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Sign the letter to create the Nobel Prize for Sustainable Development
(proposed to be funded by the IMF and World Bank -- that part is a sick joke --, but what the heck, give it a try).


Click here once per day to help feed the hungry (the hungersite.com).


Think you know all about Terrorism? Think again. Visit http://www.takingaim.info.

Check out this website!  Lots of cool banners hanging from freeway overpasses!
  http://www.freewayblogger.com


My landlord's website:
www.fromvinestowines.com

Left Wing Blog:
myleftwing.com


Top rated stories on Pagesincolor.com for the month of February 2006:

#1
Execution of CA Death Row Inmate Stan "Tookie" Williams Set For Dec 13, 2005.  11-6-05

#2:
Free Radio Santa Cruz Interview with Robert Whitaker-- Author of Mad in America
9/27/03

#3:
Kevin Cooper

Saved From Execution
Still Fighting For Justice

1-15-06

Top rated stories on Pagesincolor.com for the month of January 2006:

#1
Execution of CA Death Row Inmate Stan "Tookie" Williams Set For Dec 13, 2005.  11-6-05

#2:
Free Radio Santa Cruz Interview with Robert Whitaker-- Author of Mad in America
9/27/03


#3:

Sample of Liberation News:
Free Sherman Austin!
9/27/03


Top rated stories on Pagesincolor.com for the month of December 2005:

#1:
SOA WATCH HAS SCORED A MAJOR POLITICAL VICTORY!

WE HAVE SURPASSED 100 COSPONSORS ON OUR LEGISLATION TO CLOSE THE SOA! 4-28-05


#2:
Free Radio Santa Cruz Interview with Robert Whitaker-- Author of Mad in America
9/27/03

#3:
Execution of CA Death Row Inmate Stan "Tookie" Williams Set For Dec 13, 2005.  11-6-05


Top Rated Stories on Pagesincolor.com for the month of November 2005:

#1:

#2:
Free Radio Santa Cruz Interview with Robert Whitaker-- Author of Mad in America
9/27/03



Check out the Pagesincolor.com Blog!  ..


Click here to see the Pagesincolor.com archives

WAR IS OVER!
If you Want It
Happy Christmas From John and Yoko
Click Here For John Lennon and Yoko Ono Video

See how Mumia Abu-Jamal Is Innocent
http://www.pagesincolor.com/RachelW.html


May Day 2008 Solidarity Statements And Celebrations


Editor's note:  There will be a May Day March and Rally in San Jose, CA that kicks off at 4PM at King and Story Road on Thursday, May 1, 2008.


April 28, 2008

  BREAKING NEWS: Members of the Port Workers Union of Iraq plan to shutdown the
ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Alzubair for one hour on May Day in solidarity with the
shutdown of all West Coast ports by members of ILWU in opposition to the
occupation of Iraq.

The second message is a May Day greeting from a broad cross-section of union leaders
from many different unions and labor federations in Iraq as an expression of their
appreciation for the solidarity demonstrated by organized labor, working people and
all peace-loving people of the world in support of their efforts to end the foreign
occupation of Iraq and the sectarian violence that occupation has spawned.

[This statement continues to be circulated in Iraq and as additional signers become
known, their names will be added to the copy posted on the USLAW website.]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May Day Message

  From: The General Union of Port Workers in Iraq

  To: The International Longshore and Warehouse Union in the United States


Dear Brothers and Sisters of ILWU in California:

The courageous decision you made to carry out a strike on May Day to protest against
the war and occupation of Iraq advances our struggle against occupation to bring a
better future for us and for the rest of the world as well.

We are certain that a better world will only be created by the workers and what you
are doing is an example and proof of what we say.  The labor movement is the only
element in the society that is able to change the political equations for the
benefit of mankind.  We in Iraq are looking up to you and support you until the
victory over the US administration's barbarism is achieved.

Over the past five years the sectarian gangs who are the product of the occupation,
have been trying to transfer their conflicts into our ranks.  Targeting workers,
including their residential and shopping areas, indiscriminately using all sorts of
explosive devices, mortar shells, and random shooting, were part of a bigger scheme
that was aiming to tear up the society but they miserably failed to achieve their
hellish goal.  We are struggling today to defeat both the occupation and sectarian
militias' agenda.

The pro-occupation government has been attempting to intervene into the workers
affairs by imposing a single government-certified labor union.  Furthermore it has
been promoting privatization and an oil and gas law to use the occupation against
the interests of the workers.

We the port workers view that our interests are inseparable from the interests of
workers in Iraq and the world; therefore we are determined to continue our struggle
to improve the living conditions of the workers and overpower all plots of the
occupation, its economic and political projects.


Let us hold hands for the victory of our struggle.

Long live the port workers in California!

Long live May Day!

Long live International solidarity!

The General Union of Port Workers in Iraq An Affiliate Union with General Federation
of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (GFWCUI)

28-4-2008      EMPHASIS ADDED


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



May Day 2008 Statement

From: The Iraqi Labour Movement

To: The Workers and All Peace Loving People of the World


On this day of international labour solidarity we call on our fellow trade unionists
and all those worldwide who have stood against war and occupation to increase
support for our struggle for freedom from occupation - both the military and
economic.

We call upon the governments, corporations and institutions behind the ongoing
occupation of Iraq to respond to our demands for real democracy, true sovereignty
and self-determination free of all foreign interference.

Five years of invasion, war and occupation have brought nothing but death,
destruction, misery and suffering to our people.  In the name of our "liberation,"
the invaders have destroyed our nation's infrastructure, bombed our neighbourhoods,
broken into our homes, traumatized our children, assaulted and arrested many of our
family members and neighbours, permitted the looting of our national treasures, and
turned nearly twenty percent of our people into refugees.

The invaders helped to foment and then exploit sectarian divisions and terror
attacks where there had been none.  Our union offices have been raided.  Union
property has been seized and destroyed.  Our bank accounts have been frozen.  Our
leaders have been beaten, arrested, abducted and assassinated.  Our rights as
workers have been routinely violated.

The Ba'athist legislation of 1987, which banned trade unions in the public sector
and public enterprises (80% of all workers), is still in effect, enforced by Paul
Bremer's post-invasion Occupation Authority and then by all subsequent Iraqi
administrations.  This is an attack on our rights and basic precepts of a democratic
society, and is a grim reminder of the shadow of dictatorship still stalking our
country.

Despite the horrific conditions in our country, we continue to organise and protest
against the occupation, against workplaces abuses, and for better treatment and
safer conditions.

Despite the sectarian plots around us, we believe in unity and solidarity and a
common aim of public service, equality, and freedom to organise without external
intrusions and coercion.

Our legitimacy comes from our members.  Our principles of organisation are based on
transparent and internationally recognised International Labour Organisation
standards.

We call upon our allies and all the world's peace-loving peoples to help us to end
the nightmare of occupation and restore our sovereignty and national independence so
that we can chart our own course to the future.

  1) We demand an immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from our country, and
utterly reject the agreement being negotiated with the USA for long-term bases and
a military presence.  The continued occupation fuels the violence in Iraq rather
than alleviating it.  Iraq must be returned to full sovereignty.

  2) We demand the passage of a labour law promised by our Constitution, which
adheres to ILO principles and on which Iraqi trade unionists have been fully
consulted, to protect the rights of workers to organize, bargain and strike,
independent of state control and interference.

  3) We demand an end to meddling in our sovereign economic affairs by the
International Monetary Fund, USA and UK.  We demand withdrawal of all economic
conditionalities attached to the IMF's agreements with Iraq, removal of US and UK
economic "advisers" from the corridors of Iraqi government, and a recognition by
those bodies that no major economic decisions concerning our services and
resources can be made while foreign troops occupy the country.

  4) We demand that the US government and others immediately cease lobbying for the
oil law, which would fracture the country and hand control over our oil to
multinational companies like Exxon, BP and Shell.  We demand that all oil
companies be prevented from entering into any long-term agreement concerning oil
while Iraq remains occupied.  We demand that the Iraqi government tear up the
current draft of the oil law, and begin to develop a legitimate oil policy based
on full and genuine consultation with the Iraqi people.  Only after all occupation
forces are gone should a long term plan for the development of our oil resources
be adopted.


We seek your support and solidarity to help us end the military and economic
occupation of our country.  We ask for your solidarity for our right to organise and
strike in defence of our interests as workers and of our public services and
resources.  Our public services are the legacy of generations before us and the
inheritance of all future generations and must not be privatised.

We thank you for standing by us.  We too stand with you in your own struggles for
real democracy which we know you also struggle for, and against privatisation,
exploitation and daily disempowerment in your workplaces and lives.

We commend those of you who have organised strikes and demonstrations to end the
occupation in solidarity with us and we hope these actions will continue.

We look forward to the day when we have a world based on co-operation and
solidarity.  We look forward to a world free from war, sectarianism, competition and
exploitation.


Endorsed by:

  Hassan Juma'a Awad, President, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU)
  Faleh Abood Umara, Deputy, Central Council, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU)
  Falah Alwan, President, Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI)
  Subhi Albadri, President, General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in
Iraq (GFWCUI)
  Nathim Rathi, President, Iraqi Port Workers Trade Union
  Samir Almuawi, President, Engineering Professionals Trade Union
  Ghzi Mushatat, President, Mechanic and Print Shop Trade Union
  Waleed Alamiri, President, Electricity Trade Union
  Ilham Talabani, President, Banking Services Trade Union
  Abdullah Ubaid, President, Railway Trade Union Ammar Ali, President,
Transportation Trade Union
  Abdalzahra Abdilhassan, President, Service Employees Trade Union
  Sundus Sabeeh, President, Barber Shop Workers Trade Union
  Kareem Lefta Sindan, President, Lumber and Construction Trade Union, General
Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW)
  Sabah Almusawi, President, Wasit Independent Trade Union
  Shakir Hameed, President, Lumber And Construction Trade Union (GFWCUI)
  Awad Ahmed, President, Teachers Federation of Salahideen Alaa
  Ghazi Mushatat, President, Agricultural And Food Substance Industries Adnan
  Rathi Shakir, President, Water Resources Trade Union
  Nahrawan Yas, President, Woman Affairs Bureau
  Sabah Alyasiri, President (GFWCUI) Babil
  Ali Tahi, President (GFWCUI)
  Najaf Ali Abbas, President (GFWCUI) Basra
  Muhi Abdalhussien, President (GFWCUI), Wasit
  Ali Hashim Abdilhussien, President (GFWCUI) Kerbala
  Ali Hussien, President (GFWCUI) Anbar
  Mustafa Ameen, President, Arab Workers Bureau (GFWCUI)
  Thameer Mzeail, Health Services, Union Committee
  Khadija Saeed Abdullah, Teachers Federation, Member
  Asmahan, Khudair, Woman Affairs, Textile Trade Unions Adil
  Aljabiri, Oil Workers Trade Union Executive Bureau Member
  Muhi Abdalhussien, Nadia Flaih, Service Employees Trade Unions
  Rawneq Mohammed, Member, Media and Print Shop Trade Union
  Abdlakareem Abdalsada, Vice President (GFWCUI)
  Saeed Nima, Vice President (GFWCUI)
  Sabri Abdalkareem, Member, (GFWCUI) Babil
  Amjad Aljawhary, Representative of GFWCUI in North America


Why The Trump Institute Is Not All That It Is Trumped Up To Be
by John Thielking
4-13-08

I went to the free seminar at the Windham Hotel in downtown San Jose on Sunday, April 13, 2008 to hear what the great capitalist had to say about making money. Donald Trump may be able to pull off some great real estate deals for himself and get connected to bankers who will let him swing some deals in real estate.  But for the rest of us "Chumps On The Street" this talk about making money in Real Estate is all pie in the sky. I saw through all the hype when the presenter (Bill?) started talking about how Donald Trump would teach us how to rescue people from forecolsure.  For the record: In California, in order to be completely legal when you are even just prospecting for potential deals to close in the foreclosure market, you MUST have all of the following: 1) A real estate license; 2) A surety bond in an amount equal to 3 times the value of the property that is in foreclosure.  Any schmuck selling get rich quick in real estate seminars who is not also advising you to have a real estate agent in hand to handle all of your real estate transactions, and in some cases ALL OF YOUR PROSPECTING, is sending you down the primrose path that will land you in jail, or in court being sued, or both.  If Donald Trump can't tell you the right, legal way to buy and sell real estate to make the quick and easy bucks, no one can.  So my advice is to save your $3000 and stay away from all of these schmucks.

On the other hand, if you want to make a worthwhile investment, how about this: Pay me $50K-$100K/obo to cover my business and living expenses while I research and write my "Peace Movies" book.  In return, I will give you 40% of the lifetime profits from the book.  I plan to offer the book in a frequently updated e-book format and may also have a subscription web site for movies in theaters and new releases to video.  I have a small survey that I conducted among SJSU students and peace activists that shows there is a big demand for the book and the subscription web site. (The non-violent movie market  is at least a 5x bigger market than horror movie market for example.)  So much for "non-disclosure" as advocated by DT.  Contact John Thielking at 408-914-2751 or pagesincolor@riseup.net for more information.

Protest for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Saturday April 19, 2008 from 12PM-2PM
Cesar Chavez Park (Market and San Carlos)
San Jose, CA

For you early birds, a special outreach about Mumia to Physicians will take place at 6:30AM, Saturday April, 19,
2008 at the Parkside Hall, one block West of Cesar Chavez
Park, next to the Tech Museum.


The Parkside Hall event has been moved to 3:30PM.  Thanks.

For more information on the latest travesty in Mumia's case see Dissident Voice.

Mumia Abu-Jamal  NEWS FLASH  3-27-08        
PROTEST!!  Abu-Jamal Appeal Denied!!


Fri 3/28 - SF
Sat 4/19 - SF and National
Sat 4/26 - Philadelphia

Please call the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition Hotline in NYC (212)330-8029, or Pam Africa (215) 476-8812 or Suzanne
Ross (917) 584-2135 for East Coast protest information. See below for SF.

Press Release:

The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 10328
Oakland, CA 94610
510-268-9429 or 510-387-7714
jmackler@lmi.net

March 27, 2008

PRESS CONFERENCE/Media Release/EMERGENCY PROTEST!
For Immediate Release
For further information call: Jeff Mackler, Director
510-268-9429 or 510-387-7714

PRESS CONFERENCE/PROTEST SCHEDULED FOR:

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 5 PM
FEDERAL COURT HOUSE
7TH AND MISSION STREETS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

In Oakland, march Friday, March 28.  Meet at 4:30 PM at 14th & Broadway
From: Kiilu Nyasha <kiilu2 {AT} sbcglobal.net>

The U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT REJECTS ALL APPEALS FOR INNOCENT
DEATH ROW INMATE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ORDERED TO HOLD NEW SENTENCING HEARING WITHIN 180 DAYS. IN SUCH A HEARING JURY'S DECISION WILL
BE LIMITED TO A FINDING OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT OR EXECUTION BY LETHAL INJECTION

JURY PROHIBITED FROM FINDING OF INNOCENCE

LOCAL PROTESTS SET FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 28 (Federal Court House, 7th and Mission, SF, 5 PM) FOLLOWED BY NATIONAL PROTEST
APRIL 19 (SAN FRANCISCO) AND APRIL 26 (PHILADELPHIA).

"THE DECISION OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT IS A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE," SAID JEFF MACKLER, DIRECTOR OF THE MOBILIZATION TO FREE
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL. "DESPITE MASSIVE EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE THE COURT REJECTED OUR DEMAND FOR A NEW TRIAL WHERE THE TRUTH
COULD BE HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME."

In a shocking decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected all Mr. Abu-Jamal's demands for a new
trial. In 1982 Mr. Abu-Jamal was falsely convicted of the murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in a trial where 11
of 14 Black jurors were systematically excluded and where critical evidence proving the defendant's innocence was
excluded.

On death row for 26 years, Mr. Abu-Jamal, an award winning journalist and the author of nine books, has led a campaign
for a new trial and freedom that has won the support of groups ranging from Amnesty International and the European
Parliament to the San Francisco, Detroit, and Berkeley city councils.

Massive new evidence proving Abu-Jamal's innocence has been systematically excluded from court consideration.

Abu-Jamal's attorneys will appeal today's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.








