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Wed May 24 2006 (Updated 06/15/06)
South Central Farm Evicted in Early Morning Raid by Police
The 14-acre South Central Farm was raided early in the morning of June 13th. The police arrested some 40 supporters of the garden, and bulldozed fences and trees.
The South Central Community Farm in Los Angeles had been under consistent attack from the City of LA since the beginning of March. The week before the eviction, the farmers had reported that they had raised enough money to purchase the property.
Photos |
Audio 1 | 2
The South Central Community Farm in Los Angeles had been under consistent attack from the City of LA since the beginning of March. The week before the eviction, the farmers had reported that they had raised enough money to purchase the property.
Photos |
Audio 1 | 2
Wed May 24 2006
17-Acre Agricultural Lot in South Bay Faces "Development"
The former UC Davis Ag Center (aka Bay Area Research and Extension Center, or BAREC) is 17 acres of "prime farmland" that is agriculturally zoned. It is located at 90 N. Winchester Blvd. in Santa Clara. The state of California, which still owns this property, is in the process of selling it to SummerHill Homes and the City of Santa Clara for housing developments.
VIVA (Valley Initiative for Values in Agriculture) and SaveBAREC want to turn this property into a small urban farm, which would counterbalance what they say is overdevelopment in the area. They are asking for supporters to contact local polititians to ask them to not change the agricultural zoning, and to preserve the property as farmland. The struggle over BAREC has highlighted other local issues, such as the openness of City Council Meetings (they often have closed meetings). Read more
From 1928 to 2003, the property was a University of California Agricultural/Horticulture Research Center. Composting research was conducted there. Its centralized location made it possible for many people to have access to the results of the research. Urbancompost.org The site has also hosted research into production of specific crops, pests, and weather patterns. The University of California decommissioned the research station when it felt that advances in agricultural technology had improved to the point where it was conducting less research. However, closing the site also helped the UC system to satisfy some of its budgetary requirements.
Save BAREC | City of Santa Clara Meetings | Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture | Santa Clara County History | UC Cooperative Extention Santa Clara County | Santa Clara County Open Space Authority | Fairview Gardens in Goleta (near Santa Barbara)
VIVA (Valley Initiative for Values in Agriculture) and SaveBAREC want to turn this property into a small urban farm, which would counterbalance what they say is overdevelopment in the area. They are asking for supporters to contact local polititians to ask them to not change the agricultural zoning, and to preserve the property as farmland. The struggle over BAREC has highlighted other local issues, such as the openness of City Council Meetings (they often have closed meetings). Read more
From 1928 to 2003, the property was a University of California Agricultural/Horticulture Research Center. Composting research was conducted there. Its centralized location made it possible for many people to have access to the results of the research. Urbancompost.org The site has also hosted research into production of specific crops, pests, and weather patterns. The University of California decommissioned the research station when it felt that advances in agricultural technology had improved to the point where it was conducting less research. However, closing the site also helped the UC system to satisfy some of its budgetary requirements.
Save BAREC | City of Santa Clara Meetings | Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture | Santa Clara County History | UC Cooperative Extention Santa Clara County | Santa Clara County Open Space Authority | Fairview Gardens in Goleta (near Santa Barbara)
Sun May 21 2006
Logging to Resume in Freshwater Creek, Elk River
Following a nearly year-long reprieve in the Freshwater Creek and Elk River areas of Humboldt County, Maxxam/Pacific Lumber will soon resume logging operations in the two fragile areas just east of Eureka. The logging will mark the first time the controversial logging outfit has been allowed to cut trees in these neighboring watersheds since June 16, 2005. Logging stopped when Maxxam/PL stalled the process for creating special waste discharge permits which would address the high levels of dirt and mud deposited in these watercourses from excessive recent and historical logging.
Forest activists are concerned that Maxxam/PL will “cherry-pick” the old-growth trees based on the new restrictions that disallow any additional sediment to be delivered into Freshwater Creek and Elk River by the logging operations.
READ MORE.
Forest activists are concerned that Maxxam/PL will “cherry-pick” the old-growth trees based on the new restrictions that disallow any additional sediment to be delivered into Freshwater Creek and Elk River by the logging operations.
READ MORE.
