Year End Round-Up

As the final days of 2011 approach, my inbox has been flooded with non-profit pleas for end of the year donations. From the DCCC to USO to Sierra Club to Color of Change to Moveon.org, I've received no less than 15 emails daily for the last week reminding me that I have the opportunity to make one more tax deductible donation for 2011. I personally don't appreciate the DCCC taking every opportunity to beg me for money, so I responded to their email asking them to collect their dues from the corporations that set the Democrat's agenda.  I'm not even registered as a Democrat, it doesn't matter, as long as my money is green.

National and multi-national non-profit or non-governmental organizations typically operate at an 80/20 model - that is 80% of their money goes to their administration costs whereas 20% goes directly to their programming to advance their mission.  That is why in lieu of donations, I prefer to volunteer directly with the organizations that I support. Volunteers support activities in organizations that otherwise would not get done, go unaddressed or would require the org to divert resources towards.  Research has also shown that volunteering has positive emotional and psychological benefits (as long as the participation is truly voluntary and if the volunteer personally feels their impact within the org).

Money is how our society shows value or worth these days, so if donating is more your thing see below for the list of orgs that have flooded my inbox these last two weeks (all searching for those last minute donations):

• Slowmoney.org - This group was the most unique in stating their direct intentions for donations collected at this time will go towards producing videos that exemplify slowmoney ethos
• DCCC - "We set an aggressive goal of raising $1 million in the final days before December 31st and launched a matching campaign where every dollar you donate is matched by a generous group of committed donors 2-to-1."
• East Bay Meditation Center - EBMC is another unique org, utilizing the Dana Giving Model headed by their Generosity Committee
• Rebuild the Dream - Apparently, this org's mission is to counteract the efforts of the Tea Party...good for them
• USO - 'At Home in Our Hearts' campaign to support troops abroad or coming home
• Friends of the Earth - This group is lobbying against big oil and other polluters to advocate for policies that address climate change 
• US Labor Against the War - pretty self explanatory group mission
• California Clean Money - This group is pushing for a state law called the Disclose Act forcing all political ads to disclose who funded the ad.
• 350.org - In the next 60 days, Obama will be making a decision about the Keystone XL pipeline
• Color of Change - This group is working to strengthen Black America's political voice 
• Transition US - Independently minded folks building sustainable and fulfilling community networks, being the change they want to see in the world
• Climate Reality - This org dispatches Climate Presenters to schools, churches and town halls to educate the public about the realities of climate change in our world
• Women's Earth Alliance - This org aims to address resource shortages around the world by providing training and advocacy support across the world
• Moveon.org - This org is pretty sophisticated, they keep a pulse on the most publicized liberal agenda issues and advocate hard by sending massive amounts of email
• Sierra Club - national environmental advocacy and action org

December 15 - Round up

As the holidays approach, the opportunities to share your time and resources with the organization's you value most are great ways to bring your family together.  A dear friend of mine in New Orleans is having twenty-five family members from all over the country celebrate the holidays with him.  They are spending a family day in service to others. I am so inspired by his commitment to his community.

Here are some goings on around the internet and town that might pique your interest:

• UnitedforPeace.org - Organizing against the FY2012 Defense Authorization Act, this organization is committed to advocating for peace, justice and diverting funding away from the military. The Senate votes on this bill today.  In terms of process, the legislative body has to authorize the amount of money and for which specific authorities that money will be used for every department of the federal government.  What's so controversial in this particular bill is the challenge to current civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.  It opens the possibility for indefinite detainment by the governing body.  Sign this PETITION to President Obama to VETO the Defense Authorization Act.
• Slowmoney.org - determined to reach 1 million supporters for investment in small food enterprises. This includes investment in: urban farming, markets, organic farms and cooperatives. Their goal is to get 1 million people investing 1% of their income for sustainable food access.
• In commemorating the official end to the war in Iraq, the White House is making it possible to write letters to the troops. The US lost 4500 soldiers in this war, the veterans are coming back to this country and will be reintegrating into our communities. It blows my mind to really try to wrap my mind around this. The White House has a wall available to post notes to troops.
•  PETITION: Declare Pompton Lakes a superfund site and make Dupont be accountable to the toxic problem they caused
• Opencongress.org - keeps current on all bills going through congress. The headline currently is about internet censorship legislation labeled as 'China-style' passing through committee.

Please send me what's piquing your interest in the activist world. I'm interested in highlighting local community efforts and national legislative efforts and am hoping others will share their activist networks.

Super-hero Organization Spotlight!!

