If printing, please conserve by doing so on the front and back of each sheet.  Reduce font size if necessary.

Montebello E-News

June 22, 2010

Modern men are afraid of the past. It is a record of human achievement, but its other face is human defeat. Walter Lippman

Are we learning all which we should learn from history? No, we are not. What is the consequence of "selective learning"?

1. Are We Ready for This?
 2. Announcements
3. About Montebello E-News and “My Montebello”

By disposition I mainly ignore doomsday scenarios, both on the Left and the Right. But Arthur Laffer makes a plausible argument in the Wall Street Journal that in the United States the upcoming taxes increases in these difficult economic times will likely lead to an economic collapse in 2011. An excerpt: "Now, if people know tax rates will be higher next year than they are this year, what will those people do this year? They will shift production and income out of next year into this year to the extent possible. As a result, income this year has already been inflated above where it otherwise should be and next year, 2011, income will be lower than it otherwise should be." Also, the prospect of rising prices, higher interest rates and more regulations next year will further entice demand and supply to be shifted from 2011 into 2010. In my view, this shift of income and demand is a major reason that the economy in 2010 has appeared as strong as it has. When we pass the tax boundary of Jan. 1, 2011, my best guess is that the train goes off the tracks. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/06/08/the-coming-economic
-collapse-in-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign
=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

New kid on the block. A Montebello organization has made its presence known recently.  "Alliance for a United Montebello" distributed fliers this month, taking a position on the high income of personnel in the Montebello Fire Department, this after the firefighters union at least twice distributed a flier about the current reduction in fire service, this due to our city's attempt to balance the budget. Also, the Alliance has taken a position on the development of the Montebello Hills. Go to http://allianceforaunitedmontebello.com/Home_Page.html and scroll down to "Important Information for Montebello Residents".

When the dust settles, what do we see? An analysis of Arizona's new law directed at illegal immigrants has been published and can be read at http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SB1070_Guide_060210.pdf. What caught my attention as I glimpsed the analysis: (1) the Arizona legislature did not do an analysis of the possible cost of operation of the new law, which might run into the hundreds of millions of dollars; and (2) the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police did not support the bill which became the new law. Yet, legislators in twenty-two other states have introduced or are considering introducing similar legislation.

Still debating with neighbors about global warming? Forget the debate and see what is happening. Climate change is helping diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and human plague spread into northern areas, according to a report by the European Academies Science Advisory Council. The report finds that rising temperature are causing a boom in the populations in insects that carry these diseases. As abstracted in UN Wire, June 10, 2010, from a report in AlertNet.org/Reuters, June 10, 2010.

Unexpected benefits of capitalism. Native Americans have casinos, while the Surui of Brazil have carbon credits to sell. The Surui people of Brazil have adopted Internet technology in their fight to preserve their home: the Brazilian Amazon rain forest. Using GPS, Google mapping and other Internet technology, the Surui are able to track deforestation and issues related to logging on their borders. The Surui hope to sell millions of tons of carbon emissions [sic] on the global emissions market, which would make the Surui the first indigenous people paid to fight for preservation. As abstracted in UN Wire, June 10, 2010, from a report in Der Spiegel, June 8, 2010.

Five hundred thirty-five chances. Maybe somebody would listen. Dear Congressman McKeon: Several months ago, there was a tele-town hall hosted by Common Cause, with one of your colleagues, Congressman John Larson, as the guest. This writer wrote in a comment which was read on the air, namely, that in 1789 there were 150 Members, each representing 27,000 constituents, and now there were 435 Members, each of whom represented 690,000 constituents. When that imbalance is effectively addressed, we will have less concern over salient issues like spending, immigration and health care. Your colleague said that the imbalance should be addressed, but had no proposal. How do you propose to effectively address that imbalance? (It is not necessary to increase the number of Members.) Thank you. Van Ajemian

Do we remember that the Taliban was a political party in Afghanistan? Millions of residents in Pakistan's tribal areas face rights abuses from the Taliban, enabled by a lack of protection from the government, Amnesty International charges in a report. Beyond restrictions on access to education, movement and speech, civilians in the area find themselves placed in physical danger during armed confrontations by the Taliban and the government, the group adds. Militants attempt to camouflage themselves among local residents and Pakistani security forces do little to avoid civilian casualties, the report says. As abstracted in UN Wire, June 10, 2010, from a report by BBC, June 10, 2010.

