Columbia Foundation Articles and Reports February 2008 Arts and Culture
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS $35,000 awarded in 2007 for 100 Families Oakland: Art and Social Change Project 1. Alameda Times-Star, January 22, 2008 Local YMCA gala honors King’s legacy Noel Perry is honored by the YMCA of the East Bay, at an annual gala celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, for starting the 100 Families: Art & Social Change project CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY $200,000 awarded since 2004 for the Living New Deal Project 2. Bay Nature magazine, January-March 2008 Forgotten Foundation: The New Deal for Bay Area Parks FDR’s New Deal fundamentally changed Bay Area nature and the way of life for its residents, while leaving an environment full of living art [written by New Deal Project author Gray Brechin.] 3. Berkeleyan, January 16, 2008 New life for the new deal: Revered, reviled, and largely forgotten, the public-works legacy of the FDR era is all around us – and the Living New Deal Project is drawing the map Profiles Gray Brechin’s Living New Deal Project and credits Columbia Foundation for a seed grant CRYING OUT LOUD $50,000 recommended in 2007 for Au Revoir Parapluie 4. The Guardian (London), November 1, 2007 Au Revoir Parapluie 4-star review 5. The New York Times, December 7, 2007 The Dreams and Horrors of the Ties that Bind Performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Au Revoir Parapluie is lauded as an “artful and affecting hybrid of dance, slapstick, music and acrobatics.” 6. The New Yorker, January 7, 2008 Son of a Clown Profiles James Thierre, the creator and star of Au Revoir Parapluie LOS CENZONTLES $225,000 awarded since 2003 7. KQED radio programs, September 25, 2007 Mariachi Music Eugene Rodriguez, founder and executive director of Los Cenzontles, is interviewed with Linda Ronstadt and others about mariachi music [see article for audio web address.]
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OPERA CIRCUS $50,000 awarded in 2006 for Differences in Demolition 8. The Independent (London), July 12, 2007 Differences in Demolition, Wilton’s Music Hall, London fourstar Review of Differences in Demolition 9. The Times (London), July 13, 2007 Differences in Demolition Four-star review of Differences in Demolition ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY (RSC) $100,000 recommended in 2007 for The Grain Store 10. The New York Times, September 24, 2007 Royal Shakespeare Gets $5 Million from U.S. Donor Chris Abele and the Argosy Foundation donate $5 million to the Royal Shakespeare Company for its planned new theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the largest donation ever to RSC by an American organization [quotes Vikki Heywood, executive director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.]
Human Rights
Access to food and farmland
AGRICULTURE AND LAND-BASED TRAINING ASSOCIATION (ALBA) $280,000 awarded since 2005 COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS (CAFF) $265,000 awarded since 1992, including $110,000 in 2006 for Buy Fresh, Buy Local in California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (UC SAREP) $120,000 awarded in 2003 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ CENTER FOR AGROECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS (CASFS) $255,000 since 1982, including $250,000 in 1982 to establish the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz 11. California Agriculture magazine, October-December 2007 UC students eating local, organic produce Local farmers supply fresh, organic produce to UCSC’s five campus dining rooms and restaurants. ALBA acts as an umbrella organization, pooling and delivering the produce, billing the university, and distributing payments to growers [quotes Gail Feenstra, a food systems analyst with UC SAREP, and Tim Galarneau of CASFS; CAFF is also mentioned.]
