Food Security: BAN BEE-Killing. March 2021

 

Protect Our Bees and Our Food Supply From a Chemical Onslaught! Bees and other pollinators are dying at an alarming rate, in large part due to a deluge of toxic neonic pesticides pushed by agrochemical giants. Send a message to President Biden’s EPA urging them to follow the science and crackdown on bee-killing neonics to protect the future of our food supply before it’s too late.

 

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Dear Charles, Bees and other pollinators are in a death spiral — and that spells trouble for us all. A whopping 43 percent of the nation's honeybee colonies were lost over the past year — the second-highest loss ever recorded. And the 4,000-plus species of wild bees nationwide aren't faring much better. Scientists pin much of the blame on the torrent of bee-toxic pesticides, called neonics, that giant agrochemical corporations like Bayer — backed by the might of their Washington lobbying machine — have been allowed to unleash, virtually unchecked. One out of every three bites of food — fruits, vegetables, and nuts — depends on bees and other pollinators. This devastating decline in bees could mean increased food prices, reduced access to healthier foods, and food scarcity that will hit low-income communities and communities of color especially hard. But there's hope yet: President Biden has promised to restore science to its rightful role in protecting our environment and health. And if you follow the science on toxic, bee-killing neonic pesticides — it is clear they must be banned. The EPA is currently reviewing the dangers of neonic pesticides, and they won't be required to review these bee-toxic chemicals again for another 15 years. That means we must do everything we can NOW to get the EPA to ban bee-killing uses of neonics — and that starts with your signature right now. Sign the petition and send your message to new EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging him to take swift, decisive action to ban bee-killing uses of neonic pesticides. NRDC has been leading the charge to win life-saving protections for bees and other pollinators. And the Biden administration's commitment to environmental protection has brought a welcome wave of relief and optimism. Now, we need to build a groundswell of public pressure — and courtroom action — to put an end to Big Ag's outsized influence in Washington once and for all. During this terrible pandemic, when many families have been struggling to put food on the table, it is more important than ever to protect the future of our food supply. It's time for the EPA to do its part by protecting these critical pollinators and standing up for people over pesticide industry profits. This may be our best — and last! — chance to protect our bees and other pollinators, and we need all hands on deck: Charles, will you join us? Your signature today can mean a more secure food supply and healthier ecosystems in the future — so please sign now! NRDC is no stranger to using the courts to protect pollinators. Earlier this year, we scored a major legal victory against the Trump administration requiring the EPA to start analyzing the effects of imidacloprid, one of the most widely used neonics on endangered and threatened species. Now we are counting on the new administration to stop this runaway pesticide use that's killing our bees and is a threat to the future of our food supplies. And NRDC is ready to use all the tools at our disposal — from generating a massive public outcry to racing to court, and everything in-between — to help make sure that happens. Charles, quickly send a message to the EPA and join the fight against Big Ag to put an end to rampant neonic use! The months ahead could decide the long-term fate of bees and other struggling pollinators. There's too much at risk for us to do nothing: Fewer bees = less food. There are now barely enough bees available each year to pollinate key food crops. And that's only thanks to the tireless efforts of beekeepers to replace lost hives ... The deluge of neonics is a leading cause of bee deaths. Acute exposure to neonics can kill bees directly and chronic exposure weakens these critical pollinators — making it harder for them to forage for food, find their way back to their hive, combat parasites and disease, and survive winter ... Exposure to neonics is risky business for our health. Federally funded research suggests there may be links between neonic exposure and malformations of the developing heart and brain ... Scientists have been ringing alarm bells. Drastic declines in pollinators like honeybees, wild bees, butterflies, and songbirds have been linked to rampant neonic use. As pollinator populations have plummeted, neonic sales have soared and are now the most heavily used class of insecticides in the United States ... No more. The survival of bees, people's health, and the future of our food supply are on the line. Please, Charles, join us in urging Biden's EPA chief to make banning neonics a top priority for the new administration. Together we can send a message that is too loud to ignore! Thank you for standing with us. Sincerely, Mitch Bernard President, NRDC

Why Are Governments Turning to Emergency Management to Run Things? March 2021

 "It is my belief that the best results in business come from a creative process, from the ability to see things differently from everyone else, and from finding answers to problems that are not bound by the phrase 'we have always done it this way.' "  Wayne Rogers

Before 9/11/2001 within the military, emergency management were just a resource for a checkbox during inspections.  After 9/11 the environment changed within the entire U.S.
 
