Exxon Hates Your Children

We at alonovo.com absolutely love and support this commercial from Oil Change International and The Other 98%. While we really need funding -so do they to get this project on the air and into millions of homes. Please visit http://exxonhatesyourchildren.com/ to find out how you can help sponsor this important broadcast.

GMO Lobbying, Consumer Right to Know and alonovo

Please share far and wide! -alonovo.com will soon be providing easy to use information on the web and mobile devices -as to which Companies supported consumer's right to know about products containing GMO's -and which companies are on the wrong side of history.

While great organizations like California Right to Know will continue the political fight -lets hit bad companies in their most sensitive spot. You know ... right in their quarterly results.

EU Implements "Robin Hood" Tax

This is excellent. The reason is that speculative short term investment is seeking to transfer capital and wealth -and this tax will raise the cost of speculative transactions (thus encouraging longer term capital investment that adds jobs while growing/strengthening the economy). It's really a tax on gambling -and goes to the heart of some of our thoughts about transfers of wealth as opposed to meaningful creating of value.

http://www.economywatch.com/in-the-news/european-commission-approves-tobin-tax.24-10.html

The case for alonovo ...

The fundamental reason that the alonovo concept is becoming more relevant than ever is that we spend much of our societal focus now debating issues that were resolved (or should have been) long ago. The fact that we debate women's rights, fair pay, anti-discrimination, trickle-down economics and foreign policy that is war and not diplomacy focused is due to economics. The last few generations have embraced policies that have directed the flow of capital to companies (and their investors) that add little to no value -they externalize their costs through pollution, plundering resources, abuse their workforce and corrupt government. Koch industries, WalMart, Halliburton, Big Oil -are all leading examples of such entities. As a people until we either insulate the political process from money (unlikely post-Citizens United) -the market is the place where we can add the engine that can connect demand affinity to companies operating in a fair and sustainable manner -which tends to drive capital to more evolved, socially responsible management and investors. It also provides natural societal protection against companies externalizing costs (as Chevron does -in Ecuador as well as in Richmond, California) where governmental protection and/or judicial relief may ebb and flow with the political landscape -consumers can make value-aligned decisions.

David versus MONSANTO...

As Californians fight to win a Yes on 37 campaign (proper labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO's), massive amounts of money are being poured in by Monsanto, WalMart and other companies and lobbyist groups to defeat the measure.

The fight serves as a reminder as to why political lobbying by corporations (and especially in light of the "Citizens United" U.S. Supreme Court decision -connecting money to speech -and tenuously connecting corporations as "people with free speech rights") typically erodes societal protections for the pursuit of profit.

Monsanto has gained a great deal of exposure (which they continue to attempt to avoid) for their continuing strategy to control world food supply. This -as well as the strategy they use to gain more power -through intimidation -is sinister -and I believe that if more people were aware of their egregious behavior -we would all be working together -Democrats, Republicans, Greens and Libertarians -to revoke the corporate charter of Monsanto.

In is unusual and noteworthy when a small farmer faces the legal team afforded by one of the worlds largest multinational corporation -and wins.

The following article -written by friend and attorney Oscar Michelen describes the counter strategy employed by the small family farmer that not only beat Monsanto -but established important legal precedent to hopefully be a foundation for other small farmers to stop Monsanto and others that attempt to grow revenue and profit through legal intimidation.

http://www.courtroomstrategy.com/2011/12/solo-farmer-fights-monsanto-and-wins-over-patented-seeds/

Executive Pay Ratio's, Walmart and Rob Walton

Equitable executive compensation is an important factor in assessing corporate behavior. People that have driven innovation, assumed great personal risk and have created successful new businesses or even industries should be rewarded. Inher

iting a significant amount of wealth and reaping the rewards of prior generations creates no jobs or value -unless that wealth is directed at improving the quality and dignity of life. While buying four Ferrari's may help the vast network of Ferrari mechanics -it really does very little for America or the world. 

Rob Walton is a poster boy for inherited privilege and is a compelling case study for progressive and fair taxes.
And is another reason you will never find us at a Walmart.

Image courtesy http://walmart1percent.org

The Rising Costs of Low, Low Prices

Wal*Mart  (and people that consume from Wal*Mart) are creating a secondary wave of horror. Unionized stores (such as family-owned Raley's, HQ'd in Sacramento) are being squeezed between Wal*Mart prices and their unions (UFCW) and there may soon be a strike. As a result -more consumers will shift to Wal*Mart (as opposed to crossing picket lines at Raley's and other grocers that are in contract negotiations -Safeway, SaveMart) and potentially cause non-union consolidation in the supermarket and retail store industry in Northern California. 

While the UFCW should make every attempt to negotiate and advocate on behalf of its members -there should be constant and growing pressure to unionize Wal*Mart -and hold it accountable to pay fair/living wages and benefits to its workers. Without such pressure -Wal*Mart will continue to finish the job started by the Reagan administration -the elimination of collective bargaining. 

For those that don't think unions serve any purpose anymore -the next time you are enjoying a BBQ on a weekend, the reason there is a weekend is because of unions and collective bargaining. Don't think for a second that the extreme wealth behind Corporate America would implement any policy that did not involve transferring additional wealth to themselves -through our labor, Monday - Friday and Saturday/Sunday if they can. This is why the Koch Brothers are funding cheerleaders for wealth such as Scott Walker in Wisconsin. Placing political and economic pressure on unions at a time in which they have been weakened -the multi-faceted attack on unions is an attempt to remove a significant protection society has against extreme wealth and power.