October 19-November 1, 2012

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20th Anniversary

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( in this issue ) (4) feeding the flock: The Dorchester Community Food Co-op is an organic oasis in a food desert. (5) plug-in: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts receives grant to install electric vehicle charging stations. (6) the fine art of investing: Somerville Stock Exchange trades interactive art that invests in the community. (7) where waste meets want Every year, Americans throw away $165 billion worth of food while 1 in 5 people struggle to put food on the table. A handful of local non-profit organizations are working to divert healthy food from the waste stream to people in need. (8) earths evangelist Renowned journalist, environmental activist and author Bill McKibben reflects on homelessness, world poverty, and his upcoming campaign to pressure organizations to divest from fossil fuel companies. (10) memo to animal lovers: Studies show that factory farming is cruel to animals. (11) earth first! In the turbelent late 60s, radical enivormentalists gathered to defend Mother Earth by any means necessary. (14) review: Hermans House directed by Angad Bhalla. (15) upward spiral Former vendor tells his story of redemption. vendor testimonial

spare change
is published by the HOMELESS

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EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (HEP) Executive Director Vincent Flanagan Co-Founder James Shearer Board President Cheryl Jordan Vice-President Samuel Weems Treasurer Bob Woodbury Secretary Andrea Costello Co-Clerks Michael Doore Kathrine Waite Board Members Marc D. Goldfinger Jos Mateo Michael Morisy Mary Ann Ponti Distribution Manager Beth Johnson Bookkeeper Lisa Adams Vendor Supervisors Algia Benjamin Mike Valasunas Reggie Wynn

editor@sparechangenews.net director@sparechangenews.net www.sparechangenews.net

twitter: @sparechangenews Editor-in-Chief Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou Editor-in-Chief emeritus Marc D. Goldfinger Senior Writer/Online Editor Noelle Swan Senior Editor Adam Sennott Editor J. Marechal Assistant to Editor-in-Chief Clay Bugh Graphic Designer Brendan Bernard Puzzle Editor Samuel Weems Cartoonist Michael Ripple Editorial Assistants Ashlee Avery Alison Clark Zoe Fowler Chalkey Horenstein Leanne OBrian Editorial Interns Hannah Bartol Lynsey N. Bourquin Lynsey A. Coville Taylor Everett Eric Gerdner Jessica Guay Samuel Needham Alex Parks Mar Romero Contributing Writers Benjamin Barber Beatrice Bell Lynsey N. Bourquin Alison Clark Shaundra Cunningham, MDiv Joshua Eaton, MDiv S. Emmaunel Epps, MDiv Holliday K. Heller, MDiv Emily Kahoud E.L. Kornegay, Phd Jacques Fleury Marc D. Goldfinger J. Marechal Darnell Moore, MDiv Sarah Page Gayle Saks James Shearer Robert Sondak Patty Tomsky Howard Winant, Phd Photographers Michael Connors Glen Eric Friedman Marcus Smith Christopher Swan Peter Yang

|| f e a t u r e ||

Vendor # 216 I never thought that I would ever get clean from drugs. It has been almost a year and a half since the last time I used drugs. I had lost my son because of drug use and I appeared to choose drugs over my own family. I wish I chose a different path for myself but I had to learn the hard way and I learned by getting stabbed. Now that I have been clean and sober for a year and a half, my life has improved. I stay with a friend of mine and I just got married recently. I know that God has blessed me with a new life and a man that supports me in every way possible. I wish I had a parent to teach me about the disease of drug addiction because if I had someone positive in my life then I dont think I would have started drugs when I did. When I found out that my mother passed away when I was 16 years old I started to smoke cigarettes. Now that I am an adult, my kids can have a better life than I did. I know that they will learn not to do drugs. -Angela Douyon www.sparechangenews.net

( clean & sober )

Spare Change News was founded in 1992 by a group of homeless people and a member of Boston Jobs with Peace. Spare Change is published by the nonprofit organization The Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP). opportunity, and encouragement are capable of creating change for ourselves in society. To empower the economically disadvantaged in Greater Boston through self-employment, skill development and self-expression. To create forums, including those of independent media in order to reshape public perception of poverty and homelessness.

SPARE CHANGES GOAL:

To present, by our own example, that homeless and economically disadvantaged people, with the proper resources, empowerment,

HEPS OBJECTIVES:

s of September 1st, the state of Massachusetts has revised the conditions for Emergency Assistance, in particular, eligibility for shelter. Homeless patrons may now only enter a shelter if they have lost their home through natural forces, no-fault eviction, fleeing from domestic violence, or unsafe habitation for their children. I am writing today, not to complain about a system currently in effect, but rather to call as many to action as possible to attend the public hearings and raise concern. Because of the laws currently in effect, being homeless in itself is not enough to qualify for entering a homeless shelter anymore. A significant number of people who are in shelter at this moment would not be eligible if they had to enter today, making this a threat to those still in shelter as well. Without support from the community at the public hearings, these laws are slated to be finalized in November. To start this call to action, lets discuss why this is such a big deal. Some shelters will admit patrons under extreme circumstances, but only for specific targeted groups. Teen parent shelters only allow people between the ages of 16-20, with child, and cannot live at home because of violence, substance abuse, or other documented unsafe conditions for their child. For those deemed legally disabled by the Social Security Act, the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program plans to open 400 subsidies to the public but those are to be allotted so that there are 240 for those in emergency hotels, 160 for those in shelter. This is not a viable option for those who are not already in the system. For all other cases, homeless or near homeless are at the mercy of homeless prevention charities like the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program. Those who have already hit rock bottom are left without many options under this new system. Granted, this is a generalization; the eligibility requirements for Emergency Assistance only apply to shelters run by the Department of Housing and Community Development. While they moderate the vast majority of the shelters in the greater Boston area, there are a few small shelters that provide services independent of DHCD, like Queen of Peace. But bear in mind that the smaller shelters have far stricter rules in other areas; for example, Queen of Peace only accepts women and children, and has a three week stay maximum. Three weeks can be a good amount of time to

recover from the outdoors, but its nowhere near the time a larger congregate or scattered site could allow and a more permanent residence plays a crucial role in job search, apartment hunting, and any subsidized housing waiting list that requires a consistent mailing address for form updates. In short, these shelters exist, but they will not help people at the same volume of other shelters. Which brings me to the next problem: without a permanent residence, the stigma of being homeless is harder to avoid. Lacking a consistent mailing address, or even a bathroom for proper hygiene, can stamp someone as homeless, and the rest of the world will begin stereotyping. People instantly wonder why someone is homeless, then make assumptions, and treat the person as, well not a person. By giving someone an address and temporary home, shelters provide more than just service; they allow a homeless person to blend in with the rest of the world, which is a valuable asset. Governor Deval Patrick recently gave this statement to News Talk Radio 96.9 on September 28: I simply want to say that the point is there are some people who seek shelter having had a falling out at home, or some kind of break down with they were living with before, or just cant make that next months rent or that last months rent and are on the verge of being made homeless because of that. So what were trying to do is have a way to intervene before they become homeless. (The rest of the statement can be found at http:// homesforfamilies.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/governorpatrick-on-eliminating-homelessness/.) In short, he reiterated that those nearing homelessness have programs like RAFT and HomeBASE Household Assistance (not to be confused with HomeBASE Rental Assistance, which has not seen nearly as much use since the budget cuts at the end of the 2012 fiscal year). Those in hotels or shelters have access to the MRVP lottery subsidies. What Governor Patrick failed to address in his statement, however, was the future of those homeless through other means right now. Those that dont qualify for any programs anymore because of this new rule will inevitably fall through the cracks. Not everyone will be able to fight off homelessness with just an additional $4,000 a year from HomeBASE Household Assistance. Some individuals could make this feasible, but anyone with kids will be at risk, especially if they couldnt find better employment before their time with HomeBASE before in this country. Still, there is very little, if any conversation about it. Forget about Mitt Romney for a moment, the President of the United States, a man who once was a street organizer and has seen poverty up close has little to say on the matter. When Barack Obama first ran for the White House, he talked as a person that wanted to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness. I remember one speech in which he talked of having no more homeless veterans, and yet there are still homeless vets. After he was elected there was little if any talk of poverty and homelessness. The First Lady talks of childhood obesity with a passion that has inspired many changes throughout the country, but why couldnt she, who is supposed to be so family oriented use that same passion to address family homelessness? As much as there is childhood obesity in this country, there is an equal amount of children who go hungry on a daily basis. There is also an equal amount of homeless children in this country, and the count on homeless children is over a million according to some stats and still rising. Single