In 2020, and 2021 WE are needed even more especially in vulnerable communities in the U.S. and globally. 
 
Not first responders, not law enforcement, but emergency managers.  Emergency Managers with the practical, academic, and hands-on knowledge, skills, and abilities globally.  Multi-skilled, and multi-talented. 
 

Join, become a member of ………………..
 
BEMA International

 

Why Are Governments Turning to Emergency Management to Run Things? (govtech.com)

Why Are Governments Turning to Emergency Management to Run Things? One coffee mug might say it all. BY ERIC HOLDEMAN / MARCH 14, 2021   I picked this up from a LinkedIn posting. Yes, I might have seen it before, too. However, the recent assignment of FEMA to help out on issues at the Southwest border — discussed in another blog post — highlights how if you need a coordinating entity, emergency management in general is good at it.   We have done PPE and now in some cases we're doing vaccination sites and whatever else is required.   Some emergency management agencies are working on homeless housing issues for their jurisdiction.   I'm reminded that in the U.S. Army, it was the infantryman who was and is the "jack of all trades" who comes in and gets things done. A good reputation to have for any profession.    Let's highlight the second item below. This ability to work with limited information, like in a disaster where you are dealing with lots of ambiguities, is what makes our profession different.   Basically, we have to make decisions when others are frozen in fear of making a mistake.

 

 

 

Black Emergency Managers Association International  Washington, D.C.  20020                                              bEMA International                 "It is my belief that the best results in business come from a creative process, from the ability to see things differently from everyone else, and from finding answers to problems that are not bound by the phrase 'we have always done it this way.' "  Wayne Rogers   Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)               A 501 (c) 3 organization.

 

IMF and Civil Society. A change in the paradigm for vulnerable communities. March and April 2021

 

VIEW IN BROWSER

I hope this note reaches you well. My name is Nicolas Mombrial and I serve as the IMF liaison to the global civil society community. Thank you for sharing with us in your profile that you work in the non-profit, foundation, civil society and think-tank community. I am writing to introduce myself, open the door for your input and feedback, and point you to our many CSO resources and efforts on anti-corruption, debt, inequality, social spending, climate change and other key issues that may be interest. Originally from France, and a former Oxfam staffer in Brussels and Washington D.C, I now lead civil society engagement at the IMF. My job is to ensure your voices are heard inside the institution and to help answer any questions you may have about our work and policies. KEY RESOURCES If you are interested in learning more about how the IMF works with civil society, visit our dedicated page here for the CSO community, in which we spotlight our most recent consultations, publications and multimedia. This includes our strategy on social spending, framework on governance and anti-corruption, and a recent CSO townhall discussion with our managing director Kristalina Georgieva. We also spotlight how the IMF is helping countries address the economic impact of COVID-19, and how the Fund is promoting transparent and accountable use of financial assistance. WHATSAPP GROUP For further engagement, you can also join other CSO leaders in our WhatsApp Group, where we share news and updates with you in real-time, and where you can share your work on the IMF with other colleagues across the CSO community. If interested, please email me at nmombrial@imf.org with your name, affiliation, location, phone number and your language preference and I’ll be sure to get back to you with more details. LOOKING AHEAD IMF-World Bank Meetings: In the coming weeks, there will be a lot of opportunities for you to engage with IMF staff. For example, we will be hosting our Spring Meetings from April 6-11 (details here). Civil Society Policy Forum: In advance of the Spring Meetings, from March 22-April 2, we will host a civil society policy forum with 19 CSO-organized sessions on issues such as climate change, corruption, debt, health, education and more. Interested in participating? Find the agenda here and register now to receive login details and for the chance to ask questions of our speakers. New to the IMF? Once you register, don’t miss the “Introduction to the IMF for Civil Society” seminar on Monday, March 22 at 8:00 AM ET—hosted by our Deputy Director of Communications Christoph Rosenberg. I promise it will be worth it. Already familiar with the Fund? Don’t miss the upcoming conversation with Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Director of the IMF Strategy, Policy and Review Department, on emerging from the COVID-19 crisis and how best to build back fairer, smarter and greener economies. This event will take place on Friday, March 26 at 9.30 AM ET. If you don’t have time to register or participate, don’t worry, we’ll be posting these sessions and more on our main civil society page following the Spring Meetings. STAY IN TOUCH Thank you again for your interest and please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you. Sincerely, Nicolas Mombrial Head of CSO Engagement, IMF nmombrial@IMF.org

Creating Exciting Consciousness-Raising Events May 27 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Online Zoom Event

Every event can be successful when you plan carefully, do the right things at the right time, and have a reliable support team. In the social justice world there are several types of events that may include interactive methods known as popular education exercises. Depending on your goals, these range from briefings with policy makers and press conferences, to rallies and public education forums.

