Because People Matter

Progressive News and Views July / August 2009

Greening Affordable Housing

Because it just makes sense

New Harmony, a green mutual housing

By Meg Johnson community, is scheduled to start
In 2002, when the nonprofit Sacramento Mutual new housing communities that meet high standards for construction this winter in Davis.
Housing Association (SMHA) was completing construc- green construction? How will they keep rents low and Image courtesy of Kuchman Architects, rendering by
tion of Victory Townhomes in North Sacramento, people still incorporate cutting edge green features? Sawyer Fischer.
would often stop their cars to inquire as to the cost of the The choice at Victory Townhomes was an easy one.
homes, assuming the attractive buildings were market- Low income people are challenged by meeting their util- able housing could use. The SMHA’s leaders also want to
rate condominiums. They were further intrigued with ity bills each month. Many elderly residents won’t turn push the envelope to bring down the cost of operations,
the solar panels on each townhome. Most were shocked on air conditioning, at great risk to their health, because resident utility bills and add to the sustainability of the
to learn that the housing would be for they can’t afford to pay the electric bill. larger Davis community.
rent, and income restrictions would The SMHA’s recent SMUD had a special program that, The staff of SMHA has had to develop new capacities
limit occupancy to very low income combined with incentives created by in green building methods and materials. They became
families. housing designs then State Treasurer Phil Angelides members of Build it Green, the creator of the GreenPoint
In 2002, solar panels were unheard will be models for under the Low Income Housing Tax Rating System, and the US Green Building Council, the
of in rental communities. Victory Credit program, cut the cost of the creator of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Townhomes was the first multifamily other developers. solar components by about 50 percent. Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The two
development in SMUD’s service area to Some steps are no- In the City of Davis, the mutual organizations provide training, networking and profes-
install solar components. In addition housing association owns land upon sional certifications to advance sustainable development
to solar panels on the townhomes, the brainers. which it plans to build 69 apartments of commercial and residential facilities.
building at the front which houses a for disabled and low-wage households. By hiring local architects whose staff are certified
large community gathering space, offices for organizers City leaders are committed to sustainable development. green designers, including Cynthia Easton, Bob Kuch-
and service staff, and a computer learning lab, has a roof There is a city ordinance that creates a minimum green man, and Jim Zanetto, the SMHA’s recent housing
with solar roof tiles. standard for all new development. SMHA’s New Harmo- designs will be models for other developers. Some steps
Why did the mutual housing association break the ny housing development will exceed this standard. The are no-brainers. Sensitivity to placement of buildings on
barriers of installing solar energy components in its SMHA believes that exceeding the standard will elicit
affordable development? Why is the association planning good will among city residents, something that afford- See Green housing, page 11

Urban Farmstands Inside this issue:

Bringing fresh produce to low income residents
Editorial..................................................... 2
By Rachel Iskow
SMHA proved that the concept could work in Sacramen- Thank you Paulette!................................... 2
Cecilia’s mom lives in a Sacramento inner-city neigh- to. The farm stands fulfill two goals. They provide access Pastors for Peace Caravan......................... 2
borhood lacking a major to fresh and affordable
grocery store. She can’t afford Residents of Sacramento’s aging produce and because of the My Story:Time for Single Payer................ 3
a car, and many months, she
neighborhoods have always had way these two nonprofits Support Soapbox........................................ 3
lacks the money for a bus pass designed the program, the Derailing Obama’s Health Plan................ 4
to get her to a retail center in a problem getting ready access farm stands build commu-
another neighborhood where nity. They encourage resi- Mimic US Capitalism?.............................. 4
produce is sold. The local mom
to fresh and affordable fruits dent interaction by bringing Budget Woes Spark
and pop stores a couple of and vegetables. in local musicians, by utiliz- Death Penalty Decline............................ 5
blocks away from her apart- ing volunteers, and offering
ment carry bananas, mostly aging, a few apples, and per- children’s activities and community organization booths. Daniel Singer Millennium Essay.............. 5
haps wilting lettuce—this is on a good day. The cost of Unlike farmers markets in which farmers come to Fundamentalists in the Military............... 6
this produce in that small shop is double the price found the people, urban farmstands require an intermedi- Confessions of a Conspiracy Theorist........ 7
in conventional grocery stores. ary to bring the farmers’ produce to the customers. In
Cecilia has heard accusations in the media that low- their urban farmstands, the two sponsoring nonprofits Let Progressive Secretary Write For You... 7
income moms are not feeding enough fruits and veg- purchase organic and conventional produce directly What To Do With All Those Cucumbers... 8
etables to their kids. They don’t mention the access issue. from area farmers and turn around and sell the produce Growing Sacramento’s Future.................. 8
Residents of Sacramento’s aging neighborhoods have weekly at farm stands located in public areas. These are
always had a problem getting ready access to fresh and typically public parks or mutual housing communities Farms Not ‘Burbs...................................... 9
affordable fruits and vegetables. Last year, Alchemist with large open spaces. Visions of a Nuclear Weapons-Free
Community Development Corporation (ACDC) and Volunteers staff the stands, with one paid ACDC World..................................................... 10
Sacramento Mutual Housing Association (SMHA) part- employee coordinating the operations. Through a grant
nered to bring Sacramento’s first urban farm stand to the from The California Wellness Foundation, SMHA pro- Taking a Look at Islam............................. 10
community of Alkali Flat. The year prior, residents of vides stipends to neighborhood young people who intern Ask A Socially Responsible Therapist..... 11
Alkali Flat had mourned the loss of their neighborhood in the farmstands. These youth get training on the differ- Californians Know What To Do.............. 11
grocery store. Access to fresh produce became an issue ences between conventional and organic produce. They
of concern. Leaders of ACDC came up with the urban also get customer service skills and benefit from positive No Hope Ending the War on Drugs........ 12
farmstand concept as a means of providing that access. interaction with adults in their neighborhood. Death Penalty Focus................................ 12
In Alkali Flat, as in other poor and aging neighbor- This year, the SMHA and ACDC farm stands are Calderón Failing...................................... 13
hoods, farmers perceive there is an insufficient market to located in both Alkali Flat and Oak Park. The Oak Park
justify bringing their produce out for a farmers market. What’s Up With Homeschoolers.............. 14
This is where urban farmstands come in. ACDC and See Urban Farmstands, page 9 Calendar................................................... 15
2 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

because
People Matter Editorial Page
Volume 18, Number 4
Published Bi-Monthly by the Muriel Strand, Co-Coordinating Editor for this issue
Sacramento Community for
Peace & Justice

It’s Not That Easy

P.O. Box 162998, Sacramento,
CA 95816 for granted. Excess can turn anything into a nui- marinated in public relations’s breathless miasma
(Use addresses below for sance or a hazard, like plastic trash or corn syrup. of psycho-social manipulation that the boundar-

correspondence)
Editorial Group: Jacqueline
Diaz, Jeanie Keltner, JoAnn
Fuller
Coordinating Editors for
this Issue: Jacqueline Diaz,
Muriel Strand
Design and Layout:
Ellen Schwartz
Calendar Editor:
Chris Bond
Advertising and Business
Manager: Edwina White
Distribution Managers:
Distribution Manager Emeritus:
Paulette Cuilla
Subscription Manager:
Gordon Kennedy
How to Reach Us:
Letters, ads or other
business:
bpmnews@nicetechnology.com
HOLD THAT CALENDAR
ITEM!
Please be patient as we switch
to our new format. If someone
will volunteer to format
and post calendar items,
we'll maintain a community
calendar. Meanwhile, check
for peace and justice events at
www.sacpeace.org.
Being Green
How People Matter
As I write my first BPM editorial, my mind
wanders back to when I helped start the Sacra-
mento Greens, before the Green Party, when we
met in Dale Crandall-Bear’s New Society book-
store. Why the Greens? Because the integration
of social and ecological sustainability is a key
Green principle.
A few years later this newspaper was created
Because some Sacramentans believe People Mat-
ter. People can make a difference, and people
deserve consideration from others.
But how much do people matter? Well, we
(usually) matter more to ourselves than to each
other, or to other species, let alone to the planet.
(Although now what probably matters to the eco-
sphere would be recovering from the infection.)
There’s no denying that the more people there
are, the less each one matters. That’s the reality of
diminishing marginal returns, a fundamental of
economics. Scarcity makes things more valuable,
ceteris paribus, and abundance can make them
invaluable, like water or air that we generally take
So people will matter more if they are in pro- ies between virtual and reality, between fact and
portion, which is another way of saying when fiction, are fading fast.
social and ecological sustainability are in har- Another opposing force is within us. It is the
mony, when we are living as we “dominator culture,” a concept
were evolved to live. People can make named and described by Riane
Then, fake dilemmas like
jobs vs. environment will fool
a difference, and Eisler in her book, The Chalice
and the Blade. The dominator
no one. We will realize that our people deserve culture is the centralized, hierar-
true needs—clean air and water,
healthy food, and shelter—are
consideration chical, authoritarian worldview
that we are all somewhat infected
more important than jobs or from others. with. This toxic mindset is, I
money, that money can only buy believe, more fundamental than
what’s for sale. Only Mother Earth can provide our fossil fuel addiction.
for our survival; people can simply share. So it’s really simple. Do you want to be some-
But huge forces oppose ecological and social one who matters, who makes a difference? Then
harmony. One force is cheap gasoline. We are do unto others as you would have them do unto
addicted to our oil ‘energy slave,’ who works you, a policy recommended unanimously by
for less than 1% of the minimum wage. We are world religions. Put yourself in other people’s
spoiled, hence the petulant comments provoked shoes, and don’t be mean. Be kind if possible, but
by higher energy prices. The fear and anger definitely don’t be mean. Now put yourself in the
voiced by many reflect our addiction. shoes of people who look different, talk funny,
The institution of advertising is an underap- and/or live on the other side of the world, such
preciated and formidable opponent of the clear as those who are homeless, foreign, refugees, ter-
thinking and non-attached compassion that rorists, etc. And also behind the eyes of wolves,
social and ecological harmony calls for. News mosquitoes, trees and our other nonhuman kin.
media’s addiction to advertising income has They all have natural and rational reasons for
contaminated public discourse, and we are so their feeling and actions.

HANG ON TO THAT
storY!
With the new web-based
format, we can run more timely
Thank You Paulette!
stories, and readers will be
able to comment on them. We Farewell to our BPM distribution team
want your articles, punditry,
opinions, comments and From the BPM Editorial Board
letters! But, we won't be able to

publish any of it until the new
website is set up. Watch for it
at www.bpmnews.org.
HAVE SOME A little
time?
Our new format will require
much less time from our
volunteers than the paper
version. For Editing we need
people who are (mildly)
geeky rather than fanatically
grammatical. Editors will
post articles when they are
submitted, though it need not
be immediate. No meetings.
No deadlines. Articles may
be reviewed for spelling and
grammar errors (or not), but
in general the content will
be the responsibility of the
writers. Distribution is also
transformed: we need people to
promote the website, to email
their friends, put it on their
FaceBook pages, Twitter about
it, ask owners of other sites to
link to it, hand out business
cards with our web address.
Can you help? Call Ellen at
916-369-5510 or email bpm-
news@nicetechnology.com.
Because People Matter is an
all-volunteer endeavor to pres-
ent alternative, progressive
news and views in Sacramento.
We invite and welcome your
responses.
Please reproduce from any of
the written contents, but do
credit the author and BPM.
Printed at Herald Printing by
Graphics Communication Union
DC2 pressmen.
On the cover
Farmstands mean fresh, local
food. See stories beginning on
page 1, continuing on 8 and 9.
Photo courtesy SMHA.
T
hanks to Paulette Cuilla for all her work And to our loyal, hard-
and years of service. Paulette has been an working distributors, many
indispensable help in getting our words who have happily picked
out! She took on the distribution of BPM at a up and delivered papers for
time when our network wasn’t working. She years throughout the Sacra-
took an unorganized distribution concept and mento region, we thank you
somehow got the paper into the hands of readers. for your work and support.
She recruited and organized distributors into an Today BPM is ready for
efficient team. a change, so we are saying Paulette in front of the US Capitol with other Code
Not content to let things rest, Paulette strat- goodbye to stands, print Pinkers for the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war in
egized placement of BPM stands and got new papers and distributors. But, March 2008.
stands into new outlets in our communities. She we are saying hello to a new
also kept after those of us distributing the paper, online format! We hope that our extended BPM
reminding us to do our part! family of distributors will continue to spread Thank you again, Paulette and distribution
The role of Distribution Manager is a behind- the word that BPM is going online! Distributors team, for keeping BPM’s print-form available to
the-scenes job that makes it possible for our pre- and readers can continue to read BPM in a new the community for so many cherished years.
cious thoughts to have readers, so we thank you, online format coming soon to the webstand near Details to come about the new online format at
Paulette, for having done this work! you! www.bpmnews.com.
The 20th US Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba
Is coming to Sacramento Saturday, July 11, 2009
Please join the Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC), the Central cal, painting, etc.) for rebuilding after recent hurricanes. Educational and
America Action Committee (CAAC), Black United of Sacramento Val- medical books (English and Spanish only), new educational and medical
ley (BUF) and others for an afternoon of friend- supplies, functional computers (Pentium III or
ship, as we gather to welcome the Caravan to Please join us for an better) and accessories, bicycles, Bibles in Spanish,
Sacramento, and to break bread together at the
Oak Park United Methodist Church, 3600 Broad-
afternoon of friendship and nonperishable dry foods in factory-sealed
packages are also very helpful. Items are being col-
way, Sacramento, 5–8pm. as we gather to welcome lected at the office of the Black United Fund: 4104
This 20th anniversary event is a potluck, free
and open to the general public. Please bring a
the Caravan and break 44th Street (at 16th Ave.), Sacramento.
Please call 916-484-5025 to arrange a time for
dish to share. bread together. a volunteer to receive your donation. Your sup-
We are seeking co-sponsors of $25 (individu- port and participation are deeply appreciated.
als) and $50 (organizations) to help with the shipping costs and event If you want to know more about our work and about upcoming cara-
costs. Sponsors will be listed on all outreach materials. Co-sponsors can vans please contact John Waller, National Cuba Caravan Coordinator at
make checks payable to: BUF (Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley 212-926-5757 or by e-mail at cucaravan@igc.org or visit: www.pastors-
(a 501c3)). Mail to SABC, P, O. 5528, Sacramento, CA. 95817, Attn: Pas- forpeace.org.
tors for Peace Event 2009. Please include your name, address, phone and
email contact information. For more information please contact:
Friends of the Cuban people are also invited to donate essential goods Faye Kennedy, Caravan Coordinator for Sacramento County
such as construction supplies of all kinds (carpentry, plumbing, electri- fayek@springmail.com or (916) 484-5025
3 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