Why The Low Application Rate Of LBAM Spray Is Not Reassuring
by John Thielking
3-26-08



These are my EIR scoping comments concerning the CDFA program to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth, as submitted to Jim Rains of the CDFA  on March 20, 2008 by e-mail. A simillar document was submitted to the USDA for the Environmental Assessment fo the LBAM eradication program. This document is not a CASS consensus document.  It is entirely my own work, except for the references of course, and except for some help/critcism I received from my good friend and Chemistry Professor Dr Roger Terrill ( San Jose State University).


3-20-08
Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist
CA Department of Food and Agriculture
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
1220 N Street, Room A-316
Sacramento, CA 95814


Dear Jim Rains:

I am writing to you to present my comments concerning the Environmental Impact of the program to eradicate the LBAM in California. 
It has now been documented by a researcher at UCSC who traveled recently to New Zealand that LBAM will likely be controlled by
natural predators if toxic pesticides that interfere with natural predators are not used in an attempt to control LBAM.  

http://www.lbamspray.com/00_Documents/2008/HarderNZReportFINAL.pdf

The LBAM “emergency” is therefore mostly an emergency that exists on paper and affects trade, more than it is an emergency
concerning possible crop damage caused by LBAM.  Please stop funding eradication of LBAM that uses the questionable methods
of ground and aerial spraying of potentially toxic materials.

Thank you.

Sincerely,



John Thielking
1346 The Alameda
Suite 7-318
San Jose, CA 95126
 

Investigation of correlation between possible concentration of Methyl Trioctyl Ammonium Chloride (MTAC) at ground level during spraying to control LBAM in Santa Cruz, CA on Nov 8-9, 2007 and appropriate exposure limits
By John Thielking
BA Physics
3-20-08

John Thielking
1346 The Alameda, Suite 7-318
San Jose, CA 95126

Summary Statement:

It is unacceptable that the actual concentrations of the methyl trioctyl ammonium chloride (MTAC) and other inerts in the Checkmate aerial spray used over Santa Cruz on Nov 8-Nov 9, 2007 were not fully disclosed. Disclosing the concentrations would make it possible to evaluate weather or not reported health effects could be due to the chemicals in question. Although the proposed DOE TEEL’s for MTAC may be high enough to seemingly rule out such a possibility, the way in which the TEEL’s themselves are derived(4) leaves open some rather large uncertainties in what minimal level of toxic exposure may produce health effects in some people. Between the spray being applied unevenly, as documented by the drift cards which had only 1/10 of the expected amount of capsules on them, and the uncertainties involved in converting an LD50 or LC50 to an appropriate TLV, the total uncertainty in what intended application rates will produce what type of health effect could be off by +/- a factor of 800 or more.   In layman’s terms, It is quite possible that MTAC is more toxic than the DOE estimated, by up to a factor of 82, and it is also possible that the spray was applied unevenly, such that certain areas received up to 10 times more spray than was intended. Although this latter point is not documented on drift cards, the actual number of drift cards in the treatment zones was small enough that this could have been overlooked.  Also we have some anecdotal reports that when people were affected by the spray, sometimes whole families in one household got sick, which lends credibility to the unevenly applied spray hypothesis.

Please completely disclose the concentrations of the inerts and also provide data on how much total chemical was applied by each aircraft in each treatment area. Only in this way can we get a good handle on what the peak concentrations of the spray might be for 1%-5% of the population and also define what the possible health effects might be.



Discussion:
The concentration of the MTAC in the spray was not fully disclosed.  All we know for sure is that it is a component of the spray that was applied on Nov 8 and Nov 9, 2007 in the Santa Cruz area and that it is less than 3% by weight of the entire mixture. We also know that the MTAC was used as a surfactant and so was likely a component of the water portion of the mixture, not part of the capsules.  If we make the reasonable assumption that the MTAC is in fact 1% of the mix, then we can derive the following argument:

The active ingredient (pheromone) was intended to be applied at a rate of no more than 20 grams per acre. This was supposed to be 25% of the total mix.
This implies that no more than 80 grams per acre of Checkmate LBAM spray was intended to be applied on Nov 8 and Nov 9, 2007.  1% of this total is 0.8 grams per acre. An acre has about 43,500 sq ft, which implies that no more than 0.0000183 grams (0.0183 mg) per sq foot of MTAC would have been applied. If this MTAC were uniformly dispersed in a cloud 10 ft high right on top of the ground, this would imply a concentration of MTAC no more than 0.0183/10= 0.00183 mg/cu ft.  Multiplying by 27 to convert  from mg/cu ft to mg/m3 gives 0.049 mg/m3.

The Dept of Energy (DOE) has published proposed Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs) for MTAC. (1)  The TEEL-0 is 0.75 mg/m3, while the TEEL-1 is 2.5 mg/m3. The TEEL-0 is defined as  “The threshold concentration below which most people will experience no appreciable risk of health effects.”(4)  The TEEL-1 limit is  “The maximum concentration in air below which it is believed nearly all individuals could be exposed without experiencing other than mild transient adverse health effects or perceiving a clearly defined objectionable odor.”(4) I guess “nearly all” or “most people” does not include the 643 people who reported health complaints in Santa Cruz and Monterey after the Checkmate aerial spraying there (5).  Note that TEEL-1 is normally considered to be a 1 hour exposure limit, although ref (4) suggests using 15 minute TWA’s for some reason.  How people are expected to breathe residual concentrations of chemicals that remain in the environment 24/7/365 is not explained.

Since the only toxicity information available for MTAC on the corresponding MSDS is for oral LD50 for rats, there may be grounds for saying that there is significant uncertainty in the values of the DOE  TEEL’s.   In a Japanese paper ( 2 ) an equation is derived for converting LD50 to TLV.  However, in order for the linear regression to work, both this paper and one other similar paper (3) concede that the LD50 and TLV numbers have to be plotted on a log-log plot.  Otherwise the regression coefficients are not within acceptable ranges.  In layman’s terms, what this means is that while the correlations on a log-log plot are good, the possible real world variations in the final answers are so big that they will only fit within the boundaries of a sheet of graph paper if a log-log plot is used. Log-log plots show results plotted in increasing factors of 10, ie 10, 100, 1000, 10,000 etc, corresponding to what would be 1, 2, 3, 4, etc on a linear plot.

What the Japanese paper in effect says is that the available toxicity data for MTAC (oral LD50 for Rat) uses the testing method that has the lowest correlation between LC50 or LD50 and TLV of any of the estimating methods used in the paper.  In the real world, what that means is that if the DOE only used oral LD50 for the rat to derive the TEEL’s, those TEEL’s could be either too high or too low.  If they are too high, you could reasonably divide the numbers by 57. If they are too low, you could reasonably multiply the numbers by 57. Those two possible answers would be within the range of three standard deviations of the average or what is otherwise known as the 95% confidence interval. That is also assuming that the correlation between LD50 and TEEL/TLV is improved since the units are kept the same between the two values (mg/kg or mg/m3 in this case compared to mmole/kg vs ppm in air which gave a better correlation of LD50 to TLV in the Japanese paper). If the correlation is not as good, then dividing by 82 would be appropriate.  

What this means in practical terms for people exposed to MTAC after the spraying is that any concentration higher than 0.75mg/m3 divided by 57 (= 0.013 mg/m3) or even possibly as low as 0.75 mg/m3 divided by 82 (= 0.009 mg/m3) could reasonably be expected to possibly cause a noticeable health effect in some portion of the general population.

There is also the possibility that LD50’s correlate better with short term exposure limits than these numbers suggest. While LC50’s were shown to correlate better with short term exposure limits in the Japanese paper, LD50 correlations of this type were not discussed at all for some reason.

Note that the proposed TEEL-1 for MTAC of 2.5 mg/m3 divided by 57 is only 0.043 mg/m3, which is just under the estimate of 0.049 mg/m3, which leaves open the possibility that the govt could officially concede that classical, mild, reversible health effects could be experienced by the general population if MTAC were in fact 1% of the mix sprayed on Nov 8 and Nov 9, 2007.  This requires no hypothesis of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, at least not for the initial one hour of exposure.

All of these numbers assume of course that the spray was uniformly dispersed and the MTAC completely evaporated, condensing in a heavier than air cloud near the ground.  The actual experience is more varied than that. The concentration of pheromone capsules captured at official recording stations was on average only about 1/10 of the expected amount.  Unofficial reports say that the spray mixture actually came down in giant globs, some of which slimed entire fence stakes (but only 2 fence stakes out of a whole set). Plus, the planes flew in an overlapping grid pattern that could have caused some areas to get sprayed more than once. Obviously, when there is a big negative deviation (1/10 of expected concentration) in one place, there should also be a big positive deviation (higher than expected concentration) somewhere else. Throwing these additional factors of 10 into the equation for what is the minimum concentration of MTAC expected to produce a health effect in some portion of the general population opens up the possibilities even more.

In addition, the recent reaffirmation by Robert Leavitt that the average droplet size of a water droplet incasing a typical pheromone capsule is on the order of 1000 microns in diameter during the spraying process(6) completely obliterates the estimate that only 80 grams of total spray mixture was applied over each acre.  If you do the math, a maximum 800 capsules applied per sq ft as estimated at one of the hearings on the issue(7) implies that up to a whopping 30 kilograms of spray [correction: this should be 18 kg] would have been applied per acre if the 1000 micron droplet size estimate is accurate.  How much of this additional water component has surfactant such as MTAC in it is not clear.

Because of these uncertainties in the possible concentrations of MTAC and the possible concentrations of MTAC required to produce health effects, it is
essential that the following steps be taken to ascertain more completely the scope of these variables:

1) The total amount of aerial spray applied in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties should be disclosed, broken down by individual aircraft, specific areas and specific dates.

2) The actual concentrations of all of the ingredients in the spray should be disclosed.

Only in this way can better defined limits be placed on what inert ingredients if any may be contributing to the reported health effects due to the spray.


Notes on other chemicals that are proposed to be used in ground spraying to control LBAM :

Permethrin is planned to be used in concentrations of 6%(8).  This chemical is highly toxic to house cats.  A few drops of 45%-60% concentration of the flea control products normally used on dogs can be fatal to cats.(9)  For this reason, pet experts recommend using flea control products for cats that have 0.1% or less Permethrin concentration.(9) The animal testing of Permethrin has apparently not included house cats in the analysis, and so gives a false sense of safety for that chemical.(10)  Cats are notorious for climbing trees and fences and so they will likely be exposed to Permethrin, especially if the clay-like substance used to contain the Permethrin is not fully dried.  It may not wash off in the rain, but it will likely transfer to the exposed skin on the bottoms of cats’ paws.


The use of Bt is also problematic, as some of the strains used are genetically engineered and therefore may not fit the definition of “organic” as well as being closely related to and under some circumstances indistinguishable from bacteria known to cause food poisoning in humans. (11)


References:
1)    DOE Rev 19 TEEL’s (2003)
http://hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/WSHP/chem_safety/teel/TEELs_Rev_19v.xls
Note that DOE has not included MTAC in subsequent TEEL Revs for some reason, nor is MTAC included in the PAC REV 23 Online Data base at
http://hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/WSHP/chem_safety/teel.html

2) The Contribution of Acute Toxicity in Animals to Occupational Exposure Limits of Chemical Substances
http://www.journalarchive.jst.go.jp/english/jnlabstract_en.php?cdjournal=indhealth1963&cdvol=37&noissue
=1&startpage=22

3) Regression method to estimate provisional TLV/WEEL-equivalents for non-carcinogens
http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/5/361

4) Derivation of Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs)
http://orise.orau.gov/emi/scapa/files/TEELMethodExtension-Tox%20Data-Searchable.pdf

5)Appendix to CASS Health Complaint Letter
http://www.lbamspray.com/00_Documents/2008/Mike%20Lynberg%20Health%20package%202008
_01_03/Complaints%20of%20Adverse%20Reactions_names%20removed.pdf

6)Robert Leavitt March 13, 2008 Letter To CDFA
 http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/lbam/pdfs/ETF/Letter_and_LBAM-F_PSA.pdf

7) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PzAMzsQdyE

8) USDA APHIS Document on EA of LBAM Eradication Program
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/downloads/lbam-treatmentprog-02-14-08.pdf

9) Cat Fanciers’ Association: Health Committee  -- Cats and Flea Control Products
http://www.cfainc.org/articles/flea-products.html

10) Roy Upton  “Permethrin – Safety Review”  2-5-08

11) Roy Upton  “Bacillus thuringiensis – Safety Review” 3-6-08


New Law Criminalizes Violent and Non-Violent Dissent That Results In Loss Of Profits For Animal Exploiting Corporations

Visit http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=23537
for more details.

Berkeley Is Being Boycotted by Visitors Because Of The City Council's Failure To Apologize To The Marines?
Well how about this:  Visit the Berkeley Inn, the cheapest motel around, only $55 per night for a single Queen bed.
This motel is only 1/2 mile from North Berkeley Bart and 1.5 miles from the  infamous Marine Recruiting Center at University and Shattuck Ave.  When you visit the Marine Recruiting Center Vigil, be sure to buy lunch at a nearby eatery!  Coming soon: A  list of Vegetarian eateries near there.  For details about the next protest in front of the MRC, go to http://www.bayareacodepink.org/.




The Deadlines for submitting written comments to the CDFA and the USDA about the Light Brown Apple Moth Spraying Program Are Fast Approaching.

Submit written comments to:

Oral and written comments will be accepted. The deadline for written comments is March 20, 2008. They may be sent to:

Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist
CA Department of Food and Agriculture
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
1220 N Street, Room A-316
Sacramento, CA 95814


The USDA APHIS document is viewable at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/downloads/lbam-treatmentprog-02-14-08.pdf 
Comments may be sent by March 18, 2008 to the address in that document and also to

Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250

and

STOP the USDA
PO Box 681
Pescadero, CA 94060



Good News: The Last Frontier For Dangerous Pesticides Is Closing. China Permanently Shutters Some Pesticide Production Plants That Were Producing Organophosphates.
See  http://www.panna.org/files/China20071121.pdf


Also, A Greener China Bans The Free Plastic Bag.

Emergency Vigil Monday and Tuesday Nights Feb 11 + Feb 12 at Berkeley City Hall:
Code Pink is having an overnight and all day vigil to counter the demo planned by the right wing that wants to undo the Berkeley City Council resolutions that told the Marine recruiters that they were not welcome in Berkeley. For more info, visit indybay.org.


Berkeley Threatened With Loss Of State and Federal Funds Over Marine Recruiting Center Flap

by John Thielking
2-8-08

Last night it was reported on the TV news and in the Berkeley Daily Planet that Berkeley might lose $5 million in Federal and State funding for such vital services as transportation and school lunch programs because of the Berkeley City Council's principled stand opposing the location of a Marine recruiting center within Berkeley city limits. It was also reported that because of this backlash, some of the Berkeley City Council people were considering toning down their proposed letter to the Marines and modifying the resolution to make it clear that they support the troops even if they don't support the war. 

It should be pointed out that the movie "Sir! No Sir!" made it clear that the story about servicepeople being spat on as they returned to the SF airport after returning from Vietnam is a myth.  We know this is a myth because the servicepeople did not go through the normal airport screening process at that time in history. The movie "Rambo" made this story into a myth that the averge movie-goer took as fact because the average movie-goer had no direct experience to contradict the Rambo character's statement that the returning troops were spat on.

In response to the threats voiced by some State and Federal Lawmakers, I made the following statement on Indybay.org :

If the city of Berkeley has Federal and State funding pulled due to this incident, I will personally pony up a $100 donation to do my part to make up for the funding shortfall.  I think the city should take a stand and demand that the Marines leave.   Having the Marines in Berkeley is like having Checkmate aerial spray or a Navy ship in Santa Cruz.  It just doesn't wash.  I don't see Santa Cruz being sanctioned for rejecting the Navy ship a few years ago.

The fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting for capitalists and their cronies, not to protect the people of the US.  Have the National Guard troops come home from Iraq and help rebuild New Orleans and the rest of the state of LA.


Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza As Power Plant Shuts Down Sunday, 1-20-08  Due To Israeli Fuel Embargo

For more up to date info, check out Al Jazeera
and http://www.freegaza.ps/english/
A humanitarian crisis is underway as the Gaza Strip's only power plant began to shut
down on Sunday, and the tiny coastal territory entered its third full day without
shipments of vital food and fuel supplies due to Israel's punitive sanctions.
Read more and leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com  blog

What Chemical Aerial Spraying
May Be Doing To You, Your Children's & Pets' Health        

 Way of Life Health Lecture Series Presents
An Evening With
New York Best Selling Author of
"Your Toxic World: A Wake Up Call"
Dr. Doris Rapp MD
Thursday Evening January 10, 2008
Rio Theater
1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Admission is FREE (donations gratefully accepted). Everyone Welcome (crying room available).

