By Alberto Garcia

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez

During the past 19 years, Congress Loretta Sanchez has blazed a trail through the halls of the US Capitol as a recognized expert on military and security issues.

First elected to Congress in 1996, Ms. Sanchez, a Democrat, defeated 6-term Congressman Bob Dornan, a conservative Republican. Dornan was accused in his previous campaign of posting signs in Spanish at polling places on Election Day warning voters they would be asked for citizenship papers by immigration officials before voting.

Congresswoman Sanchez sat down this week with La Prensa San Diego in Barrio Logan for an exclusive interview.
“Sometimes I’m the only woman in meetings but I’m nearly always the only Latina,” the Congresswoman noted.
The meetings she was referring to involve her work on the House Homeland Security Committee, usually with high-level military and intelligence officers.

She also serves on its Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities which oversees the Department of Defense counter proliferation and counter terrorism programs and initiatives including Special Operations Forces, defense science and technology policy and programs, information technology programs, cyber-operations, and strategic communications. Ms. Sanchez also is a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.

These important committees are involved in shaping the policies and programs instrumental in protecting the United States from terrorist threats as well as overall military spending yet most of us didn’t know a Latina from Anaheim is a key player in these discussions.
Born in Lynwood and raised in Anaheim, Loretta Sanchez grew up speaking only Spanish and was in the first class of the federal Head Start program.  Later earning an Economics degree from Chapman University and a Masters of Business Administration from American University, Ms. Sanchez pursued a career in finance, working with defense contractor Booz Allan Hamilton and Fieldman Rolapp.
Ms. Sanchez credits the Head Start program for changing her life. Head Start was launched in 1965 to help children in low-income communities. In addition to preschool classes, Head Start provided medical care, dental care, and mental health services.

But not only did the program help her, but Congresswoman Sanchez says it helped her mother and other parents get more involved in their kids’ lives while also improving their own lives. Ms. Sanchez’ mother, Maria Sanchez, went on to earn her GED, a Bachelors’ degree, and eventually her teaching credential. Mrs. Sanchez taught in Orange County public schools for 17 years.

Her personal experience with public education has made Congresswoman Sanchez a fierce supporter of funding for schools. During debate on the House floor to reform the Head Start program, Ms. Sanchez shared her background growing up poor and challenged with a speech impediment.

“I know about these kids, because I am one of those kids”, she explained to her Congressional colleagues. “It hurts to hear you talk about how we are not successful, or how we are losers. But we are very successful. We have had a lot of successes with Head Start,” she added.
Many years later, that little girl from Anaheim now discusses with military leaders the state of readiness of our armed forces, or gets briefed by intelligence officials on the latest terrorist threats to our country.

“Sometimes they all look and think alike in these meetings,” she told La Prensa San Diego, referring to career military and intelligence officials, “and I bring up a different view based on my own life experiences. I’m usually the only Latino or Latina in these meetings,” she added.

“I understand the security issues facing the US-Mexico border areas and want to help protect our Homeland Security but we have to deal with real immigration reform,” she added.

Congresswoman Sanchez has been a supporter of the Senate’s co-called “Gang of 8” immigration reform deal, stating at the time it passed the Senate in 2013 that the deal was “a monumental step and a sign that real progress can be made toward creating a path to citizenship.  It’s high time to create a fair and viable path to legal status for the millions of undocumented immigrants in our country,” she added. The bill eventually stalled in the House when Republicans opposed a comprehensive approach in favor of a piecemeal set of bills that to this day have not materialized.

This year, Congresswoman Sanchez launched her campaign to replace retiring US Senator Barbara Boxer. In order to run for the Senate, she had to give up her ability to seek reelection to her congressional seat.  Ms. Sanchez is facing California Attorney General Kamala Harris and State Assemblyman Rocky Chavez from Oceanside. If she were to win this election, Loretta Sanchez would become the first Latina ever in the United States Senate.

“I think she’s a great role model for us and shows that we can reach the highest levels of success no matter where we come from,” said Eduardo Lopez who heard the Congressman speak during her visit. “Our children can see that someone who looks like them and came from a similar background can really make it in this country,” he concluded.

California Gov. Jerry Brown

Commentary

On Sunday Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 30 (AB30) into law, making California the first state to ban the use of the R-word. This action is significant because California is the most populous state in the country and come January 1, 2017, California students will not be subjected to the derogatory slur.

