California Food & Justice

Coalition
:: January 2010 Newsletter ::

IN THIS ISSUE:

:: Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan

:: Events and Announcements
:: In the News
:: Relief efforts in Haiti
:: Grants & Fundraising Opportunities
:: Jobs & Internships

____________________________________________________________
Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan

As we all know, the industrial agri-foods system is one of the greatest contributors
of green house gas emissions. Studies show that, globally, up to 32% of GHG
emissions are related to food system activities including production,
transportation, processing, and storage. Because low-income communities,
immigrant communities, and communities of color are disproportionately
impacted by both an unhealthy, industrial food system, as well as global climate
change, CFJC employs climate action planning as an important strategy for
protecting and strengthening our communities through rebuilding local food
systems that reduce GHG emissions. The additional benefits are many: creation
of green-collar jobs, strengthened local economies, and increased access to
healthy food for low-income communities.

Building on our success with Berkeley’s Climate Action Plan, CFJC has turned our
attention to advocating for food system localization policies in Oakland’s Energy
and Climate Action Plan. We have been working with the Oakland Climate
Action Coalition (OCAC), a cross-sector coalition of community-based
organizations, environmental experts and advocates, labor unions, and green
businesses working for an equitable and just Oakland Energy and Climate
Action Plan, to push for the inclusion of strong food system localization policies
that also create green-collar jobs and community wealth and food security. We
have worked with partner organizations to develop the following food system
recommendations for the OCAC:

• Promote urban and regional agriculture by making unused public land

within city limits (including school grounds, city land, and park land)
accessible for long-term / permanent use for personal, non-profit, and
micro-enterprise organic and sustainable food production for
consumption within city limits. Facilitate access to private land (under-
utilized yards, commercial lots, etc.) for food production, prioritizing
private land use by projects that create green collar jobs for low-income
residents and / or direct food produced to low-income communities
through retail, food banks, and schools. Require and supply assistance in
soil testing and remediation.

• Support the development of existing and new food markets by requiring

all food businesses (retail outlets, restaurants, government facilities,
hospitals and health care facilities, etc) to locally source a required
percentage (TBD) of the food they sell. Provide support to small
businesses owned by Oakland residents by creating new ordinances that
support producing local food.

• Support the development of ‘closed loop’ local food-based

microenterprises including production, processing and marketing by
creating five small-scale commercial kitchens in underserved areas of
Oakland by 2015 in order to stimulate local food microenterprises to
reduce GHG emissions and create green collar jobs. Provide technical
assistance to start up small businesses (help with permitting, start-up costs,
sharing of equipment, procurement of local produce, etc.). Pilot
community cafeterias at at least two commercial kitchens where
residents can eat low-priced, locally-grown, locally-prepared, healthy
meals while getting to know their neighbors.

• Create a training and certification program for new low-tech/low-cost

greywater plumbers and food microenterprises including urban micro-
farming, processing and distribution.

These policies will help the City of Oakland reach its emission reductions targets
of 36% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 85% below 2005 levels by 2050. Thanks to
hard work and pressure from the OCAC, progress toward these targets will be
reviewed annually.

The first draft of Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan is due out in late
March. We will be sending out details on opportunities to advocate for food and
climate justice in Oakland by influencing the plan. In the meantime, please sign
the petition to demand an equitable and just Energy and Climate Action Plan
for Oakland. (You can sign even if you're not a resident.)
____________________________________________________________
Events and Announcements

:: The Global Food Crisis and Local Solutions: a discussion co-sponsored by

Grassroots International and the Oakland Institute; Wednesday, January 27 at
6pm. For more info: http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/

:: Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) Annual Bilingual Conference “Healthy

Harvest from Field to Table” takes place on March 20th. $20. To register, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/pworgconf

:: The Built Environment Committee of the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities
Initiative (BARHII) has put together a Healthy Planning Guide to help public
health and planning departments , or anyone involved with creating healthier
environments, collaborate on strategies to promote healthier communities. You
can find the guide at: http://tinyurl.com/barhii

_____________________________________________________________________________
______
In the News

:: Raj Patel, author of Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food
System, has published a new book on consumption, The Value of Nothing. To
see his interview with Stephen Colbert, go to http://tinyurl.com/patelcon

:: Join Pesticide Action Network in building the case against atrazine: Banned in
the EU, atrazine remains widely used on corn, and is found in 70% of U.S. water
sample at levels linked to birth defects, certain cancers, and more. This story is
hitting papers across the country as people demand clean, safe, drinking water.
To take action, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yhzpeyz

:: Community Food and Shelter Jobs are one of the top rapidly expanding job
fields in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Wall Street
Journal, in its coverage of declining and expanding job areas, spoke with
Community Food Security Coalition’s ex-Board President, Sharon Thornberry. To
read the article, go to: http://tinyurl.com/cfscquoted
:: Michelle Obama has pledged to make her legacy a deeper and long lasting
policy impact in reducing childhood obesity. For the article, go to
http://tinyurl.com/pledge2health. Tom Philpott comments that this means that
she will have to confront the companies that are producing "low-quality,
environmentally ruinous food and robust profits." You can find his article at:
http://tinyurl.com/yfnowgf.

:: USDA Secretary Vilsack releases funds to improve the quality and safety of
school lunches through safer equipment. California receives $3.23 million. You
can find the article at http://tinyurl.com/fdsafety

______________________________________________________________________________
_______
Relief Efforts in Haiti

Thank you to Food First for the information in this section.

