Remembering Carla Bard

Ten years ago, a tragic car accident cut short the exemplary life of Carla Marise Bard. We wish to remember and honor this incredible woman, this devoted and loving mother and grandmother, this trusted friend and co-worker, and, most of all, this tireless and passionate defender of the environment.

Carla devoted over five decades of her life to social and environmental activism. She was called a “citizen warrior” who armed herself with the facts, remained true to her convictions, and stood toe to toe with special interest groups.

“It is entirely appropriate for some organizations to negotiate and conciliate,” she once said. “But unless there are also organizations and people like me who remain hard-line, the negotiators have no leverage.”

Carla is best remembered as the first woman to chair the California Water Resource Control Board. She brought a unique blend of friendly and eloquent tenacity as she championed the environment. Although there were many who opposed her views, her relentless persistence and style forced the state to deal with tough water issues, such as the contamination of the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge. She battled for the San Joaquin River and personally filed a petition with the State Water Board seeking to restore flows and salmon to the river.

With such commitment, it is not surprising that four environmental organizations Carla was closely involved with established memorial awards in her name in recognition of her advocacy and leadership. We know she would be so proud of these awards and would love to have met the many wonderful advocates who have been inspired by her example. At the time of her accident, she was working for the Environmental Defense Center of Santa Barbara, one of her favorite environmental advocacy organizations.

Carla was a person full of life. She was intelligent and fearless. In any room, at any meeting, she commanded attention with her wit and grace, with her colorful and unique attire, always a silk scarf or woven shawl, and her trademark butterfly necklace.

“She was all grit and glamour,” a colleague once said. No doubt, if she were alive today, at age 79, Carla would still be fighting tenaciously for water quality, for pesticide control, for wetlands protection and free flowing rivers, and for open space and agricultural protection.

We miss you Carla. You’re in our thoughts and in our hearts every day. Your memory as a devoted friend and mother, and as one who worked tirelessly to improve the world, lives on. Your energy and enormous capacity to do the right thing and to right the wrongs is sorely missed, but your achievements continue to be a source of inspiration to others. We will never forget the countless big and small things you did for us to improve and enrich our lives. The world is not the same without you. We will never forget you. We will always love you.

by the Bard family

A clarification

We sincerely appreciate your support in highlighting the work for social justice in a green economy.

In our work for greater understanding around this critical issue, we have grown to recognize the importance of the language we are using to describe what we are doing. In a piece written by David Courtland (See “No Dollar Left Behind,” News, 11/21/07), our Green Collar Jobs Campaign Associate Nwamaka Agbo is quoted as saying:

“A green job must be a pathway out of poverty,” Agbo said. Talk of melting ice caps and polar bears meant little to people who are concerned about feeding their families.\\\"

To clarify, it\\\'s more correct to say that low-income people are struggling to feed their families and have to face that immediate concern before addressing the issue of global warming and melting ice caps. The environmentalist movement has been racially and economically divided in the past, and green jobs acts as a point for inclusion for people of color, low-income people and indigenous groups.

Also, some factual information was wrong as well. The article included the following reference: \\\"set to launch next year with 40 green businesses training low-income people for jobs in green trades.\\\"

In actuality, we currently have seven businesses as members of our Green Workforce Business Council. By the time the program is up in running in spring 2008, we look to have 40 trainees go through the first Green Collar Job training program in Oakland.

Thank You for all your help.

Abel Habtegeorgis,
Media Relations Manager
www.ellabakercenter.org

Ella Baker

Center for Human Rights

Another veteran’s view

I am one of the World War II veterans Col. Phaneuf referenced in his letter (See “???,” letters, 11/29/07). In my mind, the most meaningful way to memorialize our comrades killed in action is not with mourning and tears but with resolve to end war. I believe it was Einstein who, referring to the mushroom cloud and the human race, said, “If we do not put an end to war, war will put an end to us.” Cindy Sheehan has it right. She is devoting her life to trying to save other mothers from the heart-breaking loss of a child in a senseless war. She is turning personal tragedy into personal salvation.

Mr. Phaneuf abhors “long haired, bearded, flowery head-banded” anti-war peaceniks. I would remind him of the long haired, bearded, flowery head-banded, unwashed, dirty and undisciplined rag-tag little band headed by George Washington which won this country’s independence. Mr. Phaneuf should try to see the forest behind the trees.

Norman Eagle,Oxnard

Sharing blessings

I would like to offer some thoughts on the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in our community of San Buenaventura. There is an excellent brochure that has been composed. Copies of this are available at City Hall.

Last month, we had a day set aside to give thanks for blessings received. I have a short poem I had written several years ago titled Blessings.

