My Facebook friend, gay rights activist, and fellow Utah political blogger Eric Ethington has posted this:

In what seems to be an endless line of embarrassments for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is now coming to light that several prominent Mormon figures were actually reimbursed for their efforts and participation on the Yes On 8 campaign.

Below is a list of several of them, brought to my attention by my good friend Reed Cowen (many thanks to him for this). The full list can be seen here (if unable to be viewed, too many people are looking at it at once) and I highly recommend that everyone views the list to see who they recognize.

To read the rest of the post, please click here.
 

The Common Ground Initiatives were designed to match statements that the LDS Church had made considering the rights of LGBTQ people. It was a way to forge some common ground after the hurtful support by many LDS members of the Proposition 8 campaign in California. It could have been an opportunity for some healing between the LGBTQ community and the church.

Apparently, that healing doesn't matter to the Eagle Forum or the Sutherland Institute. They're now launching their "Sacred Ground" initiative which is meant to protect only a very narrow definition of family. Although I'm not sure how that would actually work - I happen to belong to that narrow definition of family, and I seriously doubt that if any of the common ground initiatives pass, that my family will somehow be destroyed.

Most of the Common Ground initiatives are common sense. One of the initiatives is to protect gays from being fired from a job simply because they are gay (it's legal in Utah currently) or thrown out of their apartments for being gay (can you believe this is still legal here?). I'm waiting to see the convoluted justifications for opposition to this particular inititiative as "sacred".

The latest poll shows that the people of Utah are way ahead of these archaic think-tank organizations and legislators. Most Utahn's support basic rights for the LGBTQ community. Wouldn't it be great if all who polled in favor of these rights contact their representative or senator to tell them they support these rights?

Needless to say if the "Sacred" Ground initiative is successful (they've already defeated one of the initiatives), this isn't going to help boycott issues - something we should be concerned about in this economy. I suggest that a gay-friendly travel guide is needed quickly, so that LGBTQ people and equality-minded straights visiting in Utah can be sure they aren't financially supporting their Gay suppression by coming here. In fact, as a equally-minded straight living here, I wouldn't mind having such a guide as well.


More Info:
http://utahlegislaturewatch.org/2009/01/31/common-ground-initiatives-nemesis-the-sacred-ground-initiative
Equality Utah
Eagle Forum
Sutherland Insitute

Thanks to JasonThe at The Sidetrack for creating this widget!

I've been getting pretty active on the blog that Deanna Taylor and I started to address issues that come up at the Utah Legislature from a progressive frame. We've invited several local political bloggers to participate as well.

I feel pretty fortunate to be able to easily attend the Sundance Film Festival. Nearly every film is shown in Salt Lake City once during the 10 days, and it's much easier to wait list a film here than in Park City. Not being especially wealthy does limit how many films I see (tickets are $15 this year - contrast that with the first year that I went to the festival in Park City in 1992 when tickets were $6 each), so I try to make the films I see really count.

This afternoon I saw the premier of "No Impact Man" - the film that chronicles a year long experiment of one New York City family in reducing. and ultimately having zero, impact. Colin Beavan is a writer, one who would much rather have what he writes about impact the world in a positive way. He has his "No Imact Man" blog set up to keep the world up to date on the family's progress as they give up buying anything new, eating out at restaurants, and eventually shutting off electricity to their apartment.

I've probably seen 30-40 screenings at the 16 Sundance Festivals that I've attended - I've seen powerful and important films, entertaining films, and a couple of stinkers over that time. This film is probably the most enjoyable of the lot. It has that rare combination of being able to make you laugh and yet inspire you to take action.

I admit that I'm a sucker for the type of experiment that Beavan and his family undertake. I did a two year tv-less experiment in the 1990s (and our family has done a tv-less lent for the past 3 years). I gave up driving the car to work in September 2007 (except for 1 day every two weeks when I have to get a 400 piece mailing to a business post-office several miles away.) I gave up meat 14 years ago, and soda 21 days ago. Far from feeling deprived, I generally find such shifts to be liberating and enlightening. It seems that these types of experiements are becoming more frequently the subjects of books. It's kind of like the reality-show of book world, but with the goal of producing positive change.

While the idea of "No Impact Man" is the brainchild of Colin Beavan, his wife Michelle steals the show. She is an everywoman who loves coffee and shopping, and seems to be reluctant to participate and do without. It's her milestones and her transformations that feel the most profound in the story. She's also the one (along with their adorable toddler daughter) who makes you laugh as she reveals the ways in which she occasionally "cheats" on the project. The film also explores the negative feelings and comments that Colin and Michelle inspire in many people with their experiment.

