Recovery & The Story of Stuff

DATABASE Recovery.gov

Recovery.gov is the U.S. government's official website providing easy access to data related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse. (Note: reports made by Inspectors General, overseen by the Government Accountability Office.)

CALIFORNIA STATS

Unemployment = 12.23%

Stimulus Awards = $18.5 billion

Reported Job Creation = 110,219 jobs

ANIMATION The Story of Cap and Trade

Annie Leonard presents The Story of Cap & Trade, a cute and simple look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill.

Teaching Opportunities

JOB Teach For America

Teach For America aims to end educational inequity—the reality that in our country, where a child is born determines his or her educational outcomes and life prospects. We are working with a great sense of urgency to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort.

Next application deadline: January 8, 2010

PAID INTERNSHIP Breakthrough Collaborative

Breakthrough Collaborative is a national non-profit that increases educational opportunity for high-potential, low-income middle school students and inspires outstanding college and high school students to pursue careers in education. Consistently featured as a Top Ten Internship by the Princeton Review, Breakthrough’s innovative Students Teaching Students model partners middle-school students with college and high school students who serve as teachers, role models and mentors.

Next application deadline: March 1, 2010

Politics and Policy

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members ; the last, the least, the littlest."

STATISTICS San Quentin State Prison Education

- 75% of SQ teaching staff are being laid off this January
- The annual salary of an SQ teacher is about $80,000
- SQ teachers teach inmates skills for re-entry into society
- 70% of inmates who are released will re-enter prison
- It costs over $40,000 to keep an inmate in prison

How can we save money in California? Do the math.

FELLOWSHIP Capital Fellows Program



The 18 Assembly Fellows, 18 Senate Fellows, 18 Executive Fellows and 10 Judicial Administration Fellows receive an outstanding opportunity to engage in public service and prepare for future careers, while actively contributing to the development and implementation of public policy in California.

Strike

STRIKE University of California, Nov. 18-20

The UC Regents will meet to vote on a proposed student fee increase: 32% over two semesters, last summer 9%. If this increase is approved, the cost of a UC education will have tripled since 2000.

First Annual Harvest Gala

EVENT Harvest Gala

I've been working on this since July.

We have over $7,000 worth of silent auction items, including:
- SF Opera tickets
- Tickets to Slim's and Great American Music Hall
- Private SF Bay boat tours
- Chez Panisse for two
- Passes to the Academy of Sciences
- Winery tours
- Most items will go for half retail value

Tickets start at $25.

"War to End All Wars"

HOLIDAY Veterans Day


Veterans Day originates from a treaty made in World War between the Allied nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, which is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

CA Water + Agriculture

Statistics CA Water and Agriculture



The agricultural sector of CA makes up about 2% of California's economy.

The agricultural sector of CA uses up about 80% California's water at ~$20 per acre-foot. Urban users pay ~$200 per acre-foot..

What's really the best way to conserve water?

Hamlet

MEDIA This American Life - Hamlet, Act V



Jack Hitt begins his story about a group of prisoners at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center who are rehearsing and staging a production of Hamlet. Shakespeare may seem like an odd match for a group of hardened criminals, but Jack found that they understand the Bard on a level that most of us might not. It's a play about murder and its consequences, performed by murderers, living out the consequences.

Americorps, Christmas Trees

JOB SEARCH Americorps

Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups.

EVENT Cal Forestry Club Christmas Tree Sale


Smells like Christmas - hand cut trees fresh out of the forest

Green Festival

EVENT Green Festival

November 13-15, Fri-Sun @ the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St (at Brannan St)

Join us at the nation’s premier sustainability event, where you will see the best in green. Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music.

Yoga To the People

CLASS Yoga to the People

Donation-based yoga open to all people. Really great classes.

Berkeley: Downtown, near BART station

SF: 16th/Mission, near BART station

Nonprofit

LECTURE Building Nonprofit Organizations

Thursday, October 29, 6:30-7:30pm @ 101 Wheeler

Want to know what it takes to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? San Fransisco Attorney Joey Neugart of the Adler & Colvin Law Firm will be speaking to students on the process of becoming 501(c)(3).

Topics to be discussed: Public Benefit v Private Foundation, Laws a Nonprofit MUST live by, Conflict of Interest Clause, Private Donor Clause, Contracts and Agreements, and more!