I love super heroes so much!! And I love the super heroes working all around the world to beneficially impact the lives of others. Today's post is all about three SUPER HERO ORGANIZATIONS!!!! The spotlight is on them:

• South Bend Center for the Homeless - For 23 years, this phenomenal Center for the Homeless has served the Michiana areas homeless population with wrap-around care providing an array of programs and services. As a volunteer from 1999-2002, I was welcomed into the community with open arms and shared in the strength that was developed within the community structure. The community nurtured the space for individual growth. This organization is full of SUPER-HEROES!!!
• Jamaicans for Justice - Super Heroine Dr. Carolyn Gomes founded JFJ with others after gas riots and too many years of human rights violations pushed her to her limit in 1999.  They inspire me because they defend human rights for everyone, that no matter what status one lives we all deserve the same rights. "It is in that space of power imbalance and individual vulnerability that most human rights non-governmental organizations (NGO) operate, in an attempt to even the balance and provide protection for society’s vulnerable/against the all-powerful state mechanism." -JFJ website Defense of Human Rights: Clarifying Misconceptions
• St. Mungo's - With close to 70,000 people classified as homeless in London, their wrap-around services offered all over the city are crucial in mitigating the impact of homelessness for hundreds of people every year. SUPER HEROES!!!! When I volunteered at St. Mungo's, I gardened with a rock-star horticulturalist, Angie Moffat, who coordinated a volunteer staff from the organization's facilities and other's from around the neighborhood. The goal was to beautify public spaces in collaboration with those who live in those same spaces.

I'm so proud of all of these organizations and I hope they continue to do their wonderful work in their communities!! Their hard work is a blessing for me and for many more.  Its hard to know what kind of astronomical feats many of these same super heroes could be capable of, if we lived in a world where our declaration of human rights universally guaranteed equality for all.  They'd be able to solve all different types of problems. I like to think we'd be teleporting by now.

December 7 - Round-up

Bay Area Campaign for New Priorities - advocating to end wars and cut the military budget; Sat, Dec 10 next general meeting, 3-5 at CA Nurses Association HQ, 2000 Franklin St, Oakland

Change.org Discovery Channel Petition is a success!! - After a petition with 75,000 signatures reached the Discovery Channel, the network will air the seventh episode of their series on Antarctica that shows clear climate change impacts in the South Pole.

Americans Re-Occupy their homes - Occupy movements across the country had a day of action on Dec 6, occupying foreclosed properties and rallying with struggling homeowners.  The next day of action is December 10 for Human Rights Day. #10December is a day of action demanding equality for all, demanding economic and social justice. #10December is a day to stand together for community

Fight the Blight - The City of New Orleans is continuing efforts to re-occupy blighted properties throughout the city. December 10 is also a day to be out and about in New Orleans picking up litter, clearing debris, cutting overgrown lots, small construction or painting projects, and light landscaping.

Center for Economic and Policy Research - policy analysis website keeping a pulse on the world economy. A recent op-ed by Mark Weisbrot emphasizes the ability for the Eurozone crises to be mitigated, however there are stipulations on the financing that has to do with extreme austerity measures — such as raising the retirement age, cutting spending, privatizations, even EU control over national budgets – that most Europeans would never vote for.

Americans for a Better Tomorrow Tomorrow - Stephen Colbert "has asked Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party Richard Harpootlian to petition his state's Supreme Court for a rehearing of their ruling in Buford County v. S.C. Election Commission...At issue is the court's decision to remove advisory questions from the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary Ballots. Of particular interest to Colbert Super PAC is Question 4. The question, which has already been approved by the South Carolina Commission and included on sample ballots and some military absentee ballots, asks the people of South Carolina to choose between two options: "Corporations are people" and "Only people are people."" Stephen Colbert is leading his Super-PAC to challenge judicial convention in our current democracy.

December 6 - Activist round-up

My inbox gets a steady stream of policy notifications, initiatives, activist opportunities, volunteer opportunities and general information about the current events of the planet. For the next few weeks, I'm going to keep a live streaming clearinghouse for current events via the activist and volunteer networks. I encourage you to contact me if you have more information to share, because I envision a community network of information gatherers who are passionate about diverse priorities.

• Sierra Club: pressing EPA to, after 20 years, establish regulatory limits on toxic air emissions. 
• The Peace Alliance: peace organization advocating for peace through policy initiatives and community building. Monthly conference call tonight!
• Moveon.org has organized an "Occupy Your Homes" day for today December 6. A day of organized resistance against a failing banking industry, a day to stand up against unlawful foreclosures. 
• Last night 350.org hosted a live chat with Bill McKibben to strategize future activism against tar sands pipelines and climate change.  Environmental activism is piquing with the help of this active organization. 
• Americans Elect: a grassroots effort to rally electoral reform and increase voter participation in the electoral process. The organization offers a network of politically minded contributors to dialogue about current events.
• Change.org: versatile website that encourages civic participation by rallying support in the form of petitions. A current petition that caught my eye is the "Antarctica: Too hot for TV" which is a petition to the Discovery Channel to air the entire 7 episode series of Antarctica that exposes climate change as reality in the final episode. Shocking footage, I'm sure, will be censored for the impressionable American's viewing audience, while played in full to more mature European audiences. 
• The Shift Movement: an organization that allows transcendental philosophers and energy healers and space cadets like myself to share ideas about compassionate and empathy based systems solutions to social and economic injustices. 
• Climate Reality: organization advocating for acknowledge of the climate reality we face and to further actions to slow and ultimately reverse the effects of climate change. 
• SF Green Film Festival: monthly event tonight!! Screening of "The City Dark" by Ian Cheney in SF tonight at 3, 5, 7, & 9 at SF Film Society
• Social Security Works: a lobbyist group advocating for social security reform without defunding the service, also exposing the lobbying efforts of individuals and groups working to defund social security
• California Clean Money Campaign: advocating for a state law to require full disclosure of who is funding political advertisements and slate mailings