( op-ed )

ran out. Put optimistically, Governor Patricks new policy tries to nip the problem in the bud, and encourages people to not let it get so far as to need shelter, which in theory is moving the homeless towards more personal responsibility. Put pessimistically, Governor Patricks new policy turns the entire states back on those that are already in need of shelter. The entire mindset behind this new restriction on eligibility is moving towards an economically damning notion: the only people worthy of homeless shelters are people who are homeless through no fault of their own. While theres certainly something to be said about wasting the working mans money on someone who clearly wont work towards his or her own self sufficiency, its blatantly profiling to assume that anyone who made a mistake here or there wont be the kind of person who could or would fix his or her problems if given that second chance. By the logic of this program, anyone who cant afford to function on HomeBASE or RAFT, or alternatively enter shelter, is left to sleep on the streets or in a car and even worse than that, this system promotes the logic that they deserve it! To speak out at these meetings, please attend the Western Mass Hearing at the Springfield State Office Building on October 22nd from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or the Eastern Mass Hearing at the State Houses Gardner Auditorium on October 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. I also recommend calling Governor Patricks office at 1-888-870-7770, and telling all you know to do so as well. As it is, Massachusetts is widely renowned for its outreach. The sheer number of non-profits out there are a reason to be proud of this state, and were one of the few states legally obligated to have homeless shelterlike options (if you want to see real homelessness, go to California). Movements like this new eligibility law not only limit the number of people these nonprofits can help, but they also tarnish the name weve built for ourselves as a caring community. We must not become so calloused to say that those who cant or wont help themselves simply deserve to starve on the streets, with no one reaching out to them. Nobody deserves that kind of abandonment. -Chalkey Horenstein

the real 47%

s I watched the Presidential debate, the one thing that struck me was not how bad the president looked, but how neither one of the candidates talked about the subject that neither of them seems to want to address. The only exception was of Mitt Romneys inane remarks at a private fundraiser a few weeks ago, which is the 47%, and by that I mean the real percentage of people who live in poverty in this country. No one seems to want to talk about the 47%, not just the presidential candidates, but both Senatorial candidates and those running for congress arent talking about it either. From all that Ive read, those running for governorships in other states dont seem to be on the topic either. Everyone wants to talk about the middle class, but in case no one has noticed, poverty has moved up to and gone through the middle class. People are living on the margins of society just one paycheck away from disaster. Today there is more homelessness, more hunger, more people living in sub-standard conditions, etc.. than ever

adult homelessness among adult men and women, now including war vets returning home is at an all time high, and yet Mr. President you have remained silent. Wheres the outrage? Could it be that neither you nor your misguided opponent have a clue how to begin to solve this problem? Both of their actions seem to bare that out as one chooses to ignore it, while the other bashes those living in poverty referring to them as those people. Those people, to which Mr. Romney refers to are indeed those in poverty, not the middle class. Could it be that you dont really concern yourself with the 47% either? I mean, it certainly seems that way with not only you but also with the political elite in DC as well. Think about it folks, when was the last time weve heard anything out of Washington to really address the plight of the poor in this country? Oh yes I forgot Housing First, and it would probably work if it was funded properly. Face it, when it comes to the real 47%, no one really has a clue. -James Shearer

| curb |

about our contributors: Joseph Agliata is a former vendor with SCN. Lynsey Bourquin is a student intern from Suffolk University. Liam Cunningham is a recent graduate

of the University of Rhode Island. Poet, Drew Dellinger holds a PhD from the California Institute for Intergal Studies. Joshua Eaton writes about Buddism, politics, and the American South. Jacques Fleury authored Sparks in the Dark. SCNs Editor-in-Chief emeritus, Marc D. Goldfinger is the author of Poison Pen and The Resurrection of Syliva Plath. A native of Ft. Smith, AR, Holliday is a former student at the Berklee School of Music. Editorial Assistant Chalkey Horenstein works for the Heading Home scattered site family shelter. Emily Kahoud is a recent graduate of Cornell Universitys Division of Nutritional Sciences Program in Health Studies. J. Marechal is a writer and artist based in Cambridge, MA. James Shearer is a founder and former board chairperson the Homeless Empowerment Project. Vendor/Writer Robert Sondak is the director of the Nutrition Education Outreach Project. SCNs Senior Writer and Online editor, Noelle Swan is a graduate of Harvard University. Anthony Thames has been a vendor/writer with SCN for several years.

October 19 -November 1, 2012

( local )

20th Anniversary

feeding the flock: The Dorchester Community Food Co-op is an organic oasis in a food desert.

ftentimes, when we pick up the newspaper or watch the local news, we hear stories about Dorchester and its surrounding communities. All too often we are greeted with stories of crime and violence. Rarely do we hear positive things about Dorchester or any instances of its upward mobility. Dorchester has evolved from a demographic composed primarily of Jewish Americans to a multi-cultural, multiethnic community. Though crime and poverty are in fact a reality for a lot of residents in Dorchester and its surrounding communities, folks are talking and are coming together to stake a claim in its future. Health centers such as The Codman Square Community Health Center, Dorchester Court in cooperation with various outreach programs, as well as other organizations are uniting to improve the lives of Dorchester residents. One such organization is The Dorchester Community Food Co-op. Spare Change News recently had the pleasure to meet up with Jenny Silverman, spokesperson for the Dorchester Community Food Co-op, a member- owned, member-controlled business that operates for the benefit of the community. We agreed to meet at the Flat Black Coffee Shop located at the Ashmont T station where we talked at length about the Co-op, how it was founded and its ultimate objective. Miss Silvermans appearance can only be described as a small, petite, attractive woman. But after one minute of talking with her, it was obvious she had the heart of a lioness. I personally was moved by her knowledge and deep sense of commitment both to the organization as well as to the community as a whole. SCN: Tell me a little about your organization? Jenny Silverman: The Dorchester Community Food Co Op is about one and a half years old. Its an initiative to build a new food co-op in Dorchester. It started in the late winter, early spring of 2011 with folks starting to talk to each other about the fact that we dont have as many healthy food options in Dorchester as we would like. For different people that means different things. A lot of us feel that there arent enough supermarkets in the community, number one, and the ones that we have seem to be a little sub-standard compared to what you might find in other communities where you have a wider choice of options. Like Central Square in Cambridge has a Shaws, a Trader Joes, and it has two Whole Foods, as well as a Food Co-op. It has an Asian market and a number of others, so basically it has a lot. Thats just not the case here and often-times, you go to the stores here and you think, Do they ship all their really bad produce to Dorchester?. In addition to that, people who are interested in buying whole grains, organic produce, or other natural green cleaning products... all of that, you know there are little sections in the Stop and Shop, but there are no stores here that focus on those kinds of products.

SCN: And those products can be very expensive. Jenny Silverman: Yeah, but thats an issue that everyones going to have to face. But the other idea about having a food co-op is that a community owned food co-op is a community owned asset. And so it creates economic opportunity in our community. Because it is owned by the members, it means that we get to make the decisions about whether it will stay or leave and that the profits stay in our community so they then get redistributed within the community.

SCN: So is that primarily how the organization is funded, through grants and donations? Jenny Silverman: Through grants and donations. Right now we are selling memberships but were trying to not spend that money yet, those equity shares. We have raised a little bit of money for the various projects we have done, but were trying to raise more money to create some staff nutritionists SCN: One issue that is of concern to me is the issue of obesity, especially childhood obesity and I was wondering how, if you are in any way, combatting the issue of obesity, especially in the more urban neighborhoods. Jenny Silverman: Yeah, its a very big problem in our community. Dorchester has some of the highest obesity rates in the city. So we think that is a combination of different factors. The question is do people have access to healthy foods as opposed to what I call highly processed foods like chips, and soda that rarely have anything real? As opposed to being able to buy fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains like rice and things like that. So number one, do people have stores nearby where they can access those foods? The second question, is it affordable? And the third question is, do people know what to do with it and also do people have time in their lives to cook? I think there has been a disconnect between the ability to cook and work with natural foods as opposed to opening up a box and putting it in the microwave. You know, back in the old days when I was in junior high school, we took home economics which we laughed about at the time, but there was still some degree of teaching people some life skills like cooking. Anyway, so this conversation is happening nationally. Michelle Obama is doing a great job, but we want Dorchester and its surrounding communities not to be left out of that conversation. SCN: So if a person wanted to volunteer or give a donation to the organization, how would they go about doing that? Jenny Silverman: We have an email which is dotcommcoop@gmail.com and we are working on a membership drive right now, trying to get people to join. Were asking people in other neighborhoods to invite us to their house party, lets say, invite a few neighbors over where we can talk about the co-op. We also need help with the winter farmers market with volunteers coming and working at the market. So there are a variety of different things, mostly centered around outreach. We ended the conversation talking about Fresh Fridays, a series of Friday night events in August and September where there was live entertainment, food and beverages, as well as activities for children. For information on further events or to find out more about Dorchester Community Food Co-op, I encourage readers to check out their website at dotcommcoop.wordpress.com. -Anthony Thames

Do they ship all their really bad produce to Dorchester?