JOB SEARCH Idealist.org

Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives.

DIRECTORY San Francisco Bay Area Progressive Directory

An index to about 1200 organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area that are related to progressive activism and/or helping out disadvantaged people, plus links to related web sites elsewhere.

National Climate Change Day

EVENT National Climate Change Day: October 24, 2009

The concentration of CO2 is currently at 389 ppm, while scientists have identified 350 ppm as the safe upper limit. This December, world leaders will meet at Copenhagen, Denmark, to draft a new climate treaty during the UN Climate Change Conference.

Prison-Education

STATISTICS California Prison System

Prison Budget: $10.6 billion (2009-2010 proposed budget)

No. of State Prisons: 33 (154,561 inmates)

Avg Reading Level: 7th grade

Avg Age: 37 years old

CA State University Budget: $7.3 million (2009-2010 proposed budget)

No. of Campuses: 23 (450,000 students)

EDUCATION Teach In Prison DeCal

The Teach in Prison Decal aims to provide students with a unique community service experience as they tutor prisoners at San Quentin state prison. Once a week the students will travel to the San Quentin State Prison to tutor inmates in a class taught by a teacher in the prison’s education department.

2009 HARVEST GALA

EVENT Harvest Gala

Click here to purchase tickets.

Full event: open bar, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction, raffle, dinner, live music, speakers $50+

Half event: open bar, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction, live music (limited tickets) $25+

BSFC

FOOD SOURCE Berkeley Student Food Collective

New name: www.berkeleystudentfoodcollective.org

EVENT 2009 Harvest Gala

Date of event: Friday, November 20, 2009. More info to come.

Forests

BUILDING MATERIALS CORRIM: Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials

Can wood be more sustainable and structurally appropriate than plastic or steel? CORRIM reports aim to quantify the environmental impacts and economic costs of wood building materials through the stages of planting, growing, manufacturing, construction, operational use, and demolition.

SOCIETY SAF: Society of American Foresters

Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest professional society for foresters in the world. The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; to establish professional excellence; and, to use the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society.

WWOOF!

WORK EXCHANGE WWOOF: World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

WWOOF organizations link people who want to volunteer on organic farms with people who are looking for volunteer help. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation, and opportunities to learn about organic farming.

WWOOF Taiwan

Yummy

RECIPE "Hua Juan" Steamed Scallion Bread

Delicious Chinese steamed bread.

Grassroots Economics

EVENT A Festival of Grassroots Economics

10am - 4pm, Saturday, September 26th at Humanist Hall in Oakland

Bay Area cooperatives and collectives, non-profit organizations, volunteer associations, community-based financial institutions, and more, have organized this Festival ─ 50 local, grassroots economic projects are represented. The Festival's goal is to bring together a variety of economic projects for the public to see close up and to appreciate the creativity and value of bottom-up efforts to fulfill real needs. Free.

PRINTING SERVICE InkWorks

Inkworks formed in 1974 as a worker managed, union printshop. We provide high quality offset printing at affordable prices and offer discounts for peace and social justice organizations.

My First Dictionary

HUMOR My First Dictionary
Dark humor makes me laugh.



RESEARCH JOURNAL Berkeley Undergraduate Journal

Submit original undergraduate research for publication by September 24, 2009.

CLUB Cal Forestry Club


Class of 1931

Established in the spring of 1912. For almost 100 years the Cal Forestry Club has complemented and enriched the students' classroom education.

BUSINESS SCORE: Counselor's to America's Small Businesses

For entrepreneurs and growing small businesses, SCORE offers free business counseling on business plans, marketing, retail, finance, strategic planning, manufacturing, etc.

FARM EarthWorks Community Farm in South El Monte



Provides fresh, organic, and really cheap produce off the 60 freeway. Open Saturdays 10-12pm.

Eat Real

EVENT

Eat Real Festival

August 28-30 at Jack London Square, Oakland. Street food, fresh summer fruits and veggies, live music, handcrafted local beers, ice cream sold from the back of a bicycle.