Developer Joe Shekou recently filed a frivolous lawsuit, aka SLAPP suit, against Gallinas Creek activists. The activists have been effective and vocal in stalling attempts by the developer to build a 3 acre indoor soccer complex on endangered wildlife habitat in Marin County.
Environmentalists and nearby residents are expressing concern over the implications that such a massive complex will mean for the community and wildlife. The wetlands of Gallinas Creek are home to the endangered clapper rail and marsh mouse. The proposed 2.5 acre sports complex sits in the middle of this habitat and is in the pathway of a variety of local and migratory birds, river otters and a wide range of nature enthusiasts. Read more
Environmentalists and nearby residents are expressing concern over the implications that such a massive complex will mean for the community and wildlife. The wetlands of Gallinas Creek are home to the endangered clapper rail and marsh mouse. The proposed 2.5 acre sports complex sits in the middle of this habitat and is in the pathway of a variety of local and migratory birds, river otters and a wide range of nature enthusiasts. Read more
Fri May 12 2006
Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 18th
Over 100,000 Californians are expected to participate in Bike to Work week, which is May 15th through 19th. On Thursday, May 18th, which is Bike to Work Day (BTWD), people in some places will join together to ride to work. In cities such as San Francisco and Berkeley, local organizations will sponsor energizer stations with refreshments and other bicycle-related goodies. In Modesto, riders will have the option of riding with bicycle police officers (?) or riding by themselves. 511.org's Bike to Work Day
Some local events:
On Saturday, May 13th, Bike Day at the Berkeley Farmer's Market will include bicycle outreach, education and safety from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
On May 18th, BTWD in Berkeley will include energizer stations. Read more In Oakland, there will be a Bike to Work Day celebration at City Hall from 7:00am to 9:00am. More Oakland energizer stations BTWD in San Francisco includes a 6pm Bike Away From Work party at 111 Minna Gallery. Energizer stations in SF Contra Costa County energizer stations The Sacramento Bike Commute Month will include a BikeFest on the west steps of the Capitol from 11am to 1pm.
A California Bicycling Information website recommends that people prepare themselves in advance for a bike commute. Steps to take include: planning the safest (and least traffic) route to work; informing supervisors about bike commute plans and asking where the bicycle can be parked during working hours; making sure that the bicycle is in proper working order; dressing to cycle (this includes planning to wear everything from a helmet to comfortable bicycling clothes); and inflating tires before starting the commute. Bicycle safety activists also warn that riders should stay out of the range of doors of cars that are parked along the bike route (approximately 5 feet) to avoid getting "doored." California's bike-related laws
California Bicycle Coalition | Placer County | Bike to Work Day Sacramento | Sacramento Region Bike Commute Month | Solano Napa | Sonoma County | Marin County | Oakland Bike to Work Day | Bike to Work Day in the Silicon Valley | Bike to Work Week in Santa Cruz | Bike to Work for the Monterey Bay Area | Fresno County Bicycle Coalition | Bicycling in Modesto | League of American Bicyclists CA Bike Month list | East Bay Bicycle Coalition | California Bike Commute | National Center for Bicycling and Walking
Some local events:
On Saturday, May 13th, Bike Day at the Berkeley Farmer's Market will include bicycle outreach, education and safety from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
On May 18th, BTWD in Berkeley will include energizer stations. Read more In Oakland, there will be a Bike to Work Day celebration at City Hall from 7:00am to 9:00am. More Oakland energizer stations BTWD in San Francisco includes a 6pm Bike Away From Work party at 111 Minna Gallery. Energizer stations in SF Contra Costa County energizer stations The Sacramento Bike Commute Month will include a BikeFest on the west steps of the Capitol from 11am to 1pm.
