Behind The Scheme To Privatize NASA Elon Musk, The Downey Connection & Google Owners By Steve Zeltzer 4/15/2010 A full bore campaign is now being waged by the Obama administration to shutdown the US unionized space program and turn it over to “new age” speculators who want to build a new space program in a "regulation free zone" in Florida. A key player in this plan is billionaire and former owner of Paypal, Elon Musk. Musk, has set up SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) and as a NYT journalist Kenneth Chang asks "Should the United States hire Elon Musk, at a cost of a few billion dollars, to run a taxi service for American astronauts? In fact, the SpaceX operation like much that Musk and his backers from Google Larry Page and Sergey Brin want the US to give him $6 billion in the next five years to build a union free zone where he can avoid regulations, health and safety rules in building he new space empire. Already in a video that Musk puts out he uses the US Nasa operations to outline his take-over once the site is privatized. He has also leased a former Air Force site to to build his operation which is called Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=34 Government Funding For Privatization According to Lew Jamieson of IAM Lodge 2061who works at the Space Center, Musk through his political connections from Florida to the White House has already got tens of millions of dollars in public tax funding for this privatization operation. In fact, Space Florida a public agency to encourage jobs in Florida has given millions of dollars to Space X and Musk according to Deb Spicer, Vice President of Communications. http://www.spaceflorida.gov According to the Guardian of London, SpaceX will be given $1.6bn to supply the international space station with cargo using the Falcon 9 as transport, for example. Musk has also bought second hand scavenger parts and scoured Russia and other countries for scrap space material to build his new center in Florida. According to the NYT “SpaceX bought some rusty railroad cars that NASA had used to transport hydrogen and refurbished those, too.” This plan if pushed forward by the Obama administration will not only throw thousands of highly skilled mechanics and space workers out of their jobs but tens of thousands of other workers and their families out of their homes in South Florida who are dependent on the space flights, their launches and the local economy. For this reason an angry explosion against the Obama administration is gaining ground in Florida even within the AFL-CIO which organized to successfully support Obama in the elections. In February, the President of the IAM Buffenbarger also sent a letter to Obama asking him not to privatize the program but Obama is obviously listening to other voices. http://www.goiam.org/publications/pdfs/02_04_2010_LettertoPresidentObama_IPBuffenbarger.pdf Pay Back? Musk, Page and Brin were major funders of the Obama election campaign and have been able to get billions of US tax dollars directed to their operations. http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/elon-musk.asp?cycle=0 http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/cars-transportation/tesla-funding-460609 It has also raised concerns among health and safety experts and designers who understand that the protection of the crews require extreme attention to backup equipment and the proper conditions to protect the survivability of the crew. Musk has built some of the parts of his operation at a non-union factory close to the Los Angeles International Airport. The growing concern about not only the protection of the government space program but the health and safety of the workers in the program is highlighted by another company owned by Musk, Page and Brin. $500 Million DOE Loan For “Green” Electric Assembly Plant On Downey Toxic Dump Site The Tesla Motors Inc. which is building "green" electric cars and is owned by Google owner Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Elon Musk and is also being funded by the US government. With funding of a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy, Musk is who is also the CEO of Tesla Motors Inc. is planning to build a non-union electric auto assembly plant on the former NASA base and toxic dump site in Downey, California. Under privatization plans called “Brownfields” highly polluted military and industrial dump sites around the country have been turned over to private developers like IRG owner Stuart Lichter in Downey. These developers have failed to properly clean up the sites with the result of that workers and people in the community have continued to get sick from the toxic and radioactive materials on many of these sites. Lichter and the City of Downey are now finalizing an agreement to turn over part of the polluted Downey dump site to Musk and Tesla Motors Inc for them to build a government subsidized non-union assembly plant. This comes after injured IATSE Downey Studio and a Kaiser SEIU UHW member have personally appealed to Musk and Ricardo Reyes, Communications Vice President not to build on the site. Apparently they have not got the message. http://blip.tv/file/3017234 http://blip.tv/file/3313879 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1juQvw1Tc http://www.alternet.org/health/145508/downey_flu:_how_an_l.a._suburb_became_one_of_the_most_toxic_towns?page=entire Injured Downey workers will be speaking out on Workers Memorial Day on April 29, 2010 at 4:15 PM next to the Downey Movie studio, Kaiser hospital and the proposed site of Elon Musk’s Tesla Motor’s “green” electric assembly plant. Independence Park is located at 12334 Bellflower Blvd, Downey For more information on the Downey action go to www.workersmemorialday.org

Saturday's action, timed to coincide with a meeting of the Pomona College trustees, allowed workers to share their testimonies and featured the participation of religious leaders, musicians, and the grandson of the late labor leader César Chávez, Anthony Chávez.

