Activistas

Trick or Treat with a Purpose ~ 10.31.07

• Unicef is good.  Standard, but very good.  Got your box already?  If not, there's still time!  You can easily do a zip code search and find the nearest pick-up location (think: your kids' schools).  You can also download tons of great Unicef stuff to make your own collection system, stickers, posters, you name it.  Ever wondered where all the money goes?  Or how much money trick or treaters collect every October ($4.5 million in '06!)?  What Unicef stands for (think United Nations) or how long this trick-or-treating thing has been going on (57 years!!)?? 

Not the Unicef Type?  Prefer to Make a More Local Impact?  Good news!  Here are two local events on the 31st that your family can join up with:

1. Canvass for Kids Health Care in SE!  Ever gotten out the vote in costume?  Never say never, mamas.  Canvass for Measure 50, the Healthy Kids Initiative, while your kids trick-or-treat.  Get yer costumes on and meet up at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Portland office at 3536 SE 26th Avenue (just S of Powell).  Tricks & treats for canvassers of all ages from 4:30-6:30, with the neighborhood canvass launching at 5:30. 

Think you might go?  RSVP by e-mail or call (503) 239-8800.  The tobacco companies are spending BIG to defeat this measure, mamas.  If we don't step it up in the next 10 days, well, I don't want to think about it.  Don't forget to check out our earlier post on this Measure and the importance of voting early.

2. Help Stop Global Warming in St. John's! Sierra Club's Scare Away Global Warming - trade CFLs for treats!  RSVP by e-mail or call (503) 243-6656 x 302.

Know of any other do-good trick-or-treating activities for kids around town?  In other neighborhoods?  Do tell.  And eat some candy while you're at it, wouldya???

If it's on the shelf, it's safe - right?

The irony is not lost on me.  Nope.  For several years now I've been toting my very own preferred brand of kids' sunscreen to our child care center in the summers.  Alba Botanica.  None of those standard brands for my kids, thanks.  No animal testing?  Sign me up.  Worth the price?  Of course.  We must have six FULL tubes of the stuff because there was a sale recently, and rather than bankrupt our family to purchase it when it's not on sale, this mama likes to stock up (yes, it's genetic; I am a full-pantry mama). 

When I heard about the Environmental Working Group's sunscreen database, I was so not worried about my brand.  I typed it in thinking that by buying it from Wild Oats in a cute, groovy lookin' tube, I was all set.  My kids' skin was protected from the sun and any harmful chemicals, right?  Not so, mamas.  Not so. Instead, I've been rubbing oxybenzone into their chubby little cheeks - for years.  Even Wikipedia's short blurb on the chemical notes that in the E.U. there are labeling requirements for it.  Here?  Nah.  Why?  Industry. So what's new.  EWG found only 134 of 830 sunscreens to be safe  - is yours?

Sick Leave: I've Got 0 Hours, You?

When my daughter started throwing up in her bed tonight, I hate to admit it, but my very first thought was that I have not one single hour of sick leave at work.  That's right, not even one.  And I'm one of the lucky working mamas who actually gets sick leave where I work, 12 days a year, to be exact.  There are plenty of American parents who get none.  Why do I have 0 hours of sick leave, you ask?  Because I've had a long illness?  Nope.  Kids sick all the time?  No more than average.  Oh right!  How could I forget??  I returned to work after two maternity leaves in three years with a negative sick leave balance.  Why is that you ask?  Because there is NO PAID LEAVE REQUIREMENT in this country.  So while I was lucky enough to be able to convert advanced sick hours into cash while on leave to, yes, pay our mortgage, rebuilding my sick leave bank took time - a whole lot of time.  Without paid leave, I had to exhaust all that I had earned (and worked hard to save) to earn anything while home with my babes. 

I know, I know, paid leave, sick leave - tired old topics.  Can't we just move on?  Talk about something else?  If someone in Oregon or DC would just step up to the plate & solve this mess, we could.  But this time it's ME who's directly affected, so I'm gonna keep on talkin'. 

The Mom Vote '08

So Activistas are all about supporting good policy - in Portland, in Salem, in DC.  And in this November's election, it's all policy, no people.  But as Thomas Friedman reminded us in a recent NYT editorial, it's all about the people. Yes, he dissed my CFL lightbulbs and even all those super-quiet Prisues as not nearly enough to refreeze the polar ice cap - which was a bit of a bummer for someone who likes to think all those micro-choices I struggle with are actually worth it. But he struck a serious chord with me that it is all about whom we elect.  And he means ALL.  He suggested that when leaders change the rules, you get scale, and without scale, all you have is a hobby.  Ouch.  Sort of the I-drive-a-Prius-what-do-you-mean-Toyota-opposes-fuel-economy-improvements conundrum. Which brings me not to our all-policy-no-people 11.07 election, but to 11.08, when it's all about people, mamas. 

