa.net/ChildNutrition/ChildCare/Legislation/AB1872-2012/AB1872-SenateFloorAlert-2012.pdf
3. Seed Library Of Los Angeles (Slola) Hosts Discussion Of California’s “Right To Know” GMO Ballot Measure, Aug. 18
On Saturday, August 18 at 2:30 pm, SLOALA (Seed Library of Los Angeles) hosts Jeffrey Smith and Tom Newmakr, about the hazards of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and why California’s Prop 37, “Right to Know” is essential to our health. Prop 37 requires genetically modified food to be labeled.
The Learning Garden is located at Venice High School, 13000 Venice Blvd., enter the first gate south of Venice on Walgrove Ave. As an extra treat: a tomato tasting from the gardens of SLOLA members will take place in honor of this appearance.
A suggested donation of $10 helps support the speaker tour and SLOLA.
Related: Frankenapples coming soon?
A Canadian company has come up with a genetically modified apple that doesn’t turn brown. But does this mean they’ll be selling us rotten apples that only look fresh?
http://www.anh-usa.org/move-over-frankenfish-now-we-have-frankenapples/
Philadelphia woman may be fined for feeding hungry kids: A woman may be fined $600 for each day she provided free food to children in a poor Philadelphia neighborhood for the past few months.
Angela Prattis, 41, of Chester Township has been distributing free healthy lunches in a neighborhood that has a per capita income of $19,000 a year.
Prattis made no money from the meal distribution, and gave out food provided by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The “lunch lady” ran the charity out of her garage, to which about 60 children came, five days a week.
After the city council was alerted of the free lunches, it ruled that she would have to acquire a variance to give away food next summer – or pay a fine of $600 a day. The council considers Prattis’ deed a zoning violation. Three months of distributing food would instigate a fine of more than $50,000.
http://rt.com/usa/news/philadelphia-woman-food-prattis-966/
School meals via lunch truck: A Connecticut school food service director has decided to roll out summer meals to kids in a spiffy lunch truck: hopefully he won’t be fined like the woman in the above story: http://m.npr.org/story/153931434?url=/blogs/thesalt/2012/05/29/153931434/food-trucks-bring-free-summer-meals-to-hungry-kids&sc=tw&cc=share
Governor’s water plan causing anxiety among some farmers: Some California farmers are worried about the impact of the huge multibillion dollar aqueduct plan being touted by the Governor:
Haitian families helped by kitchen gardens: Many Haitians living in poor neighbourhoods of the capital Port-au-Prince and semi-permanent tent camps are relying on kitchen gardens to put healthy food on the table.
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/08/haiti-kitchen-gardens-help-keep-hunger-at-bay/
Photo essay on how the drought is affecting the price of food:
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- 1. Call In Today and Tomorrow to Support Nutrition Assistance for Families in Recovery
- 2. Hunger Action LA Meeting Aug 24 Special Guests
- 3. House Fails To Move on Farm Bill
- 4. Drought Pushes Up Prices: Government Pledges To Buy Meat To Help Out
- 5. Seed Library Of Los Angeles (Slola) Hosts Discussion Of California’s “Right To Know” GMO Ballot Measure, Aug. 18
- 6. World Leaders Meet To Discuss World Hunger….Will Anything Concrete Result?
1. Call In Today and Tomorrow to Support Nutrition Assistance for Families in Recovery:
AB 828, removing the lifetime ban on people with past drug felonies from getting CalFresh food assistance, will probably be heard in the California Senate Appropriations Committee either Wednesday (Aug 15) or Thursday Aug. 16.
Take Action! Join statewide call-in days today and Tuesday (August 13 and 14) to urge the Senate Appropriations Committee to make the right decision and support nutrition assistance for families in need. See below for a list of target committee members and their numbers. If you are not in any of their districts, call Senator Kehoe, the committee chair.
Sample message:
My name is_____ and I live in_____.
I'm calling to ask you to support AB 828, the bill to lift the lifetime ban on receiving CalFresh assistance for people with a prior drug-related conviction. People shouldn't be sentenced to a lifetime of hunger for any crime. Food is a human right, and to put entire families at risk of hunger because one of them committed a crime for which they have already served their time is unjust and inhumane.
AB 828 would end the policy of denying families critical nutrition assistance for life because one of them committed a crime for which they have already served their time. Allowing these families to access CalFresh assistance would help to reduce hunger and recidivism, boost local economies, and increase program efficiency.
Target Senate Appropriations Committee Members
Chair: Sen. Christine Kehoe (San Diego), 916-651-4039
Sen. Elaine Alquist (Santa Clara), 916-651-4013
Sen. Curran D. Price, Jr. (Los Angeles), 916-651-4026
Sen. Darrell Steinberg (Sacramento), 916-651-4006
Sen. Ted Lieu (Los Angeles), 916-651-4028
Click here for a fact sheet on AB 828
Questions? Contact Frank Tamborello at (213) 388-8228 orfrank@hungeractionla.org
Hunger Action LA is sponsoring a sign on letter for people of faith (clergy or lay people feeling that the restriction of food is an injustice) which you can find at this link. Even though the deadline is near you can still sign on, because if the bill passes Appropriations it must still go to the Senate floor:
Please fill out our AB828 form to show your support!
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has introduced a resolution for LA County to support AB 828. If you can make it to the Hall of Administration on Tuesday August 14, at 9:30 am to speak in favor, please contact frank@hungeractionla.org .
2. Hunger Action LA Meeting Aug 24 Special Guests
Next HALA Meeting is Friday August 24: Our special guests include Andi Lane of Senator Carol Liu’s office who will give us an update on the Senator’s “Road to Resilience Tour: Overcoming Hunger and Homelessness” and the hearings on senior hunger occurring right at this time
http://sd21.senate.ca.gov/news/2012-08-06-senator-carol-liu-hosts-tour-showcase-poverty-homelessness
We’ll also have special guest Jessica Choy of UNITE HERE, the union that represents hotel and food service workers and their initiative called Real Food Real Jobs, building relationships with organizations and people doing work on food issues.
Meeting is at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90017, 10 am to 12 noon . RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org . Free, and all are welcome.
Check out the Hunger Action LA website www.hungeractionla.org for information on the Peoples Guide to Welfare, Health and Other Services, available in English and Spanish, as well as the upcoming HALA Awards and Dinner, November 15, 2012.
3. House Fails To Move on Farm Bill
Even as the drought worsened in the Midwest and Great Plains, Congress proved unable to provide relief for farmers and ranchers before leaving for a month of campaigning.The House on August 3 approved a scaled-down $383-million package primarily to help ranchers whose livestock losses and feed costs are mounting as arid conditions make land unusable for grazing. But the Senate declined to consider the bill before recessing, preferring a broader bipartisan measure that it passed overwhelmingly last month.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-drought-relief-20120803,0,3670147.story
One reason the Farm Bill is getting nowhere is that the House version proposes an astonishing $16 billion in food stamp (SNAP) cuts, at the time of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. But due to the drought, farmers are getting angry and anxious as Congress fails to move on a farm bill.
4. Drought Pushes Up Prices: Government Pledges To Buy Meat To Help Out
The drought is pushing up the cost of meat and milk and other dairy products for California consumers. That's because the cost of feed for California cattle, poultry and hog farmers is soaring as Midwest farms face a shortage of corn and soybean — key feed ingredients.
The higher prices won't hit the grocery shelves for a few months, but when they do, consumers will be paying 10% to 15% more for milk, beef and poultry, farmers and economists said.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drought-california-20120726,0,7229769.story
MEAT BUY: The government will buy up to $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken and catfish to help drought-stricken farmers, the White House said Monday as President Barack Obama brought his re-election campaign to rural voters in Iowa.
WHERE IT GOES: The purchase for food banks and other federal food nutrition programs is expected to help producers struggling with the high cost of feed during the worst drought in a quarter-century.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57492275/news-summary-usda-buys-meat-to-help-farmers/
5. Seed Library Of Los Angeles (Slola) Hosts Discussion Of California’s “Right To Know” GMO Ballot Measure, Aug. 18
United by their alarm over the health risks of Genetically Modified Organisms in the American diet, distinguished physicians, scientists, authors, celebrities, lifestyle experts, researchers, documentarians, teachers and others, are speaking out in support of the Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) measure on the November ballot at events across the state.
On Saturday, August 18 at 2:30 pm, SLOALA (Seed Library of Los Angeles) hosts Jeffrey Smith and Tom Newmakr, about the hazards of GMOs and why California’s Prop 37, “Right to Know” is essential to our health.
The Learning Garden is located at Venice High School, 13000 Venice Blvd., enter the first gate south of Venice on Walgrove Ave.
As an extra treat: a tomato tasting from the gardens of SLOLA members will take place in honor of this appearance.
A suggested donation of $10 helps support the speaker tour and SLOLA.
6. World Leaders Meet To Discuss World Hunger….Will Anything Concrete Result?
Yesterday, the same day that the London Olympic Games came to a close, British Prime Minister David Cameron co-hosted a hunger summit with Brazilian Vice-President Michel Temer. The event brought together world leaders, representatives from the private sector and NGOs to focus political attention, mobilise support and agree concrete action to tackle childhood malnutrition and stunting between now and the next Olympic Games in 2016 -- and, we hope, provided a springboard for wider action to tackle the root-causes of hunger.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-jackson/a-meeting-to-end-world-hu_b_1772905.html
Why are food stamps in the Farm Bill?: Beth Whisman, columnist, interviews Greg Koos of a museum in Illinois (McLean County Museum of History) “Koos said the history of the combo-pack is all about food and stabilizing the food/ag market. In other words, you can’t really separate them. Food and farmers go hand in hand … even if urban lawmakers and constituents might be disconnected from the farm.The bottom line is the government supports farmers so they can grow affordable food, and the government supports low-income citizens so they can afford to buy food from farmers. If the balance is thrown off, it just might be the farmers who need nutritional assistance one day.”
http://wjbc.com/why-are-farm-bill-food-stamps-tied-together-audio/
Wholesome Food Fund in Illinois Latest Example of Farmers Market Incentives: An examination of the federal food stamp program shows big national corporations may be the real beneficiaries of federal food assistance while people who depend on the program to eat may actually be the losers. Working to change that is a new, grassroots group in Peoria, Illinois. The Wholesome Food Group collaborated with Community Foundation of Central Illinois to form a new designated fund named the Wholesome Food Fund. All tax-deductible donations to Community Foundation earmarked for the Wholesome Food Fund are used to double the value of food stamp dollars spent on fresh local food at Peoria Riverfront Market.
Study reports School Food Laws Help Kids Lose Weight: As children get ready to head back to school, a new study shows that state laws about foods sold at schools may affect kids' weight. The study, published in Pediatrics, shows that children are less likely to become or remain overweight if they live in states that have laws limiting the availability of unhealthy foods at school.
The study focuses on foods and drinks sold to students at school snack bars and vending machines.
http://children.webmd.com/news/20120813/school-food-laws-help-kids-lose-weight
Food Stamps Don’t Make You Drink More Soda: “When children from families participating in the federal assistance program for poor families, commonly known as food stamps, were compared to peers not in SNAP, there was no significant difference in how much milk, soda and fruit juice the kids drank. The findings don't mean that banning the use of food stamps to buy sweetened beverages, as some have proposed, wouldn't cut down on their consumption. But the results do suggest at least that having food stamps doesn't encourage families with kids to buy more unhealthy drinks, according to the report in the August issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-health-food-stamps-bre87910j-20120810,0,5026637.story
El Monte proposes soda tax: Faced with a crippling combination of low revenues, high labor costs and decreasing funding from the state, El Monte is moving to declare a fiscal emergency and seek a tax on sugary beverages sold within the city.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/24/local/la-me-el-monte-20120724
Mississippi most obese state: Colorado slimmest: California ranks well, # 45 out of the 50 plus Washington DC:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/13/us-usa-health-obese-idUSBRE87C0XA20120813
**********************************
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- 2. House Ag Committee Advances Farm Bill Cutting $16 Billion From Nutrition Assistance
- 3. House Farm Bill Could Gut California’s Standards for Safe, Humane Food
- 4. Ag Secretary Says Fuel Prices Will Cause Food Prices to Rise Higher More Than Drought Will
Next HALA Meeting is Friday July 27: Progress reports and new plans for advocates working on the federal Farm Bill, on AB 828, and on local initiatives to end criminalization of a wide range of food activities from urban gardening to vending of food, and distribution of food to the homeless.
At LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90017, 10 am to 12 noon . RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org . Free, and all are welcome.
CalFresh Outreach Event, Ralph’s Crenshaw Location July 31: HALA joins Occupy Fights Hunger as they partner with LA County DPSS to bring its CalFresh mobile unit to Ralph’s at 3670 Crenshaw Blvd, LA 90016 (just south of Exposition, cross street Rodeo.) If you live or work in the vicinity and can help us publicize this event to low income families and individuals who may qualify for CalFresh please contact maribel@hungeractionla.org . The mobile unit will be there from noon to 6 pm. People can apply for CalFresh benefits at the mobile unit and also enjoy demonstrations on how to prepare healthy food with free dinner from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Re-Entry Forum forges new partnerships: Our thanks to about 50 people who gave up their day off this past Saturday to convene at Ward A.M.E. church strategize on how to move several criminal justice reform policies forward in the state legislature.
Central was AB 828 the bill to restore food benefit eligibility to people who have completed sentences for certain felonies and are now trying to begin anew in society. But, other bills and proposals have an equally huge impact, including measures to expand the ability to expunge felonies for people with low level offenses, and to end the arbitrary detention of undocumented persons caught up in law enforcement situations (including victims of domestic violence whose abusers are retaliating against them by reporting their undocumented status, as well as thousands of people who are actually citizens.)
The attendees representing a diversity of populations in LA will be active both in the halls of state and local officials, on the street and in the community to raise awareness of and support for these policies.
A new e-mail list will be formed for those interested contact: john@hungeractionla.org
2. House Ag Committee Advances Farm Bill With $16 Billion in Cuts to Nutrition Assistance
The House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 6083, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012 by a vote of 35-11. The bill includes $16.5 billion in cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would kick 2-3 million participants off the food stamp program. That means the next step for the bill is for the whole House to consider it---if Speaker John Boehner will take it up.
The Environmental Working Group and groups including the Humane Society, Bread for the World, the Center for Food Safety, Defenders of Wildlife and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine plan a press conference for Tuesday, July 17, at the National Press Club to discuss the alarming and damaging provisions in the House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill.
Food stamp debate has brought out some of the ugliest and most hateful voices: http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/fight-over-food-stamps
Conservatives have howled in protest over USDA ads outreaching to the Latino community to apply for food benefits, complaining that already 1 in 7 Americans get food stamps (whose fault is that, if jobs are not available---or don’t pay enough?) Have any of these conservatives complained about WalMart paying its employees wages so low that they qualify for food stamps, and then encouraging to apply, therefore getting the taxpayers to subsidize their wages? Have any conservatives voted to raise the minimum wage? You cannot have extremely low wages and then also deny people the right to eat.
Fort Worth Star Telegram: Food Stamp Debate Brings Out The Haters
Conservative bloggers compare the SNAP program to a park where you’re not supposed to feed the wildlife. This is just an example of the vicious rhetoric against the poor that’s been coming out since the farm bill and resulting focus on the food assistance programs. Editorialists around the country are striking back. Here are some good responses from Texas and Oregon.
Fort Worth Star Telegram: “Once-proud and self-reliant people are having to turn to handouts and food stamps to feed their families and themselves. They are the working poor: people doing the best they can to avoid government handouts…..It's galling to hear the callousness with which that humbling desperation can be dismissed as the mindless dependency of a raccoon.”
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/07/14/4099922/food-stamp-debate-brings-out-the.html
The Oregonian: Food stamps look different at other end of the pipeline: The SNAP cuts in the House bill were so extreme even a hardline conservative from Ohio, “Mean Jean” Schmidt, had to protest:
3. House Farm Bill Could Gut California’s Standards for Safe, Humane Food
Iowa congressman wins amendment saying states can’t have their own standards regarding food: One of the other ugly features of the Farm Bill that got out of the Ag Committee is a provision that states cannot set their own regulations on farm products. This amendment passed in the early morning hours means that California’s new law requiring chickens to have enough space to move their wings, would have to be revoked, and possibly California pesticide regulations on fruits and vegetables, and vitamin fortification of milk.
http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Votes-assails-state-laws-on-food-safety-3706649.php#page-2
4. Ag Secretary Says Fuel Prices Will Cause Food Prices to Rise Higher More Than Drought Will
(Alexandra Jaffe, National Journal)---If Americans are seeing increasing food prices at the grocery store, it’s the fault of energy prices or unfair practices, not widespread drought across the U.S., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Sunday…..Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, Vilsack acknowledged the pain droughts are causing farmers, resulting in lower-than-expected crop yields and higher commodity prices. But he said that those prices shouldn't translate over to consumers until late 2013.
“Fourteen cents of every food dollar that goes through a grocery store goes in the pocket of a farmer or rancher. So while these commodity prices will likely increase, it will have a marginal impact on food prices,” he said, adding that energy prices drive up food prices more significantly.
“The prices and the impact of a drought probably will not likely be seen in the grocery aisles until later next year, 2013. If folks are using this opportunity to raise prices inappropriately, shame on them,” he added.
Vilsack said that the droughts and the consequent pressure on farmers is added reason for Congress to pass a farm bill, which has passed in the Senate and recently passed out of committee in the House but remains in limbo until Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, decides to take it up.
5. Bee Raisers Drive To Change LA City Policy on Beekeeping
LA Times: “Rob McFarland and his wife, Chelsea, became interested in beekeeping but discovered that Los Angeles does not allow hives in residential zones. So, the McFarlands decided to launch an unusual grass-roots drive to change the city's law by first winning support from at least 10 of L.A.'s 95 neighborhood councils…..Now, almost a year and a half later, their devotion has won support from eight councils. And an enthusiastic city councilman has initiated a formal study, a first step that could bring L.A. on board with other bee-friendly cities, such as New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Santa Monica.”
"We have to be clear that this environment that we live in is threatened, that bees are an essential part," said Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who boasts that he has two wild hives in his yard.
The McFarlands, with their own money and what they raised at a "yellow-tie" fundraiser, started a nonprofit organization called HoneyLove.
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/14/local/la-me-bees-20120715
Steve Lopez follows with a column on beekeeping in LA:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0715-lopez-bees-20120715,0,2474141.column
- 3. Health Policy Brief: Nearly 4 Million Californians Food Insecure
- 4. Defend Seed Freedom: Focus on Food Program, KPFK 3 pm Thursday
- 5. GMO Initiative Will Be Prop 37
- 6. Climate Smart Agriculture
- 7. Food Stamps Or Not, We All Need to Eat Healthier
- 8. LA Unified Offering Summer Lunch Through August 3
- 9. Philadelphia Charities Challenge Ban on Feeding Homeless
- 10. Many Unemployed People Don’t Have Transportation to Jobs
1. Hunger Action LA News: Re-Entry Forum Saturday July 14
Which Way for Re-Entry: A Forum on Food, Jobs and Other Issues Affecting People in Re-Entry. Saturday July 14, 10 am to 12 noon, at Ward A.M.E. Church, 1177 West 25th Street Los Angeles, CA 90007. This forum will review recent legislation including AB 828 (restoring CalFresh benefits to people with past drug felonies) and other bills removing barriers for people coming out of prison attempting to re enter the mainstream. Open to all. RSVP to Hunger Action LA213 388 8228 frank@hungeractionla.org Co sponsored by Ward AME-Social Action Commission and Prison Ministry, HALA, ACLU, LA Metropolitan Churches, LA CAN, Long Beach CAN, WORKS, Mike Gipson (Councilmember, City of Carson), A New Way of Life, and All of Us or None.
2. House Ag Committee Hears Proposed Amendments for Farm Bill, Some of Them Pretty Bad
The House Ag committee heard amendments on the proposed Farm Bill on Wednesday, including some ugly ones targeting the SNAP (formerly food stamp) program. An amendment introduced by Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) would deny SNAP benefits to an entire household if even one person in that household could not produce a birth certificate or passport. How many of you have your birth certificates? About 3 million low income citizens don’t have a passport or birth certificate.
According to ThinkProgress, “Under the proposed restriction, 4.5 million U.S. citizen children would lose their access to nutrition assistance benefits and over 80 percent of the children who would lose benefits under the proposed restriction are Latino.”
Democrats try but fail to restore SNAP funding: An amendment offered by 5 Democratic Reps. including Joe Baca of California to reinstate the $16 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program failed 15 to 31. 5 Democrats were in the group voting to proceed with the cuts: the ranking Democrat Colin Peterson of Minnesota essentially said he was voting along with the Republicans in an attempt to get the Farm Bill moved out of committee and get it on its way, adding that the Senate wouldn’t stand for the cuts when the bill eventually moves to the conference committee between the Senate and House.
http://influencealley.nationaljournal.com/2012/07/itll-be-a-food-fight-over-the.php
Senate and House differ on fruit program for low income children: “The Senate bill, notably, retains a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in its current form. The bill would allocate $1 billion over 10 years for states to buy healthy snacks to serve low-income children in elementary schools.The House bill would keep the program, but drops the word "fresh." Technically, the effect is to make dried fruit and canned and frozen fruits and vegetables also eligible for purchase. Politically, the change mobilizes competing forces.”
3. Health Policy Brief: Nearly 4 Million Californians Food Insecure
“Using results from the California Health Interview Survey, California Food Policy Advocates and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research highlight statewide, regional, and county rates of food insecurity and very low food security in 2007-2009. This brief analyzes data collected at the height of the recent economic recession. Food insecurity and very low food security among low-income Californians increased across the state from 2007-2009, particularly among households with children and Spanish-speaking households. SNAP protected participating households against greater food insecurity; prevalence of food insecurity and very low food security was virtually unchanged among SNAP participants between 2001 and 2009.”
http://cfpa.net/foodinsecurity2012
4. Defend Seed Freedom: Focus on Food Program, KPFK 3 pm Thursday
Thursday Jan 12 at, 3pm @KPFK 90.7 FM, guest speaker on the Focus on Food program will be Dr. Vandana Shiva and the Global Movement to Defend Seed Freedom. From the website: “Corporations like Monsanto have created a seed emergency through patents on seeds, seed monopolies, biopiracy, genetic engineering and creation of non renewable sterile seeds. Seed monopolies have pushed 250,000 farmers to commit suicide in India. After contaminating farmer’s seeds and crops, Monsanto sues farmers “for stealing their gene”, putting the polluter pays principle on its head, and making it the polluter gets paid principle.
Learn more about the movement to defend seed freedom
More on Monsanto:
Is Monsanto About to Gain Immunity From Federal Law?
By Alexis Baden-Mayer and Ronnie Cummins, “A so-called “Monsanto rider,” quietly slipped into the multi-billion dollar FY 2013 Agricultural Appropriations bill, would require – not just allow, but require - the Secretary of Agriculture to grant a temporary permit for the planting or cultivation of a genetically engineered crop, even if a federal court has ordered the planting be halted until an Environmental Impact Statement is completed. All the farmer or the biotech producer has to do is ask, and the questionable crops could be released into the environment where they could potentially contaminate conventional or organic crops and, ultimately, the nation’s food supply.”
5. GMO Initiative Will Be Prop 37
California's Office of the Secretary of State announced on Monday that the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, also known as the GMO labeling initiative, will appear on voter ballots as Proposition 37 for the November 6 elections. If passed, Prop. 37 would make California the first state in the U.S. to require labeling of most foods made with genetically modified organisms
“Agroforestry is gaining ground as a tool for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Central America, a region where global warming could generate losses equivalent to 19 percent of gross domestic product.”
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/06/climate-smart-agriculture-to-reduce-vulnerability/
Why does this matter? Global warming is leading to record hot summers: this year a drought in the Midwest has wiped out much of the US corn crop. This is almost certain to lead to higher food prices over the next several months:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/story/2012-07-11/corn-prices-drought/56156336/1
7. Food Stamps Or Not, We All Need to Eat Healthier
Visiting Pennsylvania, USDA Undersecretary Kevin Concannon answered those who say that SNAP participants buy too much unhealthy food. From an Erie PA website: “he pointed out that the diets of many Americans, not just food-stamp users, have created an epidemic of obesity and health-related problems, and food stamp recipients mirror the eating habits of other consumers. Food-stamp recipients are also more likely to shop at smaller markets or convenience stores with fewer healthy, fresh items for sale.”
8. LA Unified Offering Summer Lunch Through August 3
“The adage, "There's no such thing as a free lunch" doesn't hold true in Los Angeles Unified, which this month hopes to serve up nearly 500,000 burgers, chicken wings and plates of spaghetti at scores of schools around the district….The 5-year-old summer food service program runs through Aug. 3, offering a free, nutritionally balanced hot lunch - an entree, vegetable, fruit and milk - to anyone 18 and younger who shows up.”
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21031832/lausd-offers-free-nutritional-food-students-over-summer
(Editor’s note: The Summer Food Program has been around for about 44 years.)
9. Philadelphia Charities Challenge Ban on Feeding Homeless
“A new law in Philadelphia banning the feeding of homeless people on city parkland came under fire on Tuesday in court, where Mayor Michael Nutter defended it as part of a broader plan to care for the poor. The law is being challenged in U.S. District Court by critics who say it is an effort to clear homeless people away…”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/philadelphia-homeless-feeding-ban_n_1663058.html
10. Many Unemployed People Don’t Have Transportation to Jobs
“Limited public transportation networks reduce the ability of those who need work to actually find it, worsening an already bleak job market.” This article by Peter Goodman, mostly focused on Chattanooga, Tennessee, but this is a familiar story in Los Angeles County. Busses don’t run early enough or frequently enough to get carless people reliably on time to jobs, or back home.
- 2. House Begins Working on Farm Bill
- 3. Tell Congress Protect WIC
- 4. State Budget and Legislation Update
- 5. Help Your Community With $5 Food Bag
- 6. Child Nutrition News
- 7. Homeless Bill of Rights Proposed for California
- 8. Another Example of Hunger Among Workers in The Food Chain
- 9. Food, The Environment, And Innovative Ideas
1. Hunger Action LA News: Re-Entry Forum July 14
Which Way for Re-Entry: A Forum on Food, Jobs and Other Issues Affecting People in Re-Entry. Saturday July 14, 10 am to 12 noon, at Ward A.M.E. Church, 1177 West 25th Street Los Angeles, CA 90007. This forum will review recent legislation including AB 828 (restoring CalFresh benefits to people with past drug felonies) and other bills removing barriers for people coming out of prison attempting to re enter the mainstream. Open to all. RSVP to Hunger Action LA 213 388 8228 frank@hungeractionla.org Co sponsored by Ward AME-Social Action Commission and Prison Ministry, HALA, ACLU, LA CAN, WORKS, Mike Gipson (Councilmember, City of Carson), A New Way of Life, and All of Us or None.
2. House Begins Working on Farm Bill
The House of Representatives begins its “markup” of the Farm Bill next week, with the word being that there will be cuts to SNAP in the $14-$16 billion dollar range, and efforts by the House Ag Chair, Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, to come up with payments to Southern sugar and peanut farmers who felt they were slighted by the Senate bill. (The Senate recently passed its version of the federal Farm Bill a couple of weeks ago, ending direct payments to farmers (although replacing them with a crop insurance scheme that brings in just as much money to many already-wealthy corporate farmers) and cutting $4.5 billion from SNAP (food stamps) in spite of heroic efforts to prevent cuts to a program that’s now serving 1 in 7 Americans.)
David Rogers in Politico offers an analysis of the treacherous waters Lucas must navigate, as far-right members of the House seek even bigger cuts to SNAP: “GOP Fights Over Major Food Stamp Crackdown”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78096.html
Tell Congress Protect Food Stamps and Family Farms
Color of Change has begun its campaign on the House Farm Bill, with a petition to prevent cuts in SNAP and to protect a program that has helped minority farmers historically discriminated against by the USDA:
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/farmbill_house/?akid=2528.1530970.0BtrPa&rd=1&t=2
To add to the Farm Bill confusion, the House is also working separately on an Agriculture Appropriations Bill for the next fiscal year. From Donna Hoffman, California WIC Association:
On June 19, the House Appropriations Committee passed a FY 2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill, with three very troubling components: first, the bill funds WIC at $6.922 billion, which is $119 million short of the President’s budget request. The White House has threatened a veto due in part to this inadequate funding level. The bill also sets no funding aside for peer counselors for breastfeeding, and finally, the potato industry won over the House in its quest to get white potatoes restored to the WIC package, which had eliminated that food as being non-nutritious.
The House Ag Appropriations bill will go to the floor in a few weeks.
Please take Action before July 9! Tell Congress to fund WIC breastfeeding peer counselors and to stay out of the science of the WIC food packages!
- Sign on here to support NWA’s Joint Statement Urging Support of $60 million for WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors in FY 2013 to distribute to each member of the House.
- http://nwica.wufoo.com/forms/signon-support-wic-breastfeeding-peer-counseling/
- Reach out to your state and local partners (State Associations, hospitals, non-profits, health care practices, health groups) and ask them to sign on!
- Click here http://nwica.org/?q=advocacy/action to send your representative a message or call the Capitol switchboard using NWA’s toll-free number 1-855-HELP-WIC (1-855-435-7942) to urge them 1) to include $60 million in breastfeeding peer counselor funding for WIC in FY 2013 that is not restricted by caseload needs, and 2) oppose efforts to interfere in the scientific process of determining WIC food packages!
Questions? Call Donna at CWA or email her at dhoffman@calwic.org!
4. State Budget and Legislation Update
Summary of budget provisions: Western Center on Law and Poverty summarizes the state budget signed by Governor Jerry Brown, which hits low income families with cuts to CalWORKs cash assistance, child care, and by ending the Healthy Families program (moving kids eventually to Medi-Cal):
Governor cuts supplemental funding from child care food program:Governor Brown cut $10,100,000 in supplemental funding for the Child Care food program. According to Matt Sharp of California Food Policy Advocates, “As of May 2011, there were 5,559 child care centers and 20,308 FDCH served by 52 sponsors. They will lose $0.16 per breakfast and per lunch. Some agencies will have to lay off staff and will provide significantly less monitoring, oversight and nutrition education to the small day care homes. “
Child Nutrition and CalFresh Legislation Passes Key Committees
AB 1560 (Fuentes) which aligns Medi-Cal with CalFresh allowing more families to participate, and AB 1872 (Alejo) Improving Child Care Nutrition were heard in the Senate Human Services Committee on July 2.. Both successfully passed out of the committee, each on a vote of 4-2 . AB 1594 (Eng) Improving Charter School Nutrition passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, June 27 on a vote of 6-2. All three bills will be heading next to the Senate Appropriations Committee. For more information visit California Food Policy Advocates at www.cfpa.net
5. Help Your Community With $5 Food Bag
ABC7, Vons, Southern California regional food banks and ESPN LA 710 are partnering to help Feed SoCal throughout the month of July. Go to your local Vons or Vons Pavilions and purchase a pre-filled $5 bag, or purchase non-perishable food items, and leave them in the Feed SoCal box. Donate on-line to your food bank of choice:
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: https://www.lafoodbank.org
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County: http://vad.aidmatrix.org
FOOD Share Ventura County: https://www.ghostcart.com
Second Harvest Food Bank Inland Empire: http://www.secondharvest.us/
Mail your contribution to: Feed SoCal, P.O. Box 5967 Glendale, CA 91221
Checks can be made out to: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Funds will divided up among the four food banks, unless designated on the memo line to a specific county.
