President Obama's weekly address: Reversing a troubling trend in food safety

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

In his weekly address address March 14, President Barack Obama made key announcements regarding the safety of our nation's food.

"We are a nation built on the strength of individual initiative. But there are certain things that we can't do on our own. There are certain things that only a government can do. And one of those things is ensuring that the foods we eat, and the medicines we take, are safe and don't cause us harm."

'Water Week' events scheduled March 15-22

From our member Connie Peterson: An invitation to participate in "Water Week," scheduled March 15-22 in and around Fresno.

Organized by the Fresno WILPF Save Our Water Committee and cosponsored by The Fresno Audubon Society, "Water Week" will feature a variety of events celebrating and exploring the impact of water on the San Joaquin Valley. Those events include:

• Remembering the River, a ceremony scheduled 1-3 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Long Lake;
  
  
• Art Hop events featuring water-themed paintings, scheduled 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 19;
  
  
• "Flow," a film about water, to be shown 5:15 p.m. Friday, March 20, at McLain Hall 121 on the CSUF campus, as part of the university's Cine Culture Series; and
  
  
• A Drought-Tolerant Garden Tour, scheduled 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Clovis Botanical Garden.

The "Raging Grannies" will also be singing about water as part of Rally in the Valley Sunday, March 22. Volunteers For Change-Fresno plans to be there.

Want to know more? Download the "Water Week" flier.

Petition for clean electricity and carbon caps

Through our member Connie Peterson, Repower America has offered V4CF an opportunity to take action for clean electricity and carbon caps. The opportunity? Sign an online petition to add your voice to those calling for clean energy. Their invitation:

Our transition to a clean, prosperous and forward-thinking America requires nothing less than bold, sweeping changes from Congress and the President.

That's why, beginning with the President's budget and continuing in the months ahead, we must take every opportunity to support needed policies -- starting with capping carbon pollution and revitalizing our economy to ignite progress on clean energy.

Today, we are seeing opponents spin mis-truths in order to scare the public. They deny the need for change. They say we should keep polluting our air.

They're wrong. Clean energy works for America, and it's working.

It's working in Newton, Iowa, which could have been devastated in 2007 when Maytag closed down a major manufacturing plant that had anchored the town for a hundred years. Today, Newton boasts two wind energy farms and opened a new turbine manufacturing plant last year, even amidst grim news from other areas of our economy. That's new jobs for the people of Iowa.

It's working in Greenville, Michigan, where United Solar brought new green jobs in 2006, after Greenville's Electrolux plant announced their move to Mexico. United Solar has expanded in Greenville and will be building another manufacturing facility in Battle Creek.

This is the change we need all over America -- to put our country back on track, and solve the climate crisis at the same time. The voice for the status quo is powerful and well-funded. And we must beat it.

In the months to come, we'll be growing our movement with new efforts to meet this challenge. Join us in supporting bold action to cap carbon pollution. Join our effort to Repower America.

OFA: Show your support by signing on to the 'Pledge Project'

From our friends at Organizing For America:

Just over a week ago, President Obama submitted his first budget and made it clear he was ready for the fight to come.

The President isn't alone. We're ready for that fight too -- it's what you built this movement for.



Americans are ready for the bold new direction this plan offers. It's what they voted for in November, and it's needed now more than ever as we continue to face an unprecedented economic crisis.

But the special interests and old ways of Washington won't go away easily. In fact, they'll only fight back harder.

It's up to you to organize support for President Obama's plan throughout the country. It's the only way we'll get the change this country needs.

Take the next step now in our fight to bring change: After watching the video, visit the Pledge Project home page at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/pledgeproject to show your support.

Assemblymember Mike Villines to hold town meetings on state budget

California State Assemblymember Mike Villines has announced he will be holding town meetings on the recently passed state budget. (Want to know who represents you in the CA State Legislature? Go to www.votesmart.org.) Please attend these meetings if you can. It's important to make your voice heard at one or more of the following:

FRESNO – Friday, March 13, 2009
Noon – 1:30 PM
Peoples Church
7172 North Cedar Avenue
Fresno, CA 93720

CLOVIS – Friday, March 20, 2009
Noon – 1:30 PM
Clovis Veterans Memorial Auditorium
808 4th Street (corner of 4th and Hughes)
Clovis, CA 93612

MADERA RANCHOS – Saturday, March 21, 2009
10:00 AM – Noon
Ranchos/Hills Senior Center
37330 Berkshire Drive (Just off Avenue 12 at Fernwood)
Madera Ranchos, CA 93636

Turn a garden, serve the community: V4CF announces 'Community Garden Call to Action'

It’s time for Volunteers for Change-Fresno (V4CF) to get our hands dirty and answer President Obama’s call to service.

To answer that call, V4CF invites our members to participate in its latest Call to Action — a community service project on behalf of the West Fresno Health Care Coalition’s “Watch Us Grow” project. (WFHCC).

The WFHCC’s “Watch Us Grow” project educates youth about health, nutrition, community service and self-sufficiency by planting and maintaining the only community garden in west Fresno. In this Action, V4CF members, their families and their invitees will assist the “Watch Us Grow” project by helping to turn and prepare that community garden for spring planting.

WFHCC Director Yolanda Randles is very appreciative of our willingness to mount this Call For Action, scheduled 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the community garden on the southwest corner of Tulare and A Streets, adjacent to the Fresno Boys and Girls Club.

Want to participate? Sign up by contacting V4CF member and Call to Action lead Connie Peterson at (559) 325-8941 or via e-mail. Plan to bring water and snacks. Also, to increase V4CF’s visibility in the community, please wear your Obama shirts and "flair" to the Action. Finally, because this will truly be a “hands-on” project, participants are also strongly encouraged to bring their own gloves, rakes, Hula Hoes and other garden tools for their use at the Action.

So we may get an accurate count of participants, volunteers must sign up to participate. Let’s have a great turnout!

Peace Fresno's 'Rally in the Valley' coming March 22

From our member James Williams comes this:

Peace Fresno’s 8th Annual "Rally in the Valley for Peace and Justice" is scheduled 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at Eaton Plaza by the Water Tower in downtown Fresno. (Fresno & N Streets). This year’s Rally theme is “PEACE! LET’S DO IT."

The Rally will feature speakers Cindy Sheehan, peace activist, and Roberto Rodriguez, syndicated columnist, and will feature live music by The Raging Grannies and two other groups.

Volunteers are needed to help with the Rally in the Valley. To volunteer, send an e-mail message to philiptraynor@sbcglobal.net, danyaseen@comcast.net, or attend the volunteers' meeting scheduled 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at 1584 N. Van Ness in Fresno. Hope to see you there!

President Obama: Recovery, the budget, and healthcare reform

From our friends at Whitehouse.gov:

In his weekly address March 7, President Obama addresses several initiatives, including:

• New lending guidelines aimed at lowering mortgage payments;
• An initiative to generate funds for small business and college loans;
• The release of his administration's first budget, which includes $2T in deficit reduction, and
• The start of long overdue healthcare reform.