Not surprisingly, Moms Rising is on this Election 2008 thing.  Yeah, they want some money to get it rolling, but they are steppin' out with a strategy to get our issues front and center.  And I say, go get 'em, Joan.  I mean, these are some seriously connected folks, and I'm glad they're working to get my issues noticed.  A You Tube forum where we can ask the candidates what they plan to do about the myriad bad, bad policies that affect our families in this country?  Bring it on.  Media coverage galore?  Get out the Mama vote?  I'm all for it.  Rise, mamas, rise, is what I say. 

That said, with all that's on the mama plate, have I really got time to consider whom to vote for before I even know my actual choices?  Check out our 9.07 post on Election '08 & weigh in.  Who is your frontrunner?  Hillary's chasing us Mamastituents in a big way, and while I'll confess to liking the talk, how's a mama gonna know if it's just that, talk?  But something tells me they're gonna listen this time, mamas.  And I'm planning to be wishpering in their ears - you??

Phthalates: What's the Story in Oregon?

I've no real idea how to say this word.  But then pronunciation isn't the issue here.  Whether I should worry that both my kids gnawed on the stuff for years is the issue.  Guided by the precautionary principle, I finally tossed the soft plastic teething toys with my 2nd child and headed for the pricey wood ones (which she completely avoided, natch).  Was it necessary for me to throw out the old ones?  Spend a ridiculous sum on the possibly safer wooden ones?  Better safe than sorry, was my take.  The threat of adverse affects on my kids' hormonal balance was a bit much for me to take.  One less thing for me to potentially screw up as their parent!  (If you're the type who needs to understand exactly what a phthalate IS, it's Wikipedia to the rescue once again.)

So what is the story with this tongue twister?  Avoid it like the plague or keep on chewin'??  I'd like to think that if it's for sale, it's safe (ha!!), but we know all too well how that goes.  Not surprisingly, California has recently banned its use in toys for kids under 3, and nine other states are fast on its heels (Texas, mamas, but not Oregon).  Not to mention the 14 nations and the E.U. which (not surprisingly) beat us to it.  The political arguments are fairly standard, with each side (industry & enviros) claiming the science supports its position. 

Learning the Importance of 'Thank You'

How many times a day do you prompt your child(ren) to say thank you?  Just to make it less painfully redundant, sometimes I'll throw in an explanation, that goes something like this: When someone does a nice thing for you, it's polite to thank them.  It's good to let them know you appreciate what they did for you, plus, people are more likely to do things for you again if you thank them now.  So I've got this social skill thing down, right?  Thank them and they will continue to serve me.  Perfect.  And so easy!   

Earlier this week I attended a fundraiser to support New Leadership for Oregon (annual week-long political boot camp for Oregon college women  - amazing program out of PSU), and one of the speakers (powerful, inspiring women all) shared a simple but critical lesson she had learned from a seasoned Salem lobbyist: Thank your elected officials for what they do.  Just as I tell my son: people are more likely to do things for you again if you thank them now.  Plus, who keeps on giving to a bunch of ingrates?? 

Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights

I wish it weren't true but we missed it this year.  By a week, no less!  I try to know what's going on where & when & with whom but, truth be told, I'm a working parent with two kids under 5, so who am I kidding?  So, rather than tell you about an exciting opportunity to DO something (my fave), I must resort to the less direct, but ever-important consciousness raising.  So what did we miss?  Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights, of course, the brainchild of Atticus Circle.

Atticus Circle is a group dedicated to achieving equality for all parents and partners, regardless of sexual orientation.  There are, of course, a wide array of excellent organizations and people working tirelessly to promote LGBT rights in this country.  But Atticus Circle speaks to me, at this parenting-obsessed juncture in my life, because it invites straight people into the advocacy work, helps us find a voice to support our LGBT friends, co-workers and family members who are also parents.  Parents who deal with all the pressures I do, plus more than I can imagine.

Seems this parenting connection might shine some light on our similarities, rather than our minor differences.  I mean, we're all reading books on how to sleep through the night, we're all worrying about what they eat/won't eat, and we're all, yes it's true, reading uM!  Because what type of thermometer to use and how to handle delayed speech are questions we all have.  What we don't all have are the same rights.

More $ for Organics? Yes Please, Mom.

The Farm Bill is not for the feint of heart.  Good thing other brave souls are diving in head first and sorting that mess out.  The Environmental Working Group (how I love them) took on the task, sorting through millions of USDA records to count, graph, and share who gets all the fat subsidies.  I am anything but a farm bill expert, though I confess to having strong opinions about the need for some serious reform anyway (shocking!).  I am a softie for smaller farms (Wendell Berry is a personal hero), dig the idea of having a local source of foods, really like CSA's and visit our plethora of farmers' markets regularly (and not just to see Wiggles the clown and the balloon guy, though the kid action is, admittedly, a big draw).  If I could possibly love Wikipedia more for its ability to explain all things however complex, I do now for its perfect description of the U.S. Farm Bill:

Farm bills are often seen as among the most rampant areas of political corruption in American politics, with levels of pork barrel spending and irrelevant and near-irrelevant riders approaching or even exceeding the levels found in the federal budget.  Furthermore, it is often criticized for its role in setting US ag subsidies, which are widely seen as unfair to foreign competition and antithetical to free trade, as well as being corporate welfare as most of its recipients are not small farmers but rather large agribusiness corporations.

