Things You Can Do Now, to Curb the Negative Effects of Capitalism

I support what Moore is trying to do with his new film Capitalism: A Love Story . I think everyone needs to see it. He also has a new list of things that all Americans can do to help make a little change now. I just wanted to reiterate a few: FIVE THINGS WE SHOULD DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR LOVED ONES UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THIS MESS: 1. Take your money out of your bank if it took bailout money and place it in a locally-owned bank or, preferably, a credit union. I LOVE my credit union and I would NEVER use a bank. Credit Unions are the non-profit equivalent. You get all the same services and offers - but without the fees! They are locally owned and wonderful. 2. Get rid of all your credit cards but one -- the kind where you have to pay up at the end of the month or you lose your card. So many people have problems with credit. One card, with a low balance, can make such a difference. 3. Do not invest in the stock market. If you have any extra cash, put it away in a savings account or, if you can, pay down on your mortgage so you can own your home as soon as possible. You can also buy very safe government savings bonds or T-bills. Or just buy your mother some flowers. I had thought that my fear of the stock market was naive... but after the crash and ensuing disaster I feel vindicated. Why invest in people who don't have your interests (or the interests of anyone other than themselves) in mind? Keep your money in safe places and invest in yourself and your family. Read more of Michael's ideas here.

Today's Efforts to Save the Earth

So, I've been very inspired of late to try harder to reduce my carbon footprint. Even though, my carbon usage is far less than most Americans, if everyone was like me we would need almost two earths! (Visit http://www.myfootprint.org/ to find out your impact). My biggest successes are being vegan (meat consumption and production are major producers of carbon and waste), shopping at the co-op (buying local food makes an immense difference), composting and collecting rain water to use on plans, etc. Two of my major inspirations are Sumner (her blog is great for people trying to eat more locally) and Jacky - both of whom work hard to consume minimally and locally. Anyway, today I was trying to store my rain barrel for winter. However, because it has rained so much lately it was very full. Not wanting to waste all of the water in it, I filled up some rubbermaid containers to store the water so I can continue to water the plans in it. After filling up and moving three such bins, I decided that it was enough. (Stagnant water in our basement is probably not a good idea). So, I tried to carry the half-full rainbarrel over to our compost bin and dump the water there (I'm not good at keeping it moist). So, soaking wet pants and shoes later our compost is saturated, the rain barrel is stored, and we have three rubbermaid containers with water for our indoor plants. What a mess. We also tried to eat a squash I found on the sidewalk last week... but it was very sour so that didn't really happen. Adventure!!

An Open Letter to Luther College ... Drop Sodexo

President Torgerson

Luther College

700 College Drive

Decorah, IA, 52101

Dear President Torgerson,

cc: Board of Regents

For the last six years I have consistently celebrated my experience at Luther College. I have touted it as a place that always did the right thing, treated workers well, tried to have a strong stance on being 'Green', and, of course, provided a quality education.

However, this recent news of switching Caf services to Sodexo is horrifying. As you know, Sodexo has been challenged for numerous labor and environmental violations.

For example, Sodexo has been charged with providing poor food for those they serve, as well as practicing bad hygiene standards. (See Supersize Me and Channel 4 Documentary by UK TV).

Secondly, the corporation has several recorded workers rights violations. They are anti-union and, as such, the antithesis to Luther's stated mission. (There is a lot of information available on this due to boycott information by the Restaurant Employees International Union, among others).

This point has already hit home at Luther College. There are cases in which 60 year old women are working 10-hour days and unable to take breaks. This did not happen with the old Luther Caf The Caf was a home away from home. No more.

Finally, Luther has made great progress over the past years in moving towards greater energy efficiency. One meaningful stride should have been to support local farmers - rather than outsourcing food production to an unhealthy alternative. Again, this sort of spiteful act towards the Luther community is defiantly against the college's mission.

As an alumnus of the college, I can promise you that my future donations to the college will be cut off until Sodexo is out of food production and Luther stands behind their mission: 

In the reforming spirit of Martin Luther, Luther College affirms the liberating power of faith and learning. As people of all backgrounds, we embrace diversity and challenge one another to learn in community, to discern our callings, and to serve with distinction for the common good.

As a college of the church, Luther is rooted in an understanding of grace and freedom that emboldens us in worship, study, and service to seek truth, examine our faith, and care for all God’s people.

As a liberal arts college, Luther is committed to a way of learning that moves us beyond immediate interests and present knowledge into a larger world—an education that disciplines minds and develops whole persons equipped to understand and confront a changing society.

As a residential college, Luther is a place of intersection. Founded where river, woodland, and prairie meet, we practice joyful stewardship of the resources that surround us, and we strive to be a community where students, faculty, and staff are enlivened and transformed by encounters with one another, by the exchange of ideas, and by the life of faith and learning.

I know that these are tough economic times, but financial hardship is no excuse to abuse workers and students.

Thank you for your time, 

Help My Friend Hoa!

On August 14th my friend Hoa was arrested by immigration officials because she had missed a court appearance.  Rather, she had believed that her court date was August 23rd but it turned out to be the 13th.  Now, because of a simple mistake, she risks deportation.

You can learn more here.

Hoa and her husband Dan do a lot to make the world better and, as such, they don't have a ton of money.  If you are able to help them cover their legal fees please donate here.

Our immigration system is sick and this is just one more example of how bad and unjust things have become.

Farewell Teddy Kennedy

While no politician is perfect, Teddy Kennedy was always my favorite to watch the semester I interned with Senator Feingold. Even if the Senate chambers were sparsely filled, Kennedy always spoke with passion - red in the face, shaking his fist - as compared to the monotony and heartlessness of many other senators.

I wanted to say goodbye to Kennedy by remembering some of my favorite things he did:

- In 1996 he voted against DOMA (even Wellstone didn't!) and worked for marriage equality in Massachusetts
- He worked to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell
- Kennedy opposed and fought to end abstinence-only education.
- He supported universal, single-payer health care (though had relaxed on that requirement to get something - though so that everyone was covered - passed).

Here is what a few other groups have to say:

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The Nation
The Guardian
The American Prospect

Once again Tim Wise says it all

If you want to help continue the movement against Glenn Beck, go here. (Color of Change is working to get advertisers to stop their support of the show).

Continued Oppression of Native Americans

An article from CNN was online today discussing the immense poverty the Lakota continue to face. You can read it here.

What isn't mentioned is that the Pine Ridge Reservation also persists in being the poorest place in the nation. Here, unemployment tops 80%, the weather is often oppressive, and people have few resources. You can help out by contributing to the Friends of the Pine Ridge Reservation. They also have a number of 'drives' to gather supplies for schools, etc.