My Story
It’s time for single-payer, universal health care
By Cres Vellucci
I have been very healthy most of my life. It “dirt poor” to escape a co-pay/deductible. How-
all came crashing down in February of this year ever, the co-pay can be very low, and certainly
when I found myself in the hospital without nothing compared to thousands, or tens of thou-
healthcare insurance. sands of dollars in medical bills. And the county
Like tens of millions of Americans—the will give you time to pay.
government says 48 million are uninsured but Third, investigate other options. As a Vietnam
how long can that fig- veteran (I was drafted),
ure remain the same I did receive care, but was I discovered, thanks to
with millions of people
losing their jobs and
left with a $40,000 bill for a hospital worker who
mentioned it, that I
benefits?—I did not have four days of treatment. qualify for health care
health care because I through the Veterans
could not find it at a reasonable price. Administration. Again, they may have a co-pay,
I did receive care, but was left with a $40,000 but it is low.
bill for four days of treatment. Half of the bank- None of this would be necessary, and people
ruptcies in the US are related to medical bills. would not be unnecessarily dying, if we had
Millions more Americans don’t seek medical universal, single-payer health care in place in this
help, or simply cannot get it, so they wait until state, or country.
they die or are critically ill before seeking care. But don’t hold your breath. Artwork: Kjersten Jeppesen
They lose more than their money or credit—they As was said on Bill Moyers Journal on PBS in
lose their lives. May (www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/ The Green Party is the only national politi-
Although I was aware of the health care crisis watch2.html), once upon a time Senator Obama cal party to support full universal single-payer
in this country, my unexpected stay in the hos- said he supported universal single-payer health healthcare.
pital gave me a whole new perspective. It gave care, and that after the Democratic Party retook It’s a real shame.
me a glimpse of what people can do if they find Congress and the Presidency (which they have) it Single-payer would cover every American
themselves in a similar predicament. In short, not would be ours. regardless of employment, income, ability to
all is lost. Fast-forward six years, and now President pay, age, and prior medical condition. Everyone
First, seek treatment for an emergency situa- Obama, under a full press of the insurance could enjoy guaranteed quality health care,
tion whether you can afford it or not. Hospital lobby, is saying single-payer, universal heath including prescriptions, and no American would
emergency rooms cannot deny you care, and care is “impossible.” We all know why—the same face financial ruin because of illness or injury.
your life could depend on receiving that care. You HMOs, insurance and drug companies who Everyone could choose his or her own physician,
can deal with the circumstances of the bills later. killed the health care plan in the Carter and Clin- health care provider, and health care facility. It
I waited two days to go to the emergency room. It ton administrations are about to do it again. would cut national health care costs by as much
did not cost me my life, but it easily could have— The consequence will be millions of Americans as a third and reduce what working Americans
I suffered a small stroke, and left untreated even not receiving desperately needed urgent health pay for health coverage.
for a mere few hours can lead to death or perma- care. We’re not talking about losing a chance to Medicare (which would be made universal
nent paralysis. go to the doctor with the sniffles (never a good under Single-Payer) has three percent adminis-
Second, don’t worry about paying the bill. Your idea whether you have insurance or not). We’re trative costs, which is highly efficient compared
health comes first. Hospitals have what they call talking about the kind of care one should receive to the 15-30 percent administrative costs (profits,
“charity” payment plans that can allow you to pay as a basic human right—to prevent or treat a paperwork, CEO salaries, etc.) of for-profit insur-
at a reduced amount, or they can forgive the debt major disease or ailment. ance. Plus, it covers everyone. Private HMOs and
in its entirety. “What we’re up against, essentially, is the health health insurance companies increase their profits
There’s also the County of Sacramento Medi- insurance industry…the people who are on top, by denying treatment to people with medical
cally Indigent Services Program (CMISP)—all who could have an enormous amount of influ- emergencies and by denying coverage to those
counties have similar programs, largely paid for ence, are too afraid of the health insurance indus- they consider “high-risk.”
via Medi-Cal, that can pay medical bills, and try. And in some serious ways, they are as in bed Finally, single-payer would boost the ailing US
afford you after-care. with them as Wall Street and the banks were in economy and provide relief for businesses, since
This program is largely unadvertised, as is the bed with the Congress and have gotten their way, it would cancel the high expense and burden of
charity program at hospitals. It’s not by accident. with their kind of bailout,” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, employer-based health care benefits.
People might easily seek care in increasing num- acting president of the non-partisan group Public It seems Americans understand. Polls show
bers if they knew this “universal” coverage was Citizen, as heard on the Bill Moyers Journal on popular support for a national health care pro-
available. PBS. gram that guarantees universal coverage (www.
CMISP can pay for your bills without any co- According to the Center for Responsive Poli- wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html).
pay/deductible if you earn something far below tics, more than $46 million in 2008 was given by I understand. I’m recovering from my stroke,
the poverty line—in 1984. Apparently, according the insurance industry to the campaigns of Dem- and my eyes are wide-open to the need to push
to staff I spoke with, the figures representing ocrats and Republicans to maintain the industry’s for universal, single-payer health care now, before
cost-of-living have not been updated for 25 years control over health care (www.opensecrets.org/ even more people die on the altar of insurance
which unfairly skews it so you have to be below industries/indus.php?ind=F09). company profits.

Support Sacramento Soapbox!

Progressive TV talk show needs your help
With a contribution of $30 or more, you can support Sacramento Soapbox! and get 10
colorful little art pieces by Jeanie Keltner.
Soapbox! is Sacramento’s only progressive TV talk show discussing issues important to
BPM readers. Aired on Channel 17 every Monday at 8pm for 15 years, Soapbox! reaches
30,000+ viewers.
Checks can be made out to Jeanie Keltner and sent to 403 21st St, Sacramento 95814.
Help keep Soapbox going!
4 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
Ready for the Son of Harry and Louise?
Derailing Obama’s health plan
By Charlene Jones
Shortly after the American Hospital Associa-
tion (www.aha.org) and America’s Health Insur-
ance Plans (www.ahip.org) changed their minds
in May about volunteering to save Americans $2
trillion over 10 years, Blue Cross Blue Shield of
North Carolina hired a public relations firm to
derail President Obama’s public health plan.
The Washington Post’s May 18 story about Blue
Cross/Blue Shield revealed a campaign as slick as
the infamous ad couple Harry and Louise who
helped kill health care reform in the 1990s. Some
portion of what consumers, along with their
struggling local and state governments, pay Big
Blue for health coverage will fund ads aimed at
convincing Americans they will be denied choice
and wait weeks for care because of government
bureaucrats—while most Americans are cur-
rently denied choice and wait for weeks for care
in for-profit HMOs. Dizzy yet?
The health care industry is doing what it’s
done for decades when things heat up—spend-
ing money where it counts and volunteering
to serve their country only long enough to
distract. According to the non-partisan Center
for Responsive Politics, they’ve spent more than
$134 million on lobbying in the first quarter of
2009 alone. They are also suiting up, like doctors
before a major operation, with major publicity
assaults on any reform that threatens profits from
disease and dying.
When then-President Jimmy Carter talked
about controlling costs, according to a May 11
New York Times story, drug makers, insurance
companies and hospitals agreed to help slow
the spiral but bills soared higher than ever a few
years later. By the early 1990s, Americans were
pinched again. This time the health industry
financed one of the most expensive and devious
public relations campaigns ever launched. Harry
and Louise prevailed and profiteering grew.
“In saying they can vol- The health care in ‘swiftboating’ presidential
untarily slash $200 billion a candidate John Kerry. Recent-
year off the country’s medical
industry is doing ly, CPR aired a 30-minute
bills over the next decade and what it’s done for TV “documentary” in late
still preserve their profits, May which, along with $5
healthcare companies implic-
decades when million ad campaign starring
itly acknowledged they were things heat up— Scott himself, are both bent
plotting to fleece consumers on scuttling public support
and have been fleecing them
spending money for any meaningful reform to
for years,” wrote David Sirota where it counts and American health care.
of Creators Syndicate on May While polls convincingly
15. “With that acknowledg-
volunteering to show that Americans, includ-
ment came the tacit admission serve their country ing Republicans, want major
that the industry’s business
is based not on respectable
only long enough to health care reforms, with a
public insurance plan open
returns, but on grotesque distract. to everyone, insurance com-
profiteering and waste—the panies collect premiums and
kind that can give up $2 trillion and still guaran- co-pays that may well bankroll propaganda to
tee huge margins.” defeat any significant change to better serve the
Huge margins became the mantra of a cost- public interest.
cutting, profit-incentive health industry culture Remember, Blue Cross of California, the larg-
championed by Rick Scott, the Sam Walton of est insurer in the state, was in the news for alleg-
health care industry, according to Fortune Maga- edly “rescinding” health insurance policies based
zine in an April 9 profile. Scott’s maneuvering upon the illegal practice known as “post-claims
is renowned for a couple of reasons. Columbia/ underwriting,” leaving the insured individual
HCA, the company he founded in 1987, skyrock- with the outstanding bills not paid by the health
eted in a few short years to become the largest insurer. And then only after exposure by the Los
hospital corporation in the country, leaving Angeles Times did Blue Cross cease asking physi-
other providers dead or dying in its wake. Then cians to alert them to preexisting conditions of
a US Justice Department investigation into false their patients.
claims submitted to Medicare and other federal These are the suits who volunteered, and then
programs resulted in Scott’s forced departure in didn’t, to help out a nation in a double economic
1997 and a 2003 fraud settlement, the largest in crisis—not the mortgage crisis but the gaping
US history, for $1.7 billion. wound in health care—millions without health
Profits from his current investments in health coverage, thousands losing coverage every day,
care and plastics continue, however, to enable and budget-busting medical costs the leading
Scott to fund more propaganda, including the cause of bankruptcy. Dizzier yet? Coming soon,
front group Conservatives for Patients’ Rights the son of Harry and Louise.
(CPR), according to the Huffington Post. The Charlene Jones is a consultant who writes for
group hired CRC Public Relations, a key player BPM.
Mimic US Capitalism? No Thanks!
Unemployment rate in Venezuela is significantly
lower than in the US
By Gustavo Lopez
The Venezuelan employment rate in 2009 for the hundreds
totaled 92.3 percent, which accounts for of thousands of US
12,065,593 employees, according with The workers who lost
National Institute of statistics. But strangely, the their jobs in April
bourgeois US and Venezuelan media doesn’t alone. But guess
seem to know if this is a good thing or a bad what the bourgeois
thing. US and Venezu-
In April 2009, the Venezuelan unemploy- elan media and
ment rate stood at 7.7 percent according to the economists say
National Statistics Institute. The US Bureau of about the US eco-
Labor Statistics showed the job situation in the nomic situation?
US is not doing as well. “It’s a
Non-farm payroll employment has continued correction.”
to decline in the US, and the unemployment rate Yeah, that’s
has risen from 8.5 to 8.9 percent, according to the right, they call it a
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the US Department correction!
of Labor. Since the recession began in December In other words, Gustavo Lopez
2007, 5.7 million jobs in the US have been lost. In some bourgeois
April, job losses were large and widespread across media and
nearly all major private-sector industries. Overall, economists believe it was “correct” to put 600,000
private-sector employment fell by 611,000 jobs, workers out of work in April. And some of these
according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. media and economists are asking, “Why doesn’t
So, the unemployment rate in Venezuela is Venezuela also correct itself and throw a lot
significantly lower—1.2 percentage points lower people out of work—how can Venezuela be doing
than the unemployment rate in the US. But many better?”
bourgeois economists, especially the VenEconomy The answer to this question is that Venezuelan
crowd—a Caracas-based publication and consult- revolutionaries are deliberately economically and
ing firm that analyzes the Venezuelan economy, politically “incorrect.”
and much of the Venezuelan bourgeoisie still Why, Venezuelan revolutionaries are so eco-
believe that Venezuela should ape or mimic the nomically “incorrect” that they intend to reduce
policies of US capitalists—policies that produced the unemployment rate in Venezuela to below 7.7
a world capitalist crisis in the first place! percent.
Again, according to US Bureau of Labor Statis- Gustavo Lopez is a Sacramento activist origi-
tics, job losses were large and widespread across nally from Venezuela, and a supporter of BPM.
nearly all major private-sector industries. Over See more from Gustavo Lopez at
611,000 jobs were lost, so this is a tragic situation www.programabolivariano.com.
5 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

Budget Woes Spark Death Penalty Decline

States across the country consider scrapping the ultimate punishment
By Stefanie Faucher, Program
Director of Death Penalty Focus
In March, New Mexico took the historic step
of replacing the death penalty with permanent
imprisonment—making it the fifteenth state to
abandon capital punishment and the second state
to do so legislatively in the last two years.
New Jersey’s legislature passed a similar bill in
December 2007. In signing the legislation, New
Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson cited the
extraordinarily high costs of retaining the death
penalty and the 130-plus inmates freed from
death row since 1973 due to wrongful conviction.
He stated, “The sad truth is the wrong person can
still be convicted in this day and age, and in cases
where that conviction carries with it the ultimate
sanction, we must have ultimate confidence, I
would say certitude, that the system is without
flaw or prejudice. Unfortunately, this is demon-
strably not the case.”
At least 10 other states have considered similar
measures this year, citing the significant savings
that could result from ending the death penalty;
Montana, Nebraska, Illinois, Colorado, New
Hampshire, and Kansas are among them. Just
weeks ago, Connecticut’s legislature passed a bill
to abolish the death penalty, although Governor
Jodi Rell has stated that she is likely to veto.
Also this year, Maryland Governor Martin
O’Malley called on his state’s legislature to end
the death penalty citing both financial and ethical
concerns. In response, the Maryland legislature
passed a bill making it extremely difficult to seek
the death penalty—stopping just short of outright
abolition. Governor O’Malley praised the legisla- imprisonment.”
tion and indicated that it was a step in the right In a March interview with Marin Magazine,
direction. Assemblyman Huffman came to a similar conclu-
In June 2008, the California Commission on sion, “It’s time to seriously reconsider the death
the Fair Administration of penalty—it makes no sense
Justice found that California This country’s fiscal from any angle you approach
annually spends approximately
$137.7 million dollars on the
crisis has made one it. It’s hard to make the case it
deters anyone from crime. It’s
death penalty. By replacing the thing certain: the even harder to make the case
death penalty with permanent
imprisonment, the Commis-
death penalty’s days we can afford it. In so many
ways, it is absolutely ridiculous.”
sion noted that the state could are numbered. Recent polling shows that
save in excess of $125 million California voters are likely to
per year. The California State Legislature also agree with them.
doled out an additional $136 million this year The State of California could save $1 billion in
for a new death row housing facility—for which five years by converting the sentences of the near-
the total project budget is expected to reach $400 ly 680 persons currently on death row to sentenc-
million. es of life without the possibility of parole, and by
Several California state legislators including suspending all new death sentences for a period
Senator Mark Leno and Assemblyman Jared of five years. This would also allow the legislature
Huffman have called for an end to the death pen- to consider selling the prime real estate currently
alty. Both legislators have cited the state’s budget occupied by San Quentin State Prison for an esti-
crisis as a good reason to consider getting rid mated $2 billion dollars—a goal that has united
of capital punishment. In a recent op-ed for the some Democrats and Republicans, including
Marin Independent Journal, State Senator Leno Senator Jeff Denham from Merced.
argued, “We are cutting the very programs that This country’s fiscal crisis has made one thing
help reduce violent crime, and without them, certain; the death penalty’s days are numbered. Peace Action
violent crime may well increase. Meanwhile, we When that happens, the US will finally join on the Web
continue to waste more than $250 million on an the vast majority of countries—135 and count- Keep up to date
ineffective and broken death penalty, and it’s a ing—that have abandoned capital punishment. on peace activism
price we can no longer afford. For Californians For opponents of the death penalty, that day can’t in Sacramento.
who want to live in safe and healthy communi- come soon enough. Check out
ties, the answer is clear. The time has come For more information, please visit www.death- www.sacpeace.org.
to replace the death penalty with permanent penalty.org.