More $ for the Good Stuff.  Big as the Farm Bill is, tossing a few bucks at the things I support is for sure a good thing.  Spread the wealth, you know?  That's where EWG comes in.  They have a great Grow Organics Proposal in Congress right now (yes, it's time to pass another farm bill), with an even better ad campaign - Don't Leave Organics Behind (that eye-catching pic, above).  Hard to believe $1 billion over 5 years for organics and the like is small potatoes, but in this political game, mamas, it is.

Itchin' to Get Active?  If you, too, support the groovier side of American farming, check out EWG's Grow Organics Proposal.  They have an easy e-mail alert you can send to Congress telling them that you support the proposal. If you're not into all this, no need to e-mail anyone, because the folks in DC are successfully ignoring it already!

Activistas 101: Multnomah County

OK, so I confess that I've never really understood the intersection between city & county, and what with all the "mean girls" talk when Diane Linn was chairwoman, I kind of checked out.  But now it's a new era, right?  So clearly it's time to check back in, know who's who, and who's doing what (to whom?).  And how's that Ted Wheeler guy doing, anyway?

Well.  Since you asked...

Who Runs the Place?  The Board of Commissioners. One thing that's important to know is how the five commissioners are elected.  The chair, now Ted Wheeler, is elected 'at large,' meaning that everyone in the county votes for that position.  The other four commissioners represent districts, so you only elect the person who represents your district.  It's a non-partisan election (just like Portland city hall) and they can serve up to two four-year terms.  Don't know what district you're in?  You're not alone!

Once you know your district and your commissioner, you can step it up a notch and visit the web sites of both your commissioner and the chair to see what they're up to and get on their e-mail lists.  They all state their priorities - are they the same as yours???

1. Maria Rojo de Steffy
2. Jeff Cogen
3. Lisa Naito
4. Lonnie Roberts

They meet every Thursday from 9:30 to Noon @ 501 SE Hawthorne.  If you want to be there but can't (something on the agenda caught your eye), you can catch the action on TV at a more convenient time and location (your house!).  Times are: Th, 9:30 AM, (LIVE) Channel 30; Sat, 10 AM, Channel 29; Sun, 11 AM, Channel 30; Tu, 8:15 PM, Channel 29.   Give it a whirl, it can't be as dull as C-SPAN!

Ready to Jump In??  Get on the Citizen Involvement Committee.  They are seeking new members.  I wonder how many parents with young children are currently serving to get that important uM perspective in the mix?

Charter Schools: Here, There & Everywhere

Since Minnesota pioneered the concept in 1991, charter schools have popped up around the country almost as fast as, well, Portland Public schools are closing.  Oregon passed the necessary legislation in 1999, under Gov. Kitzhaber, and in the eight years since then almost 100 have opened their doors across the state (and more than a few closed already...), 11 in Portland alone! 

For good info on the charter school requirements in Oregon (and a good FAQ for beginners), check the Oregon Charter School Resource Center.  And for the official word, ODE is the place, with plenty of interesting program evaluations for the truly interested among us (why people choose them, state test results, why charters get revoked - real drama!).

It is heartening that an (ever-widening) array of tuition-free choices are available, when those choices have historically been available only to people who can afford tuition.  Waldorf, Montessori, inquiry-based, health & wellness, direct instruction, and the list goes on.   Choice, yes.  Better than PPS?  Hard to say.  Plus, so many of these schools are new - The Children's Museum's Opal School is Portland's oldest at 6 years.  I'm one of those "if it's not proven steer clear" types, but people sure love 'em.  Did you hear that something like 120 families applied for the 18 kindergarten slots at Emerson?  That's popularity. 

Get Involved: Live in No Po & want to see a Charter in Your Neighborhood?  New Harvest Charter School hopes to open in Fall 2008 and needs public support at a public hearing on Tuesday 11.13 to get its charter from the state.  Wanna learn more or get really involved?  Call or e-mail Heather @ 503-232-7971.

Tell Us How It is.  Anyone have a child in a Portland charter?  Feedback?  Happy?  Better/worse than traditional PPS?  Bumpy ride?  Thoughts on Oregon's unique system verses other states?  We're heading into kindergarten in Fall 2008 and I'd love to get the skinny from other uMs.  There is an April '07 post on the Arthur Academy in SE that had loads of great input - thanks!