Month: January 2009

The Foundation of Change

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[Source: Nan Aron, The Nation] – – The national economic crisis and election of Barack Obama create opportunities for progress not seen in decades–but will advocacy groups and foundations seize the moment?  President-elect Obama’s election can lead to bold new approaches that put the public interest first. From what we can see in Washington and beyond the Beltway, advocates from all corners of our nation are moving quickly to address concerns that have mounted during the past eight years. The progress they seek, however, will happen only if an engaged base of committed nonprofits and philanthropists push now and pressure decision-makers from the outside.

Already, corporate special interests are spending exorbitant amounts to influence lawmakers and protect their bottom lines. Ultraconservative groups are raising millions of dollars to block progressive goals. Some lawmakers have vowed to filibuster progressive nominees to the executive and judicial branches. [Note: to read the full article click here.]

Support increases for Arizona’s voluntary non-lead ammunition program

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[Source: Readitnews.com] — Arizona’s sportsmen and women are stepping up to help the recovery of endangered California condors.  For the fourth consecutive year, participation in the state’s voluntary non-lead ammunition program has grown. Surveys shows that 90 percent of hunters took measures in 2008 to reduce the amount of available spent lead ammunition in the condor’s core range versus 80 percent the year prior.

“We are very encouraged by the high participation rate in 2008 and the year-over-year increases since the program began,” says Kathy Sullivan, the condor program biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “It clearly indicates that hunters are aware of the conservation challenges condors face, and they are willing to voluntarily take action to reduce the available lead.”

Lead poisoning has been identified as the leading cause of death in condors and the main obstacle to a self-sustaining population in Arizona.  Studies show that lead shot and bullet fragments found in game carcasses and gut piles are the main source of lead in condors.  [Note: to read the full article, click here.]

Time to reform unwieldly process prone to fraud

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[Source: The Arizona Republic Editorial] – – Arizona’s initiative process is cumbersome, error prone and vulnerable to fraud. It needs an urgent overhaul. Secretary of State Jan Brewer, now on the verge of becoming governor, said so in the fall as she was dealing with an avalanche of petitions and record levels of questionable signatures. The state Supreme Court, which had to rule on several measures, called on the Legislature to thoroughly re-examine the process.

And Gov. Janet Napolitano used part of her farewell State of the State address to lay out proposed changes in initiatives and referendums. [Note: to read the full article click here.]

Restoration of historic Arizona mission south of Tucson advancing

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[Source: The Associated Press] – – The White Dove of the Desert is living up to its nickname again, its west tower refurbished, resplendent in a dazzling white finish once more.  The tower at Mission San Xavier del Bac emerged just before Christmas from the scaffolding that restoration workers had being using _ like a butterfly shedding its cocoon, said architect Bob Vint, who spearheaded the five-year, $2.5 million project.  Now, it’s on to restoring the east tower of the 226-year-old Roman Catholic church, which is still an active parish for southern Arizona’s Tohono O’odham Indians. Its towers are visible for miles, and their restoration is intended to ensure that the structure remains intact.

“The interior of the mission is what it’s all about,” said Vint. “All of this exterior work is being done to protect the interior.”  The mission, sometimes called “the Sistine Chapel of the United States” and the “White Dove of the Desert,” is considered the finest example of Spanish colonial architecture in the country. The walls of its Byzantine-influenced interior are ablaze with frescoes, a religious gallery of work painted directly on its walls by missionaries two centuries ago. [Note: to read the full article click here.]