Who is Dr Rapp? Doris J Rapp, MD, F.A.A.A., F. A. A. P., is a board-certified environmental medical specialist and pedatric allergist.  She is clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The founder of the Practical Allergy Foundation in Buffalo, Dr. Rapp is a past president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and was an honored speaker at the First World Conference on Non-Pharmacological therapies identifying substances that cause illness and behavioral changes in children & treatment ideas.  And her new book "A Toxic Wake Up Call: Understanding The Cumulative Effects Of Chemical Exposure." Dr Rapp will be addressing specific reasons why our community needs to be concerned about aerial spraying. Dr Rapp has been seen on Oprah & Larry King Live.

Read more on Pagesincolor.com

Request To Put Speed Limits On All Sections Of The Autobahn Network In Germany Petition

To:  German Federal Government

To Angela Merkel (current Bundeskanzlerin of Germany)
and the German Parlament:

This is a petition to be signed by the many people of the world and is addressed to the German Parlament and to the current Bundeskanzlerin (Federal Chancellor) of Germany, who has a PhD in Physics, to highlight how putting speed limits on all of the German Autobahn network could curb global warming world-wide.

The existence of “no speed limit” sections of the Autobahn network in Germany increases world-wide consumer desire for faster and more powerful cars and increases the desire of manufacturers to endlessly hype power and speed as being essential components of automobile design. The gas wasted by cars using the “no speed limit” sections of the Autobahn network in Germany is not as important as the problem of the internationally over-hyped “need for speed” that is made possible in part due to the mere existence of roadways with no speed limits.

The power required to propel the average compact car at normal USA freeway speeds of 55-65mph is about 11hp on a level road. (Electric vehicles use only about 80 amps @ 100V @ 55mph.) Having a 200+ hp gas engine under the hood ends up burning a lot of extra gas, proportional to the displacement volume of the engine.

In contrast, it seems reasonable to expect that if the trend towards ever higher acceleration rates and ever heavier cars with more powerful engines were reversed, incredible savings in fuel consumption could be realized using off the shelf technology. Some compact cars sold in USA in the 1990’s achieved 40-50mpg highway using 1 liter 55 hp engines. Scaling down a 2007 model, 2 Liter, 200 hp, 30mpg sports car engine to 65hp would result in a 650 cc engine that could get even better gas mileage. A hybrid with such an engine could have better gas mileage than any hybrid on the road today.

We urge you to set an example for the rest of the world and retire the legend called the “no speed limit Autobahn”, thus reducing the hype that creates the “need for speed” and the resulting world-wide wasting of fuel in high performance automobiles. Please impose binding speed limits on all sections of the Autobahn network. And please publicize what you have done so that others will reduce or eliminate their “need for speed”. The resulting world-wide fuel savings could power all of Germany’s energy needs. Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

See the complete petition online at http://www.petitiononline.com/pagesin2/petition.html

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Come To The Court Hearing For The Lawsuit Against The Checkmate Spraying: 10AM Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007

US Federal Court, 280 S 1st St, San Jose, CA,  in Courtroom 8.

The USDA is attempting to have the lawsuit to stop the Checkmate spraying in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties dismissed.

Checkmate is a pheremone based spray designed to disrupt the mating of the light brown apple moth in an attempt to control the population of the LBAM.  Checkmate also contains 3% inert ingredients other than water, some of which may cause various forms of irritation or health problems in humans. Checkmate has not been tested for effectiveness against the LBAM or for safety in humans. The CA Dept of Food and Agriculture has declared a poorly pubicized "emergency", attempting to justify circumventing California and Federal environmental laws to promote their spraying program.

If you care about your health and the health of your neighbors, please show up for this event.  The number of people who show up will be recorded in the court records and possibly influence the case.

For more information visit:

http://www.lbamspray.info
http://www.drrandy.org
http://www.pagesincolor.com

The hwy 17 bus runs from downtown Santa Cruz to 1st St and Santa Clara St in downtown San Jose.  To get to the courthouse, get off the bus at 1st St and Santa Clara St. and walk 3 or 4 blocks South to San Carlos St.  The courthouse is on the Northeast corner of 1st St and San Carlos.

For more background on the Checkmate spraying of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, check out:

Biochemical Spraying Over Santa Cruz Scheduled to start TONIGHT!

http://www.indybay.org/santacruz/


Update:  The lawsuit was dismissed due to conflicts with the 11th amendment.  The City and County of Santa Cruz are continuing their lawsuits in State court.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

CA Dept of Food and Agriculture starts blind guinea pig test over Santa Cruz
by John Thielking
Friday Nov 9th, 2007 
The CA Dept of Food and Agriculture sent me an e-mail at 8AM November 9 to tell me that Checkmate spraying over Santa Cruz had already occurred on Nov 8.
For the latest update on CDFA spraying check out:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/09/18459506.php
Now they are saying that they will send us complete info on areas sprayed AFTER they are sprayed.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog


Al Gore DID NOT Win The Nobel Peace Prize All By Himself

Every media outlet and e-mail I read seems to still get it wrong, at least in the headline.  The exception is Yahoo! that seems to at least state that 3000 scientists won the Noble Peace Prize along with Al Gore.  To read the correct story visit: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071012/wl_afp/nobelpeace.


Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Pagesincolor.com Retail Store is NOT closing October 30, 2007

I am in the process of finalizing a deal to keep the store open for at least one more year. Stay tuned for details.  For the most part, the 50% off sale has ended.  However, some items being sold by my current landlord are still 50% off, since he may be moving his stuff out at the end of October.

The home delivery discounts and home delivery options have been discontinued at the request of the new business partner, who is taking over on November 1, 2007.  However, a couple of the UFW store items will be sold at a discount until further notice.  The adult UFW T-shirts will sell for $10 (instead of $18) and the mini UFW flags will sell for $7 (instead of $8). Over 5000 fair trade items can be special ordered, with no shipping charges and no minimum order, and will be available for store pickup.  For more information on that, check out http://www.pagesincolor.com/storepickup.html .

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

From http://www.indybay.org
Sept 11th, 2007 March And Rally To Ban Tasers In San Jose

Being zapped by a taser is like being struck by a bolt of lightning.  Only Marty Mcfly in Back To The Future, or Ben Franklin flying his kite in the rain would be so stupid as to deliberately be struck by a bolt of lightning. In real life people die when they are tasered, just like what happens to most people who are struck by lightning.

Since 2004, when SJPD started having all of its officers carry tasers, 5 people in San Jose have died after being tased.  Over 200 people  nationwide have been killed by tasers.  Too often tasers are used on people who are being detained, but who are not resisting. Sometimes these people are very young or very old or disabled. This has to stop.

The San Jose March and rally follows the following path:  5:00 PM gather outside the DA's office at 70 West Hedding St.  Then march to the San Jose police dept.  Then the march continues, arriving at San Jose City Hall at 200 E Santa Clara St. at 6:30 PM.

Click here to see pictures from the rally.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.


San Jose Immigrant Rights March 4PM Monday September 3, 2007

This march will proceed from King and Story Roads to Santa Clara St and to San Jose City Hall.  The concerns raised include the separation of immigrant families due to deportations by ICE and the threats by the Bush administration to fine employers who do not fire workers who fail SSN match checks. The march is being organized by Voluntarios de la Comunidad.

Update 9-3-07: US District Court in SF blocks SSA from sending "no match" letters to employers whos employees' names don't match their social security numbers.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.


Visit Zoe Lofgren 4-6PM, Monday, July 23, 2007

Pagesincolor.com is organizing a protest at Congresswoman  Zoe Lofgren's office on Monday July 23, 2007 from 4PM - 6PM
 
Show up, be respectful, but demand action! And try not to get arrested.  Lofgren's office closes at 6PM.
 
Demand the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney.  This is in concert with Cindy Sheehan who will be marching on Washington DC on the same day.
 
While we are there we might also remind Zoe to not allow Bush to attack Iran.
 
Anyone who shows up to this protest will get a free Orange No Sweat T-Shirt, while supplies last.  The color Orange symbolizes the Orange Revolution, for impeachment.
 
Zoe Lofgren's office
635 N 1st Street, Suite B
San Jose, CA
 
 
Thanks.
 
Sincerely,
 
John Thielking
Pagesincolor.com
888 E Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95116
408-924-0846

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.


As reported on Free Radio Santa Cruz today:
 US Senate Passes Unanimous Condemnation Of Iran, Beats War Drums
7-15-07
by John Thielking
 
What are we going to do about this, besides stand around holding signs?  A war with Iran could spell the end of the US economy as we know it.  The neo-cons don't care if the stock market crash of 1929 repeats again tomorrow.  They will still consolidate their power ever more efficiently.  Read the complete article at  http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/jul2007/iran-j14.shtml

Background:  87% of 100 people polled don't want the House to pass a resolution to require disinvestment from Iran.

Up to 76% of people polled don't want the US to attack Iran, even if Iran is involved in building nukes.  The majority of polls in both the US and European countries are mixed on this exact question.
 
Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

Michael Moore's Movie "Sicko" Is A Step In The Right Direction
7-15-07
by John Thielking

Michael Moore's latest movie, Sicko, portrays the dismal state of the health insurance industry in the United States.  Short on statistics, Moore focuses on anecdotal cases to make his point that many people in the US are being denied appropriate treatments by insurance companies that do not pre-approve treatments that are needed.

Critics of Sicko, such as Michael F Cannon  and Deroy Murdock  in the National Review claim that Moore is leaving out certain key facts when he makes his case for Single Payer Healthcare.  They point out that if everyone in the US had access to whatever health care they wanted, there would be massive increases in costs as everyone accesses the services or there would be rationing of available services with waiting lists for major operations stretching into weeks or months. Murdock also points out the fiasco at Walter Reed Medical Center where the govt was supposed to be paying for Veterans' medical treatment.

What the critics leave out is that the current system in the US makes many people wait until they are dead and they still don't receive treatment. How is this any different than being put on a month's long waiting list as in David Gratzer's nightmare vision of socialized medicine? Plus, they neglect the fact that in Britain the doctors who have patients with healthier lifestyles make more money. People live longer in these countries than in the US, dispite the long waiting lists for some treatments as claimed by Cannon, Murock and Gratzer.  Moore does not neglect to point out that in Britain and France the people in charge of their governments are the ones running scared from people protesting in the streets in massive numbers every time their governments try to weasel out of their obligations to their social safety nets in some small way or another. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton wouldn't be nearly so famous for their "Welfare Reform" packages if people protested in the US the way they do in Britain and France.

In Canada, Moore didn't mention that there were massive protests.  Rather he pointed out that about 50 years ago one Canadian, Tommy C. Douglas, who is now regarded as a national hero in Canada, convinced both Liberals and Conservatives of the merits of Single Payer Healthcare. 

It is clear that if the people in the US want Single Payer Healthcare they are going to have to fight for it, and remain vigilant after the goal is achieved.  Unless we want to wait for some dead Canadian hero to come back to life to convince everyone of the merits of Single Payer Healthcare, we will just have to roll up our sleeves and get to work.  Start by defunding the war in Iraq, and don't allow a war to get started with Iran.  The payments we will have to make on the spending spree so far in Iraq may unfortunately constrain the national budget for some years to come.  But if we continue to fund endless wars we will never have enough money for Single Payer Healthcare or childcare for new mothers or free college education or whatever other wonderfull programs they have in Britain and France.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

Cindy Sheehan Is Back On The Anti-War Path
National Conference Scheduled For July 4th In Philadelphia, PA
6-28-07
by John Thielking

It was widely reported in the mainstream press that Cindy Sheehan recently stepped down from her role as a national anti-war activist, citing her disillusionment with the Democratic party.  She claimed that as soon as she attempted to hold the Democrats to the same standards as the Republicans, she was attacked by the Democrats too.  They seemed to have little genuine interest in ending the war.  Certainly, the Democrats' behavior after the election has left little room for doubt.  The primary front runner, Hillary Clinton, has said essentially that the war in Iraq is going just fine, the only problem is that Bush is running it.  With talk like that, the Democrats don't stand a chance of turning things around.

Now Cindy Sheehan has jumped back into the fray. She has teamed up with Michael Moore in radio spots advertising the anti-war convention in Philly. She has also embraced the 911-truth movement, claiming that 911 could have been an inside job.

For more details on the conference, visit http://www.actindependent.org/  .

For more background, visit  http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/06/361555.shtml  .

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

"El Gigante Awakens" Premieres In Downtown San Jose, CA
6-19-07
John Thielking

On May 1, 2006 in downtown San Jose, over 200,000 people marched in support of immigrant rights and against the draconian HR4437 that would have made it a felony to be in the US illegally.  The 45 minute English/Spanish DVD "El Gigante Awakens" doccuments the march that occurred in downtown San Jose, CA.  The movie will be shown on June 22, 23, and 24th at CET, 701 Vine St, San Jose, CA. There will also be live bands and poetry readings at the 5 showings of the movie.  For more information and tickets visit http://www.elgiganteawakens.com

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

Poll Shows That Majority Support Negotiations To End Hamas/Fatah Gaza Standoff
6-19-07
John Thielking

Last week, the militant group and majority coalition member of the Palestinian Government, Hamas, siezed control of Gaza from the rival militant group Fatah.  International support of Fatah's contol of the remaining territory in the West Bank and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' dismissal of the Hamas-led government has led to the virtual isolation of the Gaza Strip.  Nations such as the US and the European Union states have promissed to lift sanctions against the now Fatah controlled government in the West Bank, while isolating the Gaza strip. Israel holds open the possiblity of invading the Gaza Strip to throw out Hamas if any rocket attacks are perpetrated against Israel.

A recent poll conducted by http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerMain.jhtml
suggests that a majority of readers support either letting Hamas and Fatah work it out or to have international negotiators talk to Hamas.  Only 12% support military action against Hamas.  Only 35% support sanctions/isolation of Gaza.

For more background opinions on the situation, check out:
Whose Coup, Exactly?
AlterNet:  Palestine: How Will the Hypocritical West Deal with a Coup D'état by an Elected Government?
Towards a Geography of Peace: Whither Gaza?

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

SF 8 Bail Reduction Hearings Scheduled For The Week Of 6-18-07
6-19-07
by John Thielking

The San Francisco 8 are 8 African American former members of the Black Panthers who are being charged with the1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer.  Many of the charges have already been tried in court previously and have also been presented to numerous Grand Juries without any indictments being handed down.  Some of the "evidence" against the 8 was extracted under torture when they were orginally arrested in the 1970's.

The SF 8 have called on John Conyers, Chair of the Judiciary Committee in Congress, to reopen the COINTELPRO hearings to examine why it is that African Americans who were framed up by COINTELPRO 30 years ago are still behind bars.

Read more at Indybay.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Meeting to Honor Leonard Peltier
6-13-07

LPSG South Bay is honoring Leonard Peltier on Tuesday 26th June in San Jose, 32 years after the shoot-out. We will be showing the film  "Incident at Oglala". We are meeting at 7:00pm at Pagesincolor.com Fair Trade Store located at 888 East Santa Clara Street, near 19th Street and across the street from Roosevelt Park in San Jose. Refreshments are potluck.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

Berkeley, CA Passes New Downtown Ordinances
6-13-07
John Thielking

Berkeley has just passed a new set of ordinances that would criminalize their homeless population.  It makes it illegal to posess a shopping cart or to sit or lie on the sidewalk.  Where are the mass protests (akin to the 1994 Santa Cruz protests against the sitting ban)?

1st unintended consequence or selective enforcement non-action:  Those little old ladies with their walker/baskets could be targeted for having "shopping carts".  I seriously doubt that homeless people with suitcases bungy corded to hand trucks will be let go.  But the cops will never ticket a little old lady with her pushcart.

Read more at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/11/BAGVUQD2GO1.DTL

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.


From alternet.org
Iraqi Parliament Sets The Stage For Troop Withdrawl From Iraq
6-7-07

Up until now, the Iraqi government has been little more than a rubber stamp for US foreign policy.  Now however, there is a movement within the majority of lawmakers in Parliament to attach conditions to and/or not renew authorization for the UN mandate for peacekeeping forces to remain in Iraq. This would mean that if the current binding resolution that has passed Parliament requiring renewal of authorization of the UN mandate every 6 months is not vetoed by the Prime Minister and if  the authorization is not renewed in December 2007, the US forces could be asked to withdraw on some kind of timetable.  Read the complete article at  alternet.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.


