I picked up a RAN pamphlet while attending an animal rights conference in Oregon, and was very much taken with their bite-back approach in challenging large corporations. I was inspired by the work RAN was doing to support Indigenous rights and communities. Nothing is more valuable, sacred, and vulnerable than our environment and the species that we share with it. I feel RAN does an amazing job through direct action, my personal favorite, and get corporations to adopt better business practices.

Environmentalism with Teeth

RAN has caught my eye with their commanding and tenacious energy to their campaigns. Not only is RAN able to find ways in which to take action on the issues facing our precious planet, but they turn that action into something exciting and compelling. RAN will get the job done!

About Kitty

In middle school I was exposed to a side of the food industry that I had never seen before through the video “Meet Your Meat.” This video opened my eyes to the animal abuse in the production of industrial foods and changed my life. I went from an apathetic and jaded teenager to an inspired and unstoppable activist for animals and the environment.

Since then, volunteering has become my favorite thing to do. I have recently started cleaning people’s houses in my free time in my efforts to support groups that work to protect the environment, the rights of animals and humans alike. So far I’ve raised over $700.

When not volunteering I simply delight in protesting, meeting new people, jogging, and cooking up a vegan storm in the kitchen!

Amanda and Michelle celebrating their 16th birthday

Amanda Keller and Michelle Bennett of Morris County, New Jersey used the celebration of their very special sixteenth birthdays this year to raise $1,200 for Rainforest Action Network and spread awareness about the importance of protecting rainforests to their network of friends, family, and community.

Amanda was kind enough to tell us about how her and Michelle came up with their awe-inspiring birthday celebration, and why she has taken it upon herself to practice green living every day.

Why did you two involve a nonprofit in the celebration of your Sweet 16′s?

At first I wasn’t planning on having a sweet 16, maybe just a trip to New York with a few friends, but Michelle called me one day with the idea and I got so excited. A “Go Green Sweet 16″ not only rolled off the tongue nicely but would also be a great way to raise money to help the environment. We quickly made a guest list, eco-friendly invites (with used water bottles instead of envelopes), and ordered vegan catering. We requested that guests bring monetary donations for RAN in lieu of gifts, and we were very happy with the $1,200 dollars we were able to raise.

Amongst so many environmental nonprofits out there, what made you choose RAN?

Honestly, I hadn’t heard of RAN before planning the party. Michelle and I searched on Google for rainforest charities and it was the first link that popped up. As it turns out we couldn’t have picked a more appreciative and cooperative organization.

Tell us a little bit about you…

I’m a junior in high school and want to be a nutrition major in college. As of last year, I went vegan to advocate for the beautiful mistreated animals and to cut down on the huge carbon footprint associated with animal products. I’ve always been environmentally conscious, with my Vera Bradley lunch box, reusable water bottles, and ridiculously small font sizes to cut down on use of printer paper. I’m a dancer and a yogi and go hiking as often as possible. Out of the nine different countries I’ve traveled to, Monaco was by far my favorite because of the giant playground I found there.

If you’re interested in raising funds for Rainforest Action Network as part of your next party, please contact ranmembers@ran.org with any questions.

If you’ve already contacted Pelosi and other government representatives, great! Either way, please inform yourself of what (or what more) you can do to help with the Farm Bill by reading below.

Immediately below is the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s update — go to the link for more info on wins for organic (and a very clear presentation of what is still underfunded). Below the OFRF call is the CA Coalition for Food & Farming’s call – also focusing on restoring $3.1 billion to the Conservation Security Program, restructuring commodity payments, and funding Community Food Projects. (Thanks Marcia for this compilation and summary.)

1) OFRF Organic Farmers Action Network Policy Alert

http://ofrf.org/action/ofan/070723_alert.html

Farm Bill Update -
Significant Wins on Organic;
Conservation Security Program Still Needs Funding!

The House Agriculture Committee approved its version of the Farm Bill last week (July 18th and 19th). Thanks to your phone calls and letters, organic agriculture fended off several proposed attacks and won some significant victories in the committee mark-up. However, the $3.1 billion cut to the Conservation Security Program (CSP), an important program that protects natural resources by rewarding environmental conservation measures that farmers implement, was not rectified during full committee mark-up.

