The Watsonville Files: Everyone is trapped in a vicious cycle of failed immigration and farm policy

by: citisven

Fri Nov 25, 2011 at 13:12:32 PM PST

There are tens of thousands of children and young people in America who came to the United States as babies of parents who worked in the fields, or on construction sites, or in hotels or restaurants. These kids have grown up as Americans, they are culturally American, and they have American dreams, but they have no future. In the thirty years that I've worked on farms and ranches around California and Oregon I've gotten to know some of them well. I listen to the radio and read the news and I understand the complexity and frustrations of the immigration situation as well as most, and I'm probably more familiar with the intestinal workings of immigration enforcement better than many, but I think that it is cruel, unworkable, and actually insane to talk about deporting these young "aliens" back to countries they barely know. My wish is that we Americans summon up the integrity for an honest debate what a real and comprehensive immigration policy should be, and my dream is that we welcome these kids in before we have a huge toxic permanent underclass that brings out the worst in everybody.

- California organic farmer

By now you're probably familiar with the story of SF Kossacks' Farmworker Reality Tour a couple of Sundays ago to Watsonville, CA, organized by Dr. Ann López, founder of the Center for Farmworker Families and author of The Farmworkers' Journey. Inspired by Jill (we were all bummed she couldn't make it) and organized by navajo, it was Glen the Plumber, remembrance,  BentLiberal, catilinus, Norm, Meteor Blades and myself who made the journey to the heart of one of California's major agricultural centers to visit four different homes and "challenge us to better understand the conditions of Mexican farmworkers in Northern California by sharing in their lives, food, and living quarters."

Environmental group slams Iowa Farm Bureau bid to "harass and intimidate"

by: desmoinesdem

Fri Aug 12, 2011 at 18:23:01 PM PDT

July in Riverdale Sunset Photos

by: Eddie C

Mon Aug 01, 2011 at 17:13:30 PM PDT

These July sunsets from the Bronx are for my Mom, my Dad and my neighbor, who I think just watched her very first month of sunsets. As this long hot month began I had an elevator conversation with that neighbor who lives in the same apartment line and has almost the same view as I do. Inquiring about the Nikon D7000 hanging from my neck, I explained that I have no photographic specialty but the last on my list was "our wonderful views of sunsets."

To explain why she had never watched a sunset from her window she said "If you see one, you've seen them all." So in less than fifteen floors I tried to summarize eighteen years of sunsets from my window. I was feeling a bit like a sunset missionary as the conversation didn't end with the elevator ride. She was fascinated and wanted to continue the sunset conversation in the lobby but I was all out of steam and anxious to get out in the sunshine.

My Dad, he is pretty much the same way. He closes the western blinds to keep the Florida sun from fading the furniture. Now Mom, she calls on the phone when there is a nice sunset to watch from her Ocean County, New Jersey kitchen. Often we have the same view. Sometimes ninety miles makes a big difference.

Iowa governor stacks environmental commission with agribusiness advocates

by: desmoinesdem

Fri Mar 04, 2011 at 06:00:00 AM PST

Iowa has notoriously poor water quality. Not only are there more than 400 "impaired waters" in the state, the Des Moines Water Works has the largest nitrate removal system in the world, because "the Raccoon River has the highest average nitrate concentration of any of the 42 largest tributaries in the Mississippi River Basin." Even so, the Water Works sometimes struggles to handle high levels of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in the Raccoon River, forcing the water treatment facility to draw from a secondary source. Iowa watersheds are also a major contributor to the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, and the nutrients from "Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from commercial fertilizers and animal manure from farmland were the biggest contributing sources" of the excess nutrients that cause the dead zone.  

Despite those facts, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (R) made clear throughout last year's campaign that he believes the state Department of Natural Resources takes too tough a stand in enforcing pollution rules. His appointee to run the DNR is a former head of the Iowa Association for Business and Industry and a partner in a law firm that has represented the Iowa Farm Bureau as well as corporations like Monsanto. Branstad is now considering moving all water quality and monitoring programs, as well as Clean Water Act compliance, from the DNR to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. I discussed that idea at more length here.

On March 2 Branstad announced more than 200 appointments to state boards and commissions, including four members of the state Environmental Protection Commission: Dolores Mertz, Brent Rastetter, Eugene Ver Steeg, and Mary Boote. All four have close ties to agribusiness interests. Details are after the jump.

Changing Times: History and Botanical Science in America

by: Eddie C

Sat Feb 12, 2011 at 03:38:48 AM PST

Recently I attended a New York Botanical Garden lecture "Briefings From the Field: The Frontiers of Plant Discovery and Conservation." Field studies are more exciting than you would expect. The first time I was invited to hear these Indiana Jones type stories that range from Ewok lifestyles in the treetops of Costa Rica to high-water adventures on the "Amazon Queen" was back in 1987.

In those few years there have been big changes in both science and the interactions with governments and industry to report. From 1987 when tropical rain forest covered only six percent of the earth's land surface to now with only five percent left, the stories were less about adventure and more about political advances scientist are making in the conservation mission.

Below the fold are some of the facts I learned at this year's lecture, either advances in an improving landscape or a last ditch effort to save biodiversity, you decide.  

Ocean Acidification and the End of the Food Chain

by: Eddie C

Mon Jan 24, 2011 at 19:15:42 PM PST

For an organism that lives in the water the two most important factors are temperature and acidity. Before the industrial revolution the ocean pH was approximately 8.179. By the first decade of the 21st century humans had pumped over a hundred and twenty billion tons of CO2 into the oceans, producing a reduction of -0.11 in ocean pH levels. As a logarithmic measure, a .11 drop represents an increase of about 30% in "acidity."