Rally To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
Thursday, May 17, 2007 from 4-6PM
San Jose Federal Building
2nd and San Carlos St
San Jose, CA

Death Row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal is going to have essentially his last best shot at a new trial on May 17, 2007.  Robert Bryan will be presenting one hour of oral arguments before the third circuit court of appeals. Mumia Abu-Jamal was wrongfully convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in an altercation that took place on Dec 9, 1981.  Lots of evidence exists to suggest that Mumia is innocent, including the confession of a hit man, Arnold Beverly,  who claims that he, not Mumia, shot and killed Officer Faulkner. Bryan will be focusing on a few main points as part of the appeal:

* The prosecutor's attempt to dilute the presumption of innocence by stating that if Mumia were convicted he would have appeal after appeal.
* The racist exclusion of a majority of the black jurors in the jury pool from serving on Mumia's jury.
* The racist bias of Judge Sabo during the appeals process.

Read or leave comments  in the Pagesincolor.com blog

San Jose Events For The Week Of April 29-May 5, 2007

Sunday, April 29, 2007  California No Drive Day
Ride a bike, walk or take the bus instead of driving.

Sunday April 29, 2007 1:00 pm Justice March for Immigrant Children, from Federal Building, 280 South First St, San Jose, CA .to San Jose City Hall.

Sunday, April 29, 2007 3PM-5PM  Cop Watch Training For Cinco De Mayo
Pagesincolor  888 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 4:00 pm Immigrant and Workers' March from Mi Pueblo Center, South King and Story Roads, San Jose, CA  to San Jose City Hall.  Organized by Voluntarios de la Comunidad.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007  7PM -8:30PM  Root Force Road Show
Pagesincolor 888 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95116

Saturday, May 5, 2007  4PM Cinco De Mayo Celebration South King and Story Roads, San Jose, CA

Saturday, May 5, 2007 8PM  Cinco De Mayo Cop Watch  South King and Story Roads, San Jose, CA 

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

From Indybay.org
Root Force Road Show Comes To San Jose

May 1, 2007
7PM-8:30PM
Pagesincolor.com
888 E Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95116

PUPPETS * FILM * SLIDES * MUSIC

The Root Force Road Show is coming to San Jose!

Are you tired of talking about “the system” and ready to do something about it? Are you looking for a way to fight the onslaught of corporate globalization beyond summit hopping and buying fair trade?

Root Force is a strategic campaign designed to exploit weak points in the global economy and hasten the system’s collapse. Using direct action, Root Force pressures all those involved in specific infrastructure construction projects in Latin America to end their participation in ecocide and genocide.

This FREE event will feature:

* Segment from a new film on Plan Puebla Panama called “La Conquista Sigue” (The Conquest Continues), produced in Chiapas, Mexico.

* A puppet show on international solidarity

* Slides from communities of resistance in Mexico and El Salvador

* A talk on the Root Force campaign

For more information, visit http://www.rootforce.org.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LA GIRA DE FUERZA RAIZ

¡La Gira de Fuerza Raíz viene a San Jose!

TITERES * PELICULA * DIAPOSITIVA * MUSICA

¿Está cansado de quejarse sobre "el sistema" y listo para hacer algo en contra? ¿Está buscando una manera de luchar contra la globalización corporativa además de protestar en las cumbres o comprar "comercio justo"?

Fuerza Raíz es una campaña estratégica, diseñada para aprovechar de los puntos debiles de la economía global para apretar el paso de su derrumbamiento. Utilizando la acción directa, Fuerza Raíz presiona a todos que están involucrados en unos cuantos proyectos de construcción de infraestructura en América Latina, hasta que ponen un fin a su participación en el ecocidio y genocidio.

Este evento es GRATIS e incluye:

* Un segmento de "La Conquista Sigue," una pelicula nueva acerca del Plan Puebla Panama producido en Chiapas, México

* Una presentación de títeres sobre la solidaridad internacional (solo en inglés)

* Diapositivas de comunidades de resistencia en México y El Salvador

* Una plática sobre la campaña Fuerza Raíz

Para más información (en inglés), visita a http://www.rootforce.org.


For the complete event listing, check out Indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

"Yellow Journalism" about the Post Office on Pagesincolor: How The Post Office Shredded My Letter On Behalf Of Mumia
by John Thielking
4-27-07

A letter and check that I sent to the Black United Fund in January 2007 on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal was shredded by the Post Office after sitting in the dead letter office for 3 months.  I always have postage and return address on all mail that I send out.  There can be no excuse.

Read the complete story at Indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

From Indybay.org:
In Preparation for Cinco De Mayo Cop-Watch: Know Your Rights Training

Sunday, April 29th 3pm-6pm @ PagesInColor 888 East
Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95116
Know your rights when interacting with the police. Free and open to the public. Preparation/refreshment for Cinco de Mayo Copwatching. Will also include a
discussion on strategy for the 5th.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

www.Catalysts of HOPE.org
       Healing Our People & Earth
Cross Continental Bicycle Journey
for Peace & Sustainability

will facilitate a discussion on
Building Community

Earth Day
Sun 22 April 2007

Potluck 5:00 PM
Bring your utensils & locally grown food
Discussion 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Pagesincolor.com
Fair Trade Craft Store
888 E. Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA 95116
corner of 19th St.

541-829-3379
The cyclists arrived in San Jose on Friday and are staying over for a discussion of their work.  Join them for a potluck and discussion.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Sustainability Week
April 16th - 19th, 2007
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

Earth Day
April 18th 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Join the celebration! Featuring organizations, vendors, dancers, a mini farmer's market, a speech from Ocean Robbins, and a memorila tree planting for Gaylord Nelson, Earht Day founder.  Central Plaza off of 7th street.

Carmencita "Chie" Abad
April 17th 12:30 PM
Chie speaks from personal experience about the hardships endured by millions of workers in sweatshops around the world.  Her story is an inspiring example of how people can win if they stand up for their rights.  Martin Luther King Library Rm 255/257 (MLK Library is located at E San Fernando and 4th Streets.)

David Bacon and Juan Manuel Sandoval
April 17th, 1:30 PM
David Bacon is a photojournalist and writer who spent twenty years organizing labor unions.  Juan Manuel Sandoval is a leading social activist and academic. MLK Library Rm 255/257

Fair Trade Faire
April 17th, 18th and 19th, 10AM-3PM
Sales of crafts from Ten Thousand Villages.  Fair Trade Certification ensures that workers are paid fair wages, are free from abusive labor practices, and use environmentally sustainable methods.  Central Plaza off of 7th Street.

For more information and the complete schedule, visit
http://www.sjsusustainabilityweek.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

China Blue
10:30PM  Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007
Pagesincolor.com
888 E Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95116
 
This movie documents the life of a 16 year old girl who works in a sweatshop in China making blue jeans.  The owner of the sweatshop claims that his is one of the better factories in China, hence he graciously allowed the uncensored filming of the factory.  Even so, the film reveals that the workers suffer under deplorable conditions, working 12+ hours per day 7 days per week.  This movie will be broadcast on KQED Channel 9 at 10:30PM Tuesday April 3rd, 2007.  You are welcome to see the movie at Pagesincolor.com and make a donation to Pagesincolor.com to cover the cost of the room.  Discussion preceeds and follows the movie.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Race To Execution
Wed, March 28th, 2007 6PM
Pagesincolor.com
888 E Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95116

"Race To Execution" follows the cases of two Death Row inmates, Robert Tarver in Russell County, Alabama and Madison Hobley in Chicago, Illinois to illustrate how race plays a role in jury selection and in sentencing in capital cases.

This movie is being broadcast on KQED Channel 9 at 6PM, Wed, March 28th, 2007.  Come watch the movie at Pagesincolor.com and have a discussion afterwards.  You can contribute a donation to Pagesincolor.com if you like and/or visit the fair trade crafts store.  The movie will be viewable on the 24" TV upstairs and the 13" wheelchair accessible TV downstairs.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

On the 4th Anniversary of the US Invasion of Iraq Protesters, and US and Iraqi Soldiers, Still Marching In Circles.
Congress still talking in circles about redeployment, instead of plain old withdrawl.
Details taken from Peace Times.
Posted 3-11-07

If you plan to join the protesters, check this out:

March 17th   San Jose
11:30AM Rally at Santana Park (Monroe and Tisch, San Jose)
12 noon: March to Peace Crossroads (Stevens Creek and Winchester, Santa Clara)
2:30PM: Closing rally at Santana Park (Monroe and Tisch, San Jose)
Initiated by South Bay Mobilization

March 18th
Peace Train to San Francisco Mass March and Rally
Sign in at San Jose's Diridon station 8:45AM-9:30AM for the #427 train departing at 10AM.  Or catch the train in Mountain View (departing 10:19AM0, Palo Alto (departing 10:31AM) or the other Caltrain stops.  Get on the train and change to BART at Milbrae, then exit BART at Embarcadero.

March assembles at Justin Herman Plaza and ends at Civic Center (also a Bart stop). SBM has arranged with Caltrain for our own car on the train (rear-most car next to engine).  For more info on the Peace Train, call 408-998-8504.  Sponsored by South Bay Mobilization.
408-998-8504

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Posted 2-28-07

On the CA State Holiday of the Birthday of Cesar Chavez, Saturday, March 31, 2007
 7PM-9PM at Pagesincolor.com 888 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA: 

DVD Movie: Fighting For Our Lives: The United Farm Workers 1973 Grape Strike

This movie is a look back at the history of the United Farm Workers movement.  In 1973, the growers brought in the Teamsters in a failed attempt to break up the 1973 Grape Strike.  This movie is in English, but it has a fair amount of protesters’ dialog in Spanish, so if you only know Spanish you might get the gist of it.

This movie will be preceded by the 15 minute movie “Realizing Cesar Chavez’s Dream” (Realizando el Sueno de Cesar Chavez) in Spanish.

The movie will be followed by two other short films:

“Celebration of Life: United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO” in English

And

“No Grapes”, Narrated by Mike Farrell, in English

Suggested donation of $5-$20.  No one turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds, minus a small fee to cover the cost of the room, will be donated to the United Farm Workers.

The movies will be simulcast on a 24” TV that is not wheelchair accessible and on a 13” TV that is wheelchair accessible.  The restroom is not wheelchair accessible.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Posted 2-28-07
Video: Buyer Be Fair: The Promise Of Product Certification

Saturday, March 24th 7PM
Pagesincolor.com
888 E Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95116

Come see a review of the product certification processes for coffee and wood products that are certified as being fair trade and sustainably produced.  For more information visit http://www.buyerbefair.org

The movie will be simulcast on a 24” TV that is not wheelchair accessible and on a 13” TV that is wheelchair accessible.  The restroom is not wheelchair accessible.
Suggested donation of $5-$10. No one turned away for lack of funds.  Proceeds benefit Pagesincolor.com.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Short Films and Report-Backs:  The Peoples' Resistance In Oaxaca

Short films from Mal de Ojo TV with Vladimir Flores & Shannon Young
Oaxaca correspondents for Free Speech Radio News

Photo Slideshow and report-backs
with Danielsan & Ariel
Local Oaxaca solidarity activists

Thursday, March 1st, 8PM,  Brown Berets Office Watsonville, CA
406 Main St, behind Ritimo Latino

Friday, March 2nd, 7PM,  Veterans' Hall, Santa Cruz, CA,   846 Front St.

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 at 7PM, Pagesincolor.com, San Jose,  CA
888 E Santa Clara St (@ 19th st)

$5-$20 sliding scale. No one turned away for lack of funds.  Proceeds benefit Mal de Ojo TV, maldeojotv.net & Free Speech Radio News, fsrn.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Zapatista Update:  Mexican Govt Tries To Use Paramilitaries To Provoke Zapatistas In Chiapas, Mexico
Posted 2-17-07
by John Thielking

In 1994 the Zapatista movement mobilized in response to the adoption of NAFTA by Mexico, Canada and the US.  They took to the streets with wooden imitation rifles and took over various small towns in the Mexican state of Chiapas as a form of protest.  Since then, the Mexican govt has been in negotiations with the movement.  The Zapatistas are demanding restoration of indigenous people's rights.  Lately the Mexican govt has resorted to guerilla tactics to attempt to justify a possible crackdown against the Zapatistas.  Read more about that at the Portland IMC.

Shameless plug: The Pagesincolor.com retail store now carries the Higher Grounds Mut Vitz dark roast, fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee, which is produced in Chiapas by a group of coffee farmers that was derived from the Zapatistas in 1997.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Haiti Update:  UN Attempts To Downplay The Strength Of Aristide Supporters, Despite Massive Demonstrations in Haiti
Posted 2-17-07
By John Thielking

It is claimed that the UN has acted in the interests of the United States and against the interest of supporters of the former president of Haiti, Mr Aristide.  President Aristide has always maintained that he was kidnapped and forced to leave Haiti.  Read the latest update on Portland IMC.  Also check out http://haitiaction.net/ .

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Governor Schwarzenegger's Health Care Plan for CA Criticized by Supporters of Universal Health Care
Posted 2-17-07
by John Thielking

OneCareNow.org has a side by side comparison of Governor Schwarzenegger's Health Care plan vs SB 840 here.   It is quite obvious that the governor's plan falls short in many areas.  There is no incentive for insurance companies to provide quality health care coverage.  The deductables will be high (MINIMUM of $5000 for individuals).  There will be no coverage for mental health, which is hypocritical.  If they don't want to cover mental health with a quality plan that pays for drugs, then why are they essentially mandating that people with long term mental health problems take drugs instead of finding them alternative treatment programs.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


Eight Former Black Panthers Arrested On Charges Of Killing A SF Police Officer In 1971.  Evidence Available Is Based On Testimony Obtained Through Torture.
Posted 2-16-07
by John Thielking

A total of 8 former Black Panthers are being brought up on charges of killing or conspiracy to kill a San Francisco Police Officer in 1971.  The evidence available is mostly testimony that was obtained through the use of torture. The testimony has since been recanted, obviously. There have been more than a few attempts to get indictments against the SF 8 by means of Grand Juries.  This time, the Grand Jury process was bypassed and the SF DA simply had the suspects arrested.  Bail was set at $3 million to $5 million per suspect.

Story about upcoming hearing and upcoming screening of "Legacy Of Torture" on Indybay
Indybay.org

Synopsis of what transpired at the bail reduction and arraignment hearing for four of the SF 8 on Feb 14, 2007:  http://www.indybay.org

Interview with Claude Marks about the San Francisco 8

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Posted 2-2-07
STRUGGLE! On A Continent With No Name:
Sonora's Indigenous
 
Crisis In Baja California
 
The Seri, Mayo, Pima, Yaki and Tohono O'odham Mexican Indigenous communities are under assault by the government.  Having their water stolen, causing death and harm to children and elders.  Have dinner and see the film: "Kumiai: The Land"
 
Hear and see the story of the Indigenous Peoples of Sonora, and participate in Q/A session with a commandante of the indigenous Resistance, facilitated by Indegenous activists from both North and South America; Wanbli Watakpe [Russ Redner] -- NorCalAIM, and DJ Tania -- Berkeley Liberation Radio.
 
Sunday, February 4th
Start time, 4:30 PM
MACLA
510 S. 1st Street
San Jose, CA
408-998-2783
   
Help the people, donations welcome at the door, no one turned away...!!!
 
Contact info: morenita92701@aol.com , 408-661-9403
 
Endorsed by: Committee in Solidarity With Latin America And Cuba, Peninsula Anarchist Collective, Black August Organizing Committee, Northern California Indian Movement, Black Berets, No More.../No Mas... MSA/MSM, La Raza Unida Party...
 

From Indybay.org
"Warrior: The Life of Leonard Peltier"
  Tuesday, February 6, 2007 in San Jose, CA
Posted  1-30-07

LPSG (Leonard Peltier Support Group) South Bay is showing the film
"Warrior: The Life of Leonard Peltier"
on Tuesday 6th February in San Jose, to honor him on his 31st year of wrongful incarceration.

