Monday, July 30, 2012
Update on Mali and visit from Mayor of Segou
View Larger Map
Map of the major cities of Mali, especially related to the coup d'etat in the capital city Bamako, the rebellion in the north, and Richmond's sister city, Segou. The RN6 is called the "Main Road" and essentially follows the Niger River's route southwest to northeast. You use the buttons on the map to zoom in, out and move in any direction to see more.
Monday, July 16, 2012
SNAP at Farmers Markets
Today on DefendersLIVE we are rebroadcasting a show from June 13, 2011 in which I announced that farmers markets around Richmond were going to be able to accept SNAP benefits; in fact nearly 40 farmers markets and farm stands around the state gained the funding to make this available.
Chock full of good information and points of departure about food, there are also a few calendar items that are NO LONGER VALID - so please contact the Elegba Folklore Society about their mid-August Down Home Family Reunion and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center about their current exhibit, "Shackles" which runs through August 30, 2012.
Its interesting to listen to my old shows again. In this one I set up the idea that our "old ways of eating" are not so good for us anymore. I KNOW what I meant, but as a listener suddenly I heard the vagueness in the reference. The "old ways" I was referring to is the 20th century system of industrializing food into commodities. While the mass production of foods coupled with the exponential capacity to transport that food - meant that an amazing variety of foods became available to far more people around the country, it also meant the loss of market for our local food producers. And, as discussed, longer term problems evolved - additives impact on health, etc.
Did you know SNAP covers seeds and plants for growing your own food too?
As excited as we have been about the ability to use SNAP benefits at farmers markets, and as integral as this should be to the farmers market framework, this is not going to address the issue of Hunger and Food Deserts alone. Community Gardens, farm stands, neighborhoods farming together... So much that is so local to our daily lives that we can actually make a difference. There'd be no Whole Foods if corporation didn't see the profit in it. So, clearly "we're" already buying enough organic, natural, local and nutrient dense foods that they see the BIG FAT $$$ rolling in.
So, what if we decided to take control of feeding ourselves? Then comes the chat about entitlement versus letting the private sector handle everything... And did I mention the impact of subsidies on our farmers and farmers in far countries like Mali whose cotton can't be sold for hardly anything because they can't compete with subsidized cotton on the global market? Too bad you say??? Then think about the impact on migration and immigration. People NEEDING to leave where they've been in order to sustain themselves somewhere. Its as old as people, people!
And yet, don't we always have to remember WHY it matters? Yes. It is food after all. We have to have food. And it should never have be deserved. Getting food based on merit? Sounds like a human right violation to me. A moral inambiguity of the highest order. And besides who gets to decide? Me?
Chock full of good information and points of departure about food, there are also a few calendar items that are NO LONGER VALID - so please contact the Elegba Folklore Society about their mid-August Down Home Family Reunion and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center about their current exhibit, "Shackles" which runs through August 30, 2012.
Its interesting to listen to my old shows again. In this one I set up the idea that our "old ways of eating" are not so good for us anymore. I KNOW what I meant, but as a listener suddenly I heard the vagueness in the reference. The "old ways" I was referring to is the 20th century system of industrializing food into commodities. While the mass production of foods coupled with the exponential capacity to transport that food - meant that an amazing variety of foods became available to far more people around the country, it also meant the loss of market for our local food producers. And, as discussed, longer term problems evolved - additives impact on health, etc.
Did you know SNAP covers seeds and plants for growing your own food too?
As excited as we have been about the ability to use SNAP benefits at farmers markets, and as integral as this should be to the farmers market framework, this is not going to address the issue of Hunger and Food Deserts alone. Community Gardens, farm stands, neighborhoods farming together... So much that is so local to our daily lives that we can actually make a difference. There'd be no Whole Foods if corporation didn't see the profit in it. So, clearly "we're" already buying enough organic, natural, local and nutrient dense foods that they see the BIG FAT $$$ rolling in.
So, what if we decided to take control of feeding ourselves? Then comes the chat about entitlement versus letting the private sector handle everything... And did I mention the impact of subsidies on our farmers and farmers in far countries like Mali whose cotton can't be sold for hardly anything because they can't compete with subsidized cotton on the global market? Too bad you say??? Then think about the impact on migration and immigration. People NEEDING to leave where they've been in order to sustain themselves somewhere. Its as old as people, people!
And yet, don't we always have to remember WHY it matters? Yes. It is food after all. We have to have food. And it should never have be deserved. Getting food based on merit? Sounds like a human right violation to me. A moral inambiguity of the highest order. And besides who gets to decide? Me?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Cooling Shelter Information
City cooling shelters are opened when the temperature and/or heat index reaches or exceeds 95 degrees.
For more information regarding cooling services, residents can contact the Department of Social Services Fuel Assistance Office at (804) 646-7046. Elderly residents with heat related issues can contact the Adult Protective Service Unit at (804) 646-0501. In the event of a heat related emergency, please call 9-1-1.
All residents should take measures to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat during the day.Public announcements (tv, radio and newspaper) are published when cooling shelters are to be opened. Always double-check!
City cooling shelters are opened when the temperature and/or heat index reaches or exceeds 95 degrees. Typically city cooling shelters will open from Noon to 5 p.m.during the week and are located at:
- Southside Community Services Center, 4100 Hull Street Road
- Department of Social Services, 900 East Marshall Street
- East District Center, 701 North 25th Street
Shelters were open last weekend (July 6-8) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., located at:
- Southside Community Services Center, 4100 Hull Street Road
- Department of Social Services, 900 East Marshall Street
For more information regarding cooling services, residents can contact the Department of Social Services Fuel Assistance Office at (804) 646-7046. Elderly residents with heat related issues can contact the Adult Protective Service Unit at (804) 646-0501. In the event of a heat related emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Today on DefendersLIVE
Back in the seat of the Live Room Studio B, your host will chat about the week's issues. On her mind today: the myriad of terms born every 20 years or so to justify displacement of poor people from their homes, even a reach back to when that meant displacement of our primal homes (our bodies). If we don't have a collective right to self-determination of our oppressed bodies (aka human rights) what have we?
and in case you didn't know...
and in case you didn't know...
DefendersLIVE airs Mondays at noon on WRIR 97.3 LP FM radio in Richmond and online at WRIR.org.
DefendersLIVE receives African Community
Network (ACN) Community Leadership Award in recognition for outstanding
leadership an dedication in the African Community. Presented on Sat.,
June 2, 2012, host Ana Edwards was one of 19 individuals and
organizations recognized during the African immigrant support network's
first annual fundraising dinner at the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls.
The award acknowledged the ACN Interview Series of 2010 and 2011 during
which representatives of many of the ACN's member nations were guests
of DefendersLIVE in order to bring brief introductions of these African
nations, featuring geographic, cultural, historical and contemporary
dynamics, to Richmond listeners.
Presented by the ACN, Humanity Helping Sudan and
Global Outreach for Humanity Foundation, more than 120 people attended
the 4 hour program of live music and dance, storytelling, food, fashion
and presentations including from featured speaker Reginald Gordon,
executive director of the American Red Cross, Richmond Chapter. It was
through the facilitation of Mr. Gordon and former Red Cross staffer
Peter Von Der Lippe that the ACN was first formed to facilitate the
agency's multicultural emergency preparedness outreach.
To see pictures and learn more about the African Community Network visit
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/African-Community-Network-ACN/115815761766878
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