As the crowd of mostly students assembled outside Bridges Auditorium, they chanted their demands for justice. Mariachi Serrano de Claremont sang "Tristes recuerdos."

A student organizer began with a summary of the situation. "The workers on Monday went to President Oxtoby's office and asked for a non-intimidation agreement, and he did not agree to that. I don't care what words he used, but he did not agree to that.1 So we're here today to show our support and hear from workers, what they think, what they feel. It's the first time that they've had this opportunity, so we're here to show our support for that."

She then introduced Father Patricio Guillén, a longtime social justice advocate in the Inland Empire. "Good afternoon. ¡Sí se puede! ¡Sí se puede! ¡Que viva César Chávez! ¡Que vivan los trabajadores! I was invited to come and share with you, and I think that it's a beautiful occasion, because sometimes crises are looked at as curses, but we are in a crisis in this nation because we have followed the path of power and arrogance rather than humility and service. And we have forgotten that we are one human race bound together and our destiny is to work together to find solutions to the problems that we run into as we journey towards eternity. We just lost a beautiful person, Howard Zinn, he wrote the [People's] History of the United States, and he wrote the good and the bad about it, not to downgrade, but also to remind us that we are on a journey and we have some difficult moments like right now. Here, the workers in Claremont College, Pomona College. As a democracy, we don't have an economic system that's democratic. Eighty percent of the goods in our nation, in the economy is in that hands of about 25%, and 95% of the people posess only 20%, that's not democracy. It's not democracy either to see the political power be concentrated upon the corporations that forget the human person and the dignity of each one of us.

"We also know that we have lost the battle, to some degree, on education and the ideology of imperialism. The means of communication have also been taken over by the powerful. We, as citizens of this coutry have taken for granted our freedom and now, we have to struggle and fight and take those liberties and justice for everyone. Today we're present to say we're in solidarity with the workers of this community because we know that the workers are the ones that do the hardest part of the labor, and they get the least. I think that's an injustice. A living wage should be a dignified wage, a wage for people to live a decent human life! That's why I'm here, and that's why you're here, and I'm proud of you as young people that you're taking seriously your role in the world today. We can co longer afford to have students in our universities that are ivory towers, isolated from the real and the important struggle for like and for liberty.

"That ugly reality that we have is focused on the corporations, which have forgotten, just as the Supreme Court said that they are persons, therefore they can give money to the candidates that run for office. Well if they are, then why don't they pay taxes like everybody else?

"We know that at one time we could say that we were a government for the people, of the people, and by the people, but yet, we have seen it go in the opposite direction: A government by the corporations, for the corporations, and by the corporations. That's because we fell asleep. And we listened to the, as it were, isolated and distorted presentations of 'We don't want large government.' But we want pricate, large corporations? What a contradiction! Today we need to realize to take upon our own the torch of freedom. Our founding fathers said that all men and women are created equal, and they are entitled to their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's not true for the workers! That's why we're here. We don't just want one sector of our country to live a high and good life. We want everybody to have a dignified life. We want to live in a world where we don't have to go to war to prove that we are a great nation. We want justice and we want to struggle for it--and democracy--so we can say to the world that we are a people that love and want and respect democracy and justice for all."

Next, Edith, a worker, spoke."Estoy aquí por justicia, y gracias a todos por estar aquí. Mi nombre es Edith [...], yo sólo tengo dos años de trabajar aquí en el colegio y trabajo en el área del salad bar, y me contenta, lo hago con mucho gusto para ustedes.

"Me gusta porque tengo experiencia, como diez años trabajé en el distrito escolar de Ontario, y esto me sirvió de experiencia, y creo que esto me ayuda a desempeñar mejor mi labor.