Daniel Singer Millennium Essay 2009

Annual prize for best essay on a selected topic
By Muriel Strand
The Daniel Singer Millennium Prize Founda-
pose a planned economy based on the social- by an international panel of distinguished schol-
tion annually recognizes an original essay that
ization and collective ownership of production, ars and activists. The winner will be announced
helps further socialist ideas in the tradition of
distribution and communication. in December 2009.
Third: Only the working people and their allies
Daniel Singer. Singer, a writer and journalist Submissions must be received by July 31,
who passed away in 2000, was for many years the
can themselves bring about this transforma- 2009. Essays can be mailed to:
European correspondent for the US magazine
tion, beginning with their assumption of state The Daniel Singer Millennium Prize Foundation
The Nation. Singer’s last book was Whose Millen-
power and their active participation at the head P.O. Box 2371, El Cerrito, CA 94530
nium? (1999), a polemic against market funda-
of this process. The transformation of society Essays can also be e-mailed.
mentalism and the rule of capital. is only possible on the basis of full democratic Links to the 2008 winners and other information
Daniel Singer’s ideas can summarized as
participation of the working people in the can also be found on the website: www.daniels-
follows: political, economic, and social arenas, as well inger.org/. CAAC Goes
First: By radically transforming the produc-
as the spread of this transformation through- to the Movies
tion process, capitalism created the potential
out the world. Almost Every
Fourth: The discredited and now-defunct
for meeting the basic needs of humankind. Month
However, the capitalist system is unable to
regimes of “actually existing socialism” were “The global economic crisis The Central America
Action Committee
fulfill that potential because the satisfaction
mere caricatures of socialism, the result of the
of human needs conflicts with the relentless
absence of democracy, underdevelopment,
has revealed capitalism’s shows interesting
search for maximum profits by a privileged
and the failure of socialism to spread to the inability to meet the needs and informative
videos on social
propertied elite. advanced capitalist countries.
Second: Against a society based on the market
Fifth: Because society will be able to meet basic
of the vast majority of the justice, labor
struggles, and so
and regulated by the profit motive, socialists
human needs and gradually reduce the time world’s population. Given much more! Call to
see what’s playing
required to be devoted to
work, socialism will lead
the experience of the last this month…
to the flowering of human century, how can a case for WE ALSO HAVE A
VIDEO LIBRARY YOU
potential.
These principles will
socialism be made?” CAN CHECK OUT.
1640 9th Ave (east
guide the judges in weigh- off Land Park Dr)
ing prize entries. The 2009 INFO: 446-3304
prize will be $2500 and will
be awarded for the best
essay, of no more than 5000
words, exploring the ques- Pizza by the slice
tion: “The global economic
crisis has revealed capital-
ism’s inability to meet the
PIECES
needs of the vast majority “The most delicious and
of the world’s population. socially responsible
Given the experience of the pizza in town”
last century, how can a case —Jeanie Keltner
for socialism be made?”
Essays may be submit- 1309 21st St between M and N
Essay contest entries must be submitted by July 31, ted in English, Spanish or
2009. French and will be judged
6 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
Onward Christian Soldiers
Fundamentalist orgs mixing ‘church and state’
By Henry Clark
Most Americans know about the scandal that
rocked the US Air Force Academy a few years
ago. Very few are aware that the same tactics used
to proselytize members of the armed forces are
still being carried out today in military facilities
all over the world.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation
(MRFF) is a private watchdog organization that
tracks the use of tactics such as bullying (includ-
ing physical beatings), denial of promotion and
punitive duty assignments to force military
personnel who are not evangelical Christians to
declare themselves as such. The MRFF has filed
lawsuits on behalf of dozens of atheists. Jews,
Roman Catholics and members of mainstream
Protestant denominations have also been sub-
jected to such treatment because of their refusal
to submit to these pressures.
According to MRFF, our military ranks do
contain a small but impassioned cadre of evan-
gelical Christians who seek theocracy. They have
made it clear that, in their view of human destiny,
Our military ranks
contain a small but
impassioned cadre of
evangelical Christians
who seek theocracy.
the ultimate mission of all those who regard
themselves as true believers in Christ are charged
with the work of Christianizing the armed forces
in this country and abroad.
The God-and-Country ideology emerging
today is especially alarming for two reasons.
First, it is not just an underground activity car-
ried out here and there by a few individuals, but
rather a quasi-official position being taken by
high-ranking officials with positions of great
authority and prestige. Second, it receives a
certain amount of support from a number of
politicians and media celebrities who audaciously
violate the doctrine of Church and State separa-
tion enshrined in the Constitution.
It was Major General William Boykin who
gained instant notoriety by taunting a Somali
warlord, boasting, “My God is bigger than his.”
And it was Major General, Pete Sutton and
former Secretary of the Army Pete Geren who
appeared in uniform promoting a video pro-
duced for Campus Crusade for Christ by Chris-
tian Embassy, a fundamentalist ministry based in
Washington DC that is known to make presenta-
tions during military basic training sessions.
A video called “Red, White and Blue Spec-
tacular” prepared by the Trinity Broadcasting
Network featured Lieutenant General Robert
Van Antwerp—the same General appeared in a
2003 Billy Graham rally—televised around the
world on the Armed Forces Network where the
baptisms of 700 soldiers under his command
were used as evidence of the Lord’s plan to “raise
up a godly army,” proclaimed Van Antwerp at the
event.
Political endorsement of the God-and-Country
ideology comes from elected officials such as
Robin Hayes (R-NC), who defended Boykin
for proclaiming that stability in Iraq ultimately
depends on “spreading the message of Jesus
Christ.” As Hayes put it in a speech to the Con-
cord, North Carolina Rotary Club, “Everything
depends on everyone learning about the birth of
the Savior.” Pat Buchanan praised the general for
believing that “Christianity is the true faith, that
Jesus is God and that God is guiding America
Last Print Issue of Because People Matter!
See back cover for details!
in this war against Satan.” Buchanan went on to misconceived understanding of Christ down the
declare that Boykin “seems to be exactly the kind throats of everybody in the world. It is a threat
of warrior America needs to lead us in battle which truly patriotic Americans must acknowl-
against the kind of fanatics we face.” edge, expose and oppose as resourcefully as
Pentagon spokesmen have denounced such possible.
rhetoric and seek to exercise damage control Find more information at www.militaryrele-
in its wake. Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona giousfreedom.org.
responding stating, “in the age of the internet,
remarks like these do reach Iraq and the rest of
the Middle East” and when they are heard in
the light of photos show-
ing “soldiers posed with
their rifles and Bibles” that
appeared in the Fort Jackson
Campus Crusade for Christ
“God’s Basic Training”
website, Iraqis can hardly be
blamed for thinking that the
invasion of their country
really is part of a new cru-
sade aimed at Islam.
American military com-
manders have equated God
and country in a number of
violent attacks which con-
flate religion and war. One
such operation is described
in a scary article by Jeff
Sharlet in the May 2009
issue of Harper’s, which
reports that a Special Forces
unit of the First Infantry
Division in Iraq was ordered
to send an impregnable
Bradley Fighting Vehicle
into the Muslim holy city
of Samarra with the slogan
“Jesus Killed Mohammed”
blatantly displayed on its
armor “in giant red Arabic
script.” Some of the Iraqis
who reacted to this inflam-
matory incursion were
annihilated by firepower so
massive that it destroyed the
buildings in whose windows
they dared to appear.
The MRFF is deeply Watch the movie “Constantine’s Sword” for more
concerned about the legal information about right-wing evangelizing in the
and constitutional issues military.
posed by these develop-
ments. Mikey Weinstein, head of the MRFF, con-
demns such activity as “a national security threat
internally to America every bit as formidable as
the external threat challenging America from a
revitalized Taliban and an al Qaida that is now
at least as strong as it was on 9/11.” Weinstein
Great Holiday
claims that the MRFF has acquired “a ton of irre- Gift Idea!
futable proof ” of how our Islamic fundamentalist
enemies are using, to their full advantage, the
multiplicity of disgraceful instances of uncon-
stitutional proselytizing within the US Armed
Forces. More than one senior national security
official has thanked the MRFF for the job it is
doing to expose and denounce the complicity of Formerly
the US military in massively forcing fundamen- the
talist Christianity upon its own members as well
as the foreign populations. No longer distributed free:
Every citizen who believes in the importance of It was either switch to subscriptions or
Church and State separation, and everyone who go out of business. The good news:
understands the enormous boomerang effect of we’ve added a lot more great content,
attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity and it’s CHEAP! Just $17.95/year
must see the problem with linking fundamental- (12 issues) when you sign up online!
ist ideology with the military. This isn’t fiction.
What we are dealing with here are grim, real-life it gives
fanatics who see themselves as defenders of God, us hope -
and it’s
implacably determined to shove their tragically darn funny
too!
Current issue available
at Newsbeat and
fine comic book stores.
w w w. H u m o r T i m e s . c o m
7 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
Confessions of a Conspiracy Theorist
Explosive new 9/11 evidence
By Jeanie Keltner
How the World Trade Center (WTC) build-
ings came down—especially the 47 story Build-
ing 7, which wasn’t hit by a plane but collapsed
completely into its footprint in 6.5 seconds—is a
major sticking point in the official 9/11 narrative.
More than 700 professional engineers and archi-
tects have called for a new investigation because
of the incompatibility of the official pancake
theory with the laws of physics (www.youtube.
com/watch?v=ssuAMNas1us&feature=related).
Likewise much evidence has been discovered of
traces of the explosive thermate at the collapse
site.
But now a paper by nine scientists published
in a peer-reviewed physics journal conclusively
shows the presence in dust samples from the
Twin Towers of unignited aluminothermic
explosives, whose chemical signature matches
documented residues Jones found earlier—
extrapolating from the samples, there were tons
of nano-thermite, which can only be created by
sophisticated technology (www.911research.
wtc7.net/ essays/thermite/ explosive_ residues.
html).
Niels Harrit, the Danish scientist in the study,
called this not the smoking gun, but the loaded
gun—conclusive proof of demolition.
But almost as intriguing as this evidence is the
information that has surfaced about The National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
the agency that officially analyzed the WTC
collapses.
NIST never even considered the possibility of
explosives, even though fire investigation pro-
tocol as well as outside scientists demanded it.
When a reporter asked why NIST hadn’t looked
for evidence of explosives, NIST’s spokesperson
replied, “Right, because there was no evidence of
that.” Reporter: “But how can you know there’s no
evidence if you don’t look for it first?”’ NIST: “If
Let Progressive Secretary Write For You
Alternative for busy citizens
By Cathy Hodge McCoid
Progressive Secretary is a cyberspace organiza-
tion that sends letters to Congress about peace,
death penalty, women’s right to choose, poverty,
ecology, racism and other concerns. Its focus is
on the current progressive agenda and on making
email lobbying easy.
With a membership of 4000 people, Progres-
sive Secretary revolves around two Quakers,
Jim Harris—the California computer guy—and
Pat Murphy—the Florida letter writer—living at
opposite ends of the country.
A longtime activist, Harris—a self-identified
computer nerd who has an MS in Electrical Engi-
neering—says “I’ve been a left winger all my life.”
When he started PS, he said he needed someone
who could write, and “Pat (Murphy) stepped
up to the plate.” Murphy is a retired academic, a
scholar of African and African American history.
Jim Harris founded the organization in 1998
when he was recovering from leukemia and on
disability. He says, “I came across a technical
article on how to control sending emails, so I
could send my emails from a database, with any
return address.” He demonstrated this to Because
People Matter production artist Ellen Schwartz—
a long-time friend—by sending her an email with
her return address on it.
Today, he runs Progressive Secretary from
eight computers in his living-room/office in
suburban Sacramento. Since Congresspeople
now have web sites and do not generally accept
email, Harris spends much of his time telling the
computers to enter membership information and
letters on congressional web sites.
However, they had “a hard time at first,” and
had to work out an agreement on the style of
writing letters. When Harris was president of
Technical Training Center in San Jose in the
A paper by nine scientists
published in a peer-reviewed explanation.
you’re looking for something physics journal conclusively Conspiracy—collusion of
that isn’t there, you’re wasting shows the presence in two or more people pursu-
your time…” dust samples from the ing illegal means to effect
Despite the many con- Twin Towers of unignited some illegal or immoral
nections between NIST aluminothermic explosives. end—happens all the time.
and nano-thermites, NIST’s Michael Parenti writes,
complete lack of interest in explosives is not sur- “Those who suffer from conspiracy phobia are
prising when one looks closely at this supposedly fond of saying: ‘Do you actually think there’s a
neutral agency. Arden Bement—appointed direc- group of people sitting around in a room plotting LAST ISSUE!
After the July-August
tor of NIST by President Bush immediately after things…’ Indeed, they meet in rooms: corporate
2009 issue of Because
9/11—was formerly the Deputy Secretary of the boardrooms, Pentagon command rooms, at the People Matter, the paper
Department of Defense and an executive from Bohemian Grove, in the choice dining rooms at will move to a website-
TRW, the aerospace contractor, both involved in the best restaurants, resorts, hotels, and estates, in only format. Please
developing and producing nano-thermite. the many conference rooms at the White House, see the back cover for
In addition, the largest contingent of non- the NSA, the CIA, or wherever. And, yes, they details.
governmental investigators working on the NIST consciously plot—though they call it ‘planning’
WTC investigation came from Science Applica- and ‘strategizing’—and they do so in great secre- Some of the
tions International Corporation (SAIC), a multi- cy, often resisting all efforts at public disclosure” Places You Can
billion dollar private contractor known for fraud (Dirty Truths, 1996, pp 172-191). Find BPM
and deceit, which Donald L. Barlett and James L. Yet “conspiracy theorist” is the term of choice On the web:
Steele called the “ invisible hand behind a huge to discredit those who search out better explana- www.bpmnews.org
portion of the national-security state” and the tions of 9/11—used as often by the left as by the
“fraternal twin of the intelligence establishment” right! For July and August:
because of the many former CIA operatives, Nonetheless, the 9/11 truth movement may Sacramento Area
National Security Administration executives, and be the largest grass roots movement happening Coffee Works
Pentagon officials who make up the company— these days. With no sponsors or outside funding, Crest Theater
which profited astronomically in the wars against and despite mockery, angry denunciations, and Dimple Records,
Iraq and Afghanistan. (www.vanityfair.com/ total media silence, the movement has attracted Arden Wy
Flowers Restaurant
politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703). “truthers” of all ages, from all classes, and from Galleria (29th & K)
SAIC also developed and formulated nano- left to right. Grinders
thermites. Interestingly, SAIC evaluated the Beyond their differences, “truthers” are united Hart Senior Center
WTC for terrorism risks in 1986 and also over- against government deception and usurpation of Lido Cafe
saw the late 1990s security upgrades at the WTC power, illegal wars, and attacks on the Constitu- Light Rail:
(www.911review.com/articles/ryan/nist_ther- tion. United by the internet too, with thousands 65/Folsom
4th Ave/Freeport
mite_connection.html). of people investigating, researching, interacting,
Los Jarritos
This, of course, is pure coincidence. Unless and by necessity making their own media. The Luna’s Cafe & Juice Bar
you’re a conspiracy theorist. absolute and total blackout of this huge quantity Mercy Hospital, 40th/J
But then my connection to politics has always of substantiated 9/11 information in corporate Pancake Circus, 21st/
been conspiracist. From the Kennedy and MLK news seems, paradoxically, proof it’s too hot to Broadway
assassinations, to Watergate, IranContra, the handle. Planned
S&L collapse and Enron—in each event, the But I am more and more confident that truth Parenthood:Franklin
Blvd, Watt Ave., 29th
“conspiracy theory” turned out to be the truer will out. St.
Queen of Tarts
Quick Market
Whatever you call it, there
Sacramento Bagel,
47th/H
Sacramento Natural
1980s, he learned about mass communication, is certainly a struggle by Foods Coop
Sacramento Public
and those lessons stayed with him. He said, “I
believe that the first half dozen words influ-
most people for a better Library (Main & many
branches)
ence if the reader will read in detail or just skip. world. On the other side, Starbucks (B'wy & 35th)
Wells Fargo found that, on a web site, retention
goes down as length goes up, and that material
a small number of people The Beat
The Bread Store
in paragraphs of more than five lines is seldom struggle for profit and Time Tested Books
Tower Theater (inside)
remembered.”
“Pat and I worked on our writing style, and
power because their ‘way Tupelo (Elvas & 57th)
Underground Books
Pat began to turn out letters—about 2000 so far,” of life’ depends on it. (35th St. near B'way)
Harris explained. Hallmarks of PS letters are Weatherstone Coffee
being short and to the point. Harris said, “We try Harris said that generally an issue is consid- Chico Area
not to do scholarly letters on esoteric topics. We ered central and timely if major organizations,
Davis
want to send the letters you would write yourself, news media and web organizations are pushing Espresso Cafe Roma
if you had the time.” it. These organizations include Greenpeace, Davis Natural Food Coop
Progressive Secretary’s volunteers help in vari- Common Cause, the ACLU, AFL-CIO, etc. He Newsbeat
ous ways, such as writing, editing, proofreading, added, “We could do more issues if we had University Mall
testing, and communicating to members and oth- people willing to take a few hours to work with Grass Valley
ers. In addition, it takes volunteers to coordinate us to regularly write letters. Writing is hard. Briar Patch
all of the other volunteers. Our FAQ (at www.progressivesecretary.org) Sacred Bee
Decisions on which letters to write are heartfelt has more information on letters we do, and of Greenhaven area
by Harris. “There are so many righteous issues course a sign up page.” Buckthorn’s Coffee,
that we cannot do. Some of our limitations are Harris emphasized that electronic com- 7465 Rush River Dr
staff. If Pat does not feel inspired from a writing munication is not a substitute for other kinds For a more complete list,
visit our web site:
standpoint, we don’t do a letter. If we had more of activism, like visiting legislators, attending
www.bpmnews.org.
writers, then someone else might feel inspired.” meetings and rallies and writing to newspapers.
Harris described the reasons topics are To him, electronic communication is just “a
selected. “Often our decision about which letter marvelous addition.”
to write is based on the focus of our struggles “The kind of member I’d rather not have is
at this moment. Marx called it a class struggle, someone who says, ‘now that I am sending Pro-
and when I was active with the farm workers, we gressive Secretary letters, I can stop attending
called it ‘la Causa’ or ‘the cause.’ Whatever you vigils, meetings, etc.’”
call it, there is certainly a struggle by most people He grinned and said, “My ideal member—
for a better world. On the other side, a small who I was just corresponding with—is an 83
number of people struggle for profit and power year old guy in Florida, who goes to 2 vigils a
because their ‘way of life’ depends on it. The week, to his local Peace center and sends Pro-
struggle between progressives and reactionaries gressive Secretary letters.”
has central issues whose time is ‘now.’ The econ- Cathy Hodge McCoid is a cultural anthro-
omy, health care, and the war are central issues. pologist (Professor Emeritus of Anthropology,
Many other issues, no matter how righteous, are University of Central Missouri). She is also Jim
not on the public agenda.” Harris’s partner.
8 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