Urban Releaf

EVENT

Community Tree Planting with Urban Releaf

August 22nd, 10am-2pm in West Oakland

FOOD SOURCE

CSA Box

The Berkeley Student Food Cooperative is selling boxes of fresh, organic produce  for $1 per pound! These Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes contain assorted seasonal fruit and vegetables that have been bought directly from farmers. A summer CSA box might contain any of the following fruits and vegetables:

• Heirloom tomatoes, oranges
• Opo, okra
• Acorn squash, zucchini
• Cucumber, chard, cherry tomatoes
• Basil, rosemary and other herbs

We have been selling 12 and 25 pound boxes for 12 and 25 dollars. If you are interested in a box, contact Michael Landry at (831) 431-0904 or at michaellandry@berkeley.edu.

Future skyline of San Francisco

PLANS

Transbay Transit Center

The Transbay Transit Center/Caltrain Downtown Extension Project is headed by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA). The purpose of the TJPA is to design, build, operate and maintain the new Transbay Transit Center and associated facilities in downtown San Francisco, including the extension of the Caltrain commuter rail 1.3 miles into the new Transit Center, and accommodations for future California High-Speed Rail.  

STORE

Recycle Bicycle

We are a bicycle shop in Berkeley that focuses on quality and affordability.

EVENT

Food Coop Date Auction

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009, 8:30pm @ Bobby G's Pizzeria

The Berkeley Student Food Cooperative

FOOD SOURCE

Berkeley Student Food Coop

The mission of the Berkeley Student Food Cooperative (BSFC) is to provide fresh, healthy, environmentally sustainable, and ethically-produced food at an affordable price to students and the local community. We are in the process of establishing a student-run market and café, opening January 2010, that will offer delicious sandwiches, soups, groceries, juices, coffee, and pastries, and also serve as an open and vibrant community space for local arts and events.

Real Food Challenge

Uniting students for just and sustainable food

BOOK

Standing Up to the Madness by Amy Goodman

From global warming, to global warring, to the global economic meltdown, people are challenging the powers that be. Standing Up to the Madness profiles the everyday people who are standing up for what they believe in-and changing the world. This book offers hope and inspiration for anyone trying to make the world a more just and peaceful place, and includes practical information for how individuals can take action and effect change.

First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Next they fight you. Then you win. - Mohandas K. Gandhi

FILM

Independent Lens

Airing weekly on PBS, the Emmy Award®-winning series Independent Lens is a film festival in your living room. Each episode introduces new documentaries and dramas made by independent thinkers: filmmakers who take creative risks, call their own shots and find untold stories in unexpected places.

ACTIVITY

Berkeley Path Wanderers Association

Dedicated to the creation, preservation and restoration of public paths, steps and walkways in Berkeley for the use and enjoyment of all. 

Foods

BOOKS
Farm City by Novella Carpenter

In Defense of Food and Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

FILM
Food, Inc.

"You'll never look at dinner the same way"

People United for a Better Life in Oakland

ORGANIZATIONS
PUEBLO

People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO) is a multi-ethnic, multi-issue community membership organization. We use organizing, direct action, policy research and analysis, leadership development, popular education, and coalition building to confront the issues that affect the lives of our membership.
CURRENT CAMPAIGNS:
Urban Youth Harvest
Campaign for Community Safety and Police Accountability

Cycles of Change

Helping the East Bay grow and sustain a mosaic of healthy urban communities deeply connected to each other and the living world. We accomplish this through bicycle education, wholesome nutrition, environmental education and just resource allocation!

The Green Chain

FILM

The Green Chain

The battle between loggers and environmentalists is defining, dividing and destroying communities in Canada and around the world. The Green Chain is a powerful, funny and thought-provoking film about the conflicts between people on both sides of the battle who love trees -- and are willing to risk anything to protect their personal visions of the forest.

Earth Week 2009

DATABASE

Scorecard - The Pollution Information Site

Get an in-depth pollution report for your county, covering air, water, chemicals, and more.

EVENT

Earth week at UC Berkeley - April 20-24

FILM

"Flow: For Love of Water" Movie Night

April 24, 7-9p, 2050 VLSB

Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.

ORGANIZATIONS

Green For All

An approach to addressing social injustice and the environmental crisis

City Slicker Farms

Growing affordable fresh produce for West Oakland

People's Grocery

Healthy food for everyone

RESOURCE

The Long Haul

A South Berkeley Infoshop and Community Resource Center

Ecology Center

The Ecology Center provides the public with reliable information, tools, hands-on training, referrals, strategies, infrastructure, and models for sustainable living.

EVENT

Amy Goodman Speaking Tour comes to California