December 15, 2008:. Christmas brings many excellent volunteer opportunities to distribute food to needy folks. We’re listing some of those. You can help prevent many more people from falling into hunger, though, by calling our state elected officials to oppose the drastic cuts in financial assistance to seniors, disabled, and low income families, proposed to cut California’s budget deficit. It isn’t difficult to help directly and be an advocate too.

1. Volunteer Locally before Christmas (Santa Monica, Downtown LA, Pasadena)
2. US Breastfeeding Committee Petition to Barack Obama
3. How  Should A New Agriculture Secretary Address Our Food System?
4. Hunger And Solutions In The Current Economy:

      California FarmWorkers Go Hungry: Restaurant Penalizes Food Waste: Book Addresses Politics of Hunger: Food Banks Innovate: Hunger Up in 25 Cities: One Billion Now Hungry in World, Most in Just Seven Countries

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1. Volunteer Locally before Christmas

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2. US Breastfeeding Committee Petition to Barack Obama

(From US Breastfeeding Committee)

There is virtually universal agreement among health care experts that, with rare exceptions, breastfeeding is the optimal method of feeding all infants, sick as well as healthy, preterm as well as full term. In addition to the myriad health benefits provided to mother and infant, breastfeeding provides significant economic and environmental benefits for families, employers, and society by reducing health care expenses, eliminating the need to purchase expensive formula, and reducing absenteeism from work to care for sick infants

The United States Breastfeeding Committee has created a petition to the President-Elect, urging him to take several actions to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Demonstrate your support for breastfeeding by signing the petition now. And please don't forget to forward this message far and wide so as many people as possible get a chance to sign on too. Every signature counts. Sign on here: www.usbreastfeeding.org/obamapetition

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3. How  Should A New Agriculture Secretary Address Our Food System?

Nicholas Kristof writes an op-ed in the New York Times: (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/opinion/11kristof.html?em)

“As Barack Obama ponders whom to pick as agriculture secretary, he should reframe the question. What he needs is actually a bold reformer in a position renamed "secretary of food."…Renaming the department would signal that Mr. Obama seeks to move away from a bankrupt structure of factory farming that squanders energy,exacerbates climate change20and makes Americans unhealthy — all while costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

"We're subsidizing the least healthy calories in the supermarket —high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated soy oil, and we're doing very little for farmers trying to grow real food," notes Michael Pollan, author of such books as "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food."

An online petition that can be found at www.fooddemocracynow.org  calls for a reformist pick for agriculture secretary — and names six terrific candidates, such as Chuck Hassebrook, a reformer in Nebraska.”

Mindy Belz comments on food prices in our “Low Food Nation” on worldmag.com:

“Remember just months ago when experts pegged the global food crisis to high energy costs, the explosion of grain demand in China and Asia, and food shortages? Since that time energy costs have dropped by half, China and Asia have slumped along with the rest of us, reducing demand. And food shortages? World grain harvests are up almost 4 percent for the 2008-09 season. Even after turning one-third into animal feed (which eventually comes back to feed us) and a third of U.S. corn to feed our ethanol-powered cars, there’s still enough left over to feed every person on the globe 3,000 calories a day. Yet against all the laws of supply and demand, the price of a bushel of corn is up nearly 40 percent from a year ago and a box of cornflakes is up nearly 10 percent.”

“Expect food manufacturers to blame the rise on ethanol production, and expect agribusiness to blame price hikes on the food makers. As economist Terry Francl at the American Farm Bureau Federation points out, earnings are up at Del Monte (28 percent), Land O’ Lakes (23 percent), and Sara Lee (51 percent). Unlike scrutiny of the mortgage industry, few regulators have focused on the greed factor propelling agri-giants, food makers, and index speculators who bet on grain futures.”

http://online.worldmag.com/2008/12/13/low-food-nation/

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4. Hunger And Solutions In The Current Economy

California FarmWorkers Go Hungry: Tracie Cone, AP reports that  “Idled farmworkers are searching for food in the nation's most prolific agricultural region, where a double blow of drought and a court-ordered cutback of water supplies has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.” The San Joaquin Valley town of Mendota is struggling with a 40% unemployment rate. 600 farm families went for help to the local food bank, which had to turn away 100 of them — for the first time. "We're supposed to supply the world," said Mendota Mayor Robert Silva, "and people are starving."

“The state's most dire water shortage in three decades is expected to erase more than 55,000 jobs across the fertile San Joaquin Valley by summer and drive up food prices across the nation, university economists predict.”

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/dec/14/
hunger-in-the-california-heartland/

 Restaurant Penalizes Food Waste: Kirstin Cole of CBS reports on a Japanese restaurant in New York that charges 3% additional for food that you waste. “The manager told CBS 2 HD the main motivation for the charge is to eliminate waste. And cost. "Tens of billions of dollars are wasted each year on food that is purchased and not eaten," said Joel Berg of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger.

http://wcbstv.com/seenon/food.waste.charge.2.882636.html

Book Addresses Politics of Hunger: And speaking of Joel Berg…Neil deMause in City Limits Weekly reviews the new book “"All You Can Eat: How Hungry Is America?" by Joel Berg, Seven Stories Press, $22.95. “If there's anyone in America who knows more about the politics of hunger than Joel Berg, they're well hidden. First as a top staffer in the Agriculture Department under Bill Clinton, and currently as director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Berg has been a tireless advocate for ensuring that all people have enough to eat.”

“After years of lecturing mostly to an audience of perplexed city officials, Berg has now set down his knowledge in book form with "All You Can Eat: How Hungry Is America?" Though dense with useful statistics, Berg's trademark good-natured snarkiness makes this an eminently readable book that lays out the dimensions of the growing hunger epidemic, and what can be done about it.”

http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/
viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3666&content_type=1&media_type=3

Food Banks Innovate: Katie Zezima in the New York Times reports how : “From Canned Goods to Fresh, Food Banks Adapt”:  “No longer simply the domain of canned corn and peanut butter, food banks are preparing ready-to-eat meals, opening their own farms and partnering with institutions as varied as local supermarkets and state prisons to help gather and process food. They are also handling much more fresh produce, which requires overhauling the way they store and distribute food…. In central Florida, teams with laptops and food stamp applications are going to food pantries and signing up people for the program. The teams are also notifying people that they may be eligible for an earned income tax credit and other government services. “

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/us/10foodbank.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Mayors Report Rise in Hunger, Homelessness: Hunger and homelessness increased in 25 major US cities according to the annual US Conference of Mayors report:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5io4mzMo1evKp8SZv4213Dm44TXdA  

March for Hunger Raises Thousands for Skid Row Kitchen: Nearly 1,000 students, with support from parents and alumni, took part in St. Paul High School's annual March for Hunger. Participants from the Roman Catholic school in Santa Fe Springs and other campuses were bused to Salazar Park, where they began a 26-mile journey to raise nearly $20,000.The money will be donated to the Los Angeles Catholic Worker Hospitality Kitchen, which serves the homeless on skid row. It's the kitchen's single largest donation each year, said Jeff Dietrich, the foundation's co-founder and director.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-march8-2008dec08,0,6924837.story

One Billion Now Hungry in World, Most in Just Seven Countries: Javier Blas in the Financial Times reports that “The food crisis has pushed the number of hungry people in the world to almost 1 billion, in what the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation described as a "serious setback" to global efforts to reduce mass starvation.” The vast majority of the world's undernourished people live in developing countries. Interestingly, according to the FAO, 65 per cent of these live in only seven countries: India, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. (Maybe not surprising if you consider that China and India together have one third of the world’s total population).

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c20b66e2-c562-11dd-b516-000077b07658.html

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December 8, 2008:.

1. Four Actions to Take in this Holiday Season to End Hunger in America

2. Governor’s Budget Proposals Will Make Hunger Worse

3. Desperate Times and Desperate Measures:

Workers Take Over Chicago Factory: Miami Activists Moves Homeless Families Into Foreclosed Homes: Milwaukee Neighborhoods Will Print Their Own Money: Women Have Themselves Crucified In Protest for More Housing, in Paraguay

4. Hunger Action LA Basement CoffeeHouse Fundraiser Friday Dec. 12

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1. Four Actions to Take in this Holiday Season to End Hunger in America

(From Food Research and Action Center)

Here are four ways that you can act over the holiday season to initiate meaningful solutions to eliminate hunger in our communities. 

1. Click here to share your vision of a hunger-free America with President-elect Obama as he invites your input on his website.  Enthusiastically support his commitment to end childhood hunger by 2015 and to cut poverty in half.

2. Call your Members of Congress toll-free at (800) 473-6711* and urge them to pass right away a temporary boost in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits as a key step in their economic stimulus/recovery work.  Click here to view a letter signed by national organizations supporting a SNAP boost.

3. Write a letter to the editor highlighting the recent USDA Food Insecurity data that shows hunger on the rise through 2007 - - with worse in store for 2008. Click here and follow the steps to send a letter. For your state information, click here for the state profiles page on the FRAC Web site.

4. Although hunger may be a focus during this holiday season, remember it occurs year-round, and peaks during the summer months when regular year school meals programs stop.  Tell your Members of Congress via e-mail or at meetings or forums while they are home to expand and improve the federal child nutrition programs and WIC in the upcoming 2009 reauthorization.  Sign up for FRAC's Child Nutrition Action Alerts by contacting Etienne Melcher, emelcher@frac.org.