The R-word is to American Indians what the N-word is to African Americans.

Contrary to what some non-Native people choose to believe and perpetuate, the vast majority of American Indians I know oppose the R-word. The Merriam-Webster defines the word as offensive.

Those who want to hold on the R-word love to cite some survey that claims the majority of American Indians approve of the word’s usage. I would love to be presented with the survey’s methodology for data collection. The survey must have been given to a bunch of folks from America’s largest tribe – the Wannabes, who great grandmothers were Indian princesses.

I just don’t believe that survey results.

Surveys can be commissioned and manipulated to deliver desired results for the entity commissioning the survey. The tobacco companies did it in the past when they were attempting to prove second-hand smoke does not injure the non-smoker. The surveys were skewed to deceive the American public by the tobacco industry.

I know the media have a way of finding someone’s uncle Indian Joe, who is eager to get on television to declare he thinks it is an honor when non-Indians use Indians as mascots. Honestly, I feel sorry for the uncle Indian Joe from the Does-Not-Get-It Tribe. He is holding on to a false hope that non-Natives somehow will find it in their hearts to be his friend if he agrees with them.

Native News Online has been a strong advocate to see the R-word retired from sports teams – especially the Washington NFL team since its existence.

Native News Online believes California did the right thing to ban the R-word. Other state legislatures across America should follow the pathway set forth by Sacramento.

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Latina Lista: News from the Latino perspective Latina Lista: News from the Latino perspective – News from the Latino perspective. Nine of Colombia’s 32 provinces in state of emergency due to El Niño by Latina Lista

By Claire Dennis
Colombia Reports

Nine of Colombia’s 32 provinces are in a state of emergency due to extreme drought, high temperatures and forest fires caused by El Niño that threatens to continue disrupting weather until March.

The last three months of the year historically bring the highest amount and frequency of rainfall in the country that commonly has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons.

This year, however, instead of heavy storms and overflowing rivers, Colombia will largely look up to empty skies.

According to the national meteorological institute IDEAM, water deficits can exceed 60% in the coming months.

The little and sporadic rain that does fall must be collected and properly managed, especially in areas of wetlands in watersheds, in preparation for the worsening conditions, which are expected to become dire in January when the dry season begins.

El Niño has already reached the category of “strong phenomenon” in Colombia, the most threatening level on IDEAM’s scale. When the dry months of January and February come and the few scattered showers cease, the current conditions of water scarcity will become amplified even further.

According to the US International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), which has been working with IDEAM in Colombia, experts are monitoring the development of one of the largest El Niño events of the last 50 years across the globe.

IDEAM data shows that the last time Colombia reached the “strong phenomenon” category was 1998. Consequentially, the IRI states in its report that “notably, [this is] the largest [El Niño] since the 1997-98 event that shocked global food, water, health, energy and disaster-response systems.”

If that is any signal, chaos, death and poverty are bound to be seen in coming months as conditions continue to worsen.

Current conditions in Colombia

Huila, a department in west-central Colombia, is now experiencing extreme effects of the drought. The north of Huila is essentially without water.

According to a press release from Huila, measures have been implemented regarding the restriction and limitation of the use of water concessions, “to give priority to human consumption.”

Unfortunately this means a devastating interruption of agricultural production.

The most affected municipalities are Aipe, Villavieja and Baraya, where there is no water to feed the animals and irrigate crops. The community is digging holes in search of liquid.

Local authorities are instructing farmers not to grow certain crops to preserve water as the streams and rivers are at critical lows.

15,103 hectares have been affected by fires in Huila, causing losses in excess of 94 billion pesos for the agricultural sector.

According to the Secretary of Agriculture of Huila, Camilo Ospina Martinez, livestock, coffee, corn and rice, have been the sectors most affected by the drought.

Huge economic losses have been and will continue to be incurred by families in these areas.

In Tolima, at least 150 billion pesos are needed to support those affected by El Niño. 25,000 families have been affected in the region so far, according to the secretary of Agricultural Development of the department, Elkin Oliveros.

The agricultural producers in the region of Risaralda face threats to their livelihood as one of their most important crops, flowers, falls fatal to extreme conditions, with production already reduced by 60%. High temperatures that have been generated on behalf of El Niño and falling ash from the volcano Nevado del Ruiz are notoriously affecting flower farms in this part of the country.