What To Do With All Those Extra Cucumbers!!?

Share by gleaning and trading locally
By Karen Hansen and Muriel Strand
Gleaning—the ancient practice of picking over farm
fields after the harvest—is making a comeback. Joe and
Chris Miller’s fields at a Colorado farm were picked
so clean in one day last November that a second day
of gleaning was canceled Sunday after 40,000 people
showed up the first day.
There are Gleaning Projects all around the nation. In
Sacramento, Valley Vision mentions the Senior Glean-
ers in their “Report on Food Access in the Sacramento
Region: An Assessment of Access to Healthy Foods In
Low-Income Communities of the Sacramento Region,”
available at http://www.valleyvision.org/
The Sacramento Senior Gleaners have been receiving
and distributing food donations for almost 33 years.
Farmers markets are one source of donations that have
certainly become more important in recent years. www.
seniorgleaners.org/
Randy Stannard, the Food Access Coordinator for the
Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture Project (www.soil-
born.org) in Rancho Cordova, says, “Soil Born donates
(or has donated) regularly to Sierra-Arden Food Closet,
Cordova Food Locker, Sacramento Food Bank and Food
Not Bombs. I am pretty sure that River City Food Ser-
vices also accepts donations.”
Also, Soil Born recently joined with other organiza-
tions, community groups and interested community resi-
dents to form a new group called Harvest Sacramento.
According to Stannard, “It started from a
couple in East Sacramento that wanted
to organize in their neighborhood to
glean the many citrus trees that they
saw going to waste. We gleaned about
3000 pounds this early spring over 3-4
gleaning days.”
The group is beginning to look
for grant funding to facilitate better
coordination of their efforts, via a
web interface to collect informa-
tion on homeowners with trees
that they want to have gleaned,
volunteers who want to do the
gleaning, and neighborhood
information that will include
toolkits for them to start their own neighbor-
hood-based gleaning efforts that tie into the larger effort.
Another local resource for urban farmers is the Rapha-
el Garden at the Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, and
the biodynamic workshops held there. www.steinercol-
lege.yellowpipe.com/?q=node/162.
The Sustainable Urban Gardens website at www.sac- Crop swaps are about trading what you’ve gleaned
gardens.org/ offers lots of tips for beginning gardeners, from your own garden. The Oak Park Crop Swap meets
as well as the story of how. just two years ago, Sacramen- from June to September, every Monday at 6-7pm at
to Citizens for Sustainable Landscapes insisted that the McClatchy Park, to swap vegetables, fruit, flowers, and
city council make food legal in Sacramento front yards. gardening stories.

Growing Sacramento’s Future

Gardens yield green that’s better than money
By Kim Glazzard
With the continuing escalation of national and global
economic challenges, many Sacramentans not only
wonder what the future holds, but also at what point they
may need to worry about having money for basics such
as food to feed their families. Sacramentans are blessed,
however, to be located in the middle of one of the most
abundant agricultural meccas of the country (if not the
world), at the confluence of two rivers and with a climate
which supports a nearly 365-day growing season. They
are in an ideal position to take control of their situation
and turn the treasure of Sacramento’s rich river-bottom
soil into food for their dinnerplates.

Increased gardens can reduce

Sacramento’s green-waste
generation, conserve water
resources, reduce stormwater
and chemical runoff, as well as
provide fresh and healthy food
for Sacramento families.
At the forefront of a movement to see vegetables pave
the front, side, and back yards where grass is tradition-
ally grown, the City of Sacramento, Organic Sacramento,
and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition
are spearheading a large-scale movement with aspira-
tions of inspiring thousands of Sacramentans to turn
much of their yards into productive and water-conserv-
ing vegetable gardens.
Transitioning conventional lawns into edible organic
landscapes and gardens where our valuable water
resources can be conserved through sustainable water
irrigation practices and with an end-product of food
rather than mere aesthetics, not only makes sense, but
is a win-win-win-win situation. Increased gardens can
reduce Sacramento’s green-waste generation, conserve
precious water resources, reduce stormwater and chemi-
cal runoff, as well as provide fresh and healthy food for
Sacramento families.
As an initial orientation phase, the City of Sacramento
launched their “Grow Gardens Grow” campaign on April
18 with a total of four introductory garden trainings
throughout the city during April and early May. This year
Sacramento plans to sponsor a series of additional free
gardening classes and workshops on various topics such
as soil structure, vegetable gardens, drought tolerant
Garden being prepared by students at A.D. Harris High, Panama City, FL.
Photo: www.sfrc.ufl.edu
plants, water conservation, mulching, composting and
much much more.
Sacramento’s Community Garden Coordinator Bill
Maynard explains “We want to give people the basic
tools and encouragement to try to grow things. Every-
body thinks they have a brown thumb and can’t do it, but
the most important thing is to just get out there and try.”
Like any worthwhile endeavor, gardening has its own
learning curve, but the pure joy of eating fruits and veg-
etables that you grow yourself is well worth the nominal
effort and investment in time and resources that it takes
to be successful. Additionally, growing gardens can help
address major health and obesity concerns by allowing
Sacramentans access to the greatest nutritional value of
freshly picked produce—right off the vine. Gardens can
also help build and rejuvenate communities, beautify
neighborhoods, and reduce an area’s carbon footprint.
How much food can be grown in a normal yard, you
might ask? While advanced bio-intensive methods and
compost teas can greatly improve the quality and quan-
tity of produce, food yields primarily depend on basic
variables such as the health and composition of the soil,
access to sunlight, and attentive care and watering. These
“anti-depression” or “prosperity” gardens need not be
considered incidental however, as the Victory Gardens of
World War II produced nearly 40% of our country’s food
at the time.
While the City of Sacramento is taking the lead,
Organic Sacramento, the Sacramento Area Community
Garden Coalition (www.saccommunitygardens.org), as
well as other community organizations, are all working
to mobilize this effort through outreach and education,
arranging supplementary classes and workshops, in addi-
tion to initiating sample prototype gardens throughout
the greater Sacramento community.
Who knows, but if this “garden in every yard” move-
ment takes hold and Sacramentans are able to signifi-
cantly help supplement their monthly food budgets,
there may again be a sense of hope and empowerment
to reestablish at least a semblance of control over Sacra-
mento’s economic future.
For additional gardening information, go to www.
organicsacramento.org.
9 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

Farms Not ‘Burbs

Healthy communities still more useful
than sprawl They soon began removing the trolley tracks and replac-
ing them with buses manufactured by GM, fueled by
By Rick Bettis Standard Oil and riding on Firestone tires.
The dedicated group of young volunteers at “Food This was also the era of very inexpensive fuel, and
Not Bombs” prepares and serves weekly meals to those affordable, if not always reliable, autos. Prominent
in need. Their name makes a clear and cogent statement among are cultural icons were such advertising jingles
about the need to change our national priorities. Think- as “See the USA in your Chevrolet.” As observed by one
ing of this organization makes me long for a “Farms enlightened urban planner, the Executive Director of the
Not ‘Burbs” because the history of land use in the Sacra- Local Government Commission: “we became a society
mento area has been characterized by who will jump in their SUV and drive
poorly planned urban sprawl. Prior to World War II, a mile or two to a health club and get governments including the city and county of Sacra-
This development pattern is largely Sacramento, like other on a treadmill for some exercise.” mento have updated their general plans for future devel-
a result of our car culture that rapidly Included in the many problems opment based on the “Blueprint” principles. They have
developed following World War II. cities throughout caused by urban sprawl are potentially also adopted, or are preparing, sustainability and climate
The private automobile had made the nation, had an catastrophic global warming due to action plans that are intended to reverse the problems
earlier inroads following Henry Ford’s greenhouse gas emissions, health caused by sprawl.
invention of the assembly line, mak- excellent public transit damaging air pollution, overuse of The State has also seen some positive action since
ing cars affordable for many. However system. resources such as water and energy, Assembly Bill 32, which was passed in 2006, set strong
during the post-war period, local, lack of exercise from walking and goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
state and federal governments adopted policies to fund biking, loss of agricultural lands and the availability of Senate Bill 375, authored by Sacramento Senator Dar-
major road construction projects that accelerated this locally produced foods, the loss of open space, natural rel Steinberg, will potentially improve chances for state
unwise trend. habitats, and biodiversity, as well as the economic and transportation funding to communities that adopt
The decision to construct the federal Interstate High- national security issues mentioned previously. plans and policies to reduce sprawl and implement the
way System was made by the Eisenhower administration Another significant impact is the loss of a sense of Smart Growth principles. Similar measures, such as the
in the 1950s. The largest of these freeways comprised the community that can result from the “my home is my cas- Waxman-Markey “American Clean Energy and Security
“Interstate Defense Highway System,” a road network tle” mentality, in contrast to the “neighbors and friends Act,” and accompanying land use planning legislation are
intended to provide routes for the transport of military on the front porch” culture of the past. The current eco- sitting in the US Congress.
personnel and weapons. Ironically the increased travel nomic meltdown taking place can in large part be traced Public awareness and involvement have markedly
enabled by these highways has resulted in our reliance on to this seemingly “Wild West” culture of uncontrolled increased. There are many conferences and workshops
oil imports with the resulting international competition and unsustainable growth where GM has finally gone addressing these important issues. Examples are recent
and insecurity, and the “war for oil” syndrome. bankrupt. workshops on energy conservation and on the imple-
The legislation establishing the Interstate Highway In recent years there has been progress made in the mentation of the SB 375 land use legislation. On July 10
System specifically designated these freeways for “inter- attempt to reverse this trend toward an automobile dom- there will be a “Complete Streets” symposium that will
urban travel”—between cities, and not “intraurban inated suburbia. Locally the Sacramento Area Council explore ways to enhance the walk-ability and bicycle
travel”—within a city. However, as the result of pressure of Governments (SACOG) conducted a public planning usage in our communities (see www.lgc.org for more
from developer interests, this rule was dropped resulting process that resulted in the “Blueprint” conceptual plan info).
in the many off-ramps and interchanges that facilitated for growth in six Sacramento county regions for the next We have not yet reached the “Tipping Point”
urban sprawl. 50 years. This plan was based on such “Smart Growth” described in the book by Malcolm Gladwell of the same
Prior to World War II, Sacramento, like other cities principles as making development more compact and name; however we have turned a corner that can put
throughout the nations had an excellent public transit using “mixed” land uses such as integrating commercial us on a path toward healthy, livable and sustainable
system. Trolley routes were within approximately a and residential uses to reduce travel. communities.
three-block walk of area locations throughout the city. SACOG has prepared a Metropolitan Transportation
However, following the war, a consortium including Plan based on this Blueprint. They are working with and Rick Bettis is a retired civil engineer. He is a member
General Motors, Standard Oil, and Firestone tires pur- conducting educational workshops for local Planners in of Common Cause, Sacramento Media Group and
chased the transit system in Sacramento and elsewhere. an effort to implement the “Blueprint” principles. Local League of Women Voters.