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2. Governor’s Budget Proposals Will Make Hunger Worse

The State of California failed to resolve its $10 billion budget deficit crisis in November, so they’ve been called for another special session. Governor Schwarzenegger is maintaining some of his proposals which will save the state money at the cost of human suffering---increases in hunger and most likely homelessness as well.

Two programs in particular that help low income persons are targeted by the Governor: the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and the CalWORKs program. Both programs utilize combined federal and state funds to give monthly cash grants to poor individuals and families. For the SSI program, which assists elderly and disabled persons, the governor has proposed a monthly cut from $870 to $830. For CalWORKs a variety of measures are proposed that will result in many families being removed altogether from the program, but in addition there is a 10% grant cut that reduce the maximum monthly grant for a family of three from $723 to $651---the level it was in 1989, twenty years ago.

In addition, an entire category of food stamp participants will be once again ineligible (certain immigrants currently ineligible under federal rules but covered by the California Food Assistance Program) and another program for immigrants, the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) for elderly and disabled persons will be eliminated.

The majority of the people receiving all these benefits pay more than half their income for rent, leaving them scraping to get by for sufficient food. SSI participants are not eligible for food stamps.

Hunger Action LA and other groups, including leaders from low income communities, have met with the Governor’s representatives. And the answer is the same: only intense pressure on the Governor can ensure that these drastic proposals aren’t enacted, and we can avert further suffering at a time when even more people will be in need of food, cash and housing assistance.

Please call the Governor’s office at (916) 445-2841 to voice your opposition to the proposed cuts. Call not just once, not just today, but repeatedly, and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. When you call you can press “1” for English and “2” for Spanish. On the English side you can then press “6” to speak to a live person.

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3. Desperate Times and Desperate Measures

One in ten Americans getting food stamps (SNAP benefits):

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/One-Ten-Americans-Now-Uses/story.aspx?guid={E108E16C-EA02-4E4B-BBF3-CD5B5AEF0B47}

Demand for food assistance up 41% in Los Angeles area

http://www.sanfernandosun.com/sanfernsun/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=3008&Itemid=2

Workers Take Over Factory:

Workers occupy the floor on the fourth day of a sit-in at the Republic Windows and Doors factory Monday, Dec. 8, in Chicago. The band of 200 workers demanding severance and vacation pay have become a national symbol for the millions of laid off workers across the country after the company abruptly fired them last week prompting them to occupy their former workplace.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/08/obama-encourages-worker-p_n_149184.html

Getting Homeless People Into Foreclosed Homes:

An activist has been executing a bailout plan of his own around Miami's empty streets: He is helping homeless people illegally move into foreclosed homes.

"We're matching homeless people with people-less homes," he said with a grin. A group of like-minded advocates formed Take Back the Land, which also helps the new "tenants" with secondhand furniture, cleaning supplies and yard upkeep. So far, he has moved six families into foreclosed homes and has nine on a waiting list.

Elsewhere around the country, advocates in Cleveland are working with the city to allow homeless people to legally move into and repair empty, dilapidated houses. In Atlanta, some property owners pay homeless people to live in abandoned homes as a security measure.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459965,00.html

Milwaukee neighborhoods could print own money:

“Residents from the Milwaukee neighborhoods of Riverwest and East Side are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss printing their own money. The idea is that the local cash could be used at neighborhood stores and businesses, thus encouraging local spending. The result, supporters hope, would be a bustling local economy, even as the rest of the nation deals with a recession.

It's not a new concept—experts estimate there are at least 2,000 local currencies all over the world—but it is a practice that tends to burgeon during economic downturns. During the Great Depression, scores of communities relied on their own currencies. And it's completely legal, as long as communities don't create coins or currency that looks too much like American currency.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-talk_moneydec03,0,2902061

Women Nailed To Crosses In Paraguay To Demand Housing

ASUNCION, Paraguay -- Two women let themselves be crucified on wooden crosses and carried around Paraguay's capital on Friday as part of citywide protests demanding President Fernando Lugo grant funds for low-income housing. Members of various homeless organizations nailed the women's hands and bound their feet to crosses in a plaza to pressure the Social Action Secretariat to give them $1 million to purchase land and build homes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/05/women-nailed-to-crosses-i_n_148870.html

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4. Hunger Action LA Basement CoffeeHouse Fundraiser Friday Dec. 12

Don’t Forget the Hunger Action LA fundraiser this Friday night Dec. 12 at the Echo Park United Methodist Church, 1226 N. Alvarado near Sunset Blvd., 7 to 11 pm. Money will be raised for next May’s Hunger Action Day in Sacramento and Los Angeles, also supporting one of LA”s first nonprofit recording organizations Blacksmith Records. Call 213 388 8228 or e mail frank@hungeractionla.org for details. You can donate also at

www.hungeractionla.org/donate.htm

November 24, 2008:. Around Thanksgiving the media predictably turns its attention to hunger, resulting in the lack of coverage the rest of the year (which is why national Hunger Awareness Month is in June.) This year though there has been a substantial increase in people losing their jobs and homes, finding themselves for the first time ever asking for assistance. It may result in more people thinking about how our system works and what the public priorities should be.

1. Four Actions to Take in this Holiday Season to End Hunger in America
2. Food Insecurity Increasing in U.S.
3. Honoring the Hands that Feed Us
4. Rich Countries Grabbing Up Food-Producing Land In Poor Countries
5. Banning Fast Food Ads Could Reduce Obesity

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1. Four Actions to Take in this Holiday Season to End Hunger in America

(From Food Research and Action Center)

Congress is on recess until December 8th, but more layoffs and pay cuts are happening every day, and hunger is growing every day.  Here are four ways that you can act over the next few days to initiate meaningful solutions to eliminate hunger in our communities. 

1. Click here to share your vision of a hunger-free America with President-elect Obama as he invites your input on his website.  Enthusiastically support his commitment to end childhood hunger by 2015 and to cut poverty in half.

2. Call your Members of Congress toll-free at (800) 473-6711* and urge them to pass right away a temporary boost in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits as a key step in their economic stimulus/recovery work.  Click here to view a letter signed by national organizations supporting a SNAP boost.

3. Write a letter to the editor highlighting the recent USDA Food Insecurity data that shows hunger on the rise through 2007 - - with worse in store for 2008. Click here and follow the steps to send a letter. For your state information, click here for the state profiles page on the FRAC Web site.

4. Although hunger may be a focus during this holiday season, remember it occurs year-round, and peaks during the summer months when regular year school meals programs stop.  Tell your Members of Congress via e-mail or at meetings or forums while they are home to expand and improve the federal child nutrition programs and WIC in the upcoming 2009 reauthorization.  Sign up for FRAC's Child Nutrition Action Alerts by contacting Etienne Melcher, emelcher@frac.org.

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2. Food Insecurity Increasing in U.S.

USDA reported today that 36.2 million Americans, including 12.4 million children, are food insecure. The Study paints a stark picture of the pervasiveness of hunger in our nation. But Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief organization, warns that the actual number of Americans forced to skip meals and survive without adequate nutrition is even greater today, prompting a national appeal for help in feeding hungry men, women and children.

"It is important to note that the USDA numbers released today are 2007 figures and do not take into account the unprecedented economic crisis that our country is currently facing," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/New-USDA-Statistics-Highlight-Growing/story.aspx?guid={042E3029-8551-45F5-9911-EB6FE119064B} 

In Montebello, 5,000 people lined up for food:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-foodbank23-2008nov23,0,6313298.story 

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster pleaded for people to drop off donations at 28 food drop-off locations around Long Beach. Long Beach-based Food Finders will collect from the locations and then redistribute the donated food to more than 100 organizations.

http://www.presstelegram.com/crime/ci_11053716

At a Colorado farm, 40,000 people showed up to pick their own vegetables for free, stunning the farmowners who expected 5,000 to 10,000:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ga6jASqIij1LwE1HgjPFfiHpq-KwD94KR89O0

An 11-year old Washington boy died of leukemia, his dying wish to feed the homeless. Brenden Foster’s story was picked up by CNN and has inspired many food donations nationwide:

http://cbs2.com/local/Brendon.Foster.Wish.2.862045.html

. 

From Laura Flanders: “...food banks wouldn't need more cash if companies paid American workers enough to feed their families.Think the companies can't afford it? Think again….while regular people's wages have remained stagnant for almost thirty years,…corporate America made out. And even CEOs heading up the industries now looking for a hand out from us left their jobs with millions."

"Home-building exec, Dwight Schar, for example, of homebuilders Ryan Homes made more than $625 million in the last five years, nearly all of it from selling stock, the same stocks that's plummeting now. Mr. Schar's own home these days is an 11-acre oceanfront compound in Palm Beach, Fla., with a tennis court, and two pools, purchased in 2004 and 2005 for $85.6 million from billionaire investor Ronald O. Perelman."

http://lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/2008/11/20/the-f-word-the-hunger-news/ 

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3. Honoring the Hands that Feed Us

From the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (who successfully got Taco Bell to increase the amount paid for tomatoes to help low-paid tomato field workers): New editorial reminds us: "Thanksgiving is a holiday built around food... but rarely do we honor the hands that feed us."

A well-timed op/ed -- published as consumers across the country begin gearing-up for Thanksgiving -- takes a hard look at conditions in the fields where the fruits and vegetables for our holiday feasts are grown and picked. Go to the CIW website today, http://www.ciw-online.org

  to see the article in its entirety, together with all the latest news from the Campaign for Fair Food.

