Pauline Lucas

The mystery of who constructed the Surfing Madonna mosaic has been solved. Surfer and art lover, Mark Patterson considered his artwork of Lady Guadalupe as a gift to Encinitas, giving the message to "save the ocean." Many citizens in Encinitas think the surfing Madonna is a positive addition to the community, while others think it should be removed.

Local San Diego women are providing little loans that add up to big change in impoverished countries. WomensTrust and Women’s Empowerment International have provided microloans ranging from $55 to $5000 to help women in poorer countries start their own businesses.

California working women make on average $8,300 less per year than men. This costs California women about $37 billion annually. The Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963 to prohibit discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by employers. In passing the bill, Congress denounced sexual discrimination in the workplace. It has been 48 years since the law was enacted. Many women are supporting a new equal pay act called the Paycheck Fairness Act, which passed in the U.S. House but fell short in the Senate. This would close loopholes in the old act to ensure that women aren't underpaid. We are going to discuss the current equal pay rules as well as the struggle women are facing, and the ways that women are trying to gain equality.

A recent study shows that on average California working women make $8,300 less per year than men. This gaps totals about $37 billion annually.

According to the American Cancer Society, each week there are about 200-300 San Diegans diagnosed with cancer. Studies show that patient-centered care yields an increase in patient satisfaction as well as recovery rates. We will discuss the importance of positive communication between cancer patients and doctors.

Legislation introduced in Sacramento would ensure that California ceases to be both a major supplier and consumer of shark fins through a ban on the possession, sale, trade, and distribution of fins. Hawaii has passed a similar ban. Oregon and Washington are also considering bans. Every year people kill up to 73 million sharks for shark fin soup, a practice considered wasteful and unsustainable. Some scientists say many shark populations have collapsed worldwide due to overfishing. We discuss the new legislation, the traditional Chinese shark fin soup and the status and importance of shark populations in the oceans.