SCN: I wanted to ask about how the co-op is staffed. I know that people buy into the co-op and can work within the coop, like say, some of the stores you have or hope to have. Do you welcome volunteers? Jenny Silverman: Right now were an all-volunteer organization. We actually dont have money to hire staff, but we are working on getting some staff positions funded for this development period. Obviously, once we build the store we will have full-time staff, were hoping to have about 40 staff positions, but they may not all be full-time, you know, the store is open many hours so we will have rotating staff. But when were selling products in the store we will have a revenue stream to hire staff. Right now in the organizing faze, we need to come up with other ways of funding some staff positions; maybe through grants. So right now its all volunteers, everybody is doing it for free. SCN: The Co-op, recently, received the 2012 Sustainable Food Leadership grant. Jenny Silverman: Right, that was a lovely honor, but not a grant. No money attached to that one (laughs). Yeah, that was recognition by the Mayors Office for our work. Particularly the work at bringing a winters farmers market to Dorchester. SCN: Right, but I did read something about a $10,000.00 grant. Jenny Silverman: We did get a grant, yes for $10,000.00, we just got that. Thats from something called the Food Co-op Initiative, which is a national organization. There are many, many new Food Co-ops being developed all over the country. This is a real time of Co-op development. I think for all the reasons as I said Dorchester wants one. So there is a national organization that has both federal money as well as private foundation money, and they awarded ten grants across the country and we were one of them and we are very excited to have been included in that top list.

healthy boston

n Thursday October 4, 2012, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced that Boston has received a $4.6 million from the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant program to help reduce the obesity and hypertension among black and Latino communities around Boston. Over the next three years, the REACH program will partner up with the YMCA of Greater Boston, Harvard School of Public Healths Prevention Research Center and Department of Nutrition, Boston Public Health Commission in order to address the correlation between racial inequalities and

City of Boston receives $4.6 million grant to reduce obesity and hypertension.
health problems in the Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, East Boston and Hyde Park communities. The program intends to attack this problem with four different strategies: increase bicycling opportunities, develop more out-of-school physical activity programs, support more outdoor exercise, and supply more healthy beverages across Boston. REACH plans to work with Hubway to create low-cost memberships for low-income residents, and also to ensure that the roads are safe for bicyclists. The YMCA will also be working with REACH to provide more out-of-school programs in order to increase daily physical activity for students. The Boston Parks, Police and Transportation Departments will be collaborating with REACH so that parks and common greens are safe for people to exercise and play on. The final intention is to work with communities and public locations around Boston to decrease the amount of sugary drinks available and provide more access to tap water. By addressing social inequities around Boston, the REACH grant program hopes to eliminate some of the causes for obesity and hypertension, and with their hard work they will create a healthier and happier society. -Lynsey Bourquin

20th Anniversary

( local & regional )

October 19 -November 1, 2012

plug-in: State of Massachusetts recieves grant to install electric vehicle charging stations.
n July of 2011 the Patrick-Murray Administration and the Department of Energy Resources DOER invited cities and towns statewide to apply for an electric charging station grant. This grant was part of a settlement obtained by Attorney General Martha Coakley s office in 2007 for alleged pollution control equipment violations by an Ohio-based power plant. Program funding amounting to $384,000 was made available to 25 cities and towns for 94 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, through a partnership between the Obama Administration and Coulomb Technologies of California. Additional financial support came from Coulomb Technologies, which received a U. S. Department of Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant to provide equipment installation and re-granted awards in the form of charging stations to Massachusetts cities and towns. ARRA funding devoted to the Coulombs ChargePoint America program, totaled one-half a million dollars for the state. Nationally the program funding amounted to 37 million dollars and provided charging stations to 10 regions of the country including greater CambridgeBoston. Cambridge represented one of two cities located on the Charles River including Boston that has created a two tier EV charging network. The city has built 3 municipal EV charging stations from grant funding from the Department of Energy resources (DOER) at locations throughout the city. The city has also worked with seven private partners to install the stations in places which are accessible to the public, near frequently visited locations and accessible to residential areas. Municipal charging stations are open at three locations within the city. At the Department of Public Works facility located on 147 Hampshire Street there is one dedicated charging space at the front of the building

for either a level one and two charge. On the First Street garage 2nd level entrance on Spring Street there is a dedicated charging space for two cars at the same time for a level 2 charge. At the City Lot-5 on Bishop Allen Drive between Norfolk and Douglas Street there is a dedicated charging space for two cars at the same time for a level 2 charge. According to John Boldu, Community Development planner for the city, Cambridge was allocated state funding involving the receiving of three EV-charging stations. Coulomb was the manufacturer and sponsor of the program because they received a federal ARA grant. Private corporate partners including CambridgeSide Galleria, Cambridge Center, Holyoke Center, The Charles Hotel, Pilgrim Parking , the MBTA and MIT have located EV charging stations at their properties for residents, students and workers to use. This corporate support allows the City of Cambridge to make Coulombs nationwide ChargePoint system of high tech charging facilities available locally. This network of charging stations offers cutting edge features for EV drivers including the ability to use smart phone apps to locate the nearest charging stations and manage their charging sessions remotely. Coulombs ChargePoint system is the largest online global charging network connecting electric vehicle drivers to charging stations in more than 14 countries. All of the private charge stations provide at least a level 1 and most a level 2 charge. Forest City Enterprises the developer and manager of University Park at MIT the 27 acres life science park comprised of over 1 million square feet of biotechnology space, 675 apartments , three parking garages, LeMeridien Hotel and Shaws supermarket provides three ev-charging stations operated by a second electric vehicle solutions company referred to as Car Charging Group (CCG). CCG represents a nationwide provider of convenient

electric vehicle EV charging services. CCC utilizes the same EV charging stations manufactured by ChargePoint. This is known as Level II, which provide 240 volts with 32 amps of power to quickly refuel an electric vehicles battery. In the March 29, 2012 city-press release Cambridge City Manager Robert W. Healy commented Electric vehicles will become more common in the U.S., and especially in a community like Cambridge that is technology-savvy and likes to be on the cutting edge. The City is being forward-looking and starting to provide the EV charging infrastructure that will be needed to support these vehicles. We see this as being a key part of Cambridges initiative to be a climate-friendly community. The City appreciates the support of DOER, Coulomb, and our partners. According to the Community development Department public infrastructure for EVs will play an important role for making electric vehicles available within the city in the next few years. Providing charging stations will enable city departments and the greater Cambridge community to take advantage of the benefits that EV cars can provide. These benefits include lower fuel costs and fewer emissions than fuel powered cars. Jay Kiely, Property Manager for Forest City Enterprises at University Park at MIT said: We are thrilled to offer this service to the University Park community, Cambridge municipal charging stations cost $1.25 per hour for the use of the station with a- level 2 charge 4 to 6 hours and a level one EV charge takes 8 to 12 hours. The hourly fee has been set to meet three goals: cover the cost of electricity, cover the administrative fees associated with offering EV charging station services, and keep the cost per mile for electricity lower than the cost per mile for gas. -Robert Sondak

re-seeding boston

The Boston Gardener in Dudley Square is a hot spot for urban gardeners in Boston and is revitalizing its surrounding neighborhood.
Boston Gardener has become a leading resource and popular shop for the growing number of urban gardeners in Boston. When he opened the Boston Gardener, Jon Napoli not only had visions of his own successful small business, but aspirations that the BG would become not only a store, but an impetus for positive change in the surrounding community. I started the Boston Gardener because I wanted to use it as a way of giving something back to the community, and to improve the overall look of the neighborhood, Napoli said. Urban gardening is something more and more people are becoming interested in. The purpose of the store is to inspire people to do it, and help them be able to do it by giving them the resources they need, without having to travel to a store like Home Depot. Located at 2131 Washington Street in Bostons Dudley Square Neighborhood, the BG is a convenient outpost for gardening enthusiasts living in the city. While urban gardening has been a popular urban activity long before the opening of Napolis store, he believes strongly that the popularity has been increasing rapidly in recent years, and will continue to do so in the years to come. Urban gardening is definitely becoming more and more popular, for a number of reasons. Firstly, people want to have their food grown locally, they want to grow it themselves, and they want to save money. And its a great way to improve the look of the neighborhood. Its popularity is absolutely increasing. It is
PHOTOLAUREN DAVALLA

hinking of gardening in the context of the Greater Boston area, many peoples minds might first gravitate towards soccer moms and parents working in the front yards of their suburban home on a weekend afternoon.

But gardening within Bostons city limits, and in urban settings throughout the nation, is gaining increasing prevalence as a hobby, a source of food and income, and as a method of community improvement. Opened in the Spring of 2010 by Jon Napoli, the

RE-SEEDING continued on page 6

October 19 -November 1, 2012

(local ) but a lot of older people as well. From what I see its pretty much across the board. We did some stuff recently with GroupOn recently which brought in a lot of young people from Back Bay and South End, said Napoli. It was a pretty standard GroupOn deal, and was limited to plants and vegetables, but the response was great. Coming up in the next few months, Napoli stated the BG will be offering gardening classes through GroupOn where people will be able to get half-off the classes using the promotion. Napoli has also used his store as a means of community improvement and revitalization. Around a year and a half ago, he started a project where an abandoned alley in Dudley Square was slowly transformed into a thriving urban garden. We converted an alley on Dade Street, which is off Washington Street in Dudley Square. Before we took it on people would use it as a bathroom, or to get high. We cleaned it up, put in a bunch of compost and soil, and turned it into an organic growing area. According to Napoli, the alley-garden now boasts a diverse assortment of plants, vegetables, and herbs; raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes can all be found within the garden. The project has not only improved the aesthetics of the previous rundown neighborhood, and served as a source of food for its residents, but Napoli stated that the garden has had a positive impact

20th Anniversary on kids growing up in the surrounding buildings. Its been a great experience of kids living the in the nearby buildings who get to eat food which they see grow, which is an opportunity they wouldnt have had otherwise. Its an ongoing project which started about a year and a half ago. As the scope and popularity of urban gardening continues to increase in the coming years in Boston, Jon Napoli and the Boston Gardener will surely continue to not only serve as an extremely useful resource for gardeners; but move forward with revitalization projects much like the one on Dade Street in Dudley Square. - Liam Cunningham