After touching on the exploitation of workers in Immokalee, the editorial concludes:

   "... Immokalee is an extreme example, but it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth when you realize the high costs that some people are paying so that we can have cheap food.  Most of us do not take the time to wonder why our food costs so little. Instead, we notice how expensive organic or locally grown produce is in comparison.

   For agriculture to be sustainable, it must provide a living for those who work our land. Let's honor the hands that feed us by restoring the dignity of fair wages to farmers and farmworkers."

.

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4. Rich Countries Grabbing Up Food-Producing Land In Poor Countries

Rich governments and corporations are triggering alarm for the poor as they buy up the rights to millions of hectares of agricultural land in developing countries in an effort to secure their own long-term food supplies.

The head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Jacques Diouf, has warned that the controversial rise in land deals could create a form of "neo-colonialism", with poor states producing food for the rich at the expense of their own hungry people.

Rising food prices have already set off a second "scramble for Africa".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/22/food-biofuels-land-grab

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5. Banning Fast Food Ads Could Reduce Obesity

Banning fast-food advertising on television in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent, researchers said on Wednesday.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/20-4

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November 13, 2008:.

1. Hunger Action LA Meeting Next Thursday Nov 20
2. Update on Economic Stimulus Bill
3. Tell President-Elect Obama We Need to End Hunger
4. Is Eating Healthy Just for the Wealthy?
5. Thanksgiving Local and Organic Food Challenge
6. On Store Shelves, Stealthy Shrinking of Containers---LA Times
7. Highest Food Stamp Enrollment Except for Post-Katrina Period
8. US Grain Prices Cause Hunger In Other Countries

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1. Hunger Action LA Meeting Next Thursday Nov 20

Hunger Action Los Angeles MONTHLY MEETING will be:

Thursday November 20

3 pm to 4:30 pm

SEIU Local 721

500 S. Virgil Los Angeles

Auditorium (*please check in at reception in case room changes)

Agenda

1.         Update on Hunger Action Day Planning (Hunger Action Day will be May 20, 2009: mark it in your calendar if your calendar goes that far----and save it for actions in LA or Sacramento!)

2.         Update and Next Steps on State Budget Crisis: The Governor has proposed massive cuts in CalWORKs and SSI, the two cash assistance programs that help our families and seniors/disabled respectively to keep roofs over their heads and (some) food on the table. He has of course proposed these every year since he took office and has been defeated every time. However, this is a desperate budget year and we must be very loud to keep the cuts from going through.

Earlier on the same day we’ll address this issue together with California Partnership---stay tuned for details of a rally against the Governor’s proposed cuts.

Please RSVP: frank@hungeractionla.org or (213) 388 8228

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2. Update on Economic Stimulus Bill

From Food Research and Action Center.This could be the most important thing the Federal government does, considering our state government is broke and considering some very harsh cuts. “Fiscal aid to the states” is one of the proposed components in this economic stimulus plan.

Congressional Spotlight:  Economic Stimulus Proposed

President-Elect Barack Obama Working on Economic Plans:  "On the economy, Mr. Obama is working with Democratic leaders in Congress on two stimulus packages. The first would be smaller, perhaps up to $100 billion, to be passed in a lame-duck session this month in hopes of getting Mr. Bush's signature. The second would be larger, including tax cuts for low- and middle-income workers, to be ready as soon as late January.  Mr. Obama is coordinating with Congressional Democrats behind the scenes on the stimulus plans, which would include more jobless benefits, food stamps, aid to financially strapped states and cities, and spending for infrastructure projects that keep people at work."  See "Obama Says Speedy Action Needed on Economy," by Jeff Zeleny and Jackie Calmes, The New York Times, 11/7/08.

Action Needed:  Sign-on Letter and Messages

National Organization Sign-on Letter:  November 13th is the deadline for national organizations to join FRAC on a letter in support of including $12 billion for temporary increases in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits and administrative supports in an economic stimulus package.  The national organization sign-on letter is posted at http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5118/t/1472/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=159

Take Action:  Urge Members of Congress to push for approval of an economic recovery package that includes: a temporary increase in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits and SNAP/Food Stamp administrative support ($12 billion); increased funding for WIC, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); state fiscal relief; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Head Start; Child Support Enforcement; Unemployment Insurance and other programs that support families in need. 

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3. Tell President-Elect Obama We Need To End Hunger

From Food Research and Action Center:

The Office of President-Elect Obama has created a web site, www.change.gov , with a place for all of us to e-mail our "vision for what America can be [and] where President-Elect Obama should lead this country." Please go to www.change.gov/page/s/yourvision and send the President-Elect the message below, or an equivalent message about ending hunger and poverty in the U.S. (and it is important that you also forward this e-mail to your networks so they can do the same and we can get the biggest possible response):

Congratulations on your election. My vision is a hunger-free America. I deeply appreciate your commitment to ending childhood hunger by 2015 and to cutting poverty in half. Please put the nation on a path to do that by: including a food stamp/SNAP boost as soon as possible in an economic stimulus package that addresses this and other critical human needs; investing added money in improving the child nutrition programs when they are reauthorized next year; and further improving food stamps/SNAP, child nutrition programs, the EITC and Child Tax Credit, the minimum wage and other essential supports so that the nation will achieve our mutual goals of eliminating hunger and dramatically reducing poverty.

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4. Is Eating Healthy Really Just for the Wealthy?

Hunger Action LA’s slogan is that it’s NOT…but here is a rundown of what’s going on as the economic downturn takes its toll on the American diet.

First, “McDonald's same-store sales rise 8.2 percent in October as consumers seek value” (By Lauren Shepherd, AP): “Consumers worldwide who are watching their spending bought more burgers and chicken breakfast biscuits at McDonald's in October, leading to a big rise in sales at established locations for the fast-food leader.

McDonald's Corp. said Monday its global same-store sales jumped 8.2 percent during the month…. Many sit-down chains have reported steep declines in same-store sales during October as consumers grew more anxious about the possibility of a prolonged recession.”

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081110/mcdonald_s_sales.html?.v=1

Indeed, you can eat healthy for cheap, but it takes some know-how according to Adam Drewnowski, director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, in this NY Times piece:

“You have to know how to cook beans and rice, how to make tortillas, how to soak lentils,” he said “Many people don’t have the knowledge or the time if they’re working two jobs.”

“Last year, Dr. Drewnowski led a study, published in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, comparing the prices of 370 foods sold at supermarkets in the Seattle area. The study showed that “energy dense” junk foods, which pack the most calories and fewest nutrients per gram, were far less expensive than nutrient-rich, lower-calorie foods like fruits and vegetables. The prices of the most healthful foods surged 19.5 percent over the two-year study period, while the junk food prices dropped 1.8 percent.”

Obesity researchers worry that these trends will push consumers toward less healthful foods. “The message for this year and next year is going to be affordable nutrition,” Dr. Drewnowski said. “It’s not the food pyramid, it’s the budget pyramid.”  (And thus, McDonald’s sales are up.---Ed.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/health/nutrition/
04well.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin

You may be able to buy some of those ingredients at one of America’s 10 Healthiest Supermarkets. The list includes Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Albertson’s. Generally speaking they are high priced for a low income family’s budget, but reasonable prices can be found for staple items with some education:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27573342/

Our state leaders have prioritized the extra money it takes to get healthier food to our kids. Quoting the LA Times yet again:  “Money to provide fresh fruit and vegetables for snacks is available to elementary schools all over California, the state's education chief, Jack O'Connell, said today.

"We know that hungry children don't learn as well as well-nourished children," O'Connell said in a statement. "In light of the current economic downturn, higher food prices, and continued concern regarding childhood obesity, I am heartened to announce that additional federal funding is available to help schools find innovative ways to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to students for free at school, even right in their classrooms." 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2008/11/money-available.html

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5. Thanksgiving Local and Organic Food Challenge

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, and Eat Well Guide®, North America’s premier free online directory for finding local, sustainable food, have partnered to launch the Thanksgiving Local and Organic Food Challenge. The Thanksgiving Challenge aims to inspire Americans to learn more about local, sustainable or organic food by using Eat Well Guide’s comprehensive online tool for finding local ingredients for at least one dish they will prepare as part of their holiday meal.

“At a time of numerous food safety issues, produce and meat recalls, and rising food prices, consumers want to know where their food is coming from, how it’s being produced, and what carbon footprint, or ‘foodprint,’ it might have,” said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union.

http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?id=081013_ThanksgivingFoodChallenge

You can get reasonably priced fruits and vegetables to fill out your Thanksgiving dinner from local certified farmers’ markets---call SEE-LA at 323 463 3171 for a market near you.

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6. On Store Shelves, Stealthy Shrinking of Containers---LA Times

The economy is not just bad for the consumer. The food producers themselves, trying to squeeze a buck, are changing the sizes of product containers while keeping the same price, giving you the illusion that you’re buying the same amount of food when it’s a bit less.

Jerry Hirsch in the LA Times: “A careful look at the jars of Skippy on the shelves may reveal a surprise. The prices are about the same, but the jars are getting smaller. They don't look different in size or shape. But recently, the jars developed a dimple in the bottom that slices the contents to 16.3 ounces from 18 ounces -- about 10% less peanut butter.

The only way to know you are buying less is to look at the weight on the label and recognize it's lighter than before Unilever, owner of the Skippy brand, switched out containers. Across the supermarket, manufacturers are trimming packages, nipping a half-ounce off that bar of soap, narrowing the width of toilet paper and shrinking the size of ice cream containers.