Urban Farmstands from page 1 Upcoming Local Government

farmstands are produced in collaboration with the Oak
Park and Curtis Park Neighborhood Associations. Most
farmers markets are cash only. To make the produce
more accessible to low-income households, the Sacra-
mento farmstands accept electronic benefit transfers,
EBT—most commonly known as food stamps.
Soil Born Farms is also operating farmstands in several
local neighborhoods, including North Highlands and
Del Paso Heights.
To further expand the program, it is critical that
advocates push for policy changes that clear present road
blocks. One successful change was state legislation spon-
sored by local Assembly member Dave Jones. AB 2168,
signed into law this year, made it legal for farmstands to
purchase directly from farmers. Prior to passage of the
bill, farmers took the risk of breaking the law when they
sold to the farmstand operators, and even to restaurants
that needed access to fresh, organic produce. The leg-
islation also relaxed restrictive industry regulations on
packing, labeling and grading produce, while still ensur-
ing quality and safety of food. The new law helps sustain
small farms by providing access to a larger customer
base.
Other laws that have yet to be addressed are those
that restrict sales to the public, even of fresh produce, to
places that are zoned for commercial use. This prevents
the farmstands from being held at community gathering
spaces like churches, parks, and community centers. The
city of Sacramento is a welcome exception. In the city,
unlike in the unincorporated county, farmstands can
be held in most public locations and outside apartment
communities.
BPM readers are invited to use the coupon in this issue
to get a discount on produce at the Oak Park farmstand
in McClatchy Park (3500 5th Avenue) every Saturday
between 10am and 2pm, or in the Alkali Flat farmstand
held in J. Neely Johnson Park at F and 11th Streets every
Tuesday evening from 4pm to 7pm. Both are community
gathering events, often with music, face painting, and
health and nutrition information.
Rachel Iskow is the Executive Director of Sacramento
Mutual Housing Association. The Association develops
and operates housing for Sacramento and Yolo counties’
diverse households. For more information visit www.
mutualhousing.com
Commission Events
Complete Streets:
The road to safer, healthier, livable communities
Date: July 10, 2009, Sacramento, CA from 9am
–4:30pm On-site registration is from 8:30am–9am
or register online www.lgc.org/events/index.html
Sheraton Grand Hotel 1230 J Street (corner of 13th
and J) Sacramento, CA 95814
Implementing SB 375:
What local governments need to know about climate
change legislation
Date: July 30, 2009, Sacramento, CA from 9am
–4:15pm
On-site registration is from 8:30am–9am or regis-
ter online http://www.lgc.org/events/index.html
Sheraton Grand Hotel
1 2 3 0 J St re e t ( co r n e r o f 1 3 t h a n d J )
Sacramento, CA 95814

25% off your purchase, (Expires 8-15-09)

Bring this coupon
to the Urban Farm Stand 20% off of your entire purchase!
May not be combined with other coupons or discounts. 20%!
Locations: off
Tuesdays 4-7pm, Neely Johnson Park, F & 11th, Sacramento
Saturdays 10am-2pm, McClatchy Park, 3400 4th Ave., Sacramento
10 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
Sacramento Area Peace Action (SacPeace)
916-448-7157 • sacpeace@dcn.org • www.sacpeace.org
Visions of a Nuclear Weapons-Free World
August 6 and 9 are the 64th anniversaries
of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, Japan, by the United States, the
only nation to have actually used nuclear
weapons in a war. Will President Obama
deliver “change” in US nuclear weapons
policy?
On April 1, standing next to Russian President
Dmitri Medvedev, President Obama made the
stunning statement that he and Medvedev had
“committed our two countries to achieving a
nuclear-free world.” Was he being pragmatic or
pessimistic when he added “this goal will not be
reached quickly—perhaps not in my lifetime”?
In Prague on April 5, the President said all
nations must work towards the goal of abolish-
ing nuclear weapons, and the US has the moral
responsibility to lead because it is the only coun-
try that has used nuclear weapons. This is a wel-
come change from previous US policy, and has
support from, among others, prominent Repub-
licans such as former Secretaries of State George
P. Shultz and Henry Kissinger, and prominent
Democrats such as former Defense Secretary
William Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn.
Taking a Look at Islam
Reading suggestions for understanding
By Brigitte Jaensch
Although one in five persons on earth identi-
fies as Muslim and Islam is second only to Chris-
tianity in the number of adherents worldwide,
it’s a religion about which most of us don’t know
much. If you’d like to know a little more, here are
some reading suggestions.
What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam,
John L. Esposito, Oxford University Press,
2002, 204 pages.
This compact
primer by one of
America’s preeminent
Islam authorities is
written in question-
and-answer format.
Georgetown University’s
Professor John Esposito
not only explains that
Islam, Christianity and
Judaism are variants of
the Abrahamic faith, he
includes basics about
Islam beginning with
the five pillars; clarifies the differences among
the sects; discusses some religious practices; and
dispels some of our misunderstandings. He cov-
ers heaven and hell, Jesus and the Virgin Mary,
why Muslim women cover, whether Muslim
men get circumcised and lots more. The ques-
tions are direct and the answers are succinct and
even-handed.
Join Sacramento Area Peace
Action!
Send your Name, Address, Email and
Phone,
with your check made payable to SAPA:
$30/individual; $52/family; $15 low-income
to:
Sacramento Area Peace Action
909 12th St, Suite 118
Sacramento, CA 95814
The President spoke about “aggressively”
pursuing the ratification of the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), replacing the soon-to-
expire Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
between Russia and the US with a treaty with
additional reductions, and pursuing a new Fis-
sile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), a treaty to
halt the production of materials used in nuclear
weapons.
This is heartening news for long-time advo-
cates of nuclear disarmament, especially Aboli-
tion 2000, a movement to abolish the weapons
by the year 2000 that gained momentum in the
1990’s (www.abolition2000.org). The movement
ran up against a wall of established interests and
has reset its goal to 2020.
In addition to opposition from conservatives
in Congress, however, other nations may resist a
treaty for a weapons-free world if the US doesn’t
concurrently reduce its conventional military
power. At a conference in mid-April, former
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev welcomed
President Obama’s call for the abolition of nucle-
ar weapons, but referred to the huge US defense
budget as an “insurmountable obstacle” (Charles
J. Hanley, Associated Press, Apr. 16).
Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Mus-
lims Really Think, John L. Esposito and Dalia
Magahed, Gallop Poll, 2007, 204 pages.
Between 2001 and
2007, Gallup World
interviewed tens of
thousands of Muslims in
35 predominantly Mus-
lim nations. This book
summarizes some of the
findings in five easy-to-
read chapters that cover
who Muslims are, if
they favor democracy or
theocracy, what makes
a radical, what Muslim
women want and how
Islam can clash and coexist with other religions.
Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide
Terrorism, Robert A, Pape, Random House,
2005, 352 pages.
Among the commonly expounded myths is
that Islam does not value life. But after studying
every suicide bombing which occurred between
1983 and 2003, University of Chicago’s Professor
Robert Pape discovered that suicide bombing
campaigns are primarily nationalistic, not pri-
marily religious. The goal is to end foreign mili-
tary occupation.
Per Professor Pape,
“What creates the coer-
cive leverage is not so
much actual damage as
the expectation of future
damage.” It’s “an extreme
strategy for national
liberation” resorted to
only by groups with no
conventional or guerrilla
military option. And
as for the individuals
who agree to become
suicide bombers, they “see themselves as sacrific-
ing their lives for the nation’s good. ... Typically
...[they] have better than average economic
prospects..., are deeply integrated into social net-
works and emotionally attached to their national
communities.”
It appears that President Obama’s first step will
be to send the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to
the Senate for ratification. (When President Clin-
ton tried in 1999, the Senate vote was 51-48, but a
treaty requires 67 votes, a 2/3 majority.)
Vice-President Joe Biden is the point man on
this measure, with much experience in foreign
affairs and a major role in herding the Chemi-
cal Weapons Convention Treaty to successful
passage.
Peace Action is part of an international coali-
tion pressing for a commitment to negotiate an
abolition treaty as part of review of the Non-
Proliferation Treaty next year.
IN MEMORIAM: Sacramento Area
Peace Action mourns the passing of
Pallo Deftereos, 90, on May 20. He
was a founding Board member of the
Sacramento Nuclear Weapons Freeze
(our predecessor organization), and
founder of the Sacramento Committee
for Nuclear Arms Control.
Places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine have
practiced Islam for more than 1,400 years; suicide
bombing was unheard of until they were under
foreign military occupation.
A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s
Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide,
Mark D. Siljander, Harper One, 2008, 222 pages.
Former Congressman Siljander recounts
his conversion from
Muslim-bashing
evangelical Christian
to Muslim-embracing
“follower of Jesus,” who
for the past couple of
decades has been trying
to get everybody to get
along. He’s trying to
do this by “clarify[ing]
long-standing Biblical
misinterpretations” and
thereby revealing the
agreement between the
Bible and the Quran. One can definitely disagree
with Siljander’s premise and his approach, but his
efforts are sincere and his journey is interesting;
where he goes, the challenges put in his path and
the people with whom he meets.
Resources for
Enlisted Personnel &
Veterans
Discharges • DEP • Discrimination •
Gay • AWOL/UA • Harassment •
Hazing• Conscientious Objection
Call for information from a network of
nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations.
The service is free. The call is confidential.
The GI Rights Hotline, www.girights.org,
800-394-9544
Free & confidential counseling: 916-447-
5706;
www.therapistsforsocialresponsibility.org;
11 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

Ask A Socially Responsible Therapist Green Housing from page 1

By Shauna L. Smith
the site will lower energy use by maximiz-
Why do activists get busy and dis- ing sunlight in the winter and shade in
Step 5. Choose one the summer. Landscaping that clusters
appear from our groups? or two or several, or a together plants that need similar levels of
Dear Shauna, combination of those left, irrigation can significantly decrease water
I want to know your thoughts about activist imagine how they might usage. Using building materials that are
burnout. It seems as if many of our groups are in be implemented, and try locally produced, are toxin-free or low-
trouble, often held together solely by the sheer them. If they don’t work, toxin, and are manufactured with renew-
force of will of one organizer. Fewer and fewer go back to the drawing able resources, purchasing energy efficient
people are real participants or come to events. board. Save your list! lighting and appliances, and installing
What’s been discouraging is that when we call Please let us all know air filtration systems inside the housing
and ask what people want, often it’s not other how things go. all contribute to improving the health of
actions, guerrilla warfare or silent vigils or poker Readers, how have you or your group dealt residents and a sustainable community.
nights, but rather, they say they are not partici- with burnout? Please send ideas or thoughts as Locating housing near public transporta-
pating because they’re “busy.” Not with other well as your questions to BPM bpmnews@nice- tion decreases use of cars by residents.
organizations though, because all of our groups technology.com with “Ask A Socially Responsible Architect Jim Zanetto said, “We recog-
Mutual Housing with
are in a similar situation. Therapist” in the subject line. nize the significant contribution buildings
What is going on? make to global warming and environmen-
solar panels.
Ellen (not my real name) Schwartz Disclaimer: The “in-depth therapy” part of tal degradation generally and feel obligated Photo courtesy SMHA
Women’s International League for Peace and questions, if there is one, is not covered in this to minimize these impacts.” The answer is
Freedom (WILPF) column. For anyone seri- not to halt housing for low-wage workers. Lack
It’s important to ously struggling with of access to affordable housing near jobs creates
Dear “Ellen,” replenish ourselves anxiety, depression, or its own environmental problems, as people are
Since burnout is a core PTSD, please see a licensed forced to drive long distances to their places of
issue affecting many of us in
by connecting with therapist. employment. Low income people can’t afford
the activist community, I will others, doing what we newer vehicles. They are driving older vehicles
respond to your questions Shauna L. Smith, MSW, that lack modern energy efficient features, thus
with thoughts and ideas that
love, taking care of MFT is an author and contributing at a higher rate to air pollution if we
apply generally. ourselves… psychotherapist in private don’t provide housing convenient to their jobs.
First, though, I want to practice in Sacramento and More information on the Mutual Housing
thank you for all you’ve done and for inspiring can be reached at 916-447-5706 or gushauna@ Association’s green building efforts is available on
me personally. A gentle reminder to take time to yahoo.com. She is coordinator of Therapists for their web site at www.mutualhousing.com or call
appreciate yourself and your work. Social Responsibility www.therapistsforsocialre- Wendy Carter at 916-453-8400 ext. 11. Readers
Some of us tend to take on the bulk of work sponsibility.org may visit solar community Victory Townhomes,
wherever we are, for personal and social justice located at 1075 Dixieanne Avenue (at Lexington)
reasons, and it can deplete us. It’s important to Editors note: watch our website, www.bpm- in North Sacramento.
replenish ourselves by connecting with others, news.org, for future columns of “Ask a Socially
doing what we love, taking care of ourselves, Responsible Therapist.”
getting rest when we need it, having a centering
practice, expressing our feelings (as you, “Ellen,”
have just done), making sure we are heard and In the Military & Need Help or Want to Get
understood, and balancing our lives. Out?
Another term for burnout is “compassion Californians Know What to Do GI Rights Hotline: 800-394-9544; girights@
fatigue.” We seem to be at a particularly dif-
ficult juncture at this time. War, injustice and A way to help California lawmakers objector.org
www.objector.org
ignorance continue to bleed on. People are con- balance the budget Courage to Resist: 510-488-3559,
fused by the shift from the easy-to-abhor Bush/
Cheney administration to Obama’s, still relatively
By Willie L. Pelote, Sr. www.couragetoresist.org

unknown, and confusion disrupts momentum. First published at InsideBayArea.com

The destabilized economy is touching more Now that California voters have handed Gov. Arnold
people directly, and many have turned even Schwarzenegger and his cadre of special interests another
further inward as a result. Many if not most of us resounding special election defeat, proponents of public ser-
(non-professional opinion) are experiencing at vices, fiscal responsibility, child care and mental health pro-
least a mild case of post-traumatic stress disorder grams are gearing up for the battle over the 2010 state budget.
(PTSD), anxiety, and/or depression. Schwarzenegger has threatened deep cuts, but a majority of
And yet we go on, because of the importance voters throughout California oppose cuts to public services
of our work. such as roads, public transportation, environmental regula-
Paul Hawken in Blessed Unrest reports that tion, water storage, programs for the disabled, mental health
there are well over 130,000 small, diverse groups programs, child care, public schools, health care and higher
working for human rights and the environment education, according to a poll of registered voters taken April
worldwide. We aren’t doing the work alone. 16-26, 2009.
On a personal note, our Therapists for Social The same poll also found that voters favor cuts to the state’s
Responsibility steering committee, also feeling prison-industrial complex and would support higher taxes on
compassion fatigue, found that openly talking the wealthy and specific industries like oil, tobacco and alco-
together about feeling overwhelmed and undi- hol. These findings offer a working blueprint for a progressive
rected allowed us to reconnect and renew. Shar- state budget in 2010.
ing with our community can reduce burnout. State spending on prisons should be cut, and Schwarzeneg-
So, what can we do to help our groups function ger’s November 2008 proposal to enact an alcohol tax, oil
at their highest potential, in a sustainable way? severance tax and a sales tax on services such as amusement

