Feature Archives

On December 15th, Santa Cruz County peace activists gathered for a vigil and action in front of the Military Recruiting Center in Capitola. The "Not at Home for the Holidays" protest was cosponsored by nine Santa Cruz County peace groups calling for, "all of our troops to come home immediately, for all military bases that have been built in Iraq to be disbanded, for a complete return of the resources and sovereignty of Iraq to the Iraqi people themselves, and for full reparations for the devastation that has been wrought in our name."

George Cadman of Free Radio Santa Cruz 101.1 FM interviewed Dr. Paul Larudee, co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement, on December 4th about plans to set sail from Cyprus to Gaza in May of 2008. The Free Gaza Movement's mission is to break the siege of Gaza. They want to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of the Gaza Strip and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation.

Last Night DIY writes, "New Year's 2007, the Last Night DIY Parade and Street Party will take over the streets. This year the do-it-yourself, grassroots celebration returns to Santa Cruz with even more ambitions plans that include a parade, street party, entertainment, and performers well into the night. Organizers hope to attract musicians, street theater performers, puppet shows, square dancers, and circus acts to take over downtown for a whole evening of DIY adventure and entertainment."

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.

Darwin BondGraham writes, "Perhaps the clearest statement of UCSC’s horrible transformation is captured by a simple robotic voice, the voice of the Metro bus system’s androgynous speaker who automatically announces each stop as it approaches. When the system was first installed it announced only the major stops around town, “Mission and Bay,” “Metro Center,” “Soquel and Branciforte.” I recall riding it one day a few years back up to campus. The voice announced each stop on the way up Laurel Street. When the bus entered campus it went silent. But then the one announcement came, the one stop worth mentioning, (according to UCSC and the city’s bus operator that is), “Science Hill, U-C-S-C.” I wondered why at the time Science Hill got to be the main stop on campus given its distance from the Quarry Plaza and administrative buildings.

UC Santa Cruz has always called itself the “City On A Hill.” Truly it is, at least for 9 months out of the year. But the phrase is worth unpacking, especially given the campus’s past, present and future. UCSC adopted the moniker early on, back when it was something of an experimental campus in the UC system, one that would focus on undergraduate education and the liberal arts." Read More

The Direct Action Task Force Against Torture! will be holding its second annual vigil against torture outside the Presidio of Monterey. This year’s event will focus on education and awareness in calling for a total cessation of the use of torture by any country, and closure of the School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, Georgia. The Quit Torture Teach-In & Vigil is ongoing from Friday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 18 outside the gates to the Presidio.

On November 11th, Vice Mayor Ryan Coonerty, Civil Rights Attorney Kate Wells and local ACLU representative Don Zimmerman debated the Santa Cruz Sleeping Ban on Voices from the Village, a live community television show with call-ins and public questions.