Often the changes are so subtle that they create "the illusion that you are buying the same amount," explained Frank Luby, a pricing consultant with Simon-Kucher & Partners of Cambridge, Mass.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fi-shrink9-2008nov09,0,720857.story

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7. Highest Food Stamp Enrollment Except for Post-Katrina Period

From NPR:

More and more people are applying for food stamps, making this one of the highest enrollment periods in history — save for the period immediately following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Host Liane Hansen discusses the rising need for food assistance with Stacy Dean, director of food assistance policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96793525

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8. US Grain Prices Cause Hunger In Other Countries

One example of how the interconnected global economy produces big winners and big losers, meaning hunger and desperation in real terms for the world’s poor: As price for US soybeans rise, so does hunger in Indonesia.

“Over the last decade, Indonesia went from growing more than half its soy to relying on the U.S. for 70% of it. Now the poor among this country's 220 million people are going hungry because of changes thousands of miles beyond their shores. It is the same story for dozens of countries that came to depend on richer nations for cheap food, only to find themselves squeezed when prices started rising.

"There has been a drastic change in prices, and these smaller countries have little to say. They basically have to take it," said Abdolreza Abbassian, a grain economist with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. "They were exposed to the negative sides of globalization, rather than the positive."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-soybean2-2008nov02,0,7916251.story

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October 23, 2008:.

1. Update on Economic Stimulus Bill: Senate May Come Back In November to Vote on It
2. LA Community Garden Council Annual Gathering Saturday Oct 25
3. California Hunger Action Coalition New Website Up!
4. World Food Day (One Week Later): Several Noteworthy Articles about Hunger in the US and Around the World

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1. Update on Economic Stimulus Bill: Senate May Come Back In November to Vote on It

(Thanks to Food Research and Action Center)

Congressional Spotlight:  Economic Stimulus    

Labor Leader Touts Food Stamp Stimulus:  "In this economy, [AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich] Trumka said, the last thing the U.S. government should do is cut spending.  'Nothing else stimulates the economy like food stamps,' he said.  'A buck in food stamps gets spent immediately. But if people go out and buy a television, that doesn't help American workers.'"  See "Labor leader asks in speech for race to be left out of election," by Don Dodson, News-Gazette, 10/16/08, posted at

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/10/16/
labor_leader_asks_in_speech_for_race_to_be_left_out_of_election  

Congressional Outlook:  Action on another economic stimulus package could come in November during a Lame Duck session.  The Senate is set to reconvene November 17th; the House, which has not ruled out reconvening in October, also is likely to meet in November.  Numerous House Committees are holding fall hearings focused on aspects of the economic crisis and possible responses.

Pending Economic Stimulus Nutrition Provisions: House Democratic leaders may seek additional action on economic recovery this fall or early next year.  If so, the package could be larger than that passed in September (H.R. 7110).  H.R. 7110 provides $2.6 billion for a temporary Food Stamp/SNAP benefit increase; $50 million would support state costs for administering those benefits.  S. 3604 was offered in the Senate in September but could not garner the 60 votes to cut off debate; it proposed $5 billon for a 10 percent increase in Food Stamp/SNAP benefits through FY 2009; $450 million for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); $50 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); $30 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP); $60 million to help senior meals programs.

Take Action:  Contact Members of Congress while home in the district this October. 

Message:  Urge Members of Congress to push in October or in a November Lame Duck session for approval of an economic recovery package that includes: a temporary increase in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits; SNAP/Food Stamp administrative support; increased funding for WIC, CSFP, and TEFAP; state fiscal relief; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Head Start; Child Support Enforcement; Unemployment Insurance and other programs that support families in need. 

Background:  For information on the human needs community's priorities for action this fall, see "Towards a Shared Recovery: Congress Must Do More to Reverse the Recession," posted at http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/stimulus8108.pdf

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2. LA Community Garden Council Annual Gathering Saturday Oct 25

Saturday, October 25, 2008

11:00am – 3:00pm

North Hollywood High School

11700 Magnolia North Hollywood, CA 91601 (corner of Colfax & Magnolia in the school parking lot)

It is going to be a really good free event with a beautiful BBQ, music by DJ Terrence Toy, and fun activities for the kiddos. Positively family friendly.

There will be a few hundred trees to distribute, fruit trees for a raffle, and some raised garden beds. We'll also be raffling two very cool flying pigeon bikes, Lakers tickets and a wheelbarrow. 

People can register at: www.lagardencouncil.org , using the passcode "Vermont"

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3. California Hunger Action Coalition New Website Up!

Save Wednesday May 20, 2009 on your calendar for Hunger Action Day with events in both Sacramento and Downtown Los Angeles in the works! See www.hungeraction.net for more info on the California Hunger Action Coalition and its local members.

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4. World Food Day: (One Week Later)

World Food Day was one week ago, October 16. Here is a selection of articles about the current situation with out of control food prices and the outlook for the near future both in the US and worldwide. The food situation here in the US is such that there are more people now getting food stamps than ever before. I have not yet heard a politician comment on what a good thing it is that we have a food stamp program, having learned at least a little something from previous crises. But that’s the state our economy is in now.

Have Falling Markets Solved the Global Food Crisis?

http://www.reuters.com/article/gc08/idUSTRE49G3QI20081017

By Laura MacInnis - Analysis

GENEVA (Reuters) - At first sight, it seems like good news for those fighting hunger around the world: the spikes in commodity prices that triggered food riots this year have been all but erased amid the recent financial turmoil.

But relief officials now have another fear -- that distracted donors will forget that the problem goes much deeper, and stop devoting time and money to an emergency that will only be worsened by a now-looming recession.

"There is no automatic correlation between what happens in the wheat futures market in Chicago and the price of wheat flour in Afghanistan," said John Holmes, the top U.N. humanitarian aid official, who also coordinates a task force on the food crisis.

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World Food Crisis at Critical Juncture

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/17-5

Concerns are growing that many low- and middle-income families in the United States and around the world will not be able to afford enough to eat in the coming months, especially as the global economic downturn threatens to undermine recent efforts to alleviate the global food crisis.

The United Nations says another 75 million people were plunged into hunger and poverty in 2007 by a global food crisis that analysts have blamed on a disastrous confluence of events, including rising fuel costs, erratic weather patterns, and the widespread diversion of food crops for biofuels and escalating livestock production.

Nearly 1 billion people -- almost one out of every six people on Earth -- currently do not get enough to eat, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

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Water, a source of Mideast peace?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/12/
middleeast-israelandthepalestinians

By former Czech president Vaclav Havel and others

“Across the Middle East, water is a security issue. Indeed, people are now recognising two important facts. First, nations faced with conflicting claims to water have historically found ways to collaborate rather than to fight. Even during the 60 years of conflict in  the Jordan Valley, water has more often been a source of cooperation than of conflict.”

Second, water scarcity is seldom absolute, and even less often an explanation of poverty. To quote the United Nations Human Development Report for 2006: "There is more than enough water in the world for domestic purposes, for agriculture and for industry …Scarcity is manufactured through political processes and institutions that disadvantage the poor."

**********************************************

Food banks instead of campaign ads

Campbell Brown, CNN: Commentary

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/16/campbell.brown.negative.ads/
?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail

Still between now and Election Day, Obama and McCain are going to spend a combined $30 million a week.

So I'm going to throw a crazy idea on the table that I don't think is that crazy. There is a food bank in Provo, Utah, that feeds the homeless. Joalaina Redbird takes her three small children there. They have all three meals there every day.

They became homeless two months ago when her husband lost his construction job. This food bank is running low on supplies; they have issued an emergency call for help. Because of our economic crisis, donations are way down and the number of people they are feeding is way up.

So, Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain, how about instead of spending that $30 million a week kicking the "you know what" out of each other between now and Election Day, you pool your money and you give it to that food bank in Provo, Utah, so Joalaina Redbird's kids can get three square meals a day until her husband finds another job?

If you really care about hurting Americans, put your money where your mouth is and spare us three more weeks of negative ads.

************************

Farmer in Chief

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/10-13

By Michael Pollan

Dear Mr. President-Elect,

It may surprise you to learn that among the issues that will occupy much of your time in the coming years is one you barely mentioned during the campaign: food. Food policy is not something American presidents have had to give much thought to, at least since the Nixon administration - the last time high food prices presented a serious political peril. Since then, federal policies to promote maximum production of the commodity crops (corn, soybeans, wheat and rice) from which most of our supermarket foods are derived have succeeded impressively in keeping prices low and food more or less off the national political agenda. But with a suddenness that has taken us all by surprise, the era of cheap and abundant food appears to be drawing to a close. What this means is that you, like so many other leaders through history, will find yourself confronting the fact - so easy to overlook these past few years - that the health of a nation's food system is a critical issue of national security. Food is about to demand your attention.

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Food Czar in the White House?

'We need a war on hunger, and that requires someone to be in charge and to come up with the strategy and a blueprint and someone who has the ability to come up to the Congress and say here's our plan, here's our blueprint, and here's the money we need,' said Rep. Jim McGovern….Jim McGovern and a Republican ally on hunger issues, Missouri Rep. JoAnn Emerson, have written a letter to the next president, dated Nov. 5, the day after the election. The two lawmakers are gathering signatures from fellow House members.  In the Senate, Richard Lugar of Indiana and Robert Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania have proposed legislation establishing the food czar in the White House and authorizing substantial increases in funding for international food assistance."  See "Hunger crisis prompts call for government 'food czar,'" by Philip Brasher, Des Moines Register, 10/16/08, posted at

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/
20081016/BUSINESS01/810160370/-1/ENT06   

October 6, 2008: We must press Congress to pass an economic recovery plan to help real people devastated by unemployment, foreclosure, and high food and gasoline prices. While they passed the $700 billion bailout for Wall Street (and you can go to LA City Hall to make your opinion heard on that this coming Friday), they didn’t quite succeed in a little-discussed package to help real people. It's not over, though: Congress plans on reconvening briefly in November.