Green
Instead of specific suggestions, I would like to parks and entertainment and sporting events should be
offer a process I use with clients I call “Common revived.
Ground: A Friendship Model for Problem Reso- Independent analysis by the California Tax Reform Associ-
lution,” which is a basic way to figure out your ation has also shown that it would be possible to immediately
own and others’ real needs, expand options, and raise $13 billion by: (1) restoring the state’s high income and
make (and execute) decisions. corporate tax brackets to their levels under Republican Gov-
Here’s what you can do, alone, with a friend, or ernors Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson, and (2) instituting a
INVESTING
(preferably) with members of your group. Get a tax on carbon dioxide pollution.
pencil and paper and begin: That would shore up about two-thirds of the $20 billion Align your investments
Step 1. Write down the problem you want to budget shortfall that analysts say California now faces.
solve. For example, “How can we get more par- The remaining $7 billion or so can be obtained through
with your values
ticipation and decrease burnout?” the aforementioned cuts to prison spending and higher taxes
Step 2. List each person’s personal and political on oil companies, alcohol and tobacco producers and profes-
needs (take plenty of time on this step!) sional sports teams, the same special interests that bankrolled
916/444.2233
Midtown Sacramento Bob Dreizler
Step 3. Brainstorm on paper, without judging the May 19 special election ballot measures in order to avoid Chartered Financial
ideas as good or bad, possibilities for actions that industry taxes that could help to balance the budget, accord- Investment Management & Consultant
might solve the problem. Include ones you know ing to the Sacramento Bee. Hourly Financial Consultation Author of Tending Your
you wouldn’t do, like “drop out.” One possibility Willie L. Pelote, Sr. is an assistant director of the American Money Garden
can be “leave things as they are.” Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL- Registered Representative and
Investment Advisory Representative www.bobdreizler.com
Step 4. Cross out any ideas that are unaccept- CIO, the largest public sector union in the country. For more with Protected Investors of America.
able to anyone involved. information, visit www.calafscme.org.
12 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
No Hope Ending the War on Drugs
Obama signaled left, turns to the right on drug war
By Roger White
The initial euphoria surrounding George Bush’s
departure and the election of the first Black presi-
dent in US history is just about over. For decades
people advocating for an end to the war against
drugs have been fighting an uphill battle against
law-and-order conservatives and a liberal estab-
lishment that has shown more ambiguity than
moral clarity on the effects that harsh enforce-
Noon Hour ment practices, mass incarceration and deadly
Witness Against the foreign policy programs have had on communi-
Death Penalty. ties of color all over the globe and many poor and
Third Mondays working class whites in the US.
12noon to 1pm. Obama’s election gave many of us a reason to
11th and L Streets be hopeful. He had expressed some support for
State Capitol pot decriminalization in the past. He’d also co-
INFO: 455-1796 sponsored the Second Chance Act in Congress,
a law providing resources to prisoner reentry
efforts across the US. Obama also signaled that
he would end Drug Enforcement Administra-
tion (DEA) raids on cannabis clubs that were in
compliance with their own state’s medical mari-
juana laws. He even admitted to smoking pot and
snorting cocaine in his youth. Finally, a leader
who would be a partner in the development of
new approaches to drug policy.
Well, not so fast. Over the last hundred days
we’ve seen the new president develop plans to
ratchet up drug war border enforcement, con-
tinue DEA raids of cannabis clubs in compliance
with their state’s medical marijuana laws and
scoff at online advocates of pot decriminalization
at a town hall on economic recovery. If this is
what we have to look forward to from the Obama
administration on drug policy, it’ll be a long three
and a half years for drug reform advocates.
Perhaps the most ominous sign that the
Obama administration plans a “business as
usual” approach to war on drugs foreign policy
was a www.WashingtonPost.com story on April
24, 2009, indicating that the White House was
requesting a $350 million appropriation from
Congress to send National Guard troops to the
US Mexico border to “expand the US military’s
role in the war on drugs.” This $350 million is
Sacramento in addition to the massive $1.4 billion “Merida
Soapbox Initiative” anti-drugtrafficking plan that Congress
Progressive Talk Show signed off on a year ago. The Merida Initiative
Access Sacramento,
funds military and law enforcement efforts in
Channel 17 with
Jeanie Keltner. Mexico and several other Central American
countries. But according to the article the fear
Monday, 8pm, Tuesday
about Obama’s request for the extra $350 million
noon, Wednesday, 4am.
Now in Davis, Channel is that “the [US] military could use the money to
15, Tuesday, 7pm. set up a parallel counter-narcotics program with
little oversight.”
Mention Because People Matter or Sacramento Soapbox when
making a purchase, and 50% of the purchase price will be
donated to that project!
On the campaign trail, Obama, in an effort to they apparently made no effort to contact the
appeal to critical Latino constituencies in border local authorities who monitor and license medi-
states, was adamant about not cal marijuana providers.”
wanting to “militarize the border.” There are It appears that the problem was
In the wake of increased drug war ominous signs all of these Bush holdovers nested
violence in Mexico’s border towns, in the DEA that were following
and stories about kidnappings in that the Obama the old policy of targeting clubs in
the US linked to Mexican drug car- administration compliance with their own state’s
tels, Obama has seized the oppor- marijuana laws under Michele
tunity to increase the presence of plans a Leonhart’s direction. When asked
armed US personnel at the border. “business about the discrepancy between
The cover story that concern over the Justice Department’s newly
arms trafficking into Mexico from as usual” announced “hands off ” policy
the US has driven the request from approach to for cannabis clubs and the DEA’s
the White House to fund a new continued raids, the response from
wave of “contingency” border sol- war on drugs White House spokesman Nick
diers, has little credibility. US-based foreign policy. Shapiro was that Obama “continues
arms dealers don’t walk their way to appoint senior leadership to fill
to the Mexican border with duffle out the ranks of the federal govern-
bags of M-16’s. They use airplanes and ships to ment, he expects them to review their policies.”
smuggle their contraband south. Any serious Breathtaking. I have a plan. Fire all the Bush
attempt to disrupt arms smuggling would have to appointees in the DEA tomorrow. Let the career
start where all serious attempts to disrupt smug- bureaucrats run the place until you can find a
gling rings start—with the banks and “legitimate” decent, progressive replacement or, better yet,
corporate manufacturers. abolish the agency altogether. Now, I don’t get
But so far Obama has been unwilling to take paid to consult or advise the president but I’m
on drug money laundering by major banks or willing to give that pearl away if it saves one
illegal gun distribution by arms manufacturers cannabis club worker from spending a day in
in the US. On the second point his virtual silence jail, court or prison. And if anyone is in the dark
has been deafening. In the midst of the worst about how low this issue falls in the hierarchy of
mass murder wave in over a decade, the president priorities for Obama, consider that it’s three and
hasn’t even pushed for a renewal of the assault a half months into his administration and he still
weapons ban. It should be no surprise that high- has not picked a DEA replacement for Leonhart.
powered military arms are finding their way to Could this be symptomatic of a larger attitudi-
the cartels. nal problem? Obama knows that any reasonable
Another campaign promise from Obama sounding president must be music to the ears
was to end DEA raids on medical marijuana of anyone who has been against the police state
shops that are in compliance with their state’s tactics and repression at the heart of the drug war
laws. Since Obama has taken office the DEA has over the last eight years. Could it be that our own
raided four facilities in California. Their latest President Obama doesn’t feel any particular need
raid of Emmalyn’s California Cannabis Clinic in to respond to civil libertarians with any urgency
April, 2009 makes clear how loosely they plan to because we’ll be satisfied with whatever bones he
interpret their own conditions for federal drug throws our way? My suspicion is that the answer
enforcement. Aaron Smith of the Marijuana to the above question is a yes which means we
Policy Project claimed “despite the DEA’s vague need to raise the bar on Obama rather than low-
claims about violations of state and federal laws, ering it.
Death Penalty Focus Fundraiser
Documentary & discussion
by Muriel Strand
“The Empty Chair: Death Penalty Yes or
No,” a documentary film about the death
penalty, will be shown on Thursday, July 15,
2009, 6-9pm, at the Sierra 2 Community
Center, Curtis Hall and Courtyard, 2790
24th Street, Sacramento. Death penalty ex-
pert Ellen Eggers will lead a Q&A discussion
after the showing.
The film tells the stories of four families
confronting the murder of loved ones and
voicing different perspectives on the death punishment whose daughter was murdered.
penalty. The movie also features Sister Each family member retraces the crime that
Helen Prejean, author and spiritual advisor took their loved one, the trial that followed,
to those condemned to die, and Donald and their personal response to the punish-
Cabana, former death row warden in Missis- ment that was given to the person convicted
sippi. of the murder.
Among the family members featured in the Raffle Tickets for a DVD Player, as well as for
film are Renny Cushing, whose father was DVDs, books, and CDs related to the death
murdered; Suse and Peter Lowenstein, penalty will be offered to attendees. All of
whose son was killed by a terrorist plane- the funds raised will go to Death Penalty
bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland; Sue Focus.
Norton, who chose to forgive the man who Information: www.deathpenalty.org
murdered her step-parents; and Susan Gove Contact: Christine Thomas at babysoft777@
Ramunda, a tireless advocate for capital hotmail.com or 916-730-2489
13 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
Calderón Failing
Nothing changes in the war on drugs
By Jaime Díaz
and support of the war on drugs must be
Hooray for the war on terror! Hooray for the strong to prevent Mexico’s narco-trafficers
war on drugs! These battlefronts continue to from entering the US market, even if this
show success after success don’t they? means compromising Mexico’s sovereignty.
The media has shown But how did this
Mexican military officers But if you ask US or Mexican war on drugs
arrested for working with begin? Didn’t it seem
Beltran Leyva’s organiza-
Mexican officials, like this problem used
tion—the “Gulf Cartel” and “Mexico has not to be a lot less violent?
in December of 2008 even In July of 2006, the
beauty queen Miss Sinaloa,
become a failed state.” Mexican presidential
the girlfriend of a gangster, elections were in full
was arrested while traveling with narco-traffick- swing and the race was close. On Election
ers because they were working with the Gulf Car- Day, former Head of Government of the Fed-
tel. Gulf Cartel members are continually being eral District, Andres Manuel López Obrador,
extradited to the US; Alfredo Beltran Leyva, now and the former Governor of Michoacán,
behind bars, is the leader of the cartel. Felipe Calderón, were neck and neck and it
Well, it sounds like a happy ending, right? Not looked as if a recount would be inevitable.
really. Because the Gulf Cartel is only one of the Despite the small and contested 0.56 per-
many Mexican drug cartels in the country— centage point lead that was used to declare
attacking and weakening one cartel only increas- conservative PANista (Partido Acción Nacio-
es market-share for the others. The Calderón nal) Felipe Calderón the victor, Partido de
government argues that they are winning this war la Revolución Democrática candidate López Obama and Calderon “committed” to war on drugs.
on drugs even if the majority of the drug dealers Obrador and his supporters struggled to Photo: mexicohabla.com
being arrested, extradited, killed and harassed rally international observers and Mexican
tend to belong to Beltran Leyva’s Gulf Cartel. law to their cause, but the media and US officials
painted López Obrador as
little more than a sore loser.
The result—the Michoacano
PANista was deemed the win-
ner and exiting President Fox
left the presidency in the hands and that the country was winning. Increased
of a fellow party member.
However, the actual Mexican
people were much less inclined rat is cornered, it fights. And so the bloodshed
to rally behind Felipe Calderón continued and the government sought the help of
as their president-elect.
Sound familiar?
Having “won” the elec-
tion, whether legitimately or
illegitimately, Felipe Calderón
encountered a country deeply
mistrustful of him and his
party. He even had to sneak
into office to take the presiden- The country was saved. Right?
tial oath. What’s a president to
do in such a situation? Who to
look to as a role model? Bush!
Of course!
And so began his campaign
against the drug cartels and
A Mexican policeman arrests Teodoro Mauricio their evil ways. At least that is
Fino, member of the Gulf Cartel. the smoke and mirrors pre-
Photo: Getty Images sented to the public, because
in reality, the war against the
narco-traffickers has really
There are daily accounts about the escalating been applied against only one cartel and any
violence in Mexico being fueled by arms that opposition to this rule has been attacked in this
come in from the US. And the violence itself is ever-expanding war on drugs. Throw in some
deemed a clear indication by Calderón’s govern- H1N1 hysteria and guess what happens? The
ment that the war on drugs and terror is being Mexican people are scared and want to feel safe.
fought and won, and that brave Mexican soldiers, Calderón’s approval ratings in June, 2009 reached
police and civilians are giving up their lives in an all-time high (www.newsdaily.com/stories/
defense of their country. tre5506n8-us-mexico-calderon/).
But escalating violence means Mexicans can no But who is benefiting from this violence? Will
longer travel safely outside of their own homes. Mexico finally be free of drug dealers—nar-
Shootouts and murders along the highways con- cotraficantes—and their cartels once the violence
necting cities and towns have become common winds down? What has Mexico lost by trusting in ue to bribe police and other officials to join their
(www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/ Calderón?
jan/02/obama-faces-mexican-drug-war/). We know the Mexican people have lost peace
Gangs and narco-traffickers extort and kidnap because of this new violence. We know the Gulf
openly and freely as they regroup and expand Cartel continues to take heavier losses than any
their operations into other parts of the country. other drug cartel. We know Governor López
On Mexican Independence Day in 2008, sev- Obrador “lost” the election. We know the US
eral civilians, including children, were killed continues to build a wall at the border where
by grenades thrown at the celebrating crowds hundreds of lives are lost every year. The sum
in Morelia’s plaza (www.cbsnews.com/sto- of all these errors eventually leads to the same
ries/2008/09/16/world/main4454035.shtml). conclusion that history has taught us time and
The attack was said to be narco-related. again—people get hurt in conflicts, poor people
To offset illegal importation of arms used by usually bear the brunt and drug problems persist. to its own business exporters. They will continue
cartels, the US plans to send armored vehicles Yet we fail to listen to history’s lessons and insist
to bolster the Mexican army. But if you ask US on repeating them.
or Mexican officials, “Mexico has not become a For example, take Colombia in the 1980s.
failed state.” Clouding Mexican sovereignty is a Former Senator Pablo Escobar had his immunity
US mantra that became apparent with the Bush status removed so that he could be prosecuted as
Administration and somewhat continued by the the leader of the Medellín Cartel. He ordered the
Obama Administration that claims US efforts executions of any judges, police, army soldiers,
informers and anyone else who dared attack him.
He ordered bombings in the capital of Bogotá.
His goal was to terrorize the nation into submis-
sion and it almost worked.
Back then in Colombia, government officials
argued that this was a war against a drug baron
bloodshed and violence were seen as a positive
sign—the government was winning; when a
los PEPEs (a group comprised of right-wing para-
militaries, competing drug cartels from Cali, and
other evil elements that supported the elimina-
tion of Pablo Escobar and his cartel). Extraditions
to the US moved his allies into new markets.
Finally, with the help of los PEPEs’ brutal
tactics, the government cornered and executed
Pablo Escobar. The war on terror had been won.
Today we know the war on Pablo Escobar
only weakened the Medellín Cartel and allowed
its competitors to gain an advantage against
them by working with government troops and
resources. In sum, a competitor in the drug trade
was eliminated; nothing more, nothing less. Their Coffee from
civil war continues to this day. The drug trade has Nicaragua
continued to thrive and Colombia has become
Support Sacramento’s
even more synonymous with cocaine and heroin
sister city, San Juan
than it was in the past. Violence is commonplace. de Oriente, Nicaragua,
Civilians are terrorized in the countryside as by purchasing organic
drug dealers move into their lands. Colombian whole-bean coffee
nationals traveling abroad are treated with suspi- grown in the rich
cion. Nothing has changed. volcanic soil on the
The future may hold a similar fate for Mexico. island of Omotepe,
Nicaragua.
It will show that Mexico’s remaining drug cartels Thanks to the efforts of
have benefited from the war on drugs, just as the the Bainbridge-Omotepe
ones left behind in Colombia did after the Medel- Sister Island Association
lín Cartel’s power was diminished. Mexican in Washington, we are
cartels will benefit by having one competitor, the able to bring you this
Gulf Cartel, weakened and gain market share. wonderful medium roast
coffee.
The drug business will continue; they will contin-
Your purchase helps the
farmers on the island
sphere of influence and continue to bring down and helps support
those who refuse to work with them and those Sacramento’s long
working for competitors. These new PEPEs will relationship with San
become the beneficiaries from Felipe Calderón’s Juan de Oriente.
illusory war on drugs. Nothing will change. All profits go directly
back to the Nicaraguan
But Calderón will find it harder to get the communities.
Mexican people to believe his lies as they begin $9.00 a pound.
to see through his smoke and mirrors. They will Available in Sacramento
continue to see a failed president. They will real- at: The Book Collector,
ize that declaring H1N1 an epidemic really just 1008 24th St.
crashed the economy and left its borders closed
to see a failed president who, rather than fighting
for the rights and needs of his countrymen would
rather meet with President Obama to discuss
how they can work together to fight Calderón’s
war on drugs, while avoiding the country’s real
social and economic problems. And so nothing
changes.
14 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org