Colin and Michelle were present at the screening as well as one of the filmmakers, Justin Schein. Schein told the audience at the Rose Wagner Theatre during the Q & A that Colin and Michelle had asked them as filmmakers to use sustainable methods in the making of the film. No lights were used, for example, and rechargeable 9-volt batteries were used for the wireless mikes. I cornered Michelle after the film and asked her what they really DID use instead of toilet paper (a much referenced point in the film).

Ultimately, the film is inspiring. Some radical changes are going to have to happen if we want the human race to survive. Seeing "No Impact Man" has invigorated my resolve to live as lightly on the earth as possible, and given me a few good ideas in the process. And some of it, like more quality time with friends, family, and New York, looks downright fun.
 

For Sundance's summary of No Impact Man, please go here.
My posts and reviews of past Sundance Film Festivals can be found here.

I hear numbers and while not unmoved, have a hard time focusing on what I need to do. A Facebook friend reposted a photo album of what is happening in Gaza -- and suddenly it's crystal clear:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=507536722#/album.php?aid=203769&id=869515216&ref=nf

The photos are heartbreaking, but that makes it all the more important for us to bear witness -- and then do something!

I've called Rep. Matheson at (801) 486-1236 for a start. We need to get this new Congress turned around - nearly unaminous support for one side in the conflict. This needs to end now.

A friend sent me this info via email -

This Weekend - FREE SLC Electronic Waste ("E-Waste") Collection Program

GRX will be holding a FREE collection for electronic waste (from old electric can-openers and toaster ovens to TVs, printers, computers, keyboards, etc.) for residents of Salt Lake City this Saturday, January 10 - from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The location is the parking lot behind Horizonte School (1300 South and West Temple.  You must be a resident of Salt Lake City to participate (and they will be checking), as GRX normally charges 25 cents/lb. for electronic waste.

GRX also takes old cables, power cords, cell phones, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, you name it.  And the "guarantee" in their name; none of the materials will leave the United States (won't be landfilled in Asia or delivered to 12 year olds in China to disassemble under hazardous conditions). 

 Pass this on to anyone you know in Salt Lake City who might enjoy taking advantage of this opportunity.

Many families like to stress the idea of charity during the holidays, but this year being what it is they may feel the need to pull back from charitible giving this year.

There's one event coming up that won't cost your family a dime -- the 3rd Annual Coat Exchange scheduled for Black Friday (known as "Buy Nothing Day" in activist circles) November 28, 2008 will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Library Square downtown. Bring your outgrown or no longer needed coats. You can exchange them for another coat, or just leave your coats for someone who may need them. You can also pick up a coat without bringing one to exchange if you want. Coats left at the end of the day will be donated to Crossroads Urban Center.

This is a great re-enforcement activity for my youngest. We've been reading the American Girl book series, and we started with Kit who lived during the time of the Great Depression. Kit and her friends toward the end of the series gather coats and shoes to donate to a soup kitchen where many homeless families seek food and warmth during the winter. I love the idea of being able to do something physically that mirrors the idea that we've read about.

Deanna Taylor of Dee's 'Dotes founded the event here in Utah. From the press release:

The 3rd Annual Community Coat Exchange promotes principles of community and reusing the day after Thanksgiving.

Every year people all over the United States spend the day after Thanksgiving getting ready for the holiday season by patronizing retail businesses for gift buying. “We perceived a need for a project for the same day that would be useful and meaningful, as well as educational,” states Deanna Taylor, founder of the Utah event. “The event focuses on concerns about the ecological and psychological consequences of our consumer culture and the impact of our consumerism on society.”

To that end, a new community-oriented project was born: The Community Coat Exchange. Patterned after a similar event in Rhode Island, the Coat Exchange is a collection and distribution of winter coats and other winter clothing items. The event is held every year the day after Thanksgiving from 10am to 3pm at the Downtown Salt Lake City Library Plaza.

Taylor reflects about last year's event: “What made it all worthwhile was being able to give coats away to folks from all socioeconomic levels. Well off folks took coats, driving home the concept of reusing; Families with children that had been referred to us by a local social agency came and took coats. Men, young and old, dressed in very thin, practically sleeveless, clothes came looking for warm clothing. Folks couldn’t believe that the coats were free. The looks on their faces were priceless. When we explained the coat exchange to people, they went home and brought back more.”