Meanwhile, in Caldas and other areas in the coffee industry, El Niño has greatly affected coffee crops.

Colombia’s coffee is both world-renowned and an integral part of the national economy. The manager of the National Coffee Growers Federation, Roberto Velez Vallejo, said that next week the effects on coffee growing will be discussed with the national government in order to seek support for this sector.

Global scale

The effects of El Niño represent a part of the larger issue of climate change that many scientists believe will lead to heightened future natural disasters.

One example of the greater trend is the high probability of melting glaciers in Colombia. The Office of Risk Management indicated that increases in temperature over the next 25 years show a high probability of melting glaciers. Effects are already seen through the accelerated melting in Nevado del Cocuy, a national park.

This year, Colombia is but one of many countries facing extreme conditions from the 2015 El Niño.

On the global scale, the IRI and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will convene the El Niño 2015 Summit from November 17-18 in New York to advance international research and agendas in the face of the current natural disaster. The summit will bring together governments, scientists, economists, humanitarian agencies, development professionals and the media to enhance climate resilience.

 

Sunrise on Alcatraz Island previous Indigenous Peoples’ Sunrise Ceremony
Photo Credit: LaNada War Jack

Best alternative to Columbus Day in San Francisco area on Monday

Published October 11, 2015

ALCATRAZ ISLAND-American Indians and their allies will gather for Indigneous Peoples’ Day Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay early Monday morning.

It is an annual event that provides a strong alternative to those who celebrate Columbus Day.

Tomorrow’s celebtation will be the 32nd time in the last 33 years, the American Indian community has journeyed to Alcatraz Island. The only interruption in the long tradition came two years ago when the event was canceled due to the federal government shutdown. Alcatraz Island is operated by the U.S. Parks Service, therefore the event had to be canceled.

Hundreds of American Indians will participate in the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunrise Gathering

The event also commemorates the 1969-71 occupation of Alcatraz Island by the “Indians of All Tribes.”American Indians consider Alcatraz Island sacred because it is an island where Ohlone ancestors held ceremonies for centuries.

If you are going

The ticket booth opens at 4:15am and boats will depart Pier 33 at approximately 5:00am, 5:15am and 5:45am. We encourage you to purchase and print tickets on the web. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 415-981-7625 (ROCK) or from the ticket booth at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. The ticket booth opens at 4:15am on Monday, October 12, 2015 and general admission is $11.00 per person. Children under 5 years of age are free.

KPFA, https://kpfa.org will be broadcasting from ‘the rock’ so tune in and share the good prayers and energy!

This one-day event is sponsored by the Intenational Indian Treaty Council.

 

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Kara Bobroff

Published September 25, 2015

WASHINGTON – Kara Bobroff (Lakota/Navajo), the executive director of the Native American Community Academy, was named by President Barack Obama on Thursday, September 24, 2015, to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

The President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships brings together leaders and experts in fields related to the work of faith-based and neighborhood organizations in order to make recommendations to the Administration on how to improve the partnerships it forms to serve people in need. The Council is charged with:

• Identifying best practices and successful modes of delivering social services;
• Evaluating the need for improvements in the implementation and coordination of public policies relating to faith-based and neighborhood organizations; and
• Making recommendations to the President and the Administration on changes in policies, programs, and practices.

Ms. Bobroff founded the Native American Community Academy, a charter school within the Albuquerque Public Schools, in 2005.  She is also the Executive Director of the NACA-Inspired Schools Network, established in 2014.

Ms. Bobroff previously served in several roles within the public education system, including special education teacher at Jefferson Middle School from 1992 to 1996, Assistant Principal at Taft Middle School from 1996 to 1998, Dean of Students at Miller Creek Middle School from 1998 to 2002, and Principal of Newcomb Middle School from 2003 to 2004.  Ms. Bobroff was an Echoing Green Fellow in 2005 and is a current Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Learning Alliance of New Mexico, Harvard’s Urban Principal’s Center, Southwest Youth Services, and is a Community Advisory Council member for University of New Mexico Hospital.  Ms. Bobroff received a B.A., M.A., and Ed.S. from the University of New Mexico.

