PhD student with equity

I went to see Milk yesterday.  The story about the first openly gay man, Harvey Milk, elected to political office.  He was, of course, the city supervisor of San Francisco.  He put together an ordanance to protect gay rights and fought against the Briggs Initiative which would strip gay teachers of their jobs.  It was eery watching Harvey’s team color in the countys turn green ( against) and red (for)…. It might as well have been Novemeber 2, 2008.. Watching in horror as our great state made it a consitutional amendment to keep two adult from marrying.  In Milk, the Briggs Initiative did not pass.  It was a great victory for the homosexual movement.  As Milk says in the movie ” This is not my issue…This is my life!”  How true… how very true.  This man saw a need for change that started with one ruined roll of film and turned into a strong political movement that today stands strong. Milk began at age 40…. and was shot before his 50th birthday.

I’m 29… I will be turning 30 … well soon.  What have I done? What changes have I made?  I left this movie filled with the need to change the world.. Yes I thought! Pick an issue and fight for it! Join a club, start a club!

But what would my issue be? As a typical liberal I find that my simpathies seem to be split into many directions.

Endangered Species… This one is an obvious interest of mine.  The reason I’m in a PhD program is to conduct research that will help wildlife reproduce, both in the wild and captiveity.  So great! That’s hat I’ll fight for! Give to the Roots and Shoots program through Jane Goodall Foundation.  A program to help small communities around the Gombe national forest so they stop chopping down the home of the Chipanzees…

Or give to WWF, World Wildlife Fund…. UG

But wait… I also care about the Environment

Do I get solar panels for my home? Bike everywhere like my sainted Ex “Mr. Perfect”? Compost..Recycle.. Join R4 , the UC Davis recycling program??  Now I do recycle ( I have the bin), I’m putting up a compost pile… I used environmentally friendly paint and cleaners… that’s not enough.. Would Harvey Milk have stopped at that??

But wait…. What about Reproductive health

I’m a strong component of the right for women to choose what to do with their bodies.  THis includes sex education, free contraceptives and thr right to abortion…

Do I give to Planed Parenthood?  My dear friend Jill does that?? Do I join a program that brings education to inner city kids… Do I start a counseling group for young women and men who want to understand their bodies….

Buit Wait… What about health care, workers rights, ocean health, national parks, education, the growing epidemic of illiteracy…….

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

And that’s when I become overwhelmed.  My darling friend Beth started a food drive during the holidays and brought in at least 2 tons of food for local banks.

My amazing friend Abby runs Ag against Hunger, a program that provides fresh produce to food banks…

I.. I go to class… Teach UC Students and drink beer…..

Well I can fix somethings… I fixed a lamp that was broken… now it won’t go into a landfill and I won’t buy another and support big companies that don’t care for their employees…..

It’s a start

Oh and I washed my face and brushed my teeth last night before bed and then again this morning!!