You can also go to one of four "Stuff-a-Truck" events and bring non-perishable food items or cash and help Team Alysha or Team Garth "Stuff-a-Truck" for Feed SoCal.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/feature?section=resources/lifestyle_community/
community&id=8719966
School’s out---who ate? California Food Policy Advocates' 2012 release of School's Out...Who Ate? examines the loss of nutritious, affordable summer meals for low-income children throughout California. The report includes data specific to each of California's 58 counties and recommendations for federal, state, and local actions to close the summer nutrition gap.Across our state, 84 percent of children who access free or reduced-price school lunches during the academic year miss out on the benefits of the federal summer nutrition programs. How does summer nutrition in your community compare to this and other statewide trends? Visit CFPA’s our 2012 School's Out...Who Ate page.
New ways to deliver summer lunch: Communities across America are innovating the Summer Lunch program as they are seeking new ways to help children
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-01/summer-lunch-programs-children/55944996/1
The lunch truck, that new trendy institution, is even being employed:
7. Homeless Bill of Rights Proposed for California
From staff of Committee for the California Homeless Bill of Rights: “Many people are being oppressed and persecuted simply because of their economic status. It would be of great help if you would help promote a Homeless Bill of Rights for the State of California. Below is a link to a petition started by Homeless advocates in Palo Alto who are opposing a local Vehicle Habitation Ordinance. The petition is requesting that the California Legislators enact a Homeless Bill of Rights patterned after the example provided in the petition and that of Rhode Islands. It would be greatly appreciated if you would sign this petition to enact a Homeless Bill of Rights patterned after Rhode Island's:
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-ca-state-senate-enact-the-california-homeless-bill-of-rights
Or http://californiahomelessbillofrights.weebly.com/
Recent articles on homelessness in LA:
Homeless come to Sunland as crackdowns move them from place to place:
Project 50 paying off? LA Times: “An ambitious program to provide permanent housing to some of Los Angeles County’s most hard-core homeless more than paid for itself, yielding a net savings of $238,700 over two years, officials say.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/06/los-angeles-homeless-project-50-cost-savings.html
911 for emergency food delivery? Dennis Romero in LA Weekly blog: “The arrest of a man who allegedly snatched a purse at a popular Venice restaurant yesterday was caught on video.Ho-hum, yeah. But what's interesting is that an LAPD officer lectures him and suggests that if the suspect was simply homeless and hungry, as he claimed, all he had to do was call 911 and food would be delivered….. The homeless guy says he allegedly snatched a purse from a customer at Hama Sushi on the Venice Circle because "I'm starving." According to the site (Venice311.com) , he said he was happy to be headed to jail because he could get a free meal.”
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/07/
venice_purse_snatch_video_homeless_hungry_hama_sushi.php
8. Another Example of Hunger Among Workers in The Food Chain
Farmworkers picking vegetables for us but having to line up at food pantries to meet their own needs, in in the Central Valley: employees of major supermarket chains being encouraged by their companies to apply for food stamps to make up for their low wages: restaurant workers still under archaic laws exempting them from minimum wage: and school cafeteria workers fighting for the right to eat leftovers, all examples of how poverty and hunger afflict those working in the food sector, which employees by various estimates 17% to 20% of the American workforce.
From a Huffington Post article: “You know that public school employee salaries are low when cafeteria workers fight for the right to eat expired food -- at their own risk. Unionized cafeteria workers in Sharon, Pa. just won that right after members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees a grievance against the Sharpsville Area School District last year.
According to the settlement, "cafeteria employees indeed can eat and drink those expired or reheated items –- at their own risk. And they don’t have to pay for them," The Herald of Sharon, Pa. reports.
But the workers still have to pay for unexpired items and can't sell or give the expired food to another person. According to a job listing from March, substitute cafeteria workers in the district earn minimum wage.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/school-cafeteria-workers-_n_1587113.html
9. Food, The Environment, And Innovative Ideas
Midwest heat damage crop yields: Nish Amaranth, International Business Times: “Corn farmers are rubbing their eyes in surprise as a withering drought looms before them, threatening to devastate crop yields and the record-breaking 14.8 billion bushel corn crop harvest that was predicted just a few weeks ago. Now, consumers could pay higher prices for cereals, snack foods, peanut butter and soft drinks -- foods where corn serves as a key ingredient, data from the Chicago Board of Trade suggest….Over the next three decades, climate change is likely to influence the volatility of corn prices to a far greater extent than oil prices, trade policies, government biofuel regulations and other related factors that have been held culpable for swaying the corn market, researchers predict.”
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/359074/20120703/corn-wheat-soybeans-chicago-board-trade-u.htm
How Latin America and the Caribbean are responding to climate change and resultant economic dislocation:
“Cuba seeks to guarantee food supplies in changing climate”:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/06/cuba-seeks-to-guarantee-food-supplies-in-changing-climate/
“Hoping to save millions, Antigua turns to backyard gardening”:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/06/hoping-to-save-millions-antigua-turns-to-backyard-gardening/
“Cilantro spices up coexistence with drought in Brazil”:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/06/cilantro-spices-up-coexistence-with-drought-in-brazil/
Banning food waste in landfills: In the U.K., a report has urged the government to ban all food leftovers from landfill by the end of the decade to boost technology which can turn it into energy
http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/03/ban-food-waste-landfill?cat=environment&type=article
Small farmers creating a new business model as agriculture goes local: Kirk Johnson, NY Times: “A looming shortage of migrant workers, with fewer Mexicans coming north in recent years, could create a kind of rural-urban divide if it continues, with mass-production farms that depend on cheap labor losing some of their price advantages over locally grown food, which tends to be more expensive. From the vineyards of California to the cherry orchards of Oregon, big agriculture has struggled this year to find willing hands. Local farm sales are becoming more stable, predictable and measurable. A study last fall by the Department of Agriculture said that local revenues had been radically undercounted in previous analyses that mainly focused on road stands and markets. When sales to restaurants and stores were factored in, the study said, the local food industry was four times bigger than in any previous count, upward of $4.8 billion”.
- 2. California Budget Not Good For Low Income Parents
- 3. Farm Bill Is In Senate: House Delays Action For Fear It Might Make Government Look Good
- 4. Protest Against WalMart Entry Into Chinatown, June 30
- 5. City May Replace Soda With Water At Parks, Libraries
- 6. Cornerstone Theater Wants Your Food Story
- 7. Study: Proximity Doesn’t Matter As Much As Price In Ability To Eat
- 8. Healthy Climate Change To Worsen World Hunger
- 9. Cut Junk Food Out of Food Stamps, Put It In WIC Instead?
1. Hunger Action LA News: Re-Entry Forum July 14
Which Way for Re-Entry: A Forum on Food, Jobs and Other Issues Affecting People in Re-Entry. Saturday July 14, 10 am to 12 noon, at Ward A.M.E. Church, 1177 West 25th Street Los Angeles, CA 90007. This forum will review recent legislation including AB 828 (restoring CalFresh benefits to people with past drug felonies) and other bills removing barriers for people coming out of prison attempting to re enter the mainstream. Open to all. RSVP to Hunger Action LA 213 388 8228 frank@hungeractionla.org Co sponsored by Ward AME-Social Action Commission and Prison Ministry, HALA, ACLU, LA CAN, WORKS, Mike Gipson (Councilmember, City of Carson), A New Way of Life, and All of Us or None.
2. California Budget Not Good For Low Income Parents
The Governor and Democrats reached a compromise on the state budget last week, increasing chances he will sign the budget. More cuts were made to welfare, child care (needed to help parents move from welfare to work), and health care. Steven Harmon, Bay Area News Group: “The agreed-upon $430 million in cuts to CalWORKs is closer to the Legislature's plan than the $880 million cut the governor sought. Under the deal, new CalWORKs recipients would be shifted to the tougher federal work requirements after two years instead of the current four years. They could continue receiving benefits for another two years if they work 30 hours a week.”
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_20909121/democrats-governor-arrive-at-california-budget-deal
Mark Lacter in LA Observed blog on “If You Don’t Make Much Money, And Have Kids, California’s Budget Is Not For You” analyzing how health care cuts in the budget will hurt low income families. Hundreds of thousands of kids will be shifted from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal, in which they may not be able to find doctors willing to treat them:
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2012/06/if_youre_not_making.php
3. Farm Bill Is In Senate: House Delays Action For Fear It Might Make Government Look Good
The Senate just passed its version of the Farm Bill by a vote of 64-35. Although the Senators voted down proposals to vastly restructure the SNAP program, the final bill did include reductions of $4.5 billion to the program from cuts to the Heat and Eat option, which allows states to give small amounts of utility bill assistance to increase peoples’ food benefits. This is an option we are scheduled to implement next year in California.
Now it’s up to the House to pass a bill---but House leaders including Eric Cantor were taken by surprise by the Senate passage of the bill. They had been betting that the bitter bipartisan atmosphere would result in no bill, and now Cantor is delaying the process to assess the political situation. House Ag Chair Frank Lucas, from heavy farm state Oklahoma, wants a Farm Bill “come hell or high water” and activity is expected to begin next week with “marking up” the bill.
The LA City Council, California Assembly, Congressional Black Caucus, and a group of California’s congressional delegation have all weighed in already with the House on their hopes to see a bill that won’t make cuts to SNAP.
More on the Farm Bill:
LA Times on the Republican effort to cut food stamps (SNAP) during the Senate process: “With 1 in 7 Americans now receiving food stamps, Republicans in Congress are leading efforts to cut back the social safety net program that has swelled to one of the largest in the federal government — and they are getting some support from Democrats.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-food-stamps-20120620,0,2117959.story
4. Protest Against WalMart Entry Into Chinatown, June 30
A march against WalMart’s entry into Chinatown is planned for Saturday June 30, 10 am at The Cornfield (Los Angeles State Historic Park), 1245 N Spring St 90012. 213 381 5611 x 126 for more information. Residents of Chinatown, where Walmart hopes to locate its first L.A. grocery store, as well as Congresswoman Judy Chu, labor leader Maria Elena Durazo and civil rights leader Reverend Eric Lee express their concerns what will happen if the retailer succeeds in penetrating L.A.'s grocery market.
Why protest the entry of a grocery store? Well, according to research from Making Change at Walmart, Walmart's grocery expansion would lead to a loss of over 8,000 retail jobs, a loss of more than $621 million in wages per year for retail in L.A. County and an increase of 9,400 workers who must rely on taxpayer-funded Medi-Cal for health care.
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ny9BD_-Eg
From the UK Guardian: UK Guardian Thursday 14 June 2012: “A public relations officer linked to Walmart posed as a journalist at a press conference held by a labor group highlighting tough working conditions in the warehouses that supply big retailers. Stephanie Harnett, a publicist working for Mercury Communications, which has been retained by Walmart to assist in its effort to open a new store in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles, claimed to be a student journalist called “Zoe Mitchell” when she turned up at the event on 6 June.”.
5. City May Replace Soda With Water At Parks, Libraries
LA City Councilmember Mitchell Englander has introduced a motion to ban sodas from vending machines at the city’s libraries and parks. The motion was deliberated last Tuesday in council chambers, with California Food Policy Advocates, County Dept. of Public Health, Healthy School Food Coalition, Community Health Councils and others delivering testimony and graphic visuals such as jars full of sugar representing the amount of sugar consumed by many of our youth. Councilmember Alarcon Matt Sharp of CFPA reports that “The Committee requested a report from the Chief Legislative Analyst and will hear the motion again in 45 days.”
http://cfpa.net/losangeles/l-a-city-council-considers-kicking-the-soda-habit#more-2042
6. Cornerstone Theater Wants Your Food Story
From Cornerstone Theater: “Last month we presented Café Vida, a story about the hunger for transformation. It featured people from the community sharing the truth about their lives.
Our next play in The Hunger Cycle is called SEED: A Weird Act of Faith and it also explores truths - about what we eat and the journey our food takes from farm to plate.
You're part of this truth-telling movement. And it starts with sharing YOUR story.
Your Hunger Story can be a photo, a letter, a song – surprise us! Share it online for other people to see and to inspire our art-making.
I’ve got some questions to get you started: Where does your food comes from? What does “organic,” “local,” or “sustainable” mean to you? Where do you shop for food? What's your earliest memory of cooking?
Got your story? Now share it in one of these ways:
1. Go to our website and submit a written story.
http://cornerstonetheater.org/share-your-story/
2. Post a photo or story to our Facebook page. Make sure to “like” us!
http://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneTheater
3. More of a tweeter? Reduce your story to a 120-word nugget or Twitpic. Tag @CornerstoneThtr and use #HungerCycle.
“Thanks for sharing your truth... and happy storytelling!”
7. Study: Proximity Doesn’t Matter As Much As Price In Ability To Eat Healthy
Washington Post on a new study about obesity: “In the present study, proximity to the nearest supermarket had no impact on obesity rates,” the study finds. “These findings ran counter to previous research consensus that physical proximity to supermarkets had a major influence on diets.”
“What did matter, however, was price: The patrons of the lower-priced grocery store (like Safeway) tended to have a higher rate of obesity than those who shopped at the higher-priced grocery stores in the study (think Whole Foods). That relationship held true after adjusting for variables like education and income. It makes Drewnowski think that “choice of primary food source was driven by price.”
“It’s worth mentioning that food desert interventions being worked on right now aren’t all about proximity. They work on price, too: The point is not just to reduce the distance to healthy foods, but also bring down economic barriers.”
8. Climate Change To Worsen World Hunger
A World Health Organization analysis says climate change will affect food prices. From USA Today shortly before the Rio + 20 summit that recently ended: “Citing World Bank data, it says those prices jumped 8% in the first quarter of 2012, partly due to extreme cold in Europe that affected wheat crops and excessive heat in South America that lower production of sugar, maize and soybeans.”
Another report, published today in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, suggests several solutions to climate change and food shortages: farm efficiency, food waste recycling and lower meat consumption.
These changes could reduce the amount of land needed for farming, despite population growth, and leave sufficient land to produce bio-energy, according to the study from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.”
9. Cut Junk Food Out of Food Stamps, Put It In WIC Instead?
In all the talk about restricting purchases with SNAP, there’s occasionally mention of the example of the WIC program, which has been limited from the outset to specific high protein foods or foods deemed especially beneficial to pregnant and breastfeeding women. In 2009, WIC went through an overhaul in which fruits and vegetables were added, orange juice was reduced, whole grain products were made optional, and white potatoes, seen by nutritionists as not healthy (especially as they ‘re usually consumed as French fries) were not allowed on the list of eligible products. So now that we’re in Congressional debates over food----
“The potato industry is pushing Congress to require the WIC program to add white potatoes to the limited list of foods it provides, counter to recommendations by the nation’s leading nutrition experts.”
http://galesburgplanet.com/posts/15483
“Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) prevailed over (Connecticut Rep. Rosa) DeLauro and the Democrats in an effort to ensure poor people can still buy potato products using funds from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. The government has sought to restrict consumption especially of fried potato products.”
“This is about truth, justice and the American way,” Simpson said.
“Oh spare us!” DeLauro cried.
It’s nice to see that Simpson and many on his side of the aisle are concerned about poor people’s ability to get potatoes, even if other food, health care, housing, child care and everything else are out of reach.
**************************************
- California Budget: Call In Tuesday June 19 To Protect Vulnerable Families
- Farm Bill Is In Senate: Activity May Begin in House Soon
- Protest Against WalMart Entry Into Chinatown, June 30
- Cities Crack Down on Right To Share Food
- EatDrinkPolitics: Should SNAP Be Restricted to Healthy Foods?
- G20 Summit Should Focus on Food Security
- California’s Perilous Acres: Food, Hunger, Business, Migrants
1. Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday June 22
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday June 22. We are continuing our discussion on the congruence of urban agriculture, poverty, and the criminalization of growing and distributing food. The next meeting of the full group will be Friday June 22 at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, from 10 am-Noon. For more information contact frank@hungeractionla.org
Visit the HALA Website www.hungeractionla.org for news on Market Match, the Peoples Guide, current and past archived news articles and more
2. California Budget: Call In To Protect Vulnerable Families
Call In Day Tuesday June 19: Call the Governor at 916 445 2841 on Tuesday and ask him to drop his proposals for drastic cuts that will leave many families homeless even as they struggle to obtain jobs in the current recession.
On Friday, the California legislature met the state deadline to pass a budget, approving a $92 billion budget that doesn’t’ include Governor Brown’s proposed cuts to CalWORKs or In Home Supportive Services, two benefit programs that keep nearly a million Californians able to access sufficient food (to say nothing of their rent and assistance in basic daily activities). And dozens protested Friday at the Capitol against the Governor’s proposals on In Home Supportive Services.
http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20864984/calif-lawmakers-set-budget-vote-deadline-looms
See how the Governor’s cuts would affect Santa Barbara families getting CalWORKs:
http://www.kcoy.com/story/18761698/governor-brown-seeking-drastic-cuts-to-calworks
Brown's plan would cut off parents from welfare grants and child care after two years instead of four if they do not work or pursue training. It would also cut "child-only" grants by 27 percent, from $516 to $375 monthly for a family of three. Many child-only cases involve parents who exhausted their time limit or are ineligible to receive aid because they are disabled or undocumented with legal children.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/13/4557888/gov-jerry-brown-democrats-divided.html#storylink=cpy
3. Farm Bill Is In Senate: Activity May Begin in House Soon
The Senate has rejected a proposal for massively restructuring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (CalFresh here in California, and still “food stamps” to most people) which would have cut billions of dollars from the program. The Senate may come to a vote on the Farm Bill in the upcoming week.
The House of Representatives is scrambling to get its own version of the Farm Bill introduced during this week. Their proposal calls for $17 billion in cuts to SNAP.
Call your Representative using the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and urge them to stand strong against any cuts to SNAP. At least 32 of California’s congressional leaders have already signed on to a letter opposing SNAP cuts, sent to the House Ag Committee’s leaders.
More on the Farm Bill:
Farm Bill SNAP cuts proposed by Jeff Sessions rejected by Senate:
Senator Kristen Gillibrand of New York delivered a rebuttal to the Republican proposal:
LA Times: Does The Farm Bill Care More About Big Business Than About People?
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-farm-bill-big-business-20120614,0,2829499.story
Farm Bill and Healthy Food: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/06/if-the-usda-wants-us/
4. Protest Against WalMart Entry Into Chinatown, June 30
A march against WalMart’s entry into Chinatown is planned for Saturday June 30, 10 am at The Cornfield (Los Angeles State Historic Park), 1245 N Spring St 90012. 213 381 5611 x 126 for more information. Residents of Chinatown, where Walmart hopes to locate its first L.A. grocery store, as well as Congresswoman Judy Chu, labor leader Maria Elena Durazo and civil rights leader Reverend Eric Lee express their concerns what will happen if the retailer succeeds in penetrating L.A.'s grocery market.
Why protest the entry of a grocery store? Well, according to research from Making Change at Walmart, Walmart's grocery expansion would lead to a loss of over 8,000 retail jobs, a loss of more than $621 million in wages per year for retail in L.A. County and an increase of 9,400 workers who must rely on taxpayer-funded Medi-Cal for health care.
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ny9BD_-Eg
From the UK Guardian: UK Guardian Thursday 14 June 2012: “A public relations officer linked to Walmart posed as a journalist at a press conference held by a labor group highlighting tough working conditions in the warehouses that supply big retailers. Stephanie Harnett, a publicist working for Mercury Communications, which has been retained by Walmart to assist in its effort to open a new store in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles, claimed to be a student journalist called “Zoe Mitchell” when she turned up at the event on 6 June.”.
5. Cities Crack Down on Right To Share Food
Matt Pearce, LA Times: “Laws tightening regulations on aid to the homeless are popping up across the country, according to a recent USA Today report: “Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, Oklahoma City and more than 50 other cities have previously adopted some kind of anti-camping or anti-food-sharing laws, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. So the question being asked by many critics is: Are American officials trying to help the poor -- or legislate them out of sight?”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-homeless-feeding-bans-20120611,0,1038192.story
On the other hand, Rhode Island's governor is expected to sign into law the first "Homeless Bill of Rights" in the United States as early as next week, formally banning discrimination against homeless people and affirming their equal access to jobs, housing and services. A bill of rights we should implement in California as well:
6. EatDrinkPolitics: Should SNAP Be Restricted to Healthy Foods?
EatDrinkPolitics.com has published a new report by Michele Simon calling for release of data on how SNAP dollars are spent. (Food Stamps : Follow the Money
http://www.eatdrinkpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/FoodStampsFollowtheMoneySimon.pdf
The report tracks how much huge corporations make off the SNAP program (ranging from WalMart, which sells food, to JP Morgan, which operates the Electronic Benefits Transfer system in some states) and lobbying by Big Food corporations to prevent restrictions on buying certain kinds of food. Lately there have been proposals for such restrictions, against soda and junk food.
Hunger Action LA believes that restrictions on SNAP would stigmatize low income people, singling them out when it’s all of us who are buying junk food that contribute to the nation’s health crisis.Research shows that people tend to purchase with SNAP the same things they bought before they began receiving benefits. And of the 46 million people currently receiving SNAP, over half just began getting benefits since the recession began a couple of years ago. We should regulate sugar and corn syrup if they are truly the cause of poor health and the subsequent large cost to our society, as we have regulated tobacco.
As one letter in response to the Atlantic article wrote: “Needless to say, I'm against this. I was no more nor less able to make intelligent food choices during the year I was on SNAP than at any other time in my life. To assume that the poor are less capable of feeding themselves seems like rank classicism. And this is coming from someone who's 100% supportive of Bloomberg's soda ban and only wishes it went further. That targets everyone. This specifically targets the poor. That's not okay.” (Referring to New York mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to ban sale of large soft drinks.)
The report doesn’t immediately call for restrictions on SNAP. It does call for allowing states to experiment with such restrictions, disclosure of data on how SNAP funds are spent by participants, and disclosure by anti-hunger groups if they have potential conflict of interest when taking public positions on SNAP policy.
7. G20 Summit Should Focus on Food Security
Christina Bergman, in online paper Deutsche Welle: “Around a billion people around the world suffer from hunger. At this year's G20 summit in Mexico, food security will be one of the topics of discussion - but experts fear that other issues may steal the spotlight.
“Especially dramatic is the situation in West Africa, where 18 million people are caught in a struggle for survival. The world's poorest countries have been heavily affected by the worldwide financial crisis, as evidenced by the dwindling flow of funds to these places. While in the second half of 2010 around $309 billion was invested in developing countries, in the second half of 2011 the figure dropped to $170 billion. According to a press teleconference statement by Neil Watkins of anti-poverty NGO ActionAid USA, the G20 conference should seek to find solutions for all economies, not just the largest ones.”
“Watkins believes that the most significant measure for combating the hunger crisis is to make changes to biofuel policies. ActionAid USA found that augmented corn production in the U.S. for biofuel led to a rapid increase in food import prices in Mexico.”
http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16031169,00.html
8. California’s Perilous Acres: Food, Hunger, Business, Migrants
Daily Beast: “The Central Valley stretches for 450 miles through California and is home to so many of the problems America faces today. Nearly half of the country’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables are grown there—largely picked by undocumented workers—and more than half of the residents make less than $16,746 a year. As lines of laborers pick asparagus, other lines form at community food giveaways. Pesticides are sprayed, water wars are fought, and the housing bubble has forever changed the landscape…….Ken and Melanie Light spent five years documenting in words and images the many complexities of the Central Valley.” You can see some of their insightful and revealing photos in this photo essay from the Daily Beast:
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday June 22. We are continuing our discussion on the congruence of urban agriculture, poverty, and the criminalization of growing and distributing food. The next meeting of the full group will be Friday June 22 at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, from 10 am-Noon. For more information contact frank@hungeractionla.org
- County Officials Want To Crack Down on General Relief Program: Advocates Warn Measures Will Hurt The Poorest
- Latinos At Higher Risk of Hunger in U.S.
- UCLA Releases Data on Child Obesity
- Food Workers Don’t Earn Living Wage: 13% Need Food Assistance
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday June 22. We are continuing our discussion on the congruence of urban agriculture, poverty, and the criminalization of growing and distributing food. The next meeting of the full group will be Friday June 22 at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, from 10 am-Noon. For more information contact frank@hungeractionla.org
State Budget Deadline Looms: Call In To Protect Vulnerable Families
June 15th is the constitutional deadline for the legislature to pass a budget and this is the final week to influence the legislature. Please focus on your State Senator and ask:
• No Rainy Day Fund
• No More Cuts to Health and Human Services
• We need more revenues than the Governors Revenue Initiative
1. Need to find out who your state Senator is? Don’t worry, you need this information anyway. Go to
2. http://lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lac/government/ .
3. Go to “Services Locator” in the upper right of the page and enter your address and city.
4. Hit “Enter”
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the new page, look on your right hand side. Hey! It’s a list of all your county and state representatives and their local phone numbers. Get on the horn with the message above
Farm Bill Is In Senate: Call Our Senators To Say No Cuts to SNAP
The federal government Senate Ag Committee has introduced S 3240, otherwise known as The Farm Bill. The Senate proposal includes a cut of about $4.5 billion out of the SNAP program. That includes taking away funding that will help millions of California families next year especially seniors and families with high utility bills to get more assistance.
Please call the office of Senator Diane Feinstein and tell her we need to save the SNAP program from cuts in the Farm Bill. Ask her to support the Gillibrand amendment, which will restore the cut that is proposed. Senator Boxer has already signed on in support of this amendment.
Senator Feinstein’s phone number is: (202) 224-3841
Please tell the person you talk to on the phone:
“Hi, my name is _____________________________. I’m very concerned about the Farm Bill that is being debated in the Senate.Please oppose any cuts to SNAP or any changes in eligibility for people participating in SNAP. Please support Senator Gillibrand’s amendment to restore the $4.5 billion being cut from SNAP”
You can also help out in other ways:
1- You can write an Op Ed about the Farm Bill. Share our Strength has provided a template you can use: check out our friends at CFPA on their website http://cfpa.net/calfresh/protect-snap-in-the-farm-bill-write-an-op-ed-to-your-local-newspapers
2- Pass this alert on to other folks.
More on the Farm Bill:
Conservative Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have offered amendments to the farm bill that would greatly cut federal spending on food stamps.
In a statement, the Obama administration said that while it supported the new farm bill, it opposed cuts to the food-stamp program and wanted deeper cuts to farm programs, including crop insurance. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/us/politics/farm-bill-advances-in-senate.xml
Editorial: Farm Bill should protect hungry kids, not big insurance companies
LA Times: Four changes needed: This year's farm bill will allocate somewhere in the range of $100 billion a year, enough money to target such challenges as the obesity epidemic, water pollution, the loss of soil and biodiversity, and the need to usher in a new generation of farmers, ranchers and land stewards. But that would require at least four fundamental shifts.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-imhoff-farm-bill-20120608,0,7923048.story
California farmers see mixed benefits in current Farm Bill proposal:
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/06/3647479/senate-kicks-off-debate-on-farm.html
From Bread for the World: During our Lobby Day tomorrow, Bread for the World members will personally deliver petitions to Congress that oppose the view that churches are solely responsible for feeding hungry and poor people. More than 30,000 people of faith signed these petitions.
Even if you can’t join us in person, you can participate in our virtual Lobby Day. Here’s how:
• Call your U.S. senators and your U.S. representative using our special toll-free number: 1-800-826-3688.
• Tell them you’re a Bread for the World member.
• Ask them to create a circle of protection around funding for programs vital for hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world.
County Officials Want To Crack Down on General Relief Program: Advocates Warn Measures Will Hurt The Poorest
Alexandra Zavis, LA Times: “Concerned about growing welfare costs, Los Angeles County officials are considering additional measures to root out fraud and impose tougher sanctions on aid recipients who fail to comply with program rules…..But advocates for the poor contend the crackdown would end up denying help to some of the region's most destitute residents who are eligible for assistance.”
"They are absolutely going to cut the number of people" receiving general relief payments, said Jennifer del Castillo, an attorney with Public Counsel Law Center. "But they are going to do this by putting in place these administrative hurdles that people can't overcome, rather than eliminate people who shouldn't have GR."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-welfare-rolls-20120611,0,7649315.story
Latinos At Higher Risk of Hunger in U.S.
Latinos living in the United States are more than twice as likely to be at risk of hunger than white, non-Hispanic households, according to Feeding America, a network of food banks that serve nearly six million people each week.
A new Pew survey shows that only 40% of Republicans support safety net programs:
http://crooksandliars.com/blue-texan/new-pew-survey-only-40-republicans-supp
UCLA Releases Data on Child Obesity
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy are releasing data of overweight and obese children by city. Over 250 California cities (populations over 20,000) were analyzed for the study.
Here is the link to the public health advocacy website where you can find the entire report, state and county fact sheets, and recommendations:
http://www.publichealthadvocacy.org/research_overweight2010.html
Food Workers Don’t Earn Living Wage: 13% Need Food Assistance
Tiffany Hsu, LA Times: “The roughly 20 million workers involved up and down the American food chain make up a sixth of the country’s entire workforce -- a fifth if you exclude public employees. But they’re not treated especially well, according to a new report.
Researchers found that food sector workers outnumber healthcare, education and manufacturing employees and are responsible for annually producing $1.8 trillion in goods and services, more than 13% of gross domestic product.
But just more than 1 in 10 of them earn a livable wage. The vast majority don’t get basic benefits from their employers and don’t have many opportunities for advancement. The food industry, according to the study’s authors, could be endangering its workers and customers by forcing employees to operate in conditions of high stress and little payback.”
“The median wage for a food industry worker is $9.65 an hour. Compared with the 8.3% of American workers on food stamps, 13.8% of food industry employees depend on the aid.”
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-food-industry-workers-20120605,0,1730541.story
- Help Pass Critical Help For People in Re-Entry
- State Assembly Approves Farmworker Protection Bill:
- Farm Bill Editorial: Sacramento Bee
- Are You a Retail Professional? Neighborhood Market Trainings July 26: Professionals Needed To Offer Expertise
- Restaurant Opportunities Center: “Behind The Kitchen Door”
- FDA Rejects Corn Syrup Industry Attempt to Rename Their Product “Corn Sugar”
- San Diego County Group Launches Aquaponics Farm To Support Homeless Recovery
Stay tuned to the HALA Website www.hungeractionla.org for news on Market Match, the Peoples Guide, current and past archived news articles and more!
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday June 22. We are continuing our discussion on the congruence of urban agriculture, poverty, and the criminalization of growing and distributing food. The next meeting of the full group will be Friday June 22 at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, from 10 am-Noon. For more information contact frank@hungeractionla.org
Farm Bill Is In Senate: Call Our Senators To Say No Cuts to SNAP
The Senate Ag Committee has introduced S 3240, otherwise known as The Farm Bill. The Senate proposal includes a cut of almost $5 billion out of the SNAP program. That includes taking away funding that will help millions of California families next year especially seniors and families with high utility bills to get more assistance.
Please call the office of Senator Diane Feinstein and tell her we need to save the SNAP program from cuts in the Farm Bill.
Her phone number is: (202) 224-3841
Please tell the person you talk to on the phone:
“Hi, my name is _____________________________.
I’m very concerned about the Farm Bill that is coming to the Senate this week.
Please oppose any cuts to SNAP or any changes in eligibility for people participating in SNAP.”
Can you make the call today? We are generating one hundred calls in the next four days.
You can also help out in other ways:
1- You can write an Op Ed about the Farm Bill. Share our Strength has provided a template you can use: check out our friends at CFPA on their website http://cfpa.net/calfresh/protect-snap-in-the-farm-bill-write-an-op-ed-to-your-local-newspapers
2- Pass this alert on to other folks.