RE-SEEDING continued on page 5 hard to quantify exactly, but it is definitely trending upwards. The Boston Gardener is a one stop shop for all kinds of gardeners. The store provides lights, equipment, plants, vegetables, soils, pest control and much, much more. Indoor and outdoor; organic and hydroponic gardeners can find all their necessities. You need it, we got it. quipped Napoli. Urban gardening is also proving to be a hobby appealing more and more to younger generations. Napoli recently began using social media outlets to engage younger demographics. We see a lot of young people in here,

the fine art of investing:

ts an interesting gamble. One of the most relevant fields of study today is Emergence Theory, the science of human cooperation. The Somerville Stock Exchange, an interactive art project, fundraiser, and neighborhood forum all in one, is a supple demonstration of Emergence Theory in purposeful practice. Created by artist Tim Devin, the project is a malleable model of how, by contributing to the quality of life of Somerville, people can both earn stocks and help the value of same stocks rise. Although stocks have no monetary use, their implicit value is accrued for the good of the residents of the city. The idea is that people can be directly engaged in creating positive change for the place in which they live, while learning about others doing likewise. The exchange charts three markets: environmental, community, and creative. To earn stocks, locals partake in activities in those three concerns, and then inform the Exchange. The action is posted on the forum, and the stock is re-evaluated in kind. Individuals and companies may also make donations in lieu of participation, the SSE donates proceeds to three corresponding charities: Somerville Climate Action, Somerville Homeless Coalition, and the Somerville Arts Council(Devin is on the board of the Arts Council, but the project is his own). In the creative forum, you can get acquainted with Artisans Asylum, zines at the Armory, the Artbeat Festival and the Printers Devil Review. Community matters

Somerville Stock Exchange trades interactive art that invests in the community.
noted include Nave Gallerys Yarnstorming Event, the Welcome Project, Sprout & Co.s proposal for an alternative High School focused on science and technology, and the Somerville Moms List. Environmental happenstance includes word on the Union Sq. Farmers Market, Metro Pedal Power, Earthos Institute, Recover Green Roofs, Groundwork Somerville, My City Gardens and more. You can learn about the Environmental Protection Agencys rating of Mystic River, how to compost your food, and raised bed gardening. Community is an ongoing theme of Devins work. The History of Somerville, 2010-2100 used ideas collected from residents to create a future history of the city. In future Somervillebased on submissions from localscars are banned, Tufts University is an overlord, and a dog has been appointed Mayor. Hey, it could happen. At cursory glance, this creative piece might be underestimated as a quaint philanthropic effort. In fact, this artwork is subtly provocative in that it uses digital media, which can often produce a real-time disconnect in human interaction (with attendant social ills), to promote personal contact and collaboration (with associated boon to humanity). Similar to Josiah McElhenys stunning Some Pictures of the Infinite showing at the Institute of Contemporary Art, this piece is a stimulating hall of mirrorsin that, for example, in reviewing it and its benefits, Spare Change News has, ostensibly, just earned stock. And maybe bumped values too. The Somerville

Stock Exchange is an endlessly looping self-referential exposition on the nature of Emergence Theory. Its akin to a stock market of neighborhood stoops. (With the tallying of Porch Fest, in which 100 musicians gave free concerts [see the 2cd Quarterly Report], the SSEs nudging of people to fully inhabit and experience their place of living is chicken-and-egg literal). Currently, Environmental stocks are up, due to a one million EPA grant to clean up the Kiley Barrel brownfield (heavily contaminated site). Sadly, creative stock took a hit with the closing of Creative Union, a gallery that sold art made by adults with disabilities. Unfortunately, community stock is down as well, due in part to a new study by Chronicle of Philanthropy which rated the Boston Metro area 49th in giving to charities and nonprofits. The artwork runs through March 2013, but who knows? With a little effort, maybe we could blow this thing up. If you find it difficult to get excited about wagering on pork bellies, human incarceration rates, or munitions manufacture, check out http://timdevin.com/ somervillestockexchange.html for a better return on your investment. The dividends are both tangible and incalculable at the same time. Possible year-end bonus: making the Chronicle of Philanthropy group look twice. What do you want to bet? - J. Marechal

cleaning up democracy: 14,000 Massachusetts janitors reach a deal with employers, averting a strike.
ictory is in the air, and the smell is sweet. 14,000 New England janitors have succeeded in preparing for battle without having to go to war. September 17th, it was a Thursday, I found myself at Copley Square witnessing what could only be preparation for inevitable civil disobediencea demonstration of how to peacefully disobey, and ultimately get the point across. The SEIU Local 615 coordinated the demonstration; a property service union representing 18,000 workers of Mass, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Once at Copley I noticed something of a chaos engulfing union workers, students, janitors and passer-byers trying to get a peak at the actionall walking around the grass decorated with SEIU posters demanding action and fairness. Once started, the chaos quickly, and somewhat alchemically, turned into all eyes and ears in attention. What can we do and how can we help was on everyones face, the solidarity and unison, sitting in the grass listening to the speaker, was enough to inspire generations. The SEIU representative goes on to explain that our precious Janitors of Massachusetts are preparing for a contract renewal, and if there is no compromisethen we are to take action. The practice demonstration is a model for peaceful protest that is broken down into four groupsthe

Arrestees, Supporters, Peacekeepers and finally, the police. After all the participants are assigned, by volunteering, they are split up into these four separate groups. I run over to the Arresteesthese are the participants that are ready and willing to put their civil liberties on the line; the martyrs, the ones who will be the first to be handcuffed and thrown into the back of squad cars, if the opportunity is to arise. The ones you see sitting in the street locking armsthe soldiers and the soul. Then to the Supportersthe kids singing songs in the back, out of dangers but not out of mind. These are the people offering moral support, chanting, offering a change of energy to an otherwise hostile environment. The Peacekeepers, acting as something of a wall between those who are involved and those who are not, it is with them that we see a perimeter established; locking arms, just as the Arrestees, but to keep the everyday passer-by from becoming involved and innocent people from being arrested. And as much as I hate to say it, it was the group assuming the role of the Police that seemed to be having the most fun, pretending to arrest and practicing what they would say to protesters All right, keep moving Do you want to get arrested? After scrambling around, trying to immerse myself in all the different rolesit was time; I would like to add that this is one of the only times in the world when someone

over a mic can yell Is everyone ready to get arrested? and everyone whoos! ...3, 2, 1 Action! The Arrestees are already sitting, linked in arms, brother and sister. Representing nothing more or less than that of the sovereign right of complementary wage. The Supporters singing, chantingJustice for Janitors, Justice for Janitors! The Peacekeepers keep a barrier; excluding outsiders from involuntarily becoming involved. Then ENTER: the Police Move, I gave you an order! Few are arrested, Supporters still singing, chanting. The remaining Areestees are taken away, breaking their chain. It is only one at a time they are taken away, and not without struggle. Fortunately for the police, and quite frankly, the city of Boston itself, a compromise was made on the following Monday of October 1st. This new contract promised a full-time work increase of 200% since the last contract signed in 2002. It also promised appropriate wages and workloads, healthcare, job security and also a personal day. What can be taken from this? First of all that Massachusetts cares about its workers, and secondly where there is injustice, there is a voice that will stand up for those who are unrepresented, silent, or discouraged. - Holliday

20th Anniversary

www.sparechangenews.net

October 19 -November 1, 2012

where waste meets want Every year, Americans throw away $165 billion worth
of food while 1 in 5 people struggle to put food on the table. A handful of local non-profit organizations are working to divert healthy food from the waste stream to people in need.
perfect as what is found in the store, they have the same nutritional value. She adds that she tells her volunteer gleaners only to pick what they would eat themselves. People who utilize the emergency food system have enough going on in their lives. They dont need to have the fact that they are getting leftovers thrown in their face. Last year, Boston Area Gleaners collected 45,000 pounds of produce. It distributes about half of what is gathered to food pantries in Boston-area towns, including Lexington, Waltham, Medford, Arlington, and Belmont. The other half of the gleaned produce goes to Food For Free in Cambridge, which distributes it to 80 shelters, pantries, and meal programs in Boston, Cambridge, Medford, Peabody, Chelsea, and Somerville. Food For Free has been a fixture of the local emergency food system in the Boston area for more than 30 years. In addition to food donated by the Boston Area Gleaners, Food For Frees produce rescue program collects leftover produce from local grocery stores, the Chelsea Produce Market, and 10 area farmers markets. Recently appointed director Sasha Purpura explains that Food For Free aims not only to bridge the gap between waste and want but also to help bring healthy choices to those in need. The people eating from pantries are just like everybody else, she notes. They want the same food. These are normal people that often just a few weeks ago shopped at the same grocery stores you and I do. Through donations from farmers markets and Boston Area Gleaners, Food For Free is able to provide extremely fresh and healthy food. She says that much of the produce makes it from farm to pantry shelf within 48 hours. Sarah and Ryan Voiland of Red Fire Farms welcome gleaners onto their diversified organic farm in Granby to pick what the farm cannot use. The company also donates leftover produce from its community supported agriculture (CSA) program to Food Not Bombs, a meal program run by volunteers. Sarah Voiland says that they have donated $95,000 worth of produce simply because they do not want the food to go to waste. We need somewhere to send this produce to. We do not want it to be going into a dumpster; we want it to be going somewhere we can use it. We put a lot of energy into growing the food. Having it go to waste would be very sad. Every Sunday, volunteers from Food Not Bombs pick up fresh produce from the Voilands when they come into Jamaica Plain to deliver food to their (CSA) members. They cook up a simple hot meal in a donated kitchen in Allston, strap it to a bike-cart that resembles a ladder with training wheels, and ride it across the river into Central Square, where they set up on the Carl Barron Plaza. They pop up a table, pull on disposable gloves, and start serving meals to whoever comes by until they run out of food, usually for about two hours. Lily Sturman of Allston signs up to cook and serve meals for Food Not Bombs whenever she can. Its really important to help feed who we can, but also to give some degree of visibility to the problems of food waste and hunger. The people that pick up a bowl of food do not know that they are eating organic vegetables that were just picked the day before. What they do know is that they will not go hungry that night. - Noelle Swan