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CALIFORNIA FARMLINK $500,000 awarded since 2005, including $350,000 in 2006 for a program-related investment for the California Farmlink Farm Opportunities Loan Fund 12. The Modesto Bee, January 20, 2008 Lending, down on the farm Loans are crucial to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. California Farmlink hosted a meeting including bankers and farmers aimed at explaining lending options. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY COALITION $150,000 awarded since 2003 for the California Food and Justice Coalition 13. San Francisco Chronicle, December 8, 2007 It’s crunch time for Boxer and Feinstein on $288 billion farm bill The Senate moves forward on the $288 billion Farm Bill. Senators Boxer and Feinstein consider amendments (supported by reformers) to the bill checking subsidies to over-funded industrial agriculture [quotes Heather Fenney, director of the California Food and Justice Coalition.] SAN FRANCISCO FOOD SYSTEMS COUNCIL $250,000 awarded since 2002 14. San Francisco Medicine, April 2007 Public-Private Partnerships Improving the San Francisco Food System Collaboration between government agencies and community and food systems organizations is aiding progress in the San Francisco food system [co-authored by Paula Jones, executive director of San Francisco Food Systems.] 15. San Francisco Bay Guardian, November 28, 2007 Feed our students well – Salad bars come to the schools Asserts that a greener food system is necessary in San Francisco, as better nutrition is linked to better academic success [co-authored by Paula Jones, executive director of San Francisco Food Systems] SAN FRANCISCO FOOD SYSTEMS COUNCIL See above CUESA $263,000 awarded since 1994 16. 7 x 7 San Francisco magazine, November 21, 2007 Power List: Eat + Drink Paula Jones, executive director of San Francisco Food Systems, and CUESA are listed as some of the most influential people/organizations in food in San Francisco.
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Electoral reform
CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES (CGS) $50,000 awarded in 2005 17. San Francisco Chronicle, October 31, 2007 California: Voters less enthusiastic about changing term limits – Unproductive year by lawmakers may be hurting Prop. 93 An October poll shows 49% of voters favor Proposition 93, addressing term limits for state lawmakers, on the February 5 ballot [quotes Bob Stern, president of CGS.] 18. San Francisco Chronicle, October 31, 2007 Ad firm gives to MUNI measure, gets San Francisco contract Clear Channel contributed $20,000 to the San Franciscans for Clean Air & Better MUNI committee two days before San Francisco supervisors’ approval of an advertising deal between Clear Channel and MUNI [quotes Bob Stern, president of CGS.] 19. San Francisco Chronicle, December 14, 2007 Watchdog group closes donation spending loophole The Fair Political Practices Commission votes unanimously to require detailed explanation for campaign funds used for out-of-state travel expenses and money spent on meals and gifts [quotes Tracy Westen, CEO of CGS.] CLEAN ELECTIONS INSTITUTE $50,000 awarded in 2005 to preserve, promote, and defend Arizona's voter-approved system of public campaign finance, and to further build public support for clean elections and prevent an expected repeal attempt in 2006 20. Newsweek, October 20, 2007 Dialing for Dollars – Public financing for election campaigns may not be panacea, but it’s got to be better than what we’re doing now Elections are swamped by big money and public funding is the solution, according to John Rauh of Americans for Campaign Reform. Arizona passed the Clean Elections Act in 1998 and has had success. PUBLIC CAMPAIGN $200,000 awarded since 2002 for the California Expansion Project 21. The Hartford Courant, February 3, 2008 I Didn’t Get Elected To Be A Fundraiser – How Trolling for Donations Detracts from Lawmakers’ Mission U.S. Representative Christopher Murphy of Connecticut authors an op-ed in favor of public financing of campaigns [Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public Campaign, reports that Chris Murphy signed the Public Campaign Action Fund pledge during the 2006 elections and was educated about the policy during the successful legislative campaigns to win public financing in Connecticut – he was a state senator then. Public Campaign, in turn provided much of the educational and background material for the state reformers active in that campaign. Public Campaign also arranged for publicly financed officeholders from Maine and Arizona to come to Connecticut and brief their peers on how the system actually works. It is a very good example of how state progress on public financing can build for national change and how a long-term strategy can pay off.]
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22. The Courier-Journal (Louisville), February 6, 2008 Big money's big mouth Kentucky civic leader Ned Bonnie authors an op-ed by in favor of public financing of campaigns [Nick Nyhart reports that Public Campaign assisted Ned Bonnie with drafting his op-ed after meeting with him, briefing him on the “Clean Elections” policy, and recruiting him to help.]
Elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on sexual and gender diversity
CIVIL MARRIAGE COLLABORATIVE $500,000 awarded since 2004 23. ABC News, November 8, 2007 Support for Civil Unions Rises, Yet Sharp Divisions Remain A record number of Americans support civil unions for gay couples 24. The New York Times, November 11, 2007 A Flawed Law Editorial in favor of same-sex marriage [Freedom to Marry’s Evan Wolfson credits its partner Garden State Equality, a Civil Marriage Collaborative grantee, for making the case so strongly in New Jersey] 25. The Gazette (Maryland), December 20, 2007 Same-sex marriage decision may split state democrats In September, the Maryland Court of Appeals upheld the state’s 34-year-old ban on same-sex marriage, ruling that the law is neither discriminatory nor unconstitutional. Same-sex advocates are gearing up for a legislative fight [quotes Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, a Civil Marriage Collaborative grantee.] 26. Providence Journal, January 21, 2008 Impatient witness: Reflections on the long struggle for gay rights Op-ed by a top political columnist in Rhode Island in favor of gay marriage [refers to Marriage Equality Rhode Island, a Civil Marriage Collaborative grantee] 27. NY1 News, February 2, 2008 Court Rules State Must Recognize Same-Sex Marriage A New York appellate court has ruled that New York must legally recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. It is the first ruling of this nature in U.S. history [quotes Alan Van Cappelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda, a Civil Marriage Collaborative grantee.] 28. New York Times, February 5, 2008 A Victory for Same-Sex Marriage Editorial in support of historic New York appellate court ruling [The Civil Marriage Collaborative credits its grantee, Empire State Pride Agenda] EQUALITY CALIFORNIA $100,000 awarded in 2006 for the California Equality Project 29. San Francisco Chronicle, October 9, 2007 TV ad campaign attempts to sway the undecided on same-sex marriage The Let California Ring campaign led by Equality California aims to move public opinion on gay marriage beyond the tipping point as polls show Californians are split evenly on the issue.
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30. San Francisco Chronicle, January 4, 2008 Domestic partners get same property tax break as surviving spouses Domestic partners win the right to the same property tax breaks as husbands and wives [quotes Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California.] 31. San Francisco Bay Times, January 24, 2008 EQCA Urges Activists to Sign Open Letter to the Governor Equality California pens a letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger asking him to tell the California Supreme Court that current laws regarding marriage are unconstitutional and that all couples deserve the right to marry, and requests activists sign the letter to the Governor. EQUALITY CALIFORNIA See above GSA NETWORK $280,000 awarded since 1999 32. Advocate.com, January 15, 2008 Petition Against Students’ Rights Falls Short Opponents of the Student Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, disability, gender, or sexual orientation in publicly funded schools and activities, fail in a bid to overturn the law [quotes Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California and features GSA Network.] EQUALITY CALIFORNIA See above CIVIL MARRIAGE COLLABORATIVE See above NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS (NCLR) $60,000 awarded in 2003 33. NCLR press release, February 6, 2008 California High Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Historic Marriage Case on March 4 The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage on March 4, 2008. Equality California, Our Family Coalition, and fifteen same-sex couples will be represented at oral arguments by Shannon Price Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is serving as co-counsel with Lambda Legal, a Civil Marriage Collaborative grantee. FREEDOM TO MARRY A five-year grant of $500,000 awarded in 2002 34. Associated Press, September 20, 2007 San Diego Mayor Reverses Stand, Now Supports Gay Marriage Mayor Jerry Sanders comes out in support of the freedom to marry. 35. CBS5.com, September 20, 2007 Raw video: San Diego Mayor Supports Gay Marriage [no article is attached, see link below] Go to http://cbs5.com/video/?id=26888@kpix.dayport.com to see the San Diego mayor’s announcement in favor of same-sex marriage
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36. The San Diego Tribune, September 27, 2007 Will Sanders lead the nation on same-sex marriage? 37. The Huffington Post, January 23, 2008 Al Gore Endorses the Freedom to Marry Al Gore unequivocally endorses the freedom to marry in a video posted on the Current TV website [the link is included in the article; authored by Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry.] FREEDOM TO MARRY See above EQUALITY CALIFORNIA See above 38. The Huffington Post, September 20, 2007 A Tearful Republican Mayor Comes Out – For the Freedom to Marry The Mayor of San Diego comes out in support gay marriage as he thoughtfully articulates his reasons [authored by Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, the piece mentions Equality California’s Let California Ring Campaign.] GROUNDSPARK (formerly WOMEN’S EDUCATIONAL MEDIA) $323,000 awarded since 1992 for the Respect for All Series 39. The Advocate, July 4, 2006 From ABCs to LGBT Focuses on the positive impact of It’s Elementary [part of the Respect for All Series] a decade after its production 40. The New York Times, September 14, 2007 Film With Same-Sex Parents Splits School District That’s a Family! [part of the Respect for All Series] sparks a heated debate in suburban New Jersey.