Help Pass Critical Help For People in Re-Entry
California is one of only 15 remaining states that bars people who have a past drug felony from receiving federal food assistance (CalFresh, formerly called food stamps.)
AB 828, allowing people in re-entry to have access to CalFresh, is stalled in the state Senate Appropriations Committee. It must pass out of there by August. Local legislators on that committee include Senators Ted Lieu, Curren Price, and Robert Dutton. If you are in one of those districts and would like to speak up to help that bill move forward, please contact frank@hungeractionla.org
State Assembly Approves Farmworker Protection Bill:
Can you imagine someone arguing that it’s too hard for employers to provide water for workers picking our food in 100 degree plus weather for hours a day? Yet that’s what some in the Assembly did although fortunately, the state Assembly approved a bill allowing farm workers to hold their employers accountable for ignoring this most basic requirement.
From the Sacramento Bee: “AB2346 would let farm workers sue if employers fail to supply water within 10 feet or shade within 200 feet of workers. Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, D-Marina del Ray, said she wrote the bill because the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is not doing enough to protect field workers from heat-related illness and death.”
"Water and shade are essentially free," she said. "People who feed us should not fear death when they go to work."
Several Republican lawmakers spoke against the bill. Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, of Gerber, said the requirement that workers have water close at hand is too onerous, and the potential penalties for employers are too high.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/31/4529722/assembly-rejects-farm-worker-protection.html
Farm Bill Editorial: Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee, again: “The Golden State, which is home to 12 percent of the population and produces nearly 50 percent of the nation's fruits and vegetables – food you can actually eat rather than the industrial grain churned out by Midwest farms – gets less than 5 percent of federal spending under the farm bill.
Here are the numbers: From 2008 to 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $39.6 billion on commodity crops under the current farm bill, more than eight times the $4.7 billion that went to the so-called "specialty crops" – the fruits, nuts and vegetables. That huge imbalance was way out of proportion to the difference in market values: $320 billion for commodity crops (primarily corn, wheat, soybeans, rice and cotton), not even twice the $170 billion for specialty produce.
“If you juxtapose California's paltry slice of the farm bill pie with the bonanza that grain and cotton country get, it becomes very clear very fast which interests have the ear of Congress.”
Are You a Retail Professional? Neighborhood Market Trainings July 26: Professionals Needed To Offer Expertise
The Los Angeles Food Policy Council is proud to offer "From Corner Store to Community Grocer," a first-of-its-kind Neighborhood Market Training on July 26, 2012. The training will support owners and staff of convenience stores, corner stores and neighborhood markets in South and East Los Angeles, primarily, with skills related to expanding healthy, fresh food grocery services at their stores. Many of the participating stores serve communities where access to healthy food is limited and the food retail environment is dominated by fast food outlets and junk food marketing. This training is for the neighborhood market that is ready to successfully promote a greater variety of nutritious and fresh food. Please help us get the word out to neighborhood markets in your area. More information: Contact
Clare FoxStrategic Initiatives Coordinator
Los Angeles Food Policy Council | goodfoodla.org
200 N. Spring Street City Hall, Suite 273
Los Angeles, CA 90012 claremfox@gmail.com | 323.341.5096
**The organizers are also seeking industry professionals, consultants, public agencies and community-based organizations who can lend expertise in the following areas: Healthy Food Procurement & Distribution: Strategic Branding, Marketing & Promotion: Merchandising & Store Format: Product Development: Local & Organic Foods: Permits: Management & Business Development Skills: Resource Development: Community Needs & Participation
Restaurant Opportunities Center: “Behind The Kitchen Door”
A groundbreaking expose of working conditions in restaurants told through the stories of workers across the country, Behind The Kitchen Door, written by Saru Jayaraman, Co-Director of ROC United, educates consumers on the moral, political, and economic implications of eating out.
What’s at stake when we choose a restaurant is not only our own health or food experience, but the health and well-being of the second-largest private sector workforce—the lives of 10 million people, many immigrants, many people of color, who bring passion, tenacity, and important insight into the American dining experience.
To be released 2.13.2013 by Cornell University Press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LZEUwvIHdSs
FDA Rejects Corn Syrup Industry Attempt to Rename Their Product “Corn Sugar”
The Food and Drug Administration rejected a petition from the Corn Refiners Assn. to rename high-fructose corn syrup “corn sugar,” saying that the change could confuse consumers and “pose a public health concern.”……… “If the name had been changed, it would have given consumers the wrong impression that this product is ‘natural,’ ” said Urvashi Rangan, director of the union’s Consumer Safety Group in a statement. (Tiffany Hsu, LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-fda-corn-sugar-20120531,0,7904580.story
San Diego County Group Launches Aquaponics Farm To Support Homeless Recovery
One of North County's leading nonprofits is embarking on an ambitious farming project that will grow thousands of pounds of vegetables in nutrient-rich water fed with waste coming from fish in holding tanks. Vista-based North County Solutions for Change hopes to complete the first phase of its 2-acre, organic aquaponics farm by July. The goal is to grow 86,000 pounds of produce and 13,000 pounds of fish in the first year.
Some of the produce and fish will be sold to local restaurants and health food stores to help support the nonprofit's efforts. Much of it also will be used to feed those enrolled in Solutions for Change's homeless recovery efforts. (David Ogul, North County Times)
- Thanks to all who attended the May 25 HALA Meeting.
- State Looking For More Farmers Markets To Accept CalFresh
- Bread for the World Petition To Stop Congressional Cuts to SNAP: Deadline Midnight
- Protect The Survey That Tracks Poverty in America
- Share Our Strength Fundraising To Boost Summer Meals for Kids
- State Anti-Hunger Bills Move Forward: AB 1560, AB 828
- Farm Bill Moves To Senate Floor For June Debates
- Fox Helps GOP Gut Safety Net By Dismissing the Poor
- New Poll Shows Strong Support for Helping People Buy Healthy Food
- Congressman says Pizza Not A Vegetable: Introduces SLICE Act
- San Bernardino County Could Lose Big Under Brown’s Budget
- News on Food Production
Thanks to all who attended the May 25 HALA Meeting. We are continuing our discussion on the congruence of urban agriculture, poverty, and the criminalization of growing and distributing food. The next meeting of the full group will be Friday June 22 at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, from 10 am-Noon. For more information contact frank@hungeractionla.org
State Looking For More Farmers Markets To Accept CalFresh: From On May 9, 2012, USDA-FNS announced funding to help States expand availability of wireless technology in farmers’ markets not currently participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as the Food Stamp Program (and called CalFresh here in California.) The state Department of Social Services is recruiting farmers’ markets to accept SNAP benefits, which includes a free wireless Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) machine. For more information on steps needed to participate and obtain the machine contact Carle Brinkman at The Ecology Center ebt@ecologycenter.org
Bread for the World Petition To Stop Congressional Cuts to SNAP: Deadline Midnight
From Rev. Dave Buerstetta, Bread for the World member: “The House just passed a budget that will make more Americans hungry. It’s unacceptable — and I am standing up to Congress to let them know how I feel. That’s why I signed Bread’s petition urging Congress not to cut SNAP. If churches alone were to handle longer food lines due to congressional budget cuts, each church would have to come up with an average of an additional $50,000 each year for the next 10 years! The biblical witness is clear: As followers of God in the way of Jesus we are called to protect hungry and vulnerable people. Bread will be hand-delivering the petitions to Congress as part of their Lobby Day on June 12.”
“I agree that budget deficits are unsustainable. But budget choices that make hungry people hungrier are immoral.” You can sign the petition until midnight tonight (May 31):
Protect The Survey That Tracks Poverty in America
From the Half in Ten campaign: “The American Community Survey, ACS, is part of the U.S. Census. It is the cornerstone of our nation’s most comprehensive data set, used by planners, government officials, researchers, businesses, foundations, advocates, and service providers to inform decision-making and investments that drive almost every sector of the economy and every aspect of community life. What’s more, the ACS is one of the primary sources for state- and local-level data on poverty in America.”
“The ACS is currently under attack in Congress. It has been the target of multiple legislative attempts to gut, undermine, underfund, and even do away with the survey altogether.” How you can protect the survey:
Share Our Strength Fundraising To Boost Summer Meals for Kids
From Share Our Strength: When school lets out this summer, kids who rely on free and reduced price meals at school find themselves uncertain of where they’ll get their next meal. Though more than 21 million kids get free and reduced price school lunch, just over 3 million get free meals in the summer. You can make a difference for hungry kids this summer by making a tax-deductible gift to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. Every dollar you give can connect a child with 10 meals and when you give today, the Arby’s Foundation will match your gift, dollar for dollar up to $100,000, to double the impact of your donation.
State Anti-Hunger Bills Move Forward
AB 1560, allowing more families to be eligible for CalFresh by expanding eligibility to many families getting Medi-Cal, has passed the state Assembly, as well as AB 1594, a bill which would require charter schools to offer a meal to students (as public schools are required.) These bills were championed by the 450 attendees of Hunger Action Day just two weeks ago at the state capitol.
AB 828, allowing people in re-entry to have access to CalFresh, is stalled in the state Senate Appropriations Committee. It must pass out of there by August. Local legislators on that committee include Senators Ted Lieu, Curren Price, and Robert Dutton. If you are in one of those districts and would like to speak up to help that bill move forward, please contact frank@hungeractionla.org
Farm Bill Moves To Senate Floor For June Debates
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., expects the farm bill proposal passed by her committee to be brought up for floor debate in early June. She says she has the 60 votes needed to pass the Farm Bill although not everyone agrees. The House Farm Bill proposal will be very different from the Senate version, according to observers. It will make deeper cuts to nutrition programs and preserve the current subsidy system for some crops. Ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., thinks the bills in both houses must be passed by early August to be approved : the current Farm Bill expires Sept. 30.
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/DC-Watch-Senate-to-debate-farm-bill154175195.html?ref=195
Neighborhood Market Trainings July 26: Professionals Needed To Offer Expertise
The Los Angeles Food Policy Council is proud to offer "From Corner Store to Community Grocer," a first-of-its-kind Neighborhood Market Training on July 26, 2012. The training will support owners and staff of convenience stores, corner stores and neighborhood markets in South and East Los Angeles, primarily, with skills related to expanding healthy, fresh food grocery services at their stores. Many of the participating stores serve communities where access to healthy food is limited and the food retail environment is dominated by fast food outlets and junk food marketing. This training is for the neighborhood market that is ready to successfully promote a greater variety of nutritious and fresh food. Please help us get the word out to neighborhood markets in your area. For more information contact:
Clare FoxStrategic Initiatives Coordinator
Los Angeles Food Policy Council | goodfoodla.org
200 N. Spring Street City Hall, Suite 273
Los Angeles, CA 90012
claremfox@gmail.com | 323.341.5096
**The organizers are also seeking industry professionals, consultants, public agencies and community-based organizations who can lend expertise in the following areas: Healthy Food Procurement & Distribution: Strategic Branding, Marketing & Promotion: Merchandising & Store Format: Product Development: Local & Organic Foods: Permits: Management & Business Development Skills: Resource Development: Community Needs & Participation
Fox Helps GOP Gut Safety Net By Dismissing the Poor
Media Matters: “Fox is helping the GOP eviscerate vital antipoverty programs by characterizing the poor "as actually living the good life." In fact, as incomes have stagnated and income disparity between the rich and working class have grown, such drastic cuts would mean "ending assistance for millions of low-income families."….Some of Fox’s output includes John Stossel who basically says people aren’t poor if they have a refrigerator---apparently not taking into account a person with a fridge who has no money for food to put in it. Claiming that a refrigerator ends hunger is like saying having a brain ends stupidity….
http://mediamatters.org/mobile/research/201205300013
New Poll Shows Strong Support for Helping People Buy Healthy Food
A recent poll commissioned by the W.K. Kellogg foundation has some interesting results:
- A vast majority of Americans say they eat more whole grains and fresh produce than they did five years ago,
- Eighty-four percent of adults surveyed said federal food programs should focus more on supporting smaller, local fruit and vegetable farmers and should provide incentives for development of new businesses that offer "locally produced healthy food,"
- 93% -- said they think that it's "very important" or "somewhat important" to "make sure all Americans have equal access to fresh fruits and vegetables."
- Three-quarters of respondents said they would support a national program to double the value of food stamp benefits that are used at farmers markets.
Congressman says Pizza Not A Vegetable: Introduces SLICE Act
“The SLICE Act, for School Lunch Improvements for Children’s Education, has been introduced in response to congressional action last fall ensuring that two tablespoons of tomato paste slathered on pizza could continue to be classified as a full vegetable serving in the federal school lunch program.
"Pizza certainly has its place in school meals, but equating it with broccoli, carrots and celery seriously undermines this nation’s efforts to support children’s health and their ability to learn because of better school nutrition," said Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), the bill’s chief sponsor. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-pizza-veggie-20120523,0,4226600.story
San Bernardino County Could Lose Big Under Brown’s Budget
San Bernardino County stands to lose $60 million in funding for its welfare and food stamp programs and would likely have to eliminate hundreds of positions under Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget proposal, officials said. According to a memo from the county Department of Legislative Affairs, Brown's revision earlier this month to the 2012-13 state budget - the May Revise - could mean for the county a $126-million reduction in program and administrative funding, a $1.7-million revenue shortfall and a potential reduction of 275 county positions.
Immigration reform is having its effect. Farmers in California are having a hard time getting enough workers and the cherry crop could rot as a result.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/26/BUAK1OLQ31.DTL
Two views on a bill about egg production:
A new bill introduced in Congress this year will amend the Egg Products Inspection Act. “This legislation is good for consumers, good for egg farmers, good for grocery and foodservice companies, and good for hens!”
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of seven other senators introduced a bill late last week to set federal housing standards for egg-laying hens, again sparking protest from both pork and beef producers, as well as other animal rights activists who are now calling it the "rotten egg bill."
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/egg-standards-bill-introduced-in-senate/
- Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday May 25 Builds Bridge Between Urban Agriculture and Anti-Poverty Advocates
- Hunger Action Day Brings 400 To State Capitol
- Peoples Guide Out Soon
- Market Match May
- Farm Bill and Federal Legislation: CA Congressional Delegation Responds! Can you Respond To Them?
- What to do now
- Sign-on letter from Feeding America asking the House to maintain funding for nutrition programs
- G8 Says It Will Help End Hunger in Africa: But Aid Agencies Respond With Skepticism
- SNAP, CalFresh in the News
- Eating Healthy Not Necessarily More Expensive
- Marion Wright Edelman: Summer Food Program
Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday May 25 Builds Bridge Between Urban Agriculture and Anti-Poverty Advocates. . At LAANE, 464 S. Lucas, 10 am-12 noon Friday May 25. All are invited. Guest speakers from WORKS and LA CAN will facilitate a discussion between LA’s urban agriculture/community gardening activists and anti-poverty advocates to share each others’ work and ideas on how to collaborate. Other issues will include updates on state and federal legislation and budget around hunger. RSVP frank@hungeractionla.org
Hunger Action Day Brings 400 To State Capitol: Hunger Action LA joined LA Community Action Network, A New Way of Life, Shields for Families, Occupy the Hood, Time for Change Foundation, Homeless Health Care LA, Orange County Food Access Coalition, and the LA Drum Ensemble in Hunger Action Day 2012 at the State Capitol Thursday May 17. The SoCal contingent, 120 strong combined with San Diego, was part of a total 400 participants who visited state legislators to educate them on the devastating impacts that cuts to CalWORKs would have on our communities, in addition to encouraging support for bills to eliminate the ban on people with past drug felonies from getting food assistance, requiring charter schools to serve at least one meal as public schools are required, and aligning Medi-Cal with CalFresh.
Peoples Guide Out Soon : The Peoples Guide to Welfare, Health and Other Services will be available beginning June 1. (Spanish version will be available July 1.) Now in its 34th year, the Peoples Guide is now published by Hunger Action LA. This 68 page newsprint publication covers eligibility, application process, rights and responsibilities for a spectrum of programs in LA County, including financial assistance for families and individuals, job training, help for seniors, transitional foster youth, veterans, and persons in re-entry, tax credits, child care, unemployment, disability, Social Security and SSI, Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, CalFresh, WIC, low cost phone service and utility assistance, low cost car insurance, legal aid, and more. Place your order now at orders@hungeractionla.org . Indicate the quantity you’d like, your name and address. Low income persons ordering individually get 1 free copy: agencies are asked to pay 1.25 per copy to help us cover cost of printing, translation, and postage. Bulk discounts available. Call 213 388 8228 or send you order/questions to orders@hungeractionla.org
Market Match May: Market Match provides low income people, especially CalFresh participants, with additional free bonus coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Hunger Action LA is expanding the Market Match program to an additional 7 markets for the month of May: Alhambra, East Hollywood, Gardena, La Cienega, La Puente, Mar Vista and Santa Monica. More information at www.hungeractionla.org
Farm Bill and Federal Legislation: CA Congressional Delegation Responds! Can you Respond To Them?
32 democratic members of the California delegation sent a letter about the Farm Bill this past Tuesday (May 15) to House agriculture committee leaders. From Kari Hammerschlag of Environmental Working Group (EWG), which has been advocating for a better Farm Bill: “The letter urges them to expand support for local and regional food, organic agriculture, beginning and disadvantaged farmers, pest detection and research and marketing for fruits and vegetable growers. The lawmakers also urged support full funding for nutrition and conservation programs, all of which are very important to California. There is tremendous pressure to cut these programs in the upcoming farm bill and this letter shows that California Democrats are unlikely to back a bill that does not include these important provisions.”
The letter also asks for funding for the Hunger Free Communities program, which can provide incentives for SNAP (CalFresh) users to spend benefits at farmers markets.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) did research that shows that “despite being home to 12 percent of the nation’s population and generating 12 percent of the country’s agricultural output, California receives less than 5 percent of federal farm bill expenditures. ….EWG’s research shows that between 2008-2010, the farm bill spent $39.4 billion, or more than eight times on commodity crops than on specialty crops, even though their market value— $320 billion was only twice that of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. That leaves California specialty crop growers, who produce half of California’s agricultural bounty and 40 percent of the nation’s fruit and vegetables, at a major disadvantage, not to mention the health of the nation.”
There is a press release here about the data which has links to all the information: http://www.ewg.org/release/healthy-food-california-get-short-shrift-farm-bill
What to do now: If you live in one of the districts of the legislators who signed the letter, please send them your thanks and support. We can help you find their number and e mail. The legislators in LA County (and some nearby counties) who signed include Representatives Joe Baca, Lucile Roybal-Allard, Janice Hahn, Maxine Waters, Judy Chu, Howard Berman, Grace Napolitano, Adam Schiff, Karen Bass, Henry Waxman, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Henry Waxman, and Brad Sherman.
Tell them: “We appreciate your support for a Farm Bill that supports a healthier country, provides adequate support for California fruits and vegetables, protects our programs that end hunger, and protects conservation program. Thank you for signing on to the letter to the House Ag Committee sent May 15.”
Sign-on letter from Feeding America asking the House to maintain funding for nutrition programs:
https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/7005/images/coalition
%20FY13%20ag%20approps%20letter.pdf
To sign your organization on to the letter: rsvp@feedingamerica.org
Deadline Friday May 25.
Impacts Of Budget Cuts To Health Care And Supportive Services For Seniors And Caregivers: Thursday May 24
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: The Echo Park United Methodist Church,
1226 Alvarado ( 1 block North of Sunset)
Speakers include: Dr. William Vega ( Provost Professor & Executive Director- USC Roybal Institute of Aging), Sister Alice Mari Quinn ( Director- St. Vincent Meal on Wheels), Frank Tamborello ( Director -Hunger Action, LA), James Don ( Asst.General Manager, LA Dept. of Aging), Office of CA State Assembly Member Gilbert Cedillo, and others.
The program is offered at no cost and is organized by the Echo Park Gathering of Elders and Caregivers that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues impacting this segment of the area's population.
G8 Says It Will Help End Hunger in Africa: But Aid Agencies Respond With Skepticism
The White House released a statement prior to the G8 meeting over the weekend on its ambitious proposal to promote food security in Africa. “At the Camp David Summit, G-8 and African leaders will commit to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, the next phase of our shared commitment to achieving global food security. In partnership with Africa's people and leaders, our goals are to increase responsible domestic and foreign private investments in African agriculture, take innovations that can enhance agricultural productivity to scale, and reduce the risk borne by vulnerable economies and communities. We recognize and will act upon the critical role played by smallholder farmers, especially women, in transforming agriculture and building thriving economies.”
http://allafrica.com/stories/201205181269.html
International agency Oxfam warned that today's announcement of the "New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition" focuses too heavily on the role of the private sector to tackle the complex challenges of food insecurity in the developing world. The organization called instead for G8 leaders to keep the promises they have already made to help developing countries invest in sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201205190181.html
Share Our Strength Shares SNAP Stories: Billy Shore of anti-hunger foundation Share Our Strength: “Every Farm Bill reauthorization brings out some of the nation's most powerful lobbyists to ensure that the voices of the companies and interests they represent are not only heard but dominate the debate. Legislative battles are rarely fair fights. This time is no different. But over the past few weeks Share Our Strength has intentionally sought out some of the voices least often heard in the corridors of Congress: those of the families who can't afford lobbyists, don't make campaign contributions, but who can bear witness first hand to the life-changing benefits of a food and nutrition assistance program like SNAP.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/billy-shore/snap-food-stamps_b_1525089.html
San Bernardino County Sun: CalFresh Helps Those In Needhttp://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_20662852/calfresh-food-program-helps-those-need
Mario Batali Goes on Food Stamp Diet: Famous chef Mario Batali has become the latest person to take the Food Stamp Challenge, living on a budget of $31/week for himself, his wife and two teenage sons. He’s doing it to protest the numerous threatened cuts to the SNAP program in the House budget and House Farm Bill proposals. “Subsisting on food stamps, especially when food is made from scratch, is doable, he said, "as a way to live, but certainly not as a way to thrive. You can always have pasta with tomato, but that's not thriving."
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/05/15/mario-batali-hungry-chef-on-food-stamp-challenge/
Eating Healthy Not Necessarily More Expensive
An Agriculture Department study released recently found that most fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods cost less than foods high in fat, sugar and salt. The government says it all depends on how you measure the price. If you compare the price per calorie — as some previous researchers have done — higher-calorie pastries and processed snacks seem like a bargain compared with fruits and vegetables.
But comparing the cost of foods by weight or portion size shows that grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy foods are less expensive than most meats or foods high in saturated fat, added sugars or salt. That means bananas, carrots, lettuce and pinto beans are all less expensive per portion than French fries, soft drinks, ice cream or ground beef.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-healthy-eating-20120516,0,2910022.story
Marion Wright Edelman: Summer Food Program
Prominent advocate for children Marion Wright Edelman reminds us that the Summer Food Program offered by USDA is available for organizations providing activities for kids during the summer:
“Many organizations that provide summer activities for children may not even realize they’re eligible for funding to serve meals. Others find they would be able to participate with just a little help from local foundations or community donations to cover extra expenses like refrigerators or coolers”
http://cdf.childrensdefense.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=28061.0&dlv_id=27081
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
frank@hungeractionla.org
Governor’s May Budget Revise: As you read this the Governor’s May Budget Revise is probably being announced. If it’s not too late you can join in a rally Monday May 14th at noon in downtown Los Angeles at the state building (300 S. Spring St.) This is one of several rallies occurring statewide. At each of these events, we'll be bringing attention to the devastating effects of year after year of budget cuts to health and human services and calling on legislators and the people of California to choose revenue solutions over more cuts. Contact: Astrid Campos acampos@communitychange.org 213.407.5840
- Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday May 25 Builds Bridge Between Urban Agriculture and Anti-Poverty Advocates.
- Market Match May: Market Match provides low income people, especially CalFresh participants...
- Farm Bill and Federal Legislation: SNAP Under Multiple Threats
- How We Can Respond
- And What About The Farm Part of the Farm Bill?
- USDA Awards $4 Million For Expanding SNAP At Farmers Markets
- Food Prices In US Could Decline by Fall, But World Food Price Rises Could Cause More Hunger
Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday May 25 Builds Bridge Between Urban Agriculture and Anti-Poverty Advocates. . At LAANE, 464 S. Lucas, 10 am-12 noon Friday May 25. All are invited. Guest speakers from WORKS and LA CAN will facilitate a discussion between LA’s urban agriculture/community gardening activists and anti-poverty advocates to share each others’ work and ideas on how to collaborate. Other issues will include updates on state and federal legislation and budget around hunger. RSVP frank@hungeractionla.org
Market Match May: Market Match provides low income people, especially CalFresh participants, with additional free bonus coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Hunger Action LA is expanding the Market Match program to an additional 7 markets for the month of May: Alhambra, East Hollywood, Gardena, La Cienega, La Puente, Mar Vista and Santa Monica. More information at www.hungeractionla.org
Farm Bill and Federal Legislation:
SNAP Under Multiple Threats
It can be confusing to keep track of the many ways in which the House and Senate are attempting to cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, the former Food Stamp program, known as CalFresh here in California.) This is occurring at a time when more Americans than ever have needed assistance, and the program is actually helping the economy even for those who do not receive benefits.
Here is a summary:
- Most recently (this past week, May 10) the House voted on a $36 billion cut to SNAP, which coupled along with cuts to health care and to federal workers’ pensions, was voted to spare the military from cuts scheduled to occur due to the failure of last year’s deficit reduction commission.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/opinion/the-human-cost-of-ideology.html?_r=1
- Earlier in the year (around March) the House budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan called for $169 billion to be cut out of SNAP over 10 years.
- In addition to those two proposals, SNAP is a component of the Farm Bill. In April the House Ag Committee voted to cut $33 billion from SNAP (a prelude to the vote this last week.)
- The Senate Ag Committee already approved a $4.9 billion cut to SNAP that would prevent us in California from implementing changes that would increase benefits for thousands of people through coupling the program with utility bill assistance.
The Food Research and Action Center, responding to last week’s vote on the $36 billion cut, said “No SNAP household would be spared from seeing its benefits reduced, and millions would be forced out of the program. ….Seventy-seven percent of voters say that cutting SNAP would be the wrong way to reduce government spending.”
Bread for the World, a Christian anti-hunger organization, said “Some House Agriculture Committee members argued that churches should be responsible for feeding hungry people. If the Committee decides to cut SNAP by an additional $133 billion as directed by the House Budget Committee, it would be devastating for hungry and poor Americans and would put a huge burden on churches and charities by about $50,000 a year per congregation.”
Frank Lucas , the Oklahoma Republican who is chair of the House Ag Committee, defended the cuts but “the head of Oklahoma's largest food bank told a House Agriculture subcommittee that private charities are already stretched to the limit and that food stamp reductions would cause more hunger.”
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-food-bank-director-warns-against-food-stamp-cuts/article/3673748
A good article capturing a lot of statements about SNAP cuts, the low SNAP fraud rate compared to the food stamp program of the past, the impact on food banks, and some of the discussion about fruit and vegetable production, by David Bennett in Delta Farm Press:
Jessica Bartholow of Western Center on Law and Poverty refers us to this video satire of “The Hunger Games” critiquing the Republican cuts to SNAP. It’s a project of Half in Ten, which includes Coalition on Human Needs and other organizations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu3nGD7Hxo0&feature=player_embedded
Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them to oppose any cuts to SNAP, any changes in eligibility to the program or reduced benefits.
http://frac.org/leg-act-center/
And What About The Farm Part of the Farm Bill?
The Senate farm bill proposal recently approved by the Senate Ag Committee, while cutting SNAP by far less than the House proposals, votes to continue the big subsidies to agribusiness that have angered healthy food advocates, small farm supporters, Tea Party members, and supporters of sustainable agriculture. Responses:
Ken Cook of Environmental Working Group: “. We're asking readers who care about providing healthier food to school children to take a stand by voting on our resolution: A Farm Bill for Healthy Kids.
Be it resolved: Notwithstanding the need for full funding of conservation and nutrition programs, along with other essential reforms, the "farm bill" now before Congress shall reduce subsidies for industrial commodity crops by $1.5 billion per year and shall use those funds to serve fresh fruits and vegetables daily to the 30-plus million kids enrolled in more than 100,000 schools now served by the federal school lunch program.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/don-carr/i-call-the-vote-a-farm-bill_b_1506720.html
LA Times: “It's a deal that most businesses would relish: Buy an insurance policy to cover losses or falling prices, and the government will foot most of the bill. Such an arrangement has been enjoyed for more than a decade by the farmers who grow crops such as corn and soybeans, and the companies that insure them. And it's about to get even better. The farm bill now before Congress includes a provision — estimated to cost about $3 billion a year — that would help cover the losses farmers suffer before their crop insurance policies kick in. Those losses, termed deductibles, can run in the tens of thousands of dollars for a typical mid-size farm.”
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-farm-bill-20120511,0,6616638.story
Denver Post: “Begun in the Great Depression, these subsidies could once be justified as cushioning farming's enduring insecurities: bad weather, big shifts in supply and demand, crop infestations. But most industries now face comparable uncertainties from new technologies, global markets and erratic business cycles. Congress is writing a new farm bill and is struggling with how much to trim subsidies. But why should prosperous grain farmers and absentee owners receive special treatment and windfalls? The proper level of subsidies is simple: zero.”
http://www.denverpost.com/samuelson/ci_20606465/prosperous-farmers-dont-need-bale-out
Urban farmers need access to U.S. Agriculture Department credit programs just like their rural counterparts and Congress should accommodate their needs when it crafts the next farm bill, inner-city Cleveland farmer Michael Walton told a House subcommittee on Thursday.
http://mobile.cleveland.com/advcleve/pm_29204/contentdetail.htm?contentguid
=yt939fZ0
Center for Rural Affairs: “Why should the biggest, wealthiest farmers get unlimited payments, while Congress is cutting programs to small and mid-sized farmers? “ They are sponsoring a petition calling on limiting farm payments: protecting conservation programs; investing in rural America: and supporting beginning farmers and ranchers. You can sign here:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2715/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10345
HBO is premiering The Weight of the Nation, Parts 1 and 2 on May 14 and Parts 3 and 4 on May 15, 8 pm on both nights. The documentary series features case studies, interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity. You can find out more information about the multifaceted project including where you can attend screenings of the films, how to host your own screenings, companion book and DVD, etc
http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/about-the-project
Cornerstone Theater Presents Café Vida
Acclaimed playwright Lisa Loomer pens the first play in The Hunger Cycle, a collaboration between Cornerstone, Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. Chabela and Luz are rival homegirls ready to leave the life and begin anew at Café Vida where they learn to compost, tend a garden, julienne an onion, and rock your lunch order with a smile and a heaping side of transformation.
TIMES & DATES APRIL 26 – MAY 20, 2012: previews April 26 – May 4; opening night – Saturday, May 5
Thursdays – Saturdays @ 8 p.m., Sundays @ 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) – Theatre 3, 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. TICKETS:$20 Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, $10 Thursdays. Pay-What-You-Can tickets available at the door for each performance
http://cornerstonetheater.org/CafeVida
USDA Awards $4 Million For Expanding SNAP At Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are a popular source of reasonably priced fresh produce, but across the country many accept only cash or checks - a big problem for low-income shoppers using food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to change that. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan this week announced a $4 million grant for states to help implement wireless technology that will allow more farmers markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps.
http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news/nation_world/&id=151061415
The $4 million in funding provides SNAP participants greater access to fresh and healthy food, while supporting American farmers and local economies.
http://m.westernfarmpress.com/government/food-stamps-get-boost-farmers-markets
SNAP participation at farmers markets up 400% since 2008:
http://m.heraldnet.com/heraldnet/pm_110615/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=
qiD7r9ly&rwthr=0
Food Prices In US Could Decline by Fall, But World Food Price Rises Could Cause More Hunger
Consumers could see some relief from higher food prices by late fall, if the latest government crop forecast holds up. The U.S. Agriculture Department predicted Thursday that corn production will total a record 14.8 billion bushels. That compares with 12.4 billion bushels a year ago and it’s 11 percent higher than the previous record crop in 2009. The government also predicts a record yield of 166 bushels per acre.