Republicans can't even claim that ocean acidity is being made up by scientist on an agenda because going back as far as the Texas oil boom it was thought that 30 percent of the the carbon emissions would be adsorbed by the oceans and anyone who went to high school learned that dissolving CO2 in water produces carbonic acid.

So as we are facing the biggest food chain crash in the planet's history and the possibility that there might not be enough oxygen in the atmosphere to sustain life on earth in the near future Washington's answer seems to be "If we don't talk about it than it is not happening."

State of the World 2011 Symposium in Washington DC and Live Streaming Online

by: NourishingthePlanet

Wed Jan 19, 2011 at 06:16:24 AM PST

State of the World 2011 Launches in NYC Today

by: NourishingthePlanet

Wed Jan 12, 2011 at 08:51:07 AM PST

Today the Worldwatch Institute launches its flagship publication, State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet in New York City. The report spotlights successful agricultural innovations and unearths major successes in preventing food waste, building resilience to climate change, and strengthening farming in cities. The press launch-the first of several release events being held in New York and DC this month-will feature remarks from Nourishing the Planet co-Directors Brian Halweil and Danielle Nierenberg; contributing authors Stephanie Hanson  of the One Acre Fund and the  Small Planet Institute's Anna Lappé; as well as Worldwatch President Christopher Flavin.

It's nearly a half-century since the Green Revolution and yet a large share of the human family is still chronically hungry. Since the mid 1980s when agricultural funding was at its height, the share of global development aid has fallen from over 16 percent to just 4 percent today. Drawing from the world's leading agricultural experts and from hundreds of innovations that are already working on the ground, State of the World 2011 will help serve as a road map for the funding and development communities.

"Charity often about imposed solutions, solidarity a partnership of equals"

by: NourishingthePlanet

Thu Dec 30, 2010 at 08:42:15 AM PST

NYC Gov going "Locavore" Big Time!

by: Eddie C

Fri Dec 10, 2010 at 20:18:23 PM PST

Today on The Leonard Lopate Show the lead story was called Feeding The Soul and for anyone seeking to restore their faith in good government, it did just that. Two guest in an interview to discuss Food Works in New York City that would have seemed an unlikely pair as recently as yesterday.

One was Chef Dan Barber who has been a great advocate in the New York area for the local food movement. The other was City Council speaker Christine Quinn. Today they were on the same page. I've never heard such a merger of bottom up activism and top down good government action before. It was amazing to hear Christine Quinn's introduction sounding more like Marion Nestle in talks about what the government needs to do, hearing a powerful politician discussing things being done now and progressive plans for a sustainable future.  

The city has already moved $4.5 million in public school food spending over to local farms and is trying to change the $300,000 spent on school lettuce to money being pumped into the Rockland County farm economy and processing facilities in the economically depressed Bronx. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Fracking A! New York

by: Eddie C

Tue Nov 30, 2010 at 12:18:50 PM PST

Well it may only be state legislature and the governor still need to sign but apparently this moratorium to protect our drinking water is a first. It's not top down and the Working Families Party humbly takes some of the credit for more than 52,000 New Yorkers signing the petition urging the Assembly to act.

Go ahead: get up from your chair. Do a little dance, pump your fist, or do whatever you do to celebrate a victory of grassroots action over corporate power.

I just received a letter form the WFP and I was doing just that.  

Just Looking

by: Eddie C

Sun Nov 21, 2010 at 22:45:51 PM PST

I have a few pleasant photography stories to tell from a week ago. Between the autumn color and the desperation of one last warm weather week, it was a good week for a photo buff. Now don't go busting my bubble by just looking at the photos because you can learn a lot from a photographer. We see things.

Below you will find a Third Rock from the Sun brief encounter during an evening walk in the Village. I have several memories from a lecture I attended on photojournalism. There is a pleasant Veterans Day walk under the George Washington Bridge on the New Jersey side followed by a sunset from the New York side. Then a Friday afternoon walk in Central Park with some music videos I made and all day Saturday there too. There is even a little taste of Florence, Italy.  

Making Water Clean with Dirt (New 2 Minute Episode of Nourishing the Planet TV)

by: NourishingthePlanet

Wed Oct 13, 2010 at 10:19:21 AM PDT

Here is the link: http://bit.ly/ahFrGJ

Furthermore! Urban Composting, Part 1 (A How-to Guide)

by: TheFatLadySings

Tue Aug 10, 2010 at 05:51:57 AM PDT

Bokashi is a method of kitchen composting developed in Japan where the typical home is the size of a US bedroom and the typical kitchen could fit inside my shoe. Composting is facilitated by anaerobic microorganisms and takes place in a covered bucket under the sink.

I have been using this method off and on for several years. It cuts the amount of rubbish I need to cart to the street nearly in half, and eliminates nasty garbage odors.  

ECOVA MALI: Building Home Grown Knowledge

by: NourishingthePlanet

Mon Aug 09, 2010 at 08:41:00 AM PDT

This is the first part in a series about our visit with ECOVA MALI.

It's not a new concept-farmers learning from other farmers about different agricultural techniques-but it's one that can be difficult to execute. Foreign NGOs often offer trainings, but they don't always fit farmers needs. But at ECOVA MALI's training center, 35 kilometers outside of Bamako, Mali's capital, farmers are getting the skills they need to be better stewards of the environment, as well as better business women and men.