Join the OCA to Resist and Regenerate in the Age of Trump

“We think Meetup.com, an online tool, can play a key role in helping us all bridge the gap between online and on-the-ground activism.” – Organic Consumers Association

The Organic Consumers Association has launched #Resist and #Regenerate on Meetup.com, and the response has been terrific. So far, there have been nearly 200 local Meetup groups created, with over 2200 members. And they’re growing fast!

The concept is simple: Start a #Resist and #Regenerate group on Meetup, reach out and invite local activists and concerned citizens to a meeting, identify a local issue or local candidate, and start working together—in your own backyard.

This might be the most important initiative OCA has ever launched. But they need us to take the concept, and run with it. As fast as you can.

A Personal Message from OCA Director Ronnie Cummins

Join a #Resist & #Regenerate Meetup near you

Start a #Resist & #Regenerate Meetup group in your community

March Against Monsanto

“On May 20, 2017, activists in 300 cities on six continents will participate in the sixth annual International March Against Monsanto. Since last year’s march, there’s been no shortage of reports implicating Monsanto in everything from colluding with EPA officials to burying the truth about Roundup’s health risks, to influencing university scientists to write favorable reports about Roundup and glyphosate.

In the past year, Monsanto has been hit with multiple lawsuits, including those filed on behalf of more than 800 people who have been diagnosed (or whose family members have been diagnosed) with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after being exposed to Monsanto’s Roundup.” — Organic Consumers Association

In April, a panel of five International Monsanto Tribunal judges slammed Monsanto over violations of international human rights.

As citizens and consumers, we must continue to stand up to Monsanto and other corporate criminals, But even as we resist the corporate takeover of our government and regulatory agencies, we must also talk about solutions—including how we can regenerate everything from our health to our economies and communities, by building a new Regeneration Movement.

That message—Resist and Regenerate—is the message we hope you’ll bring to your local March Against Monsanto this year.

Find a march near you.

In New York City there will be a march, along with the town of Islip and Babylon on Long Island.

Download our March Against Monsanto campaign materials.

Help Protect the Laws Set Out by the EPA

Just last week, Trump appointed the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) former senior director of regulatory science policy to a new position at the EPA: deputy assistant administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. And as if putting a chemical industry lobbyist in charge of chemical safety weren’t bad enough, the EPA last week also dismissed at least five scientists on its scientific review board. Pruitt told the media he will replace the scientists with industry representatives who “understand the impact of regulations on the regulated community.”

In other words, the government agency in charge of protecting you from poisons will now protect corporations from regulations.

It’s clear that under Trump, the EPA is abandoning its mission to “protect you, your family, and the environment from potential risks from pesticides and toxic chemicals.” We need to speak up.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the EPA: Preserve Laws to Protect Human Health from Toxic Pesticides

Sign the online petition here or text Dow to 97779 to sign it that way!

An Invitation from the Anti-Hunger Task Force

“Anti-hunger work is a valued priority of the Health and Welfare Council (of Long Island,) and in light of emerging needs across our region, we plan to soon reconvene and reinvigorate the Anti-Hunger Taskforce to meet these needs.  In the meantime, we all know that there are emerging issues of fear associated with accessing SNAP and other benefits from many who fear being in the system in this current climate.  We also know that the health and human services sector needs to stand together and work fiercely to protect the critical services and basic needs that families require.  We are sending this invitation to those of you who do this important work each and every day: standing up to ensure that the most basic needs of food and nutrition are available to every Long Islander.”

Lori Andrade, Chief Operations Officer
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
150 Broad Hollow Road, Suite 118
Melville, NY 11747                                                                                                                                                                    

The Anti Hunger Task Force of Long Island is reaching out to organizations that service “in need” populations, to address incidences of bias and hate that is creating an atmosphere of fear in our communities.  To equip organizations with the tools necessary to provide the most comprehensive assistance to service clients and anyone experiencing acts of bias and hate, the Anti Hunger Task Force is very excited to invite you—the organizations who do such critical work every day– to take part in an UpStander Training on Friday, June 9, 2017 from 10 to 4 at the EOC of Suffolk at 320 Carleton Ave # 7800, in Central Islip.  We need to work together to overcome the current challenges that all of our organizations and our neighbors are facing.
This training provided by The Anti-Defamation League will focus on:
·         Recognizing bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society
·         Building an understanding of the value and benefits of diversity
·         Confronting racism, discrimination, anti-Semitism and all other forms of bigotry
 
Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 31st to HWCLI’s Outreach Specialist, Marton Dioszegi at MDioszegi@hwcli.com or 516-505-4437.  

Help Support School to Emergency Food Providers Bill

“Hunger Action Network of New York State thanks you for your support and advocacy for the Farm to Food Bank Bill. The bill was passed as part of the 2017-18 budget, due to your hard work and support.

I am also writing to see if we can do it again!  The School to Emergency Food Providers (EFP’s) bill has been re-introduced this year as A2409/S5664 and is scheduled to come to Senate floor next week.  We are working with Senator Klein and Assemblyman Ortiz’s offices to contact advocates and supporters of the legislation to see if they would be willing to write a memorandum of support for the bill.”

Susan Zimet, Executive Director of Hunger Action Network

This legislation, if enacted, would ask the Commissioner of Education to establish guidelines for and encourage the donation of unused school lunches to local food pantries and emergency feeding programs.

If you are able to send a memo of support, please email it to Mr. Stephen Casscles, Counsel for Senator Klein at  scasscle@nysenate.gov and Brian Early, Legislative Director for Assemblyman Ortiz at earlyb@nyassembly.gov.  Please carbon copy Susan Zimet, Executive Director of Hunger Action Network of New York State as well at Susan.Zimet@gmail.com.