Warrior is the shocking true story of Leonard Peltier, the American Indian leader locked away for over 30 years, now incarcerated in Lewisburg Prison in Pennsylvania, wrongfully convicted of the alleged murder of two FBI agents during a bloody shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation on June 26, 1975. Around the world his trial and conviction have been denounced as a sham. Amnesty International, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Desmond Tutu, and more than fifty members of the U.S. Congress have appealed for a new trial for the man who has come to symbolize the continued oppression of America's indigenous peoples.

Warrior takes us back to the violent confrontations at Wounded Knee and Pine Ridge in the seventies, and then to today's Indian reservations where the government's plans for urnanium mining and waste dumping are still being heatedly resisted by Indian activists. The heart of the film, though, is a detailed, painstaking account of Peltier's harrowing odyssey through the American justice system. In color, 85 minutes long.

Please come to this event, bring your family and friends.

Date: Tuesday 6th February
Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
The film will start at 7:00pm
Place: Pagesincolor.com Fair Trade Store, (upstairs in the Temekula Gallery)
Address: 888 East Santa Clara Street
(near 19th Street, across street from Roosevelt Park)
San Jose, CA 95116

Come early for light refreshments, socialize and time to look around the only Fair Trade store in San Jose.
We will have an update on Leonard's case.
Stay for questions and answers after the film.

For more information, please call Donna at (408) 293-4774 or cell (408) 569-6608 or email dbwall [at] earthlink.net

FREE LEONARD PELTIER!
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
http://www.leonardpeltier.org

There are features in the store that allow wheelchair users to watch the movie.  The restroom is not wheelchair accessible.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

From Indybay.org
Jan 29, 2007 Protest Against Calpine's Plans To Build Geothermal Plants At Medicine Lake, CA, Held At Calpine Headquarters, San Jose, CA.
Posted to Pagesincolor.com 1-30-07
by John Thielking

Medicine Lake is a tiny lake in Northern CA, near Klamath Lake, which dwarfs Medicine Lake by comparison.  A San Jose company, Calpine, has been making plans to drill boreholes near Medicine Lake to use an untested and unproven technology to extract geothermal energy to power one or more power plants at the lake.   Local Indian tribes consider the lake to be the equivalent of a religious temple and do not want it disturbed by drilling. In addition, they point out that geothermal energy itself is not totally benign environmentally.  Geothermal energy as envisioned by Calpine is not simply "capturing steam"  or mining hot water from natural Gysers.  An online document from the Save Medicine Lake Coalition suggests:
      The EGS process requires the use of large volumes of concentrated acid, spent acid and highly mineralized fluids which are produced during the acid injection and extraction to enhance fracturing. Accidental releases of the concentrated or spent acids, or the extracted geothermal fluids at the surface would easily and quickly percolate through the porous volcanic soil to the shallow water table below – the same water table that supplies Medicine Lake, the many springs and smaller lakes in the area and it’s also the source for water wells that supply drinking water to the campgrounds and local cabins.
It appears that Calpine may simply be a straw man example of how NOT to do geothermal power generation. They are going bankrupt.  They are potentially polluting the environment. They are desicrating Indian land.  All that is really needed to do EGS geothermal properly is to inject high pressure plain water into hot, dry rock, just about anywhere, and control sulfide emmissions. A typical EGS process is described here. But then there are people such as the DOE, who think it is perfectly ok to promote fracturing (to enhance energy extraction) by using an underground  nuke!  Using acid (and under Indian land) is probably just one step below that and is not intended as a practical project.  Its primary effect, intentional or not, is to give geothermal a bad name. 

Geothermal is most often associated with mining of natural hot water or steam that produces gysers.  Sometimes the natural gysers go south or the land subsides as a result of the mining. As the above link describes, steam or water extraction is not pollution free. But injecting water or acid into dry rock is an unproven technology that at this rate may never see the light of day.

 A recent court ruling has been decided in favor of the Indian Tribe.  Calpine has only a few days to file an appeal.  Hence the protest, urging Calpine to not appeal the decision.

Pictures and story on Indybay.org

Update: The BLM has decided to appeal the court decision.  There is a protest planned for Tuesday Feb 20, 2007.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

From Indybay.org
Jan 27, 2007  San Jose Protests President Bush's "Troop Surge" In Iraq
posted 1-30-07

About 200 protesters gathered at the corner of Stevens Creek and Winchester Blvd in Santa Clara, CA on Saturday, Jan 27, 2007.  Some of them protested the troop surge.  Some of them protested against the war.  Others called attention to a San Jose company (Jeppesen) that profits from extraordinary rendition (i.e. torture of prisoners flown overseas to places where torture is allowed).   The pictures from this event were published on Indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the pagesincolor.com blog.

From indybay.org
The Police in San Jose - 2nd Community Forum
Posted 1-18-07

Thursday, January 18, 2007  6:30PM - 8:30PM
East Side Union High School District, Administrative Offices, 830 North Capitol Avenue, San Jose, CA (cross street Mabury)

What's working, what isn't & what can be improved? The City of San Jose Human Rights Commission & the Independent Police Auditor want to hear from you. The purpose of the forum is to offer members of the community the opportunity to provide testimony to the HRC and the IPA regarding issues and experiences involving the San José Police Department. Over 200 individuals attended the 1st Forum held last November and 45 offered testimony. For more information, please call (408) 794-6226.

Spanish & Vietnamese translation will be availalbe.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Posted 1-10-07
In concert with Move-on.org and others:
Protest The Iraq War And The Impending Troop Buildup
4:30PM-6PM
Thursday, Jan 11, 2007
Roosevelt Park
19th St & E Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA  95116

Bring signs to hold in the park.  No bullhorns please.

Directions: From hwy 101 just South of the 880 interchange take the Santa Clara St/Alumn Rock exit.  Go West on E Santa Clara St. to 17th St.  Free all day parking is available on N. 17th St.  The park is located at 19th St.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

MoveOn Screening of An Inconvenient Truth at Temekula Gallery behind Pagesincolor.com store Saturday,  Dec 16, 2006
by John Thielking
12-10-06

I just signed up to host a See the Truth Movie Party run by MoveOn.

On Saturday, December 16, 2006 thousands of us are going to get together in living rooms around the country, watch the blockbuster documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," and press Congress to take action to solve our climate crisis.

If you haven't seen the movie, you have to. If you have, you can help raise awareness and push Washington to take action on the biggest crisis facing our planet. In America, political will is a renewable resource and together we can build the will to do what has to be done.

Host your own See the Truth Movie Party or sign up for an event near you.

You can sign up for the See the Truth Movie Party I'm hosting, or to host your own, at:
http://political.moveon.org/event/seethetruth/29037

Here are the details of my event:
Sreening of Inconvenient Truth
Downtown San Jose, CA (free parking avail on 17th street)
Pagesincolor.com @ 888 E Santa Clara St @ 19th St..
San Jose, CA 95116
Saturday, 16 Dec 2006, 5:45 PM

I hope you'll sign up.
This free screening fetures a conference call with Al Gore, beginning promptly at 6PM.  There will be a small donation requested to cover the cost of renting the space.

The meeting space is not wheelchair accessible. However wheelchair users will be accomodated in the store downstairs (a 13" TV is available to watch the movie there).  The restoroom is not wheelchair accessible.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


Posted 11-29-06
From a flyer obtained at this event:
http://www.pagesincolor.com/blog-72.html
The Police in San Jose
 A Community Forum


What's working, what isn't & what can be improved?
What are your concerns?
The City of San Jose Human Rights Commission & the Independent Police Auditor want to hear from you!

Thursday, November 30, 2006 6PM-8PM
San Jose City College
Community Arts & Lectures Program
2100 Moorpark Ave, San Jose, CA
College Theater

The Theater is located about 1/2 way between South Bascom Ave and Leigh Ave, on the North edge of campus, next to Moorpark Ave.

For public comment, Spanish and Vietnamese translation will be available. For more information, please call (408) 794-6226. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, City of San Jose Materials can be made available upon request in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, audio tape or computer disk. Requests may be made by calling (408) 535-8100 (v) or (408) 294-9337 (TTY)

For more info visit: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/ipa/

From information on Indybay.org.
Protest Against Police Brutality Scheduled for 4:30PM Monday, November 27, 2006 at Valley Health Center at 500 Tully Road, San Jose, CA
Posted 11-26-06
By John Thielking

Curly Estremera, a long time activist and former member of the Black Liberation Army, was arrested and brutalized by San Jose Police after he was assaulted by an off duty Santa Clara County Sherriffs deputy on Nov 7, 2006.  Curly was picking up his medication at the pharmacy at the Valley Health Center at 500 Tully Road in San Jose when without warning he was pepper sprayed from behind by the Sherriff's deputy.  The deputy was moonlighting as a security gaurd at the clinic.  Not knowing who was assaulting him, Curly eventually retreated to the parking lot and a car that was going to escort him from the area. He was then approached by SJPD officers.  He tried to complain to them that someone had assaulted him and pepper sprayed him.  They informed him that the Sherriff's deputy had done that and that he was being arrested for assaulting a police officer.  He was subsequently brutalized while in custody on the way to the police station.  Curly later required treatment at a hospital for injuries sustained when he was arrested and brutalized.

A protest against this intollerable treatment of one of San Jose's upstanding citizens is planned for 4:30PM Monday November 27, 2006 at the Medical clinic where Curly was arrested.  For more info and to download copies of flyers in Spanish and English, visit Indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Posted 11-22-06
Teach-In About Mumia Abu-Jamal Saturday, Dec 9, 2006
10AM-2PM at Temekula Gallery behind the Pagesincolor.com store at 888 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA.

Mumia Abu-Jamal has been on Death Row in Pennsylvania since 1982, wrongfully convicted of killing police Officer Daniel Faulkner.  Faulkner died and Mumia was wounded  in the early morning hours of Dec 9, 1981. Pagesincolor is sponsoring a benefit and Teach-in for Mumia Abu-Jamal.  The presentation includes:

* A videotaped confession of a hit man, Arnold Beverly, who claims that he, not Mumia, was the one who shot Officer Faulkner.

* Video of one of Mumia's former attorneys Elliot Grossman talking about how Mumia's original trial attorney could have won the case by simply asking a few important questions.

* The Video "Framing an Execution: The Media & Mumia Abu-Jamal", exposes the bias behind ABC's 20/20 episode called "Hollywood's Unlikely Hero", a hit piece about Mumia Abu-Jamal.

All donations will be given to Mumia Abu-Jamal's legal defense.

The video portions of the presentation are wheelchair accessible, via a 13" TV located downstairs in the Pagesincolor.com store.  The bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.

 Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Posted 11/19/06
From http://www.indybay.org
Protests Planned In Solidarity With The People Of Oaxaca Mexico,  November 20, 2006

For the last 5 months the people of Oaxaca Mexico have been on strike, demanding that the Mexican government stop privatizing public schools, among other demands.  Recently, the Mexican govt sent in police to break up the strike and was met by people puting up barricades.  The struggle continues in the streets of Mexico and now also in the streets in the USA.  Go to Indybay.org to find out about the protests planned at UCSC and in San Francisco for Monday, November 20, 2006.

Protests in other cities.

For previous coverage on Indybay.org of the situation in Oaxaca, go here and here.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Posted 10-29-06
From a flyer based on material on http://www.stealingamerica.org
Stealing America: Vote By Vote
a new documentary by award winning filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman
.
"What Happened in Ohio? A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election."
.
Friday, November 3, 2006
7:00-9:00PM
.
at  888 E Santa Clara St @ 19th St, San Jose, CA 95116 
(in the Temekula Gallery above the Pagesincolor.com Fair Trade Store)
Free Screening (donations accepted)
.
"Stealing America: Vote By Vote" the new feature-length documentary by Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman, documents significant irregularities in the Presidential election of 2004 while underscoring the fact that election fraud and reform are not partisan issues.
.
"Stealing America: Vote by Vote" weaves together dramatic behind the scenes experiences of poll workers, computer security experts, journalists, politicians, activists and voters of all ages.  We hear from those who feel their communities were targeted for intimidation during the election, side by side with descriptions of irregular machine tallies, in which the number of votes tallied don't equal the number of votes cast.
.
For more information visit: http://www.stealingamerica.org
Contact for information: (408) 410-0891
Light refreshments will be served.
.
Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Posted 10-25-06
From http://www.internationalanswer.org

March and Rally Against The Iraq War
Saturday, October 28, 2006
12 noon Gather at UN Plaza, San Francisco, CA (Market between 7th and 8th)
March to follow.

Only the People Can Stop the War!

The Iraq war is a total disaster-for the people of Iraq and of the United States. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed. Iraqi society has been torn to shreds. More than 2,700 U.S. soldiers are dead and 20,000 wounded in a war based on lies.

The war costs $250 million each day. The total cost is now $317 billion—equal to 2.8 million new housing units and 5.5 million teachers' salaries. Working people pay more for housing, health care and education each year. Some 47 million people have no health care, and 13 million children go to bed hungry each day.

The government tells us there isn't money for social services. Yet they always have billions for war. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans will end the war. People in the streets are the only force that can stop the war.

Get involved in the struggle! Volunteer meetings every Tuesday at 7 p.m.
2489 Mission St #30 (at 21st St), SF (near 24th St BART, #14 MUNI)

For more info, call A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition
415-821-6545 | answer [at] actionsf.org
http://www.internationalanswer.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Posted 10-25-06
From http://www.onecarenow.org/events/102606.htm
Health Care For All Now!

Rally and March
Thursday Oct 26, 2006 from 3PM-7PM

State Building @ 2nd street between San Carlos & San Fernando, San Jose, CA
(San Antonio South Light Rail Station)

*Music
*Unity
*Spirit
*Power
*Join the movement for universal single payer health care today!

Rally at the State Building @ 3PM
March leaves for City Hall at 4:15PM
Rally at San Jose City Hall (East Side) at 4:45PM
Grand Finale/Candlelight Vigil at State Building 5:30-7:00 PM

Everybody In, Nobody Out!

Sponsored by: ONE CARE NOW
AFSCME Local 101, MEF Chapter, California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), California Nurses Association (CNA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Coalition for a Downtown Hospital Communication Workers of America Local 9423 (CWA), Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM), East Side Teachers Association, Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN), FORUM of Santa Clara County, Health Access, The Interfaith Council, Health Care for All Californians (Silicon Valley), Labor Party (San Jose), 9 to 5 Bay Area, League of Women Voters SJ/SC, Low-Income Self-Help Center, Moorpark Democratic Club, Santa Clara County Council of Churches, Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee, SEIU Local 715, SEIU Local 715 Retiree Committee, Silicon Valley De-Bug, UFCW Local 428
Voluntarios de la Comunidad, Women’s Internat’l League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – SJ & Peninsula
(partial list)
as part of the OneCareNow Campaign

For more information call 408-278-9443

Cuidado Medico Para Todos Ahora!
Manefestacion Y Marcha


Jueves El 26 De Octubre, 2006, 3-7PM

Edifico Estatal, Calle 2nd Entre San Carlos & San Fernando, San Jose (Estacion San Antonio South De Light Rail)

*Musica
*Unidad
*Espiritu
*Poder

Maefestacion al Edifico Estatal 3PM
Marcha Empieza a las 4:15PM
Reunion a San Jose City Hall
(lado del este) a las 4:45PM
Reunion Final y Vigal al Edifico Estatal 5:30-7:00 PM

Cada Uno Incluido, Nadie Excluido!

Patrocinado por
ONE CARE NOW
AFSCME Local 101, MEF Chapter, California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), California Nurses Association (CNA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Coalition for a Downtown Hospital Communication Workers of America Local 9423 (CWA), Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM), East Side Teachers Association, Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN), FORUM of Santa Clara County, Health Access, The Interfaith Council, Health Care for All Californians (Silicon Valley), Labor Party (San Jose), 9 to 5 Bay Area, League of Women Voters SJ/SC, Low-Income Self-Help Center, Moorpark Democratic Club, Santa Clara County Council of Churches, Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee, SEIU Local 715, SEIU Local 715 Retiree Committee, Silicon Valley De-Bug, UFCW Local 428
Voluntarios de la Comunidad, Women’s Internat’l League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) – SJ & Peninsula
(partial list)

Para mas informacion llame a 408-691-6153

Info posted from info obtained from a flyer at pagesincolor.com

Stop Police Brutality Event in San Jose, CA Oct 22, 2006
posted 10-15-06
Article by Donna Wallach

Sunday October 22nd is a national day of protest against police brutality, repression and criminalization of a generation. The police throughout the South Bay are no exception to the brutality, repression, oppression and suppression of the youth, the poor and especially all non-European people living in and traveling through this area. Friday and Saturday nights in downtown San Jose is something like the West Bank in Palestine, although there are not
real check points, there are virtual check points and if you are not the right color or if you are not the right age or if you are not in the right financial range, then you are subject to being illegally detained and illegally searched and often times illegally ticketed and sometimes illegally arrested. Then of course, any day of the week the popo illegally murder human beings, who are usually unarmed.

