Feature Archives

On Dec. 26th, 2007, attorneys for Briana Waters, a Berkeley mother and violin teacher accused of acting as a lookout during a politically-motivated arson in 2001 at the University of Washington, filed a motion asserting that the Seattle-based prosecutor and FBI agents on the case committed perjury and obstruction of justice, and asked the court to conduct an inquiry into the misconduct. Waters, who could face 35 years in prison if convicted, has steadfastly maintained her innocence.

On December 14th, Rod Coronado entered a guilty plea in federal court in San Diego to one count of distribution of information related to the assembly of explosives and weapons of mass destruction. This was the charge that Rod had fought for almost two years and for which he faced approximately five to ten years in prison if found guilty at trial. Rod stated in an open letter that “hopefully this plea agreement will once and for all grant me closure in a well-known campaign of repression against me for my past involvement, association and support for covert campaigns against environmental destroyers and animal abusers..."

December 7th marked the first month of the tree-sit on Science Hill at UC Santa Cruz to protest campus expansion. In that month, discussions about UCSC's Long Range Development Plan, biomedicine, the use of police force and the future of the UCSC campus have been sprouting up all over the place. Connections have been made with off-campus community members, many forums have been held and more are planned, and a campus coalition of students, graduate students, and faculty is forming to plan other modes of resistance outside of the tree-sit.

EarthVision International Environmental Film Festival highlights films about crucial ecological issues, provides a venue for independent filmmakers from around the world and inspires people to get involved in creating positive change for the planet. EarthVision and the Sustainability Club of Cabrillo College screened the EarthVision 2007 – Director’s Pick at the Cabrillo College Cafeteria on December 5th.

On December 2, dozens of supporters marked the one-year anniversary of the tree sits at the Memorial Grove in Berkeley. Bands played, Circus Pandemonium performed, free food was served and protesters marched.

On November 20th, UC Berkeley completed the construction of a second barbed-wire fence around the Memorial Oak Grove. The fencing was built to enclose approximately ten tree-sitters inside and has cost an estimated $115,000. The University has announced it can fine or arrest anyone acting "in concert" with the tree-sitters.

Thousands of fish are stranded on Prospect Island, located on the northern section of Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, due to the draining of the island by a contractor hired by the Bureau of Reclamation. As of November 21st, striped bass make up the vast majority of the fish seen stranded on the island. Endangered and threatened species, including Delta smelt, salmon and steelhead, are expected to perish soon unless a fish rescue is conducted.

November 20th: UC Berkeley has completed the construction of a second barbed-wire fence around the Memorial Oak Grove, costing $80,000, enclosing approximately ten tree-sitters inside, and can fine or arrest anyone acting "in concert" with the tree-sitters. Oak supporters are calling for an 11am Thanksgiving Day gathering at the Grove. A group of mothers will bring holiday pies to feed the sitters, and a “Thanksgiving Turkey” will walk up to the grove with food for the tree defenders as well.