Feature Archives

During a meeting on February 10th in which they joined six other local governments who have passed laws criminalizing the installation of wireless Smart Meters, the Capitola City Council discovered that the wireless Smart Meters that CA utilities are trying to install are not certified by Underwriters Laboratory, a certification that is required under the state electrical code for all electrical appliances and equipment within the home. A demonstration was scheduled for San Francisco on February 16th.

Wellington Energy is the company that is installing PG&E’s new wireless ‘smart’ meters in California. A former Wellington Energy employee contacted the Scotts Valley Neighbors Against Smart Meters about his experience installing smart meters from June through September in 2010. The 'Wellington Whistleblower' warns, "I do feel that Scotts Valley, Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Corralitos, to name a few should be informed enough to prepare for what could realistically turn into another San Bruno."

WikiLeaks is receiving significant persecution from the US government and transnational corporations for releasing information the government finds embarrassing for the world to know. In San Francisco on Jan. 15th, WikiLeaks supporters held a "media intervention" at the TransAmerica Pyramid and New York Times office. On Jan. 12th, a procession and rally was held in Berkeley to close Guantanamo and support Wikileaks and Bradley Manning. Dozens of people came together in Santa Cruz on Jan. 8th to rally and march in solidarity with WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Bradley Manning.

Anarchists Against the Wall (AATW) is an Israeli direct action group established in 2003 to resist the Annexation Wall being built by Israel on Palestinian land in the Occupied West Bank. They support Palestinian civilian resistance to massive confiscation of land and denial of freedom of movement caused by construction of the Wall. AATW activists have joined thousands of demonstrations against the Wall and against the Occupation in dozens of villages throughout the West Bank. They are currently touring in the US, including giving several presentations in Northern California.

WikiLeaks is receiving significant persecution from the U.S. government and numerous transnational corporations for releasing information the government finds embarrassing for the world to know. Dozens of people came together in Santa Cruz on January 8th to rally at the clock tower and march down Pacific Avenue in solidarity with WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Bradley Manning. Protesters lined Mission Street with homemade signs in defense of free speech and calling for the prosecution of U.S. government war crimes.

UC Santa Cruz has suspended the American Studies program, with a possible permanent termination of the major, according to an email sent to students on January 3rd. American Studies is the second major at UCSC to be suspended in the past year. It is widely speculated that Feminist Studies and The History of Consciousness are next to be eliminated.

On New Year's Eve, as it has for the past six years, Santa Cruz hosted the DIY New Years Parade, what has become both a homespun, family-friendly alternative celebration and a controversial embarrassment for the city. The result of six years of do-it-yourself community organizing, the Last Night DIY Parade, a community-sponsored New Year's Eve celebration again hit Santa Cruz streets.