Elisa Batista's blog
Green Collar Jobs Now, Please
I am consulting for an environmental organization in Oakland called Green For All. I am helping the group spread the word on a new book by Green For All’s founder and president Van Jones.
President Bush Bans Lead in Toys
President Bush just signed into law a ban on lead and another dangerous chemical called phthalates in toys and children's products, according to the Associated Press.
More On Our Broken Healthcare System
Cross-posted at MotherTalkers.com.
Here is yet another anecdote about our broken healthcare system.
My father's company is asking all workers to take a blood test for cholesterol, prostate cancer and other illnesses. If the employees are not healthy, the company plans to force them on a diet or raise their health insurance rates by $1,500.
"Is that even legal?" I asked him.
The War Against Workers
Cross-posted at MotherTalkers.com.
Traveling across the country this summer, I have come across people who say they will not vote for Sen. Barack Obama for all kinds of bizarre reasons, including the false premise that he is a Muslim.
Austin Get Together?
I will be hosting a moms caucus at the progressive Netroots Nation Convention in Austin, Texas this Thursday.
The meeting will take place at a family-friendly restaurant so everyone -- including those not registered for the conference -- are free to attend. I hope to see as many of you there:
When: Thursday, July 17
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Building a 21st Century Women's Movement
After a day of flying, delays and waiting, I got back yesterday from a women's workshop in Rhinebeck, New York, in the wee hours of the morning. (Ouch!)
School Lunch Prices Spike With Fuel Costs
The implications of rising fuel costs extend beyond drivers. Even the cost of school lunches will spike this fall as food and gas prices have risen and federal subsidies have not kept up with the added costs, according to an article on MSNBC.com.
School districts across the country are feeling the pinch. From the MSNBC article:
When Public Education Is No Longer Free
Public education, which is a free service guaranteed by the California Constitution, is no longer free. According to the Los Angeles Times, various school districts are asking parents to fork over cash in an effort to hold onto teachers after proposed budget cuts by Gov.
Merit Pay for Teachers?
Time magazine recently dedicated a cover to education. Despite my time helping start a Spanish immersion school and writing about education, I found so much of it eye-opening, starting with the controversy around merit pay for teachers.
What Are The Politicos Doing About Toy Safety?
Cross-posted at MotherTalkers.
There has been much hoopla surrounding toys recalled for safety reasons. But are the legislators and industry actually doing something about it? Parents magazine recently released a full report:
