Pollution of earth and water is driving indigenous peoples from their homelands

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2013 (San Diego)--Around the world, including here in the U.S.,  native people are losing lands they have occupied for countless generations.  The earth and water that sustained life in their communities is being destroyed –once-mighty rivers and wetlands reduced to barren, parched or even contaminated land.  The story is the same from tribes along the Colorado River to those deep in the Amazon, from the deserts of Southern California to the jungles of Mexico, from the coal fields of Appalachia to the copper mining pits of Arizona to indigenous people’s lands in Canada threatened by the Keystone Pipeline.

The culprit?  Growing demand for energy and water. 

Now, native people are speaking out.  They hope to educate the public to conserve precious resources, sharing knowledge of the heart-breaking price being paid by people who have been given no choice—and whose very cultural identity centers around the lands and waters being lost.

February 14, 2013--(San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Ramona solar farm wins approval (UT San Diego)
• RCPG Chair says County getting mixed signals from Ramona residents on housing projects (Ramona Patch)
• Ruling puts SD pension overhaul in doubt  (U-T San Diego)
• Local DMV Staffers Were Bribed $100,000 for Driver’s Licenses, Feds Say (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego Hospice faces critical moment (U-T San Diego)
• Boxer Wants Probe Into Equipment Problems At Troubled San Onofre Nuclear Plant
• Helix Star RB Michael Adkins Will Play Football for the Colorado Buffaloes (La Mesa Patch)
• Santee Farmer’s Market to move west (Santee Patch)
• Council acting on well at Town Center despite other claims to water  (Santee Patch)

STATE

• Christopher Dorner's charred body is positively identified  (Los Angeles Times)
• Controller: California is $4.3 billion ahead of forecast in January (Sacramento Bee)
• Governor Brown, Republicans float proposals to change fire fees (Sacramento Bee)
• California Seeks To Adopt Nation's Toughest Gun Laws (KPBS)
• Environmental groups, unions team up to resist CEQA push (Sacramento Bee)
• Many in Calif. Rely On Contaminated Water Sources (KPBS)
• Delta Smelt Deaths Means Less Water for Central and Southern California (KPBS)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Janis Mork

January 11, 2013 (San Diego)- On January 9, San Diego Supervisors unanimously agreed to direct the chief administrative officer to work with Borrego Water District to design a plan to address long-term sustainability of groundwater in the Borrego Valley and to report back with potential recommendations.

The ordinance states that “groundwater is being pumped at rates that exceed natural replenishment. This situation referred to as an ‘overdraft condition’ has existed for several decades…. It is the cumulative impact of all users that has resulted in this condition.” An amendment has been proposed to the Groundwater Ordinance to require that private projects fully offset their water use.

At the meeting, a first reading of the groundwater ordinance amendment was read. On January 30, it will be read for a second time and be considered for adoption for the board.

December 26, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• East County redevelopment funding announced (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego’s Biggest Park Gets Even Bigger (KPBS)
• San Diego Kaiser Hospital Fined For Removing Wrong Kidney (KPBS)
• El Cajon PIO stayed at hotel with Hanson-Cox (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego Boy Scout Council Wins Lease Discrimination Lawsuit, Leases to Continue at Balboa Park and Fiesta Island (Mission Times Courier)
• City wins tentative ruling in pension case (U-T San Diego)
• A roadmap to SANDAG’s transportation plans (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• Feds reject Calif. request for education waiver (Sacramento Bee)
• Second audit of State Parks finds more mystery money (Sacramento Bee)
• 2,600 Medi-Cal cards sent to wrong families (Sacramento Bee)
• Lawmakers target key environmental law for overhaul (U-T San Diego)
• Pot farm boom slams Northern Calif. environment (Sacramento Bee)
• California farmers, residents to get more water (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

July 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  A premiere screening of  Watershed, will debut at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on July 28 at 8:15 p.m.  Tickets go on sale today. 

The film tells the story of threats to the once-mighty Colorado River—and offers solutions for the future of the American west.   It is produced by the Redford Center, established by actor Robert Redford.

• Bill protects businesses from disability act suits (Sacramento Bee)
• Counties miss deadline to send ballots to overseas, military voters (California Watch)
• More water to be shipped to California; good news for avocado growers (North County Times)

• Fire Chief saves colleague’s life (NBC)
• AT&T opposes SDG&E wildfire recovery request (North County Times)
• Civic leader  Jim Wieboldt drops out of race for La Mesa City Council (La Mesa Patch)
• Grossmont and Alvarado hospitals get B and C grades for safety (La Mesa Patch)
• Bullets fired in field hit close to residents, Hanson Elementary (Ramona Patch)
• Man Who Tried To Kill Wife Sentenced To Life In Prison (10 News)

By E.A. Barrera

May 23, 2012 (San Diego) -- Steve Danon has been active in Republican politics since his days as College Republican president at San Diego State University. He has worked for Republicans ranging from Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Ron Roberts to Congressman Brian Bilbray.

He is one of a new generation of youthful conservative leaders emerging in San Diego that include Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and City Councilman Kevin Faulconer (both of whom have endorsed Danon).

• Radiation from Japan disaster found along California coast (ABC)
• If California taxpayers paid up, state’s deficit would disappear (Sacramento Bee)
• High-stakes vote nears in California water waters (KPBS)
• California deer population declines as habitat disappears (Sacramento Bee)

• La Mesa, El Cajon to get armored vehicle (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Program to help chronically homeless showing results (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Abandoned orchards must be monitored for pests (Sacramento Bee)
• 15-year-old Santana High School student injured in crash awakens from coma (Santee Patch)
• U.S. says beware of ads placed by drug smugglers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon City Council fills vacancy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa home prices trending up (La Mesa Today)
• Feds misled by SoCal Edison on San Onofre changes, group says (KPBS) 

 September 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa's  Environmental Sustainability Commission is holding the fourth annual "Sustain La Mesa" Environmental Festival on Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa, 91942.[Additional Info]

"What about the complete loss of our lifestyle?" - Linda Hayes, Lakeside rancher

August 5, 2011 (Lakeside) – Mark Weston, General Manager, and Carlos Lugo, chief engineer for Helix Water District fielded heated questions at a Lakeside Planning Group meeting Wednesday night over the District's proposed El Monte Valley Mining, Reclamation, and Groundwater Recharge project.

Water, water everywhere: How San Diego Can Become Water Self-Sufficient—And Even Be a Water Exporter

A Commentary By Jim Bell

May 10, 2009 (San Diego)--Many experts are projecting doom and gloom, scenarios of decreasing water supplies and increasing cost, yet the San Diego/Tijuana Region can easily become renewable water self-sufficient and even become a net water exporter. Yes, that’s right. We can have plenty of water for drinking, showering, growing food and even swimming—with liquid assets to spare.