Erotic Economics

Sex, lies and global economics—a little something for everyone—at the Crossroads on July 14. Thursday, 7pm, at the Crossroads Community Center in Carmel, the Humanist Association of the Monterey Bay Area presents a free screening of the provocative 1995 documentary film, Who’s Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics.

In 1975, Marilyn Waring became the youngest member of the New Zealand Parliament. She was 22, and held the position until 1984.  

Waring is an activist for “female human rights” and holds a doctorate in political economy. Still, she lets her sense of humor out of hiding every once and a while.

Her colleagues of the New Zealand Parliament were never able to answer what Waring calls “the dumb questions,” which include: “Who determines the amount of money people get paid for the work they do?” and “Who looks at the world’s monetary system?”

The film explores how Waring has used and continues to use these “dumb questions” as insight into the political economy of the world. She advocates environmental protection and denounces military spending. Waring also helped ban nuclear ships in the New Zealand harbors, making it the first country to have a nuclear-free zone.

Waring explains economics and international policy in an easy to understand way, making a dry subject entertaining, says the Humanist Association’s Rosemary Matson. “She gets you to look at money in a new way,” Matson says.

Currently, Waring is a senior lecturer in social policy and social work at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand.

For more information, call Matson, at 659-3758. [AJ]

Calling Latino Youth

The Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) is now accepting applications for its 23rd annual leadership conference to be held at the California State University campus in Sacramento. The event will run from July 30 to Aug. 6 and is open to 140 California high school sophomores and juniors. Housing, meals, program materials and transportation to and from the conference are provided at no cost to the students or their families.

State Sen. Abel Maldonado, who represents the Monterey Peninsula and is a sponsor of the program, calls it a “wonderful learning experience.”

“The conference is a great opportunity for our high school students to learn about leadership and community involvement,” he says.

Every summer, CLYLP brings high school students from across California to the state capitol, where participants learn first-hand about the legislative process, by participating in mock hearings and meeting with state legislators.

Leadership camp participants also receive information about college admission and financial aid, attend a college fair with officials from top schools from around the US, and learn about history, cultural heritage, and many contemporary issues relevant to youth in California.

Justine Aguirre-Chavez attended the conference in 2003.

She was born in California, and moved with her parents to Juarez, Mexico, when she was 10 months old. Aguirre-Chavez lived in Mexico until she was 4 years old. She speaks Spanish and English.

“When she was about 6 years old, I was talking to her about being Mexican,” writes Justine’s mother, Ysela Aguirre-Chavez, in a letter to CLYLP. “She was surprised to find out that SHE was Mexican!! I reminded her that she had lived in Mexico, spoke Spanish and made homemade tortillas, how could she not know she was Mexicana! I now know that her confusion was a result of my inability to teach her about the Latino.

“This conference was able to give her so much of what I was unable to give her,” the letter continues. “She has returned more appreciative of the life of the Latino. She commented that she is happy to learn so much about being Latina and is proud to be so! She is more determined than ever to achieve her dreams and share her experiences with others.”

For more information or to download an application, visit www.clylp.com, or call Juan C. Yniguez at 916-207-9512. [JL]

Bug Off

The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office is aggressively pursuing pests, including the Mediterranean fruit fly and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.

“It’s a busy insect season,” says Patty Murray of the Ag Commissioner’s office in Salinas.

Every year, from April to October, the department places hundreds of trapping devices around the county. This year, there are more than usual, though Murray says nothing in particular prompted the increase.

The triangular traps are green, yellow, or white and are placed in residential gardens, fields and public places, like the neon green one that hangs at the entrance of the Del Monte Shopping Center.

“Every summer, we have a desire to trap count about 3,000 pests,” Murray says. “But really, we consider it a success if we don’t find anything.”

Murray says the department is aggressive with the government-funded trapping effort because Southern California and Northern Baja have experienced infestations that have cost some industries millions, often wiping out entire crops for miles.

“The glassy-winged sharpshooter could travel up in trucks,” she explains. “They’ll jump on anything. Grapes are of a particular concern because they’re an effective disease spreader.”

The Ag Commissioner’s Office also undertakes intensive inspection of incoming plants and produce, a costly and tedious task that has proven to be effective.

One nursery inspection recently revealed the presence of one sharpshooter egg mass, and it was immediately rejected. It’s the kind of proactive, prophylactic efforts of growers and the department that Murray credits with the fact that Monterey County hasn’t seen an infestation of pests in recent history.

“We haven’t had to undertake eradication in 15 years. Growers are aggressive in controlling their own pests. It’s our mission at all times to take measures to prevent introduction.” [MC]