People have been bringing donations to City Academy, a Utah Public Charter School and Community Coat Exchange Partner/drop off center. Coats can be dropped off there any weekday before Thanksgiving (555 East 200 South). People can also bring their coats to the event itself.

At the event, no questions are asked: If you need a coat, come get one. If you want to exchange a coat, bring the coat you want to donate and take one in exchange. If you have a donation of coats, we know people who can use them.

Left over coats are donated to the Crossroads Urban Center Thrift Store, a project of the Crossroads Urban Center which advocates for low income and homeless people. The Crossroads Urban Center Thrift Store gives clothes away to poor people and also sells clothes and other goods in its retail shop to the general public to help fund the Crossroads Urban Center programs.

More information: info@coatexchange.org or 801-631-2998 - www.coatexchange.org

It's no secret that in recent years the EPA went from being the Environmental PROTECTION Agency to the Environmental PROFITEERING Agency. During the Bush years, many regulation were loosened to allow more pollution. Bush isn't done, though. From the Colorado Independent Newsroom:

The Environmental Protection Agency seems on the brink of issuing a new regulation that would make it easier for power plants to operate longer hours - and emit more pollution. Under the proposed rule, power plants would be able to measure their rate of emissions on an hourly basis instead of their annual total output.

As long as the hourly emissions stay at or below the plant's established maximum, the plant would be treated as if it were operating cleanly - even if its total annual emissions increased as plant managers stepped up output. The proposed power-plant rule marks a final attempt by the Bush administration to radically revise the way are applied, especially the Clean Air Act.
____________________

More EPA "Duh" News - the EPA is finally taking public comments about whether it should be regulating carbon dioxide and other heat trapping pollutants. Isn't this one a no brainer? Why have an EPA if they aren't going to even lift a finger on major environmental concerns?

For those that feel this is a valid and important issue for the EPA, you can make comments until Friday at http://www.repoweramerica.org/page/s/epa

My feeling is that if the EPA is not willing to protect the environment and the health of human beings related to the environment, let's get rid of it. There's no point in having an agency that refuses to do it's job, and we could reduce the deficit by millions by getting rid of a useless government agency (and yes, that is a bit redundant . . .)

Should one person's religious beliefs take precedence over another's basic rights? If gay-rights advocates had insisted that gay marriages be given more rights than straight marriages, the "pro" folks might have a case. The simple solution if you don't like gay marriage, is not to have one -- no one will force you to.

I have yet to see a compelling case from the Pro-Prop 8 folks -- as this contentious YouTube clip illustrates clearly (Thanks to Cliff at One Utah for the link)

So I've noticed comments, letters and from news stories that the right-wing of this country is convinced that Obama is  far left, a Marxist,  a Socialist, a Communist at best and a terrorist at worst. I think the right-wing spin machine has been working overtime spewing a lot of ridiculous statements -- so much so that those who gobble up such nonsense wouldn't recognize a true socialist if they met one.

So here it is - plain and simple. Obama is no socialist. Obama is a centrist with a slight left leaning. What that means is that Obama is a lot closer to the right politically than George Bush was to the left. In reality, it's been generations since there was a true lefty in the White House, and that's not going to change any time soon -- mostly because true lefties are hostile to the corporations that buy the elections.

But by all means -- please continue with the hysteria-producing hype. My prediction is that such spin will eventually lose creditability as many on the right tire of the constant fear that never materializes as a real threat, or those die-hards who believe everything told to them by Rush, Coulter, et al. will self-explode from the frenzy doing us all a favor.

Even thought I didn't support Obama for president  (I felt he was far too centrist and too willing to cave on important issues such as FISA and nuke energy, for example), I still feel a sigh of relief.

Why?

The past eight years have been so unbelievably bad that many otherwise progressive people have started to forget how  politicians like Bill Clinton or the roll-over Dems of Bush's early years actually hurt many of the things that we value. These politicians who would normally be condemned for harmful policies started to look like angels next to the person that will probably go down in history as the worst president that the U.S. has ever had.

With Obama in the White House and the Dems controlling the Senate and most likely the House as of this writing, we can again focus on the issues that are really important. Third parties will again have a chance to gain some traction, and we the people will have a lot more influence on policies that concern us.

Best of all, we can stop the backwards movement of the past 8 years and hopefully be able to at least tread water, if not make some cautious returns in the forward direction.

