Feature Archives

On January 20th, Retired Army Col. and US diplomat Ann Wright spoke in Santa Cruz to an audience of about 70 people about her new book "Dissent: Voices of Conscience". The book profiles government officials whose loyalty to the Constitution and the American people ultimately transcended partisan politics. The afternoon opened with songs from the Raging Grannies, and an introduction by Santa Cruz County Supervisor Neal Coonerty and Diane Rejman of the GI Rights Hotline.

On January 27th, People Power hosted a walk along the rail corridor in Santa Cruz in response to recent threats by Union Pacific to fine "trespassers" up to $2,000. The walk in the rain, which brought out more than two dozen people, featured local historian Ross Gibson who spoke about the past and possible future of rail transportation in Santa Cruz County. The Sunday stroll began at Swift Street on the Westside of Santa Cruz and ended at Bay Street.

Native Americans have been in the United States from the beginning, yet according to health and employment statistics, they, like other people of color, still have not achieved equality. For example, between 1998 and 2000 Native American infants in the United States were 1.7 times more likely to die than white infants in their first year of life.

Project Censored, 9/11 Truth and dozens of other media activist organizations are hosting the Truth Emergency Santa Cruz Media Summit on January 25th, 26th and 27th at the UC Convertion Center in Santa Cruz. Conference organizers say the three day gathering "is intended as a strategy session for already active and influential players to coordinate their most revealing messages, forge tactical alliances, introduce new distribution technologies, and mutually enhance each other's strongest work."

On January 24th, David Fridley, a research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Labs, addressed facts and hype about biofuels: Can biofuels solve the climate crisis? Is ethanol production good or bad for the environment? What's a sustainable energy future and what role do biofuels play in it? The event, sponsored by Local Solutions to Global Problems and People Power, took place at the Louden Nelson Center in Santa Cruz.

Free Skool Santa Cruz is a completely grassroots effort, a bunch of individuals deciding to act collectively and autonomously to create a skill-sharing network. Spring Quarter runs March 1st to May 31st. The Free Skool Spring Quarter teacher registration deadline is coming up February 10th.

On January 10th, Boatamo Mosupyoe, Professor of African Studies at CSU Sacramento, spoke at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Cruz. Dr. Mosupyoe is an expert on mediation and interest-based negotiation, conflict resolution and civil society’s role in mitigating and resolving conflicts. Mosupyoe addressed Africa’s unique contribution to the growing appreciation of mediation and conflict resolution methodologies and ethics in addressing regional and world problems.