Death with dignity
COMPASSION & CHOICES $650,000 awarded since 1994 41. The New York Times Magazine, December 2, 2007 Death in the Family Former Governor of Washington and Parkinson’s sufferer, Booth Gardener, advocates for a proposed death with dignity law in Washington [he has teamed with Compassion & Choices.]
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Sustainable Communities and Economies
CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY (CFS) $340,000 since 2003 for the California Food and Agriculture Initiative 42. Washington Post, January 12, 2008 Cloned-animal products safe, report says – European agency says cattle, pigs pose no new risks – FDA analysis due within days The European Food Safety Authority announces that meat from cloned cows and pigs as well as milk is safe for human consumption days before a ruling by the U.S. FDA. Joseph Mendelsohn, legal director of the Center for Food Safety, asserts that the EU could still ultimately decide to restrict animal cloning in trade and agriculture, despite the report. 43. Wired, January 15, 2008 FDA: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on Cloned Meat A 968-page “final risk assessment” by the FDA concludes that food and milk from healthy cloned animals is safe. CFS is considering legal action [quotes Joseph Mendelsohn, legal director of the Center for Food Safety.] 44. Washington Post, January 15, 2008 Food from clones safe, FDA study concludes The FDA says food from clones is safe and will not require meat to be labeled or tracked. CFS is also pushing for passage of the Farm Bill, which includes an addendum that would overrule the FDA and delay the introduction of cloned food into the food supply [quotes Will Rostov, a senior attorney from the Center for Food Safety, who points out that the FDA’s risk assessment is largely based on conflicted industry data.] 45. ABC News, January 16, 2008 FDA Approves Cloned Meat for Consumption – Critics Worry about Secondary Effects of Genetically Modified Foods The FDA has given permission for producers to sell cloned meat, though the consequent effects of consumption on human health has not been studied [quotes Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, and Joseph Mendelsohn.] 46. Reuters, January 23, 2008 Biotech critics challenging Monsanto GMO sugar beet The Center for Food Safety, the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and others are filing a lawsuit to challenge the USDA’s deregulation of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GMO sugar beets. 47. Capital Press, January 23, 2008 Group sues over genetically modified beet seed production The Center for Food Safety and other organizations, including the Organic Seed Alliance, are suing the USDA Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service over the deregulation of Monsanto’s GMO sugar beets amid concern that 1) the beets will contaminate organic seeds, 2) widespread use of the crop will result in weed resistance to glyphosate, causing more toxic chemicals to be released into the environment to control the weeds, and 3) the potential health effects of GMO foods is unknown.