We are inviting you to come to an event in San Jose on Sunday 22nd October to hear from people whose loved ones have been murdered by the popo, whose loved ones have been illegally arrested and wrongfully convicted and sentenced to decades in prison and also to
hear from people who were attacked and illegally arrested and being charged with false charges by the popo and are awaiting trial.

When: Sunday October 22nd, 2006
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: 888 East Santa Clara Street
(between 17th & 19th Streets, across the street from Roosevelt Park)
San Jose, CA, 95116
at the Pagesincolor.com Fair Trade Arts and Crafts Store.

We will be meeting upstairs in the gallery, please let us know if you are coming so we can have enough chairs.

Thank you, hope to see you on Sunday October 22nd at Pagesincolor.com Fair Trade
Arts and Crafts store.
in solidarity
Donna Wallach
Yes please, give all my contact info, email and phone numbers.
(h) 408-293-4774
dbwall [at] earthlink.net

Read a summary what the people discussed at the event here.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Posted 10-12-06
Celebrate Fair Trade Month and Help Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
by John Thielking

There will be a potluck celebration, speakers, discussion and video showing about Fair Trade and Mumia Abu-Jamal at the upstairs gallery behind the Pagesincolor.com retail store at 888 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA on Sunday October 15, 2006 from 12PM-6PM.

The schedule includes the following:
12PM-2:00 PM  Food, ice cream, fair trade Reggae music in African Languages, Mumia's commentaries in English and Lori Berenson’s commentaries in both English and Spanish. To download these commentaries visit http://www.prisonradio.org .
2:00-2:10 PM  Fair Trade Video DVD
2:10-2:25 PM John Thielking and Donna Wallach on Fair Trade and Mumia
2:25-2:50 PM Videos: Status of Mumia's case after the suspension of the death sentence by Judge Yohn in 2001 and Arnold Beverly Confession presented by Elliot Grossman.
2:50-3:30 PM Howard Keylor from the Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and possible speakers from Partisan Defense Committee and/or Curly.
3:30-4:05 PM Video: Mumia on The Prison Industrial Complex (and why this relates to Fair Trade)
4:05-4:15 PM Intermission
4:15-5:05 PM Video: Framing an Execution: ABC News and the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
5:05-5:30  PM Video: Elliot Grossman on Mumia
5:30-6:00 PM Edouard Rollet of Alter-Eco on Fair Trade (possibly moved up if Edouard arrives early).
6:00-? Discussion and socializing.

Note that if you park in Roosevelt Park parking lot you will need to move your car after 7PM. (The park closes at sunset).

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Reposted 10-1-06
From Revcom.us

The Torture Bill: Compromising Your Way To Fascism

This is how fascism comes—with a show of opposition followed by high-profile compromise, and assurances that all is well.

This is how fascism comes, with quiet streets and everyone going about their business.

This is how fascism comes, oh so democratically.

The new bill submitted to the Senate on September 22 [2006]—and almost certain to be approved within the week—gives the U.S. president chilling new powers.

  • The new bill gives Bush the legal power to order any torture techniques which do not rise to the level of “grave breaches” of the Geneva Conventions.
  • It does other things too, such as shreading 500 years of Habeas Corpus law.
Read more at Revcom.us.

Editor's note: According to Robert Norse on Bathrobspierre's Broadsides, this bill was approved by both houses. According to the LA times, this bill passed both houses of Congress with little but token opposition.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Posted 10-1-06
Oct 5 , 2006 Is A Day Of Resistance Against The Bush Regime.


Take off from work, leave school, and come to a massive protest in San Francisco, CA.
Assemble at 12 noon on October 5, 2006 at Justin Herman Plaza, at the foot of Market St. at the Embarcadero. There will be an overnight vigil and a 9AM press conference on Friday Oct 6, 2006.  For more details, visit Indybay.org.  Or go to http://www.worldcantwait.org.

If you can't make it to San Francisco, come to Roosevelt Park at 19th and E. Santa Clara St. in San Jose, between 11AM-2PM on October 5 for some sign holding and banner waving to the cars passing on E Santa Clara St.  There is parking at Roosevelt Park off  of  N. 21st St.  Pagesincolor.com will be closed that day.  For a complete event description, see indybay.org.

Pictures of this event are posted on Indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Posted 9-7-06
Rally to Free Mumia!  Mumia Abu-Jamal Is Innocent!  For Labor Action To Free Mumia!  End the Racist Death Penalty!

Location: Alameda County Courthouse, 12th & Fallon, South side, Oakland.
Time: 4PM-6:30PM  Friday, September 15, 2006.

Rally inititated by the Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
P.O. Box 16222 Oakland, CA 94610
510-763-2347
LACFreeMumia@aol.com

Initial endorsers include: The Mobilzation To Free Mumia, Frances Goldin (Mumia's literary agent), Marsha Feinland (PFP)*, Todd Chretien (Green Party)*, Robert Irminger (IBU, ILWU)*, Jack Heyman (ILWU)*, Bob Mandel (exec board, Oakland Educational Association)*.

* Organization listed for purposes of identification only.

A big piece of the puzzle explaining why Mumia is innocent.

******************** ************************ ************************
BENEFIT FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL, A NIGHT OF MUSIC AND POETRY featuring BOOTS RILEY from The Coup, 2 SF Poet Laureates
devorah major, Jonathan Richman and many others
.

Date: Sunday, September 17, 2006.     Doors: 7:00 PM, Show: 7:30 PM
The Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell St., San Francisco, CA

TICKETS go on sale Sunday, August 20: $20 General Admission
Order online: musichallsf.com
  Order via phone: 1-800-225-2277

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Pictures from the Sept 15th, 2006 Mumia Rally in Oakland and more about Mumia's case.

Labor Day 06 Immigrant Rights March In San Jose Draws 10,000 To Downtown San Jose, CA
John Thielking
9-5-06

The Labor Day 06 march for immigrant rights drew about 10,000 people to downtown San Jose. The march started at King and Story roads and proceeded to Alum Rock Ave/E Santa Clara St before arriving at San Jose city hall at 4th and E Santa Clara St. There were the usual suspects, including the people with the long banner that had people's names that were signed opposing HR 4437, the anti-illegal-immigrant bill that would make being in the US illegally an agravated felony.

For pictures, check out Indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Haiti Update:  Aristide Prevented From Returning To Haiti Despite The Election Of A Sympathetic New President
Posted 8-27-06
by John Thielking

Haiti's ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide visted an audience of 1000 people in Miami, along with the officially elected president René Garcia Préval.  The two together received an enthusiastic welcome.  The election of Préval on Feb 7, 2006 was chaotic and he was sworn in only after he was declared the victor after a first round of balloting that was plagued by fraud, as well as massive street protests supporting his election. Because Préval's election occurred under this cloud, he had to make a deal with the international community to "perform".  One of those requirements is that he not allow Aristide to return to Haiti.

Read the complete story at sfbayview.com

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


From http://www.indybay.org
New Orleans Set To Seize Poor Peoples' Homes That Were Damaged by Hurricane Katrina
Posted 8-27-06

If people can't come up with $10,000 to gut their homes that were damaged by hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans will seize their properties via imminent domain beginning on August 29, 2006, the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating landfall.

For the complete story, check out www.indybay.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Las Vegas Outlaws Feeding The Poor And Only The Poor In Parks
Posted 8-27-06

The ACLU is decrying the latest move to outlaw feeding indigent people in parks in Las Vegas.  A violation of this ordinance would be a misdemeanor.


The Carrot Cake and The Stick
Plans To Celebrate The Lebanon Cease-Fire Agreement In San Jose, CA
 August 18, 2006

by John Thielking
8-13-06

The UN has come up with a cease-fire agreement for the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon. Both sides have agreed to it in principle.  The cease-fire goes into effect at 8AM GMT August, 14, 2006.  August 14 is my birthday.  Hence,  I have decided to take on the task of celebrating this cease-fire agreement.  If the cease-fire goes into effect on time and holds through the last time I check the news on the web on Friday, August 18, 2006, I will bring a carrot cake to the peace rally at 2nd and San Carlos in San Jose, CA at 5PM on August 18th.  All sides are welcome to have some cake, for as long as it lasts.  Bring your own cake too if you want.

Click here to see the pictures of the event.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Posted 8-6-06
Protests Set To Mark 61st Anniversary Of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings
Livermore Labs in CA was the site of a protest today marking the 61st Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.  For full coverage, check out http://www.indybay.org.  More protests are planned for Monday August 7 and Wednesday August 9.


Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Posted 8-6-06
from http://www.sbm4peace.org

National Emergency March:  Defend the People of Palestine & Lebanon

Stop The US-Israeli War!

Saturday, August 12, 11 AM, Civic Center, San Francisco, CA
(intersection of Polk and Grove , SF)

Stop Arming Israel! Cease-Fire Now!  Stop giving $3Billion US Tax Money To Israel!
Stop the Ethnic Cleansing of Lebanon & Palestine!

Do you know what our government and Israel are doing in Lebanon?
--Israel has destroyed the infrastructure of Lebanon-- This is a war crime!
by targeting power plants, hospitals, airports, roads, bridges, grain silos, all highways leading into or out of Lebanon and using phosphorus bombs and cluster bombs against civilians.  Entire Lebanese villages lie in ruins.
--- Israel has destroyed Lebanon's environment with spilled and burning oil, toxic waste flows & soot, causing forest fires and growing garbage heaps.
--- Israel planned this war on Lebanon over a year ago (SF Chronicle, 7/21/06)
--- The UN Human Rights Council accuses Israel of war crimes!
Over 1/4 of the Lebanese population have been turned into permanent refugees in 2 weeks!
In a fit of Orwellian  double-speak, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls these war crimes: "The birth pangs of a new Middle East".
Express your outrage! Contact your Congressperson at 202-224-3121 and write to your local papers!

Donate to South Bay Mobilization to help pay for ads in the newspaper!  Donate online at http:///www.sbm4peace.org/about/donate.htm

For more information, contact South Bay Mobilization  http://www.sbm4peace.org
408-998-8504

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

From http://www.indybay.org
July 15th, 2006 -- Day of Action for Climate Justice
Posted 7-16-06

On July 15, 2006 the Group of 8 (G8) gathered in St. Petersburg, Russia for the start of a 3 day meeting focusing on massive expansion of oil, gas and coal exploration projects as well as massive investment in the building of new nuclear power plants.  Activists in Russia were preempted in their efforts to protest by national decrees outlawing protest gatherings on July 15, 2006.  Many protesters were arrested and some report being mistreated while in captivity.  Read more on Indybay.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

From http://www.indybay.org
Israel Goes to War with Lebanon as Violence Spreads
Posted 7-16-06

Indybay.org has an excellent writeup on the ongoing Israeli assault of Lebanon, beginning on July 12, 2006.  Read more on Indybay.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

From http://www.merip.org
Letting Gaza Burn

Posted 7-16-06

In an op-ed article on TomPaine.com (7/13/06) Chris Toensing argues that the Israeli assault on Palestinians in Gaza is being overlooked as Israel attacks Lebanon.  Read more at merip.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

From http://www.merip.org
Court Wrongly OKs Profiling
posted 7-16-06

In an article  in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (7/2/06), distributed by Progressive Media Project, Moustafa Bayoumi describes a decision by District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn that asserts that it is ok for the US govt. to detain non-citizens on the basis of race, religion, or national origin and furthermore that it is ok for them to be imprisoned indefinitely so long as their eventual deportation is "reasonably forseable".  Read more at merip.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

TrueMajority: Tell Congress Not To Repeal The Estate Tax
6-4-06
by John Thielking

Currently, the Estate Tax exempts the first $2 million of a person's estate.  Next week, the Senate is scheduled to vote on repealing the Estate Tax or "reforming" it in such a way that 84% or more of the tax would be repealed.  Tell the Senate to vote "No" on any such reforms.  The budget is being cut too much already.  Cutting the Estate Tax would eliminate $1 trillion in funding over the next 10 years.  Click here to visit the TrueMajority website to send a message to your Senator.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

6-11-06 update: Note that the Senate has since voted not to repeal the Estate Tax.

CALPIRG: Tell Congress To Protect Internet Freedom
by Steve Blackledge, CALPIRG
6-4-06

If you are like me, you use the internet every day to do things like read your local paper online, download music, share photos with friends and family and keep in touch through email.

We take all this for granted, but a handful of the largest cable and telephone companies are trying to limit our Internet access by deciding who and what gets priority. Don't let these corporations decide what's important for you to see and hear online.

You can help us put a stop to this by signing our Internet Freedom petition which we will deliver to your member of Congress and to Senators Boxer and Feinstein. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link to be taken to the CALPIRG website.

Read more on Pagesincolor.com

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

New Article About How The 2004 Election Was Stolen
6-4-06

Robert Kennedy Jr. just published a story in Rolling Stone Magazine about how there is plenty of evidence from exit polls and other sources suggesting that the 2004 Presidential election was stolen by people sympathetic to George W Bush.  To find that article go here.

Also, Newsweek just came out with an article about how the new Diebold electronic voting machines are highly vulnerable to tampering.

Editor's note: Since little if any of this conspiracy between 13,000 separate voting precincts is being talked about in the mainstream media, is it any wonder that the 9-11 "conspiracy" is so easily "covered up"?  People say that the biggest argument against there being a 9-11 conspiracy is that no one has talked about it.  Yet, look at how few election officials in Bush Country are talking about or admitting election fraud in the November 2004 election, even though they have no connection to or coordination with each other besides sharing a common ideology.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Tombstone of The Unborn Soldier Displayed At The Santa Cruz, CA Town Clock, May 26, 2006
by John Thielking
6-4-06

The Tomb of the Unborn Soldier is a concept invented by Lowell Darling.  The tomb represents the idea that the wars we are fighting today are being waged over conflicts that started before any of us were born.  And the conflicts we have today will quite possibly turn into wars that will be waged by people who have not even been born yet.  Lowell Darling wants to give one of these tombstones to every country of the world to remind their leaders  to think carefully about the decisions they make today which could lead to wars many years down the road.  The tombstone was displayed briefly at the town clock in Santa Cruz, CA on Friday May 26, 2006.  To see a picture of the tombstone, go here and click on the center button. Click here for background on Lowell Darling.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Protesters Gather At Capitola, CA Army/Navy Recruiting Center 3-5PM Friday, May 12, 2006 For Pre-Mother's Day Protest
Photos and story by John Thielking
5-21-06

Mother's Day was started soon after the Civil War as a way of speaking out against sending mother's sons (and daughters) off to war.  Today of course it has been subverted into an excuse to send Mom a present, just in case you missed out sending her one on Valentine's Day. Or maybe we should just say "Thank you for not letting me get drafted". On Friday, May 12, 2006 about 50 people gathered at the 41st Avenue sidewalk in front of the military recruiting center in Capitola, CA  for a pre-Mother's Day protest against the invasion of Iraq and against President Bush's policies. The Raging Grannies sang songs and various drivers honked their horns in approval as they went by on 41st Avenue.  Some drivers gave the thumbs down or the middle finger.

See photos here...

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


 San Jose Police Arrest And Brutalize Cop Watchers On Cinco De Mayo, 2006
Posted 5-21-06
by John Thielking

There was a peaceful gathering of 200 people at the parking lot at King and Story Roads in San Jose, CA on the evening of May 5, 2006.  According to a report on indybay.org
About 6 people were beaten and arrested and had their cameras confiscated by the Police.  One of these cop watchers somehow came between a police batton and a woman bystander.  That cop watcher has been charged with "lynching".  This incident follows a specific warning by Laurie Smith of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's department that anyone who gets in the way of a Sherrif's weapon would be charged as being part of a "lynch mob", which carries severe penalties.   