This was my first time as a poll worker -- and I enjoyed myself very much. I worked with interesting people and had a lot of fun socializing with my fellow poll workers and a few of the voters that came in. I am definitely interested in being a poll worker in the future and recommend the experience to anyone.

Plusses:
*We seemed to have a high percentage of young and brand-new voters at our precinct. It was heartwarming to see their excitement about voting for the first time.
*We were spoiled at our precinct -- treated to fresh coffee, tea and baked goods throughout the day.

Minuses:
*When factoring in early, absentee, regular and provisional ballots, we had roughly 50% participation at our precinct. We had about 10 voters the final two hours the polls were open, when we expected our biggest rush. The only time we had a significant line was at about 7:30 in the morning. We were located in the heart of SLC, and I expected a high voter turnout rate.

From Glenden over at One Utah, quoting Open Left:

• ACORN has implemented the most sophisticated quality-control system in the voter engagement field but in almost every state we are required to turn in ALL completed applications, even the ones we know to be problematic.
• ACORN flags in writing incomplete, problem, or suspicious cards when we turn them in. Unfortunately, some of these same officials then come back weeks or months later and accuse us of deliberately turning in phony cards. In many cases, we can actually prove that these are the same cards we called to their attention.
• Our canvassers are paid by the hour, not by the card. ACORN has a zero-tolerance policy for deliberately falsifying registrations, and in the cases where our internal quality controls have identified this happening we have fired the workers involved and turned them in to election officials and law-enforcement.
• The rate of incomplete cards for the drive was 5 percent (about 65,000 cards) and the rate of “suspicious” cards was 1.5 percent (about 19,500 cards).

[snip]
. . . in the past few weeks alone, ACORN staffers have received death threats in Ohio and Rhode Island, and offices have been vandalized in Washington and Massachusetts. Numerous threatening and racist phone calls have been made to ACORN offices across the country. As the Right’s actions have made plain, what’s at stake here is not simply what happens on November 4th, but whether or not American citizens will be able to exercise their most basic right: the right to vote.

Granny D (Doris Haddock) -- you may have heard of her. At the age of 89 (or 90 as it says here) she walked across the U.S. for campaign finance reform. Here's a snipet from a speech this nearly 99 year old woman (her birthday is in January)  recently gave with my added emphasis.

From Dee's 'Dotes:

http://deesings.livejournal.com/605623.html

(talking about the Great Depression)
Imagination! Let me suggest that a generation raised on books and storytelling, where one’s own imagination had to fill in the colors and details, made us a generation quite able to imagine marvelous ways to fill our family dinner table in those years. Let me suggest that the power of imagination was essential to the rise of all the grand improvements we achieved for each other and called our New Deal. Imagination allows the citizen and the politician to connect with people of every situation and condition.

I have often heard it said that the more right-wing members of our present political order will not bend on a difficult issue -- say stem cell research -- until someone they love needs that bit of medical magic. Well, I think that suggests that the foundation of right-wing politics is a grand absence of imagination. If you cannot imagine what people need until it happens to you, then I suggest you have never read a mystery book under your covers by flashlight. I do not mean to pick on my more conservative friends, but imagination and its product, empathy, are necessary in a democracy, if it is to survive and prosper as a just and happy system of life. Imagination, empathy, education and moral leadership are the essentials of a good and humane democracy.

Nine years ago, at the age of 90, I walked 3,200 miles across the United States. I was promoting a specific political reform that did in fact pass Congress later. I was also cleaning out my heart after the death of my husband, Jim, and my best friend, Elizabeth.

I met the old America along that road – the America I hadn’t seen since the 1930s and which I had almost forgotten.
( Read more... )

Proposition 8, a bill in California meant to codify discrimination of LGBT persons looks set to win -- but a recent poll that asked likely voters how they would vote after seeing ads from both sides shows that if the ads for the "No on 8" could be seen, then Prop 8 would be defeated. Problem is, there isn't as much money on the No side as for those pushing for this law, an awful lot of which is coming from Utah.

"“Proposition 8… would eliminate the fundamental right to same-sex marriage. The very act of denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry – traditionally the highest legal and societal recognition of a loving commitment – by definition relegates them and their relationship to second class status.” Los Angeles Times Editorial, August 8, 2008

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, we should guarantee the same fundamental rights to every Californian. Vote No on 8."