he first time Ashley Stanley walked into the back room of her local grocery store in search of discarded food, she found towers of eggplants, tomatoes, and potatoes rising up around her.The produce was not spoiled or rotten; it simply no longer fit on the display shelves and had been moved off the floor to make room for fresher shipments. Dumbfounded, she asked if she could have the food. She loaded up her car with as many vegetables as she could and drove to Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter in Boston. A week earlier, Stanley had been out for lunch with her mother. She had no idea that a new career would be on the menu. I guess you could call it anaha moment, although I hate that term, Stanley said, recalling how she came to start Lovin Spoonfuls, a food rescue program based in Brookline. It was December 2009. Everything you hear around the holidays is such a concentrated message around hunger. Theres not enough to go around. Give what you can give. We were being inundated with it, she said. But there we were at lunch, with all this food that I knew we werent going to be able to finish. I just had this moment with a little bit of electricity that said, We cant be the only ones looking at [leftover] plates of food. I thought, Maybe the message that theres not enough isnt the right message. A recent study from the Natural Resources Defense Council lends credibility to Stanleys suspicion that the country is not experiencing a lack of food. Nearly half of the food produced in the United States never makes it to the table, according to the study released in August 2012. Food goes to waste at every link in the food chain. Farmers plow unharvested crops into the ground, grocers discard unsold food by the caseload, and restaurants pour mountains of leftovers into dumpsters. In total, Americans throw away $165 billion worth of food every year, 40 percent of all the food produced in the nation. At the same time, 1 in 5 Americans was unable to pay for food at some point in the last year, according to a recent Gallup poll. Forty-seven million Americans participate in the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program

(SNAP, formerly food stamps). In Massachusetts, more than 870,000 people relied on SNAP benefits to purchase groceries in 2011. Many SNAP recipients count on food pantries, soup kitchens, and school lunch programs to make those benefits last through the month. When Stanley first showed up at the door to Pine Street Inn with her arms full of vegetables, she said the staff seemed shocked to see her. They looked at me like, Where did you get all that food?I just blurted out,There is enough food out there. We have to go get it, Stanley recalled. Since then, the former corporate luxury retailer has redistributed more than 150,000 pounds of food to area homeless shelters, domestic abuse safe houses, and food pantries. She started out delivering food in her own car while seeking donations and grants. Today, she has three employees, two trucks, and a waiting list on both sides of the equation. Lovin Spoonfuls is just one of a handful of food rescue organizations in the Boston area. While Lovin Spoonfuls focuses on diverting the stream of food waste at the retail level, Boston Area Gleaners in Waltham has found a bounty waiting to be picked in the fields. Farmers rely on a fair amount of guesswork when planning their crops, explains Laurie Duck Caldwell, executive director of Boston Area Gleaners, a nonprofit organization based in Waltham that started gathering crops left in the fields after primary harvest in 2004 and incorporated in 2007. Farmers often plant more than they need in case they lose a portion of the crop, and then they end up with more produce than they can move. Farmers also try to lengthen the harvest season of a crop by planting rows two weeks apart in succession. A particularly hot summer, however, could cause the entire crop to ripen simultaneously. That is exactly what happened with much of the areas corn crop this summer, Caldwell says, making it a boon season for gleaning. In addition to surplus crops, farmers often pass over crops that do not fit the homogenous shape or color that grocery stores demand. Caldwell says that while some of the fruits and vegetables they pick do not look as

PHOTO: MIKE DISKIN

October 19 -November 1, 2012

www.sparechangenews.net

20th Anniversary

PHOTO: FLICKR/ELEVATE FESTIVAL

October 19 -November 1, 2012

( feature)

Renowned journalist, environmental activist and author reflects on his experiences covering homelessness, the effects of climate change on the worlds poor, and his upcoming campaign to pressure organizations to divest from fossil fuel companies.

earths evangelist

( feature )

20th Anniversary 9

Bill McKibben

oor people are not something that we talk about too much or pay much attention to in our world, Bill McKibben said, sipping a glass of sparkling water to nurse a throat hoarse from a weekend of meetings and rallies. McKibben knows something about poverty. In the early 1980s he helped to start a 15-bed homeless shelter at The Riverside Church on Manhattans Upper West Side. He spent several months living in the shelter system himself and wrote about his experiences for The New Yorker in hopes of shocking the public into action. In recent years he stepped out from behind the reporters role as an observer. He became a leading participant in what he calls the greatest battle the world has ever seen: the fight to halt climate change. Theres nothing weve figured out how to do that makes life harder for the poorest people on this planet than climate change, and the great irony is that those people have had nothing to do with creating the problem, McKibben said, hunched over in a rattan chair before a fundraiser at a private home in Newton. He draws a contrast between the industrialized countries that produce the greenhouse gasses linked to climate change and the developing countries that suffer the effects. Rapidly industrializing China contributes more carbon dioxide than any other country largely because of its population size. With less than a quarter of Chinas population, the United States comes in a close second with more carbon emissions than India, Russia, and Japan combined. Americans contribute more carbon dioxide per capita to the atmosphere than most people on the planet, second only to Australians. The developing world has experienced the first effects of climate change, McKibben said, citing outbreaks of dengue fever linked to increasing flooding in Bangladesh, diminished glacial water supplies in Peru, and territorial loss due to sea level rise in the island nation of Maldives. Those countries rank 55th, 61st, and 161st in carbon emissions. He adds that this years widespread drought in the United States, which he attributes to climate change and has led to a 50 percent increase in the global price of corn, has directly affected poor families around the world. Later, leaning casually against a wall, with hands thrust deep into his pockets and sneaker-clad feet crossed at the ankles, he addressed a small crowd of about 50 environmental activists, professors, and potential donors. All over the world, there are people that right now are scrambling around to find enough coins to buy enough corn meal to make dinner for their families tonight, he told group crowded into the living room and perched on couches, radiators, and the floor. While the scientific community debates what role climate change may or may not have played in the recent

drought, a consensus among climatologists is clear that climate change certainly will bring more extreme weather conditions such as drought in years to come. McKibben has been warning of the dangers of climate change since he published his first book, The End of Nature, in 1989. He worries that time is running out. Small changes in lifestyle such installing energy-efficient light bulbs and toting reusable bags to the grocery store will not be sufficient to halt or even slow climate change, he said. McKibben aims to take on oil and gas giants where they will feel it, by going after their stockholders. His latest campaign calls on universities, institutions, and churches to sell their stock holdings in fossil fuel companies, in a collaboration among 350.org, 350 Massachusetts, and The Better Future Project, an environmental advocacy group that seeks a transition to renewable energy. McKibben scoffs at the idea that Americans are

addicted to fossil fuels and suggests that the average American would be just as happy to use energy derived from the sun and the wind as from oil, gas, and coal. Instead,he charges that the fossil fuel industry is addicted to huge profits, which it has invested in lobbying against policies favoring a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. They intimidate everybody in Washington. The fossil fuel industry is spending more money on this election than anybody else. Nobody dares offend them and as a result the planet is silently melting, he said quietly as guests fist started to arrive.