This week at the G8 summit, President Obama will announce "the new alliance to increase food security and nutrition". Guardian UK reports, “It's an initiative by members of the G8 designed to tackle hunger in half a dozen African nations, which has been the subject of intense inter-governmental back channel negotiations for the past few weeks.. With food commodity prices spiralling upwards in a way not seen since the devastating price spikes of2008, millions of lives literally depend upon it. (The plan) involves individual nations investing in the agricultural base from a macro level – large-scale irrigation schemes – through to the micro level of training for individual farmers and access to more robust seed stock, all of it intended to increase output and hence income.”
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
Mothers Day Approaching: Order your Mother’s Day flowers from Flour LA:
http://www.flourla.com/ .
- They use Fair Trade, organic and locally grown flowers whenever possible and have been featured in LA Weekly, Martha Stewart Weddings and Whole Foods.
- 10% of all orders placed from Sun, May 6th to Sun, May 13th will be donated directly to HALA. The donations will be specifically for the Market Match program which provides vouchers for low income families and individuals to buy fresh fruits and veggies at 11 LA County farmers markets in May.
- Treat your mom to flowers and help another mom buy their family locally grown vegetables and fruit!
- Letter Carriers Food Drive May 12
- Weight of The Nation
- KCET Departures Covers Food Activism
- Cornerstone Theater Presents Café Vida
- May: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings
- May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
- May 25: The next regular Hunger Action Day meeting
- Volunteers Needed
- Market Match May
- Many Still Unaware They Can Qualify for CalFresh
- Can EBT Be Used for Online Groceries?
- Media Under-Reports SNAP’s Effectiveness
- WIC Enrollment Declines Over Last 3 Years
- Meals on Wheels Study Reveals Spike in Senior Hunger
- 93,000 Californians Face Cutoff of Unemployment Benefits
- Education Has Strong Role In Underemployment
- Transnational Corporations Eye Mexico For Genetically Modified Seed Production
- GE Food Labeling Makes California Ballot
- World food prices fall but inflation fears remain:
Letter Carriers Food Drive May 12
On May 12 postal carriers around the country will collect non-perishable food from customers along their routes and deliver the food to local food banks. The National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger campaign - the country's largest one day food drive, will once again replenish food pantries throughout the United States.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/20th-annual-nalc-stamp-out-hunger-set-for-may-12-2012-05-01
THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.
The centerpiece of THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION campaign is the four-part documentary series, each featuring case studies, interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity.
HBO is premiering The Weight of the Nation, Parts 1 and 2 on May 14 and Parts 3 and 4 on May 15, 8 pm on both nights. You can find out more information about the multifaceted project including where you can attend screenings of the films, how to host your own screenings, companion book and DVD, etc
http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/about-the-project
A Weight of the Nation conference is currently underway in Washington DC
http://www.weightofthenation.org/
KCET Departures Covers Food Activism
KCET’s Departures has produced a website feature about food activism in Los Angeles in which you can click on various picture on a mural and watch related interviews, many recorded on the recent Good Food Day of Service held March 31. From the website: “Fortunately, a social movement in Los Angeles surrounding food issues is emerging, with grassroots and government efforts collectively re-shaping the city.”
http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/good-food/changing-course/
Cornerstone Theater Presents Café Vida
Acclaimed playwright Lisa Loomer pens the first play in The Hunger Cycle, a collaboration between Cornerstone, Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. Chabela and Luz are rival homegirls ready to leave the life and begin anew at Café Vida where they learn to compost, tend a garden, julienne an onion, and rock your lunch order with a smile and a heaping side of transformation.
TIMES & DATES APRIL 26 – MAY 20, 2012: previews April 26 – May 4; opening night – Saturday, May 5
Thursdays – Saturdays @ 8 p.m., Sundays @ 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) – Theatre 3, 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. TICKETS:$20 Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, $10 Thursdays. Pay-What-You-Can tickets available at the door for each performance
http://cornerstonetheater.org/CafeVida
Healthy Farms, Healthy People Priorities Survey
Healthy Farms Healthy People is a national coalition based in Oakland and in Washington DC , which works for policy reform that promotes the health of all Americans while strengthening the economic and environmental viability of the food and agricultural sectors. They invite all interested organizations to take part in their priority setting survey which can be accessed here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HFHP_Survey_1
Senate Ag Committee’s Farm Bill Not What We Need
Although the Senate Ag Committee’s recently passed version of the farm bill does have a couple of helpful items (such as incentives for SNAP users at farmers markets and a pilot program for SNAP benefits to be accepted by online grocers), it also contains:
· $4.9 billion cuts in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which will result in more hunger across the United States
· Bigger subsidies to agribusiness under the guise of an expanded crop insurance program
Here are some links that go further into detail:
“In a national poll last year, 78 percent said making nutritious and healthy foods more affordable and accessible should be a top priority in the farm bill. They’re going to be sorely disappointed. If it passes, this agribusiness-as-usual proposal will largely perpetuate our broken food and agriculture system, leaving in its wake a long legacy of poor health and degraded soil, water and habitat, especially in the industrial agriculture heartland.”
http://www.ewg.org/agmag/2012/05/subsidy-buffet-for-agribiz-table-scraps-for-good-food/
“the new bill might add to the quarter-trillion dollars in farm subsidies for which taxpayers are already on the hook.”
“If not handled properly, the crop insurance program has the potential to turn into a boondoggle for taxpayers and a disaster for conservation. Loose requirements and lax enforcement could mean farmers getting revenue from crop insurance on land that never had a prayer of producing a decent yield.
“Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released her 2012 Farm Bill mark which we understand includes a $4 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting states’ ability to operate “Heat and Eat” policies. This cut would mean less food in the refrigerator for already hungry families. The cut would limit states’ ability to coordinate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and SNAP benefits, and counterintuitively, reduce SNAP benefits for households eligible for but receiving the smallest, least adequate LIHEAP benefits. Currently, the District of Columbia and 14 states (CT, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, WI) implement “Heat and Eat” policies, with California soon to join them.”
http://frac.org/leg-act-center/
And the House? “House Republicans are calling for major cuts to U.S. food stamps, presenting an obstacle to passage of a 2012 farm bill, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.The 2013 budget passed by the House calls for massive spending cuts in the food stamp program that would hurt the poor who use food stamps and result in farmers losing $20 billion in direct income from the program, The Hill reported Wednesday.”
http://m.upi.com/m/story/UPI-66571335964903/
Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them to oppose any cuts to SNAP, any changes in eligibility to the program or reduced benefits.
http://frac.org/leg-act-center/
Farm subsidies often hurt, rather than help, family farmers: “The USDA identifies approximately 2.2 million farms in the country. Only 23.5 percent of farms actually grow enough crops or animals to earn over $50,000 a year, and 31 percent are producing so little that they don’t even clear $1,000 a year. Such mini-farms generally do not receive subsidies and their households rely primarily on off-farm income…..Just a fraction—around 15 percent—of all farms generate most of the agricultural output, primarily because they have specialized in commodity crops. Family farms are a dying breed.
Farm Bill funding is undoubtedly skewed toward a very narrow group of crops. Of the $246 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars spent on commodity subsidies between 1995 and 2010, almost 70 percent went to the production of just five crops: corn, cotton, wheat, rice, and soybeans.
May: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings:
West LA (Culver City) May 8, 6-8 pm
Free trainings open to the public sponsored by Hunger Action LA and partnering organizations Inner City Struggle, Community Health Councils, and Neighborhood Legal Services. Learn about current food policy initiatives on the city, state and federal level:
Culver City at Project Chicken Soup, Tuesday May 8: 6 to 8 pm, 3975 Landmark St Culver City, California 90232: call (310) 836-5402 for parking and entry details. Space limited so rsvp soon.
RSVP: frank@hungeractionla.org or 213 388 8228
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: Two ways to register:
1. If you plan on taking the Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17, you must contact frank@hungeractionla.org .
2. If you wish to fly or drive up on your own please register at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=
dHo0R2RGNFU4ck1PZnF2b0lDbmJHNEE6MA
May 25: The next regular Hunger Action Day meeting . At LAANE, 464 S. Lucas, 10 am-12 noon Friday May 25. Topics will include a re-cap of state issues and legislation on hunger, and a meeting of the minds between those focusing on poverty issues and those working on urban agriculture in LA---how can we be aware of, and strengthen each others’ work.
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the entire month of May, as we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
Market Match provides low income people, especially CalFresh participants, with additional free bonus coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Hunger Action LA is expanding the Market Match program to an additional 7 markets for the month of May: Alhambra, East Hollywood, Gardena, La Cienega, La Puente, Mar Vista and Santa Monica. Markets are listed at the bottom of the newsletter.
Many Still Unaware They Can Qualify for CalFresh
Local San Fernando Valley food pantry MEND (Meet Each Need With Dignity) and the Valley Food Bank are spotlighted in this article about current initiatives underway to clear up myths about CalFresh and get more people to enroll in the program here in LA County:
Can EBT Be Used for Online Groceries?
Currently, EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer), used for SNAP (food stamp) purchases can’t be used for online grocery sales, but “A provision in the Senate farm bill, now making its way through the legislative process, would launch a pilot program to test and eventually give recipients of SNAP benefits the same access as every other American to online grocery retailers. This important measure could help ensure that the millions of Americans who rely on nutrition assistance programs every year — including many elderly or disabled, who require delivery services — have a modern, convenient way in which to buy good food.”Jason Ackerman, Co-Founder of Fresh Direct, a New York online grocer, enthusiastically pushes for the change in this piece:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/75885.html
Media Under-Reports SNAP’s Effectiveness
“According to (a recent) study, SNAP’s antipoverty effect was strongest in 2009 when benefits were increased under President Obama’s stimulus package, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. That year, SNAP benefits reduced the poverty rate by nearly 8 percent and the depth of child poverty by 20.9 percent.”
“That’s startling news. It’s also news you may have easily missed. Media Matters, the watchdog group, reported that a week after the release of the study on April 9, no broadcast TV outlet had mentioned the study. And only one cable news network – Al Sharpton’s “Politics Nation” on MSNBC – mentioned the report.”
“New evidence that food stamps help to drastically reduce poverty has been largely ignored by the media, even as the right pursues a campaign to bully those who face food insecurity into silence and help conservatives slash funding for successful antipoverty measures,” Media Matters stated.
WIC Enrollment Declines Over Last 3 Years
“Food stamp enrollment is currently at a record 44.7 million, and the Congressional Budget Office predicted last month that the number of people getting food stamps will continue to rise through 2014. But for WIC, enrollment peaked back in August 2009 at 9.3 million. Fewer than 9 million mothers and children under 5 are currently getting help through the WIC program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees both WIC and food stamps.”
http://mobile.cleveland.com/advcleve/pm_100808/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=
1GgOGvQC
Meals on Wheels Study Reveals Spike in Senior Hunger
“One in seven seniors in America -- some 8.3 million people -- faced the threat of hunger in 2010, a 78 percent spike since 2001, according to a study released today by Meals On Wheels, the nonprofit that delivers meals to the homebound”
93,000 Californians Face Cutoff of Unemployment Benefits
A drop in the state's unemployment rate to 11 percent – its lowest mark in three years – is triggering the federal cutoff of emergency, long-term unemployment pay to at least 93,000 Californians.” “
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/05/06/californias-long-term-une_n_1489918.html
Education Has Strong Role In Underemployment
Transnational Corporations Eye Mexico For Genetically Modified Seed Production
The five million peasant farmers in Mexico could face threats by legal reforms favoring producers of genetically modified organisms, including lawsuits against them for even accidentally getting their fields contaminated with patented GMOs.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107468
GE Food Labeling Makes California Ballot
“….the California Right to Know campaign filed 971,126 signatures for the state's first-ever ballot initiative to require labeling of genetically engineered foods. The huge signature haul, gathered in a 10-week period, is nearly double the 555,236 signatures the campaign needs to qualify for the November ballot.
If passed this November, Californians will join citizens of over 40 countries including all of Europe, Japan and even China who have the right to know whether they are eating genetically engineered food.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/02/4459866/california-gmo-labeling-initiative.html
World food prices fall but inflation fears remain:
http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/topNews/~3/qwDxRDlKkZk/us-food-fao-idUSBRE8420CA20120503
Market Match May: During May 2012, people who spend $5 of CalFresh (food stamps) at the farmers markets listed below will receive $5 in bonus coupons (while supplies last) . Vouchers can only be used on fruits, vegetables and some nuts from certified growers. More information (213) 388-8228 www.hungeractionla.org
Adams/Vermont
1432 W Adams @ Vermont, LA
St. Agnes Church Parking Lot
Wednesday 2 pm-6 pm
Alhambra
Corner of Monterey & Bay State
1 blk E of Garfield, 1 blk S of Main
Sunday 8:30 am-1 pm
East Hollywood
Western & Hollywood Red Line Station
Thursday 3:30 pm-7:30 pm
East LA
3rd & Mednik East LA Civic Center
Saturday 9 am-2 pm
Gardena
13000 S. Van Ness Ave./
Hollypark Methodist Church parking lot
Saturday 8 am-1 pm
Huntington Park
3401 E Florence Ave in Salt Lake Park
Wednesday 9:30 am-1:30 pm
La Cienega
1801 S La Cienega, LA
Thursday 2 pm-7 pm
Long Beach Downtown
N Waite Ct. @ 5th, City Place Shopping Center
Friday 10 am-4 pm
Mar Vista
Grand View @ Venice Blvd
Sunday 9 am-2 pm
Santa Monica (Pico)
Pico & Cloverfield, in Virginia Park
Saturday 8 am-1 pm
Valinda
Rimgrove Park, 747 N RImgrove Ave
Saturday 9 a m-1 pm
Sponsored by Roots of Change and Hunger Action LA.
Recently at an event I was challenged by an audience member as to why we stressed farmers markets so much in our conversation about promoting healthy food and ending hunger. The markets are certainly too expensive for low income people, I was told.
In fact the real perspective is that we pay artificially low prices for the industrially produced food we eat (an analysis by Marta Cleaveland here http://www.coopdirectory.org/salt001.htm). There are however farmers markets such as Adams/Vermont, the new East Hollywood market, and Watts that are located in low income areas, target low income consumers with lower prices, and accept SNAP (as well as offer Market Match).
But for the real difference between locally grown food and industrially produced food products, one can use the testing equipment God gave us : our taste buds.
From “Tomatoland”, a recent book by Barry Estabrook: “Of all the fruits and vegetables we eat, none suffers at the hands of factory farming more than a tomato grown in the wintertime fields of Florida…..Perhaps our taste buds are trying to send us a message. Today's industrial tomatoes are as bereft of nutrition as they are of flavor. According to analyses conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of fresh tomato today has 30 percent less Vitamin C, 30 percent less thiamin, 19 percent less niacin, and 62 percent less calcium than it did in the 1960s. But the modern tomato does shame its 1960s counterpart in one area: It contains fourteen times as much sodium. ...”
Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit
by Barry Estabrook by Andrews McMeel Publishing (Excerpt from www.delanceyplace.com )
Mothers Day Approaching: Order your Mother’s Day flowers from Flour LA: http://www.flourla.com/ .
- They use Fair Trade, organic and locally grown flowers whenever possible and have been featured in LA Weekly, Martha Stewart Weddings and Whole Foods.
- 10% of all orders placed from Sun, May 6th to Sun, May 13th will be donated directly to HALA. The donations will be specifically for the Market Match program which provides vouchers for low income families and individuals to buy fresh fruits and veggies at 11 LA County farmers markets in May.
- Treat your mom to flowers and help another mom buy their family locally grown vegetables and fruit!
- Farm Bill Goes To Senate Floor
- Feeding America responds
- Craig Cox of Environmental Working Group
- PolicyLink
- Fair Food Network
- Farm Bill Not The Only Place Where SNAP Is In Danger
- HOW WE CAN RESPOND
- May: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings: Long Beach May 3, 5-7 pm West LA (Culver City) May 8, 6-8 pm
- May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
- May 27: The next regular Hunger Action Day meeting
- Volunteers Needed
- Market Match May
- Feeding America’s Map The Meal Gap Project 2012 is released
- The Hunger and Obesity Conundrum
- World Hunger and Food Prices
Cornerstone Theater Presents Café Vida
Acclaimed playwright Lisa Loomer pens the first play in The Hunger Cycle, a collaboration between Cornerstone, Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. Chabela and Luz are rival homegirls ready to leave the life and begin anew at Café Vida where they learn to compost, tend a garden, julienne an onion, and rock your lunch order with a smile and a heaping side of transformation.
TIMES & DATES APRIL 26 – MAY 20, 2012: previews April 26 – May 4; opening night – Saturday, May 5
Thursdays – Saturdays @ 8 p.m., Sundays @ 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC) – Theatre 3, 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
TICKETS:$20 Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, $10 Thursdays. Pay-What-You-Can tickets available at the door for each performance
http://cornerstonetheater.org/CafeVida
UCLA School Presents “Children in Poverty” Forum, May 11
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Forum Assemblymember Holly Mitchell, Keynote speaker
"Children in Poverty" is a forum to connect community leaders and policy makers with service providers, support organizations and agencies that can foster activities to reverse community factors contributing to child poverty. Continuing education units will be offered to eligible participants.
Friday, May 11, 2012, UCLA Luskin Public Affairs Building, Room 2355
337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095 Parking available in structure #3 for $11
Please RSVP to Events@publicaffairs.ucla.edu or call 310.206.8034 by Tuesday, May 1, as space is limited.
Healthy Farms, Healthy People Priorities Survey
Healthy Farms Healthy People is a national coalition based in Oakland and in Washington DC , which works for policy reform that promotes the health of all Americans while strengthening the economic and environmental viability of the food and agricultural sectors. They invite all interested organizations to take part in their priority setting survey which can be accessed here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HFHP_Survey_1
The California Hunger Action Coalition, a broad-based membership organization of food program providers, consumers and advocates from throughout the state, bestows Hunger Fighter Awards every year to individuals and organizations that exhibit a commitment to ending hunger though innovative and collaborative approaches.
This year six people have been nominated. See the nominees and cast your vote here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3RF5Z52
Farm Bill Goes To Senate Floor
After some rumbling between Southern cotton and rice growers and their Midwestern corn counterparts,(see http://m.southeastfarmpress.com/government/senate-farm-bill-draft-faces-opposition-south, the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill has passed with bipartisan support from the Senate Ag Committee (the vote was 16-5) and will be going to a vote on the Senate floor sometime in the near future (barring those weird kind of things that often happen in Washington.)
Feeding America responds, thanking the Senate Ag Committee for increasing emergency food assistance by $50 million but critical of the loss of $4 billion in SNAP (food stamp) funding, which comes through a vast reduction in the “Heat and Eat” proposal that we are to implement next year in California. About half a million families will lose $90 monthly in assistance according to Feeding America.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/27/4447737/feeding-america-responds-to-passage.html
Craig Cox of Environmental Working Group: “A farm bill that cuts programs for the hungry and the environment to help finance a new entitlement program and unlimited insurance subsidies for the largest and most profitable farm operations doesn’t deserve to be called any kind of “reform.”
A real reform bill would have ended direct payments, rejected new farm entitlements and made important reforms to crop insurance subsidies that are slated to cost $90 billion over the next 10 years.”
http://www.ewg.org/release/ewg-statement-agriculture-reform-food-and-jobs-act-2012
Other groups praised particular items included in the bill.
PolicyLink: “For the first time ever, the bill -- which is reauthorized every five years -- will officially establish a national Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) at the US Department of Agriculture.
This $125 million commitment to bringing healthy food and jobs to underserved areas is a huge victory for national healthy food advocates, and particularly for low-income people and communities of color hit first and worst by the lack of adequate access.”
Fair Food Network: “The committee bill includes provisions that will dramatically strengthen SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) by providing up to $100 million for SNAP incentive programs. SNAP incentive programs – such as FFN’s Double Up Food Bucks – are designed to increase access to healthy foods for low-income families and create new sales opportunities for farmers across America. Pilot programs in Michigan (and Market Match here in California---ed.) and in other states demonstrate that a small incentive can result in a major change in the buying habits for low-income families and provide economic benefits to farmers by increasing demand for healthy food.
http://www.fairfoodnetwork.org/connect/blog/applause-and-thanks-farm-bill-progress
Farm Bill Not The Only Place Where SNAP Is In Danger
Beside the Farm Bill, the SNAP program is being particularly targeted for cuts in the general budget by Republicans, while they simultaneously have worked to prevent cuts to military spending. Thus we are truly living in the age of President Eisenhower’s prophetic words that “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”
From “Food stamps in crosshairs of Republican plan to save military”:
A memo sent to Republican members about the budget “spends the most time targeting the exploding cost of food stamps, on which more Americans rely than ever, at greater expense to the government than ever before.”
While SNAP rolls are expected to start falling after 2014, the military budget that the GOP is striving to protect will not, even with the sequester. (note: the sequester was an automatic cut due to take place in numerous programs including the military after the collapse of the Deficit Reduction Committee last November.) According Larry Korb, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, even with the sequester, the military budget will still grow by nearly 20 percent over the next decade.
Blogger Wendy Fontaine describes her year on food stamps and how the House’s proposed cuts would devastate families:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-fontaine/my-year-on-food-stamps_b_1460128.html
Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them to oppose any cuts to SNAP, any changes in eligibility to the program or reduced benefits.
http://frac.org/leg-act-center/
May: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings: Long Beach May 3, 5-7 pm
West LA (Culver City) May 8, 6-8 pm
Free trainings open to the public sponsored by Hunger Action LA and partnering organizations Inner City Struggle, Community Health Councils, and Neighborhood Legal Services. Learn about current food policy initiatives on the city, state and federal level:
Long Beach, Thursday May 3: Miller Family Health Education Center (MFHEC) 3820 Cherry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 . 5-7 pm
Culver City at Project Chicken Soup, Tuesday May 8: 6 to 8 pm, 3975 Landmark St Culver City, California 90232: call (310) 836-5402 for parking and entry details. Space limited so rsvp soon.
RSVP for either training: frank@hungeractionla.org or 213 388 8228
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: Two ways to register:
1. If you plan on taking the Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17, you must contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Hunger Action LA has registered as a group to participate.
2. If you wish to fly or drive up on your own please register at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=
dHo0R2RGNFU4ck1PZnF2b0lDbmJHNEE6MA
May 27: The next regular Hunger Action Day meeting . At LAANE, 464 S. Lucas, 10 am-12 noon Friday May 27. Topics will include a re-cap of state issues and legislation on hunger, and a meeting of the minds between those focusing on poverty issues and those working on urban agriculture in LA---how can we be aware of, and strengthen each others’ work.
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the entire month of May, as we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
Market Match provides low income people, especially CalFresh participants, with additional free bonus coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Hunger Action LA is expanding the Market Match program to an additional 7 markets for the month of May: Alhambra, East Hollywood, Gardena, La Cienega, La Puente, Mar Vista and Santa Monica. Markets are listed at the bottom of the newsletter.
Feeding America’s Map The Meal Gap Project 2012 is released
"Map the Meal Gap 2012" is based on an analysis of statistics collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and food price data and analysis.Findings include:
The average food insecurity rate rose slightly among the top 10 percent highest food insecurity counties.
Rural areas continue to be more food insecure than metro areas.
No county in the US is free from food insecurity.
The study also determined the average cost per meal in each county .
The Hunger and Obesity Conundrum
The debate continues over the fact that both hunger and obesity levels in the United States are tied to low income. “People don't starve to death in the United States, but they do face lack of consistent, adequate nutrition.”, says Feeding America’s communications director Ross Fraser.
But others such as the libertarian foundation Reason point out the number of non-nutritious products available with food stamps, from gum to potato chips, candy and cola. Attempts have been made to limit the ability to use SNAP benefits (food stamps) to purchase unhealthy items that contribute to obesity.
Heather Hartline-Grafton of the Food Research and Action Center says FRAC opposes restrictions on what can be purchased with food stamps. "We have found that food stamps purchases are not really different from the general public, and we are very concerned that limiting choice and creating stigma might reduce participation," she said, adding that FRAC's emphasis is on increasing food stamp benefits to allow better food access, rather than restricting choice.
Other studies have shown that people with uncertain amounts of income binge on calorie-rich foods when they can.
The Deseret News in Salt Lake City did an informal analysis comparing the worst-performing 15 states on three measures: obesity, poverty, and food insecurity, looking for overlap among the categories. “Not surprisingly, of the 15 most food-insecure states, 10 also appear on the bottom 15 poverty list. Eight of these 10 also make the obesity list, all of them adjoining states in the deep South.”
The debate continues over sugary soda and hunger:
Local garden advocate Mud Baron is featured in an LA Times article, fighting Cheetos with radishes:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/04/mud-baron-school-gardens.html
World Hunger and Food Prices
Global food prices rose 8% between December and March. “After four months of consecutive price declines, food prices are on the rise again, threatening the food security of millions of people,” said Otaviano Canuto, the World Bank’s vice president for poverty reduction and economic management, in a statement.”
Development goals at risk: Recent spikes in international food prices have stalled progress across several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an international program set up in 2000, the report said.
The developing world is "seriously lagging" on global targets related to food and nutrition, and child and maternal mortality rates are still unacceptably high, said the Global Monitoring Report.
As a result, the report said, 1.02 billion people will likely still be living in extreme poverty in 2015.
http://phys.org/news/2012-04-high-food-prices-derail-millennium.html
Stores trying to help out: East coast grocery chain Wegman’s chain is freezing prices for 62 items popular in the summer ranging from hot dogs to baby carrots. Interestingly “Wegmans’ decision follows reports from the World Bank and the American Farm Bureau Federation that food prices rose in the first quarter of 2012.” Global food prices do affect us all. Question: Can we get Southern Cal food chains to implement a similar freeze on food prices this summer?
Market Match May: During May 2012, people who spend $5 of CalFresh (food stamps) at the farmers markets listed below will receive $5 in bonus coupons (while supplies last) . Vouchers can only be used on fruits, vegetables and some nuts from certified growers. More information (213) 388-8228 www.hungeractionla.org
Adams/Vermont
1432 W Adams @ Vermont, LA
St. Agnes Church Parking Lot
Wednesday 2 pm-6 pm
Alhambra
Corner of Monterey & Bay State
1 blk E of Garfield, 1 blk S of Main
Sunday 8:30 am-1 pm
East Hollywood
Western & Hollywood Red Line Station
Thursday 3:30 pm-7:30 pm
East LA
3rd & Mednik East LA Civic Center
Saturday 9 am-2 pm
Gardena
13000 S. Van Ness Ave./
Hollypark Methodist Church parking lot
Saturday 8 am-1 pm
Huntington Park
3401 E Florence Ave in Salt Lake Park
Wednesday 9:30 am-1:30 pm
La Cienega
1801 S La Cienega, LA
Thursday 2 pm-7 pm
Long Beach Downtown
N Waite Ct. @ 5th, City Place Shopping Center
Friday 10 am-4 pm
Mar Vista
Grand View @ Venice Blvd
Sunday 9 am-2 pm
Santa Monica (Pico)
Pico & Cloverfield, in Virginia Park
Saturday 8 am-1 pm
Valinda
Rimgrove Park, 747 N RImgrove Ave
Saturday 9 a m-1 pm
Sponsored by Roots of Change and Hunger Action LA.
- April: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings. +RSVP info.
- May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
- Market Match May
- Peoples Guide Returning Soon
- State Will Crack Down on Small Stores Gouging WIC Program
- More on SNAP and Poverty
- Food Prices
- Other Items of Interest
Senate and House Both Propose Huge Cuts to SNAP
The House of Representatives has approved $33 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( food stamp) cuts. (That’s the House Ag panel, working on the Farm Bill: the entire House itself, under Rep Paul Ryan’s budget, is cutting $169 billion over 10 years from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE83H16320120418?irpc=932
The Senate Ag Committee has just released its Farm Bill proposal, under chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). It also includes $4 billion in SNAP cuts over a 10 year period. Most of the savings are from eliminating a feature of the program called “Heat and Eat” that allows mostly
Even the Senate version, just released from Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) cuts $4 billion from SNAP: It does this mostly by restricting a provision called “Heat and Eat” which provides low income energy assistance to people and using that, allows them to give people more food benefits. An explanation at these two links:
http://frac.org/pdf/snap_cuts_and_heat_and_eat.pdf
http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/19759/
That Heat and Eat proposal is one we were to begin implementing soon in California. Here’s a letter from California Food Policy Advocates to Congressmembers which you can sign on to or use when you call your Congressmember:
http://cfpa.net/CalFresh/CFPAPublications/HeatEat-SignOnLetterr-April2012.pdf
From Bread for the World: “The House of Representatives just proposed to cut more than $169 billion from SNAP, formerly the food stamps program. Some representatives argued that feeding hungry people is really the work of the churches. These representatives are essentially saying that every church across America — big, small, and tiny — needs to come up with an extra $50,000 dedicated to feeding people — every year for the next 10 years — to make up for these cuts.I am furious! Join me in telling Congress that this is outrageous. Sign our petition to say feeding hungry people is not the sole responsibility of churches.
Share our Strength has an online position to support nutrition programs:
The Farm Bill proposals not only damage SNAP but protect the payments going to big agribusiness by moving them from direct subsidies to unlimited crop insurance.
Craig Cox of Environmental Working Group: “The 2012 farm bill should do more to support family farmers, protect the environment, promote healthy diets and support working families. Unfortunately, the bill produced today by the Senate Agriculture Committee will do more harm than good. It needlessly sacrifices conservation and feeding assistance programs to finance unlimited insurance subsidies and a new entitlement program for highly profitable farm businesses. Rather than simply ending the widely discredited direct payment program, the Senate Agriculture Committee has created an expensive new entitlement program that guarantees most of the income of farm businesses already enjoying record profits.”
http://www.ewg.org/agmag/2012/04/policy-plate-2012-senate-farm-bill-does-more-harm-than-good/
April: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings
Free trainings open to the public sponsored by Hunger Action LA and partnering organizations Inner City Struggle, Community Health Councils, and Neighborhood Legal Services. Learn about current food policy initiatives on the city, state and federal level:
South LA: Thursday April 26 : Community Health Councils, 3731 Stocker St., LA CA 90008.Choose one of two trainings: 3-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Co Sponsored by Community Health Councils.
Long Beach, Thursday May 3: Miller Family Health Education Center (MFHEC) 3820 Cherry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 . 5-7 pm
RSVP frank@hungeractionla.org or 213 388 8228 for any of the trainings
Join us in bringing together people to fight for a budget that serves all of us here in California, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families with kids. California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon.
Two ways to register:
1. If you plan on taking the Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17, you must contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Hunger Action LA has registered as a group to participate.
2. If you wish to fly or drive up on your own please register at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=
dHo0R2RGNFU4ck1PZnF2b0lDbmJHNEE6MA
Even if you register as an individual please let us know so we can coordinate scheduling of legislative visits for you.
