On March 6, 2004 residents of Mendocino county passed a measure banning the cultivation of Genetically Engineered (GE) crops -- also known as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) -- within their county. Mendocino county’s Measure H is being used as a model for at least seven other counties in California where local residents are well on their way to passing similar measures. Californians feel that local measures seeking to ban the cultivation of GE crops are critical steps to take in the promotion of economically and ecologically sustainable agriculture.

California farms produce more than 350 varieties of crops and export more than any state in the US. Although California is recognized as a world leader in organic food production and sustainable agriculture, the world’s largest biotechnology companies are attempting to coerce GE crops onto California’s farms. Genetic engineering poses a significant risk to the environment, our food supply and the economic health of farmers.

Alameda, Butte, Humboldt, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma counties of California are currently campaigning to ban cultivation of GE crops. The people behind these campaigns include farmers, gardeners, health professionals, chefs, business owners, teachers, local government officials, and environmentalists.

For more information, please see the following GE Free Campaign websites:

[ California I Alameda I Butte I Humboldt I Marin I Mendocino I San Luis Obispo I Santa Barbara I Sonoma ]

Update 7/28/04: The Mendocinco Model

You can enjoy locally-grown organic produce for $7.50 per person per week, from the Homeless Garden Project / Women's Organic Flower Enterprise.

This article is not so much an advertisement as an exploration of alternatives. For some time, I had been planning to write a story about unaffordable food prices and unhealthy gimmick foods at New Leaf and The Food Bin, the two "progressive" markets in the Downtown Santa Cruz area. Instead, I am going to suggest an alternative: the Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program of the Homeless Garden Project / Women's Organic Flower Enterprise.

Basically, you sign-up to receive a portion of the harvest from the Homeless Garden farm. Every Friday afternoon, you pick up your produce at the WOFE store (foot of Washington Street, near the Municipal Wharf; Metro's Route 19 bus, and the free summertime Beach Shuttle, both stop there).

I had wanted to try this for several years, but the pick-up point used to be at Natural Bridges -- not a good location for folks like me, who don't drive. This year, the pick-up point is very convenient!

An account of the June 8th protest at the biotech convention in San Francisco.

People who are politically aware follow news events closely and know about the Miami Model. Our country is rapidly becoming a police state and few progressives have any doubts or illusions about that. Conferences and conventions where corporations promote their agendas are closely guarded and to approach one is to step into a danger zone where truncheons can start swinging at any moment.

According to the newspapers, there were between 15 and 18 thousand delegates from 56 countries at this convention. But only a minority of the delegates were involved with gene splicing. Many were from the pharmaceutical industry. There were also patent attorneys, lobbyists and others who make up the corporate teams that manipulate the government, avoid regulations and work out ways to get tax breaks while doing so.

For our part, the protesters came from a broad spectrum of views, ideologies and religions. There were Pagans, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims. There were socialists as well as a sizable and extremely visible contingent of anarchists. The anarchists were especially noticeable because many of them dressed in black and carried black or black and red flags. There were also a good many protesters like myself who just call themselves "progressives." Numerous organizations and affinity groups were represented. Our project was organized by a coalition called "Reclaim the Commons."

The problem is that biotech corporations are currently unregulated and often find it profitable to ignore matters of community health, community need and planetary sustainability. At the very least, we need regulations based on community good to guide these corporations.

Mostly the delegates avoided us, which is understandable. After all, we weren't here to welcome them to California.

"The seeds will grow
when the empire cracks!
Reclaim the commons.
Take it back!"

[ 6/8 The Mass Arrest: Part II of Protesting Bio 2004 I 6/7 Report from the IMC Space in the Convergence Center and the March To The Mexican Consulate ]

More Indymedia Coverage of Reclaim The Commons [ Articles I Audio I Photos I Videos ]

A global environmental justice summit in Flagstaff, AZ led by youth of color

This summer young people from around the world will be gathering at the base of the sacred mountain known as the San Francisco Peaks for the ALL PEOPLES POWER SUMMIT: Building Communities of Hope, Strength, and Sustainability. The mountain, outside the town of Flagstaff, Arizona, is one of the most culturally significant places in the world, being sacred to more than twenty-two different nations in the southwestern United States.