As the revised bill moves to the House floor for a vote on July 26, this is our last chance to put pressure on Congress to restore the $3.1 billion cut from CSP. Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN), House Agriculture Committee Chair, has left it in the hands of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the Speaker of the House, to find funding for the Conservation Security Program. Please call your Representative TODAY and urge him to pressure Speaker Pelosi to restore the $3.1 billion cut to the Conservation Security Program. Without restoring these cuts, farmers hoping to make environmental and conservation improvements to their land will lack the financial assistance to do so.

Phone Rap: “Hi, my name is ______ and I am a constituent. I urge Rep. Matheson to contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ask her to find the money to restore the $3.1 billion that was cut from the Conservation Security Program in the Farm Bill. The Conservation Security Program rewards farmers who implement farming systems with strong environmental and conservation benefits, and helps to protect soil, water, and other natural resources.”

2) CCFF: Last Chance for Action in the House

FARM BILL UPDATE: LAST CHANCE FOR ACTION IN THE HOUSE

The House Ag Committee voted its Farm Bill proposal, HR 2419, out of committee last Thursday. It is expected to go to a vote on the House floor this Thursday. Many headlines around the state are lauding the fact that California scored some big wins. While the $1.5 billion mandatory funding for specialty crops is a significant step forward for California and included modest gains for many of our priorities, $1.5 billion over five years still pales in comparison to the roughly $40 billion commodity program that actually rewards farmers for growing commodities in ways that harm the environment. Furthermore, the proposed bill offers a payment limits package that is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and weaker than the Bush administration’s proposal: the proposal actually removes any cap on loan deficiency payments and increases the cap on direct payments by 50 percent to $120,000. You can read more about our perspective in this front page Chronicle article “Pelosi takes the Heat for Stand on Farm Bill”

Key Conservation Program Slashed
The proposed Bill increases conservation funding by only $3 billion over 5 years. That’s less than the Bush administration asked for. The proposal slashes the Conservation Security Program by $3 billion. This program is currently helping many California farmers reduce pesticide use and protect air, water, soil and wildlife habitat. The Bill also fails to include mandatory funding for a highly successful local food program, the Community Food Project Competitive Grant Program, that helps low income communities develop projects that increase their access to local food, while promoting new markets for small farmers. Read our most recent letter to Speaker Pelosi.

ONE FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION IN THE HOUSE If you’ve been meaning to get involved, today is your last best chance to make a difference in the House. With the farm bill scheduled to be debated on the floor of the House July 26, it is up to Speaker Pelosi to demand real reform and make sure that the Conservation Security Program and the Community Food Project Grant Program get the resources they deserve in the final Bill.

CALLS NEEDED TO REPRESENTATIVES TODAY THROUGH July 25!!! Please call the Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask for your Representative’s office by name. Once connected, ask the Representative’s receptionist for the staff person responsible for agriculture. If the agriculture aid is unavailable, leave your name, phone number, and the message above on the aid’s voice mail, or if necessary, with the receptionist.

The message: I am a constituent of Congressperson_____. I’m very concerned about the Farm Bill’s failure to enact meaningful reform and invest in local food and conservation programs that deliver far more public benefit. I would like to ask Congressperson___ to call Speaker Pelosi and ask her to negotiate a Farm Bill that:
restores $3 billion to the Conservation Security Program
Applies Real payment limits to commodity programs, including a $40,000 direct payment cap and the closing of all loopholes.
providing $30 million in mandatory funding for the Community Food Project Grant Program
More information and talking points: The current Farm Bill proposal will simply perpetuate a tremendous imbalance in Farm bill funding in our state that delivered nearly $1 billion in subsidies to California rice and cotton growers while only $64 million flowed to the state for conservation between 2003- 2005. To change this ratio, and to have adequate resources for local food, organic and nutrition programs that deliver far greater benefit, we need real commodity reform.

Sample letters for your representatives and for Nancy Pelosi are on our website. You can cut and paste messages and send them to your representative here. To send a message to Speaker Pelosi, click here.

Must Read recent Farm Bill editorial:

Editorial: Tighten the cap on farm subsidies. Huge payments have become counterproductive

Must Read Blogs

Mulch and the Ruminant

San Francisco and California voters can make all the difference. The more people that take action, the better our chances of real reform will be. Forward this message to others using the forward button below. Thank you for taking action.

Kari Hamerschlag

California Coalition for Food and Farming
email: calfoodfarming@gmail.com
web: http://www.calfoodandfarming.org