A California Bicycling Information website recommends that people prepare themselves in advance for a bike commute. Steps to take include: planning the safest (and least traffic) route to work; informing supervisors about bike commute plans and asking where the bicycle can be parked during working hours; making sure that the bicycle is in proper working order; dressing to cycle (this includes planning to wear everything from a helmet to comfortable bicycling clothes); and inflating tires before starting the commute. Bicycle safety activists also warn that riders should stay out of the range of doors of cars that are parked along the bike route (approximately 5 feet) to avoid getting "doored." California's bike-related laws
California Bicycle Coalition | Placer County | Bike to Work Day Sacramento | Sacramento Region Bike Commute Month | Solano Napa | Sonoma County | Marin County | Oakland Bike to Work Day | Bike to Work Day in the Silicon Valley | Bike to Work Week in Santa Cruz | Bike to Work for the Monterey Bay Area | Fresno County Bicycle Coalition | Bicycling in Modesto | League of American Bicyclists CA Bike Month list | East Bay Bicycle Coalition | California Bike Commute | National Center for Bicycling and Walking
Fri May 12 2006
San Francisco Demands Community Choice for Clean Energy
A clean power rally was held on Monday, May 15th at 12:00pm outside of San Francisco City Hall. The city and county is on the verge of building the largest municipal clean energy network in the world. Every home in the city would be powered by safe, renewable energy. Greenpeace and the Community Energy Alliance will gather
to show Mayor Newsom that they support clean power.
In 2001 San Franciscans voted to support a ballot initiative that allows the city to build the largest municipal solar system in the world. Five years later, the city has yet to install a single solar panel as part of the program. This plan, if it is approved, will pool the buying power of San Francisco’s electricity customers to build the largest municipal clean energy network in the world. Proponents believe that clean energy would help to clear the air, create jobs, stabilize energy prices, curb global warming, and break PG&E’s grip on ratepayers. Read more
Community Choice Energy
In 2001 San Franciscans voted to support a ballot initiative that allows the city to build the largest municipal solar system in the world. Five years later, the city has yet to install a single solar panel as part of the program. This plan, if it is approved, will pool the buying power of San Francisco’s electricity customers to build the largest municipal clean energy network in the world. Proponents believe that clean energy would help to clear the air, create jobs, stabilize energy prices, curb global warming, and break PG&E’s grip on ratepayers. Read more
Community Choice Energy
Mon May 8 2006
Lessons from COINTELPRO
Claude Marks & Kelah Bott, in Fault Lines #16, write:
Recent crackdowns on the animal rights and environmental justice movements have left many activists feeling that their communities are under siege. From the prosecution of the SHAC 7 to the arrests of thirteen individuals for arsons committed over a ten-year span, a war is being waged against these movements by the U.S. government. While all of this may seem terrifying in its unfamiliarity to younger activists, the tactics being employed by the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force are anything but new. Whisperings of ‘COINTELPRO’ have appeared in various articles about the backlash against eco-activism, but what does this generation really know about the Counter-Intelligence Program aimed at groups such as the Black Panther Party (BPP) and the American Indian Movement (AIM)? Today’s activists are heirs to a history of social and political battles from wars that are not yet over. Without seeing today’s struggles for animal rights and environmental justice in a broader historical and social context, we run the risk not only of repeating painful lessons of the past, but of isolating ourselves and weakening our movements.
Recent crackdowns on the animal rights and environmental justice movements have left many activists feeling that their communities are under siege. From the prosecution of the SHAC 7 to the arrests of thirteen individuals for arsons committed over a ten-year span, a war is being waged against these movements by the U.S. government. While all of this may seem terrifying in its unfamiliarity to younger activists, the tactics being employed by the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force are anything but new. Whisperings of ‘COINTELPRO’ have appeared in various articles about the backlash against eco-activism, but what does this generation really know about the Counter-Intelligence Program aimed at groups such as the Black Panther Party (BPP) and the American Indian Movement (AIM)? Today’s activists are heirs to a history of social and political battles from wars that are not yet over. Without seeing today’s struggles for animal rights and environmental justice in a broader historical and social context, we run the risk not only of repeating painful lessons of the past, but of isolating ourselves and weakening our movements.
Read More in the April-May 2006 issue of Fault Lines
Recent Indybay Coverage of Grand Juries, Arrests, and Other Anti-Activist Actions: SF Grand Jury Targets G8 Protest | SHAC7 Convicted | Government's "Case" Against Rod Coronado | 11 Indicted in Latest Round of FBI Environmental Witch Hunt | Three Arrested in Auburn, Accused of Planning ELF Actions | Animal Activists Subpoenaed to Appear in San Francisco | Grand Jury in San Diego