Blessings recognized are blessings multiplied.

Blessings acknowledged are blessings multiplied.

Blessings shared are blessings multiplied.

As we look to shift our thinking on how to best address issues related to helping prevent and end homelessness I would encourage us all to consider our blessings that we can share.

One opportunity to share can certainly be dollars. The Ventura Social Services Task Force has begun a homeless-prevention effort aimed at keeping people in their homes. In collaboration with Catholic Charities, Project Understanding, the Salvation Army and United Way Ventura County, the task force has developed the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund, which allows qualifying residents of Ventura to receive one-time financial assistance for up to $1,000 or so to address special circumstances that put them at risk for homelessness. These funds are aimed at assisting individuals and families who have housing but are certain to be homeless due to an extraordinary setback. The dollar cost to address the issue if we wait until after someone (or someone and their family) is homeless is several times the cost of responding while they still have housing.

And yet, while funds are needed (and important), I think it would be accurate to say an issue that does not have as its sole cause a lack of funds can not have as it sole solution an infusion of funds. So there are other things we can share. In many instances what we can share is our time, our energy, our ideas, our talents and our connections. Perhaps you are already involved with a group or organization that assists those in need on a daily basis. Excellent. Let’s make connections and we can see partnerships established or enhanced, allowing for collaborative efforts. Perhaps you have a friend or a relative somewhere who is involved with an organization that hands out grants. You may have awareness of existing or upcoming employment opportunities. Perhaps you have an idea that is related to lowering the cost of housing, be it a rental or purchase. Please share those ideas.

To the question “How can I help?” there are answers. You can reach Karl Keller, the chair of the Task Force at (805) 212-4856 or e-mail karlbkeller@yahoo.com.

The season of peace can be 365 days a year (366 in 2008). For some, the season of need is also 365 or 366 days. I suggest our season of sharing can match that same time period. The opportunities to do so are abundant.

John S. Jones,Ventura

\\\"The greatness of a nation ... can be judged by the way its animals are treated.\\\" 

— Mahatma Gandhi

For the past two months, a group of Ventura County residents has been working with people throughout California to collect signatures to put an initiative for Humane Farming on the ballot next November. The petition for the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals could greatly improve the lives of millions of animals.

The aim of the petition is very simple. It would place on the ballot a law to ensure that farm animals in California are given enough room to turn around and extend their limbs! You would not think that something as basic as this would require a law, but it does. This requirement would outlaw the total confinement of egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and veal calves.

If we succeed in gathering a sufficient number of signatures, Californians will have a chance to vote next November on The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act. We must collect 650,000 registered voter signatures and submit them for verification by the end of February, 2008.

In the months to come, you may hear from economic interests that oppose this measure. It is important to understand that the California Prevention of Farm Cruelty Initiative will protect California\\\'s family farming and the rural way of life. This measure will not have any adverse economic impact on family farms that do not resort to these industrial production techniques.

This effort to protect farm animals is the largest of its kind in history. Never has a single ballot initiative offered the prospect of alleviating so much suffering.

Here’s a description of the three types of confinement that will be phased out:

Battery cages are tiny enclosures that confine approximately 19 million egg-laying hens in California. These social, intelligent animals are crammed in barren battery cages where they can’t even spread their wings. With no opportunity to nest, dust bathe, perch, and walk, these birds endure lives filled with suffering. For more than a year before slaughter, each caged hen lives in less space than a sheet of letter-sized paper.

Gestation crates are two-foot wide metal cages that confine nearly 20,000 breeding pigs in California for most of their lives. The pigs can\\\'t exercise or even turn around.

Veal crates are tiny wooden crates in which male calves are trapped for most of their lives. Barely larger than the calves \\\'bodies, the crates are so restrictive that the calves can\\\'t turn around, lie down, or extend their limbs for months on end.

To see for yourself what battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates look like, visit the Humane California web site at www.humanecalifornia.org.

Animals that are prevented from engaging in the most basic natural behaviors suffer immensely. Common human decency tells us that these are extremely cruel and inhumane farming practices that are not good for animal health and consequently not good for human health.

We are aiming to have signature gatherers at all Ventura County Farmers Markets, natural food stores and other locations. To help gather signatures or to find out where you can sign the petition, please contact our intrepid Ventura County Coordinator, Lizza Reed Galvan, 805-217-8861 or e-mail her at diamonddogs@tmo.blackberry.net.

Collecting 650,000 signatures from registered California voters by the end of February 2008 is a huge challenge! Thank you for your help.

Suza Francina, Former mayor,Ojai