The Governor signed several bills that make food stamp participation easier, which together with some federal changes bring about improvements to the program that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. Unfortunately he also vetoed spending in the California budget that helps seniors and low income families, including wiping out the entire Renter Tax Assistance program for seniors and the Emergency Housing Assistance Program. We ran that story last week but wanted to include again the list of cuts.

1. Houses Passes Economic Stimulus Bill: Senate May Come Back In November to Vote on It
2. State Food Stamp Legislation Passes (and gets Vetoed)
3. Governor Signs Important Disaster Victim Protection Bill
4. Mad As Hell Network Calls For Gathering at City Hall This Friday Oct 10
5. The Wall Street Mega Bailout: Bad News for the World's Hungry
6. A Reminder: Your Handy Dandy Guide To Some of the Governor’s Worst Budget Cuts

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1. Houses Passes Economic Stimulus Bill: Senate May Come Back In November to Vote on It

(Thanks to Food Research and Action Center)

Lame Duck Session to Start November 17th:  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has announced that the Senate will reconvene for congressional reorganizing from November 17th to 19th and may have floor votes during that time.  The House also reportedly intends to reconvene in November. Action on an economic stimulus package could be part of a Lame Duck agenda.

Nutrition Program Investments in Economic Stimulus Proposals:  On September 26th, the House, on a vote of 264 to 158, approved an economic stimulus bill (H.R. 7110) that included temporary boosts in food stamp benefits and other targeted aid.  Prior to passage, the House narrowly rejected a procedural motion to derail H.R. 7110 (by a vote of 213 to 208).  On the same day in the Senate, a vote in favor of acting on its economic stimulus bill (S. 3604) carried a majority (52 to 42) but fell shy of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate in the Senate.  For the September 26th roll call votes on proceeding to S. 3604 and acting on H.R. 7110, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/rollcallvotes.html

Take Action:  Contact Members of Congress while home in the district this October.  Message:  Urge Members of Congress to push (now or in a Lame Duck session) for approval of an economic recovery package that includes: a temporary increase in Food Stamp/SNAP benefits; Food Stamp administrative support; increased funding for WIC, CSFP, and TEFAP; state fiscal relief; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Head Start; Child Support Enforcement; Unemployment Insurance and other programs that support families in need.  Background:  For information on the human needs community's priorities for action this fall, see "Towards a Shared Recovery: Congress Must Do More to Reverse the Recession," posted at http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/stimulus8108.pdf

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2. State Food Stamp Legislation Passes (and gets Vetoed)

(Thanks to California Food Policy Advocates for this update)

The Governor signed (and vetoed) important nutrition bills! Highlights below:

 Governor Signs AB 2300!  Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation to make it easier for kids to enroll in free and reduced price meals at school.  This legislation will make California an innovator in the use of Medicaid  data to enroll kids in school meals.  Thanks to all involved in the effort, most notably, Phyllis Bramson-Paul at the California Department of Education and Assembly Member John Laird.  More details soon.

 Governor signs AB 433!  After years of advocacy, food stamp applicants in California will no longer be denied help because of assets or savings!  This action comes just in time as so many families are struggling. In addition, the Food Stamp Program in California will now have a new name.  Thanks to all who helped in this long and successful effort. 

 Governor signs AB 2726! This bill to move the Healthy Purchase Pilot forward was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on Saturday, September 27th.  Thanks to all who helped in this effort --  with special thanks to Liz Mooney and Assembly Member Mark Leno for carrying this issue through to a successful conclusion.  More on the remaining nutrition bills soon. (The Healthy Purchase Pilot will give rebates on fruit and vegetable purchases to food stamp participants. This legislation will allow the program to be implemented as a pilot in a few counties, so the bugs can be worked out: we will have to push for more funding sources to get the program eventually state-wide.)

 But, it wasn't all good news.  As expected, the Governor vetoed AB 2844 (paper reduction for welfare and food stamps). 

More details, bills, links at www.cfpa.net .

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3. Governor Signs Important Disaster Victim Protection Bill

(Thanks to Asian Pacific American Legal Center)

AB 2327 (Caballero) Signed

Civil Rights Groups, Disaster Aid Organizations Applaud New Law Preventing Arbitrary Document Checks During Disasters

Over the weekend Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 2327 (Caballero) as part of a package of public safety bills he said would enhance the state's emergency response efforts. AB 2327 requires public employees who provide evacuees with disaster-related assistance to do so without asking for information or documents not strictly necessary to determine eligibility for the services.

During the San Diego wildfires in the fall of 2007, public employees asked evacuees to produce proof of identity and proof of residence from an evacuated area in order to enter the emergency shelter, access emergency food and water, and speak to a relief worker. As a result, families who had escaped the fires with only the clothes on their backs were turned away, even though there was no legal requirement that they present proof of identity or residence in order to establish eligibility for emergency shelter and assistance.

When people flee their homes from a wildfire, flood, or mudslide, their first concern is to immediately get themselves and their families to safety.  Unfortunately, there is little time for packing or grabbing important documents before evacuating a threatened area.  The elderly, people with disabilities, the homeless, immigrants and those who are low-income are the least likely to possess and carry personal documents, and are the most likely to be affected by unnecessary document checks during a disaster.

We applaud the Governor for signing AB 2327 (Caballero) to ensure that our emergency response is effective and compassionate and focuses on the safety and well-being of all Californians. 

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4. Mad As Hell Network Calls For Gathering at City Hall This Friday Oct 10

LA CITY HALL - "MAD AS HELL" PROTEST (Friday, Oct. 10th @ 10 AM)

 [http://www.lacity.org/images/citycouncil.jpg]

MadasHellNetwork.org

Contacts: Chuck Noyes; Peter Thottam

Email: californiaspy@gmail.com; Peterthottam@gmail.com Web site

address: http://www.madashellnetwork.org/

Main Tele #: (818) 881-5306

MadasHellNetwork.Org invites citizens and activist groups throughout Los Angeles to :

Los Angeles, California---Los Angeles City Hall---  Friday, October 10th at 10 am.  This past Saturday, over 100 activists met from 1 to 5 pm at Santa Monica's Unurban Cafe and resolved to send a message to their elected leaders throughout Southern California at their anger and outrage at the recent bailout package's passing.  Activists from Code Pink, World Can't Wait and other local activists groups will be joining in this public action to demand economic justice, mortgage relief and true accountability from the Wall Street crooks and DC politicians that are destroying Americans' confidence in our financial system and in our system of government.

MadasHellNetwork.org thus announces a mass call to action to join us at City Hall to ask that the City Council of Los Angeles pass a resolution that the Federal Government immediately seek to help provide relief to homeowners (voters, taxpayers), and not to bail out the Investment and Commercial Bankers who created the housing bubble by lobbying for unprecedented de-regulation. Please arrive at 200 North Spring St. by 9:45 am to give yourself time to park in the public parking lots nearby.  Bring letters for our city council members and your draft 1 to 2 minute public comments for cable public access broadcast.  Public comments are 2 minutes per person. All press and media invited.

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5. The Wall Street Mega Bailout: Bad News for the World's Hungry

by Annie Shattuck and Eric Holt-Giménez

Rising food prices are proving deadly for the world's poor. Reeling under a combination of speculation, high oil prices, agrofuels and a weak dollar, one in every six people on earth are going hungry this year. Fully half the world is now at risk of hunger and malnutrition. The current financial crisis that threatens to spread globally can only mean disaster for the world's poor. The crisis is not limited to the developing world. In the United States food stamp enrollment is at an all time high. The 35 million people living below the poverty line-now joined by the 50 million near-poor are turning to the nation's food banks in record numbers. There, pickings are getting slimmer, as food programs strain under a combination of high food prices and shrinking donations.

Unfortunately, the unprecedented $700 billion Wall Street bailout will do nothing to alleviate this festering disaster-in fact, it may make things worse. How?

--Annie Shattuck and Eric Holt-Giménez, Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/03-4

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6.  A Reminder: Your Handy Dandy Guide To Some of the Govenor’s Worst Budget Cuts

(From California Partnership)

After an 85 day delay, the Governor has signed the latest state budget on record. Total funding remains almost the same as last year and includes $9.7 billion in reductions.  The Governor chose to make last-minute cuts by line-item vetoing $510 million from the plan approved by the Legislature.  These are over and above the cuts already included in the budget, such as the elimination of the cost-of-liviing adjustments for CalWORKS and SSI.  Some of these cuts are outlined here.

CalWORKS      $88 million 

Includes cuts in funds for:

Eligibility and Employment Services   $70 million 

Work Incentive Nutritional Supplement $2 million cut to delay implementation for one year. 

Stage Two Child Care  $16.4 million - cuts money the legislature had added in ensure sufficient funding.  Stage Two child care is for families working and/or transitioning off aid.