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CHEZ PANISSE FOUNDATION $185,000 awarded since 2002, including $150,000 since 2006 for the School Lunch Initiative and $35,000 in 2002 for the Edible Schoolyard 48. Grist, September 27, 2007 Cookin’ It Old School Public school lunches remain grossly underfunded as privatization of school lunchrooms increases. Ann Cooper (director of nutrition services in Berkeley Unified School District), however, has revolutionized public school lunch in Berkeley to provide students with fresh and healthy food. 49. Oakland Magazine, November 2007 Slow Pleasures – You are what you eat Promotes slow food as a better food philosophy than the contemporary model [features Alice Waters (founder and board member of the Chez Panisse Foundation), Ann Cooper (director of nutrition services in Berkeley Unified School District), and the School Lunch Initiative (sponsored by the Chez Panisse Foundation)] 50. 7 x 7 San Francisco magazine, November 21, 2007 Power List: The Great and The Good Alice Waters, founder and board member of the Chez Panisse Foundation, is listed as one of the most influential people in San Francisco. 51. CNN.com, January 9, 2008 Renegade lunch lady saving kids’ lives, one plate at a time Profiles self-proclaimed renegade lunch lady and chef Ann Cooper, director of nutrition services in Berkley Unified School District CHEZ PANISSE FOUNDATION See above CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR FOOD AND FARMING $139,500 awarded since 2000 52. San Francisco Chronicle, November 1, 2007 Disappointed with farm bill subsidies, reformers to step up fight Food system reformers are frustrated by gratuitous subsidies given to industrial agriculture and push for changes in the Farm Bill [features Ann Cooper, director of nutrition services for the Berkeley Unified School district, and quotes Kari Hamerschlag, former policy director of the California Coalition for Food and Farming.] CITY CARSHARE $50,000 awarded in 2000 to establish a car-sharing cooperative in San Francisco that makes vehicles available on a per-use basis. 53. San Francisco Chronicle, October 31, 2007 Zipcar, Flexcar to merge car sharing businesses Flexcar and Zipcar, the two largest and only nationwide car-sharing companies are merging. City CarShare, a nonprofit car sharing organization that has 15,000 Bay Area members itself, welcomes the merger and is supportive of anything that promotes car-sharing in the Bay Area.
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COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS (CAFF) See above FOODROUTES $100,000 awarded since 2004 for Buy Fresh, Buy Local 54. Oakland Magazine, November 2007 Get Fresh This summer CAFF and FoodRoutes produced the Buy Fresh, Buy Local Food Guide, a printed and online guide [www.buylocalca.org] to growers, artisans, retailers, restaurants, caterers, institutions, and organizations promoting locally produced food and farm products. COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS (CAFF) See above AGRICULTURE AND LAND-BASED TRAINING ASSOCIATION (ALBA) See above 55. San Francisco Chronicle, December 1, 2007 Weekly stand run by students brings organic produce to Cal CAFF and ALBA work with student-led group Sustainability Team (STEAM) to reform student eating at UC Berkeley dining halls. ELLA BAKER CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS $90,000 awarded since 2002, including $50,000 in 2005 for Reclaim the Future: The Institute for Restorative Justice and Economics 56. Time magazine, November 21, 2007 Bring Eco-Power to the People Van Jones is described as a visionary in his push for green jobs, bringing together environmental activists and the racial justice community. 57. E/The Environmental Magazine, November-December 2007 Welcome to Green-Collar America – Does the Future of the American Middle Class Lie in Sustainable Business? Though the traditional economic outlook is bleak, the green economy is taking shape [features Van Jones and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.] 58. Grist.com, January 25, 2008 Memo to candidates – Green-collar jobs mean standing up for people and the planet Van Jones makes a case for “green-collar” jobs to defeat global warming and boost the economy. INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES RESOURCES (IFR) $50,000 awarded in 2006 for the Klamath Basin Coalition 59. Counterpunch.org, January 22, 2008 Why the Klamath Restoration Proposal Won’t End Water Conflicts, Remove the Dams or Restore the River’s Salmon An examination of the Klamath Restoration Proposal, an agreement promoted by some as a means to end decades of struggle in the Klamath Basin over water and fish [authored by Felice Pace, former chair of the Klamath Basin Coalition]
