Welcome to Monday's Ecojustice series, which tonight hosts the eKos Earthship. We dedicate this evening to gaining M-O-M-E-N-T-U-M towards motivating you to ACT NOW for Food Justice as we report out on the results of this weekend's Feeding America blogathon.
Scroll down for today's eco-diary roundup and welcome aboard the Food Justice NOW Earthship!
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Today's editor: boatsie
"Food justice is everyone having enough to eat; healthy food for our children; food that doesn’t contain harmful things that we don’t know about; freedom to grow our own food; ability to buy food directly from farmers; fair wages for those who grow, cook and work with food." —Urban & Environmental Policy Institute
When Noweasels kicked off the Feeding America blogathon Saturday morning, she reporting that today 1 in 6 Americans go hungry and rallied the community to donate to Feeding America’s Magic Lunchbox program
And as of 10:45 last night. she reported: "I have just done a calculation of how much we raised this weekend with all of your incredible diaries (and this does not include, of course, the awareness you have raised) and what my calculator sings to me is this: Our weekend effort raised enough money to provide meals all summer for 100 American children. We raised $2000 for Feeding America (just about) and that, with the match provided by ConAgra divided by $39 per child = 100 kids who will have food ... 100 Children!"
Well, I got some news for you, noweasels. We're not done YET!
The Snowball Effect:
(adj.) descriptive of an entity or situation where something once small and relatively insignificant grows exponentially at a swift pace, engulfing everything in its path. A more dramatic progression than the classic domino effect. The basic workings of a literal snowball effect can be illustrated by taking one's average baseball-sized snowball and dropping it down the side of a snowy hill. As it descends it gathers more snow and whatever leaves, sticks, etc. are in its way. The snowball accumulates not only size, but speed.
In Hunger Politics & Poetics, srkp23 writes: "Thinking about hunger in preparation for this blogathon, I realized that it is a word that describes both an acute physical state of deprivation, one that pins you into your aching body and into the pinpoint of now, with its immediate needs, and a more metaphorical kind of deprivation, the craving or longing for something more fulfilling, as in spiritual hunger, or the hunger for self-expression or wisdom or meaning, for example. For one gripped by real, physical hunger pangs, nothing seems less metaphorical than hunger, and yet is is one of the greatest poetic tropes for the quest for meaning."
In Food Forward – On Fallen Fruit and Food Banks Ellinorianne urges us to focus on unharvested fruit trees: "let’s s top letting that fruit go to waste and lets feed the people who need it the most! ... the challenge has to do with getting fresh fruits and vegetables to the people who need it the most and yet there is a way to do so and it's economical, community based and environmentally friendly. It's fruit harvesting from public and private fruit trees and it can mean hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh fruits for food pantries all over the US."
"Who are the homeless?" asks rb137. "Why does it happen? There are as many stories as there are people who wind up on the street. Many are homeless because of sexual abuse or domestic violence. Some lost their jobs, and others had an accident. A lot are disabled. The common thread between them is that life dealt them instability. Something pushed them to the curb, and nobody was there to catch their fall. And the muck where they landed was so deep that they couldn't climb out."
Writing on the impact Urban Farms and Fisheries, are having on community building, PatriotDailyNewsClearinghouse discusses aquaculture ("symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a re-circulating system.") and Will Allen’s food justice program. "Another program called Urban Farmingcreates community-based farms nationwide and so far has "planted the equivalent of 1,000 garden plots -- 20 feet by 20 feet" that bring entire communities together from all generations as well as benefitting the environment with more green."
Discussing the shocking figures on the increase in food insecurity and the failure of our system to meet the demand, teacherken writes: "I am embarrassed. No, I am ashamed for my country. That is in part why I choose to participate in this marathon. If shame can make a difference, I'll take it. If generosity and caring is the motivation, that's even better. Whatever motivates us, we all need to do what we can."
Timroff's entry, Time, Talent and Treasure, reminds us of how much each of us has to offer, even if we aren't in a position right now to donate food. "The trick here is rather than just giving a handout, give these people a hand up. Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry is the phrase to keep in mind. Use your skills to help lift up others." Timroff also keeps us up-to-date on the successes of his Cleveland Greenhouse Project and its plans to build a large Greenhouse, Aquaponics System and Composting facility in an inner-city neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio.
Writing from her new homebase on Maui, BlueJersey Mom reports the number of people living on the Island who count on the food bank for assistance has risen to over 10,000. "A child going hungry is simply unacceptable. Yet without your help, thousands of island keiki are at risk of hunger. Scientific evidence suggests that hungry children are less likely to become productive citizens. A child who is unequipped to learn because of hunger and poverty is more likely to be poor as an adult. As such, the existence of childhood hunger in Hawaii threatens our future prosperity."
Later this week, Chacounne informs us from Vancouver, she will become one of some 90,000 assisted by food banks in in BC.
