On September 24, about 100 people who are "sickened by the killing, torture, and spiraling human and financial costs of the illegal and immoral war in Iraq" held an anti-war demonstration in Santa Cruz. People rallied at the County Court House and marched to the Town Clock.

I got to the rally in time to hear some folk music, take some photos of the Raging Grannies, listen to a guy describe how voting machines don't work, listen to another guy descibe how 911 was an inside job, see Robert passing out flyers about a taser related death inside the Santa Cruz Jail, etc....

Meanwhile, some Santa Cruz activists chose to protest in San Francisco.

A march and related events are taking place in Washington D.C.

see also: Real Reports of Katrina Relief Special: One Hundred Thousand

The Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, supporting organizations and the community at large sponsored the WAMM March for Medical Marijuana on Saturday, July 16th, 2005 at 12 noon on the Pacific Garden Mall, in downtown Santa Cruz.

Hundreds of people marched and rolled on Pacific Ave. and over to Santa Cruz City Hall in a demonstration of community solidarity opposing the recent decision of the Supreme Court and of Congress that leaves sick and dying Californians vulnerable to persecution from the federal government.

In a symbolic act of compassionate access, WAMM patient members led the march holding live cannabis plants. This solemn event honored the 154 WAMM members who have died since WAMM's inception in 1993.

Audio: Listen to Valerie's invitation to you to march

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3

Audio: Rockin' the Boat: Prescription Pot Backers Rally in Santa Cruz

September 17, 2002: Santa Cruz Gives the Feds a WAMM

See also: Indybay's Drug War News || Call for Vigils to Honor Steve McWilliams || DEA Raids Several SF Medical Marijuana Dispensary Coops || Vigils and Protests Held Statewide to Protest Overturning of Raich Decision || Supreme Court Overturns 9th Circuit Decison in Favor of Medical Marijuana

[ Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana || Santa Cruz vs. Ashcroft || Medical Marijuana Testimonials || WAMM Guesthouse ]

Santa Cruz Metro workers, are ramping up pressure for a fair deal after their contract talks reached a stalemate. The contract for bus drivers, mechanics, and other workers, expired this week, but was extended for one week while the talks continue. The workers maintained a three hour picket line at the downtown bus station Wednesday, after talks with management broke off.

Transit workers around the nation have been facing off with employers over health care and wages. In Oakland, CA a strike of 2,300 Bay Area Rapid Transit workers was derailed early Wednesday morning, after union officials, and BART management agreed to contract terms. Elsewhere, union officials in Phoenix, AZ put the brakes on a June 30 bus strike, and in Philadelphia last month, SEPTA (transit) workers agreed to stay on the job without a contract until Sept 5.

Audio: Santa Cruz Transit Workers Rally for Health Care & Wages

Photos: Bus Drivers Picket at Santa Cruz Metro Transit Center

Audio: Rockin' the Boat: Metro Labor Dispute Continues

See also: BART's A Mess, But Don't Blame The Workers

On Monday, June 20, I spoke with John on the Indynewswire program on Free Radio Santa Cruz. John gave an update from the Philly IMC space about BioDemocracy 2005 which is taking place in Philadelphia.

Audio: Download the mp3 (10:22 minutes / 4.8 MB)

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is holding their international corporate convention in downtown Philadelphia from June 19-22. People from across the country have converged to bring attention to BIO's closed-door agenda of medicine for profit, genetically engineered agriculture and bioweapons proliferation.

Audio Recordings from BioDemocracy Conference

[ Philadelphia IMC || Philly IMC's BioDemocracy 2005 page || Reclaim The Commons || BioDev ]

Supreme Court Bans Medical Marijuana Everywhere!

Monday, June 6th: Today the Supreme Court ruled against state medical marijuana laws. The decision paves the way for DEA raids on patients and their caregivers. In our own community the Wo/men's Alliance for Medicinal Marijuana faces the possibility of another raid on them and their medicine.

Show your support for WAMM and medical marijuana by coming to the clock tower downtown Tuesday June 7th at 5pm. Please wear black.

"When citizens require protection from their own government and need to cloak in secrecy acts of compassion for the sick and dying, you have found the very definition of tyranny. Acts of tyranny by the government over the people will not be tolerated by the people, not now, not ever. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law."

-- Valerie Corral (WAMM Co-founder)

Read more on Indybay's Drug War News page

Photos: Supreme Court Decision Protested at the Town Clock
Photos: PIX: 6/7 MedMJ Protest
Audio: Rockin' the Boat: Supreme Court Rules Against Medical Pot

Exploiting anxieties about avian flu, Republicans sneakily passed legislation right before the holiday recess that shields the drug industry from being held legally accountable when flu vaccines and other pharmaceuticals used to treat pandemic diseases cause death, disability or serious sickness. (Majority Leader Frist attached it as a provision in a completely unrelated defense spending bill, hoping no one would notice!).

Roman Bystrianyk, "Group challenges FDA’s anthrax vaccine statement", Health Sentinel, January 6, 2006,

Both Kelly and Manpower now offer "health plans" that are a sick joke.

Today, Monday December 12th, federal agents raided thirteen medical cannabis dispensaries in San Diego with the help of the local police and sheriff.

A batch of apparently unheard-of articles demystify and debunk addiction hysteria (i.e. drug addiction). With the 'crystal meth' hysteria hurdling virtually unchallenged in many alternative communities of late, these should prove crucial!