As if there were not enough problems. More and more violent crimes are occurring in America's hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities, according to a new alert issued by the Joint Commission, an independent health care oversight group. Since 2004, there have been "significant increases in reports of assault, rape and homicide, with the greatest number of reports in the last three years," the group said in its "Sentinel Event Alert" released last week, the latest in a series of alerts on serious adverse events occurring in health care settings. ... "Only a very small percentage of violent incidents are reported, so this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Russell L. Colling, a health care security consultant in Salida, Colo., who advised the Joint Commission on the report. "The reality is, there is violence every day in the emergency department." Colling cited a number of reasons for the increase in violent outbreaks in health care settings, including an increase in drug and alcohol abuse and a lack of adequate care for psychiatric patients. "In the last ten or fifteen years, the resources for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health patients have basically vanished, and that means hospitals often have to do intakes for all suspected psychiatric patients," he said. "In today's hospital environment, where there are often tremendous delays in treatment, these patients tend to get more agitated. Another factor, said Colling, is that Americans are more likely to vent their frustrations about the flawed health care system." ... "Violence on the Rise at U.S. Health Care Centers", Yahoo! News, June 10, 2010.

I like using this online service. Marlene Zobayan has a service at www.consumerchange.com which enables you to give feedback, that is, make a suggestion, to a company or organization in the hope that it adopt an environmentally-friendly practice. I have submitted suggestions to Marlene's service, and she has forwarded to companies and organizations. Below you will see that a number of companies and organizations fall short on the basics of environmental stewardship.

Feedback date: 26 April 2010. My father is a retiree of the "UAW", United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. He periodically receives mailings from the union. I am so happy that the UAW REGION 5 REPORT, which is a newspaper mailed to my father, is printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper. At the same time, my father received a letter dated April 14, 2010, because a union representative's name was left out of the newspaper. I ask the UAW to implement two things as quickly as possible: (1) proudly display the eco-friendliness of the newspaper on the front page of every issue and, without hesitation, ask readers the question, "Can you help by telling advertisers and other newspapers that you want them to be green, because green is good for America?" Go so far as to invite readers to report on success in getting others to go green; (2) make a new policy of which all nonprofits and government would be made aware through the news media, namely, that every shop have a green assistant to the shop steward and every office have a "green practices" adviser; with such a person, we would have avoided the mailing mentioned above, perhaps substituting a postcard on recycled paper, which would have saved UAW money. Thank you.

Feedback date: 1 May 2010. Feedback: My parents, both retired, switched in April to CareMore, a health insurer, which provides better coverage for their needs than does Blue Shield. CareMore has incorporated certain efficiencies to cut its costs, but, quite surprisingly, not in its communications with members. // The sales agent gave my parents sizable directories when they signed up. CareMore itself mailed each of my parents sizable directories. Considerable waste in paper and mailing, and no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. // Unfortunately, this inefficiency continues. CareMore can e-mail us and doctors when an authorization is given for a doctor visit, but chooses to mail notices, which, with the envelope and postage, might cost fifty cents more than the labor needed for e-mail. With millions of authorizations going out to members, that fifty cents become a large number. Again, no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Also, there has been a duplicate authorization, issued by the primary-care physician and the CareMore office. I hope that CareMore immediately institute changes, as it has a computer network with which to track communications with members. // It would be a fine example if CareMore (1) appointed a person in each of its offices and each of its care facilities to be an "assistant manager for green practices", (2) announced this during the summer, and (3) deservedly boasted next Earth Day about the savings.

You have received a response to your recent feedback to US Bank. The response is: Thank you for taking the time to use U.S. Bank's email service. U.S. Bank values your feedback regarding reducing the use of paper in mailings that are sent out as we are always looking for ways to improve. This will hopefully change in the future. I have forwarded your feedback to our Quality Assurance Department so that your feedback can be reviewed appropriately. If there is anything else we can answer for you, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to serving your banking needs in the future. Sincerely, Taryn Van Ausdell Email Operations U.S. Bank 24-Hour Banking & Financial Sales If you need further assistance, please feel free to call 1-800-USBANKS (1-800-872-2657) or go to www.usbank.com and select 'Email Us' link. If you are out of the country, you may call us collect at 503-401-9991. E-mails sent to the business... A copy of this response is also available at www.consumerchange.com under the Write A Review for US Bank.