"One day next week I will make the trek from my home to a church hall a few blocks away. I will line up with all the rest of those for whom not enough money is a reality. My fellows in the line will include Afghan refugees, single mothers, other folks like me with disabilites, long-term unemployed people, people who work minimum wage jobs, and many others. We will walk up the stairs and be asked by volunteers at a long table for our identification, so they can cross our names off their list of eligible people. We will then line up to go into the actual food distribution room, where we will file past stations of volunteers who will hand us food that has been donated. Unless we ask specifically, the volunteer at the pasta and soup station will choose which pasta or soup we will receive. Beyond the soups and pastas, we will likely receive potatoes, bread, onions, sometimes peanut butter, perhaps eggs and or oranges, sometimes other kinds of protein. Those with babies will likely receive baby food. Once we have gathered our donations, we will walk down the steps and into the Vancouver weather. Today it is raining."
And I, boatsie, tonight's host and last night's blogathon wrap-up writer? I dedicate this night's ecojustice series and I am at the helm of the Monday Food Justice NOW Earthship for you, Chacounne. To remind you that you are NOT invisible. And you will never, ever be alone.
Update: Talk about synchronicity: As we go to press, this just in from Chacounne:
"This morning, I received an email from the Food Editor for the
Vancouver Sun, the largest and best paper in Vancouver. He had read my
diary for this weekend's blogathon, on DKos without my knowing, and
asked me if he could write about me and my blog in tomorrow's paper.
He asked me a bunch of questions, to flesh out the story and sent over
a photographer to get a few shots. Tomorrow, Hunger Awareness Day, I
will be the face of adult hunger. Thank you soooooo much for inspiring
me to do this. Thank you so much for giving me the courage to do this.
You have helped so many people today ... thousands."
This year, Feeding America conducted the largest ever survey of hunger in America: 2010 Hunger Report Key Findings. Download the Executive Summary and the entire report here.
49 million Americans: 1 in 6 American adults are hungry, and 1 in 4 American children are hungry.
Donate here, and ConAgra will match your donation dollar for dollar (up to a total collection of $250,000 in May.)
If you need to find a local food pantry, or if you want to volunteer your time you can find a nearby foodbank here.
Thanks so much for all you do.
All times Eastern!
Saturday, May 29:
- Faces of Hunger (Introduction) by noweasels.
- Urban Farms and Fisheries by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse
- Hunger in Vancouver by Chacounne
- Hunger in America 2010 by teacherken
- Food Forward -- Fallen Fruit and Foodbanks by Ellinorianne
Sunday
- Voice of the homeless in Tent City 4 by rb137
- Hunger, Politics & Poetics by srkp23
- Time, Talent and Treasure by Timroff
- Hunger in Paradise & A Challenge by blue jersey mom
- Taking it to The Streets by boatsie
EcoJustice series discuss environmental justice, or the disproportionate impacts on human health and environmental effects on minority communities in the U.S. and around the world. All people have a human right to clean, healthy and sustainable communities.
Almost 4 decades ago, the EPA was created partially in response to the public health problems caused in our country by environmental conditions, which included unhealthy air, polluted rivers, unsafe drinking water and waste disposal. Oftentimes, the answer has been to locate factories and other pollution-emitting facilities in poor, culturally diverse, or minority communities.
Please join EcoJustice hosts on Monday evenings at 7PM PDT. Please email us if you are interested in hosting.
Monday's Ekos Earthship
Eco-series line-up:
(All times Eastern!)
Today's eKos diaries:
Author | Diary | Time | Tags |
---|
alkalinesky | Overnight-Mothership-30-May-2010Day-Five | 05/31/10 01:03AM Eastern | BP, Oil Spill, Top Kill, Junk Shot, Liveblog |
Ellinorianne | Republicans Who Would Be Run Out of Their Party Protecting the Environment | 05/31/10 01:35AM Eastern | Environment, ekos |
Edger | BP: "We're Not Blaming Anyone... Yet" | 05/31/10 04:17AM Eastern | BP, British Petroleum, Deepwater Horizon, Gulf of Mexico, Oil spill |
Fishgrease | Fishgrease: Booming The Money Shot | 05/31/10 06:39AM Eastern | Recommended, Gulf Oil Spill, BP, dkos fucking booming school, deepwater horizon |
quantumspin | The oil spills in Nigeria, where we get 40% of our oil. | 05/31/10 09:39AM Eastern | oil, BP, Shell, Niger, eKos |
Liveblog | BP Gulf of Mexico Disaster - Liveblog Mothership - Day Six | 05/31/10 10:33AM Eastern | Recommended, BP, Oil Spill, Top Kill, Junk Shot |
jamess | Tony Hayward issues Executive Order: Plumes do not Exist. | 05/31/10 11:32AM Eastern | Recommended, BP, Tony Hayward, Underwater Plume, Minerals Management Service |
