Lo siento, pero estoy llamando voters que no habla ingles para Barack Obama hoy. No puedo hablar espanol, pero... what else am I supposed to do when Obama's call lists give me numbers for people who can't speak English? Ahh, there we go. English came back. Good thing, cuz my Spanish sucks.
Georgia10 wrote an action diary about... something. Something that required me to get off my tush and go out and do something. I replied that I'd rather phone bank because I can do it from my bed while naked. (I can also do it from my bed with clothes on, but I want that choice to be mine.) So I decided to head on over to My.Barackobama.com and sign up to do some phone calls to voters in the swing state next door.
It's really easy. You sign up or log in at My.BarackObama.com, then go here and get yourself a list of 10 voters to call. Early voted has already started, so we need to get on this NOW.
For more actions you can take while naked, keep reading...
Cross-posted at my blog, La Vida Locavore
I had a bunch of action alerts show up in my email in the last day or two. So... time for an action diary. I realize some of these are unrelated to the election but someone's gotta mind the henhouse while the foxes are out distracting us with all the election coverage!!
Action #2: Tell The USDA To Cut the Bull
The USDA has put in place a loophole which allows downer cows into the food supply. A downer cow is one that can't stand up. The reason we don't want to eat them is because there's a reason why they can't stand up and it might be mad cow disease, or a number of other reasons that would make them unappetizing.
If I've got my facts right, cows that fall down before their first inspection are still out. But if you pass your inspection and then collapse, you must be inspected again and - if the vet says it's OK - you become a burger. The Humane Society will help you comment to the USDA here. (Just do me a favor and change the subject line on the email you send in so the USDA actually reads it.)
Action #3: Tell the USDA We Need Transparency, Not Secrecy!
Whether you're for GMOs or against them, you should be very troubled by the USDA's latest proposal on genetically engineered animals. They have proposed a secret approval process allowing no one but FDA reviewers to see data before final approval. And you know how we've had a lot of recalls this year? Well, GE animals won't be labeled if this proposal goes through. That means we wouldn't be able to recall any milk or meat from them if a safety issue came up.
Keep in mind also the animal cruelty issue. What the hell will they be doing to these animals, and what happens when they goof up? And of course, some people may have food safety questions. My #1 complaint with GE animals is that it is further entrenching the BAD system we have of factory farming. Saying we'll just engineer animals that can better survive in squalid conditions is just a case of "she swallowed the spider to catch the fly" - adding on one more dumb techno-fix to solve the problems that the last dumb techno-fix created.
More Info:Center for Food Safety Statement, Consumers Union Press Release, and Reuters: FDA issues rules for genetically modified animals
Take Action: here
(BTW - cloned animals is already something that the biotech industry considers a PR "success" that they are patting themselves on the back for. If we don't speak up, they'll be right.)
Action #4: Tell the USDA Don't Deregulate GM Papayas
After the week we've had, I'm surprised anyone within the beltway even dares to use the word "deregulate" unless it's Barack Obama making a campaign commercial against John McCain. But the USDA wants to deregulate GMO papayas... and first they are asking us if GMO papayas should be considered "plant pests." Here's my comment:
I am very concerned about any expansion of permission to produce genetically modified organisms. I attended the 2008 BIO conference in San Diego this year and I consider myself very well informed about GMOs. I recognize that most proponents of GMOs are trying to do good but based on extensive research about plants and farming, I feel that GMOs represent a significant risk while providing meager benefits. Biodiversity is America's #1 defense against many of the agricultural problems we face, from drought and other weather conditions to pests and disease. Pursuing GM technology further entrenches monoculture and it is highly risky. Please do not allow GM papayas a non-regulated status.
Take Action: Here
Action #5: Help Farm Workers Unionize!
A majority of factory farm workers at Beef Northwest Feeders in Oregon voted to form a union. Their company refuses to engage in collective bargaining with them. Barack Obama has already sent a letter to the company on the side of the workers. Why don't you join Barack Obama by adding your voice to the chorus?
As consumers, our best way to influence Beef Northwest is through its largest purchaser - Whole Foods. Yes, that's right - Whole Foods purchases its "natural" beef from a factory farm. Yuck. But at least it could be a factory farm that has a unionized workforce. So sign the petition!
Take Action: here
Action #6: Don't Let Push Cut Organic Funding From the '09 Budget
This year we won a LOT of extra funding for organics research in the farm bill. But it's not really ours until the budget process is complete. Naturally, Bush is ticked that Congress overrode his veto the first time around and he's using this second chance to cut organics funding. And, the Senate is actually agreeing with him.
Take Action: Call your Congresscritters and tell them you want them to keep funding for OREI (the Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative) to remain at $18 mil for 2009. Do not decrease organics funding in the 2009 budget.
Action #7: Be A Pollworker (and you have to wear clothes)
I'm sorry... I have to include one thing that requires clothes. BUT you get paid so there's a trade off. Where I live now it's $75-$150 (depends on if you do a full day or half day) and more if you're bilingual. Back in WI it was $50-$100. We NEED our people on the inside at the polls to watch what goes on and make sure voters aren't turned away and votes are all counted.
I was a poll worker 2 years ago and it was actually incredibly reassuring to see how well run my precinct was and to ensure that all votes were counted.
Take Action: Here (Look up your county in the Election Official Directory)