Plus Letters to Good Times…
Climate Action Days
Go Jimmy
Giving Times
My trip last week to visit a former Cruzan, now living in Denver, proved one thing: I can’t eat for another month. Who knew they can pack it in in the Mile High City? It was Thanksgiving weekend, after all, so I suppose it’s not out of the norm to keep putting food into your mouth. Of course, this got me thinking about what’s unfolding locally about food, and, in particular, those who actually are in short supply of it. This would be the part of the column where I expound upon the amazing virtues of Second Harvest Food Bank and why it’s important for everybody to know a little bit more about this vital county resource. I could go on to tell you that you ought to log onto SHFB’s website, and discover how just one of your own dollars can actually feed a family of five. (Talk about holiday miracles.) I also could tell you that there are 60,000 working poor families, children and seniors in need of food each month. Let that sink in—60,000. That’s an increase of 20-30 percent from previous reports. Half of those served are children. I bring this up because there are many of us—actually, most of us— who have the resources to contribute and give back. Take some time to learn more at thefoodbank.org. Or, at the very least, bring a can a food (or money) to Snow Night (5-8 pm.) in Downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue. (More details available at downtownsantacruz.com.)
Meanwhile, there are other things people want to put in their mouths—actually, between their lips—and that’s marijuana. Legalizing pot is the subject of this week’s cover story. See the full report by Laurel Chesky.
Also, take note of the article about Mountain Community Resources. Due to a production glitch, the article on this wonderful organization was omitted from last week’s cover story on the Community Fund.
As the year and the decade reach their final curtain call, I send out a note of gratitude to GT readers for picking us up every week and for allowing us to share your incredibly unique stories—weekly, monthly, annually. Let’s end the year and the decade on a positive note. One thought: Give something back to your community.
Greg Archer
Editor
Letters to Good Times Editor
Climate Action Days
Regarding some of the recent environmental stories and the comments on GTv (above) about the upcoming—and major— Global Climate Change Conference occurring in Copenhagen, Denmark in December, the United States is one of the principle emitters of global greenhouse gases and must sign on to the framework treaty that will radically reduce our collective carbon footprint as a nation.
Copenhagen represents an opportunity for human civilization to make a radical energy shift away from fossil fuels and towards clean, non-polluting
renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and anti-gravity.
The threat of Global Climate Change is the No. 1 international security issue
on Earth in 2009/2010. All other issues such as health care, the iraq/afghanistan/pakistan war and
increased student funding at the University of California (as bad as it is) are at best, secondary and tertiary issues.
Contact the media, your congressmen and women, and all concerned members of your community and urge them to support and endorse the ratification of Copenhagen with strong, binding agreements to limit and eventually eliminate all carbon emissions into our atmosphere.
If global warming is not stopped immediately, expect a seven to 10 degree Fahrenheit increase in average global temperatures this century. By all accounts, this is a fatal blow to human civilization. Do you really want your children to inherit such a world?
Steve Jonah
Santa Cruz
Go Jimmy
Kudos for the nice column about Jimmy Carter by Bruce Willey (GT 11/25). I think the man was a visionary. Had we listened to what he was professing back then—about the environment—maybe things would be much different today.
Jane Anderson
Aptos
Giving Times
There are so many nonprofits in this county that need even more exposure. I am referring to last week’s cover story, where several nonprofits were featured. Times are grim and we need to focus more about how the heck we can help our own communities and keep them afloat. I think people should give a little volunteer time this season. People should give that more than buying tons of presents for family members they only see once a year and can barely stand to be with. We really need to get it together people.
Sandy Wilson
Santa Cruz
Clarification
GT’s Gift Guide has hit the streets. But we’re slapping our forehead. Readers may have noticed that pictures of items listed as being available at Twist, were actually from the store Stripe (stripedesigngroup.com) in downtown Santa Cruz. We regret the error. Also, Palace Arts may no longer have digital photo frames in stock, but they have plenty of picture frames—beginning at $3.99.