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Latina Lista: News from the Latino perspective Latina Lista: News from the Latino perspective – News from the Latino perspective. Crowdfunder: Saving animals in the Amazon by Latina Lista

LatinaLista —

Campaign: The Nature Project -Amazon & Animal Conservation

Véronique Grand and Yvan Bouvier, of Swiss nationality, went to live in the Ecuadorian Amazonia in 2002. As many, they were worried for the environment and the treatment toward the animals. 

In 2007, they created the Swiss-Ecuadorian foundation “Los Monos, Selva y Vida” which is devoted to the conservation of the fauna, the flora and the amazon indigenous traditions.

The Ecuadorian Amazonia has the biggest biodiversity in the world and we should take action now.

Today, Paseo de los Monos is a wildlife shelter located near the city of Puyo in the province of Pastaza, Ecuador. The refuge has one hectare of native forest and has been receiving orphaned wild animals, the victims of trafficking, since 2005.

The shelter’s first goal is to offer the animals a new family in an adequate space appropriate to their natural mode of life. The animals are living inside big parks of native vegetation.

The refuge shelters species in critical danger of extinction, for example primates like: Woolly monkeys (Laothrix poepiggi) and Spider monkeys (Ateles Belzebuth) which are intensively hunted for human consumption, while the babies are sold in towns or cities.

Monkey meat is considered a delicacy in some regions. Sadly, these animals have a relatively short life expectancy and their rate of reproduction is very low: they live until 25 years old and can only have one baby every two or three years.

In  2013 the massive destruction of the Amazon from Brazil to Ecuador started.

The oil and mining companies and agricultural farming are incrementing their activities and as a result the forests are being fragmented. 

This is a hard situation for the wildlife, since they are not able to follow their ancestral paths in order to find food and shelter.

The agony of the tropical forests are the first cause of extinction of animal and vegetable species which are necessary to preserve the fragile ecosystems. 

The more vulnerable will disappear first, and if the destruction of the ¨Lungs of the World¨ goes on, all life will be endangered including humans.

The construction of highways, poaching, traffic of wildlife, the illegal trade of wood, development of places for human necessities like houses, fields for cropping and farming etc, will provoke the extinction of the forests and the contamination of the principal water resources.

For this, the campaign’s organizers are working with The Paseo de los Monos, those involved in the reception and rehabilitation of animals in unnatural conditions and / or in danger of extinction in Puyo. 

The land will be preserved and the animals who have been rehabilitated can be liberated in this protected area. This will allow Paseo de los Monos to shelter more wild animals who are being currently victims of traffic and dispersed in cities or zoos under poor conditions, chained or in cages. 

The campaign’s goal is to raise $36,000 to help the wildlife shelter acquire land of virgin forest at the borders of Parque Nacional Sangay of 50 hectares for nature conservation and to rehabilitate animals into the wild.

In the beginning, the goal was to shelter and rehabilitate orphan animals in order to form groups with them and free them into protected areas. 

It is important to preserve these rescued animals as a genetic resource and their reproduction will allow them to re-inhabit the devastated zones in the future. 

Once the animals are back into their habitat, they will be able to achieve their role in nature, which is the dispersion of seed and preserve the equilibrium of the ecosystems.

Keystone XL Pipeline protest in Washington, DC

Breaking News

Published September 22, 2015

DES MOINES – Speaking at a town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, Hillary Clinton, who is running for the 2016  Democratic presidential nomination has come out opposing the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. The announcement will please many American Indians and Democrats who oppose the pipeline because of environmental reasons.

Clinton, who served the U.S. Secretary of State under President Barack Obama had been declining to take a stance on the issue all summer long. She cited her involvement with the approval process while she served as Secretary of State. Many in the Democratic Party urged her to let her position be known.

“I thought this would be decided by now, and therefore I could tell you whether I agree or disagree,” she said Tuesday. “But it hasn’t been decided and I feel now I’ve got a responsibility to you and to voters who ask me about this.”

American Indians across Indian Country oppose the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. With the support of several American Indian tribes, the National Congress of American Indians passed a resolution opposing the pipeline in 2011.

The Keystone XL pipeline project is a 1700 mile long crude oil pipeline that would transport between 700,000 to 900,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This pipeline is planned to extend from Alberta, Canada and pass through the states of Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas on its way to the Gulf of Mexico for storage and export overseas.

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