Senior Programs

Senior Citizens Renters' Tax Assistance program  $150 million

Tax rebate program for low-income seniors who own their homes.  $41 million

Adult Protective Services   $11.4 million

Aging Programs:  $13.2 million

 Includes cuts in funds for:

Multipurpose Senior Services Program  $2.5 million

Senior Legal Hotline   $.2 million

Senior Community Employment   $3.2 million

Long-term Care Ombudsman and Supportive Services programs $6 million

Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs   $27 million

Includes cuts in funds for:

Drug Court programs  $3 million

Pregnancy-related substance abuse treatment   $2.3 million

Housing EHAP

Funds for EHAP, Emergency Housing Assistance Prorgram, have been entirely      eliminated.  EHAP provides operating grants for emergency shelters and transitional    housing projects, as well as supportive services for individuals and families

Upset?

Write a letter to the editor today. Check your local newspaper for guidelines.  Keep it short and give personal examples of how these cuts will hurt you, your family, your community.

California Partnership  2533 W. 3rd Street #101 Los Angeles, CA  90057

213-385-8010

***********************************************

September 26, 2008: Between the proposed multibillion dollar bailout of big business that’s going to come out of our pockets and the California state budget----which is going to take from the pockets of the poorest in our state---there seems to be calamity everywhere we look. We must press Congress to pass an economic recovery plan to help real people devastated by unemployment, foreclosure, and high food and gasoline prices. There’s an easy way to do that with the 800 number (see item 1) but phone calls should only be the beginning.

Two events this weekend will explore ways of creating new economies that don’t exploit people or destroy the environment. La Causa is sponsoring a Green Job Fair on Saturday in East LA including a demonstration of youth retrofitting an affordable home with solar panels. The Fair Trade Festival on Sunday in Hollywood brings together vendors of items from around the world purchased from cooperatives or directly from farmers and artisans, without the middleman, giving the producers a fair price for their work.

1. Call Congress To Help Needy Americans Now!
2. Governor Signs Budget - Low-Income Families and Seniors Targeted
3. Los Angeles Wants Green Jobs Now! Saturday September 27 National Day of Action to Build the New Economy
4. Fair Trade Festival! Sunday Sept. 28 in Hollywood

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1. Call Congress To Help Needy Americans Now! 1-800-473-6711

(Thanks to Coalition on Human Needs & Food Research and Action Center)

Breaking News: Thursday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) unveiled a $56.2 billion economic recovery package that includes a temporary boost in food stamp benefits. "We must not forget Main Street as we work to address the crisis on Wall Street. Democrats believe that we must urgently pass another economic recovery package that will create hundreds of thousands of good-paying American jobs and prevent cuts in critical services for millions of Americans," said Senate Majority Leader Reid in a press release.

Key provisions of the bill include a 10 percent increase in Food Stamp benefits through FY09, at a cost of $5 billion; $450 million for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); $50 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); $30 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP); $60 million to help senior meals programs; $172 million to assist with Farm Bill implementation costs; $5.1 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); an extension in unemployment benefits for seven weeks; and state fiscal relief. For highlights of the legislation go to: http://frac.org/pdf/ReidByrdstimulus.pdf

What's Next? Both the House and Senate will take up differing economic recovery bills as soon as today, Friday, September 26th. There is the possibility that Congress could adjourn by this weekend without passing these critical economic investments, but we need to reinforce as strongly as possible that such benefits must be part of a package now or right after the election. 60 votes are needed to pass the bill in the Senate.

Take Action: Call your Members of Congress, especially your Senators, and urge them to pass economic recovery legislation before they adjourn that particularly includes a much needed temporary boost in food stamp benefits and other economic recovery investments that will help hard-hit, low-income families.

Use 1-800-473-6711* to call your Members of Congress.

For a discussion of why a food stamp boost is so badly needed and is such effective stimulus, go to www.realstimulus.org.

Resources:

If Congress doesn't act, 28.6 million people who now receive Food Stamps will be stuck at about $1 per meal, despite skyrocketing food costs. To see how many in your state: http://www.frac.org/data/FSPparticipation/2008_06.pdf#page=2

For background on the toll rising food prices are taking on low-income Americans, go to http://www.frac.org/pdf/thriftyfoodplan.pdf

For feedback and/or technical assistance, contact eteller@frac.org or evollinger@frac.org

*This toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization which works for economic justice and peace (www.afsc.org). AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the number in support of non-partisan work for policies that benefit the common good and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.

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2. Governor Signs Budget - Low-Income Families and Seniors Targeted

(From California Partnership)

After an 85 day delay, the Governor has signed the latest state budget on record. Total funding remains almost the same as last year and includes $9.7 billion in reductions. The Governor chose to make last-minute cuts by line-item vetoing $510 million from the plan approved by the Legislature. These are over and above the cuts already included in the budget, such as the elimination of the cost-of-liviing adjustments for CalWORKS and SSI. Some of these cuts are outlined here.

CalWORKS $88 million

Includes cuts in funds for:

Eligibility and Employment Services $70 million

Work Incentive Nutritional Supplement $2 million cut to delay implementation for one year.

Stage Two Child Care $16.4 million - cuts money the legislature had added in ensure sufficient funding. Stage Two child care is for families working and/or transitioning off aid.

Senior Programs

Senior Citizens Renters' Tax Assistance program $150 million

Tax rebate program for low-income seniors who own their homes. $41 million

Adult Protective Services $11.4 million

Aging Programs: $13.2 million

Includes cuts in funds for:

Multipurpose Senior Services Program $2.5 million

Senior Legal Hotline $.2 million

Senior Community Employment $3.2 million

Long-term Care Ombudsman and Supportive Services programs $6 million

Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs $27 million

Includes cuts in funds for:

Drug Court programs $3 million

Pregnancy-related substance abuse treatment $2.3 million

Housing EHAP

Funds for EHAP, Emergency Housing Assistance Prorgram, have been entirely eliminated. EHAP provides operating grants for emergency shelters and transitional housing projects, as well as supportive services for individuals and families

Upset?

Write a letter to the editor today. Check your local newspaper for guidelines. Keep it short and give personal examples of how these cuts will hurt you, your family, your community.

California Partnership 2533 W. 3rd Street #101 Los Angeles, CA 90057

213-385-8010

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3. Los Angeles Wants Green Jobs Now! Saturday September 27 National Day of Action to Build the New Economy

(Thanks to Iila Tiare Alii http://tiarealii.wordpress.com)

Let the Presidential Candidates Know! We Want a Green Economy to Replace the Pollution Based Economy! We Want Green Job Ownership Among Low-Income Communities and Communities of Color!

Join Us at LA CAUSA/ Youth Build for:*Green Job Fair*Live Performances

*Demonstrations of green retrofit materials including solar panels
*65 youth, age 17-24, will be retrofitting an affordable home (painting and landscaping) from 9am-1pm

Event Information:

Saturday, September 27, 2008……………..11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

All Agescover: $FREE

Vendor Contact Email and to Volunteer: greenjobsLA@gmail.com

Sign up to join our event:

http://events.greenjobsnow.com/greenforall/events/show/7474

Venue Information:

LA CAUSA / Youth Build
1117 Goodrich Blvd

East Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA 90022

ALSO----Please join us for a special screening of The Garden this Saturday, 9/27 in Support of the Green Jobs Now Day of Action! (http://tiarealii.wordpress.com/)

The Garden-A Film by Scott Hamilton Kennedy (about the South Central Farm where two years ago the farmers were forcibly evicted from America’s largest urban farm)

Project Butterfly Loft, 821 Traction Ave #108Downtown, Los Angeles 90013

Between Alameda & Santa Fe and between 2nd and 3rd St. in the Arts District

Saturday, September 27

*6pm Delicious Dinner w/ Veggies from South Central Farm**7pm Film Screening of "The Garden"* with Q & A with Tezo from the film

All Ages. cover: Free, but RSVP, space is LIMITED! RSVP Email:greenjobsLA@gmail.com

View the trailer:

http://www.thegardenmovie.com/trailer

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4. Fair Trade Festival! Sunday Sept. 28 in Hollywood

Fair Trade LA’s Second Annual Fair Trade Festival

SUPPORTING FAIR TRADE, SWEAT FREE AND LOCAL ECONOMIES!

Sunday September 28

8 am to 2 pm

In the Parking Lot of Washington Mutual Bank 1500 N. Vine St.

Vendors will have Fair Trade products such as

Chocolate

Coffee from cooperatives in Africa and Latin America

Handcrafted Items

Sweat-free Clothing

Local Artisans

Live Music

Blacksmith Records

The Dish’s,

Jami Templeton!

Very close also to the Hollywood Farmers’ Market

More info: fairtradela.wordpress.com

September 19, 2008: A trillion dollar bailout for AIG, but what about Americans suffering high food and gasoline prices, home foreclosures, job loss, and high health care bills, or left stranded after hurricanes? Meanwhile in California we have no state budget as of yet. Call Congress to pass an economic recovery plan to address these issues (including financial aid for states) and join us on Thursday the 26th to strategize on making our voice heard in Sacramento and D.C.

1. Hunger Action LA Meeting: Sept 26
2. Call Congress To Help Needy Americans Now!
3. Fair Trade Festival! Sunday Sept. 28 in Hollywood
4. UN: Eat Less Meat To Help Mitigate Climate Change
5. Study Says Chemical in Plastic Can Cause Diabetes: FDA Says Not To Worry

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1. Hunger Action LA Meeting: Sept 26

The next meeting of Hunger Action Los Angeles is Thursday Sept. 26 from 3 to 4:30 pm. It will be held at SEIU Local 721, in room 3A, at 500 S. Virgil (90020 zip, two blocks from Wilshire/Vermont.) We’ll have updates on the the state budget and anti-hunger legislation, plus the activity from both parties in Congress for a second economic stimulus package (For more information on that see the alert below.) In addition we’ll have information on changes to the food stamp program that will take effect October 1. Families with dependents will especially benefit.  Please RSVP to 213 388 8228 or frank@hungeractionla.org . All are welcome---nonprofit organizations, low income people, and anyone else interested in ending hunger and promoting healthy eating.