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60. San Francisco Chronicle, January 30, 2008 Salmon arriving in record low numbers Chinook salmon numbers have fallen sharply in the Central Valley, demonstrating that California’s water demands are causing extensive ecological damage. Fishing restrictions will tighten and prices will rise [quotes Zeke Grader, executive director of IFR.] ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION $50,000 awarded in 2005 61. Chicago Tribune, December 26, 2007 Seed controversy sprouts – Some say USDA’s insurance break for Monsanto customers unfair The USDA will give farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota a break on federal crop insurance premiums if they plant Monsanto-brand seed corn in the spring. Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association, cites the new agreement as yet another example of the department’s siding with industrial agribusiness, and tacit support for GMO crops. 62. Agence France Presse, January 17, 2008 U.S. Consumers Oblivious to GM Food Fears The U.S. media does not talk about GMO foods, and American consumers are largely ignorant of the potential health hazards. Labeling is not mandatory in the U.S., and as much as 70% of foodstuffs sold in U.S. markets contain GMOs [quotes Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association.] 63. Commondreams.org, February 12, 2008 Corporate Globalization: Standing at the End of the Road Op-ed by Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association, denouncing NAFTA as failed policy, and advocating a shift to sustainable agriculture and food systems policies, as well as a move to make fair trade the norm rather than the alternative ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH FOUNDATION $250,000 awarded since 1990 64. San Francisco Chronicle, November 6, 2007 Senate leader praises farm bill that draws foes of all stripes On November 5, the $288 billion Farm Bill reached the Senate floor with Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid calling it historic reform, despite $42 billion in subsidies allocated to only five crops. 91% of California farmers get nothing, while industrial ag reaps the benefits. The votes of Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein could prove critical [quotes Mark Lipson, policy program director for the Organic Farming Research Foundation.] 65. San Francisco Chronicle, December 15, 2007 Senate passes $286 billion farm bill with bumper crop subsidies The U.S. Senate passes the Farm Bill and subsidy giveaways to big agribusiness. Senators Feinstein and Boxer both support final passage, but vote for virtually every reform amendment – from an overhaul of the subsidy system, to payment limits, income limits, and cuts in subsidies to crop insurance companies. Each amendment failed [quotes Mark Lipson, policy program director for the Organic Farming Research Foundation.]
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NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL $12,500 awarded in 2007 for the Sustainable Food and Biomass Procurement Initiative 66. CNET News, January 14, 2008 New energy act to fuel flow of 'biogasoline' Synthetic fuels are appealing to established fossil fuel providers because, unlike ethanol, they would not require significant changes to existing fuel infrastructure [quotes NRDC energy policy analyst Nathanael Greene.] ROOTS OF CHANGE FUND (ROC FUND) $1,600,000 since 2002, including a five-year grant of $1,000,000 awarded in 2007 67. Los Angeles Times, January 16, 2008 Obama gets major labor endorsement Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFLCIO) has endorsed Barack Obama for President [Durazo is a member of the ROC Fund Stewardship Council.] 68. Newsweek, January 21, 2008 Letting Hillary Be Hillary Hillary Clinton is in a tough fight with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Maria Echaveste is a senior advisor to Hillary Clinton’s campaign [Echaveste is a member of the ROC Fund Stewardship Council.] ROOTS OF CHANGE FUND (ROC FUND) See above ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH FOUNDATION See above 69. San Francisco Chronicle, September 23, 2007 Federal bill helps huge farmers, not California’s innovative ones The Roots of Change Fund “has embarked on a radical rethinking of California’s food and farming economy.” The Farm Bill is an obstacle to change, as billions of dollars in public money flood to a small portion of farmers (industrial ag) who do not need it, while innovative farmers are largely ignored [quotes Jim Cochran, a member of ROC Fund’s Stewardship Council, and Bob Scowcroft, executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation.] ROOTS OF CHANGE FUND (ROC FUND) See above UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ CENTER FOR AGROECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS (CASFS) See above 70. San Francisco Chronicle, December 16, 2007 How Safe is Your Salad? New industry rules for leafy greens aim to protect consumers from E. coli. Farmers and conservationists question the science behind the standards A virulent strain of E. coli contaminated Dole spinach, causing over 200 cases of illness in August 2006. New regulations hastily put in place after the outbreak are costly, scientifically unproven, environmentally harmful, and are fundamentally counterproductive to food safety. The new rules are
