Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

On Tuesday December 11, 2007, I joined in a community effort to welcome and support a coalition of Native American Nations and environmental justice groups in their ongoing effort to defend Arizona's San Francisco Peaks from proposed ski area development. The coalition had traveled from Arizona in order to be present for a Federal Appeals Court hearing in which developers would challenge a precedent-setting court victory won by the coalition, which halted plans to expand the skiing business by making fake snow out of sewage waste. This case is viewed as precedent-setting in the realms of religious freedom and public health, and particularly in establishing an interpretation for the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

As a person of faith, what struck me about the gathering is how deeply important the theme of religious freedom was. . . Full report from newswire: This is how we (could) pray by Amy L. Dalton

Report on the court proceedings: Tribes & Environmental Groups Defend Religious Freedom & Human Health in Federal Court | | Report with photos: March and Vigil to Save the San Francisco Peaks by Self-Hating Caucasian | | More photos: by Raul Roa | | Related: A Native American on How Non-Indigenous People Can Stop Colonialization

The Green California Schools Summit happens on December 4-6, 2007 at the Pasadena Conference Center Pasadena, CA. Learn how California Safe Schools (CSS), a nationally celebrated children's environmental health and justice coalition founded in 1998, successfully spearheaded the most stringent schools pesticide use policy in the nation, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), at the Los Angeles Unified School District. IPM uses low risk methods to eradicate insects, weeds and other pests, eliminating a major source of indoor and outdoor pollution. . . . Info: Join Robina Suwol of California Safe Schools

The San Francisco Peaks are a unique mountain ecosystem which are managed as public lands in Northern Arizona. The Peaks are held Holy by more than 13 Indigenous Nations. A small ski area is threatening expansion and attempting to make fake snow from treated sewage effluent filled with harmful contaminants. A coalition of tribes and environmental groups have unified to prevent the environmental destruction, community health hazards and extreme desecration that would be caused by the proposed development. Although the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the ski area plan, the case will be reheard in Pasadena on December 11th, 2007. See: SAVE THE PEAKS CALL FOR SUPPORT! - Legal Battle to Protect Sacred Site Comes to Pasadena by Indigeneous
Additional coverage: Uprising Radio, Uprising (follow-up, Dec. 7)
From the Calendar: Defending the Land: Indigenous Cultural Survival

A wildlife corridor in Echo Park is threatened by development. On Wednesday, November 14th, there will be a public hearing at City Hall concerning the developer's request for "a Small Lot Subdivision - from 3 into 16 lots and a zone change from R1 to RD6 rezoning." It will take place in room 1020 at 10:30am. The issue will also be addressed at the Greater Echo Park Neighborhood Council Meeting on Tuesday, November 13th, 7pm at Logan Street School (1711 West Montana).
Story: Hidden Oasis Threatened by Development by Ross Plesset

"In the Angeles National Forest, the Curve Fire of 2002 did extensive damage, damage that was made worse by the flooding of 2005.

"On 28/Oct/07 I did a survey of one of the burn areas across from Valley of the Moon in a stand of pine trees and this is what I saw. . . ." Photos: New Growth Aftermath Curve Fire by Frederic L. Rice