From July 15-18, we will be holding three days of workshops, trainings, discussions, dancing, hip-hop, and poetry. We will be discussing and educating each other about the injustices our lands and our peoples face. We will be promoting the creative talents and positive self-expression of all.

The ALL PEOPLES POWER SUMMIT will address how we as leaders of our communities can work to better build a global movement that challenges the systems and structures of exploitation and domination, a movement that carries all our people with it. We are working to bring together youth and elders from different communities to promote a cross-cultural and cross-generational exchange, focusing on hope, strength, and sustainability.

[ All Peoples Power Summit I Agenda I Principles of Environmental Justice I Winona LaDuke ]

As of Wednesday, 23 June, 2004, at 7 pm. Santa Cruz Earth First! will be gone - Unless you do something about it!

If any of you want to see Santa Cruz Earth First! continue, then you have to let the group know it.

You MUST come to the meeting on Wednesday, 23 June at 7 pm at 224 Walnut Ave (The HUB) Suite E (Upstairs over the Bike Church) or You MUST send a donation to Santa Cruz Earth First!, POB 344, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 that arrives before the meeting on June 23rd.

Don't send a reply email saying how much you want SCEF! to continue - SHOW UP OR SEND A DONATION!

If you want SCEF! to continue and are willing to participate, support it and be active, and show it, then SCEF! will live on.

A Quick Look Back: History of Santa Cruz Earth First! I SCEF! Fights for Jailed Comrade "Victim" I SC County Jail is Redecorated I Treesitters Needed NOW I EF! Tree-Sit in Ramsey Gulch! I Ramsey II Sitters Threatened at Gun Point I Treesitter Dies Defending Ramsey Gulch Ecosystem I EF! Organizers' Conference I SCEF! Climb Training I Earth First! Radio News (archives)

Remember Hurricane Stan? It has hit all over Central American and reached it peak now, at Guatemala. The situation is truly desperate. Roads and highways have been washed out, bridges collapsed by overflowing rivers and scores of communities in the Western Highlands and the South (Pacific) Coast are cut off from the capital, with no communication, food or water. Others communities are completely gone, buried in mudslides. We're talking thousands of people, ALL over the coast, drowning. All the crops are destroyed, there is no food and El Salvador heavily depends on Guatemala for crop exports.
My article is going to consist of a compilation of emails from a man, Elmer who is experiencing this disaster first hand and who is down in Guatemala with a non-profit organization "World Neighbors". Please don't hesistate to help this people out and donate some money. Like I said, the situation is incredible. Unlike anything close to what we have seen with Hurricane Katrina.

Persistent myths are circulating that suggest that disruption of the Atlantic conveyer belt leads to an 'ice age'.

Dear folks-

Hurricane Stan has completely devastated southern mexico and Central America. The gross similarities between Stan and Katrina are obvious: poor people experiencing the tragic effects and government incompetence only endangering the people more.

I have many friends missing and in danger there. To my people out there: You're in my thoughts and prayers! I couldn't find much information in English, so I investigated the Mexican daily La Jornada to get the low down. I wrote this short summary. Please post it to your proper IMC's or organization web sites, if I already haven't.

strength and heart-
jen

On October 4, Malik Rahim, a longtime community activist in New Orleans and San Francisco, spoke at the Women's Building in San Francisco about the situation in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the disastrous response by the Bush administration and other government agencies. Malik, who lives in the Algiers community of New Orleans, discussed the grassroots community relief and rebuilding efforts underway through the Common Ground collective. (39:39 minutes)

Audio: Malik - download the mp3 or download the torrent

A call to action! Stop Kimberly-Clark, the world's largest producer of tissue products, from clear-cutting ancient, boreal forests.