Trying to get politicians to listen to concerns about climate change is like waiting on hold for customer service, he later half-joked with the crowd. Listening to the music for 20 minutes is one thing, he said, but after 20 years, it is time to hang up the phone. McKibben and 350.org earned a temporary victory in Washington last year after staging one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in the nations history. Police arrested more than 1,200 people surrounding the White House during a 15-day-long protest of Keystone XL, an oil pipeline designed to carry oil drained from the Canadian Tar Sands in Alberta to Texas refineries. President Barack Obama backed off of the project soon after, and The Boston Globe declared McKibben the man who crushed Keystone XL. However, both before the event and while addressing the crowd, McKibben voiced suspicion that once the election is out of the way, the President, either Obama or Romney, will push forward with the project. We are not going to stop global warming one pipeline at a time. Theres just too many oil wells and coal mines and pipelines. Later he added, Were going to have to [attack] more at the center of the whole problem, which is the fossil fuel industry. This November, starting the day after the election, McKibben and his supporters will board a bus in Seattle and begin a nationwide tour of 25 cities in 25 days, designed to bring public attention and pressure to his call to universities, churches, and institutions to unload their holdings in fossil fuel companies. McKibben modeled his new campaign after the campaigns of the 1980s that called on organizations to divest from corporations supporting the apartheid government in South Africa. The movement was not widely successful in getting organizations to participate in divestiture, he noted. But it was everywhere successful in bringing the issue straight to the heart of the discussion, he added, pointing out that more than 200 colleges and churches around the country did change their investment practices. McKibben reminded the group that the first calls for divestment from the apartheid regime came from the United Nations in the 1960s. It took more than 20 years for that action to gain sustained momentum. He worries that this time, the world might not have that long. If we dont do this relatively quickly, in fact quite quickly, then its not worth doing because there wont be the intact planet to deal with, said McKibben. - Noelle Swan

10 October 19 -November 1, 2012

( national )

20th Anniversary

memo to animal lovers:

Studies show that factory farming is cruel to animals.

farmers have to get big or get out. Critically, with the industrialization of farming, the intelligent, sentient creatures that were highly valued and respected during the family farm era have been reduced to mere trade commodities whose suffering and keen awareness of physical pain need not be regarded. In order to keep pace with ever-accelerating consumer demand, the status quo on factory farms indicates atrocious conditions with total disregard for ethical implications as animals are savagely chained and dragged, beaten, strangled, burnt, choked, sawed, and sliced, too often before being rendered insensible. Unfortunately, with the exception of the occasional leaks of video footage (www.peta.org or www. mercyforanimals.org) that go viral over the internet, the factory farm industrys insistence upon insularity and its hyper-vigilance in keeping the public eye out of its affairs have been quite successful: the industry has, for the most part, succeeded in squelching the wailing and screaming

meat industry. The acute impact is demonstrated by the 76 million Americans who become ill from their food f the millions of hackneyed expressions, you are annually; however, the chronic effects are not quite as what you eat proves to be a double entendre with serious obvious, but present just as formidable a threat. The nonethical implications. In the past few decades, the meat therapeutic supplementation of farm animal feed with industry has been insidiously transformed into an entity antibiotics preempts the animals inevitable sicknesses, with unrecognizable semblance to its former self as the which emerge from compromised immunity due to the practice of factory farming has infected our nations filthy conditions and chronic stress from mistreatment. system of agriculture. These antibiotics are contributing undeniably to the The streets are teeming with so-called animal lovers, emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as yet how many of us care to consider the horrific cruelties MRSA. Antibiotic resistant pathogens are creating havoc committed behind the closed gates of factory farms? in hospitals and have also been known to attack youthful Gene Baur, author of Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts targets as well (recall 2011s deaths of high school athletes and Minds About Animals and Food, writes, I think due to MRSA in locker rooms). In addition, the infusion everyone has the capacity to experience compassion and of synthetic hormones and other unnatural elements into empathy for animals, but most of us have it adulterated. our foodstuffs means that we too are being exposed to The sickening cruelties occurring on factory farms are these toxins and well-documented endocrine disruptors, the compilation of years of indifference. As Jonathan the nefarious effects of which may present only later in life Safran Foer writes in Eating Animals, Cruelty depends (e.g., cancer) and will thus be obscured. on an understanding of cruelty, and the Also critical to bear in mind is that too ability to choose against it. Or to choose often, sickly animals known as downers to ignore it. Observe the great lengths are being slaughtered and entering many of us go to to ensure the comfort of our food supply. As Gene Baur recalls, our household cat and dog companions. after perusing through slaughterhouse Yet, for those larger mammals who records obtained through the Freedom are not the average pet (although they of Information Act, We were astounded indisputably share the same intelligence, to find that animals with abscesses, sensitivity to pain, and vulnerability), gangrene, hepatitis, pneumonia, we fail to apply the same rules of peritonitis, and malignant lymphoma compassion. We often either swallow were approved for human food, and all the bitter pill and continue eating meat of them were entering the food supply. in quiet observance of our inconsistent Consider the fact that, as Eric Schlosser lifestyles, or worse, we resort to denial. mentions in The Cow Jumped Over the We tell ourselves that eating meat is okay, U.S.D.A. from The New York Times, as its what our ancestors did, and what The Agriculture Department has a theirs did before them. dual, often contradictory mandate: to However, this justification could promote the sale of meat on behalf of not be farther from reality, as todays American producers and to guarantee meat industry has been fundamentally that American meat is safe on behalf of altered from the family-owned farm and consumers. He continues, For too long Female pigs used for breeding (called breeding sows by industry) are confined most of their lives in butcher shop days of former generations gestation crates which are so small that they cannot even turn around. The pigs basic needs are denied, the emphasis has been on commerce, at the of meat eaters. And importantly, the and they experience severe physical and psychological disorders. -source: Farm Sanctuary expense of safety. And although weve been despicable treatment of animals that is relatively fortunate in confining outbreaksrampant at factory farms is dependent of billions of animals raised in filth, tortured in suffocating of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (e.g., mad cow upon a misinformed public that will not interfere in these conditions, and savagely mutilated. disease), campylobacter (causing food-borne illness), corrupt corporations assumption of liberties to conduct However, a number of animal rights advocacy and BLK or bovine leukemia virus (which studies have business with total disregard for the ethics and quality groups such as Farm Sanctuary, Mercy for Animals, linked to increases in human leukemia), the potential for controls of former generations of farmers. Yet many of and PETA, have worked tirelessly to inform the public devastating future consequences is always looming. us are simply unaware of how drastically the practice of of the egregious acts of violence committed on factory Especially with the United States subpar inspection farming has been desecrated in the past few decades. farms in hopes that consumers may contemplate the rates: only 40,000 cattle are tested for BSE out of the Thus it is essential for people to understand exactly what consequences of their habits. In Eating Animals, Foer roughly 90 million slaughtered. If these scant inspections a factory farm is, and how its evolution- or perhaps more illuminates the fact that as the American diet grows ever ever fail to identify the disease at the outset, the precisely, its devolution- has created an industry devoid of more carnivorous, Americans are currently choosing to consequences could be disastrous as it takes months or its former values. eat less than 0.25 percent of the known edible food on even years for humans to present with symptoms of the According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the planet. Thus, by propagating an increasingly meat- resulting fatal neurodegenerative disease, a variant form of a factory farm is defined as a large industrialized farm; centric society and subscribing to factory farms unethical Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). Finally, as solemnly especially: a farm on which large numbers of livestock values by purchasing their products, this indicates that we predicted by the World Health Organization, the threat are raised indoors in conditions intended to maximize are a society that tolerates and even endorses the acts of of a future influenza pandemic for which factory farms production at minimal cost. This implies that factory violence casually inflicted upon these creatures who live create the perfect breeding ground, is only too real farms go to great lengths to manipulate a host of factors- miserably and suffer immeasurably, having no one to Undoubtedly, quantity of consumption is the driving including light exposure, hormone therapies, and even defend their right to live naturally and die humanely. force behind the factory farm industrys enumerated food additives such as antibiotics- to improve feed Lastly, if this article has fallen short of appealing to cruelties. What we eat and how we eat speaks novels of efficiency and increase the livestocks overall productivity. readers hearts, then perhaps an argument against the who we are and how we have been raised. It is easier Importantly, factory farmings corporate hegemony promotion of factory farming can appeal to ones desire to swallow the fact that society is unaware of the has bullied ranchers and farmers into conforming with for self-preservation. Factory farming poses deleterious consequences of supporting factory farming than it is to these mechanized, soulless standards, or else risk being consequences for future generations, the earth, and accept the far more disconcerting reality that society has crushed by the corporate farming empires that have no humanity in general. For example, according to the grown inured to the atrocities that take place so that we qualms about obliterating centuries-old mom-and-pop U.N., livestock farming contributes to 18 percent of all can have some bacon with our eggs. farms. Baur cites Ezra Taft Benson, the secretary of greenhouse gas emissions. We the consumers have been - Emily Kahoud agriculture under President Eisenhower, as saying that directly impacted by factory farmings domination of the
PHOTOS: FARM SANCTURAY

October 19 -November 1, 2012

www.sparechangenews.net

20th Anniversary 11

earth first! In the turbelent late 60s, radical enivormentalists gathered to defend Mother Earth
by any means necessary.

esist much. Obey little.----Walt Whitmantaken from The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey, one of the Spiritual inspirations for Earth First! Earth First! or the Earth Liberation Front was first formed in 1979. It is an environmental activist group that came together in the Southwestern United States. This dynamic group even has its own magazine, called the Earth First! Journal. No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth is the slogan on the front of all publications. Environmental activist Dave Forman, ex-Yippie of the Youth International Party, Mike Roselle, Bart Koehler and Howie Wolke (Wyoming Wilderness Society representatives), and Ron Kezar (a Bureau of Land Management employee) formed the beginning of Earth First! because they were disturbed by the planning process of the Forest Services Roadless Area Review and Formation (or RARE II). They believed that the mainstream environmental advocates were selling out rather than working to protect the environment. The five of them chose to journey from the Pincante Desert in Mexico to Albuquerque, New Mexico to oversee this giant revolutionary movement in order to preserve multimillion-acre ecological areas all across the United States. They pledged, No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth! Howie Wolke remembers the moment of clairvoyance when the name was developed on their travels. Suddenly Foreman called out Earth First! The next thing you know, Roselle drew a clenched fist logo, passed it up to the front of the van, and there was Earth First! The group borrowed from the notions of author Edward Abbey, and the rules are very strict. Protecting the environment is the top priority. The growth of the movement and to advance the creation of a world free of speciesism, classism, ageism, racism, sexism, violence, exploitation and oppression is a central part of Earth Firsts philosophy. It became a movement that had cells without leaders. People gather together to party and plan Earth Liberation Front (ELF) activities such as tree sit-ins, using spikes in trees to break chainsaws, puke-ins at shopping malls, flag burnings and so on. However, each part of the movements main thrust was to protect Mother Earth; the actions only differed in intensity. The first tree sit took place on May 23rd, 1985 organized by Mike Jabukal. The purpose was to sit in or

around the tree to prevent the tree from being cut down. Jabukal was up in a nest he had built in the upper reaches of the tree, while the rest of the supporters sat at the base. The first tree sit lasted only one day. When Jakubel came down at night to look around, he saw that the rest of the forest around his tree had been clear-cut and the U.S. Forest Service officers who were hiding in the area arrested him and his supporters. But the tree-sitting tactic was adopted by Earth First!, and since that first tree sit, there have been many successful actions.

