Baldwin Park be sure to VISIT: PASADENAROSEPARADE.COM
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Breaking the Murderous Blade of Bloodthirsty Beasts
THURSDAY, march 26 - april 1 , 2015
Devastating Drought Demands Drastic Decisions $1 Billion Package Expedites Bond Package
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by Rachel Melikian World Powers: How bloodthirsty is the Devil for death as he caused the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide to use death as their bloody pawn? Our nation’s darling little angel, Grandma of Armenia, pierced the heavens with cupids bow in prayer to protect us with love. Her pleading prayers to the heavens asked for mercy over the enemy’s soul. We are here now and we can utter words of justice to you. We will call on justice for it is far, far away. We speak truth of the 1915 Armenian Genocide to you. In your honorable power, we appeal, we are the survivors. Our martyrs are waiting for your verdict. We ask for your response. The Centennial, April 24,
-Photo by Terry Miller
Please see page 5
Between Alligator Purses and Jaguar Claws - A Day in the Life of a Wildlife Inspector at LAX By Jennifer Schlueter When Alli Goldman, wildlife inspector at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), led me into her office’s property room, I was flabbergasted by what I saw: stuffed lions, sea turtles, alligators, pangolins, birds, a tiger, a polar bear carpet and an alligator purse with the heads still on, jaguar claws, intricate ivory carvings, granulated tiger bones,
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snake skin, cheetah coats, and so much more. The most disturbing piece of this collection was an elephant foot which served as a chair and had a zebra cover. All these goods were seized during inspections of imports and exports of international air and ocean cargo; for example, passenger baggage or mail shipments. Travelers – hunters,
tourists, and natives alike - either did not possess a permit for them, tried to smuggle them, or simply were oblivious to the fact that their souvenirs or medicinal products stem from protected animals. Goldman’s job is to catch these illegal imports, issue fines, inspect incoming wildlife shipments, and, most importantly, guard the endan-
-Photo by Jennifer Schlueter
gered species of our planet. When she discovered her first African trophy shipment, a full elephant skull, Alli broke out in tears. Soon, she came to realize that this would be the unfortunate nature of her job, with which she still struggles at times. On much better days, Alli gets to inspect live shipments of animals such as red pandas, tigers, penguins, and monkeys, one of which is The Hangover movie series’ “actor” Crystal. Seized live animals are removed from commercial activity and donated to public institutions such as zoos, aquariums, or exhibits. Because about 80% of live corals for the US enter through LAX, Alli inspects a lot of coral shipments on a regular day. Live birds and Please see page 3
obilizing state resources to face another year of extreme dry conditions, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. last week joined Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and Republican Leaders Senator Bob Huff and Assemblymember Kristin Olsen to announce legislation to help local communities cope with the ongoing, devastating drought. The $1 billion package will expedite bond funding to make the state more resilient to the disastrous effects of climate change and help ensure that all Californians have access to local water supplies. “This unprecedented drought continues with no signs yet of letting up,” said Governor Brown. “The programs funded by the actions announced today will provide direct relief to workers and communities most impacted by these historic dry conditions.” The legislation includes
more than $1 billion for local drought relief and infrastructure projects to make the state’s water infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events. The package accelerates $128 million in expenditures from the Governor’s budget to provide direct assistance to workers and communities impacted by drought and to implement the Water Action Plan. It also includes $272 million in Proposition 1 Water Bond funding for safe drinking water and water recycling and accelerates $660 million from the Proposition 1E for flood protection in urban and rural areas. “Taken together, this package provides a major boost to our state’s efforts to manage the drought and strengthen our infrastructure,” said pro Tempore De León. “I want to thank the Governor and the Speaker for working together to respond to this Please see page 6
Friends of the Los Angeles River Invites All to 26th Great Los Angeles River Clean Up Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR) is proud to bring the community together for its annual La Gran Limpieza, the Great Los Angeles River CleanUp 2015. For 26 years, people from all over Los Angeles County have come together removing hundreds of tons of trash from the Los Angeles River in a spirit of celebration and stewardship. The CleanUp will feature live bands rocking the River, gift giveaways, family activities, and refreshments. Volunteers can register at http://folar.org/events/ cleanup-2015/. The CleanUp will take place on three consecutive Saturdays - April 11th, 18th, and 25th - from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The CleanUp is fo-
cused on non-concrete, softbottom sections of the Los Angeles River that are teeming with wildlife. FoLAR is dedicated to preserving this vibrant and delicate ecosystem. "The Los Angeles River runs through the heart of L.A., and these earth-bottom sections of the River are a vital green space we share. Every year the CleanUp connects people from across the county by bringing them to the River which ties us together," said Lewis MacAdams, founder and president of FoLAR. "The CleanUp is more than stewardship; it's a celebration and a call to creatures like the steelhead trout. The Los Angeles River is getting ready for them to come home."