Read more on Indybay.org
1st account
2nd account
Audio

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

The Costs of U.S. Middle East Policy
by Rachelle Marshall
4-30-06
published 5-4-06

The alliance between the United States and Israel is a central component of U.S. Middle East policy, and in this talk I’ll discuss some of the dangers of that policy. But first let’s look at present day reality. Israel’s 38-year military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has robbed 3 million Palestinians of their land and their rights, and left them imprisoned inside a maze of walls and checkpoints. There are 640 checkpoints on the West Bank. If you’re a Palestinian, whether you can work in your fields, or make it to school on time, or get to a doctor on any given day depends entirely on the whim of the soldiers who guard the checkpoints. The Israeli government can seize your land, demolish your home, and destroy your olive trees when it suits them to do so. An Israeli air strike aimed at  suspected militants could hit your house or your child. Yet the mantra from Washington is that Israel is only defending itself and it is the Palestinians who must renounce violence.
Read more....

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

May 1, 2006 March Against HR 4437 Draws 100,000 To Downtown San Jose, CA
Article and photos by John Thielking
5-3-06

Minutemen, your minute is up!

The May 1, 2006 rally for immigrant rights started out at 11AM at the parking lot at King and Story Roads in San Jose, CA.  There, people lined both sides of the street and filled up the parking lot.  There were at least two bands playing to the crowd from a stage or the back of a flatbed truck.  The people were against HR 4437, which would make being in the US illegally an agravated felony.  It would also make criminals of the many service workers and others who help illegal immiagrants find food and housing.   During the march, an airplane flew overhead with a banner from http://www.americaisfull.com, proclaiming "Close The Borders".  There were more than twice as many people in this march as there were on April 10, 2006, judging by the fact that on May 1, all 4 lanes of Santa Clara St were filled with people, compared to only 2 lanes on April 10.  May 1, 2006 was also a nationwide boycott day, with many people staying home from work or school and not shopping or selling anything. Pagesincolor.com was closed that day.

To see more pictures, click here.

To see coverage of the other marches around the country, click here.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Bush Unwelcomed By Protesters In San Jose, CA  4-21-06
Pictures by John Thielking
Posted 4-23-06

President Bush visited Northern California on Friday 4-21-06.  He stopped in San Jose at Cisco and was also scheduled to stop at Stanford University's Hoover tower, but was diverted to an alternate location when about 1000 protesters blocked access to the campus.  After Stanford, Bush went to St Helena, CA (just North of Napa, CA) where he spent the night, but not before being Unwelcomed by protesters there as well. Protesters also scheduled a wake up protest in St Helena, CA  at 8AM.  No sleep for Mr Bush!

To see the pictures of the San Jose protest, click here.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog



Massive Protest Against HR 4437 Snarls Downtown San Jose, CA

By John Thielking
4-11-06

NO HR 4437

Simultaneously with other protests around the country (SF at least also had one) San Jose was greeted on Monday 4-10-06 at 4PM-7:30 PM by a massive march and demonstration numbering 5000-10000 people.  The protesters were demonstrating against HR 4437, the bill passed in December 2005 by the US House of Representatives that would make being in the US illegally an aggravated felony.  This bill would also make it a felony to help an illegal immigrant by for instance providing food or shelter.  The march proceeded in both right hand lanes of the 4 lane street past 19th and Santa Clara St where Pagesincolor.com is located. It proceeded to the City Hall at 6th and Santa Clara. The street at 4th street to 6th street was filled with people across all 4 lanes and the sidewalk. Soon after arriving at City Hall, breakaway marches proceeded back along Santa Clara St both East and West. 

To see more pictures, click here.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor blog.


Posted 4-10-06. Info and statements taken from a flyer by The Labor Action Committee To Free Mumia Abu-Jamal (with a few web additions by John Thielking).
http://www.laboractionmumia.org

Join us To Help Celebrate Mumia's Birthday
3PM, Saturday April 22, 2006 in Oakland, CA
West Oakland Public Library, 1801 Adeline St @ 18th

Speakers include: Robert R Bryan, Mumia's lawyer,   Jack Heyman, ILWU Local 10, Mel Mason, Seaside, CA NAACP, former Black Panther,   Gerald Smith, Copwatch, former Black Panther, Pierre Labossiere, Haiti Action (Organizations listed for identification purposes only.)

Video: 1999 West Coast Longshore Port Shutdown to Free Mumia
Donations to Mumia's Legal Defense
Info: (510) 763-2347
(The Oakland Public Library does not advocate or endorse viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users.)

Still On Death Row, and... FRAMED!
Mumia Abu-Jamal Is Innocent

"In over three decades of litigating death-penalty cases, I have not seen one in which the government wants so badly to kill a client." -- Robert R Bryan, attorney for Mumia Abu-Jamal

Read more on Pagesincolor

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor Blog....

Congress Still Refuses To Consider Impeachment Of Bush. Or Is This Changing?
4-9-06
by John Thielking

Initial reception of the Senator Feingold resolution to censure President Bush was essentially laughed off by the mainstream media.  However, this resolution is quietly gaining support among Democratic Senators,  as is the movement to actually impeach President Bush.

According to Harper's Magazine, House of Representatives member  John Conyers, Jr  (D., Mich) has introduced on Dec 18, 2005 a resolution calling for “a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment.”
 
Check out Conyers' website to find out more.

There is a small possibility that impeachment hearings may proceed sometime after the November 2006 elections.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog....

Watsonville, CA Police Charge Brown Berets For Peaceful Action!

PLEASE PASS WIDELY! IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!
From Liberation News 3-26-06 (posted 4-2-06)

Open letter To The Community: Help the Brown Berets Get Charges Dropped for Peaceful Action on March 25 in Watsonville, CA

On Saturday, March 25, 2006 Watsonville saw the largest March for Peace and Justice in the history of the city. Documented and Undocumented Workers, families and allies marched in total solidarity with Anti-War Activists, led by Fernando Suarez Del Solar, Pablo Paredes and Medea Benjamin in a 2,000+ citizen, strong & peaceful march though the city of Watsonville. It was beautiful....

Editor's note:  Many people also demonstrated in San Jose against HR 4437.  Santa Clara street outside the Pagesincolor.com store had people marching by off and on  from 10AM until 2PM on Saturday March 25.  Marches also happened on Sunday the 26th.  Students walking out also went by on Monday the 27th.

Read more on Pagesincolor.com

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog...

Santa Cruz County Workers Prepare To Go On Strike
received 3-12-06
from laborcouncil@mbclc.org

Your action is requested to support 1800 Santa Cruz County workers preparing to strike this week. Please forward this message to co-workers and progressive email lists. In addition to the action requested below, please contact your local union leadership to ask them to take action as well.

Background: Any day now, 1800 Santa Cruz county workers will launch a one-day strike against a Board of Supervisors that so far refuses to provide wages comparable to that of comparable workers in comparable counties. Their struggle is the same struggle facing all working families in our communities--farm and food processing workers fighting for decent pay and basic human rights, UC workers fighting for pay parity, Ralph's employees fighting the company's scheme to de-unionize their workplace, Natividad workers fighting the "privatization of that county hospital, hotel workers rising up to fight for a living wage--and this strike will be an opportunity for us to express and build our solidarity across the Central Coast.

How can the labor movement support this strike?

Read more on Pagesincolor.com

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog



International Answer Sponsors 3rd Anniversary Protest Against The Invasion Of Iraq at 11AM Saturday, March 18, 2006 in San Francisco, CA

The protest will be located at the Civic Center Plaza in downtown SF, at Polk and Grove.  Some parking is located at the garage underneath the plaza.  The protest is expected to last until 4PM.  Protests will be happening around the country on Saturday March 18, Sunday March 19 and Monday March 20, 2006.  There will be a local protest at noon on Sunday March 19, 2006 at the Town Clock in downtown Santa Cruz.

New Ordinance Proposal Threatens Earth First! Tabling and Food Not Bombs Feeding Near Wednesday Farmer's Market in Downtown Santa Cruz, CA
3-12-06
by John Thielking

The Santa Cruz Downtown Commission is going to be having a special meeting this Thursday, March 16, 2006, at 8:30 AM at City Council Chambers at 809 Center St in Santa Cruz, CA to discuss the latest proposal for a Santa Cruz City ordinance that would outlaw any activity other than parking a car or parking a bicycle from taking place in a city owned parking lot or garage. It would also limit the total amount of time that a person can linger after parking their car or bike to 10 minutes. Exceptions would be granted only by applying for an event permit. This will effectively outlaw free speech activity conducted by Earth First! at their table which is often technically within the confines of the parking lot next to the Farmers Market on Wednesdays as well as outlaw the gathering of people for the Food Not Bombs feeding there. There will be a protest gathering outside the meeting location at 809 Center St in downtown Santa Cruz beginning at 7:30 AM on March 16, 2006. I have included the text of the proposed law for you to review.

Additional incidental things that would be outlawed by this ordinance include:
Waiting for a tow truck to do a jump start of a dead battery or open the car when the keys are locked inside.
Fixing a flat tire on a bike or a car.
Charging an electric vehicle at one of the City supplied electrical outlets located in some City garages.
Changing a diaper.

Read more at Pagesincolor.com

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog.

New Zogby Poll Finds That 52% Of Americans Support Impeachment Of Bush For Wiretapping
 2-18-06
by John Thielking

Major polling firms have refused to ask the question:

"If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment."

So an independent Zogby poll was conducted, backed by the founders of afterdowningstreet.org. When asked the question, it was found that 52% of Americans agreed with the statement.  43% dissagreed and 6% were undecided.  Read more at http://www.worldcantwait.net...

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Michael Morales Is The Next Person Scheduled To Be Executed In CA On Feb 21, 2006
2-18-06
by John Thielking

Michael Morales, convicted of the rape/murder of a Lodi, CA  girl named Terri Winchell in 1981, is scheduled to be executed at 12:01 AM on Feb 21, 2006. Among his many appeals to the higher courts is the assertion that the method used in administering the death penalty, lethal injection, is cruel and unusual punishment. It is true that in the case of Stan Tookie Williams it took more than 30 minutes to set up the IV’s and actually administer the drugs until Tookie was dead.  Read more on Pagesincolor.com.

To read more about the case visit  Indybay.org’s page on Michael Morales

or The Death Penalty Focus page on Michael Morales


2PM 2-21-06: News Flash!  The execution of Michael Morales has been delayed because the anesthesiologists required by a court order to attend the execution have refused to participate. If Morales is not executed by 12:00 Midnight Feb 21, 2006, then the execution order expires and a new order would have to be issued, taking 30 days or more.

6PM 2-21-06 update (uploaded at 2:30PM PST 2-22-06): The execution of Michael Morales has been postponed indefinitely, because the State of CA is unable to comply with court requirements that a medical professional adminsiter the drug or drugs that would be used to kill Morales. The medical professionals are refusing to directly participate in the execution!  Read more at indybay.org.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


Proposal For A New Health Care Initiative for the CA State Ballot
by John Thielking
2-11-06

I don't have any money for this, but someone else might.  It seems that based on the defeats at the polls of various health care oriented initiatives (prop 86 Health Care for All and an appeal to the voters about former Gov. Dukemajan's legislation requiring all employers over a certain size to provide health insurance) that it is clear that the people of California will need to be extensively educated about the dismal state of the current health care system before they will vote for any progressive change.

I propose that the following initiative be put before the voters in 2008:  Require that all employers with 20 or more employees in the state of CA who offer health insurance to their employees post the plan details on their website and make such doccuments available to all employees, contractors and job applicants.  For those job applicants not able to access the web, or for those who have for whatever reason not been notified of the plan details before a job offer is made to them, those prospective employees have a minimum of 48 hours to review the plan doccuments before accepting a job offer.  No penalty may be imposed upon the prospective employee for excercising the 48 hour option. The plan details must include at least: The cost of the plan to the employee, both as a full time worker and as a COBRA or cal-COBRA participant, the copays and coverages for doctor's visits and medication, as well as any items that are not covered under each plan offered by the employer.  No category of employer, except the federal government,  is expempt from these requirements. Contractors doing business with the federal govt. are NOT exempt. Those employers who contract out their health care plan must still provide a means for all job applicants to access the plan doccuments at the sub-contractor's website or by other means.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog.

Posted 1-22-06
Photos From Peace Friday In Santa Cruz, CA Jan 20, 2006
By John Thielking

Every Friday from 5PM-6PM, peace activists gather in front of O-Niel's surf shop on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. This last Friday we were joined at the street corner by the "TV From Hell" puppet show.  Click here to see the pictures.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Jan 21, 2006 Counterdemonstration Against The Walk For Life
posted 1-20-06
by John Thielking

Anti-choice, anti-abortion marchers are scheduled to show up and go for a march from Justin Herman Plaza to the Marina Green Park in San Francisco on Saturday Jan 21, 2006.  Many of these marchers will be bussed in from around the state of CA and elsewhere.  If you believe in a woman's right to choose, you are invited to join a counter demonstration that will be gathering in Justin Herman Plaza at 11AM at the non-intersection of Embarcadero and Market Streets in San Francisco.  It is reccomended to park at the Civic Center at Polk and Grove (near 9th and Market) and walk or take Bart to the foot of Market St.  For more info click here or here.
Be forwarned.  This counterdemonstration may involve civil disobedience.  So stay away from any cops or sit-ins if you don't want to get arrested.

Pictures from the Demo and Counterdemo

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

Reprinted with permission 1-15-06
Kevin Cooper

Saved From Execution
Still Fighting For Justice



Kevin Cooper was wrongfully convicted of the 1983 murders of the Ryen family in San Bernadino, California.  He came within hours of execution on Feb 9, 2004.  The 11th hour stay was granted after a battle inside and outside of the courtroom shed light on his innocence and the numerous problems that exist in the state's case against him.

The case has been sent back to the federal district court.  Further evidence testing has begun, and activists expect a long legal fight to ensure that the issues of tampering and police and prosecutorial misconduct are raised. Overall, the defense attorneys have found new evidence and witnesses that corroborate Kevin Cooper's innocence claim, and that show the errors and concious misconduct on the part of the state of California.
Read more...

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


posted 1-14-06
From http://www.truemajority.org

A Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

The following link takes you to an interactive web page where you can hear the words of Martin Luther King Jr., spoken in his own voice.

http://www.truemajority.org/mlk.html  

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...


Posted 1-9-06
Clarence Ray Allen: Due to be Executed Jan 17, 2006
by John Thielking

When first hearing about Clarence Ray Allen's case, both sides were investigated a little bit and the disturbing conclusion was reached that this would be a difficult case to argue about. Allen was in prison for life without parole for the 1970's murder of a woman who gave him keys to a market that he robbed. She was killed allegedly because she was fingering him for the robbery.

He is accused of ordering the murders of one witness to that crime and two other
employees of the same market while his original case was on appeal.  Some accounts describe the other two victims as witnesses to the original crime, while another account describes the two as employees of the market. Clarence Allen is  currently 75 years old and will turn 76 one day before his scheduled execution.  He is very infirm, has suffered from a heart attack and diabetes and uses a wheelchair.  He will be forced to walk the final few feet to the death chamber at San Quentin. The prosecution's case rests primarily on the testimony of some of the accomplices involved in the second crime.
They have all since stated at one time or another that they lied at Mr. Allen's 2nd trial.  That, plus the fact that Mr. Allen is  an American Indian has some very concerned that his execution is unjust.  Others simply say that while there is no excuse for how the victims died, the death penalty is wrong and Mr Allen should be given Clemency.  Governor Schwarzenegger has refused  to hold any kind of Clemency hearing for Mr. Allen.  Read more on santacruz.indymedia.org...

Read the rest of the story or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...


SF Giants Welcome Homeless Families To Giants Stadium For Holiday Party
Posted 1-5-06

For more info check out the article at the San Francisco Sentinel .

I always wondered why the Giants Stadium couldn't be used as a homeless shelter for part of the time.  Well, at least this small step is a step in the right direction -- Ed

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com Blog

Ace Washington Brutalized by San Francisco PD December 30, 2005
by Donna Wallach
posted 1-5-06

Greetings all,

Mesha of Idriss Stelley Foundation just called me to inform me that Ace Washington, an African-descent man in his fifties, who is well-known in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood, and has been a community activist for decades, was brutally beaten by SFPD Friday night, 30th December 2005, outside Rassala's club, a jazz club located at Divisadero and 7th Streets in San Francisco. I understand that there were lots of witnesses.

Some of Mr. Washington's activities in and for the community: he volunteers at KPOO radio, he is on the San Francisco Community Policing Board (this might not be the accurate name), he is the official cameraman for Court TV and City Hall on Channel 29 in San Francisco and he is also the house manager for Idriss Stelley Foundation. 

