Feature Archives

1. The Quiet Apocalypse of Rising Tides Climate change is everywhere, and the somewhat momentous report released February 3 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms that climate change is man-made, and unstoppable. The 21-page report, described as conservative by the IPCC itself, says man-made emissions of greenhouse gases are to blame for heat waves, floods and heavy rains, droughts and stronger storms (particularly in the Atlantic Ocean), melting ice-caps and raising sea-levels.

On April 2nd, the US Supreme Court refused to grant review to a lower court ruling which upheld the constitutionality of the habeas corpus-stripping provision of the Military Commissions Act. The Australian David Hicks was the first Guantanamo prisoner to plead guilty; in exchange for being released in nine months he was ordered to not talk to the press until after the upcoming Australian elections. Several higher profile detainees were transfered from more secretive CIA run prisons to Guantanamo last September; Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abd al-Nashiri both confessed to a series of "terrorist" attacks, but al-Nashiri admitted that he only confessed to avoid additional torture.

On April 3rd, independent reporter Josh Wolf was freed from federal custody after spending 7 1/2 months in prison for refusing to turn over video footage to a federal grand jury. That morning, Josh wrote on his blog, "During the course of this saga I have repeatedly offered to allow a judge to be the arbiter over whether or not my video material has any evidentiary value. Today, you the public have the opportunity to be the judge and I am confident you will see, as I do, that there is nothing of value in this unpublished footage."

Esbenshade Farms, one of the nation's top egg producers, was prosecuted on charges of animal cruelty. Stemming from an undercover investigation by a worker affiliated with Compassion Over Killing, the manager and owner of Esbenshade Farms in Pennsylvania were charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty. For each count, the two men faced up to 90 days in jail, but on June 1, 2007, a Lancaster County judge acquitted a Pennsylvania egg factory farm owner and manager of animal cruelty charges.

Semillas writes: Both the federal government and coporate America simultaneously implement violations of human rights and support language, ideas, and practices that justify the hatred of immigrants, to maintain profits and political power. This is a summary of reports about jails where la Migra (ICE) detains families and individuals suspected of violating U.S. immigration law. You will find links to information regarding current conditions of incarceration provoked by U.S. immigration law and lived by those incarcerated. Read More

See related: Immigration Forum and César Chávez Day Celebration || Foro de MigraWatch y Celebración del Día de César Chávez

Several hundred activists turned out in downtown San Francisco on March 19 to mark the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. More than 50 protesters were arrested taking part in "die-ins" that blocked Market Street throughout much of the afternoon. The die-ins began at noon at four locations along Market Street, including Civic Center and the corner of Montgomery Street outside the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein, a consistent supporter of the war. At the Montgomery intersection, 100 activists died-in on the sidewalk. At about 1 pm, half the group moved onto Market Street, blocking traffic for about half an hour. After several warnings, about 40 protesters lying in the street were arrested, including 76-year-old Pentagon whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg. Eleven military family members and veterans were arrested by federal police at Nancy Pelosi's office after they met with Pelosi staff to express their opposition to Pelosi's plan to continue funding the War in Iraq,. The group included veterans who had served in Iraq and mothers whose sons are in Iraq now and others whose sons have served multiple deployments.

On February 12th, a DEA judge ruled that it is in the public interest to end the federal monopoly on the supply of marijuana that can be used in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved research. The American Civil Liberties Union applauded the ruling, which was issued by Judge Mary Ellen Bittner. The ACLU represented University of Massachusetts-Amherst Professor Lyle Craker, who had petitioned the DEA for a license to grow research-grade marijuana for use in studies to develop the plant into a legal, prescription medicine. The DEA now has the option to accept or reject the court’s recommendation. The DEA has 20 days to file a reply, then the pro-cannabis side will respond, and then the agency has time to consider the response.