Not all aid is equal as we all learned from the fiasco in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. Haiti’s January 12 earthquake has left thousands dead. Many
more need urgent medical attention. Here is a short list of organizations that
Food First is confident can address both urgent medical needs and prevent a
deepening hunger crisis. Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders have
had a strong presence in Haiti prior to the quake. They are in a position to
implement and advise on urgent medical care. Donations of cash are the best
way to help meet the urgent needs in a timely manner.

With many Haitians already malnourished prior to this devastating earthquake,

food is also urgently needed. Farmers in other parts of the country are growing
food that can be purchased and given to those in and around Port-au-Prince.
Both Grassroots International and their Haitian Partners and Haiti Action can help
make such people to people exchanges possible.

Partners in Health

Founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, this nonprofit health delivery program has served
Haiti’s poor since 1987. To donate for earthquake relief, go to
https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake?source=earthquake&
subsource=homepage

In an urgent email from Port-au-Prince, Louise Ivers, Partners in Health clinical

director in Haiti, appealed for assistance from her colleagues in the Central
Plateau: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS... Temporary field
hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us."
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Doctors Without Borders was working in Haiti prior to the quake with a staff of
800. Here is a report on January 13, 2009 with a link to their donation page.
http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4148&cat=field-news

Haiti Action

Haiti’s grassroots movement – including labor unions, women’s groups,

educators, human rights activists, support committees for prisoners and
agricultural cooperatives – will attempt to funnel needed aid to those most hit
by the earthquake. Grassroots organizers are doing what they can with the most
limited of funds to make a difference. Please take this opportunity to lend them
your support: http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/1_12_10.html

Grassroots International

Long time Food First partner Grassroots International has a long history of working
with organizations on the ground in Haiti. Grassroots has committed to the
extent possible to, “provide cash to our partners to make local purchases of the
items they most need and to obtain food from farmers not hit by the disaster.”
www.grassrootsonline.org/news/blog/all-hands-responding-haiti-emergency

For more analysis of how structural and institutional forces have created Haiti's
extreme poverty and food insecurity: Haiti: Roots of Liberty, Roots of Disaster, by
Eric Holt-Giménez, Food First
______________________________________________________________________________
______
Grants and Fundraising Opportunities

:: The Praxis Project has announced a Call for Proposals for Communities
Creating Healthy Environments (CCHE)-a grant initiative funded by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation to support community organizing and policy
advocacy to increase access to healthy food and safe places to play in
communities of color. CCHE will provide funding and technical assistance for up
to ten local community organizing groups and indigenous nations with grants of
up to $250,000 over three years. Youth led organizing groups in communities of
color are strongly encouraged to apply. There is an in-person session on January
28 in Oakland. For more information, go to: http://ccheonline.org/.

:: CA Statewide Park Program will award $184M in grants this year to projects
that create new parks and recreational opportunities in underserved
communities. Applications are due on March 1, 2010. For more info:
www.parks.ca.gov/?Page_id=26025.

______________________________________________________________________________
______
Jobs and Internships

:: The Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) is looking for a Campaign &
Organizing Director. This individual should be experienced and highly motivated
to lead a talented team of organizers to build the power of grassroots Asian
Pacific Islander communities to advance environmental, social and economic
justice. Deadline: Jan. 29th. For more information, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/apenjob.

:: The San Francisco Foundation is accepting applications for its Multicultural

Fellowship Program. The San Francisco Foundation's Multicultural Fellowship
Program aims to increase diversity in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. The
Program provides young professionals of color with challenging work
experiences and leadership opportunities in the areas of grantmaking and
community building. The Fellowship includes an intensive curriculum, individual
coaching, mentorship, access to local service sector leaders, and countless
opportunities to build a professional network. Applications due March 22nd. For
more information, and to apply, go to: http://tinyurl.com/sffmfs

:: The International Rescue Committee at the San Diego Regional Resettlement

Office is hiring a Manager in the Food Security and Community Health Program.
For more information on job requirements, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yhdt9qv.

:: Ag Innovations in Sebastopol is hiring a part time Program Administrative

Assistant to manage the website, constituent database and communications;
basic bookkeeping, HR and contracts admin; foundation and funding research;
and assist with grant proposal writing and submission. For more details:
http://beginningfarmers.org/job-ag-innovations-network-program-
administrative-assistant-california/

:: Petaluma Bounty Farms is seeking interns who would like to be exposed to all
aspects of vegetable, fruit, herb and flower production and distribution. The
ideal candidate must be able to commit for the entire season from March to
November, must have experience working on an organic garden or farm, and
have a good work ethic and a positive attitude. Contact Amy Rice-Jones,
amy@petalumabounty.org, to receive the Internship Application.

:: CCOF, in Santa Cruz, is hiring a Certification Operations Specialist to ensure the

smooth delivery of a wide range of services and supports the needs of CCOF’s
primary inspection, certification and review functions. CCOF is one of the
largest and oldest organic certification organizations in the US. For more
information on the position, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ccofcos.

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The California Food and Justice Coalition is a statewide

membership coalition working to ensure
the basic human right to healthy food while advancing social,
agricultural and environmental justice.
We collaborate with community-based efforts in California working
to create a socially just, ecologically
and economically sustainable food supply. We envision a
California food system in which all activities,
from farm to table, are equitable, healthful, regenerative, and
community-driven.

California Food and Justice Coalition

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite F, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: 510-704-0245
FAX: 510-548-8896
http://www.CAFoodJustice.org <http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
<http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
email: info@CAFoodJustice.org

CFJC is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Ecology Center.