What’s Up With Homeschoolers?

Homeschool conference comes to Sacramento

By Craig Usher
Sacramento, California. The HSC Conference is The HSC conference is known for offering an
According to the Department of Education’s renowned for being many conferences in one, incredible diversity of hands-on activities, discov-
National Center for Education Statistics, the and features a full slate of diverse activities for ery adventures, and the opportunity for all ages
number of homeschooled children in the US adults, teens, and children at all stages of their of children and their parents to have fun while
hit over 1.5 million in 2007, a 74% jump from homeschooling journey. learning! The 2009 Conference will feature many
their 1999 figures. And while religious or moral The HSC conference can also be a place hands-on science workshops, as well as Solar
concerns were once a top reason parents were to learn about non-traditional educational Sunday—an opportunity to explore the ways that
deciding to homeschool, a January 2009 USA approaches and think about education as a fam- nature and technology can work together.
Today poll found that more parents cite concerns ily-centered and community-centered endeavor. Additionally, the HSC Teen Conference Com-
about the school environment over religion, and Numerous conference sessions include topics that mittee, made up of homeschooled teens from all
also list dissatisfaction with traditional schools will interest parents and educators regardless of over California, has been working over the last
and a desire to use non-traditional approaches as their current educational setting or philosophy. year to create an entire conference program espe-
reasons they homeschool. The 2009 Conference will feature innovative cially for teenagers.
Today’s growing workshop sessions Whether you are interested in education, alter-
homeschool community The HSC conference can also on homeschooling by native teaching styles, considering the possibility
chooses homeschooling well-known authors, of homeschooling, just starting out, or a home-
for a broad range of rea-
be a place to think about informative panels, school veteran, the 19th annual Homeschool
sons, but at the root of education as a family- educational exhibitors Association of California “Finding Our Balance”
most parents’ decisions and vendors, a wealth conference offers something for everyone. For
is the desire to meet the
centered and community- of exciting workshops more information, please visit, www.hscconfer-
individual needs and centered endeavor. for families, hands-on ence.com.
address learning styles activities for all ages,
and interests of their kids and families. and a unique teen-friendly conference designed
After a February court ruling in 2008, many by and for teenagers.
Californians thought homeschooling would Featured presenters at “Finding Our Balance”
surely decline due to the prospect of stringent include Jon Young, founder of the Wilderness
regulations, but in August of the same year, the Awareness School; Blake Boles, author of College
California Court of Appeal for the Second Appel- Without High School; Mark Schlichting, creator
late District ruled that homeschooling is a legal of Broderbund Living Books; Tammy Takahashi,
option in California, reversing the earlier ruling author of Deschooling Gently, mind coach Chance
that stated parents must hold a teaching creden- Massaro; David Albert, publisher, author, and
tial to homeschool their children. storyteller; and Sharon and Mark Tollefson, envi-
This August, The Homeschool Association of ronmental mentors with the Youth Wilderness
California (HSC), a statewide, volunteer-driven Project. In addition to the featured presentations, All photos above are from the Homeschool
non-profit organization, presents its 19th annual there will be workshops on homeschooling, spe- Association of California’s 2008 Homeschooling
homeschool conference, “Finding Our Bal- cial needs children, non-violent communication Conference. Photos by Luke Girard.
ance,” on August 6-9, at the Radisson Hotel in and many more topics.

If you are a tenant and Time Tested Books working for

you are worried now buying ALLIANCE PEACE & JUSTICE
that your landlord has allowed the Political posters, handbills & pamphlets and a proud sponsor of
AUDIO-VISUAL & VIDEO
Books on history, labor, & politics “Because People Matter”
rental property to go into foreclosure,
Records of blues, jazz, rock, punk, world, R&B, & spoken word.
see this site for information that
And, of course, we are selling books & records, too!
might help you! LCD COMPUTER & VIDEO PROJECTORS offering a
We are located at 1114 21st Street, Sacramento.
www.tenantsforeclosure.blogspot. SLIDE & OVERHEAD PROJECTORS 30% to 50%
Our new hours are M–Sat: 11am–7pm, Sunday: 11am–3pm PA SYSTEMS – WIRELESS MICS – MIXERS
com/ (Please call for appt. if selling.) SCREENS – TV MONITORS – PODIUMS
discount
<> <> <>
Alison Brennan is a long-ago tenant 916-447-5696.
AUDIO & DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING
for Peace &
activist. She lives in Sacramento.
www.timetestedbooks.net (916) 451-2658 Justice events
15 Because People Matter July / August 2009 www.bpmnews.org
July / August Calendar
ONGOING EVENTS
11th OF EVERY MONTH:
Sacramento 9/11 Truth
Demonstration. 11th and L
Sts. INFO: www.truthaction.
org, 916-372-8433.
MONDAYS: Sacramento
Poetry Center hosts poetry
readings. 7:30pm. 1719
25th Street. www.sacra-
mentopoetrycenter.org.
1st MONDAYS: Organ-
ic Sacramento: Counter
ongoing threats to our
food. 6:30pm. INFO: www.
organicsacramento.org.
3rd MONDAYS: Capitol
Outreach for a Moratorium
on the Death Penalty. 12
noon–1pm, 11th & L Street.
INFO: 916-455-1796.
3rd MONDAYS: SAPA Peace
and Sustainability Commit-
tee. 6–8pm. INFO: Peace
Action, 916-448-7157.
3rd MONDAYS: Sacto 9/11
Truth:Questioning the “War
on Terror.” 6–8pm. Denny’s
3rd & J St. Info: sac-
911truth@gmail.com 916-
372-8433.
3rd MONDAYS: Lesbian
Cancer Support Group.
6:30 Bring partners or sup-
port people with you. INFO:
Roxanne Hardenberg; ROX-
ANNE1040@aol.com.
TUESDAYS: Tuesdays, on-
going. Pastel Landscape
drawing class for ages 50+.
2:30m-5:00pm. Ethel Hart
Center, 915 27th Street.
$25/lesson. INFO: (916)
916-808-5462.
TUESDAYS: Call for Peace
Vigil. 4–6pm. 16th and J St.
INFO 916-448-7157.
TUESDAYS: Improv work-
shop. Solve the world’s
problems through improv
games! 7–9:30pm. Geery
Theatre, 2130 L street, Sac.
$5.00, first time free. INFO:
916-821-4533, dsharpe-
productions@hotmail.com.
2nd TUESDAYS: Gray Pan-
thers. 1–3pm. Hart Senior
Ctr., 27th & J St.
2nd TUESDAYS: Peace
Network (speakers and dis-
cussion), 6:30pm. Luna’s
Cafe, 1414 16th Street.
INFO: Sac Area Peace Ac-
tion 916-448-7157.
4th TUESDAYS: Peace and
Justice Films. 7pm. Peace
Action, 909 12th Street.
INFO:916-448-7157.
4th TUESDAYS: (Odd num-
Top Picks for Progressive Media!
Soapbox!—Jeanie Keltner talks with activists and analysts from
Sacramento and beyond about the issues of the day.
Where to watch:
Access Sacramento Cable Channel 17. Every Monday at 8pm. Call
in comments on 2nd and 4th Mondays. Repeats Tuesday at noon,
Wednesday at 4am.
In Davis, on Channel 15, Tuesdays at 5pm.
Media Edge—Sacramento’s own magazine format show, covering
local progressive events and speakers, as well as internationally
known commentators, with clips from some of the best indepen-
dent political videos being made now.
Where to watch:
Access Sacramento Channels 17 and 18 and Davis Channel
15. Sundays 8–10pm Nevada County Channel 11 Mondays
10:30pm–12:30am,
West Sacramento Channel 21 Mondays 9-11pm.
See scheduled segments at
www.WeTheMedia.tv.
bered months) Amnesty
Int’l. 7pm. Sacramento
Friends Meeting, 890-57th
St. INFO: 916-489-2419.
1st WEDNESDAYS: Peace &
Freedom Party. 7pm. INFO:
456-4595.
3rd WEDNESDAYS: CAAC
Goes t o the Movies.
7:15pm. INFO: 446-3304.
THURSDAYS: Urban Farm
Stand, 4–7pm, River Gar-
den Estates, 2201 North-
view Dr.
THURSDAYS: Daddy’s Here.
Men’s support group: cus-
tody, divorce, parenting.
7–8:30pm. Free! Ctr for
Families, 2251 Florin Rd,
Ste 102. INFO: terry@fa-
ther sandfamilies.com.
568-3237x 205.
1st and 2nd Thursdays:
Storytelling at the Hart
Senior Center, 27th & J
sts. 7pm. Free. INFO: 916-
362-9013, or PaulIdaho@
comcast.net.
4th THURSDAYS: Sac Media
Gr p. 6–8pm. Coloma
Comm. Ctr, 4623 T Street.
INFO: 916-443-1792,
smg@commoncause.org.
Fridays: Oil, acrylic and
watercolor painting class
for experienced and be-
ginner painters ages 50+.
9:30am-11:30am. Ethel
Har t Center, 915 27th
Street. $20 for 4 lessons.
INFO: 916-808-5462.
Fridays: Movies on a
Big Screen. Independent,
quirky movies and videos.
7pm. 600 4th St, West Sac.
INFO: www.shiny-object.
com/screenings/.
1st FRIDAYS: Community
Contra Dance. 8–11pm;
7:30pm beginners lessons.
Clunie Auditorium, McKin-
ley Pk, Alhambra & F. INFO:
530-274-9551.
2nd FRIDAYS: Dances of
Universal Peace. 7:30–
9:30pm. Sacr ament o
Friends Meeting House
890 57th St. $5–$10 do-
nation requested. INFO:
Joyce, www.sacramento-
dancesofuniversalpeace.
org, 916-832-4630.
4th FRIDAYS: Dances at
Christ Unity Church, 9249
Folsom Blvd. All Welcome
$5–$10 donation request-
ed. INFO: 916-457-5855,
www.sacramentodanceso-
funiversalpeace.org.
1st SATURDAYS: Health
Care for All. 10am–noon.
Hart Senior Ctr, 27th &
J. For single-payer uni-
versal health care. INFO:
916-424-5316; cnegrete@
comcast.net.
1st SATURDAYS: Sacra-
mento Area Peace Action
Vigil. 11:30am–1:30pm.
Arden and Heritage (en-
trance to Arden Mall). INFO:
916-448-7157.
2nd & 4th Saturdays:
SPC Poetry Workshop, All
levels, all poets. 10-11:30
am. South Natomas Com-
munity Center, 2921 Truxel
Rd, Sacramento FREE.
2nd & 4th SATURDAYS:
Community Contra Dance.
8–11pm; 7:30 lessons. Co-
loma Center 4623 T Street.
INFO: 916-395-3483.
3rd SATURDAYS: Writers of
the new Sun/Escritores del
Nuevo Sol. Writing group.
10am potluck. La Raza
Galeria Posada, 1024 22nd
St. INFO: 916-456-5323.
3rd SATURDAYS: Sacra-
mento Area Peace Action
Vigil. 11:30am–1:30pm.
Marconi & Fulton. INFO:
448-7157.
3rd Saturdays: Under-
ground Poetry Series, open
mic plus featured poets.
7–9pm. Under gr ound
Books, 2814 35th Street (at
Broadway), Sacramento.
$3. INFO: 916-737-3333.
4th SATURDAYS: Sierra
Permaculture Guild gen-
eral mtg. 6:30–9pm. The
Sacred Bee, 1451 E. Main
St., Grass Valley.INFO: Sier-
raPermaculture.org
SUNDAYS: Zumba fitness
class for people 50+. Ethel
Hart Senior Ctr., 916 27th
St. 916-808-5462.
SUNDAYS: Sacto Food Not
Bombs. 1:30pm. Come
help distribute food at 9th
and J Streets.
1st SUNDAYS: Zapatista
Solidarity Coalition. 10am–
noon. 909 12th St. Info:
916-443-3424.
2nd SUNDAYS: Atheists
& Other Freethinker s.
1:30pm. Sierra 2 Center,
Room 10, 2791 24th St.
INFO: 916-447-3589.
Last Print Issue of Because People Matter!
See back cover for details!
Because People Matter will no longer appear in print after this issue! Please see the
back cover for details. We will be available in an updated website, using our same ad-
dress, www.bpmnews.org. We will need volunteers to make this work, so please let us
know if you can help.
For the most current listing of Sacramento peace & justice events, go to www.sacpeace.
org. For weekly updates, email sacpeace@dcn.org and put SacPeaceUpdates in the subject.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Friday, July 3 welcome. Info: fayek@springmail.com or
House concert coming up with the Greek band 916-484-5025. See article, page 2.
Hohlax. You may know Jaime Smith, the violin
player in the group. She grew up in Sacramento Monday, July 13
and moved away to Greece to study the music. 7pm, Elk Grove Peace and Justice Forum, Dr.
Doors open 7:30, Concert starts at 8pm. 2548 8th Glennah Trochet, Healthcare Reform-Local,
State, National. Elk Grove Library, Community
Ave. Sacramento. Suggested donation $15 with
all proceeds going to the band. RSVP to Paul & Room, 8900 Elk Grove Blvd. Elk Grove. Info:
Candy Anderson to reserve a seat. paulncandy@ 916-685-3612.
comcast.net, or 916-455-6312
Wednesday, July 15
Thursday, July 9 Book talk and signing with Jaimal Yogis, author
Talk and signing by Chuck Durrett, author of of “Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer’s Quest to Find
“CoHousing: A Contemporary Approach to Zen on the Sea. 7pm. Time Tested Books, 1114
Housing Ourselves,” and “Senior CoHousing 21st Street, Sacramento. INFO: 916-447-5696.
Handbook.” 7pm. Time Tested Books, 1114 21st
Street, Sacramento. INFO: 916-447-5696. Thursday, July 16
The Empty Chair: Death Penalty Yes or No, fol-
Saturday, July 11 lowed by Q&A with death penalty expert Ellen
Sacto 9/11 Truth demonstration. 11th & L Sts, Eggers. 6pm–9pm. Sierra 2 Center, Curtis Hall,
facing Capitol north entrance. Time and INFO: 2790 24th St., Sacramento.Free. Light refresh-
www.truthaction.org, 916-372-8433. ments. See story p. 12. INFO: Christine Thomas,
babysoft777@hotmail.com or 916-730-2489.
Saturday, July 11
20th US Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Tuesday, August 11
Caravan to Cuba. 5 - 8pm. Oak Park United Sacto 9/11 Truth Demonstration. 11th and L
Methodist Church, 3600 Broadway, Sac- Streets, facing Capitol north entrance. INFO:
www.truthaction.org, 916-372-8433.
ramento. Potluck dinner. Free, donations
No more Hiroshimas
23rd Annual
No More Nagasakis
64th Annual Day of Remembrance and Action
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Alumni Center, California State University,
Sacramento
Free parking
4 pm: Doors open for light refreshments,
displays
4:30 pm: Program featuring
• The story of Sadako
• Presentation of origami cranes
• Winners from Physicians for Social Respon-
sibility High School Essay Contest
• Music—and more!
Free admission. Donations welcome.
For more information:
Marielle Tsukamoto, 916-685-6747 or
Patricia Pratt, 916-482-3018
The Marxist School of Sacramento
August 12, 2009 Special Event, 7-9pm
Sierra 2 Center, Room 12
2791–24th Street, Sacramento,
Special Event
Wednesday, August 12
7–9pm
Martha E. Gimenez
Martha Gimenez is a retired Profressor of Sociology at the Univer-
sity of Colorado at Boulder. She has taught, studied and written on
issues of Marxism and Feminism; Class, Gender and Race; Exile
and Immigration. The Marxist School is honored to have Professor
Gimenez speak.
INFO on classes and discussions: www.marxistschool.org;
916-799-1354. info@marxistschool.org. All activities are free
and open to the public.
 July / August 2009
Because People Matter