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the entire month of May, as we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
Market Match provides low income people, especially CalFresh participants, with additional free bonus coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and vegetables. Hunger Action LA is expanding the Market Match program to an additional 7 markets for the month of May: Alhambra, East Hollywood, Gardena, La Cienega, La Puente, Mar Vista and Santa Monica. Please see the attached flyer for the Market Match program.
The long awaited new edition of the Peoples Guide to Welfare Health and Other Services should be available in 3 weeks. This 68 page newsprint booklet gives you all you need to know about applying for financial assistance, child care, foster care, earned income and other tax rebates, Social Securitys, CalFresh, help with car insurance and smog check costs, MediCal, Healthy Families, housing (especially good new information for transitional foster youth), and a host of phone numbers for legal and other assistance. Published since the late 1970s, the Peoples Guide has become the bible of social services for people working in the field, people in need of help, and those just helping their neighbors. Please call if you are interested in ordering a large quantity ( 25 or more) guides and place a Pre Order. Hunger Action LA has become the new home of this publication. Call 213 388 8228 or e mail frank@hungeractionla.org . The basic charge Is $1 a copy but discounts of various types are available for large orders.
State Will Crack Down on Small Stores Gouging WIC Program
Some small grocers are using WIC rules to gouge the program: From The Bay Citizen: “In recent years, California WIC has seen a flood of small stores seeking to join the program, and it has welcomed many of them. Those stores, some of which have been increasing their prices and aggressively marketing to WIC shoppers, can receive higher reimbursements from California WIC than bigger stores do.” For example, $9.94 for a box of cereal (Cheerios to be exact):
http://www.baycitizen.org/environmental-health/story/gouged-some-small-groceries-food-program/
The state is now cracking down on smaller WIC stores by reducing reimbursement rates and implementing stronger price controls that'll be in place by mid-May.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=8632930
SNAP spending and participation reached record levels in 2011: Nearly 45 million recipients, one out of every seven U.S. residents, received SNAP benefits in an average month in fiscal year 2011. Total federal spending for the program was $78 billion
http://cbo.gov/publication/43173
Anti hunger groups and nutrition groups debate over extent to which SNAP should be connected to nutrition
http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/19740/
Faith leaders condemn Ryan’s use of religion to justify his budget
NPR: Defining the new poor. "It's going to add over $5 trillion over 10 years to the wealthiest people in this country ... and take about the same amount of money away from the lowest income people,"says Peter Edelman.
http://m.npr.org/story/151166529?url=/2012/04/22/151166529/poverty-in-america-defining-the-new-poor
Howard Buffet announces “Invest an Acre” program to combat rural hunger
How speculators drive up your grocery bill
How to eat healthy and save money :
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/04/18/investopedia79983.DTL
Farmers demand feds probe Dow and Monsanto
http://rt.com/usa/news/farmers-crop-monsanto-dow-pesticide-411/
Blight threatens citrus trees here in California:
- Free trainings open to the public sponsored by Hunger Action LA and partnering organizations Inner City Struggle, Community Health Councils, and Neighborhood Legal Services.
- May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
Join us in bringing together people to fight for a budget that serves all of us here in California, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families with kids. - Calling All Artists: Last year HALA volunteers created a unique art display
of 58 silhouettes representing California's counties to use at Hunger Action
Day to dramatize the poverty situation in each county.
Painters needed to help create backdrops for the silhouettes. More info… - Market Match provides CalFresh participants with additional free bonus coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and vegetables at Farmers Markets. See what markets are currently operating the program…
Free trainings open to the public sponsored by Hunger Action LA and
partnering organizations Inner City Struggle, Community Health Councils, and
Neighborhood Legal Services. Learn about current food policy initiatives on
the city, state and federal level, and how to discuss these with your
colleagues, the media and elected officials. Topics include:
--How to apply for CalFresh and help others apply
--What new laws are being proposed about breakfast in school that could
impact your children
--Who isn't eligible for CalFresh, even if they are extremely poor, and how
we can change that
--How groups of ordinary people have changed policies and helped millions of
Californians get enough food for their families
Boyle Heights: Tuesday April 17, 5-7 pm at Inner City Struggle, 124 N
Townsend Ave, LA 90023. Co sponsored by Inner City Struggle
South LA: Thursday April 26 : Community Health Councils, 3731 Stocker St.,
LA CA 90008.Choose one of two trainings: 3-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Co Sponsored by
Community Health Councils.
Long Beach, Thursday May 3: LONG BEACH: Thursday May 3, Miller Family Health
Education Center (MFHEC) 3820 Cherry Ave. . Long Beach, CA 90807 . 5-7 pm
RSVP frank@hungeractionla.org or 213 388
8228 for any of the trainings
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
Join us in bringing together people to fight for a budget that serves all of
us here in California, including seniors, people with disabilities, and
families with kids. California Hunger Action Coalition's annual event in
Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger
legislation: contact <mailto:frank@hungeractionla.org>
frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon.
Two ways to register:
1. If you plan on taking the Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight
stay in Sacramento and events on May 17, you must contact
<mailto:frank@hungeractionla.org> frank@hungeractionla.org . Hunger Action
LA has registered as a group to participate.
2. If you wish to fly or drive up on your own please register at
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHo0R2RGNFU4ck1PZnF2b0
lDbmJHNEE6MA
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHo0R2RGNFU4ck1PZnF2b0l
DbmJHNEE6MA
Even if you register as an individual please let us know so we can
coordinate scheduling of legislative visits for you.
Calling All Artists: Last year HALA volunteers created a unique art display
of 58 silhouettes representing California's counties to use at Hunger Action
Day to dramatize the poverty situation in each county. This year we are
looking for painters to help create backdrops for the silhouettes. They will
be like mini-murals of incidents related to the current recession and how
they impact people in the community. Call 213 388 8228 or e mail
frank@hungeractionla.org for more info
Volunteers Needed: Email
frank@hungeractionla.org if you'd like to volunteer for us. We are looking
especially for volunteers for the entire month of May, as we'll need
volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program
(see www.hungeractionla.org for more info
on Market Match)
Market Match May
Market Match provides CalFresh participants with additional free bonus
coupons from $5-$10 (depending on the market) to purchase more fruits and
vegetables at Farmers Markets. Hunger Action LA is expanding the Market
Match program to an additional 6 markets for the month of May: East
Hollywood, Gardena, La Cienega, La Puente, Mar Vista and Santa Monica. We
will be finalizing a flyer soon as we wait confirmation of an additional
market. SEE LA (Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles) also
operates the program at several markets, also included in the list below.
People receiving CalFresh can just go to the information booth at the market
to sign up for the program and get the vouchers.
Markets currently operating the program:
Adams & Vermont
1432 W. Adams Blvd Wednesdays 2 pm-6 pm
Central Ave.
4301 S. Central Ave., Thursday 11 am-4 pm
East LA Civic Center
East L.A Civic Center,Saturday 9 am-2 pm
Echo Park Mkt
Logan St., south of Sunset Friday 3 pm-7pm
Huntington Park
Salt Lake Park Wednesday 9:30 am-1:30 pm
Long Beach Downtown
CityPlace Ctr, Waite Ct @ 4th Street Fri 10 am-4 pm
Watts Healthy Farmers
103rd and Central Ave.Saturday 10 am-2 pm
MARKETS OFFERING MARKET MATCH IN MAY 2012 ONLY*
East Hollywood
Western & Hollywood Thursday 3:30 pm-7:30 pm
Gardena
13000 S. Van Ness Ave./ Saturday 8 am-1 pm
La Cienega
1801 S La Cienega, LA Thursday 2 pm-7 pm
La Puente
Rimgrove Prk, 747 N Rimgrove Ave Sat Noon-6
Mar Vista
Grand View @ Venice Blvd Sunday 9 am-2 pm
Santa Monica
Pico & Cloverfield, in Virginia Park Sat 8 am-1 pm
Earth Day Saturday 14th: Join Community Services Unlimited this Saturday, April 14 to enjoy EARTH DAY SOUTH LA Normandie Avenue Elementary School, 4505 S. Raymond Ave, LA, CA 90037/ At the corner of Normandie and Vernon
Don’t forget Ciclavia this Sunday when 10 miles of LA streets are shut down from 10
Follow us on Twitter @HungerActionLA . Welcome to all the new people on the list: please respond to frank@hungeractionla.org if you wish to use a different e mail or be removed.
April: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings
Free trainings open to the public sponsored by Hunger Action LA and partnering organizations Inner City Struggle, Community Health Councils, and Neighborhood Legal Services. Learn about current food policy initiatives on the city, state and federal level, and how to discuss these with your colleagues, the media and elected officials.
Boyle Heights: Tuesday April 17, 5-7 pm at Inner City Struggle, 124 N Townsend Ave, LA 90023. Co sponsored by Inner City Struggle
South LA: Thursday April 26 : Community Health Councils, 3731 Stocker St., LA CA 90008.Choose one of two trainings: 3-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Co Sponsored by Community Health Councils. RSVP frank@hungeractionla.org
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: Join us in bringing together people to fight for a budget that serves all of us here in California, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families with kids. California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon. Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
- April 14: New Documentary on Child Hunger Premiere
- Nominate Someone for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards
- Tell Governor Brown Not To Cut In Home Support
- Help Restaurant Opportunities Center Send Advocates To DC
- Farm Bill and Help For Low Income Americans:
- Urban Gardening
- What Anything Has To Do With The Price of Orange Juice
- NY Times; Even Dairy Farming Has a 1%
- Slumping US Crop Reserves Blamed For Raising Food Costs In An Election Year
- NY Times: The Other Arab Spring: Food Prices, Global Warming
- Americans are snacking more
April 14: New Documentary on Child Hunger Premiere
On Saturday, April 14, Food Network will premiere Hunger Hits Home, a documentary that tells the story of three American families facing hunger, and takes a close-up look at the impact hunger has on a child.. 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST.
Nominate Someone for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards
The California Hunger Action Coalition, a broad-based membership organization of food program providers, consumers and advocates from throughout the state, bestows Hunger Fighter Awards every year to individuals and organizations that exhibit a commitment to ending hunger though innovative and collaborative approaches.
The nomination process is now open for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards until 5pm on Friday April 20, 2012. The winners will be announced on Hunger Action Day 2012, May 17 in Sacramento. Follow this link for more information and to nominate someone: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GF677LC
Tell Governor Brown Not To Cut In Home Support
From our colleague Louise Neal : “Governor Brown's proposal to reduce In Home Supportive Services for 254,000 low income seniors and people with disabilities. IHSS helps 425,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities live safely in their own homes. Governor Brown proposes to eliminate domestic and related care services, including laundry, food, cooking and general housework "for most IHSS participants living with others." (www.cpb.org ) This is in addition to previous cuts to seniors and the disabled, amounting to over $4 billion dollars from 2008.
Please write to Governor Brown and ask him to protect these poor people from further cuts to their livelihood. A sample letter might include a simple statement like the following:
"Please do not make further cuts to In Home Supportive Services for 254,000 of the neediest Californians.. As a Christian (or your faith tradition) and a citizen, I cannot remain silent in the face of a proposal to take vital services away from the most vulnerable. I entreat you to protect them. Visit some of these people. See for yourself the suffering they undergo daily. You could not then go through with these cuts. Invite your fellow lawmakers to accompany you."
Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol
Governor's Office
Sacramento, Ca. 95814
http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2012/120409_Impact_IHSS_Budget_Cuts.pdf
Help Restaurant Opportunities Center Send Advocates To DC
In 21 years, gas prices have more than tripled and rent at least doubled in most cities. Yet for 10 million restaurant workers, wages have stalled at $2.13. 1991 was the last year that the tipped subminimum wage (the pay rate for tipped workers such as restaurant servers) was increased. Without regards to inflation or the increased cost of living, workers in the restaurant industry are forced to rely on 1991 paychecks with 2012 expenses.
Despite our current economic woes, the restaurant industry is thriving. According to the National Restaurant Association, the industry is expecting record breaking sales in 2012 of $635 billion. Yet restaurant workers are forced to choose between paying their rent and paying their grocery bill.
ROC, along with the 10 million restaurant workers in the industry say, 21 years is enough! On Thursday, April 17th workers across the country will be traveling to Washington, DC to directly speak to their representatives about raising $2.13. Help restaurant workers come to our nation’s capital and tell their representatives that they deserve a livable wage.
You can donate here: https://npo1.networkforgood.org
Farm Bill and Help For Low Income Americans
Senator Richard Lugar reintroduces bill to smash farm payments and food stamps. This bill was introduced in October and would have the consequence of taking nearly a million off the SNAP rolls
Nutrition groups work for farm bill priorities: The Senate Agriculture Committee is poised to move on the farm bill by late April, and a coalition of nutrition advocates is trying to keep nutrition priorities squarely in their focus. The group asked Congress to protect SNAP benefits; provide tax credits to growers to donate to food banks: maintain funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program: provide grants to help increase produce sales: fund nutrition education: and provide farmers markets, farm stands, green carts and other venues the ability to receive SNAP benefits.
Welfare reform from the 90s has proven incapable of meeting the needs of the current recession. NY Times research finds that many people have been left without either benefits or work in spite of the hype about motivating people to work and getting them off “dependency” on welfare
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/welfare-limits-left-poor-adrift-as-recession-hit.html?_r=
Urban Gardening
Downtown groups tackle rooftop gardens: Occupy LA, the Jonah Project, and LA CAN are all working in various ways on the issue of fresh produce for residents of Skid Row, the hungriest part of Los Angeles
http://www.kcet.org/socal/food/the-nosh/occupying-gardens-occupy-la-continues.html
Impact of Urban Gardening in Guatemala: A project to promote urban gardening in several Latin American countries is having an impact on malnutrition. One key aspect is training residents to grow a variety of vegetables rather than the staples.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107200
What Anything Has To Do With The Price of Orange Juice
A look at how Wall Street controls the price of our food supply. Earlier this year, a Florida freeze and the discovery of fungicide used in processing orange juice in Brazil led to investors gleefully eyeing the prospect of more expensive orange juice for the rest of us. The fungicide led investors to believe that the US would certainly ban these imports and maybe recall juice tainted with fungicide, and coupled with the cold snap in Florida, there would be less juice so they could make bigger profits on lower supply and higher prices.
Well, the FDA decided not to recall the tainted juice (said it was “safe levels” of fungicide), and the Florida crop turned out to be 5% above last years. So the futures prices dropped. Which you would think would lead to a retail price drop---but no, it stayed the same.
So our orange juice isn’t cheaper in spite of the bad news for investors, and who knows really how safe this fungicide is. But it just goes to show you how the consumer is at the bottom of the list to the large scale producer and the investor.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-03-18/orange-juice-price-spike/53570918/1
NY Times; Even Dairy Farming Has a 1%
Why are dairy farms many times more productive than before, and far less profitable? One reason is that “Animal feed, especially corn and soybeans, became globally traded commodities with all the impossible-to-predict price swings of oil or copper.” Farmers now are working with unpredictable prices determined by guys in suits who haven’t set foot on tilled soil. A small percentage of large dairy farmers are able to pay investors and risk-management experts and profit well but the majority are struggling.
Slumping US Crop Reserves Blamed For Raising Food Costs In An Election Year
U.S. corn stockpiles are poised to be the smallest in 16 years by August and soybean reserves will be lower than the government expected, potentially accelerating food-price inflation in an election year.
NY Times: The Other Arab Spring: Food Prices, Global Warming
Climate change, water shortages, and the resultant food prices have been a major driver of unrest in the world, especially in the Middle East, beginning with Tunisia’s revolution begun essentially by a man arrested for trying to sell vegetables from a cart without permission.
Americans are snacking more
An industry analyst says it is because legislation forcing restaurants to disclose the number of calories in meals is resulting in people “grazing’ throughout the day. Really?UPCOMING EVENTS: THE HALA MEETING IS THIS FRIDAY, April 6, 10 am to Noon, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas. Guest speakers from Community Market Conversions, Farm to WIC, and LA CAUSA. Updates on Breakfast in the Classroom and repealing the ban on people with past drug felonies from CalFresh. Rsvp to frank@hungeractionla.org
Earth Day: Mark your calendar for April 14---wow, that’s not even two weeks away! Come out to enjoy EARTH DAY SOUTH LA Normandie Avenue Elementary School
4505 S. Raymond Ave, LA, CA 90037/ At the corner of Normandie and Vernon
Follow us on Twitter @HungerActionLA . Welcome to all the new people on the list: please respond to frank@hungeractionla.org if you wish to use a different e mail or be removed. On this list you will receive about 6 e mails a month.
April: Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings
Free trainings sponsored by Hunger Action LA open to the public to explain current food policy initiatives on the city, state and federal level, and how to discuss these with your colleagues, the media and elected officials.
Boyle Heights: Tuesday April 17, 5-7 pm at Inner City Struggle, 124 N Townsend Ave, LA 90023. Co sponsored by Inner City Struggle
South LA: Thursday April 26 : Community Health Councils, 3731 Stocker St., LA CA 90008.Choose one of two trainings: 3-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Co Sponsored by Community Health Councils.
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: Join us in bringing together people to fight for a budget that serves all of us here in California, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families with kids. California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon. Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
-
April 14: New Documentary on Child Hunger Premiere
From national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength: “Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 14.That night, Food Network will premiere Hunger Hits Home, a documentary that tells the story of three American families facing hunger…
-
Nominate Someone for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards
The California Hunger Action Coalition, a broad-based membership organization of food program providers, consumers and advocates from throughout the state, bestows Hunger Fighter Awards every year…
- Breakfast In The Classroom Launches in Los Angeles
- The National Budget and Safety Net
- Food Prices
- World Hunger and International Aid
April 14: New Documentary on Child Hunger Premiere
From national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength: “Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 14.That night, Food Network will premiere Hunger Hits Home, a documentary that tells the story of three American families facing hunger, and takes a close-up look at the impact hunger has on a child. The documentary also provides a potent and urgent call to action — something everyone can do to make a difference.
We hope you’ll watch the premiere with us — at your home — starting at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST. Be among the first to see Hunger Hits Home — and make sure others do, too.
Nominate Someone for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards
The California Hunger Action Coalition, a broad-based membership organization of food program providers, consumers and advocates from throughout the state, bestows Hunger Fighter Awards every year to individuals and organizations that exhibit a commitment to ending hunger though innovative and collaborative approaches.
The nomination process is now open for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards until 5pm on Friday April 20, 2012. The winners will be announced on Hunger Action Day 2012, May 17 in Sacramento. Follow this link for more information and to nominate someone: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GF677LC
Photo by Bob Chamberlin, LA Times
Breakfast In The Classroom Launches in Los Angeles
Congratulations to LA Unified School District, California Food Policy Advocates, Healthy School Food Coalition, Inner City Struggle, the LA Fund for Public Education and everyone else who made classroom breakfast a reality. More than 200,000 students in 267 schools will have access to breakfast in the classroom next year. Called The "Food for Thought" program, its goal is to raise the number of kids eating breakfast from 29% to 70%, according to David Binkle, the district's food services deputy director. Kiosks with grab-and-go breakfast kits will be set up at middle and high schools too.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0330-lausd-breakfast-20120330,0,3622866.story
The National Budget and Safety Net
Bay Area Congressman Mike Honda unveiled a budget proposal to counter Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget from last week (which takes a hatchet to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP)
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20253586/rep-mike-honda-presents-his-budget-all-counter
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities find that CBPP finds that 53 percent of all government entitlements are going to people who are over 65 years old:
Food Prices
Will the recent controversy over “pink slime” cause higher meat prices?
http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/Will-Pink-Slime-Impact-Meat-Prices-144987055.html?m=y&smobile=y
An Oregon food bank is dealing with high meat prices by contracting with farmers to grow lentils as an alternative protein source:
http://m.therepublic.com/view/story/692c036068fe4051a095f7aeea1bcc39
A North Carolina home-delivered meals program is eliminating milk and juice in its deliveries, saving $30,000. A dietician says eliminating the milk and juice won’t change the overall nutritional value of the meals, but some of the clients’ children worry such as a man whose 77 year old mother has osteoporosis. The agency says fuel prices forced them to cut costs:
http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Friendship-Trays-cuts-milk-juice-for-elderly-145402155.html
From the UK’s Independent: “Speculation by large investment banks is driving up food prices for the world's poorest people, tipping millions into hunger and poverty. Investment in food commodities by banks and hedge funds has risen from $65bn to $126bn in the past five years, helping to push prices to 30-year highs and causing sharp price fluctuations that have little to do with the actual supply of food, says the United Nations' leading expert on food.”
USDA says the supply of corn dropped, causing prices to rise:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-03/D9TQV1L00.htm
World Hunger and International Aid
An independent commission of scientific leaders from 13 countries recently released detailed set of recommendations to policymakers on how to achieve food security in the face of climate change.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201203290242.html
More than 17 million people could receive life-saving food aid at no additional cost to U.S. taxpayers if Congress cuts red-tape in the U.S. Farm Bill - according to new research from international relief and development organizations Oxfam America and American Jewish World Service (AJWS).
HALA Meeting: Next Hunger Action LA meeting HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FRIDAY APRIL 6---10 am to noon, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90007. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org. We have a nice panel on retail food issues all worked up for you, including guests from Community Market Conversion and others. Invited guests will also discuss the California initiative to require labeling of genetically modified foods. Free of charge and usually decent refreshments. Lots of good people to meet and conversation.
Food Justice and Advocacy Trainings
Free trainings open to the public to explain current food policy initiatives on the city, state and federal level, and how to discuss these with your colleagues, the media and elected officials.
Boyle Heights: Tuesday April 17, 5-7 pm at Inner City Struggle, 124 N Townsend Ave, LA 90023. Co sponsored by Inner City Struggle
South LA: Thursday April 26 : Community Health Councils, 3731 Stocker St., LA CA 90008.Choose one of two trainings: 3-5 pm and 6-8 pm. Co Sponsored by Community Health Councils.
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: Join us in bringing together people to fight for a budget that serves all of us here in California, including seniors, people with disabilities, and families with kids. California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon. Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the March 31 Good Food Day of Service and for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
- April 14: New Documentary on Child Hunger Premiere
- Nominate Someone for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards
- March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service
- April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA
- April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days
- May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month
- Farm Bill: New House Budget Dashes Hopes New York Mayor Bans Feeding the Homeless: Houston Coalition Stops Proposed Rules To Ban Feeding the Homeless
- Pennsylvania: State Moves To Limit SNAP Participation
- California Seniors Struggle To Get Enough Food
- “The Hunger Games” Attracts Anti-Hunger Campaigns
- Another Day In California Agriculture
- Tomato price fixing: A former California food company owner pleaded guilty to racketeering…
- Good news for strawberry workers: The maker of methyl iodide has agreed to stop marketing the product in the United States…
- The Under-Reported Land Grab In Africa: Creating Wealth for Investors, Poverty for Africans
From our colleagues at California Food Policy Advocates This Wednesday AB 1594 will be heard in the Assembly Education Committee. This bill calls for charter schools to follow the same mandate as other public schools and provide at least one meal per day to students. Other bills to improve nutrition standards in child care facilities (AB 1872) and remove stigma from free school lunch (AB 1781) will be heard in the first couple weeks of April. More information: Alexis Fernandez, CFPA, 510 433-1122 ext. 111. www.cfpa.net with the latest updated info on all the bills.
Other updates on anti-hunger legislation from Western Center on Law and Poverty: http://www.wclp.org/Resources/WCLPContent/WCLPContentSearch/tabid/1131/
smid/3613/ArticleID/899/reftab/1133/t/Western-Center-s-Legislative-Agenda/Default.aspx
April 14: New Documentary on Child Hunger Premiere
From national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength: “Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 14.That night, Food Network will premiere Hunger Hits Home, a documentary that tells the story of three American families facing hunger, and takes a close-up look at the impact hunger has on a child. The documentary also provides a potent and urgent call to action — something everyone can do to make a difference.
We hope you’ll watch the premiere with us — at your home — starting at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST. Be among the first to see Hunger Hits Home — and make sure others do, too.
Nominate Someone for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards
The California Hunger Action Coalition, a broad-based membership organization of food program providers, consumers and advocates from throughout the state, bestows Hunger Fighter Awards every year to individuals and organizations that exhibit a commitment to ending hunger though innovative and collaborative approaches.
The nomination process is now open for the 2012 Hunger Fighter Awards until 5pm on Friday April 20, 2012. The winners will be announced on Hunger Action Day 2012, May 17 in Sacramento. Follow this link for more information and to nominate someone: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GF677LC
March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service: On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be working together in support of good food. Please join us! Volunteer opportunities will include planting gardens, harvesting urban crops, mapping neighborhood food establishments, educating the public about healthy food options, and more
April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA: Mark your calendars - Earth Day South LA teams up with the Normandie Family Health Run/Walk, for the best EVER South LA Celebration of Mother Earth: April 14th 2012
April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days: Call 213 385-8010 for more information on California Partnership’s annual event in Sacramento to discuss the state budget with our elected officials
May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month, following on the success of last year’s events sponsored by the LA County Department of Public Social Services. Last year’s CalFresh awareness month featured public service announcements and events at dozens of schools, farmers markets, food pantries and other sites intended to promote more enrollment of LA’s low income population into CalFresh. Here’s an LA Times article from last year’s activities, as well:
http://cfpa.net/CalFresh/Media/External/2011/LATimes-CalFresh-4.27.11.pdf
Farm Bill: New House Budget Dashes Hopes
Budget calls for bombs, not food: “The Republican budget proposal introduced Tuesday virtually guarantees there will not be a farm bill in 2012, Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson said. Peterson, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, called the proposal “appalling” because it asks his committee to cut spending on agriculture programs in order to prevent funding cuts to the military.”
http://www.minnpost.com/dc-dispatches/2012/03/peterson-ryan-budget-means-no-farm-bill-2012
Food Fight: Daniel Imhoff’s Food Fight is recommended by author Michael Pollan as the best guide to the farm bill: http://foodfight2012.org/
Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook told the Marin Independent Journal that lawmakers can pass a farm bill without making cuts to nutrition assistance and conservation programs. Cook also said, “he would like to see more farm bill resources driven to promoting local farmers’ markets and building small processing facilities for farmers.”
New York Mayor Bans Feeding the Homeless: Houston Coalition Stops Proposed Rules To Ban Feeding the Homeless
“New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has banned food donations to homeless shelters. Because the city is enforcing nutritional standards on shelters, and the food that well-meaning people donate to feed homeless people might have too much salt and fat and not enough fiber.”
http://crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/nycs-mayor-bloomberg-bans-feeding-home
But meanwhile in Houston, “Mayor Annise Parker canceled a scheduled vote to regulate the feeding of homeless people in Houston following an outcry from people and groups that the proposed rules would criminalize simple acts of charity. A coalition that included clergy, a tea party activist, a longtime property rights advocate, an immigrants rights leader and volunteers who feed the homeless held a news conference behind City Hall to criticize what they said were the rules' infringement on religious and personal liberties.”
Mayor Bloomberg’s move is a cynical one, hoping to control homeless feeding operations using dietary guidelines. It also violates the 1996 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act.
Pennsylvania: State Moves To Limit SNAP Participation
In Pennsylvania, the Governor plans to reinstate the asset test limiting resources owned by SNAP participants on May 1. (Here in California, the asset test was only eliminated finally last year.)This decision would potentially cut thousands of people from food assistance in that state and has been opposed by not just the anti-hunger community but supermarket industry reps and a prominent Pennsylvania House Republican:
David Hepfinger, president and CEO of a chain of supermarkets in Pennsylvania, writes “SNAP spending has doubled to 6 percent of our store sales, and in 2011 it increased 10 percent. At the same time, we know the SNAP program is not serving enough people since 30 percent of those eligible for SNAP benefits fail to sign up for them.”
http://www.mcall.com/opinion/yourview/mc-food-stamp-assett-test-yv--20120324,0,1192305.story
Rep. Gene DiGirolamo of Bucks County said there are better ways to check for fraud and abuse in the program, and that reinstatement of an assets test would be "moving backwards."
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/prominent-house-republican-asks-pa-go
California Seniors Struggle To Get Enough Food
“Across California's Amador, Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, seniors make up 20 percent of the population, twice the state average. About one in three gets by on less than $20,000 a year. They count on churches, senior centers and outreach groups for basic needs: food, heat and rent. At Interfaith Food Bank of Amador County, 600 retirees collected food in 2011, double the amount of 2007. "Seniors who once used to donate are now standing in line," says director Kathleen Harmon.”
“Many fall through the cracks. They don't qualify for food stamps because they make more than the federal poverty limit of $10,800 per year. But they make far less than the $22,000 they need to sustain themselves, found a study released last fall by Insight Center for Community Economic Development and the University of California, Los Angeles. “http://www.leadertelegram.com/features/lifestyles/article_489fbb4a-2a59-5227-81bb-bf45d18c1faa.html
“The Hunger Games” Attracts Anti-Hunger Campaigns
The blockbuster new dystopian film “The Hunger Games” has made an official partnership with The World Food Programme (WFP) and, in the United States, the charity Feeding America. A special website, http://wfp.org/hungergames , features a brief video with "The Hunger Games" stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth urging the film's fans to fight hunger. The site also features a "hunger quiz" and ways to click and donate online.
But Lionsgate is serious about anyone trying to co-opt the hunger theme from the rival Harry Potter camp. “Lionsgate's senior vice president for business affairs and litigation Liat Cohen has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Harry Potter Alliance's Imagine Better Project over its charitable campaign "Hunger Is Not a Game," saying the group is "piggybacking off of" The Hunger Games marketing and stating they were bothered by the "distortion" of the film's title.”
http://android.eonline.com/article?id=303748
Live on the edge---see for yourself the website campaign that Lionsgate wants to shut down, before it’s too late!
http://thehpalliance.org/imagine-better/hunger-is-not-a-game/
Another Day In California Agriculture
Tomato price fixing: A former California food company owner pleaded guilty to racketeering Thursday in a tomato price-fixing plot that authorities said drove up costs to consumers across the nation.
Good news for strawberry workers: The maker of methyl iodide has agreed to stop marketing the product in the United States. It’s a pesticide used to fumigate the strawberry fields before planting and has been linked to cancer and birth defects. The search for a replacement has been of major concern to California’s $2 billion strawberry industry (Thanks to Pesticide Action Network)
Insects : Food Of the Present and Future
A New York chef is preparing Madagascar cockroaches he raised himself for a major banquet. He believes roaches and other protein-rich insects are “the food of the future.” Already, insects are a big part of diets in many parts of the world (anyone who’s been to Oaxaca or eaten here in LA at Guelaguetza knows about chapulines, grasshoppers prepared as an appetizer). Compared to other meats, insects cost far less to raise and are more environmentally sustainable in addition to being very nutritious.
More resources are listed here:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/15/110815fa_fact_goodyear
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703293204576106072340020728.html
Recipes and cooking demos: http://www.girlmeetsbug.com/
The Under-Reported Land Grab In Africa: Creating Wealth for Investors, Poverty for Africans
Foreign investors are scrambling to buy up land in Africa. The World Bank reports that between Oct 2008 and Aug 2009, 70m hectares of farmland — an area the size of France — was transferred from the hands of indigenous populations to overseas investors. Seventy percent of these transactions took place in sub-Saharan Africa. Biofuel companies, Cargill, Monsanto, Kellogg’s, investment banks and hedge funds are also cashing in, as well as China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who are “outsourcing their food production as their own stock of arable lands becomes scarcer”.
For operators of small farms in Africa this raises the prospect that they will be dispossessed and become squatters. Even now indigenous people are being stopped by security forces from growing food on their traditional land and even from visiting their ancestors’ graves.
