Newswire Report Back - The End of Suburbia comes to Los Angeles
The beauty of the Pasadena urban farm gave little forewarning of the serious nature of the documentary the guests were about to see. The title of the documentary, "The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream" gives you a good idea of the alarming nature of the subject. The researchers and scientists interviewed discuss how we are now facing what would could be described as the greatest challenge to humanity, and will likely be the greatest catastrophe facing the human species. It is made clear in this documentary that the peak in oil production is a reality, the effect of which we are feeling already with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is our leaders response to the imminent peak in oil production and the oil shortage that will follow.
On Sunday, May 9th, at 6:30 PM, 56 people gathered at Path to Freedom, an urban farm and resource center, to view the documentary. It was a pleasant surroundings with edible flowers, herbs growing in the front yard and vegetable filling most of the backyard. The tables were lit with candles and the ground covered with straw as the guests enjoyed the potluck dinner and socialized. The Path to Freedom founder, Jules Dervaes, and four of his children were very friendly and pleasant and more than willing to answer questions about Path to Freedom, urban farming, bio-diesel and solar panels.
Get the Fuel Story - Here,
Catch the Movie This Friday
Canadian Media - The first mainstream national news feature report on the coming oil crisis.
South Gate CA May 8th 2004
Caught in an economic ripsaw of rising prices and no representative voice, harbor independent truckers met at a park in South Gate. Approximately two hundred truckers had gathered around an amp and microphone as many in the group came forward to express their thoughts in dealing with the deepening hardship griping their profession.
Against this backdrop the selection process for a leader and course of action was taking place. The drivers were quick to explain they are not interested in casting blame for the dire situation on any one thing, but view the problem as a systematic one with relief being sought in the workplace as well as the capitol. It was believed by many that an organization representing independent truckers would be formed within a week ready to prescribe further action. As events unfold the truckers hope the Independent Media Center will help get the word out.
IMC Calendar
Trucker Speaks Out ---
Update 5/13/04 Newswire Report
Oakland Truckers Close Down Port
The first May Day, in 1886, was a call for eight-hour workdays by the workers in many American cities; it is now mostly associated with the Haymarket Martyrs. A bomb thrown by an unknown person at a labor rally in Chicago's Haymarket Square killed one policeman; authorities rounded up whom they considered to be the leaders of the local labor movement and put them on trial. Mother Jones said of the incident: "The workers asked only for bread and a shortening of the long hours of toil. The agitators gave them visions. The police gave them clubs." -- from May Day: what happened to the radical workers' holiday by Michelle Cobban.
May Day 2004 is in the process of being reclaimed in the face of the harshly anti-immigrant "War on Terrorism", and the de-factio 50 hour work week and the Wal-Martization of the world. And, it's globalized in LA, with three major events.
Updated From the Newswire 5/8/04