EARTH FIRST! LOGO

From 1987 on, Earth First! adopted many tactics to prevent the destruction of wild life habitats or the rape of wild places. The defense of Mother Earth then took two directionsthe legal ones, i.e. Protests, timber sale appeals, and educational campaignsor civil disobediencetree sitting, road blockades, and sabotage of industrial and forest cutting equipment. This was known as ecotage by some Earth Firsters who stated that it was necessary to defend Mother Earth. In 1990, when Earth First! moved toward more criminal acts to protect the Earth, ELF truly came together. Since ELF was so active, this change attracted many new individuals to Earth First!, many of whom came from anarchistic political backgrounds and other areas of the counter-culture. One of the joiners, Judi Bari, welcomed the new intense direct action and leftist direction of Earth First! However, Baris support put her not only in harms way but also placed her in political turmoil. In 1990, a bomb exploded in Judi Baris car, almost killing her and injuring

activist Darryl Cherney, who was in the car with her. They were both arrested by law enforcement officials who claimed that they were transporting the bomb when it accidentally exploded. Judi Bari stated that if she were transporting a live bomb, it would be suicidal to place it under her front seat. The case against Bari and Cherney was contested and it was dropped due to tainted evidence. After that, Bari sued the FBI and the Oakland Police. Despite the fact that Judi Bari died in 1997 of cancer, the lawsuit continued and it resulted in a 2002 jury verdict awarding her estate and Darryl Cherney a total of $4.4 million. Eighty percent of the damages were for violation of their First Amendment Rights by the FBI and the police who tried to discredit them in the newspapers as violent extremists even though all evidence was contrary to the event. In recent years the U.S. government has classified the Earth Liberation Front as a terrorist group. Many Earth Firsters are in prison with lengthy sentences. Every Earth First! Journal has a two page spread dedicated to the Earth First! Prisoner Support Project, a prisoner and postrelease support group for earth and animal liberation political prisoners. The anarchist political activities caused the movement to splinter, with different factions moving in alternate directions. There was a clear division between those who published the Direct Actions and those who took part in them for the protection of the movement itself. They protected the movement by creating the Earth First! Journal which became the spoken piece of the organization. Earth First!s proposals were published (and still are) in their periodical, Earth First!, The Radical Environmental Journal which is informally known as Earth First! (Well Strip Mine the Other Planets Later) Journal in a very tongue in cheek manner. I have been a subscriber to their Journal for over 12 years and still find vital information about acts to save our Mother Earth within its pages. Earth First! is now active in over 19 countries with a main focus of environmental protection through direct action. Each year they have a gathering of the group called the Round River Rendezvous, which still takes place in a different wilderness area of the country. By going to their website, you may find where their gathering is. The fight to preserve living conditions and endangered species continues as the growth of industrialization and population growth continue to destroy our Mother Earth. Ask yourself: what can you do to help our only home, the planet Earth. - Marc D. Goldfinger

12 October 19 -November 1, 2012

www.sparechangenews.net

20th Anniversary

arts&culture
October 19 -November 1, 2012

www.sparechangenews.net

20th Anniversary 13

(poetry)

hymn to the sacred body of the universe (excerpt)

Nature
Nature Your supple hands caress my cheeks Like a loving mother Your breath twirls across my eyes and Slowly collapses like a graceful silhouette As the dirge of song birds echoes in the darkness echoes in the darkness echoes in the darkness Then there came a cold chill as a wave of winter dust descended deliberately from the mountains and pierced right through me like a thousand needles kissing me knocking me down so that my head rested wantonly against your breast then I could hear what I couldnt see the rustling of your leafy fingers the rush of your wakeful breath over the mountains then there came the tree slayers I stood there watching how their mockery and complacency cut right through you like a giant persistent knife and i watched you bleed I watched you nurse your wounds With a gentle elevated elegance Then I watched you crumble Only to see you rise again, Just a little greener than before. - Jacques Fleury

lets meet at the confluence where you flow into me and one breath swirls between our lungs lets meet at the confluence where you flow into me and one breath swirls between our lungs for one instant to dwell in the presence of the galaxies for one instant to live in the truth of the heart the poet says this entire traveling cosmos is the secret One slowly growing a body two eagles are mating-clasping each others claws and turning cartwheels in the sky grasses are blooming grandfathers dying consciousness blinking on and off all of this is happening at once all of this, vibrating into existence out of nothingness every particle foaming into existence transcribing the ineffable arising and passing away arising and passing away 23 trillion times per second-when Buddha saw that, he smiled 16 million tons of rain are falling every second on the planet an ocean perpetually falling and every drop is your body every motion, every feather, every thought is your body time is your body, and the infinite curled inside like invisible rainbows folded into light - Drew Dellinger (Excerpt of hymn to the sacred body of the universe, from love letter to the milky way.)

14

October 19 -November 1, 2012

( arts & culture )

20th Anniversary

review: Hermans House directed by Angad Bhalla.

( film )

olitary confinement at the Louisiana State Penitentiary is among the most desperate and forlorn places on Earth. The prisonbetter known by its nickname, Angolais the largest maximum-security prison in the country, with 5,000 inmates. It is a place largely indistinguishable from the slave plantation it once wasa place where sexual slavery and rape are endemic, where the largely black inmates still pick cotton in the fields day in and day out without pay. Angad Bhallas Hermans House (2012) tells the story of Herman Wallace, whos been in Angola for 45 yearsforty of them in solitary confinement. Wallace went to Angola for bank robbery. He started a prison chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1967 with fellow inmates Robert King and Albert Woodfox. The group organized sit-ins, strikes, and other protests against prison segregation, sexual slavery, and other abuses. However, Wallace and Woodfox were convicted in the stabbing murder of prison guard Brent Miller in 1971, and King was accused as an accomplice. This was despite the fact that none of the fingerprints found at the sceneincluding one in bloodmatched their own. All three went to solitary confinement. Kings original conviction was overturned after 29 years in solitary confinement and he was released; Wallace and Woodfox are still in solitary confinement. Known as the Angola Three, the three men have become an international cause clbre. The film tells Wallaces story through the eyes of Jackie Sumell, an artist whos carried on a correspondence with Wallace over a period of years. In 2003 Sumell began asking Wallace about his dream home. She documented his responseincluding a full-sized wooden model of his solitary confinement cell and a scale model of his dream homein a mixed-media exhibit called The House that Herman Built thats been shown in galleries around the world. Bhallas film takes us through the conception, construction, and exhibition of The House that Herman Built while telling Hermans story and the story of the

Angola Three. Eventually we see Sumell move to New Orleans, LouisianaHermans hometown and the home of his sister, Vickito build Hermans dream home as a real-life, brick-and-mortar youth center. She becomes an adoptive member of the Wallace family, and of the depressed, majority-black community she moves into in New Orleans. This unusual relationship between Wallace and Sumell is the films main focus, which is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. While we meet black activists like Vicki Wallace, Malik Rahim, and Robert King, the film hovers over them only briefly. We never get a full, rich portrait of the organizing-from-below that first brought the Angola Three to the worlds attention and has kept it there for fifteen years. At the same time, the story of how a culturally elite, thirty-something white artist from New York City could grow so close to a sixty-something black Angola inmate with little formal educationalong with the family and communities that formed himis irresistible.