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endangering the future of sustainable agriculture, and the habitat and clean water it supports. The California Roundtable on Agriculture and the Environment (CRAE), a project of the ROC Fund, is working to address the conflict [quotes Jovita Pajarillo, a public ageny member of CRAE, and notes the Fall 2006 UC Santa Cruz CASFS report articulating that food safety concerns and environmental protection are on a collision course in the Salinas Valley.] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ CENTER FOR AGROECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS (CASFS) See above UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (UC SAREP) See above 71. California Agriculture magazine, October-December 2007 Breaking new ground: UC Santa Cruz celebrates sustainable innovation in farming, food systems CASFS, which focuses on ecological sustainability and social justice in food and agricultural systems, is referred to as the “Harvard of organic farming.” UC Santa Cruz celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Alan Chadwick Garden, the 25-acre organic farm on which the CASFS program is centered [refers to UC SAREP and Sean Swezey’s study to develop methods to limit lygus bug damage in organically managed strawberry crops; Swezey credits Jim Cochran, ROC Fund Stewardship Council member, for original collaboration in the research.] XERCES SOCIETY $100,000 awarded in 2007 for Farming for Bees: Pollinator Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes 72. The Times (Oregon), January 17, 2008 Stafford-area Luscher Farm is bee heaven – Bucking the worldwide trend, honey bees are thriving on organic produce at the farm Bees thrive on organic Luscher Farm in Oregon, where bee habitat is cared for meticulously. The farm is an especially good haven for mason bees, which could prove to be essential pollinators if the honey bee collapse continues [quotes Mace Vaughan, conservation director of the Xerces Society.] 73. San Francisco Chronicle, September 25, 2007 24 honored with $500,000 MacArthur ‘genius’ grants Claire Kremen, a Xerces Society counselor, is awarded a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, dubbed a “genius” grant, for her studies on honeybees and the extinction of the species.
Other
TAPROOT FOUNDATION $92,500 awarded since 2005 for Service Grant Sponsorship 74. San Francisco Chronicle, September 25, 2007 Where lawyers show us the way Aaron Hurst, founder of the Taproot Foundation, authors an op-ed about engaging business professionals in pro bono service – an area where the legal profession’s commitment outstrips the business community’s commitment. Hurst calls for higher standards for volunteerism and better leverage of their skills to provide much needed support to nonprofits.
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Articles by or about Program Advisors
IGNACIO CHAPELA 75. San Francisco Magazine, December 2007 Are we backing the right fix for global warming? An examination of $500 million deal to allow British Petroleum (BP) to establish a GMO biofuel institute at UC Berkeley, offending faculty and students [quotes Ignacio Chapela, a leading critic and tenured faculty member] 76. San Francisco Magazine, December 2007 Sticky business – 11 things you need to know about the UC-BP deal Companion piece to the preceding article fleshing out the specifics of the UC-BP deal 77. San Francisco Magazine, January 2008 Letters: Fuel for the Fire Susan Clark, executive director of Columbia Foundation, responds to the UC-BP articles in the prior month’s issue. Susan says, “I have observed that the University of California [Berkeley], with all of its great minds, has been an obstacle rather than a leader in the development of sustainable food systems.” CLAIRE CUMMINGS 78. Library Journal, December 15, 2007 Science & Technology reviews Claire Cummings’ new book, Uncertain Peril: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Seeds, earns a starred review. 79. Publisher’s Weekly, November 19, 2007 Nonfiction Reviews: Week of 11/19/2007 Review of Uncertain Peril PAUL HAWKEN 80. San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 2008 Werbach at Wal-Mart? Adam Werbach, the former President of the Sierra Club, has taken on Wal-Mart as a client of his environmental consulting firm, Act Now Productions. Once a fierce critic of the big box chain, Werbach is now working with Wal-Mart to “green” its business practices [quotes Paul Hawken.]
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