For more information on this most recent cop brutalization of a human being, please contact Mesha at: isfonelove@yahoo.com

Read more on Pagesincolor.com...

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...

Santa Cruz, CA DIY Last Night Parade Sparks Celebration and Controversy
by John Thielking
1-2-06

As stated previously, the First Night celebrations in Santa Cruz have gone belly up due to lack of funding.  For Dec 31, 2005, a special Do It Yourself (DIY) Parade was organized.  This went well, with about 300 people participating in the parade and hundreds more lining the parade route along Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz.  To read more and see pictures of the event by Bradley go to http://www.santacruz.indymedia.org. and also check out  more photos by Matt Fitt.

There was also considerable contorversy sparked as it was revealed that two undercover police officers from the Santa Cruz City Police Dept. had infiltrated the organizing meetings for the Last Night Parade. This does seem a bit lopsided considering that the organizing meetings typically had less than 10 people attending.  To read more about that aspect check out the story at  http://www.santacruz.indymedia.org., read the open letter to the Santa Cruz City Council, written by Steve Argue or check out the article: Police Infiltration of Parade Politically Motivated.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...

From Jurist Legal News & Research, published by Bernard Hibbits of the  Pittsburg School of Law http://jurist.law.pitt.edu  :


The execution of Stanley Tookie Williams on December 13, 2005, as well as Schwarzenegger's ongoing refusal to renounce Capital Punishment, has Europe, and Austria in particular, up in arms.  Read more....

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog....

DIY Last Night Parade  Santa Cruz, CA,  5PM Dec 31, 2005 at the Saturn Cafe at Pacific and Laurel St.
12-27-05
By John Thielking
Last year, on Dec 31, 2004 in Santa Cruz, there was a parade put on by an Artsy-Fartsy group aligned with the city.  It was called "The River of Life".  This type of parade was almost a tradition, accompanying the "First Night" series of celebrations on New Years Eve. First Night included not only a parade, but also included musical performances in the various theaters around downtown Santa Cruz.  The festivities may have seemed open to some, but in reality they were for the most part a closed minded event.  The parade organizers decided that they would not allow any political signs in the parade and pointedly discouraged and attempted to exclude any type of political themes from the parade in 2004 and the one in 2003 as well.  The venues hosting the other events were also not open to various guerilla tactics such as serrepetitiously plugging in a TV in the lobby to play the Arnold Beverly confession.  (That year the Arnold Beverly confession was aired on the public sidewalk with the aid of a battery and inverter).  In 2005, it was announced that the people organizing the traditional First Night celebration had run out of money and that the events would be cancelled.  Click here to find out what people are going to do this year to replace the traditional First Night Parade.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog....



New York's 3-Day Transit Strike Ends
12/22/05

From http://www.nyc.indymedia.org:
Tranist Workers Take Control
12/22/05

From Transit Workers Union in New York:  http://www.twulocal100.org.

What kind of State is New York, where public employees are prohibited by State law from striking? -- Ed

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog....



Four Palestinians Die Due To Sound-Bombs And Shelling In Gaza Strip
December 18, 2005
To read the article, click on the following link:   http://www.palestinemonitor.org

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...

Major court victory for Mumia Abu-Jamal

BY JEFF MACKLER
12-07-05, posted 12-11-05

In a decision that will likely stun the Pennsylvania legal establishment that has been trying to railroad innocent death row political prison and award winning journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal to the execution chambers for 24 years, the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit, reversed two critical Federal District Court rulings.  Read more...

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...

Posted 12-08-05
America loves a reformer!
by Becky Johnson Monday, Oct. 31, 2005 at 3:54 PM
Santa Cruz, Ca.

America loves a reformer! But Arnold Schwarznegger may simply be vindictive, or overly concerned with proving to his "base" how tough on crime he is. 

Aside from the dozens of reasons why the death penalty is wrong generally, in Tookie's individual case, there was prosecutorial misconduct involving comparing Tookie to a tiger in a jungle for the all-white jury. That death penalties are awarded black men disproportionately to any other segment of the population is a known fact. That hundreds of former death row inmates were cleared completely by DNA tests which were unavailable at their convictions shows that we cannot trust this verdict (or any other verdict for that matter) sufficiently to take a human life for it. Read more...

Read or post comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog


PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!

    From:       PPnews@freedomarchives.org
    Subject:     [Ppnews] Solidarity with Political Prisoners events - SF
    Date:     November 16, 2005 11:09:46 AM PST

DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
Friday, December 2nd
12 - 2 pm
Oakland Federal Building
1301 Clay Street

 
INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS
Saturday, December 3, 2005
7 pm
First Unitarian Church
14th and Castro, Oakland

EVENTS HELD IN 25 CITIES WORLDWIDE!




Saturday November 19, 2005 Human Rights Event
By Bob Patton
Posted to Pagesincolor.com 11/16/05

The Human Rights Organization is glad to announce the planning for the November 19th, 2005 event is on track and interest is strong. The focus of the event is in the title, Activism, Politics, and Homelessness. The venue is going to be the Louden Nelson Community Center, Rm. 3 which has the kitchen. It will last from 3:30pm to 6:00pm. The event starts with free food and music.

Read the full article and leave comments at www.santacruz.indymedia.org

Read the full article and leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog

For more information visit http://www.huffsantacruz.org
and http://www.humanrightsorg.org

From http://www.santacruz.indymedia.org

Help Stop the War in Iraq! - Friday, November 18th, 2005 from 3-5PM
Posted 11-15-05

On Friday November 18th, from 3-5PM, TAKE SOME TIME OUT TO HELP STOP THE WAR IN IRAQ!

Enough is Enough. It is Time to Say NO louder and stronger to the War and the Bush Regime!!! Our tax dollars are funding it - WE must stop it!
PLEASE JOIN PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR NATIONAL STAND DOWN* DAY (NSDD), a day of coordinated actions calling for an end to this war, being held at Military Recruitment Centers all over the United States!!

THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY ACTION happens on Friday, November 18th at the Military Recruitment Center on 41st Avenue (2121 41st Ave) - from 3 to 5PM.

Read more at http://www.santacruz.indymedia.org...

Read or post comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog...


Execution of CA Death Row Inmate Stan "Tookie" Williams set for Dec 13th, 2005
  11-06-05
John Thielking

The co-founder of the Crips street gang in Los Angeles is set to be executed on Dec 13, 2005.

This case sets a precident for courts nationwide being allowed to look the other way when allegations of prosecution misconduct surface after a murder conviction. Specifically, in this case the Supreme court let a 9th Circuit court ruling stand that affirms that it is ok for prosecutors to exclude blacks from a black defendant's jury on the basis of race* and it is ok for prosecutors to have prisoners shackled in front of the jury, that it is ok for prosecutors to make strongly biased statements to the jury likening the defendant to a wild animal in a zoo, and that it is ok for the police to beat witnesses until they give the story that the prosecution wants (as long as a couple of years pass between the beating and the trial).  It also raises disturbing allegations that Williams may be innocent of the crimes he was convicted of as numerous pieces of physical evidence point to his innocence.  The 9th circuit court did make history, however, when it reccomended clemency for Tookie, citing Tookie's work writing children's books urging kids to avoid joining gangs and avoid violence.  This work has inspired former gang members from around the world to give up on being members of a gang.

Read more, including an analysis of the Governor's denial of clemency...

Stan Tookie Williams was executed at 12:35AM, Dec 13, 2005, despite massive
protests in opposition to his execution, including the assembly of  over 3000 people at the gates of San Quentin on the night of his execution.

Read or leave comments in the pagesincolor.com blog


Post Katrina Relief Efforts Underway
John Thielking
9-7-05

The Red Cross is not the only game in town when it comes to hurricane relief efforts. While some stores such as Rite Aid are matching contributions 50/50 for those who donate to the Red Cross,  there are  some concerns that the Red Cross siphons money off from the donations received from one disaster and uses the money to prepare for the next disaster, sometimes with ideological twists added such as preparing for the war on terrorism after the Sept 11 attacks.   The Red Cross did for instance donate an additional $10 million to the city of San Francisco after the 1989 Loma Prietta Earthquake, in response to the mayor's complaints that not all of the money raised was going to help earthquake victims.  After Sept 11, there was controversy when it was revealed that only $150 million had been spent to help vicitims of Sept 11, after $500 million had been received. (footnote)

If you want to contribute to a number of groups that are locally focused on New Orleans and are accountable to the people, check out this link.

Read or leave comments in the Pagesincolor.com blog



How did it get started and where is it going?
The Pagesincolor.com Story

  

Store #2: A Fair Trade Online Store Featuring Crafts From Around The World.  Free shipping to US on orders over $50, to Canada on orders over $100.


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Store #4: The Veriuni Store.

Pagesincolor has completed a performance review of all of the stores displayed on the website, to see if they can deliver products by Christmas 2005 when ordering by Sunday Dec 18th, 2005.  Six out of eight stores were able to deliver at least one gift by Dec 25!  For a complete report click here.


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Free Speech TV (which re-broadcasts Democracy Now! and also shows IMC NEWSREAL ) is now  available on Dish Network's 60 channel satellite TV basic package.
Total cost: $31.99 /month.
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Free Satellite TV!




The Hazards Of Being Male: Surviving The Myth Of Masculine Privilege inspired me to get on board with the feminist movement in 1979, when I was 16.
-- John Thielking
 
Who is John Thielking?
Read more here.

Pagesincolor Archives:   July 2005- Dec 2005,    Jan 2005 - June 2005,   July 2004-Dec 2004 Jan 2004-June 2004July 2003-Dec 2003

All of the past front page articles on Pagesincolor.com (Scroll down and click on the desired article)

Past Stories On Pagesincolor.com 

Jan 22, 2006  Photos From Peace Friday In Santa Cruz, CA Jan 20, 2006
Jan 20, 2006   Jan 21, 2006 Counterdemonstration Against The Walk For Life
Jan 15, 2006   Kevin Cooper: Saved From Execution, Still Fighting For Justice
Jan 14, 2006   A Tribute To Martin Luther King Jr.
Jan 09, 2006   Clarence Ray Allen: Due To Be Executed Jan 17, 2006
Jan 05, 2006   SF Giants Welcome Homeless Families To Giants Stadium For Holiday Party
Jan 05, 2006   Ace Washington Brutalized By SF PD December 30, 2005
Jan 02, 2006   Santa Cruz, CA  DIY Last Night Parade Sparks Celebration And Controversy
Dec 27, 2005   Execution Feud Prompts Austria Town To Expunge Schwarzenegger from Website 
Dec 27, 2005   DIY Last Night Parade  Santa Cruz, CA,  5PM Dec 31, 2005 at the Saturn Cafe at Pacific and Laurel St.
Dec 22, 2005   New York's 3-Day Transit Strike Ends
Dec 18, 2005   Four Palestinians Die Due To Sound-Bombs And Shelling In Gaza Strip
Dec 11, 2005   Major court victory for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Dec 08, 2005   America loves a reformer!
Dec 03, 2005   INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH POLITICAL PRISONERS
Nov 17, 2005  Hawkish House Democrat Urges US Troop Withdrawl From Iraq (AP 11-17-05)
Nov 16, 2005  Saturday November 19, 2005 Human Rights Event
Nov 15, 2005  Help Stop the War in Iraq! - Friday, November 18th, 2005 from 3-5PM
Nov 06, 2005  Execution of CA Death Row Inmate Stan "Tookie" Williams set for Dec 13th, 2005
Sept 07, 2005 Post Katrina Relief Efforts Underway
April 28, 2005 SOA WATCH HAS SCORED A MAJOR POLITICAL VICTORY! WE HAVE SURPASSED 100 COSPONSORS ON OUR LEGISLATION TO CLOSE THE SOA! (School Of The Americas/Assassins)
April 21, 2005 Pagesincolor.com Editorial: Building an Alternative Media Web Site In The Midst Of Corporate Angst And Instability
April 04, 2005 Mumia Birthday Event with Michael Franti 4-24-05
April 01, 2005 City Bureaucrats Shut Down Only Medical Marijuana Club Under Rotkin's Law
Mar 14, 2005 Global Day of Action on the 2nd Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq: Saturday, March 19, 2005
Jan 20, 2005 Inaugurate the People - Reclaim Our Democracy!
Jan 15, 2005 Martin Rodriguez: Tortured In The San Jose Main Jail
Jan 13, 2005 Myths, Half-Truths and Exaggerations (about Social Security)
Jan 10, 2005 The Scent of Fear
Jan 09, 2005 Social Security Rolling Letter Campaign!
Jan 01, 2005 Man In Black Marches Ahead Of First Night Parade With A Sign 
Nov 23, 2004 Good News! Congress Votes to Eliminate Funding for New Nuclear Weapons
Nov 09, 2004 URGENT: ACT NOW (!) TO UNHIJACK THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Nov 07, 2004 Bush Regime Maintains Power Through Electoral Fraud, Whither Democracy In The United States?
Oct 25, 2004 SCRAM Takes Care of the Dead Air; 101.1 FM is Free
Oct 14, 2004 YOU CALL THIS A DEBATE?
Oct 10, 2004 Statement by Leonard Peltier, Running for U.S. President on the Peace and Freedom Party Ticket for 2004:
Oct 07, 2004 FBI Seizes IMC Servers In The UK
Oct 05, 2004 EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THE HAITIAN PEOPLE: For Independence, Democracy, Justice
Sept 29, 2004 Free Radio Santa Cruz (101.1 FM) Raided by the FCC and US Marshals
Sept 01, 2004 Escondido, CA  Fluoridation Equipment Failure In First 24 Hours Of Operation
Aug 29, 2004 Free Concert: The 6th Annual Power to the Peaceful Festival (with Spearhead) Sept 11, 2004
Aug 27, 2004 Republican National Convention Protests 
Aug 21, 2004 Pam Africa And Black August Events
Aug 16, 2004 Venezuela Referendum
Aug 08, 2004 "Books Not Bombs" Major Hiroshima Commemoration and Protest 8/8/04 in Livermore, CA
July 19, 2004 VICTORY FOR MUMIA! NAACP Approves Resolution Supporting Abu-Jamal
July 07, 2004 Court deals setback to fluoride fighters. Watsonville told anti-fluoride law won’t hold water.
July 05, 2004 Alert on New Threat to Mumia Abu-Jamal
July 02, 2004 Trial of Lawyer Accused of "Providing Personnel To Terrorists" underway in New York
June 26, 2004 Protesting BIO 2004
June 10, 2004 San Francisco Capobianco Gallery Owner Assaulted for Displaying Painting Depicting Torture in Iraq
June 05, 2004 Stop the War in Iraq! International Day of Emergency Protests Saturday, June 5th, 2004
May 20, 2004 U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Against Mumia
May 08, 2004 Some Thoughts on Torture In the U.S. plus, Currently Employed SCI-Green Prison Guard Supervised Torture of Prisoners in Iraq; PA Officials Covering up his PA Record
May 23, 2004 Fight for Mumia's Freedom Continues, and  Successful Mumia March and Rally:
Mar 13, 2004 Coup in Haiti?
Mar 07, 2004 Southern CA Safeway Grocery Strike Ends
Feb 10, 2004 Good News!  Kevin Cooper Granted a Stay of Execution
Dec 24, 2003 WITH A WHISPER, NOT A BANG (Patriot Act II)
Dec 03, 2003 9/11 RICO ACT SUIT IGNORED BY MEDIA
Nov 22, 2003 URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ACTIVISTS PROTESTING THE FTAA (Free Trade Agreement of the Americas)
Nov 19, 2003 The Free Trade Agreement of the Americas or FTAA is being negotiated in Miami Florida November 19-21, 2003.
Nov 04, 2003 Leonard Peltier's Appeal Denied
Oct 22, 2003 October 22nd is a national day of mourning for victims of Police Brutality.
Oct 20, 2003  A Central American Free Trade Agreement is being negotated Oct 20-24 in Houston Texas.
Oct 08, 2003  Special Recall Election Alert: Who is Arnold Schwarznegger really?
Oct 08, 2003 Emergency media release from The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal: Pennsylvania Court rules against MUMIA!
Sept 27, 2003 Samples of Liberation News: Free Sherman Austin!
Sept 27, 2003 Free Radio Santa Cruz Interview with Robert Whitaker, Author of Mad In America
Sept 21, 2003 What Is Socialism, and Why We Oppose The Invasion of Iraq




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