Steven Pearlstein: The False Choice Between Equality and Efficiency
Steven Pearlstein in the Washington Post discusses Rep Paul Ryan’s proposed federal budget, full of huge cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, accompanied by even greater tax cuts for the wealthy and military spending. That budget is the manifestation of an oversimplified Ayn Rand view that programs like Medicaid and SNAP make people lazy and unwilling to look for work, while having a large amount of money is a sign of moral superiority. Pearlstein brings up the historical record showing increasing inequality in the US over the last 30 years and the fact that inequality, spurred further by things like Ryan’s budget, takes away peoples’ incentive more than support programs for food and medical care.
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-nn-roaches-food-future-20120317,0,3023913.story?track=rss
HALA Meeting: Next Hunger Action LA meeting HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FRIDAY APRIL 6---10 am to noon, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90007. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org. We have a nice panel on retail food issues all worked up for you, including guests from Community Market Conversion, Clare Fox, WIC Stores and others. Free of charge and usually decent refreshments. Lots of good people to meet and conversation.
Speak Out For Food Justice: HALA together with Community Health Councils and other groups are presenting a training on current food justice issues and how to talk about them to your friends and neighbors, the media and elected officials. Thursday April 26, 2012: two times, 3-5 pm or 6-8 pm, at Community Health Councils 3731 Stocker St., LA 90008. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org . No charge, refreshments available.
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon. Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the March 31 Good Food Day of Service and for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
- Teach In: Sex, Race and Class: What are the Terms of Unity? Saturday March 24, 10:30-4pm Southern California Library, 6120 S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles 90044 Guest Speaker: UK based women’s rights &anti-racist activist Selma James.
- March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service: On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be planting gardens, harvesting urban crops, mapping neighborhood food establishments, educating the public
- Hunger In The US
- Families rationing food: From a story about hunger in Asheville, North Carolina: “Cameron is as sweet, smart and intuitive a kid as any parent could dream of, but he can’t have a glass of milk and a bowl of cereal with milk in it.
- New Yorkers skipping meals: More than a third of the people who use a Bronx food pantry skip meals to make ends meet, according to a survey released by a food pantry called Part of the Solution.
- Farm Bill
- SNAP (Food Stamps) and Soda Consumption
- Why do food stamp recipients spend $4 billion on soft drinks: Jessica Ramer, writing in Fort Lauderdale Environmental Health Examiner : “Food consumption studies indicate that consuming a high-salt diet…
- Make the healthy choice easier: David Lee of Feeding America: “Rather than restricting the amount and/or the types of food that people should buy and eat…
- SNAP (Food Stamps) And Farmers Markets
- Huge increase in markets accepting SNAP: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that there was a 50 percent increase last year in the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP (food stamp) benefits
- Should each vendor at a market have their own EBT device? Currently SNAP users at farmers markets collect vouchers or tokens in exchange for swiping their card at one machine usually at the information booth at the market.
- A Costly Menu Of Food Price Items
- UN says food prices up again: A UN agency says food prices have risen for the second time in two months, blaming bad weather in major exporting countries…
- More on how weather plays a role: Sasha Cekerevac, co-editor for Penny Stock Detectives, believes that the bizarre weather patterns we will continue to experience around the world will lead to…
- Fuel costs contribute: An Indiana State University economist predicts rising food prices due to rising gasoline costs, as petroleum based transportation is…
- Farmer says prices too low: In Canada, one organic expert says food prices are too low. Av Singh says that small scale agriculture won’t work…
- Is cheap clothing causing hunger?: Does devoting acres to cotton (for clothing) take away farmland from important food crops and contribute to hunger?
- On Politics and Poverty
- Local Farm Economy
- Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food: The USDA has released the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” Compass. a new digital report detailing…
- Can local food create jobs? From NPR’s food blog “The Salt”: "Every million dollars in sales through local markets supports thirteen jobs…
- Direct marketing experiment in Greece: The man behind cheap Greek food wants to see direct farm-to-consumer marketing…
Teach In: Sex, Race and Class: What are the Terms of Unity? Saturday March 24, 10:30-4pm
Southern California Library, 6120 S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles 90044
Guest Speaker: UK based women’s rights &anti-racist activist Selma James. Teach in topics include Welfare: the class divide in feminism and what the 1% does not want you to know about welfare:
Organizing, Prisons, Haiti and more. Panelists include Guest Danny Glover, Also Susan Burton, Founder, A New Way of Life; Hank Jones, San Francisco 8; Nancy Berlin, anti-poverty activist; Sam Weinstein, trade unionist; Jeb Sprague, author on Haiti; Haiti Action Committee; DCFS-Give Us Back Our Children; WomensCircle@OccupyLA and more!
Donation $10 no one turned away: refreshments, childcare, and wheelchair accessible
A Women’s History Month Event called by: All of Us or None; A New Way of Life; Alexandria House; Global Women’s Strike; KidVillage@OccupyLA; KPFK’s “Sojourner Truth Salon Series”; Women of Color@GWS. KPFK Pacifica Radio 90.7FM is the Media Sponsor.
For More Info contact 323-276-9833 la@allwomencount.net
March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service: On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be planting gardens, harvesting urban crops, mapping neighborhood food establishments, educating the public about healthy food options, and more, at about 60 different sites: more information and how to volunteer:
Hunger In The US
Families rationing food: From a story about hunger in Asheville, North Carolina: “Cameron is as sweet, smart and intuitive a kid as any parent could dream of, but he can’t have a glass of milk and a bowl of cereal with milk in it. He has to have one or the other, because his family doesn’t have the money to allow him that much milk in one sitting.
The carton in their household fridge has little tick marks on it to track their consumption, so they can ration it between visits to the food stamp benefits office and, when it’s necessary, food pantries to fill in the gaps.
The Asheville area fell behind only Bakersfield, Calif., and Fresno, Calif., in food hardship. (Riverside, CA is #5)
An editorial on Bakersfield’s situation: http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x2097370546/Bakersfield-Americas-hungriest-city
New Yorkers skipping meals: More than a third of the people who use a Bronx food pantry skip meals to make ends meet, according to a survey released by a food pantry called Part of the Solution. The pantry’s Justice Center coordinator Antonietta Bertucci, said “Many are parents who don’t eat so their children have food”. Housing and transportation consume a large part of the pantry users’ budgets: 81% use the money they save on meals at POTS to help pay rent and 69% use it to help pay for transportation.
Farm Bill
Millionaires getting farm subsidies : So who are getting huge farm subsidy payments? Low income farmers? No. Between 2006 and 2009, taxpayers reporting $1 million or more in net farm income received more than $283 million in farm program payments, according to a recent analysis by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).
http://www.ewg.org/agmag/2012/03/the-farm-subsidy-jackpot/
Matthew Marsom, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Public Health Institute, argues that the farm bill can and should protect vital food security programs, such as SNAP; increase access to healthy foods; and drive economic growth by supporting local farmers and economies.
SNAP (Food Stamps) and Soda Consumption
Why do food stamp recipients spend $4 billion on soft drinks: Jessica Ramer, writing in Fort Lauderdale Environmental Health Examiner : “Food consumption studies indicate that consuming a high-salt diet does lead to an increased intake of soft drinks. Salt is inexpensive in this country and is added to nearly all canned or processed foods to improve the taste.” (People who can’t afford fresh food buy canned food.) “After consuming all that salt in cheap foods, of course people--and especially kids--will crave the concentrated sugar found in soft drinks.”
Make the healthy choice easier: David Lee of Feeding America: “Rather than restricting the amount and/or the types of food that people should buy and eat(editor’s note: referring to initiatives to prevent people buying soda or “junk food” with food stamps), we should be ensuring that everybody has the resources to access an adequate, nutritious diet and that the education supports are in place to help everybody make healthier choices and have the tools, skills, and time to make them happen. Like cooking skills, for example.
“We should work together to make the healthier choice the easier one, not make people who are already struggling to feed their family feel bad about making very difficult choices.”
SNAP (Food Stamps) And Farmers Markets
Huge increase in markets accepting SNAP: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that there was a 50 percent increase last year in the number of farmers markets accepting SNAP (food stamp) benefits, commenting that “beneficiaries gain access to healthy, local food while farmers and ranchers increase their customer base.”
Should each vendor at a market have their own EBT device? Currently SNAP users at farmers markets collect vouchers or tokens in exchange for swiping their card at one machine usually at the information booth at the market. But a study conducted at the Clark Park Farmers’ Market in Philadelphia, Pa., found that if each separate vendor at the market is provided with a point of sale machine to accept the card, sales increased overall by 38%:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/food-stamps-and-farmers-markets
http://www.thegrio.com/health/access-to-more-fruits-and-veggies-for-food-stamp-customers.php
A Costly Menu Of Food Price Items
UN says food prices up again: A UN agency says food prices have risen for the second time in two months, blaming bad weather in major exporting countries among other factors that have reversed downward price trends.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/09/un-says-food-prices-up-again/
ABC News reports that “The packaged food giant Kraft Foods, for example, raised prices 7.6 percent worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2011” Beef and chicken are predicted to go up substantially along with products like laundry detergent
More on how weather plays a role: Sasha Cekerevac, co-editor for Penny Stock Detectives, believes that the bizarre weather patterns we will continue to experience around the world will lead to supply disruptions in agricultural commodities. In a recent Penny Stock Detectives article, Cekerevac says that significant supply disruptions will lead to higher agricultural commodity prices, translating to higher food costs on the average person’s plate.
The top grain analyst at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says that improved grain supplies will actually lower food prices during 2012, but that they will certainly rise in the next 10 years. Climate change leading to unpredictable weather will be a large factor
Fuel costs contribute: An Indiana State University economist predicts rising food prices due to rising gasoline costs, as petroleum based transportation is used in every step from growing food to getting it to the processor and on to the retail outlet. However, he adds that if food prices get too high and cut into household discretionary income, competing with gasoline in the family budget, the price rise may reverse as demand slows:
http://www.wibc.com/news/Story.aspx?ID=1669658
Farmer says prices too low: In Canada, one organic expert says food prices are too low. Av Singh says that small scale agriculture won’t work at current prices :
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2012/03/09/pei-singh-small-farms-584.html
Is cheap clothing causing hunger?: Does devoting acres to cotton (for clothing) take away farmland from important food crops and contribute to hunger? Tom Philpott writing in Mother Jones says that although one activist’s claims of 42% of the world’s agricultural land devoted to cotton is wildly exaggerated , cotton is a water-intensive crop and also accounts for high carbon emissions.
http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/03/your-clothes-habit-starving-people
Record farm profits: The US farm sector made a record $98 billion last year. One reason is the increasing demand for US farm exports around the world and ethanol for fuel. However, food prices at the grocery store have shot up---milk and meat by 10%, peanut butter by 27%---and increasing fuel costs will also cut into farm profits and could cause food prices to go even higher
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/13/food-prices-good-for-farm_n_1341598.html?ref=food&ir=Food
Investor speculation also to blame: Food prices have increased 4.4 percent in the last year compared with a 2.9 percent rise for all consumer goods. The New England Complex Systems Institute released a study last week which indicates that spikes in food prices in 2008 and ’11 came largely as a result of investor speculation and increased ethanol conversion, in which corn is used for fuel rather than food. The authors expect another “food bubble” to occur by 2013, which “may lead to major social disruptions” on par with the riots and unrest in North Africa and the Middle East in 2008 and ’11
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/03/13/443223/speculators-rising-food-prices/?mobile=nc
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/3/13/
economist_food_prices_may_inflate_into.htm
On Politics and Poverty
Welfare reform has hurt people: The results after 16 years of “wefare reform” with benefits being slashed is not self sufficiency, rather, the number of families with children in poverty has risen 17 percent, from 6.2 million to 7.3 million.
Newly poor Mississippi whites, unaccustomed to aid, still support Republican plans to slash aid:
House resolution supports SNAP: From Bread for the World (Jeannie Choi, Associate Editor) "As the House begins to consider the FY 2013 budget, members of Congress have been circulating a resolution, H.R. 564, that affirms the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). Led by Rep. Schakowsky, the resolution has been signed by 43 co-sponsors in the House and declares the critical importance of SNAP."
http://blog.bread.org/2012/03/house-resolution-affirms-importance-of-snap.html
Homeless hot spots: “The annual South By Southwest culture and tech conference was caught up in a controversy after homeless people were given Wi-Fi devices and t-shirts inviting attendees to use them as walking WiFi hotspots. Here’s what Jon Stewart had to say about it on “The Daily Show.”
Local Farm Economy
Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food: The USDA has released the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” Compass. a new digital report detailing USDA support for local and regional food projects between 2009 – 2011. The KYF Compass includes interactive maps, data sets, photos, video content, and business and community case studies.
http://www.usda.gov/maps/maps/kyfcompassmap.htm
Can local food create jobs? From NPR’s food blog “The Salt”: "Every million dollars in sales through local markets supports thirteen jobs," USDA's Kathleen Merrigan said in a conference call with reporters. This compares to three jobs generated from every million dollars in sales by agricultural operations that don't have a local or regional focus.
…..”By positioning the initiative as a "jobs-creator," Merrigan may be hoping to assuage detractors on Capitol Hill who have criticized Know Your Farmer as a program for the foodie elite that promotes organic and niche farming over conventional, larger scale operations.”
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/02/29/147647643/hey-locavores-are-you-creating-jobs
Direct marketing experiment in Greece: The man behind cheap Greek food wants to see direct farm-to-consumer marketing spread throughout Europe. Elias Tsolakidis leads a project that helps Greek farmers sell directly to consumers at bargain prices “cutting out the middlemen and their profits”. He’s had success with potatoes and flour.
There are numerous bills relating to hunger, healthy eating and providing resource to low income Californians in this year’s state agenda. The following are supported by California Hunger Action Coalition (CHAC) a statewide alliance of anti-hunger and anti-poverty groups:
AB 1691 (Lowenthal) allows CalWORKs recipients with limited English skills to participate in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction to help them find employment and move toward self-sufficiency.
AB 1640 (Mitchell) would allow pregnant women (with no other children in the household) to become eligible for CalWORKs basic needs grants and full Medi-Cal benefits upon verification of the pregnancy, rather than waiting until third trimester to be eligible.
SB 1391 (Liu) will set a limit on how low of an overpayment made erroneously by the county would have to be repaid by a person getting CalFresh benefits.
SB 1060 (Hancock) removes the lifetime ban on people with past drug felony convictions from getting CalWORKS employment assistance and cash aid
SB 970 (de Leon) will facilitate people enrolling in affordable health care to enroll in CalFresh and vice versa
Information on the above 5 bills: http://www.wclp.org/Resources/WCLPContent/WCLPContentSearch/tabid/
1131/smid/3613/ArticleID/894/reftab/1133/t/Western-Center-Announces-Legislative-Agenda/Default.aspx
AB 1594 (Eng) will require charter schools to serve at least one nutritious meal per day to students, as public schools are required to do.
AB 1872 (Alejo) will require child care and after school programs to follow nutrition guidelines as the school meal programs are required to do.
AB 1781 (Brownley) addresses the issue of low income kids getting free meals at school being forced to stand in separate lines
AB 1678 (Monning) requires mobile food vendors to stay 500 feet away from schools
AB 1560 (Fuentes) Food for Health: Aligning Medi-Cal and Nutrition Assistance
Information on the above 5 bills: http://cfpa.net/legislative-agenda-2012
AB 828 (Swanson) removes the lifetime ban on people with past drug felony convictions from getting CalFresh benefits. However, this bill has recently been amended so that such individuals can’t get CalFresh if they had any kind of conviction in the six months prior to applying, an amendment against the principles of the original bill: stay tuned.
HALA Meeting: Next Hunger Action LA meeting HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FRIDAY APRIL 6---10 am to noon, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90007. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org. We have a nice panel on retail food issues all worked up for you, including guests from Community Market Conversion, Clare Fox, WIC Stores and others. Free of charge and usually decent refreshments. Lots of good people to meet and conversation.
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org . Sign up soon. Charter bus leaving Wed May 16 for overnight stay in Sacramento and events on May 17
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the March 31 Good Food Day of Service and for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
CFPA Legislative Agenda California Food Policy Advocates is sponsoring several bills this year including:
- AB 1872: Improving Child Care Nutrition (Alejo)
- AB 1781: Lining Up To Remove Stigma (Brownley)
- AB 1678: Building Healthy School Environments - Curb Mobile Vending to Kids (Monning)
- AB 1594: Improving Charter School Nutrition (Eng)
- AB 1560: Aligning Medi-Cal and Nutrition Assistance (Fuentes)
- March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service
- April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA
- April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days
- May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month
- Whistleblowers: 70 percent of U.S. ground beef contains ‘pink slime’
- Loma Linda Vs McDonalds
- Labor and Community Rally to Oppose New Walmart
- Alaska Man In Hunger Strike For Child Nutrition Bill
- UN Calls For Taxes On Unhealthy Food
CFPA Legislative Agenda California Food Policy Advocates is sponsoring several bills this year including:
AB 1872: Improving Child Care Nutrition (Alejo) aims to close the nutrition standard gap in child care by requiring, as a condition of licensure, family day care home providers to comply with the Child and Adult Care (CACFP) meal patter
AB 1781: Lining Up To Remove Stigma (Brownley) would ensure that a reimbursable school meal be made available at any service line that a school food services operates, removing the stigma arising when low income children are forced to stand in separate lines from other children
AB 1678: Building Healthy School Environments - Curb Mobile Vending to Kids (Monning). This bill aims to restrict mobile food vending around elementary and secondary school campuses before, during, and after school, especially focusing on the candy, ice cream and other unhealthy items being sold right outside the doors of some of the schools
AB 1594: Improving Charter School Nutrition (Eng) Currently, California charter schools are exempt from the state requirement that public schools serve one meal a day to students who qualify for free or reduced price meals. This bill would extend the public school mandate to include most charter schools.
AB 1560: Aligning Medi-Cal and Nutrition Assistance (Fuentes) seeks to align Medi-Cal and nutrition assistance by raising the CalFresh gross income threshold for low-income Californians receiving Medi-Cal, and ensuring that children in those households are certified for free school meals.
You can see more details on these bills at http://cfpa.net/legislative-agenda-2012
California Hunger Action Coalition will be supporting these and other bills in the annual Hunger Action Day.
March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service: On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be working together in support of good food. Please join us! Volunteer opportunities will include planting gardens, harvesting urban crops, mapping neighborhood food establishments, educating the public about healthy food options, and more
April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA: Mark your calendars - Earth Day South LA teams up with the Normandie Family Health Run/Walk, for the best EVER South LA Celebration of Mother Earth: April 14th 2012
April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days: Call 213 385-8010 for more information on California Partnership’s annual event in Sacramento to discuss the state budget with our elected officials
May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month, following on the success of last year’s events sponsored by the LA County Department of Public Social Services. Last year’s CalFresh awareness month featured public service announcements and events at dozens of schools, farmers markets, food pantries and other sites intended to promote more enrollment of LA’s low income population into CalFresh. Here’s an LA Times article from last year’s activities, as well:
http://cfpa.net/CalFresh/Media/External/2011/LATimes-CalFresh-4.27.11.pdf
Whistleblowers: 70 percent of U.S. ground beef contains ‘pink slime’
“A former U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist has come forward with a startling tale of how a substance known as “pink slime” has been embedded in about 70 percent of ground beef sold in the U.S. “Pink slime” is largely made up of connective tissue that used to be reserved only for dog foods. It was not classified as “meat” because it was largely seen as unfit for human consumption. It also contains ammonia, which is used to kill off bacteria so people who eat it do not get sick. “
“Pink slime” was in the news last month after several major fast food chains announced they would no longer use it as filler in their hamburgers. Despite those restaurants’ plans, the U.S. government has continued to purchase “pink slime” for use in school lunches, according to a report out this week by the News Corp.-run iPad newspaper The Daily. “
From ABC7 News: “ The city of Loma Linda is known as a blue zone because of the longevity of its population and their healthy lifestyle. McDonald's is known for its Happy Meals and Big Macs. So when residents learned the golden arches had plans for their town, they went on the defensive.”
"When we found out that McDonald's was scheduled to open up a restaurant here, we recognized that to maintain our healthy community's status, we had to plan it out," said Dr. Wayne Dysinger, chair of preventive medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Dysinger is also a member of Healthy Loma Linda Coalition, which is proposing a ballot measure that would limit the number of unhealthy restaurants within the city.
"If you go to a typical McDonald's restaurant, there are way more unhealthy choices than there are healthy choices," said Dysinger.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=8574838
Labor and Community Rally to Oppose New Walmart
At a rally Thursday against a new Walmart "Neighborhood Mart" moving into Los Angeles' Chinatown, employees argued the retailer's low wages have driven them to depend on food stamps and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
"This is my Medi-Cal card. I would like to thank my fellow citizens of California for providing benefits that my employer won't," Walmart employee Greg Fletcher said at the rally, which was held at the welfare office that serves downtown Los Angeles.
Cesar Michel, a welfare worker at the Department of Public Social Services office, the site of the rally, said that he and his co-workers were "terrified" when they heard Walmart was coming to Chinatown.
"We know and have seen that Walmart has encouraged its employees to apply for welfare and Medi-Cal at some of our offices," he said. "Yet Los Angeles can’t afford the cost of more Walmart jobs. With huge budget cuts and reductions in staff in the past few years and more likely to come, we already are stretched thin at DPSS."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/walmart-la-chinatown-protesters_n_1333392.html
Alaska Man In Hunger Strike For Child Nutrition Bill
An Anchorage resident is in his 28th day of a hunger strike to support a bill that would put state money toward the school breakfast and lunch programs in Alaska. Although the bill has overwhelming support among school districts and passed the state Senate almost unanimously, one Alaska state representative in the Alaska House of Representatives is not allowing the bill to have a hearing in his committee and has held up the bill for an entire year. Meanwhile, activist Koyaki Nosakhere has sat in the committee every day and hasn’t eaten since Feb. 7, taking leave from his job at an employment services agency. He’s been an outreach worker with the Food Bank of Alaska in the past and longtime advocate for the poor.
As of last week, Nosakhere had lost more than 40 pounds. He said he's not going to eat until the bill gets a vote, the legislative session ends, or he dies.
State Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, is the man holding up the bill. He recently has said he wants instead to create a new $3 million school food program using Alaska grown or caught food.
Ironically, this would cost more money than the bill that he is holding up, which he objects to among other reasons that it costs too much. Interestingly, he’s also on the board of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/06/3471571/alaska-mans-hunger-strike-over.html#storylink=cpy
UN Calls For Taxes On Unhealthy Food
“Junk food” should attract additional taxes, says the report from the United Nations Organization. Such a “sin tax” should be introduced for all kinds of snacks, sodas and hamburgers in all parts of the world to help the estimated billion people who suffer from undernourishment, as well as another billion who remain overweight or obese, the UN insists.
“Urbanization, ‘supermarketization’, and the global spread of Western lifestyles have shaken up traditional food habits. The result is a public health disaster,” said Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, as he presented his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
A 10% tax on non-alcoholic drinks that undermine health would result in an 8%-10% cut in their consumption, the UN report calculates. The revenues from those payments could be used to promote fruit and vegetables, while advertisements for harmful products could be ceased all together, the organization suggests.
In Europe, Denmark was a pioneer, with fattening fast foods falling victim to an additional €2.15 surcharge in autumn last year.
Finland followed suit shortly afterwards, charging lovers of chocolate and cola. And Hungary, where the number of fat people is one of the highest in Europe, also introduced a so- called “tax on chips” back in 2011. Tax revenues there are spent on healthcare.
HALA Meeting: Next Hunger Action LA meeting HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FRIDAY APRIL 6---10 am to noon, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90007. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org. We have a nice panel on retail food issues all worked up for you, including guests from Community Market Conversion, Clare Fox, WIC Stores and others. Free of charge and usually decent refreshments. Lots of good people to meet and conversation.
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the March 31 Good Food Day of Service and for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
resources legislation- The Food Truck Flap Of 2012
- Cottage Food Bill Introduced In California
- Western Center On Law and Poverty Introduces 2012 Legislative Agenda
- March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service
- April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA
- April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days
- May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month
- May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
- Growing Number of Americans Can’t Afford Enough To Eat
- How To Buy Healthy Foods Without Breaking The Bank
- Missouri Tackles Former Felon Food Stamp Issue
- American Jewish World Service Advocates For Farm Bill Reform
- Dow and Monsanto Band Together To Reintroduce Agent Orange Components Into Agriculture
- Walmart And Monsanto Band Together To Introduce Untested New Genes Into Humans
Common Ground Victory Garden Classes Available
From Rachel Surls at Common Ground: “Are you a beginning vegetable gardener in the LA area? Our four-week Grow LA Victory Garden classes can help!” From Downtown to East LA to Pasadena to Long Beach to Venice, there are 18 classes in all to choose from:
Introduced by Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, AB1678 prohibits mobile food and beverage vending within 1,500 feet of elementary and secondary school campuses from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Gourmet food trucks across the state have responded with a flurry of phone, Twitter and computer attacks against the Assemblyman and organizations sponsoring the bill. But the bill was never targeted at the fancy food trucks that we think of these days ---it is intended to keep vendors from selling candy, soda and ice cream to kids during school hours.
California Food Policy Advocates, the bill’s sponsor, respond with an editorial in the Sacramento Bee: “ Creating environments that foster the long-term health and productivity of students is critical to the future of our state. AB 1678 is an opportunity for all Californians, legislators and food truck fans alike, to consider a much-needed policy that can protect students without injuring small businesses.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/03/4307672/another-view-food-trucks-add-to.html
http://cfpa.net/building-healthy-school-environments-curb-mobile-vending-to-kids
Cottage Food Bill Introduced In California
Assemblyman Gatto has introduced The California Homemade Food Act, AB 1616, which would allow small food businesses operating out of a private home that produce "nonpotentially hazardous goods" (so called "cottage food operations") to comply with fewer regulations.
“Cottage foods are those foods considered to be not potentially hazardous. The bill's definition of cottage food includes things like "baked goods, jams, jellies, fruit butters, preserves, pickles with a pH level of 4.6 or below when measured at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, candy, granola, dry cereals, popcorns, nut mixes, dried fruit, chocolate covered nonperishable nuts and dried fruit, dry baking mixes, roasted coffees, dry teas, [and] honey." Co-sponsors include Proyecto Jardin in East LA.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/02/cottage-food-bill-introduced-in-california/
Western Center On Law and Poverty Introduces 2012 Legislative Agenda
The esteemed anti-poverty group is supporting the following legislation related to access to food benefits:
SB 970 (de León) would allow people applying for health coverage online to use their
information to start an application for public programs such as CalFresh and CalWORKs and,
with their consent, would enroll uninsured CalFresh recipients into health coverage prior to the
January 1, 2014 requirement in the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) to have health coverage.
SB 1060 (Hancock) would end the lifetime ban on benefits and services provided through the
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program for people who
have a prior drug-related felony conviction as long as they are participating in or have
successfully completed a government recognized treatment program. California Welfare
Directors Association (CWDA) is a co-sponsor of this legislation.
SB 1391 (Liu) would set a standard, statewide threshold and policy for establishing and
collecting CalFresh overissuances from clients when the overissuance is due to administrative
error.
AB 828 (Swanson) would end the lifetime ban on benefits and services provided through the
CalFresh program (A similar bill, SB 1060 (Hancock) removes the same ban on those receiving CalWORKs benefits.)
The entire agenda with other bills related to housing, wages, eviction, cash benefits, and health care is here: http://www.wclp.org/Resources/WCLPContent/WCLPContentSearch/tabid/1131/smid/
3613/ArticleID/894/reftab/1133/t/Western-Center-Announces-Legislative-Agenda/Default.aspx
Raise The Minimum Wage For Tipped Workers
What’s the minimum wage? $7.50, you say? Wrong. For tipped workers it is an unbelievably low $2.13 an hour. That’s lower than the actual minimum wage from 35 years ago, and it’s a figure that hasn’t changed in 20 years. Restaurant Opportunities Centers United calls attention to the fact that “Seven of the 10 lowest-paid occupations in the United States are restaurant occupations. Most of these occupations are majority female and pay median wages below the poverty line…..Servers – of whom 71 percent are female – are almost three times more likely to be paid below the poverty line than the general workforce and nearly twice as likely to need food stamps as the general population.”
(Another example of those working with food---whether growing it or serving it---having to be the first in the line to get emergency food due to low wages.)
See the report here at the first link and go to the second link. Although Feb 13 is past, you can still write your representative and say End 20 Years of 2.13:
http://rocunited.org/blog/tipped-over-the-edge-gender-inequity-in-the-restaurant-industry/
http://rocunited.org/blog/take-action-on-2-13-lets-end-20-years-of-2-13/
Warehouse and grocery workers are speaking out against WalMart’s planned Chinatown grocery/pharmacy this coming Thursday, March 8, at 1 pm. Location: DPSS Wilshire Special District Office 2415 w. Sixth St. Los Angeles, CA 90057 (close to Macarthur Park)
For more information 213.977.9400.
Why does WalMart have a huge impact on food systems? Find out on a nationwide webinar (seminar on the web, you know) hosted by the Making Change at Walmart campaign. In the webinar:
· Food & Water Watch will present their report, Why Walmart Can't Fix the Food System (http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/FoodandWaterWatchReportWalmart022112.pdf) ;
· Stacy Mitchell will present on her Grist series "Walmart's Greenwash: Why the retail giant is still unsustainable" (http://grist.org/series/2011-11-07-walmart-greenwash-retail-giant-still-unsustainable/ ).
Date: Thursday, March 8th
Time: 11:45 a.m. PST
Contact: Mackenzie Baris, Mackenzie@jwj.org , 202-213-6476
Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 7th toMk including your name, organization and email address. You will receive Webinar instructions that evening.
