OB Rag

Whole Foods Market is a highly profitable corporation that far outperforms its competitors, while maintaining an aura of commitment to social justice and environmental responsibility. Its clientele is attracted not only to its brightly lit array of pristine fruits and vegetables, organically farmed meats, and delectable (yet healthy) recipes, but also to the notion that the mere act of shopping at Whole Foods is helping to change the world.

Benches that citizens have put up along the cliffs at Sunset Cliffs are disappearing. It has been reported by MSNBC that several benches attached to the guardrail along the scenic boulevard have been possibly removed by the City of San Diego for liability reasons.

Reportedly, Councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s office has been flooded with requests for information on the missing benches. SEE MEMO ABOVE

by Lane Tobias

The debate over health care reform has been hotly contested for generations, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that during one of the worst global economic crises in history, President Obama is following through on his campaign promise to reform the system.

Or is he?

by Anna Daniels

News about beauty pageants engenders pretty much the same response in me as the announcement of a new brand of breakfast cereal-“here comes more refined sugar in a new box.”

The 2007 Miss Universe Competition did, however, get my attention. The gowns, as reported in This Side of the Mirror, were not your run of the mill frocks.

The earlier posted article “Organic vs Conventional: Have you been robbed?” takes aim at the wrong target. Much like the person who frets over which china to use while the house is on fire, you take organic– which accounts for 2-3% of food sales– to task while ignoring the rest of our food system.

Organic consumers have certainly not been robbed. On the contrary, …

Ed Moss, the new publisher for the recently purchased San Diego Union-Tribune, could be a worry for those who want the paper to survive. Moss, who takes control on Monday, May 18th, was described as a “journalistic mortician,” by Ron Kaye, the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, where Moss worked.

It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re checking out at your local co-op. You’re behind another member of your community, lining up your organic eggs, organic pork chops, organic milk, organic lamb shank, and organic cheese. You feel pretty content. You’re eating right, in a world full of chaos. Your body loves you.

But organic may not mean the food is better for you. ….

Ocean Beach Photo Exhibit and Contest – this Friday, May 15th, at the Masonic Temple on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard – 6pm – 8:30pm. Join the OB Historical Society for an evening of fun and local culture.

Take shorter showers, wash only full loads of laundry, sweep instead of hose your driveway.

These are the messages that Californians are getting as part of the state’s new “Save Our Water” campaign. Water restrictions, farmworker protest marches …

Is this comparable to the worst drought in modern history of the state? Or is it all being over-blown?

During the Bush era, peace protests were presupposed. If the President of the United States showed up anywhere, so did the protesters. Now that Barack Obama has taken over the helm, though, peace activists are debating and rehashing protest strategies and often not protesting at all.

by Ernie McCray

I’m enjoying the honor of helping organize the African American Male Intergenerational Conference that will be held on June 5th and 6th at the Educational Cultural Complex.

The experience has made me think of all the identities I’ve answered to in my 71 years. I entered the world a little colored baby boy and before I could say Jack Robinson, voila, I was a Negro.

by Staff of the San Diego Hunger Coalition

There are steps that are being taken to address some of the barriers that those in need face when applying for food stamps.

Here are suggestions about additional steps that we can all take to streamline the process: …