Feedback date: 7 May 2010. Feedback: There is a vigorous campaign in California in favor of Proposition 16, to be voted by the public on the June ballot.  An 8.5" x 11" mailer came to the house today, printed in color on each side on card stock.  There was no mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees to offset the consumption of trees. //  We have a tendency to compartmentalize our lives:  we attempt to shine as heroes in one aspect of our lives and fail in others.  I ask the "Yes on 16" people to do better, because they can do better, as they have the funds to do so.

Feedback date: 7 May 2010. Feedback: Deluxe for Business is a large national company with a proud history. Today I received two mailings from the Deluxe office in Lancaster, California. While each mailing was for a different service, the two could have been combined to save paper and money. I looked on the envelopes and the literature, but was unable to find any mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees to offset the trees used to make these mailings. // Deluxe helps communities in the areas of education, the arts and human services. Deluxe can be a leader with regard to health and the environment by setting an example for the public and other businesses. Alongside doing eco-friendly mailings, Deluxe might get mention in the WALL STREET JOURNAL by appointing staff to become "assistant managers for green practices", so that somebody in every office be focused on greening every business routine possible. Thank you.

Feedback date: 10 May 2010. Feedback: My mother received a survey in the mail from the Democratic National Committee. I was pleased that the image for recycled paper appeared on the envelope and on the enclosed letter and survey. At the same time, there was no indication of biodegradability, soy ink or the planting of trees. As for the recycle image, I urge the committee to display it more prominently. // Two additional suggestions: (a) use online surveying as much as possible so that paper be avoided completely and (b) appoint and draw attention to a "vice chair for green practices", whose job would be to continually look for ways to green the DNC and its communications, then tell the public about it. An additional thought for (a): it would be interesting to see how many youth and young adults would survey their parents and grandparents online if the DNC asked their help to do an environmentally-friendly survey. // Thank you.

Feedback date: 1 May 2010. Feedback: Boys and Girls Clubs provide a good program, but, like many organizations, they are hurting because of the recession. Typically, an organization does not innovate, but, rather, falls back on traditional fundraising, as the Boys and Girls Clubs Los Angeles County Alliance did the last week of April with a mailed donation solicitation to our house. Unfortunately, the organization sent us address labels, which we put in a folder with those from Veterans of Foreign Wars and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Feedback date: 13 May 2010. Feedback: A charity which which I work and whose mail I open received an unsolicited mailing from Verizon. I was pleased to see a statement on the envelope, "Our printing supports wind power", with a reference to www.renewablechoice.com. The enclosed literature had the statement "Please Recycle" with the recycle symbol. // It is laudable that Verizon buys carbon offsets which fund wind power, but I do not see how that reduces the number of trees cut down. Also, there is nothing said about recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Those are directly related to Verizon's mailing and I ask that Verizon directly address those. // Also, Verizon could stand out as an industry leader if it announced that it had appointed an "assistant manager for green practices" for every one of its offices, who could green all activities, from keeping things bright with sunlight to dispensing with disposables. Thank you.

Feedback date: 17 May 2010. Feedback: We received a mailer at the house today from the "Yes on 17" committee in California. I saw the symbol indicating that the mailer was printed in a union shop, but there was no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. We as individuals and organizations in America tend to be unidimensional, that is, we focus on one issue as if it were not connected to anything else. Just as insurance rates, the subject of Proposition 17, affect everyone, so does the use of paper and ink to send out a "Yes on 17" mailer. This is not the twentieth century, when we thought that we had the luxury to be wasteful because we thought that the planet had the capacity to absorb our waste. 