Join IPS ally Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership for a class on creating compelling and exciting events for social change. Through multimedia presentation, interactive exercise, dynamic peer sharing, and fun pop quizzing of the facilitator, this workshop will cover these and other elements for making meetings, retreats, and even conventions a resounding success. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

The trainer, Netfa Freeman is the Events Coordinator and an Analyst for the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., and an Organizer for Pan-African Community Action, has decades of experience in activism, grassroots organizing, and coordinating events around issues and causes ranging in scope from local to national to international.

https://click.everyaction.com/k/26382796/276782106/-906315299?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMy8xLzc1MjEwIiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjUxODc2ODk4LTY2ODctZWIxMS04NWFhLTAwMTU1ZDQzYzk5MiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiYmVtYUBibGFja2VtZXJnbWFuYWdlcnNhc3NvY2lhdGlvbi5vcmciDQp9&hmac=23FG78oDWAYhJPdGfQ6ul-QKfh9WCQcHfyOyKpnz_W0=&emci=b7a63d55-5687-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=51876898-6687-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=4032639

The Water Defenders at Busboys & Poets. Washington, D.C. April 2, 2021. 6-7pm ONLINE. “The Water Defenders: How Ordinary People Saved A Country From Corporate Greed“.

 

The Water Defenders with Busboys and Poets

April 2 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Online (Eastern time)

Join us online for Busboys and Friends: A Virtual Dinner Party hosted by CEO and Founder, Andy Shallal with a special dinner guests Robin Broad and John Cavanagh, authors of “The Water Defenders: How Ordinary People Saved A Country From Corporate Greed“.

The David and Goliath story of ordinary people in El Salvador who rallied together with international allies to prevent a global mining corporation from poisoning the country’s main water source. At a time when countless communities are resisting powerful corporations–from Flint, Michigan, to the Standing Rock Reservation, to Didipio in the Philippines, to the Gualcarque River in Honduras–The Water Defenders: tells the inspirational story of a community that took on an international mining corporation at seemingly insurmountable odds and won not one but two historic victories. In the early 2000s, many people in El Salvador were at first excited by the prospect of jobs, progress, and prosperity that the Pacific Rim mining company promised. However, farmer Vidalina Morales, brothers Marcelo and Miguel Rivera, and others soon discovered that the river system supplying water to the majority of Salvadorans was in danger of catastrophic contamination.

Robin Broad is an expert in international development and was awarded a prestigious Guggenheim fellowship for her work surrounding mining in El Salvador, as well as two previous MacArthur fellowships. A professor at American University, she served as an international economist in the US Treasury Department, in the US Congress, and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Broad and her husband, John Cavanagh, have been involved in the Salvadoran gold mining saga since 2009. They helped build the network of international allies that spearheaded the global fight against mining in El Salvador and have co-authored several previous books together.

John Cavanagh is director of the Washington, DC-based Institute for Policy Studies, an organization that collaborates with the Poor People’s Campaign and other dynamic social movements to turn ideas into action for peace, justice, and the environment. Previously, he worked with the United Nations to research corporate power. Cavanagh and his wife, Robin Broad, have been involved in the Salvadoran gold mining saga since 2009. They helped build the network of international allies that spearheaded the global fight against mining in El Salvador and have coauthored several previous books together.

Order your favorite meal and beverage from Busboys and Poets, set your table, download one of our optional virtual backgrounds, and tune in for a special dinner with Andy, Robin, and John.

Endorsements:

“Bravo to the courageous Salvadorans—and their likely and unlikely allies—who prove that victories against overwhelming odds are possible. If they can defeat Big Gold, then surely we can have other big wins too. The water defenders of El Salvador and their international partners provide a powerful guidebook, poignantly retold by Broad and Cavanagh, of how the struggles for justice in the United States can link with allies abroad to build power and win.”
—Opal Tometi, cofounder, Black Lives Matter

“Broad and Cavanagh are masterful storytellers. The words, deeds, and stories of people in El Salvador come alive so vividly in these pages to reinforce what we in the Poor People’s Campaign in the United States know well: the most powerful defenders of water, of the environment—of justice across the board—are poor people. Read this book to understand how determined people can build a moral movement and defeat policy violence.”
—Rev. Dr. William Barber II, national co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and author of The Third Reconstruction

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