March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service: On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be working together in support of good food. Please join us! Volunteer opportunities will include planting gardens, harvesting urban crops, mapping neighborhood food establishments, educating the public about healthy food options, and more
April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA: Mark your calendars - Earth Day South LA teams up with the Normandie Family Health Run/Walk, for the best EVER South LA Celebration of Mother Earth: April 14th 2012
April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days: Call 213 385-8010 for more information on California Partnership’s annual event in Sacramento to discuss the state budget with our elected officials
May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month, following on the success of last year’s events sponsored by the LA County Department of Public Social Services. Last year’s CalFresh awareness month featured public service announcements and events at dozens of schools, farmers markets, food pantries and other sites intended to promote more enrollment of LA’s low income population into CalFresh. Here’s an LA Times article from last year’s activities, as well:
http://cfpa.net/CalFresh/Media/External/2011/LATimes-CalFresh-4.27.11.pdf
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org
Growing Number of Americans Can’t Afford Enough To Eat
“Here in the United States, growing numbers of people can't afford that most basic of necessities: food. More Americans said they struggled to buy food in 2011 than in any year since the financial crisis, according to a recent report from the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit research group. About 18.6 percent of people -- almost one out of every five -- told Gallup pollsters that they couldn't always afford to feed everyone in their family in 2011. One might assume that number got smaller wrapped up with the national unemployment rate falling for several consecutive months. In actuality, the reverse proved true: the number of people who said they couldn't afford food just kept rising and rising.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/02/28/afford-food-hunger_n_1308020.html
How To Buy Healthy Foods Without Breaking The Bank
Phil Lempert of SupermarketGuru.com tells you how to save money and buy healthy foods. Take a look and see if you agree---he must be speaking in relative terms, with cheese on the list:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-lempert/healthy-foods_b_1299741.html
Missouri Tackles Former Felon Food Stamp Issue
Missouri is taking on an issue that we’ve been struggling to resolve in California for 14 years---the lifetime ban on people with past drug felonies from getting food assistance. In the Show Me state they are showing us that it’s not a partisan issue, as the latest attempt to lift the ban comes from the GOP side of the aisle:
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/01/3462863/in-missouri-murderers-can-get.html
American Jewish World Service Advocates For Farm Bill Reform
The group takes on the current system of distributing international food aid: “The current one-size-fits-all approach relies too heavily on the shipping of in-kind aid from the U.S. to areas in need, instead of employing a flexible approach that includes local and regional procurement as well as cash transfers or vouchers. The system is inefficient, with over 50 percent of taxpayer money for food aid grains wasted on subsidies to U.S. agribusiness and shipping companies. And in some cases, in-kind aid inadvertently distorts markets, undercutting local farmers who are critical to long-term sustainable food systems.” Recently, it has become possible for the US to send cash to buy food from local areas, which can address some of the last issue, but the system overwhelmingly remains one designed to benefit big US companies and not victims of disasters overseas.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/01/4303780/ajws-releases-report-calling-for.html
Dow and Monsanto Band Together To Reintroduce Agent Orange Components Into Agriculture
“In a match that some would say was made in hell, the nation's two leading producers of agrochemicals have joined forces in a partnership to reintroduce the use of the herbicide 2,4-D, one half of the infamous defoliant Agent Orange, which was used by American forces to clear jungle during the Vietnam War. These two biotech giants have developed a weed management program that, if successful, would go a long way toward a predicted doubling of harmful herbicide use in America's corn belt during the next decade.”
http://www.truth-out.org/dow-and-monsanto-join-forces-poison-americas-heartland/1329933936
Walmart And Monsanto Band Together To Introduce Untested New Genes Into Humans
Walmart is set to sell a new form of genetically-engineered (GE) sweet corn as early as this summer. Monsanto’s Bt sweet corn contains three GE traits that have never before been consumed directly by humans, and have not been subjected to thorough safety testing. There will be no labeling whatsoever indicating that the corn is a genetically modified organism.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/wal-mart-to-sell-monsanto-gmo-corn-this-summer.html#ixzz1oN9K2qiA
Contradictions In the Anti-Hunger Movement
Writer Andy Fisher observes the large corporate presence on the boards of food banks across America and critiques the disconnect between many of the emergency food providers and the struggle for larger gains---minimum wage, for example---that could prevent hunger in the first place (See the article up at the top about tipped workers)
http://civileats.com/2012/03/06/contradictions-in-the-anti-hunger-movement/
*******************************
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
HALA Meeting: Next Hunger Action LA meeting is Friday March 30, 2012---10 am to noon, 464 S Lucas Ave LA CA 90007. RSVP to frank@hungeractionla.org. More details as the month progresses
Volunteers Needed: Email frank@hungeractionla.org if you’d like to volunteer for us. We are looking especially for volunteers for the March 31 Good Food Day of Service and for the entire month of May we’ll need volunteers to work at area farmers markets with the Market Match program (see www.hungeractionla.org for more info on Market Match)
actionsevents- Swipes for the Homeless, a UCLA student organization, is being recognized by the Obama Administration
- March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service
- April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA
- April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days
- May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month
- May 16-17 Hunger Action Day
- Food Stamps/CalFresh In The News:
- School Officials Give Girl’s Lunch An F
- Hungary Destroys GM Corn: Peru Bans GMOs for 10 Years
- Urban Agriculture At A Crossroads
- Food stamps Perpetuate Myth of Consumer Choice
- Farm Bill Hearing Will Address Local Food: March 14
Global Day of Action: Occupy Our Food Supply: Today, Feb 27
An alliance of Occupy groups, environmental and food justice organizations have called for a global day of action on February 27 to resist corporate control of our food system and to work towards a healthy food supply for all.
Occupy Our Food Supply is a call facilitated by Rainforest Action Network and is supported by over 60 Occupy groups and over 30 organizations including Family Farm Defenders, National Family Farms Coalition and Pesticide Action.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/24-6
Swipes for the Homeless, a UCLA student organization, is being recognized by the Obama Administration: Established in 2009 at UCLA, Swipes for the Homeless collects unused student meal "swipes" and distributes the food to the underserved in our community. Today, the organization: collects over 7,000 meals every quarter, has established programs to guarantee food for students struggling on the college campus, and has spread to over 10 universities throughout the nation.
This past week we were nominated as a Top Finalist for President Obama’s Campus Champions of Change, from a pool of thousands of applicants. We ask you kindly to please take a few minutes to vote for our cause. If we win, we will have the opportunity to go to the White House and spread our mission of helping those less fortunate. Voting ends THIS Saturday, March 3rd.
5 simple steps to vote:
1. Go to: https://campuschallenge.uservoice.com
2. Scroll to: Swipes for the Homeless - Thach Tak Nguyen, UCLA
3. Click: Vote
4. Then click: 3 Votes
5. Verify using your email address or facebook account
We truly appreciate your help. To learn more about the organization, visit: www.swipesforthehomeless.org
March 31 Mayor’s Good Food Day of Service: On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be working together in support of good food. Please join us! Volunteer opportunities will include planting gardens, harvesting urban crops, mapping neighborhood food establishments, educating the public about healthy food options, and more
April 14 Save the Date Earth Day South LA: Mark your calendars - Earth Day South LA teams up with the Normandie Family Health Run/Walk, for the best EVER South LA Celebration of Mother Earth: April 14th 2012
April 23-24 California Partnership Budget Action Days: Call 213 385-8010 for more information on California Partnership’s annual event in Sacramento to discuss the state budget with our elected officials
May 2012 is CalFresh Awareness Month, following on the success of last year’s events sponsored by the LA County Department of Public Social Services. Last year’s CalFresh awareness month featured public service announcements and events at dozens of schools, farmers markets, food pantries and other sites intended to promote more enrollment of LA’s low income population into CalFresh. Here’s an LA Times article from last year’s activities, as well:
http://cfpa.net/CalFresh/Media/External/2011/LATimes-CalFresh-4.27.11.pdf
May 16-17 Hunger Action Day: California Hunger Action Coalition’s annual event in Sacramento for rally, speakers and legislative visits on anti-hunger legislation: contact frank@hungeractionla.org
Food Stamps/CalFresh In The News:
GOP on poverty programs: Republican candidates say they care for the poor, yet would cut the safety net (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-safety-net-20120224,0,1739672.story
Sacramento leading the charge in increasing CalFresh enrollment in the state. The same article, liked below, also mentions Senator Bob Dutton’s attempt to revive finger-imaging---a victory we only won last year---and that the Social Security Administration will begin work in July on helping expedite enrollment of seniors, as per last year’s AB 69 bill:
Food Stamp Challenges have been popular in the last few years so that people can learn what it’s like to live on the tight budget that millions of Americans have no choice but to live on. Kansas City residents are taking up the Challenge, and with Lent underway it’s an appropriate and relevant project to undertake. Here are the guidelines from a Kansas City website:
1. Each person can only spend a total of $31.50 on food and beverages during the Challenge week – this translates to $4.50 per day, or $1.50 per meal.
2. All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, including fast food and dining out, must be included in the total spending.
3. During the Challenge, eat only food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments).
4. Avoid accepting free food from friends, family or at work, including food at receptions or coffee in the office.
http://fox4kc.com/2012/02/23/food-stamp-challenge-can-you-stretch-your-dollar/
http://www.catholiccharitiesks.org/page.aspx?pid=632.
School Officials Give Girl’s Lunch An F
A strange story from North Carolina: School officials at a preschool found a girl’s home packed lunch to not meet nutritional guidelines so they made her eat….the chicken nuggets served at the preschool. You can read the commentators on this story hurl insults at each other as they argue over whether it was the state or federal government that created this particular rule at this particular school:
Hungary Destroys GM Corn: Peru Bans GMOs for 10 Years
“Hungary has taken a bold stand against biotech giant Monsanto and genetic modification by destroying 1000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds, according to Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar. Unlike many European Union countries, Hungary is a nation where genetically modified (GM) seeds are banned.”
http://www.trueactivist.com/hungary-destroys-all-monsanto-gmo-corn-fields/
Urban Agriculture At A Crossroads
By way of the LA Food Policy Council Urban Agriculture Committee’s Edna Bonacich and retired KCRW producer Sarah Spitz, here is a link to an article by Roxanne Christensen, Co-creator of SPIN-Farming, an online learning series on small plot commercial farming that has helped hundreds of new farmers get started in business throughout the U.S. and Canada. The main point of the article is that the community gardens exploding into existence nationwide are essentially non-profit endeavors that “happen to grow food”, but the time is coming for urban agriculture to become a viable business endeavor, providing real job opportunities, cycling money back into the local economy, and helping to create a bigger share of the food system for real food:
“The more farming talent that can be developed, the more new farm businesses will be created. As commercial urban farming becomes more commonplace, it will again become obvious where real food comes from, and why it is better. This will expand and solidify the already rapidly developing markets upon which sustainable local food systems need to be based.”
Food stamps Perpetuate Myth of Consumer Choice
Julia Stone in the Whitman Pioneer (Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington paper) writes about all the recent criticism in political circles of food stamp consumers supposedly buying nothing but junk food:
“When all the pressure is on the individual to make the ethical choice, we forget that some of the structures are so institutionalized and assisted by government that no consumer “vote” will matter. In the case of food stamps, politicians have focused on and passed judgement on the food choices poor people make; in reality, it is the fundamental economic inequalities that have created an environment where low-income, working class people have neither the time nor the money to make the ethical and healthy choice.”….
“When we blame welfare recipients’ food choices on their own irresponsibility, rather than on the system of government subsidies that makes unhealthy corn byproducts ridiculously and artificially cheap, we are left short-sided and blind to the real roots of the problem with our food system.”
http://whitmanpioneer.com/opinion/2012/02/23/food-stamps-perpetuate-myth-of-consumer-choice/
Farm Bill Hearing Will Address Local Food: March 14
On Wednesday March 14, the US Senate Agriculture Committee (chaired by senator from Michigan Debbie Stabenow) will hold a hearing on Healthy Food Initiatives, Local Production and Nutrition. It’s part of a series of hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill, and described as:
A hearing to explore innovative opportunities in agriculture through policies that assist the development of local markets for farmers – connecting them to the growing consumer demand for locally-produced, healthy food options.
Senate Agriculture Committee hearings are available for viewing on the Committee website at http://ag.senate.gov .
Farm Bill for Eaters: Mike Jopek in the Flathead (Montana) Beacon:
“The 2012 Farm Bill deserves a long-term vision toward health. Eaters cannot stomach more national food policy that caters solely to paid corporate lobbyists. Montanans hunger for farm policy that feeds local appetites and embraces real food.” As do Californians.
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/farm_bill_for_eaters/26732/
New York Times Articles on Farm Bill
"The farm bill, being debated in the Senate this month, is felt far beyond the cornfields of Iowa. It’s about what we grow, but it’s also about what we eat and how we live.
On the potato chip aisle, Americans are seeing the farm bill’s market pressures. On the scale at the doctor’s office, we are seeing its health effects. It fuels the growth of agribusiness, and also sustains small farms. It dictates foreign food aid, school lunches and nutrition programs like food stamps. It can encourage stewardship of the land, or not.
In this sprawling legislation, what is missing that should be added? What is in the bill but should be eliminated?"
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/02/21/the-farm-bill-beyond-the-farm
Follow us on Twitter @HungerActionLA . Welcome to all the new people on the list: please respond to frank@hungeractionla.org if you wish to use a different e mail or be removed. On this list you will receive about 6 e mails a month.
- Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday Feb 24
- California Alliance for Retired Americans Training on State Budget Feb. 28
- Family Farmers Strike Back With Lawsuit Against Monsanto
- San Diego Food Stamp System Is Broken
- Program Trains New Beginning Farmers in California
- First Lady Michelle Obama Highlights FreshWorks Program
- President Obama’s Ag Proposals for 2013
- Whole Foods Trying To Change Wallet-Draining Image
- High Food Prices Contribute to World Malnutrition
- U.S. Can Now Buy Local Food In Relief Operations
- Chemical In Water Bottles Can Cause Obesity and Diabetes
As the FDA prepares to approve the sale of genetically engineered salmon---the first genetically modified animal to be so approved---Eric Schlosser and Gary Hirshberg have started a petition asking that food from genetically engineered plants and animals at least be labeled so we can know what we’re eating and make an informed choice. You can sign the petition here:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=271198&id=35829-17277404-CTTvYSx&t=2
Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday Feb 24
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting is Friday, Feb 24, 10 am to noon, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas, LA CA 90007. All are invited to attend, it’s free and there’s free parking. You can rsvp to frank@hungeractionla.org . Topics regularly include state and federal food and anti-hunger legislation, local activities, and updates from several organizations around Los Angeles working on similar issues.
California Alliance for Retired Americans Training on State Budget Feb. 28
Free Training for Southern California CARA members, Senior, Student, and Disability Advocates
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
10am – 3pm (lunch included)
UFCW Local 324, Auditorium
8530 Stanton Blvd., Buena Park, 90620
For more information, to RSVP for lunch, call 714-244-7776
The California Alliance for Retired Americans is sponsoring this one day, free training to learn ways we can talk about the California budget crisis and develop support for important revenue solutions that will be considered this year. Please let us know at least one week before the meeting if you need other language materials, Spanish translation during the meeting, alternate format materials, or ASL interpreters.
Family Farmers Strike Back With Lawsuit Against Monsanto
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Federal Courts in Manhattan on January 31s, to support organic family farmers in their landmark lawsuit against agribusiness corporation Monsanto. Over 300,000 organic farmers, organic seed growers, and organic seed businesses are represented in a lawsuit against Monsanto and their threats and harassment of organic farmers who get Monsanto’s genetically modified seeds blown by the wind onto their land.
On March 31st the federal judge will hand down her decision on whether the lawsuit will move forward to trial.
San Diego Food Stamp System Is Broken
Wonder why California enrolls only half of eligible participants into the CalFresh (Food stamp) program? One reason may be in San Diego, where a call center that’s supposed to help people apply only answers one out of every six calls.
.
http://m.kpbs.org/news/2012/feb/10/county-official-says-food-stamp-hotline-problems-s/
Program Trains New Beginning Farmers in California
California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross recently wrote a piece about the crisis in California farming, with the majority of farmers now over 60 and few people willing to become new farmers. A new program in Solano County, California Farm Academy, was started at the Center for Land-Based Learning. “More than 40 percent of the academy's class of 2012 is under 30 years old. Nearly 60 percent are women, and a quarter are minorities. Most of them plan to farm plots of less than 10 acres.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/12/4255210/how-california-can-nurture-next.html
First Lady Michelle Obama Highlights FreshWorks Program
First Lady Michelle Obama recently visited Los Angeles to publicize the California FreshWorks fund, a public –private loan fund intended to help start grocery stores in underserved areas, and help stores stock more fresh fruits and vegetables. You can learn more at the site:
President Obama’s Ag Proposals for 2013
President Obama’s 2013 budget request to Congress included $32 billion in cuts to direct farm payments, but two other items of controversial note. First, a one year cut of $432 million to farm conservation programs. Secondly, and difficult to understand, a cut to a program that is funded to test for bacteria in produce (the Microbiological Data Program). This $5 million program has discovered lettuce and spinach tainted with e.coli, that lead to recalls possibly saving hundreds of lives. The packaged greens industry wants to do its own testing, complaining that the government program unfairly targets farmers who weren’t responsible for contamination. The FDA makes similar tests but only on a targeted basis
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/16/national/a003746S33.DTL
Whole Foods Trying To Change Wallet-Draining Image
The Wall St. Journal writes “To counter its reputation for being expensive, Whole Foods is offering more price promotions and discounts in all of its stores, and lately it has held many of its grocery prices flat despite its own costs rising. The idea is for customers to feel that while there may be certain product prices that are going up, they are finding plenty of good deals to make up for that, said executives, who call the strategy "price perception."
Lindsey William-Ross in the LAist notes: The chain has also been emphasizing bang-for-your-buck in other ways, too. They offer "value" tours of their stores where employees help you shop on a budget. A number of stories have cropped up in blogs in the past few weeks about families taking a "30-Day Thrifty Challenge," in which they feed their families for a month on what the USDA indicates is a poverty-level dollar amount but shop only at Whole Foods.”
http://laist.com/2012/02/15/whole_foods_wants_to_get_rid_of_tha.php
High Food Prices Contribute to World Malnutrition
The international aid agency Save the Children says that 500 million children around the world are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment, leading to permanent physical and mental damage. Food price hikes in the last few years have contributed to that situation. According to Save the Children, half of the malnourished kids live in just five countries: India, Bangladesh, Peru, Pakistan and Nigeria. One in six of the children surveyed had dropped out of school to work for the family’s survival.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17034134
U.S. Can Now Buy Local Food In Relief Operations
The U.S. food relief agency , USAID, can now buy from local farmers in affected countries, rather than being restricted to buying American products. Previously, U.S. food aid to other countries had to be bought from American companies (or companies in other donor countries). The new policy should help countries needing food aid to truly become more independent.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201202090707.html
International development and aid agencies are urging Congress to maintain and expand the new policy, pointing out that past aid projects have been more about protecting American agribusiness than aiding hungry countries:
http://www.agri-pulse.com/Aid-groups-seek-flexible-food-assistance-program-farm-bill-02152012.asp
Chemical In Water Bottles Can Cause Obesity and Diabetes
More tests have provided further evidence that a chemical called BPA, bisphenol A, disrupts human hormones and can lead to obesity and diabetes. This chemical is found in plastics, including water bottles, and food can linings, and is regularly ingested in huge amounts by millions of people. Even a small amount of it can fool the body into thinking it’s eaten more food than it actually has, and cause the pancreas to secrete far more insulin than necessary. The chemical industry says BPA has a 50-year safe track record.
Huffington Post Contributor Says Only Staples For Food Stamp Participants: HALA Responds
A guest blogger on the Huffington Post suggests “re-inventing” the food stamp program and allowing only certain staple foods to be bought. (See link at the end of the next few paragraphs.) While Tamar Haspel has a good point in promoting nutrition, I can only respond: why do we only seem concerned with scolding poor people to eat nutritious food and not address the issue of why is there so much bad food out there, and why are healthy foods not available in some communities?
Ms. Haspel says her proposed re-invention is better than “nickel and diming the program” with arguments over what is and isn’t junk food. Let me assure you there would be the same argument over what is and isn’t a “staple” food, and the same logistical nightmare of cataloging hundreds of thousands of food products (and sorting them at the grocery counter.) In her proposal food stamps would be used only for certain staples….and then what? The person leaves the food stamp program and yippee, they can eat junk again. Being able to chow down on Twinkies, Cheetos and gummy bears is your reward for being a responsible hard working American lucky enough to have a job that pays enough to keep you off of the SNAP program.
It’s another case of the mentality that anyone, poor, disabled, or senior, who is forced to live with government assistance, is therefore eternally indebted to the rest of us and therefore obliged to live as we tell them and do exactly what we say, an indentured servant for all intents and purposes. After all they are “living off our tax money.” But it’s all of us who pay in increased health care costs due to diet-related diseases, and there are plenty of wealthy folks and other people not using government benefits who don’t eat right and contribute to those cost increases.
If junk food is the problem, why not regulate sugar at the manufacturing level, not at the retail level, and not create so much of it in the first place? Because in America, you can manufacture what you want, however deadly, toxic or dangerous, and it’s “let the buyer beware.”
For the record, Hunger Action LA operates a program at 4 farmers’ markets in LA County which provide incentives for people to buy additional fresh fruit and vegetables when they use food stamp (CalFresh) benefits. So we’re not opposed to nutrition, just to condescending proposals on what we “do with the poor” .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tamar-haspel/food-stamps-extreme-makeo_b_1279633.html
*****************************************************************
- Petition to Oppose Obama Appointment of Corporate Ag Veteran To FDA
- Valentine Delivery To Local Legislators Feb 14
- Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday Feb 24
- California Alliance for Retired Americans Training on State Budget Feb. 28
- Food Pantry in Covina Closes After 80 Years
- Angelinos Hit With Rising Rent, Utilities and Gasoline
- States’ Attacks on Immigrants Increase Hunger
- Food Stamp Use Rises To Record High in November
- California Still Needs To Remove Food Stamp Barriers
- Food Stamps Are Good For Consumers and Retailers
- Robert Reich: Obama Is No “Food Stamp President”
- Food Stamp Food Police?
- Scientists Report: Sugar Should be Regulated Like Tobacco
- WalMart adding a “Great for You” Label to Healthy Foods
- Trader Joe’s Signs Agreement With Tomato Workers
- Will 2012 Yield a New Farm Bill?
- State and Federal Proposals Promote Local Food Growing
- Can Farmers Feed 9 Billion?
- The Seed Emergency: Threat To Food and Democracy
******************************************************************************
Petition to Oppose Obama Appointment of Corporate Ag Veteran To FDA
President Obama appointed former Monsanto vice president and lobbyist Michael Taylor as senior advisor to the Food and Drug Administration commissioner.This is a classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse. President Obama should isolate the FDA from corporate influence by asking Taylor to step down immediately.
A petition has been created to President Obama on SignOn.org. Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269891&id=35461-17277404-hdjVayx&t=2
Valentine Delivery To Local Legislators Feb 14
Join various members of California Partnership in delivering Valentines to local legislators on Tuesday Feb. 14! On Feb. 14th organizations across the state will be delivering Valentine messages to legislators, asking them to:
No Cuts Until After November: With proposed revenue solutions on the November ballot, it’s premature to impose severe mid-year cuts now that will further harm California’s families.
No Rainy Day Fund: It’s raining right now! Saving $1 billion for tough times after four years of drastic cuts to essential services just doesn’t make sense.
Revenue Solutions: California needs a state budget that prioritizes the needs of the 99% with revenue solutions that will help us rebuild our social safety net.
More information : California Partnership, (213) 385-8010
Hunger Action LA Meeting Friday Feb 24
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting is Friday, Feb 24, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas, LA CA 90007. All are invited to attend, it’s free. You can rsvp to frank@hungeractionla.org . Topics regularly include state and federal food and anti-hunger legislation, local activities, and updates from several organizations around Los Angeles working on similar issues.
California Alliance for Retired Americans Training on State Budget Feb. 28
Free Training for Southern California CARA members, Senior, Student, and Disability Advocates
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
10am – 3pm (lunch included)
UFCW Local 324, Auditorium
8530 Stanton Blvd., Buena Park, 90620
For more information, to RSVP for lunch, call 714-244-7776
The California Alliance for Retired Americans is sponsoring this one day, free training to learn ways we can talk about the California budget crisis and develop support for important revenue solutions that will be considered this year. Please let us know at least one week before the meeting if you need other language materials, Spanish translation during the meeting, alternate format materials, or ASL interpreters.
Food Pantry in Covina Closes After 80 Years
Declining donations and increasing need have forced the closure of the Covina Area Emergency Aid Center. The LA Regional Food Bank says demand for emergency food is up 80% over the last four years:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8525049
Angelinos Hit With Rising Rent, Utilities and Gasoline
La Opinion piece spotlights residents and how they’ve been impacted by rising rent, gasoline, mass transit, electricity, and gas prices, including recent City Council approved rate hikes in water and gas.
States’ Attacks on Immigrants Increase Hunger
A new Kansas policy cuts back on food stamp benefits towards U.S. born children with illegal immigrant parents. A local food pantry is seeing more families as a result and some of the customers are sad that the state made the decision to cut off assistance:
Alabama’s new immigration law has also resulted in immigrant children being denied food stamps, as well as some utility companies denying water and power to homes of immigrants:
Food Stamp Use Rises To Record High in November
About 46.286 million Americans received aid, up 0.1 percent from 46.225 million in October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today in an e-mail. Participation was 6.2 percent higher than a year earlier. The government spent $6.22 billion on the program for the month, up 6.9 percent from 2010.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-03/u-s-food-stamp-use-rose-to-record-in-november.html
California Still Needs To Remove Food Stamp Barriers
California’s lengthy food stamp application and some barriers (that have been recently removed, or will be removed in the next year) due to successful legislation) remain reasons why it costs more to enroll each person in the CalFresh program here
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/4246860/state-must-expand-access-to-food.html
Food Stamps Are Good For Consumers and Retailers
Two professors team on an LA Times editorial striking back at recent Republican comments denigrating the SNAP (Food Stamp) program and its 46 million participants: “With the increasing protest against economic inequality across the country, the 99% should defend food stamps as a crucial pillar of the American promise, and as something good for the economy. In today's hard times, with growing poverty and rising food prices, there is widespread recognition that making ends meet is no small feat, even for the middle class, and that food stamps are essential.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-levenstein-food-stamps-20120206,0,3343518.story
Robert Reich: Obama Is No “Food Stamp President”
“If anything, America’s safety nets have been too small and shot through with holes. That’s why the number and percentage of Americans in poverty has increased dramatically over the past three years. According to a study by Northeastern University, a third of families with young children are now in poverty.”
“This is the real scandal. For example, only 40 percent of the unemployed qualify for unemployment benefits because they weren’t working full time or long enough on a single job before they were canned. The unemployment system doesn’t take account of the fact that a large portion of the workforce typically works part time on several jobs, and moves from job to job.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Robert-Reich/2012/0202/Obama-is-no-food-stamp-president
Food Stamp Food Police?
LA Times rightly rakes Florida Senator Ronda Storms over the coals for her bill proposing to limit what food stamp (SNAP) participants can buy. She’s annoyed that low income parents might save time by buying their kids a birthday cake instead of making one from scratch. For heaven’s sake, everyone else makes their own cakes right? Times commentators point out that “There are two key motivations behind this drive: a well-meaning effort to fight obesity among the poor, and a mean-spirited attempt to make them eat their spinach because Uncle Sam doesn't want to spring for candy bars. Either way, it's a misguided approach.” Read the rest:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-foodstamps-20120131,0,869231.story?track=rss
Scientists Report: Sugar Should be Regulated Like Tobacco
If we are going to regulate junk food and its main ingredient, sugar, we should regulate it for everyone, not just poor people (and at the manufacturing rather than retail level):
Scientists at the University of California at San Francisco have published a study linking sugar to increasing incidences of chronic disease and early death, and recommending that the use of sugar be regulated similar to tobacco and alcohol:
WalMart adding a “Great for You” Label to Healthy Foods
“As part of its promise last year to improve the nutritional quality of the food it sells, Walmart said on Tuesday that it had devised standards to determine what is healthy and would label the foods that meet those standards.
The new label, bright green with the words Great for You, will first appear on the retailer's own Great Value and Marketside food items this spring, as well as on signs around fresh fruits and vegetable displays. But Walmart executives said the company planned to allow other brands to use the label without paying any licensing fee on products that meet the criteria.”
Trader Joe’s Signs Agreement With Tomato Workers
The Fair Food Program is a groundbreaking approach to social responsibility in the US produce industry that combines the Fair Food Code of Conduct – a set of labor standards developed in a unique collaboration among farmworkers, tomato growers, and the food industry leaders who purchase Florida tomatoes – with a small price premium to help improve harvesters’ wages.
Will 2012 Yield a New Farm Bill?
A number of key observers have all expressed concern publicly about whether election-year politics will cripple the Farm Bill process. A third of the Senate and all 435 House members are up for reelection in November, and legislators are expected to spend more time than usual back in their districts campaigning. Partisan wrangling between the two chambers has also continually led to gridlock.
http://www.agjournalonline.com/news/x675929033/Will-2012-yield-a-new-farm-bill
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., chairwoman of the agriculture committee, announced a series of hearings on the farm bill, beginning in mid-February continuing through late March.
Specialty Crop Industry advocates hope to preserve gains won in the 2008 farm bill, which allocated $3 billion for programs devoted to fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops. The 2008 farm bill also budgeted $1 billion over 10 years to expand the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program.
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/Farm-bill-process-kicks-off-138589534.html?ref=534
State and Federal Proposals Promote Local Food Growing
Community Ag And Jobs Act: “H.R. 3225, the Community Agriculture Development and Jobs Act, will help create the next generation of farmers in our nation’s cities, reduce foreign agricultural imports, work to eliminate food deserts, strengthen local food systems and increase marketing opportunities for small farmers while improving seniors’ nutrition.”
http://www.cityfarmer.info/2011/12/09/usa-community-agriculture-development-and-jobs-act/
Local Farm, Food and Jobs Act: Introduced in November, this bill includes a variety of policies long championed by sustainable and local food advocates, as well as anti-hunger and nutrition promotion groups. For example, the Farmers Market Promotion Program is boosted and is expanded to include “grants to scale up local and regional food enterprises, including processing, distribution, aggregation, storage, and marketing.” Provisions are also included to allow schools to purchase more food locally rather than from USDA’s nationalized commodity program
http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/lffja-introduced/
California: Homemade Food Act: Mark Stambler of Los Angeles Bread Bakers: AB1616, the California Homemade Food Act, was introduced in the California State Assembly by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles). This cottage food law will allow people in California to legally sell bread [and other "non-hazardous" food such as honey, jams and jellies] they bake at home
The Los Angeles Bread Bakers helped draft the legislation and will be organizing community support for it over the next few months. One of many sources:
http://www.theselc.org/cottage-food-laws/
That’s the projected world population by 2050. Farmers face increasing challenges from a depleted ecosystem, but the director of the UN’s Food and Agriculture organization believes it can be done
The Seed Emergency: Threat To Food and Democracy
Famous Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva writes on the increasing loss of control by farmers over their own seeds. She points out that “The past twenty years have seen a very rapid erosion of seed diversity and seed sovereignty, and the concentration of the control over seeds by a very small number of giant corporations. In 1995, when the UN organised the Plant Genetic Resources Conference in Leipzig, it was reported that 75 per cent of all agricultural biodiversity had disappeared because of the introduction of "modern" varieties, which are always cultivated as monocultures. Since then, the erosion has accelerated.”
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/02/06-0
***************************************************************************
- Hunger Action LA News
- California Alliance for Retired Americans Sponsoring Training on State Budget Feb. 28
- Nutrition Policy in The News
- Newt’s Never Ending SNAP Flap
- Kansas Legislators Question Policy Ending Food Assistance for Hundreds of Children
- Tomato Workers Continue With Trader Joe’s Campaign
- Higher Food Prices Caused By Everything From Drought To Speculation
- The Outlook For Food in 2052
- “Go Halfsies” Tackles Food Waste, Obesity, and Hunger
***************************************************************
1. Hunger Action LA News:
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting is Friday, Feb 24, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas, LA CA 90007. All are invited to attend, it’s free. You can rsvp to frank@hungeractionla.org . Topics regularly include state and federal food and anti-hunger legislation, local activities, and updates from several organizations around Los Angeles working on similar issues.
California’s state of hunger: This recent article by Sasha Abramsky highlights among others Maribel Diaz of Hunger Action LA. “While California doesn’t have the highest rate of poverty or hunger in the country, its raw hunger and food insecurity numbers are stunning simply by virtue of its size. Yes, the state with the largest population in the country has the second highest number of food-stamp enrollees (Texas holds the dubious distinction of having the highest), with more than 3.8 million residents on its CalFresh program. Of these, 1.39 million are children.”