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2. Call Congress To Help Needy Americans Now!

Make sure Congress doesn't leave average Americans out to dry!

Keep up the calls to your Representative and Senators!

Use this toll-free number:  1-888-245-0215

Tell them: Please do not leave this month without passing legislation that helps low-income people avoid hardships, helps the jobless, maintains needed public services, and boosts the economy. Increase food stamp assistance, utility bill assistance, extend unemployment benefits, and pass assistance to the states---something we’ll need in California!

Update: The House had planned to introduce an economic recovery package this week. However, with the meltdown of the financial markets Congress has decided to delay action on a recovery package. Instead, Congress is now turning its focus to passing a continuing resolution (CR) that will keep the government funded. There is talk of attaching some economic relief provisions to the CR. We must not let up! Regardless of the legislative vehicle, we need your help to press for aid to help low-income people pay for food, heat, and other basic needs, and to make sure that essential public services are maintained. Congress needs to hear from constituents who demand that urgent needs are met before they leave.

Advocates have been asking for more funds for food and home energy assistance, additional weeks of unemployment benefits, more aid to states for rising Medicaid costs and to keep collecting child support owed to millions of children, more funds for Head Start, and more jobs through infrastructure repair and jobs programs for youth.  For explanation of these proposals, see Towards Shared Recovery, at http://www.chn.org/pdf/2008/stimulus9908.pdf   It's great to mention some or all of these important items when you call.

Many thanks - please forward this to everyone you can think of.

(Thanks to Coalition on Human Needs)

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3. Fair Trade Festival! Sunday Sept. 28 in Hollywood

The second annual Fair Trade Festival will be held Sunday Sept. 28 from 9 am to 2 pm in the parking lot of Washington Mutual bank, 1500 N. Vine St. at Sunset Blvd. Vendors will have Fair Trade products such as chocolate, coffee, handcrafted items and there will be educational booths as well from a variety of organizations working on fair trade, sweat-free clothing, ending slavery and human trafficking, microcredit and other good stuff. Plus live music, with the Dishes and Blacksmith Records! As good a time as you could ever have in a bank parking lot, and very close also to the Hollywood Farmers’ Market.  More info: fairtradela.wordpress.com

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4. UN: Eat Less Meat To Help Mitigate Climate Change

People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.

His comments are the most controversial advice yet provided by the panel on how individuals can help tackle global warning.

Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel's chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems - including habitat destruction - associated with rearing cattle and other animals. It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to changing means of transport, he said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink

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5. Study Says Chemical in Plastic Can Cause Diabetes: FDA Says Not To Worry

A common chemical found in plastic food packaging may be increasing rates of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, a new study has shown.

Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter found people exposed to higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) were more likely to have Type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and angina.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122019.php

The government agency that’s supposed to protect us from these threats is defending the use of the chemical in plastics:

http://www.dbtechno.com/health/2008/09/19/update-2-fda-slammed-for-defending-use-of-bpa-in-plastics/

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September 9, 2008

1. September is Hunger Action Month: Take Action!
2. Hunger Action LA Meeting: Sept 26
3. Fair Trade Festival! Sunday Sept. 28 in Hollywood

1. September is Hunger Action Month: Take Action! TODAY is the statewide Nutrition Call-In Day to encourage Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign several important hunger and nutrition related bills. This is a great opportunity to take action during Hunger Action Month. Click here for more on the call-in day and for some instructional "You-Tube" videos showing how easy it is to call the Governor’s office. And don’t forget to remind the Governor that it’s Hunger Action Month. WHAT: Nutrition Call-In Day WHEN: TODAY September 9 WHY: To encourage the Governor to sign critical nutrition bills HOW: Call (916) 445-2841: Press 1 for English, Then press 2 to voice your opinion, Then press 0 to speak to a representative. There may be a short wait before you are connected - Please Hold On! The bills: - AB 2844 would eliminate red tape by reducing reporting frequency for Food Stamp recipients. - AB 433 would make MediCAL recipients eligible for Food Stamps and school meal programs as well as remove redundancies between the two applications. - AB 2300 would automatically enroll children on MediCAL in the school meal programs. - AB 2726 would help provide funding to implement the Healthy Purchase Pilot and make fresh produce more accessible and affordable for Food Stamp participants. Click here for more info on the bills and YouTube instructional videos! Thanks to California Food Policy Advocates

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2. Hunger Action LA Meeting: Sept 25 The next meeting of Hunger Action Los Angeles is Thursday Sept. 25 from 3 to 4:30 pm. It will be held at SEIU Local 721, in room 3A, at 500 S. Virgil (90020 zip, two blocks from Wilshire/Vermont.) We’ll have updates on the state legislation referenced above plus the activity from both parties in Congress for a second economic stimulus package. Please RSVP to 213 388 8228 or frank@hungeractionla.org

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3. Fair Trade Festival! Sunday Sept. 28 in Hollywood The second annual Fair Trade Festival will be held Sunday Sept. 28 from 9 am to 2 pm in the parking lot of Washington Mutual bank, 1500 N. Vine St. at Sunset Blvd. Vendors will have Fair Trade products such as chocolate, coffee, handcrafted items and there will be educational booths as well from a variety of organizations working on fair trade, sweat-free clothing, ending slavery and human trafficking, microcredit and other good stuff. Plus live music, with the Dishes and Blacksmith Records! As good a time as you could ever have in a bank parking lot, and very close also to the Hollywood Farmers’ Market. More info: http://fairtradela.wordpress.com/

July 24, 2008

1. Experts Ask Congress To Boost AntiHunger Funds
2. Rising Food Costs Affect Child Nutrition Programs in America
3. Assembly Speaker Bass and Assemblymember Furutani to Urge Timely Budget Passage:Town Hall in Carson, Tuesday July 29th
4. Mommy, Daddy, How Did You Survive the Economic Crisis of ’08?
5. U.S. Offers To Cut Some Farm Subsidies To Make Trade More Fair

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1. Experts Ask Congress To Boost AntiHunger Funds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With food-stamp enrollment at record levels, antihunger experts urged Congress on Wednesday to increase benefits, at least temporarily, in the largest U.S. program that helps poor people buy food.

Some 28 million Americans received food stamps at latest count, the highest total ever except the 29.8 million recipients in November 2005, when emergency aid was given to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Benefits average $1 per meal.

"We strongly support efforts to provide a temporary boost in basic food stamp benefit levels to help people afford a basic healthy diet," said George Manalo-LeClair of the California Food Policy Advocates.

Minneapolis physician Diana Cutts and the Food Research and Action Center also backed an increase in benefits as part of a new economic stimulus bill.Rep. Joe Baca, the California Democrat who chairs the House Agriculture subcommittee that oversees public nutrition programs, said food stamps should be included in a stimulus bill.

"The problem we're going to have is the pay-go requirement," said Baca, referring to a rule requiring budget cuts to offset new spending.

"The United States is quite unique among industrial democracies because we let so many of our people go hungry and we seem to be doing precious little to close this gap," said Larry Brown, of the Harvard University School of Public Health.Brown is co-author of a 2007 report that estimated hunger in America costs $90 billion a year in lower productivity, higher health-care costs and work by charities to help the poor.

(Reporting by Charles Abbott)

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2. Rising Food Costs Affect Child Nutrition Programs in America

The same congressional hearings referenced above focused on the impact of higher food prices on nutrition programs.

Video: Testimony of Paula James, six minutes, on rising food costs effect on child care providers. Nearly a quarter of California child care food program sponsors have dropped out of the program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGAtJOJIPPM&feature=user

Link to the Congressional hearings on food prices, the whole thing on video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DY3L8kUs74

The Daily Breeze reports on increased attendance at summer lunch sites due to the economic crisis. But the cost of each meal has increased 30 cents due to rising food prices:                                  http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_9917666

San Francisco Chronicle reports on the impact of food prices on school lunch:                        http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/20/MNJ411P0ES.DTL

Here’s a list of all the summer lunch sites in California. All kids regardless of income can get lunch free while school’s out at these locations.                                                                          http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/summersites08.asp

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3. Assembly Speaker Bass and Assemblymember Furutani to Urge Timely Budget Passage:

Town Hall in Carson, Tuesday July 29th

 An Emergency Town Hall on California's Budget Crisis

Please join Madame Assembly Speaker Bass (D- Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Furutani (D- Gardena) at a town hall to discuss the need for Republican colleagues to reach across the aisle and pass the budget for the good of all Californians.

Tuesday, July 29th

at 6:00pm

California State University Dominguez Hills

Loker Student Union - Grand Ballroom

1000 E. Victoria Street

Carson, CA 90747

Empower yourself by being involved in the budget process. Help to ensure that the budget is fair; that it is not unreasonably balanced on the backs of children, the elderly, the disabled and our women and men in uniform.

Madame Assembly Speaker Bass and Assemblymember Furutani will take questions from attendees and provide highlights from the budget awaiting a vote soon on the Assembly floor.

