On February 27, at least 300 people took part in demonstrations focusing on the sweatshop conditions in the Florida fields where Taco Bell's tomatoes are picked. People rallied at the Mission St. Taco Bell before marching through parts of downtown Santa Cruz and on to the Laurel St. Taco Bell. A large number of UCSC students took part in the demonstration, as well as various labor organizations such as the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and United Farm Workers (UFW).

There were puppets, megaphones, poi dancing, and even a critical mass bike ride which included a critical drive-thru.

An important message of the day was, "Farmworkers Feed America! Stop the Exploitation!"

more photos: [ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ]

[ Coalition of Immokalee Workers - Boycott the Bell I Student Farmworker Alliance I Taco Bell Truth Tour ]

The Sierra Youth Coalition (SYC) is a Canada wide youth environmental organization. Since its inception in 1996, SYC has worked extensively toward raising awareness around critical social and environmental issues. This summer SYC has its sights set on the upcoming World Trade Organization negotiations in Cancun, Mexico.

Cyclists on the "Deconstructing Dinner: Caravan to Cancun" stopped in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Salinas before spending a couple of days in Cambria, Nipomo, and Isla Vista. They took the time to visit various community projects in the Monterey Bay area including the Homeless Garden Project and Free Radio 96.3fm in Santa Cruz and ¡Vote!, an organization dedicated to the support and organization of migrant farm workers in Salinas.

The SYC's Deconstructing Dinner campaign aims to provide information dissemination around the complexities of the WTO Trade Negotiations to communities across North America with a specific focus around trade, agriculture, and migrant farm workers.

Audio interview with Amy and Melissa of the Caravan to Cancun (1/2hr mp3)

Hiroshima Day Commemoration in Santa Cruz

At 8.15am August 6, 1945, a nuclear bomb was exploded 500 metres above the city of Hiroshima. It is estimated 140,000 people, mainly women, old men and children, died directly and in the few months after the bomb exploded. Its effects can still be seen today in the survivors and their descendants. Saturday August 9 is the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of the city of Nagasaki. Historical research shows the use of nuclear weapons could have been avoided, and all those deaths prevented, if diplomatic alternatives had been properly pursued. The USA continues to use nuclear weapons of mass destruction, as in depleted uranium munitions, used recently in Iraq.

It's true folks, the Chemtrail spray operation over our town is continuing! Some people "don't believe in Chemtrails", most people are too asleep and distracted to care! Conscious people all over Santa Cruz are extremely concerned that there is in fact something being sprayed over us!!! IT'S TIME WE STOP THE CHEMTRAILS IN SANTA CRUZ!!!!

[ ChemTrails 911 I Aerosol Operation I Would the Government Spray Us? ]

The University of California Board of Regents voted unanimously today in favor of a Clean Energy and Green Building policy that sets a new bar nationally for environmental leadership by any institution. This vote follows the year-long “UC Go Solar!� campaign run by students across the state and Greenpeace.


[ Clean Energy Now I Sustainability Coalition I Student Environmental Center at UCSC ]

A series of interviews from Dome City in Houston, TX

The UN has banned it. It's reported to be in the arsenal of several nations, including the U.S. It's reported to be OPERATIONAL. What are we going to do about this weapon system? And did it play a role in creating Hurricane Katrina or in steering her along her murderous path?

Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast region, August 29 leaving a path of death and destruction. With the eyes of the world focussed squarely on the relief efforts there, we are hearing alot of stories about the inadequate response of the federal government. Rather than complain, some people have decided to take matters into there own hands, and provide some measure of relief to whoever they can. One such person is Santa Cruz resident Gary McGlaughlin, a construction contractor who got in touch with some old friends in Tennesee working with the group Plenty International.

Since disaster displaced hundreds of thousands from New Orleans, I've heard much talk from self-appointed experts about what will be the fate of New Orleans residents and very little input from community members themselves. This organization is being set up as a "People's Hurricane Fund," which is organized by progressive community leaders from the New Orleans area. It is endorsed by United States Labor Against War.

Story from the front--hippie bus makes it through the chaos of government intervention