I'm far from wealthy, but I feel the need to help cancel out these donations of fear.

I've just put my money where my mouth is and contributed $20. I'd like to challenge anyone who reads this to contribute half of that - $10 - no matter if you are gay, straight, or both or neither. I'm further challenging progressive/lefty Utah bloggers to match or exceed my donation amount.. Go to http://www.noonprop8.com/ and click on the "Donate Today" button.

Let's get Utah to donate as much to fight this discrimination as Utah is sending to promote it. Let's cancel out the donations of fear!

I just went to my poll worker training yesterday. The trainer warned us that this election is predicted to be unprecedented in Salt Lake County, with projected line waits of about an hour. If you don't vote by mail, it's probably a good idea to vote early to avoid the expected wait time. Early voting is available at the following locations:

In-Office Early Voting Schedule

In-office voting will take place in the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office (County Government Center, 2001 South State Street, South Building, Room S1002) 

Weekdays beginning October 13 through November 3

Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and on

Saturday, October 25 and Saturday, November 1

Hours 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 

Early Voting Schedule

Weekdays beginning October 21 through October 30

Hours 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm and on

Friday, October 31 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

• NW Multipurpose Center - 1300 W 300 N, SLC
• Murray City Hall - 5025 S State St, Murray
• Holladay City Hall - 4580 S 2300 E, Holladay
• Kearns Improvement District - 5350 W 5400 S, Kearns
• Taylorsville City Hall - 2600 W Taylorsville Blvd (5330 S), Taylorsville
• University of Utah Olpin Union Building - 200 S Central Campus Dr, SLC
• Sandy Fire Station #35 - 8186 S 1300 E, Sandy
• Sandy City Hall - 10000 S Centennial Pkwy (170 W), Sandy
• Gale History Center - 10300 S Beckstead Ln (1600 W), SJ
• Draper City Hall - 1020 E Pioneer Rd (12425 S), Draper
• West Valley City Hall - 3600 S Constitution Blvd (2700 W), WVC
• Riverton City Hall - 12830 S 1700 W, Riverton
• Midvale City Hall - 655 W Center St (7720 S), Midvale
• WJ Fire Station #53 - 7602 S Jordan Landing Blvd (3900 W), WJ
• Magna Chamber of Commerce - 9145 W 2700 S, Magna 
  

One World Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat, and the concept of paying what the meal is worth to you was so innovative that the cafe's owner, Denise Cerreta, was featured in several national publications a few years back. So I was excited to hear about this as a concept for World Food Day. From a press release from Mayor Becker's Office:

SALT LAKE CITY - This morning, Mayor Ralph Becker signed a proclamation declaring this Thursday, October 16th, World Food Day in Salt Lake City . Mayor Becker has joined forces with local restaurant owners to promote observance of the day and raise awareness about food security in Salt Lake City .

Each participating restaurant will offer a special food item that can be ordered at a reduced portion size that patrons may price themselves. A portion of the profits collected from the sale of the item will go to each restaurant’s favorite food-related charity

In Utah , 9.7 percent of the population lives in poverty and the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 5.1 percent of residents are dealing with hunger. Observing World Food Day in Salt Lake City will be an opportunity for local restaurants to give back to community members and raise awareness about hunger and poverty in Utah .

Denise Cerreta, founder and owner of One World Everybody Eats, has been at the forefront of this effort. Cerreta initially approached Mayor Becker and local restaurants about making World Food Day a reality in Salt Lake City .

One Word Everybody Eats is a community kitchen that serves meals offered in reduced portion sizes that patrons can price themselves.

For over 20 years, communities around the world have observed the United Nation’s World Food Day to raise awareness about poverty and hunger. This will be the largest, most coordinated effort Salt Lake City has endeavored.

For a full schedule of World Food Week events to be held this week in Salt Lake City and a list of participating restaurants visit http://www.oneworldeverybodyeats.com.

From the ACORN about page:

"Each ACORN office carries out multiple issue campaigns.  ACORN members across the country work to raise the minimum wage or enact living wage policies; eliminate predatory financial practices by mortgage lenders, payday lenders, and tax preparation companies; win the development of affordable housing and community benefits agreements; improve the quality of and funding for urban public schools; rebuild New Orleans; and pass a federal and state ACORN Working Families Agenda, including paid sick leave for all full time workers."

So, is ACORN a radical group? I've seen the claim coming from the right. How does helping lower-income Americans achieve some stability qualify as radical?