RSVP for this event by clicking here:

http://192.234.213.40/PublicLCMS/SurveysDirect.aspx?district=AD55&survey=2640&

For more information please call the District Office at (323) 937-4747 or (562) 989-2919.

Please visit: www.adc.asm.ca.gov/issues/budget  

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4. Mommy, Daddy, How Did You Survive the Economic Crisis of ’08?

La Opinion ran an article Tuesday with quotes from some of our state’s anti hunger leaders like Jessica Bartholow of California Association of Food Banks, Darren Hoffman of LA Regional Food Bank, and Mary Agnes Erlandson of St. Margaret’s Center, about the continuing impact on charities of people being squeezed with high food prices, high gas prices, and other elements of the recession:

http://www.laopinion.com/archivo/
print.html?START=1&RESULTSTART=1&DISPLAYTYPE=single&
FREETEXT=
nuevas+respuestas+a+la+crisi&FDATEd12=last+7+days&FDATEd13=
20080722&BOOLp00=&SORT_MODE=Relevancia

Fear of immigration authorities is causing many immigrants to avoid applying for benefits, even for their children born here who are citizens and qualify:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25727901/

Forbes reports on “America’s increasingly unaffordable cities” pounded by higher food, fuel and housing costs:

http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2008/07/18/inflation-unaffordable-cities-forbeslife-cx_mw_0718realestate.html

Texas governor Rick Perry wants the federal government to cut in half the requirement that the U.S. produce 9 billion gallons of ethanol this year, citing its effect on food prices. The diversion of corn and other crops to ethanol has raised the price of those grains in food products due to its impact on supply:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=asKoGIcOXRjA&refer=us

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5. U.S. Offers To Cut Some Farm Subsidies To Make Trade More Fair

The U.S. has offered to cut some of the big agricultural subsidies from the just-passed farm bills. Poorer countries say the payments give rich-world farmers an unfair competitive advantage that hinders Third World development.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/22/news/WTO-Trade-Talks.php

Here’s an example of how U.S. ag subsidies, and food aid, actually hinder development:

” In spite of its importance in the event of natural disasters, food aid never assuages the rising cost of food and shortages in the long run. The little that is left of domestic food markets is ruined by the inflow of cheap or free food. While the food aid might feed few millions of Africans, it does not do so for long. Africa can feed its own people – the problem is, it has never been allowed to try to succeed.

Eighty five per cent of Africans live in rural communities. They rely on farming to feed themselves and their families.

The European Union Common Agriculture Policy and the US farm policy of providing subsidies to farmers have displaced  agricultural products, limiting income that could have been used to re-invest to enhance increased production……This has retarded growth in  the continent while at the same time undermining food production. According to the World Bank, if the US and EU reduce subsidies to their farmers, it would lift millions of Africans from poverty.”---Alphayo Otieno, Kenya “Daily Nation” online

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/
nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=127796

Oxfam chimes in on the same issue:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00646.htm

July 18, 2008

1. Hunger Action LA Meets July 24
2. State Budget: Better Than Original Proposal, But Still Cuts Health Care and Human Services---Call the Governor and Legislature
3. Food, Fuel, Housing and Banking Crises: What Is the U.S. Response?
4. Website: Free Summer Lunch for Kids---LA County 2008 Sites

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1. Hunger Action LA Meets July 24

The next Hunger Action LA meeting is:

Thursday July 24

3-5 pm

at SEIU Local 721, Auditorium

500 S. Virgil

LA CA 90020

(Two blocks from the Wilshire/Vermont red line stop)

At the June 26th meeting we decided to advocate for AB 2844 to end red tape in the food stamp program: and AB 1996 to eliminate the remaining barriers to people with drug felony convictions from getting food stamps. A group was also formed to monitor child nutrition issues into the coming year, although there is no bill they are following for this year. Please RSVP if you’d like to attend. Light refreshments served. Parking is $7 in the lot, unless the attendant’s not there, or you can park at nearby street meters.

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2. State Budget: Better Than Original Proposal, But Still Cuts Health Care and Human Services

---Call the Governor and Legislature

ACTION ALERT!

Conference Committee Budget is Out - Fairer Revenue Proposals, but Still Cuts

Detailed Analysis updated July 15: http://www.cbp.org/ (California Budget Project)

The conference committee voted out a budget that would add almost $10 billion in revenue to the state budget.  AND the revenue measures they are proposing are fairer for low-income and working people.  This will go a long way toward closing the budget gap.

While not all the programs we are fighting for will be saved (and we're not sure on all these details yet), and although this is not a perfect budget, it is a significant step in the right direction. We are most proud of the steps that the legislature has taken to help end hunger by rejecting the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Food Stamp Program, and by taking the opportunity to improve the program. Certain actions taken were to waive the face-to-face interview for individuals or families that are working at least 30 hours per week, reject the proposed California Food Assistance Program cuts and create the supplemental food stamp benefit for families before they become enrolled in CalWORKS.

We want to let our legislators know that we support this move toward a fairer budget.   And of course, we'll still push to stop all the cuts that hurt all of us!

CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR NOW!!

If you don't know who your Assemblymember or Senator is, or how to contact them, go to this website

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

You can also call the BIG FIVE

Governor: 916-445-2841 (After choosing language dial 6 to get a live person)

Senate Pro Tem Don Perata  510-286-1333

Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass  323-937-4747

Senate Minority Leader Dave Cogdill  559-253-7122

Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines  559-446-2029

 Tell Our Legislators: "My name is ______________ and I live in ____________. I support the conference committee's common-sense revenue measures.  And I hope you will work to stop the all of the harmful cuts to Medi-Cal and public services for children, families, seniors and disabled people."

OR

"The conference committee's revenue increase is the right direction, but we can't allow this to be used as a bargaining chip to cut from children, families, seniors and disabled people."

Be sure to mention if you’re with a group and how many people that group represents

Thanks to California Partnership  and  California Hunger Action Coalition

http://www.california-partnership.org/                                  http://hungeraction.net/

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3. Food, Fuel, Housing and Banking Crises: What Is the U.S. Response?

“As the country and the world reel from crises ranging from skyrocketing oil prices and global food shortages to housing and climate change, how best to understand the government policies being pushed through? “Read Amy Goodman’s interview with Naomi Klein, author of “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism”.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/91656/
?ses=9260d41bb1785ea97391ed1ad43abe3e

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4. Website: Free Summer Lunch for Kids---LA County 2008 Sites

Here’s a list of all the summer lunch sites in California. All kids regardless of income can get lunch free while school’s out at these locations. Find and publicize the ones near you!

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/summersites08.asp

June 24, 2008

1. We Went to Sacramento…Now What? Community Meeting Thursday June 26
2. How To Get Politicians To Work For You! Tuesday July 1 (Next Week)
3. USDA Sponsoring Food Stamp Outreach in East LA, July 12
4. LA Unified School District Working on Pepping Up The Lunches
5. Website: Free Summer Lunch for Kids---LA County 2008 Sites

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1. We Went to Sacramento…Now What?

Community Meeting Thursday June 26 All are invited to a community meeting sponsored by Hunger Action LA Thursday June 26 , 3 to 5 pm at SEIU Local 721, 500 S. Virgil Ave. There we'll have an update on the state budget and anti-hunger legislation backed by grassroots activists all over California, including bills to simplify the food stamp program, bring more fresh fruits and vegetables into poor neighborhoods, and remove the ban on food benefits for people with a past drug felony conviction for which they've already done time. To RSVP or get more information call 213 388 8228. For updates on legislation and letters of support needed (the deadline has passed for some though) visit California Food Policy Advocates at http://www.cfpa.net/Alerts/6.10.08.html

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2. How To Get Politicians To Work For You!

Tuesday July 1 (Next Week) A free advocacy training on how to make a difference by speaking out to your elected official on Hunger---The Environment---Healthcare---Grocery Store Quality---and Nutrition TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2008 10:00AM TO NOON LOCATION: Community Health Councils 3731 Stocker Street---2nd Floor Los Angeles RSVP- SEATING IS LIMITED! FREE PARKING & REFRESHMENTS RSVP to CHC atv:Telephone: 323-295-9372 ext. 233 or e mail: hkim@chc-inc.org Fax: 323-295-9467 Brought to you by Community Health Councils: California Legislative Black Caucus Foundation: California Center for Public Health Advocacy: Hunger Action Los Angeles: and California School Health Centers

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3. USDA Sponsoring Food Stamp Outreach in East LA, July 12 Eat Right When Money's Tight! LIVE YOUR LIFE! - Get Up! Get Moving!™ Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 10 am to 2 pm Belvedere Park, 4914 East Cesar Chavez Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90022 (in between two sports fields) Visit the USDA Food & Nutrition Service Exhibit at this FREE family event to learn how to make healthier food choices and supplement your food budget with the Food Stamp Program.

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4. LA Unified School District Working on Pepping Up The Lunches (LA Times story) http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-food22-2008jun22,0,1462527,full.story L.A. Unified's new top chef trying to put the 'wow' in school lunches. The pressure is on Mark Baida the new executive chef of the Los Angeles Unified School District: Demands are growing from parent groups, the school board and students for food that is delicious, healthful, served quickly -- and really, really inexpensive. In the last few years, the school board has banned soda and set standards for salt and fat, among other things. Now the aim is to make it more appealing too.

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5. Website: Free Summer Lunch for Kids---LA County 2008 Sites Here's a list of all the summer lunch sites in California. All kids regardless of income can get lunch free while school's out at these locations. Find and publicize the ones near you! http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/summersites08.asp