Jed Lewison | Heckuva' job, Tony | 05/31/10 01:30PM Eastern | Tony Hayward, Bo Dudley, BP, eKos |
Jed Lewison | They thought it could never happen? | 05/31/10 02:32PM Eastern | BP, Bo Dudley, eKos |
possum | Science Tidbits | 05/31/10 03:51PM Eastern | Teaching, Learning, Science, eKos |
beach babe in fl | Macca's Meatless Monday..Help! for oil addiction here | 05/31/10 06:00PM Eastern | vegetarian, eKos, vegan, meat production, green |
Yesterday's eKos diaries:
Author | Diary | Time | Tags |
---|
BruceMcF | Sunday Train: Help Wanted. 1% Solutions. Apply Within. | 05/30/10 08:05PM Eastern | learning, ekos, living energy independence, cycling, HSR |
RLMiller | Cold Comfort, Cold Facts: August and After. | 05/30/10 10:04PM Eastern | Recommended, eKos, oilpocalypse |
Neon Vincent | Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (Memorial Day 2010/BP Oil Spill edition) | 05/30/10 12:27AM Eastern | Overnight News Digest, OND, eKos, teaching, science |
LaniN | Oil & My Childhood Chesapeake Life | 05/30/10 12:53AM Eastern | gulf oil, eKos |
Tomtech | Images from the Oilpocalypse w/ new unidentified leak. | 05/30/10 02:06AM Eastern | Recommended, Oilpocalypse, BP, Deepwater Horizon, Gulf of Mexico |
erratic | The last most beautiful thing | 05/30/10 02:16AM Eastern | ekos, beauty |
juliewolf | Dawn Chorus: Of Warblers and Weekends | 05/30/10 07:57AM Eastern | birds, birding, dawn chorus, photos, photography |
jamess | Corexit Toxicity Tests not so hot, When Mixed with Oil | 05/30/10 08:36AM Eastern | Recommended, BP, Dispersants, Gulf of Mexico, ProPublica |
davidseth | BP: Wounding My Mother, Wounding Pachamama | 05/30/10 09:39AM Eastern | Personal, myths, shamanism, Gulf of Mexico, Oil spill |
don mikulecky | Even the MSM is catching on! | 05/30/10 12:21PM Eastern | Recommended, oil spill, technology, science, belief |
Liveblog | Gulf of Mexico Disaster - Liveblog Mothership: 30 May 2010 - Day Five | 05/30/10 02:07PM Eastern | BP, Oil Spill, Top Kill, Junk Shot, Liveblog |
WarrenS | Can a Middle-Aged Dad Find ECSTASY? | 05/30/10 02:32PM Eastern | ECSTASY, eKos, DK greenroots, consumerism, parenting |
grapes | BOPGate - A Study in Oil Industry Arrogance | 05/30/10 03:19PM Eastern | Recommended, Gulf Spill, BOP, Chevron, BP |
Crashing Vor | Worst Case Scenario | 05/30/10 03:30PM Eastern | Recommended, Louisiana, oil spill, Deepwater Horizon, Hurricane Katrina |
Cedwyn | How do I loathe BP? Let me count the criminally negligent ways. | 05/30/10 04:38PM Eastern | BP, eKos |
Stranded Wind | The Nuclear Option | 05/30/10 05:33PM Eastern | Louisiana, oil spill, Deepwater Horizon, oil spill research, eKos |
slinkerwink | White House Increasingly Angry With BP Over Its Lies | 05/30/10 06:23PM Eastern | Recommended, BP, oil spill, Gulf of Mexico, eKos |
About eKos
The Idea
This project was inspired by the Earth Day @ DKos Blogathon. In case you missed it, we had 31 participating environmental diaries, all of which were linked to in the Mothership. During the event we had several requests for an eco-mothership diary series in the mould of the Earth Day effort.
The Mission
eKos is all about promoting community eco-diaries. Daily Kos already showcases several series, but sometimes the work of dedicated green diarists pass off the recent diary list hardly noticed. Our goal is to make these diaries more accessible. In the process we hope to build community and bring in a broader audience to the exceptional environmental writing here at DK.
How eKos Works
If you want a diary included in the list, please let us know by leaving a comment. We'll do our best to search out green diaries, but are bound to miss a few. For eKos to live up to it's full potential, eco-diarists should post a link to the Earthship, or place the widget at the end of their diary. This will provide readers with easy access to other recent environmental diaries.
Tag Rules
If you want to help out with tagging, here are a few simple rules to follow:
- If you see an eco-diary or front page story, tag it 'eKos'. and inform the diarist.
- Fix the tag if it is wrong (e-kos or ecos tags won't help).
- Watch out for tag abuse. eKos is meant to be inclusive, but if you see writing that is clearly not friendly to environmental causes, or which breaks site rules that has been tagged, please remove it.
- Don't tag diaries that call-out or in any way directly criticize other Kossacks or diaries. It is fine if it addresses a meme or argument, but it cannot specifically mention or link to any comment or diary.
- If someone removes the tag without justification, please put it back. If they persist, report them.
- If there are any issues, please e-mail ekos350atgmaildotcom.
Contact
You can follow us on Twitter
If you are interested in becoming an eco-ranger for eKos, or just want some more info, e-mail ekos350atgmaildotcom
eKos Rangers
In no particular order:
Regina in a Sears Kit House
boatsie
Hopeful Skeptic
RLMiller
patrickz
Earthfire
Ellinorianne
A Siegel
dRefractor
SolarMom
Please give them some mojo if you see them, they deserve it!
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