The film narrowly avoids drifting into a Nicholas Kristof-style white savior narrative by showing both Sumells failures and Wallaces agency. After she moves to New Orleansdeeply in debt, as the film saysall her efforts to buy land and build Hermans dream house, much less make a living, start to founder. We listen to recorded conversations between the two as Sumell vents her frustration and Wallace calms and encourages her. Later we watch as Sumell cries on the phone after Wallaces final state appeal is denied and Wallace comforts her. At one point Sumell talks into the camera about how much shes learned from Wallace, King, and Rahim. Its obvious that their friendship is one of peers with deep mutual respect and admiration. Bhalla also shows us vignettes that speak to Wallaces character and integrity. In one a white former inmate and his mother discuss how Wallace took him under his wing on the solitary confinement bloc and taught him about compassion. If that man can do that for my son in there the mother says, in a drawl plain and beautiful as the Louisiana earth as she mixes a Waldorf salad, imagine what he could do out here. In another, a lawyer tells how Wallace volunteered to testify against his own deceased nephew so that another prisoner wouldnt be unjustly convicted for a murder. When the lawyer told Wallace he didnt have to take the stand and risk being cut off from his sisterhis only means of supportWallace looked him in the eye and said, simply, I expect you to call me to testify. Its the right thing to do. The overall impression one is left with after watching Hermans House is of Wallaces deep humanity and of our prison systems deep inhumanity. Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox have been locked in six-foot-bynine-foot cells 23 hours a day for the past forty years for speaking out against the racist, violent, and sexually abusive conditions that are central to Americas prisons. There are many words to describe that; civilized isnt one of them. - Joshua Eaton

20th Anniversary

www.sparechangenews.net and tried writing for Whats Up. I was not homeless at this time, but economically pressured on behalf of my family and myself. Because of the riptide in the home I didnt see it as being home-like, the atmosphere seemed better on the street where I could identify with other likeminded individuals. I left home little by little trying to gain independence; working sparingly at labor ready and other odd jobs, and living in rooming houses and hostels. The only way I really knew was couch surfing at friends houses, which took me to Manchester NH, eating at shelters to survive and get by. Knowing Mass. had a great system for this, I kept traveling back and forth taking Spare Change and Whats Up with me to sell. Certain people I knew in the squares in Somerville and Cambridge would show me the ropes on finding places to stay, so I finally went to shelters in Harvard and Central Square; the same salvation army that I donated time to volunteer at when I graduated high school. It was like I went full circle the wrong way and I knew it. Binge drinking and heavy marijuana use got me nowhere. I could no longer ride the fence, I had to decide to do something but I was so stuck: not only economically but socially and in my personal life. Going back and forth from the street to home; some days Id stay home and others Id go back out. I came and went as I pleased with no regard. I hit rock bottom when I decided on a trip to New York City for a few days with hardly any plan. A drop in center helped, but a friend and I had to sleep on the A train. It was a confusing time for me; I was scared but could not show it. Even though I had some fun partying and escaping reality, it was time to change and pray to be spared. One night, some people from a church in porter square showed up with drums and other instruments. They came to the pit and preached the Bible. I had realized then; there was more to life than hanging out and trying to use people to get ahead as it never fully worked to satisfy me or anyone else. I had always believed in God but never lived a life that upbringing. Proper manners were an integral part of my life on the island. My motherMarie Evelyne was an advent figure in my learning of proper manners and etiquette and one such behavioral teachings was to always pick up after yourself and to leave a place as clean as you found it. In Haiti, even the very poor adhere to a strict code of what is considered to be socially acceptable behavior. Hence once in America, I continued this tradition of being conscious in how I conduct myself in a public setting and one such conduct is not tossing my rubbish on public property. Now some may scowl reading this upon perceiving it as some type of a harangue about how they should conduct themselves but its not meant to be. I hope to express the frustrations most likely felt by fellow pedestrians who too are probably fed up with straddling litter on the city streets. America, weve got a problem, declares some state legislatures in an internet article titled Toxic torpedoes. Apparently there has been an influx of truckers tossing bottles full of their urine out the window, littering our countryside. This further exemplifies the problem with peoplewho for esoteric reasons disregard the environment in which they live through blatant effrontery in disposing of their debris on public property. Littering is a mindset problem we need to make it socially un-acceptable to throw rubbish on the streets, asserts an anonymous person in a letter to the editor in Design Week titled Itll take more than graphics to beat the litter problem. He goes on to say, Offenders must appreciate the link between dropping litter and the cost of cleaning it up and realize that litter is never

October 19 -November 1, 2012

15

y mother had always shown me what the streets looked like from a distance. Taking me to Pine Street Inn, and having me help out was her scared straight program for me. We would hang out in Harvard square to watch the performers, but the other colorful characters were much more intriguing to me. The homeless were like a reference point; my father was well off in NH and my mother, an average worker in our family deli in the north end. The bums and down and outers were a warning of a grave future if I messed with drugs. But these earthly possessions tend to slip away quickly and unexpected. After high school, I got deeper into exploring the drug culture with weed and alcohol; however, I was coming to know more about Church and God. My uncle closed his deli and the ripple effect began to take place in my family more than ever. Rebellion set in my heart the more I had to take responsibility for an unfair thing that happened. I felt like since my family, as well as myself, were far from perfect though good, I was nowhere near being able to pick up the pieces myself. Tried as I may, I had some experiences to come still. Somerville and Cambridge had always been similar but different as neighbors. Both have ups and downs, positives and negatives as with anywhere. Im from Winter Hill, but Cambridge seemed much more interesting. I was into politics, science, religion, and Cambridge had it all. At this point in my life things were changing everywhere. I was confused about who I was, where I was going and my goals and dreams. I had spent a lot of time alone, out of work, trying to occupy my time because I withdrew for a year collecting social security checks and living at home. My visiting therapist gave me a Whats Up magazine as a way of earning income. I also knew of Spare Change because my mother published a story about her opinion on the statistics of the homeless population in Massachusetts; after another story was published in the Herald about a homeless woman on Hanover street in the north end being taken care of by my mother and friends from the neighborhood (one of whom had a huge influence on me growing up). Taking the opportunity, I started to sell Spare Change

upward spiral: Former vendor tells story of his redemption.

reflected my faith. I was as mixed up as anyone, but in the drop in center I went to at the time youth on fire, many people there (including the homeless) helped me and pointed me to Alcoholics Anonymous. After being there for a year and a half, I realized there was another side to the street; recovery from what lead me there in the first place. A practical type of religion, the spiritual life that means something to me and others; not just arguing politics with random organizations and loose cannons like me. I got some help. After a year, I went on a foreign mission with my pastor to West Africa. I had always been interested in other cultures, but to experience living overseas in another continent for a month was incredible, considering where I was a year prior. This was a culture shock for me. Especially when I returned to the pit, and my compassion hit me because I see where I was before; knowing there can be a chance for anyone to do what I had done, and all the while watching them lost as ever. Not that I was better, but desired they could see what I had seen and heard a greater thing. Nothing was there for me anymore. I had moved on. I worked off and on, but tried college a few times and flunked out. Although I was now living in Providence, my mind was still stuck on those in the pit and I didnt want to forget. I nearly relapsed, then went to a program in Dorchester and Brockton called Teen Challenge, staying there almost 3 years. Since graduating this program its been an upward spiral, its like a revolving door that lets you out instead of keeping you locked in. I returned to Harvard Square and to this publication to let others know my story. My life is not perfect and many are going through hard times but I have the tools to deal with it properly. This is one of them. I appreciate those who enthusiastically use this paper as a way of getting back on their feet no matter the mistakes made in the past. - Joseph Agliata

( essays )

trash tossing: We must put litter in its place.

h, this place called Earth. Stop for a minute. Look around you. Try to see your earthly surroundings as if through the eyes of a fascinated child. Bask in the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains or stimulate and overwhelm your senses with the geologic colors and magnitude of the Grand Canyon; the lush splendor of a giant redwood; a 150 feet tall tulip, an ash, a sycamore or a weeping willow. Stop for a minute on your way to work and behold the morning sun rising over the lofty landscape; its light feeding the plants through photosynthesis and at dusk be still and behold the full moon. Stop for a minute and think before you throw that empty plastic bottle in the river, on the city streets and sidewalks or in the public park, thus disparaging our environment. There are a number of things in this world that aggravates me, but none as pesky and infuriating as careless, indifferent and insolent litterers. Yes, you know who you are; the ones leaving your Dunkin Donuts cups behind on mail boxes, subways, and park benches or tossing their plastic beverage bottles audaciously on city streets in spite of the presence of onlookers. Perhaps its because we live in a world where people are becoming increasingly rude and inconsiderate. During my formative years growing up partly in Haiti, I received a social and familial education unlike the education I received in my catholic school in Portau-Prince. My family and even my extended community of family friends and neighbors contributed to my

thrown awayits just moved elsewhere. This problem permeates apparently in other parts of the world, a number of people are ostensibly and collectively nonsocially conscious when it comes to how they treat the environment. In Berlin, talking trash cans will soon thank people for not littering. Another article in The Science Teacher promulgates that, A 100-fold upsurge in human produced plastic garbage in the ocean is altering habitats in the marine environment. This is based on a new study titled Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX), conducted by a graduate researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Apparently, in an area known as the Great Garbage Patch, the journal Biology Letters evinces that plastic shards in the surrounding area has risen 100 times over the last 40 years causing detrimental shifts in the natural habitats of marine animals in particular. Lets face it. The world is an ever evolving place. Now with the continuous dawning of the technological age, more and more stuff will continue to surface for us to dispose of. Now, I am cognizant of the possibility that not all of us were taught proper social behavior or etiquette, or if you were, you have forsaken your social manners and public etiquette over the years, but the clich Its never too late to learn or in some cases re-learn social formalities rings true in this instance. So Stop for a minute, look around and find a trash receptacle and keep the earth green and clean. -Jacques Fleury

fathering: a short story

spare change news

(essays)

I WANT YOU!
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friday november 16, 2012 holyoke center 1340 mass. ave. cambridge, ma
general admission: $20 students: $10
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