News for Now Update: Week of October 17, 2021

New Regulations for PFAS
We’ve been warning about the health-damaging dangers of PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”) for years. Thankfully, the White House announced today that they will require more rigorous testing and that the EPA will set new so-called “safe” limits by 2022. Read more in the New York Times.

A New Bill Could Make Our Highways Pollinator-Friendly!
Decades of expanding population and negligent degradation of native habitats have decimated pollinators—bees, butterflies and insects—without them, our food system would collapse. A new federal initiative, waiting in limbo, could provide a solution along our roadways. Learn more at Civil Eats.

BIPOC Communities and Climate Change
Incremental change, while beneficial, misses the opportunity and the urgent need for BIPOC communities and state and federal agencies to cooperate and collaborate to mitigate climate change, all the while honoring indigenous rights and protecting biodiversity. Together we can overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenge! Learn more at Disparity to Parity.

Seattle Steakhouse Embraces Regenerative Agriculture and Indigenous Practices
Regenerative agriculture is a re-emerging model of ancestral land and animal management practices. This modern-day Seattle steakhouse brings a rare glimpse of indigenous reverence to today’s restaurant culture. If you’re in the area, this ‘critique of steakhouses’ is a must visit. Find out more in the New York Times.

Urban Farming and Ancestral Practices for Underserved Ethnic Communities
Urban farming is nothing new but building urban farms in the heart of underserved ethnic communities is—hopefully—a practice that will continue to grow 🌱. The Flowers & Bullets collective, founded by Jacob Robles and Tito Romero, reimagined an abandoned elementary school and brought their community together while also reclaiming ancestral traditions in farming. The collective has reactivated a program that takes the harvest of native corn and teaches residents how to create their own tortillas using ancient ancestral methods. “For us, these foodways are a part of our identity,” according to Robles. “They are a connection to the land, the seasonal cycles and how to maintain our health and our ceremonies. It’s also important not to lose these practices that our ancestors maintained and died for.” Read about it at YES! Magazine.