Veggies Go Urban: see page 1, 8 and 9.

Progressive News and Views

t te r !
pl e Ma
Progressive Media e o issue

u se P one fo r each , but

ren

B e ca nce d e d itors, two child

her

e of
perie schooling ol-
e x ople v ition
u
s i x p e
s
s t m e o
s
a
at le ng and ho Tw d
I
le
r job. r this fina rs have
Editors’ Picks!
Prin t Progressive Radio Stations r.
edito me tiand
W e need Speeches
Great s
me anational
r a is i and Interviews: lu n
t vo interviews
teeLocal f o Online
ment rwww.Truthout.org:
tribu
News
t o Sources:

Last
89.5 FM c e d speeches o m t haand e t i re d i s Essays on current events,
KVMR
d” fr thinking. r u
Soapbox!—Jeanie Keltner talks with
The Voice, e n d 88.7. Cable e e x periand
FM;
en
g a t the sa
streaming to challenge r e t i reyour e o ut ofAnsoin-depth m e of o some videos, like Keith Olbermann’s MSNBC
o anontowww.Accesssacramento.org;on tin , “ o m hile issues.
activists and analysts from Sacramento and
taudio only job of edi SAP ral radio years program has conpethe rs: wcurrent Countdown shows.
beyond about the issues of the day. s come Comcast w n u l s e v e a u l e tte listen p a so
m ha ut we aKYDS r e d o Channels
ondFM e r f 17 & 18
t h e l a s t
e t
Where
s o P
o, ListencSundays e
to i t h and/or
d w 6-8pm on Comcast Channel
download: www.CommonDreams.org
r lves, &tViews for the
seNews
News Center:
Where to watch: r w r l k o u s
nt fofChannel
a e b o Breaking o Progressive
done 90.3 FM gether ov e now una stand17, s st18, set your TV menu to SAP or listenanagiCommunity. ng
91.5
p r i m o ney,17. b
h a s KDVS o m r s t han mo it any-
Access Sacramento n Cable z t r r , e
PM ireatn8pm.
EveryBMonday ot ouCall
to
q u ine D .
inelcomments
ia
KPFA
d is ribuFM
t94.1
torsBerkeley
e is
ut a
sue, b ple to kee ined.
p ou on The Voice www.AccessSacramento.org
ha t’s
us unte y can’t d
all of ore volwww.Brasscheck.org: e
thmany
Progressive videos
W e a r . J a c e r s o n t o u r 90.1 - J u
FM n Chico p e o g a L i s te n o r d ow n
l ly
l ,
o t
a d f ro amv e m
w w w. o s a y
on subjects, from Steven Colbert’s
a ne p reTues- ay we’ve ea e ha r k sw/ rsitge lt speech at the White House Correspondent’s
o KZFR
u r i n g ye h for oRepeats
on 2nd and 4tha Mondays.
o ally g ith People t he M oPowered n g t o findRadio! t h a n managed and a r c h i vrse”, .boutr rg / bfaocot, kwm
to r s
day at d uc wh rting w operated l al nteer
s ee us; in , distribu
olunt quon
noon, Wednesday
oo m e C15, lata,4am.
uilTuesdays a 5pm.ifficult al re vby oluvolunteers, provides mostly r vBlogged e towww.SacramentoForDemoc- dinner and speeches by to a MP George
inleftwing
In Davis,it’sont Channeltt v e r s tat d o g o u n i e n e w B P M
Paule d to take o town s been to lolocally-produced
se m and community-oriented
a nagin rs is not u rs fail to r
racy.org Galloway,
turn on
to
eattacks
extensive
t . her
information
Otcivil
on 9/11
Media Edge—Sacramento’s h a d “ m e e and t s w
the a n our liberties.
untee show,
re . But clocal
i
ontin
ue programs. say nte rib gges e they w her bAynonprofi a
magazine format e p apercovering e ’ v e fi x i t? as going tolack of voluonth, subsc o rg . He suwww.TheRealNews.com:
n y t i m t o g e t t progres-
progressive oevents
h
f t and ro i c, w
speakers, as well asn w e g…
(Other) Iw
Progressive t t h e
Newspapers c h m n e w s. r i e s a sive pwebsite
a p e r” offering daily news videos
nh e Ca aThe gin ether, Ab free. community u ill, e a Don’t bitch atfothe m
r bpmedia— eir s to “a nt -
internationally beeknown f
commentators,
r a ult? eswith i n m na ngFlatlander: t g
ofun, w h St
itand
newspa-
become s t i ngthe media! p ost th ssure to g soon
etincluding interviews
te d , pandresedebates. They plan
o u
is bestadindependent t a k o r k
peri of i a
opinion
i l r politics in the Davis e b h o o c a n p r e n t h s . to expand
o r i e n to . O u
television.r
clips from some of
Is th ’vmade
the e mis akes in w tarea. m famct. . Publication ing fHave ree wyou ers) wthe
h e no t two mo www.GoLeft.tv:
ld bproduction ally
olitic e for piProgressive cture
s
a I a ryolocats@yahoo.com rittaken Online Television.
political videos being e e m now. m is t s t h o j e o v i d l a r w e w o uTV o w a i o r e p c
W a d e t i o n every
th e p 2 months, next issue is April/May. p r e g u
training at Access e r Sacramento? n g t Would e m In s a
the
p world of media monopoly, news has
Where to watch: we’ve m organiza w from The a s b een ” (our r riters. Th of havi o u l d b lenty ofbeen replaced with a new invention called
Flatlander m) h tors al wlike, to d or put your it wtechnical p
… essive a instea ) except would be
hdr18 you learn
Access Sacramento
progrChannels r s witand
17 P.O. Box 72793 s c o rp.co nated “edi occasiontalents r s o “infotainment.” GoLeft.tv isr tao progressive
he fisllstothat gap
, e di to
a l. . t el
r95617 l i e s ig d by d ay o to use?
s . co m Soapbox! t h ee
urgently
r needs political T.V. news tsource he ot that
and Davis Channel
mo r e
15. Sundays 8–10pm
p o s Davis,
w w w
CA o f d m it te h i n a o p r e s s a n d a n d er
p ort esdown
s t p ro ethuLikewise, (
ne e a grwe u p
o are greatly o r k b
su impressed s t i t i t
wwith cramen e artic t
crewmembers l e
to help set up, run cam- between
it o r — media’s
sthe s k s p
udumbed on info-
Nevada County Channel 11
o d e Mondays
v i d B d h avlively, sgood t i n gw u l d po Monthly. w w .sa eras,
o n h take viewers’ phone calls on
tand an d e
tainmentd and
r d s A news
.real t a r ti l
c
reporting.
10:30pm–12:30am, A m friend D s: we wo bIt’s a u l the
or po es in w
looking
ec o Midtown
resskind ( w n t
mme the 2nd and 4th Monday of each tmonth.
s
iter usiness
he wr ourwww.innworldreport.net:
c a o s
ill p Daily professional
West Sacramento Channel My f 21 o r u m
Mondays o n s i le fnotcopolitical,
m but itnhas
m e to Pthe
r s c a nofcouse- n t — t
b E d it ors w .
o f p Sacra information onte interested rite. logy.com
res y delightful iewe about life, d pos will wavailable
viewer/listener-supported journalism
torand
ful Call 916-444-3203eifcyou’re
9-11pm. series s could be When a sart,lfood e t h e w s . V v i d
s, et Wc . a n o in over 20 million homes across
r
edito atdeadline. somethibeyond ng ik wthat s
and dmusic
a ncreatesvie in Sacramento and
t .
in taking the
u p pro aroriejoining
to training b r s .
usrat iters niceAmerica. techn
See scheduled segments e leva n the sense of commu- r o l i
es, r abthe u pizzaew ins @
given ould look rogressnity ive n ?) nteers: oSoapbox! ne g hfor ousfun—and outbest
www.WeTheMedia.tv.
l
needed
y a nd refor an uncertain n e wfuture.
ff e e w it t e a i l b pmn www.whatreallyhappened.com: 9/11 and
t w e , p m e i s o lu town,
, c o from Pieces.
, T e m
i
else kinds of ternet caf n FaceBoo 69-5510 o online! s k
I iv t v e r other coverups.
Democracy Now—Amy Goodman’s
g a lt ernat be more h a t o
award-winning magazine in format ca
dar show.
n
dedfor ! (W needCreek
tw go Press
n
to i in, put us o at 916-3 o see you
calen e e Look the
, w eRock o u ldFree te
ebsiother me et
Where to watch:
e e r s n v
the i o
back ly
us of some o t e w
rsBPM stands e i r wand o r e , call ars. I hop
t than p placese where r e m t h e
ol nwork5am. pro you e of o k(always ow m ver the y
Access Sacramento TV, TV CableuChannels 17
and 18, weekdays 6pm,V 12midnight, s b s it e. Th h o m e pagfindanBPM t t n ort at o
TV LChannele s h e w e the t he
downtown
y o u w al supp a great
main library). It’s Sacramento and Central Valley INDYMEDIA: www.sacindymedia.org.
Dish Network Satellite TV,
o t e t 9415,
M o n i n . I f l o y
Free Speech TV, M–F: 9am, prom4pm, P
to B eundernews.
progressive
ome
paper
your
with emphasis
art z on the
k 9pm, h y c aders, for yout” Schw
5am, Pacific time. Link TV TV,pu t a lin i9410,
Channel as t
s te deaAnd r re justolike eBPM la it needs support from
Monday–Friday, 8am, 3pm.thKVMR e web89.5yoFM u, thejupeople s t d thwho are sick of the disinfor-
k d to
Mon–Thu 7pm. KDVS 90.3 FM Mon–Fri Than noon. “I use mation news. Check it out and subscribe NON-PROFIT
KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley, M–F 9am. E l l e n
(after subscribing to BPM). ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 2668
Here’s a hot tip! If you don’t have cable TV, and you do have a PC (doesn’t work on Mac), you can
watch Access Sacramento programs as they are being aired by going to www.accesssacramento. SACRAMENTO, CA
org and clicking on the “Watch Channel 17” button at the top of the first page.