Feedback date: 17 May 2010. Feedback: A booklet containing pros and cons on the propositions for the coming June California election was mailed to the house by the League of Women Voters. The League must be applauded for attempting to educate California voters, more so in light of deceptive campaign advertising. // As for the environmental friendliness of the mailing, there was no indication of that other than, perhaps, that the booklet had been printed on newspaper stock. There was no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. Also, I was surprised that there was no reference in large print to the League's "Smart Voter" Web site. // The League would benefit from having an innovations officer, somebody with a mandate to test ideas with local Leagues, in order to both increase voter knowledge and environmental friendliness. (Why an innovations officer? Recently, Common Cause instituted a program by which a donor would not donate until a candidate pledged to abide by certain rules. A variation of that had been put to the League a few years ago, but the program has not been implemented.)

Feedback date: 13 May 2010. Feedback: A nicely-done political mailer came to the house today from "Californians Vote Green". There was a reference to the Forest Stewardship Council in type so small that it BARELY could be read WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS. There was no indication that recycled paper had been used, that the mailer was biodegradable, that soy ink had been used. There was no mention of planting trees or offsetting carbon emission. Californians Vote Green could have done much better. Seeing that Proposition 16 was highlighted, my thought was that this mailer was really by proponents of Proposition 16. The mailer's lack of environmental care might make a person want to vote against Proposition 16.

Feedback date: 17 May 2010. Feedback: This organization mailed a donation solicitation which, neither on envelope or letter, said anything about recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. To its credit, the organization did not pain us with address labels and was frugal in the use of paper in its mailing; however, these did not make up for the "twentieth century" mailing. // What might work well is if the organization planted trees with every donation, which would serve two purposes: honoring the fallen and improving the environment. Also, it would be good if the organization appointed an "assistant manager for green practices", to ensure that every activity be good for the Earth and good for America.

Feedback date: 26 May 2010. Feedback: The Macula Vision Research Foundation does a seminar each year in Los Angeles. We received an announcement in the mail today. There was no indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. // It is understandable why the foundation would do a mailing and would use large type, as many of the recipients would have impaired vision and would not be computer savvy. Yes, one cannot give those as reasons not to be environmentally sensitive. // ... have a more environmentally-responsive database:
* send e-mail whenever possible,
* avoid more than one mailing to an address,
* find a way to reduce the needed information so that it fit on the back of a postcard.
Thank you.

Feedback date: 26 May 2010. Feedback: I remember that, back in the Seventies, I thought that the LOS ANGELES TIMES ranked with the NEW YORK TIMES in quality. But the times they are achangin'. The LOS ANGELES TIMES, like many newspapers, has competition from online news media. // I received a subscription solicitation from the TIMES today. No mention of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or planting trees. The TIMES must become aware that extremely wasteful twentieth-century marketing is unacceptable in the twenty-first century. // Instead of spending so much money on unsolicited mailings, the TIMES might do better to invest that money in the next gizmo from a Stanford whiz kid, which means that the TIMES should have a presence on that campus.

Feedback date: 29 May 2010. Feedback: US Bank has replied to recent e-mail, for which I thank the bank. Unfortunately, the problems persist and I cannot understand how a large bank with all its resources can be so very distant from conservation and sustainability. It is no excuse to say that conservation and sustainability have been lost in the transition planning. One does not have to have an MBA with a minor in environmental studies to understand what the salient themes of the day are. // The several unnecessary mailings to date add up to quite an expense, which means that if I were a shareholder, I would be furious over the lost profit. // On May 29, 2010, I received a mailed statement from US Bank about my checking account, transferred from California National Bank, which US Bank had bought. Apart from the absence of any indication of recycled paper, biodegradability, soy ink or the planting of trees, two disheartening facts accompanied the mailing: (1) California National Bank had mailed a similar statement in May and (2) I had begun using US Bank's online banking, making a mailed statement unnecessary. // I do not know what more could be said. Somebody at the bank has to become the proactive green advocate, with sufficient authorization and enthusiasm to nip these unconscionable problems before they become a public-relations liability for the bank. Thank you.

To learn about this newsletter, Montebello E-News, and the accompanying, growing Web site, “My Montebello”, visit www.mymontebello.com.  Also, you will find instructions and contact information for submitting announcements for publication in this newsletter, and for submitting stories to “Montebello Memories” at the Web site.