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/californias-state-of-hunger/content?oid=4978550
Who’s Hungry Adds Second Performance:
Dan Froot & Dan Hurlin's “Who's Hungry - Santa Monica”, Experimental Puppetry Portraits from the Hungry and Homeless Community, is playing Friday and Saturday Feb 3-4, 2012, at 8:30 pm and has just added a Saturday Feb 4 afternoon 5 pm showtime. TICKETS: highwaysperformance.org 310.315.1459. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404, (½ block north of Olympic) $20 general admission | $15 seniors and students. Written and produced by Dan Froot, Designed and directed by Dan Hurlin. “Who’s Hungry” looks at the lives of homeless people from Santa Monica from the point of view of their humanity. Hunger Action LA helped to introduce some of the participants to the project and from the previous version (West Hollywood) in 2008. More information:
http://whoshungrysantamonica.blogspot.com/
http://web.mac.com/danfroot/Whos_Hungry_On-Line_Press_Kit/On-Line_Press_Kit.html
**********************************************************
2. California Alliance for Retired Americans Sponsoring Training on State Budget Feb. 28
Free Training for Southern California CARA members, Senior, Student, and Disability Advocates
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
10am – 3pm (lunch included)
UFCW Local 324, Auditorium
8530 Stanton Blvd., Buena Park, 90620
For more information, to RSVP for lunch, call 714-244-7776
The California Alliance for Retired Americans is sponsoring this one day, free training to learn ways we can talk about the California budget crisis and develop support for important revenue solutions that will be considered this year. Please let us know at least one week before the meeting if you need other language materials, Spanish translation during the meeting, alternate format materials, or ASL interpreters.
***************************************************************************
3. Nutrition Policy in The News:
Less Meat and Potatoes in School Meals Rankles Industry Groups: “The potato and French fry industry should be happy,” said Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Washington- based Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. “There should be a limit on fries and hash browns in schools, and they got Congress to step in and prevent USDA from doing what the science shows is best for kids.”
Florida Pushes Policy To Ban Junk Food From Food Stamp Purchases: Floridians could not use food stamps to buy soft drinks, candy bars or other junk food under a bill that survived contentious debate among members of a Senate panel Wednesday.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/25/2608397/on-food-stamps-no-junk-food-for.html#storylink=cpy
“SNAP” To Health Invites Comments To Improve Nutrition In SNAP: From the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress:
"SNAP to Health" is an initiative of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress to improve nutrition in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. The website SNAP to Health serves as a public forum where community members can join the ongoing conversation about the current state of nutrition in SNAP.
We hope that what you read here will encourage you to participate in the dialogue on strengthening SNAP as well as discussing hunger and obesity prevention issues. We welcome your contributions at www.snaptohealth.org, as the views and perspectives shared on the website will be incorporated into recommendations to strengthen nutrition in SNAP in the upcoming Farm Bill.
Email: health@thepresidency.org
Phone: (202) 872-9800
*****************************************************************************
4. Newt’s Never Ending SNAP Flap
“Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and now front-running Republican presidential candidate, has made calling Barack Obama the "food stamp president" his calling card. But Republicans, Gingrich included, have had a strong hand in the expansion of food stamp use.”
The President has responded, stating, “"First of all, I don't put people on food stamps. People become eligible for food stamps. Second of all, the initial expansion of food-stamp eligibility happened under my Republican predecessor, not under me."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/obama-abc-interview_n_1235281.html?ref=politics |
“In Massachusetts, SNAP enrollment was up 73 percent over the five years prior in 2008. It must be noted that it was up 103 percent over the five years prior in 2010. Nationally, participation of eligible working poor families was at just 66 percent in 2007. Enrollment in 2009, however, was up 41 percent over the five years prior. These trends were the intersection of two patterns -- increasing financial hardship and a multi-administration push to support struggling Americans with SNAP.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tiziana-dearing/newt-ginrich-food-stamps-_b_1225942.html
************************************************************** |
5. Kansas Legislators Question Policy Ending Food Assistance for Hundreds of Children
“After being briefed on the matter, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announced Wednesday that he won’t change a policy that eliminated food stamps for hundreds of children in the state. But several state legislators promised to do their own review.
The bipartisan group wants a further explanation of the policy change by the state’s Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. The change eliminated food stamps for hundreds of low-income children who are U.S. citizens but whose parents are illegal immigrants.
Sen. John Vratil, a Leawood Republican, told The Associated Press that the change “has the effect of denying food to children, which is something I could never support.”
Sen. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, agreed and said the policy must be reviewed. “There are other ways to approach this other than to cut off access to food for these kids,” she said.
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/25/3392159/lawmakers-to-review-food-stamp.html#storylink=cpy
******************************************************************
6. Tomato Workers Continue With Trader Joe’s Campaign
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a group of Florida farmworkers who’ve been working with students and other allies on a largely successful campaign to get corporations to agree to pay one penny extra per pound of tomatoes that they purchase to help improve farmworkers’ wages and get them badly needed services. Largely successful, but among the notable holdouts is Trader Joe’s , a store that is thought by many to be the opposite of the typical corporate supermarkets
“The people who pick the tomatoes we eat make as little as $50 for a 12-hour workday, picking ton after ton of tomatoes.”
You can sign the petition to get Trader Joe’s to join the other players, including Taco Bell and other unlikely suspects, who’ve agreed to pay the extra penny or two per pound:
http://sumofus.org/campaigns/tjs-tomatoes/?sub=taf
********************************************************
7. Higher Food Prices Caused By Everything From Drought To Speculation
Texas drought will result in beef price rise: The Agriculture Department reported Friday there were about 91 million head of cattle in the U.S. on Jan. 1, down 2% from a year ago and the lowest level since 1952. Retail beef prices, now near record levels, will likely rise 4% to 5% this year following a 10% increase in 2011, according to Agriculture. John Nalivka, owner of consulting firm Sterling Marketing, estimates prices could rise as much as another 10% — more than double the inflation rate for all food.
The most severe drought in more than half a century last year left ranchers in Texas, Oklahoma and other states with meager supplies of grass and water to feed their cattle. Many animals were sold to feedlots or slaughterhouses.
The crisis added to a long-term trend of ranchers thinning their herds because of the soaring price of corn — a primary feedstock for cattle — rising property costs and increased competition for land with corn, soybeans and other crops, says Kevin Good, a senior analyst at research firm CattleFax.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-01-29/beef-prices/52874812/1
Barclay’s Bank Wins Shame Award For Speculating on Food Prices: “Barclays Bank has been adjudged the world’s worst company at the Public Eye ‘shame award’ for speculating on food prices as a result of which about 44 million people worldwide were pushed into extreme poverty in the second half of 2010.The award, organised by Greenpeace and the Berne Declaration (BD), was held January 27, 2012 on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.
Barclays’ activity is fuelling hunger and poverty worldwide, says the World Development Movement, which nominated the bank for the shame award.
“Barclays is gambling with the price of food, and therefore with people’s lives. Speculation benefits a tiny minority in the financial sector, and at the same time fuels food price spikes which force millions of people to go hungry. Governments must take urgent action to curb this reckless practice,” Amy Horton, campaigner at the World Development Movement, said on its website.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16170
*******************************************************************************
8. The Outlook For Food in 2052
Feeding 9 billion in 40 years:
“Although world agriculture has met the food demand of growing populations and expanding economies over the last half of the 20th Century, U.S. growers and their counterparts worldwide face a "continued challenge" to meet the continued growth in food demand over the last half of the 21st century, according to Iowa State University emeritus ag economist Don Hofstrand.”
Some of the factors involved in fighting hunger around the world, from economist Hofstrand:
· “In general, biofuels may have a difficult time competing with food demand from developed countries. Conversely, the food demand of developing countries may have a hard time competing with biofuels.”
· “In addition to population growth, world food need will rise due to increasing incomes in developing countries, especially for meat.”
· “Despite the large movement from rural to urban over the next 40 years, population growth in rural areas is expected to increase faster than employment opportunities in primary agriculture. So, rural areas in many developing countries will need to transition to non-agriculture employment.”
· “Food waste is another issue as agriculture attempts to feed the world for years to come. It's estimated 30 percent of food is wasted along the food chain from growing to consumption.”
**************************************************************
9. “Go Halfsies” Tackles Food Waste, Obesity, and Hunger
“Everyone knows restaurants' portions are out of control—they're usually two to four times the recommended meal size, and they're growing every decade. Meanwhile, almost half the food produced in the United States today is thrown away—including $44 billion worth in the retail industry—while 50 million people in the U.S. experience food insecurity or malnutrition. This triangle affects everything from obesity rates to ballooning waste-disposal costs to every person who can't afford to eat properly.
Enter Go Halfsies, a new social initiative that's tackling these three depressing, interrelated problems at the same time. Halfsies plans to partner with local restaurants, beginning in Austin and New York City, that will designate a certain portion of their menu to the initiative. When a customer chooses a meal with a "go halfsies" symbol, she'll pay full price while receiving only half of the portion. Ninety percent of the proceeds are donated to support the fight against hunger. “
Follow us on Twitter @HungerActionLA . Welcome to all the new people on the list: please respond to frank@hungeractionla.org if you wish to use a different e mail or be removed. On this list you will receive about 6 e mails a month.
Thanks to: Anna Carter, Judith Gerber, and Breanna Morrison for contributions to today’s newsletter
- Hunger Action LA News:
- Local News on Poverty and Assistance
- Seed Lady of Watts Invites Angelenos To Join in New Project
- Gingrich’s Attacks on Food Stamps Seen As Coded Racial Attacks
- Local Farm Food News Around The Country
- End Monsanto’s Attacks on Family Farmers
- Can Supermarkets Help Increase Healthy Food Access
- Food Waste Issue Goes Global
- Biofuels Held Responsible For Grain Price Increases
- Cattle Raids Source of Conflict in South Sudan
***************************************************************
1. Hunger Action LA News:
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting will be Friday January 27, 10 am to noon, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, just west of downtown. All are invited for updates on upcoming activities for 2012 including fighting for a fair state budget, the Mayor’s day of service March 31, and Hunger Action Day in Sacramento, May 17. RSVP 213 388 8228 or frank@hungeractionla.org
**********************************************************
2. Local News on Poverty and Assistance:
California Alliance for Retired Americans Sponsoring Training on State Budget Feb. 28
2012 Is the Year to Get California Back on Track
Free Training for Southern California CARA members, Senior, Student, and Disability Advocates
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
10am – 3pm (lunch included)
UFCW Local 324, Auditorium
8530 Stanton Blvd., Buena Park, 90620
For more information, to RSVP for lunch, call 714-244-7776
The California Alliance for Retired Americans is sponsoring this one day, free training to learn ways we can talk about the California budget crisis and develop support for important revenue solutions that will be considered this year:
· Learn how to impact the State Budget and save essential programs;
· Continue our campaign to protect pensions, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and important retirement income;
· Find out how to get involved in electing leaders who will represent your interests and supporting ballot measure that can help re-build California.
Kim Klein, well known fundraising guru and partner in Nonprofits Talking Taxes will provide this special training that will help us learn how to talk about how fair taxes will help us get California and the Country back on the road to recovery. This workshop will help us “make the common good a common conversation.” This is a training you will not want to miss.
Please let us know at least one week before the meeting if you need other language materials, Spanish translation during the meeting, alternate format materials, or ASL interpreters.
Homeless make up growing number of public assistance recipients: Over the last five years, the number of CalWorks families without a permanent place to live has grown by 98%. That's nearly four times the growth of non-homeless families who are also getting assistance. The increase shows how difficult it is for people on the lower rungs of the financial ladder to improve their situation in the current tough economy, experts say, especially because the average amount that Los Angeles County families get from the state has shrunk from $560 a month three years ago to $490 last October.
Grants could become even smaller if Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget passes. Brown wants to reduce CalWorks by about $1 billion.
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-welfare-20120117,0,325056.story?track=rss
Gas company launches winter assistance:Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today launched its annual winter assistance campaign, the Gas Assistance Fund, which provides a one-time grant in the amount of the bill, up to $100, for low-income families. The program is funded by the generous contributions from customers, employees, and shareholders.
Information on how you can donate to the program, or how you may qualify to receive assistance from the program:
http://www.socalgas.com/for-your-home/assistance-programs/gaf/
***************************************************************************
3. Seed Lady of Watts Invites Angelenos To Join in New Project
Anna Marie Carter, The Seed Lady of Watts, has spent the last 37 years of her life planting over 11,100 gardens in Watts and harvesting seeds for posterity. She has now retired from her selfless Community Garden work in Watts and is working diligently to build an Organic Agricultural University for Women and Children on the 20-Acre Promised Land in Historic Allensworth, California, the very first all-Black town in California.
The immediate need of this historic venture is the building of the first Green House to start the growing and harvesting of the millions of Heirloom Organic Seeds that she has been collecting since 1975. "Not very many people understand the importance of the Organic Seed," says Miss Carter, "and the time is quickly approaching when Organic Seeds will be more valuable than money!"
Everyone is invited to share in Miss Carter's extraordinary vision by joining The Promised Land's GREEN SEED CLUB with a $10.00 Membership Donation. These funds will be used to build Green houses on the Promised Land to produce fresh Organic Fruits, Vegetables and Seeds for distribution to all the Green Seed Club Members in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.
All donations and Membership requests can be mailed directly to ACT SLOW MINISTRIES, P.O. BOX 431312, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90043. Please be sure to include your complete Name, Address, Telephone number and Email Address, so that we can communicate with you in the future with updates on the progress at The Promised Land!
For more information about other ways to support THE PROMISED LAND, including direct donations of building materials for the first Green House, please contact the Watts Garden Club at 323-969-4740.
*********************************************************
4. Gingrich’s Attacks on Food Stamps Seen As Coded Racial Attacks
Raj Patel: In Attacks on Obama, Food Stamps, Newt Gingrich is “Racially Coding Poverty”:
From Democracy Now radio program: “The new documentary “Finding North” premiering at the Sundance Film Festival exposes how one in every four American children suffers from hunger, despite living in the wealthiest nation in the world. And, nearly 30 percent of American families, more than 49 million people, often go without meals. While Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich decries President Obama as “the food stamp president,” author Raj Patel says what is really needed is a conversation about poverty and why the need for food stamps is so high. “It is true that disproportionately people of color are affected by food insecurity. What Gingrich is doing is racially coding poverty by calling President Obama the food stamp president,” Patel said. “He is invoking ideas of racialized poverty.” Hear the interview with Raj Patel:
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/23/raj_patel_in_attacks_on_obama
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said attacks on the U.S. food-stamp program, a standby of Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s criticisms of President Barack Obama, exploit stereotypes of aid recipients. Those who get the federal assistance “are playing by the rules,” Vilsack, whose department administers food stamps, said yesterday in an interview with Bloomberg News. “There are misconceptions about this program and confusion” about recipients caused by negative portrayals by some Obama opponents, he said.
In their attacks on the food stamp program, some Republican presidential candidates are leaving a deeply misleading impression of the nation's leading anti-hunger program. No one aspires to enroll, but for those who must, it is an essential lifeline that addresses one of the harshest impacts of poverty and unemployment -- hunger.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/opinion/dean-food-stamp-program/
Why isn’t Newt lecturing Idaho? : 235,000 Idahoans are now receiving food stamps, up from just 95,433 in 2008. Department of Health and Welfare Administrator Russ Barron said that number is growing at a rate of 6 percent per year. Food stamp participation is up and the state has proposed staggering distribution of them to avoid rushes at grocery stores. Note: Idaho is an 89% white state.
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005140417
“Do as we say, not as we do”:Kip Smith, author of a Georgia state bill requiring food stamp applicants to be tested for drugs, was arrested for DUI:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/16/kip-smith-dui-arrest_n_1209365.html
***************************************************
5. Local Farm Food News Around The Country
New York sees increase in food stamps for local farm food: “More New Yorkers on food stamps are using them to buy fresh produce, eggs and baked goods at city greenmarkets.From 2010 to 2011, use of food stamps at greenmarkets increased from a little more than $505,000 to $620,000 — a gain of 23 percent.” Oh, those wacky New Yorkers! “Greenmarkets” are what we all know down here as “farmers markets”.
http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2012/jan/03/food-stamps-increasingly-deployed-greenmarkets/
Iowa farmers encounter problem of scale: Despite a powerful demand for local food in grocery stores, restaurants and schools, some local growers say they don’t have big enough operations to make selling at wholesale prices viable. A problem for local growers everywhere, spotlighted here in Iowa---known for its vast fields of grain: you wouldn’t suspect so many fruits and vegetables being grown there.
http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20120121/NEWS01/301210010/Demand-local-food-growing
National Jewish organizations in the U.S. are making the Farm Bill an advocacy priority for 2012: Leah Kaplan Robins: “While it may seem like an unlikely target for a swell of Jewish activism, the Farm Bill—which dictates U.S. law on everything from agriculture to food stamps to biofuels—is packed with policies that go against the grain of Jewish ethics. The bill is up for debate and reauthorization this year, and six Jewish organizations are seizing the opportunity to call for reforms that they feel will go a long way toward achieving their Torah-inspired visions of food justice. Even though they’re each tackling a different aspect of the bill, they’ve recently joined forces to maximize their power and mobilize their constituents toward a common goal.”
http://m.forward.com/blogs/the-jew-and-the-carrot/149969
*************************************************************
6. End Monsanto’s Attacks on Family Farmers
From Food Democracy Now: “On January 31, family farmers will take part in the first phase of a court case filed to protect farmers from genetic trespass by Monsanto’s GMO seed, which contaminates organic and non-GMO farmer’s crops and opens them up to abusive lawsuits. In the past two decades, Monsanto’s seed monopoly has grown so powerful that they control the genetics of nearly 90% of five major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets.”
“In many cases farmers are forced to stop growing certain crops to avoid genetic contamination and potential lawsuits. Between 1997 and 2010, Monsanto admits to filing 144 lawsuits against America’s family farmers, while settling another 700 out of court for undisclosed amounts. Due to these aggressive lawsuits, Monsanto has created an atmosphere of fear in rural America and driven dozens of farmers into bankruptcy. Please join us in standing up for family farmers everywhere against Monsanto's abusive seed monopoly.”
http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/farmersvs_monsanto/
*************************************************************
7. Can Supermarkets Help Increase Healthy Food Access
Texas’ HEB chain is launching campaign to lower prices on healthy foods---can we get California chains to follow suit? HEB grocery chain in Texas has rolled out the “Healthy at H-E-B” initiative, which it described as a “comprehensive, long-term commitment to improve the health of Texans and provide them with fresh, healthy food that is affordable and easy to prepare.”
“We are facing a health crisis in Texas,” said Craig Boyan, president and chief operating officer of H-E-B., who noted that Texas has been listed as the 13th most obese state in the nation.“An estimated 64% of the total population and one in five Texas kids are now considered overweight or obese,” he said. “Given our position as the leading food retailer in the state, we have a unique opportunity to help those who want to make a change for themselves and their families.” ….In addition to lower prices on produce, H-E-B will offer its new Healthy Savings meal solutions — packages of fresh ingredients with recipes for preparing a healthy meal for four for under $10 after a $4 coupon.
http://m.supermarketnews.com/latest-news/h-e-b-launches-health-price-campaigns
************************************************************
8. Food Waste Issue Goes Global
Food waste was denounced by farm ministers and policy makers gathered in Berlin as almost 1 billion people in developing countries go hungry…..Consumers in rich countries dispose of 220 million metric tons of food waste every year, equal to the entire food output of sub-Saharan Africa, Jose Graziano da Silva, the director general of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, told 64 agriculture ministers meeting in Berlin over the weekend.
One third of the food produced in the world every year is lost or wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion metric tons, according to Graziano da Silva. As many as 925 million people faced hunger worldwide in 2010, based on the FAO’s most recent estimate.
Russia Today chimes in on the paradox of US food waste and hunger:
http://rt.com/news/usa-food-waste-hungry-345/
***************************************************************
9. Biofuels Held Responsible For Grain Price Increases
The use of corn to make ethanol in the U.S. is helping to lift the grain price worldwide, said Jose Graziano da Silva, the new director general of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.
“FAO has been raising its voice against using food to produce bio energy,” Graziano da Silva told 64 agriculture ministers in Berlin yesterday. That’s “especially” the case for corn in the U.S. and oilseeds in Europe, he said.
*********************************************************
10. Cattle Raids Source of Conflict in South Sudan
Food remains a direct source of conflict in some parts of the world. The newly independent country of South Sudan is suffering violent civil war between tribes resulting from cattle raids. Some have accused Sudanese refugees in the US of fundraising for weapons in the conflict:
***************************
Frank Tamborello
Hunger Action Los Angeles
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
- Hunger Action LA News:
- Upcoming Actions for A Fair Budget: Tuesday Jan. 10 Action at State Bldg
- Help End California’s Lifetime Ban On Food Aid For People In Re-Entry
- Checking Newt’s Facts on “Food Stamp” vs “Paycheck” Presidency
- What’s Ahead in 2012: Farm Bill, Debate Over Healthy Food, And Concern Over Food Safety
- A Hamburger From A Test Tube For Ya
- As Organic Food Becomes Big Business, It’s Running Into Same Issues As Conventional
- Obesity Affects Low Income Communities More
- Anti-Immigrant Legislation Hurting Farmers In U.S.
***************************************************************
Next Hunger Action LA Meeting will be Friday January 27, 10 am to noon, at LAANE, 464 S Lucas Ave, LA CA 90017, just west of downtown. All are invited for updates on upcoming activities for 2012 including fighting for a fair state budget, the Mayor’s day of service March 31, and Hunger Action Day in Sacramento, May 17. RSVP 213 388 8228 or frank@hungeractionla.org
Voices of Poverty: Author Sasha Abramsky (Inside Obama’s Brain, Breadline USA) paid a visit to LA recently to collect stories of low income Angelenos and anti-poverty advocates. The website he founded, thevoicesofpoverty.org, states as its mission: “By sharing their stories, we hope to shed light on the men, women, and children of America’s poverty. Our intent is to make complicated stories too often reduced to two-dimensional stereotypes. And, in exploring why and how people fall into, or remain mired in, poverty—using issues like housing, employment, wages, healthcare access, and education resources as lenses on their conditions—we hope to point the way to possible solutions. “ Check it out: http://thevoicesofpoverty.org/poverty-stories
**********************************************************
2. Upcoming Actions for A Fair Budget: Tuesday Jan. 10 Action at State Bldg
Governor Brown has just proposed a state budget with $1.4 billion in cuts to health and human services, including yet further restrictions on the amount of aid that low income parents can receive over their lifetime. At a time of recession, can we afford to be creating more hunger and homelessness, and remove people from the job training programs, access to child care, and other things that keep them connected and engaged and most of all, hopeful?
Join California Partnership in an action to call for a fair state budget:
Tuesday January 10
Los Angeles
State Building, 300 S. Spring St, LA 90013
Time: 12pm
Contact: Astrid Campos, 213-407-5840
Background:
LA Times: California in retreat on social spending
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-state-budget-20120107,0,1600241.story?track=rss
A statement from Vanessa Aramayo, Director of California Partnership and Co-chair of the Health and Human Services Network of CA : “We are appalled that yet once again Governor Brown’s solution to California’s budget crisis consists of $1.4 billion cuts to essential health and human services. Since 2008, California’s health and human services have suffered an astounding $15 billion in cuts, and this budget only continues the gutting of the social safety net that so many Californian families depend on.”
“We challenge the Governor to create definitive and solid revenue solutions that truly protect core health and human service programs and we call on legislators to protect the interests of struggling families in their districts rather than those of large corporations that receive billions of dollars in tax giveaways every year. “
***************************************************
3. Help End California’s Lifetime Ban On Food Aid For People In Re-Entry
California remains one of 13 states that continue to ban people with certain drug felonies from ever getting food assistance (CalFresh program) in their lives. Last year Assemblymember Sandre Swanson introduced a bill, AB 828, to change this situation. The bill passed the state Assembly but was placed “on suspense” by the state Senate. It will be heard in the Appropriations Committee sometime in April 2012.
It’s wrong for people who have already done time for their crime to be punished for the rest of their life and denied assistance that can help them rebuild their lives. Hunger Action LA has joined with several other anti-hunger groups to advocate for a change in this policy. You can join in the campaign. Please contact frank@hungeractionla.org for more details and actions to take. A website is being developed
and we will have that link for you as soon as it is completed.
*****************************************************
4. Checking Newt’s Facts on “Food Stamp” vs “Paycheck” Presidency
NY Times op ed columnist Charles Blow analyzes recent GOP candidates’ (specifically Gingrich and Santorum) claims and implications that African Americans overly depend on food stamps, and that the Obama presidency is a “food stamp” presidency as opposed to Newt’s “paycheck” society. :
“First, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, most SNAP participants are either too old or too young to work. Forty-seven percent were under age 18, and 8 percent were 60 or older. Second, "nearly 30 percent of SNAP households had earnings in 2010, and 41 percent of all SNAP participants lived in a household with earnings."
GOP candidates are capitalizing on lingering racism that portrays African Americans as overly dependent on state benefits (although the vast majority of food stamp participants are white), and stoking resentment based on this notion:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/opinion/blow-the-gops-black-people-platform.xml
************************************************************************
5. What’s Ahead in 2012: Farm Bill, Debate Over Healthy Food, And Concern Over Food Safety
Food Navigator USA, a website analyzing the food business, predicts the top five factors influencing the food industry in 2012, including the federal Farm Bill: seniors interested in healthier foods, childrens’ school meals, food safety, and the public concern with either purchasing or avoiding organic, genetically engineered and other foods, some of which are labeled misleadingly.
Marion Nestle predicts that in 2012: Demand for food stamps will grow, something will happen with the new farm bill, the FDA will continue playing catch-up on food safety, and the FTC will postpone nutrition standards.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/looking-ahead-2012-food-politics/250766/
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said recentlythat the farm bill proposal prepared for the failed supercommittee on deficit reduction back in November will provide the basis for starting consideration of the farm bill next year:
http://www.hagstromreport.com/news_files/120611_farmbill.html
There are some interesting alternatives to the standard farm bill that were introduced toward the end of the year. The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act introduced in November 2011 promotes rural development, job growth and public health at the level of local and regional food systems. “The bill also provides for local-marketing promotion, changes to school-lunch procurements that will encourage schools to purchase from local farmers, and renewed funding to the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program.”
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3286&tab=summary
“On Nov. 17, 2011, a bill focused explicitly on the needs of small-scale farmers was introduced in the Senate. The Growing Opportunities for Agriculture and Responding to Markets (GO FARM) Act gives the USDA authority to establish a loan program that issues grants to rural-development organizations. These organizations, in turn, will issue loans to market farmers growing crops for direct-sales venues and local schools and grocers. According to the bill, loan priority would be given to small- and medium-scale producers, socially disadvantaged farmers/ranchers, specialty crop growers, and farmers who are best able to meet the nutritional needs of underserved communities.”
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-industry-news/2011/12/20/2011-farm-policy-roundup.aspx
http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/go-farm-senate-introduction/
****************************************************************
6. A Hamburger >From A Test Tube For Ya
From Cara Santa Maria, reporter: “Dutch biologist Mark Post is pretty confident that he can put a lab-grown hamburger on your plate by the end of the year….The stakes are high. Right now, 40 billion animals are killed per year in the US alone. One million chickens are killed per hour. Over one-fourth of the total land surface of the earth is used for livestock grazing (or non-grazing, like in factory farms). Global meat production accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse gasses. That's more than every car, bus, train, and airplane produces combined. And its not like conventional meat production is even efficient. To make 15 grams of edible meat, we have to feed that animal 100 grams of vegetable protein. Is that sustainable with a growing world population? You do the math.”
We know how to make the meat. All it takes is a biopsy of muscle cells from a living cow, chicken...whatever...called myoblasts. The cells are then grown in a nutrient-rich culture medium that delivers them all the goods that they would get in vivo--that is, if they were still inside the animal”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/01/05/in-vitro-meat_n_1185128.html
Sound disgusting? Many of us including myself have opposed genetically engineered food because of its potentially devastating consequences on the environment and its use as an intimidation tool by giant companies (like Monsanto.) But what about meat grown in a lab? Could it save the environment by one day displacing even a portion of the billions of animals raised and killed in factory farms, often in inhumane ways? Maybe it depends on who is in control of the technology? Would love to hear your feedback! frank@hungeractionla.org
**************************************************************
7. As Organic Food Becomes Big Business, It’s Running Into Same Issues As Conventional
From the New York Times, about tons of organic produce being raised in Mexico and shipped to Trader Joe’s in the United States: “…even as more Americans buy foods with the organic label, the products are increasingly removed from the traditional organic ideal: produce that is not only free of chemicals and pesticides but also grown locally on small farms in a way that protects the environment.”
“The explosive growth in the commercial cultivation of organic tomatoes here (in Mexico), for example, is putting stress on the water table. In some areas, wells have run dry this year, meaning that small subsistence farmers cannot grow crops. And the organic tomatoes end up in an energy-intensive global distribution chain that takes them as far as New York and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, producing significant emissions that contribute to global warming.”
*****************************************************
8. Obesity Affects Low Income Communities More
LA Times: “Just 4% of children in affluent, mostly white Manhattan Beach are considered obese, the lowest rate countywide, according to public health officials. In poor, predominantly Latino Bell Gardens, the rate is 36% — higher than in any other city.
"They are like two different worlds," said Paul Simon, who directs chronic disease prevention for the county health department.
Obesity among the young is starting to level off in California and around the nation. But stark disparities persist, posing vexing obstacles to further change.In Los Angeles County alone, the obesity epidemic costs about $12 billion a year for healthcare and in lost productivity, according to a 2006 report by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-obesity-gap-20111228,0,5150647.story?track=rss
**************************************************************
9. Anti-Immigrant Legislation Hurting Farmers In U.S.
You recall that anti-immigrant legislation has been passed by several states over 2011, including particularly onerous ones in Georgia that have resulted in kids being afraid to go to school. As predicted, this legislation is not sitting well with farmers, who are losing workers in droves.
The Department of Agriculture issued a report to measure the effect of House Bill 87, the strict immigration law passed in Georgia last year. Georgia farmers were surveyed about the issue:
“When asked why they’d hired fewer workers last year than the year before, the bad economy was the No. 1 answer, followed by HB 87 and a lack of skilled workers. Black and white American won’t do the hard work of picking crops in the summer heat, and Hispanics, documented and undocumented, fled the state in droves, they said.”
http://onlineathens.com/business/2012-01-07/farmers-want-immigration-overhaul-state-report-says
“Georgia's top agriculture official is speaking out about a study by his department about the availability of farm workers…… Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black said Congress must fix the nation's immigration system so farmers have the labor they need to harvest crops.
Farmers participating in the study said they have suffered roughly $10 million (in losses)
http://www2.wsav.com/news/2012/jan/05/georgia-agriculture-commissioner-talks-about-farm--ar-2992445/
“Could California follow Utah on passing a guest worker program? Folks there are borrowing several ideas from Utah's House Bill 116 and putting them into a possible referendum. California has a lot at stake in the issue, because its agricultural industry depends heavily on migrant farm workers.
The measure would give guest workers an opportunity to live in California through a state-run pilot program.
The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes after noticing many California farms are suffering from the lack of workers. “There are many jobs people aren't willing to take and if it provides an income for them, I think it's a good idea,” said Amy Campbell, who lives in Salt Lake.
Latino rights advocates in Utah say the bill will face strong opposition in California, but it's sending a message to Congress. “It's a good way for the states to let the federal government know that we need to have some changes out there,” commented Tony Yapias.”
961 S. Mariposa #205
Los Angeles CA 90006
Phone: 213-388-8228
Fax: 213-388-8448
www.hungeractionla.org
Director: Frank Tamborello
frank@hungeractionla.org