"Y aquí he notado unas inconveniencias, algunas que existen, injusticias para los compañeros. Como los que han sufrido algunos accidentes. Y los tratos que a ellos se les dan, muchas veces no son justos, y eso para mí se llama injusticia. El miedo que yo tengo es que si algún día, Dios no lo quiera, me pueda suceder algo. Y entonces, ¿qué va a pasar conmigo? Bueno, si ellos están pasando por eso, quizás algo me ha de pasar a mí, y entonces, ¿quién me va a apoyar?"

[I'm here for justice, and thanks to all for being here. My name is Edith [...], I've only been working here at the college for two years, and I work in the salad bar area, and it makes me happy. I'm glad to do it for you. I like it because I have experience, I worked for the Ontario school district for about ten years, and I think it helps me better undertake my work. And I've noticed a few problems here, a few injustices that have happened to some co-workers. Like those who have been in accidents. And the treatment that they receive, are often unfair, and to me, that's injustice. The fear I have is that some day, God forbid, something might happen to me. Then what will become of me? Well, if they are going through this, something could happen to me, and then, who would be there for me?]

The next speaker was Elisea. "Buenas tardes a todos los estudiantes y presentes señores, quizás algunos profesores están aquí en este momento. Trabajadores de Pomona College que nos van a escuchar y tal vez nos pueden ayudar un poquito en esta marcha, en esta lucha que estamos empezando ahorita. Mi nombre es Elisea [...], mi profesión es cashier, clean-up, y set-up. Tengo tres cosas que hacer en el dining hall. Gracias por el apoyo que todos los estudiantes nos han dado, no desde ahorita sino desde siempre. Han pasado años, tengo quince años trabajando ya en el colegio con los estudiantes y siempre nos han ayudado en algunas luchas que hemos tenido, en algunos problemas, y han sido siempre con nosotros aunque tal vez no lo merezcamos pero ellos dejan de hacer sus tareas por estar con nosotros. Pero ellos dicen, 'No le hace. Estaremos con ustedes siempre en la lucha.'"

[Good afternoon to all the students, and maybe there are some professors here with us? You'll hear us Pomona College workers and maybe you can help us a little in this march, in this struggle we're now beginning. My name is Elisea [...], my profession is cashier, clean-up and set-up. I have three jobs in the dining hall. Theanks for the support all the students have given us, not just now, but always. Years have passed, I've been working at the college with the students for fifteen years, and they've always stood with us in some of the struggles we've had, on some problems, and they've always been with us even though we might not deserve it, but they leave their homework aside to be with us. But they say, 'It doesn't matter. We'll always be with you in the fight.'"]

Francisco then gave his testimony. "Mi nombre es Francisco. Yo tengo trabajando para Pomona dieciséis años. A mí lo que me gustaría de todo esto es que se pudiera contratar a más empleados para evitar accidentes. Porque así podemos luchar mejor como podemos trabajar. Porque yo, hace como cinco años tuve un accidente porque tuve que hacer 40 pizzas en una hora. Y con tanta presión... Y yo diría que así como, estando unido todos nosotros como empleados, podemos mejorar todo y tener más poder nosotros contra los empleadores, porque así podemos luchar contra ellos."

[My name is Francisco. I've been working for Pomona for sixteen years. What I'd like to see come out of this is the hiring of more workers to avoid accidents. Because that way, we can improve the ways we're able to work. Because about five years ago, I had an accident because I had to make forty pizzas in an hour. And with so much pressure... I'd say that, us all being together as employees, we can improve everything and have more power for ourselves against the employers, because that way we can fight back against them.]

Don spoke next. "Hello everybody. First of all, I wanna thank all you guys for coming out, supporting us. I've known some of you since you were freshmen, and you're seniors now. And we get, you know, attached to you just like teachers do. So some of you, I feel like you're kinda like my children. So I thank you guys so much for supporting us, most of what--matter of fact, all of what my co-workers say, it's actually all true. And any time anyone has any question and wanna come talk to me, you're welcome to come speak to me freely. Just walk up to me and let me know. I just wanna say also, I came to Pomona because I thought it would be a pleasant work environment. You know, I'm a student myself. I'm back in school. Working at a school actually helps me out. That's why I have a special relationship with most of the students here. And I'm just for fairness. Everything you guys protest, we protested the same thing when we were in college. And it's kinda sad to say that many years later we have to still do this, but this has to be done. We definitely need a union."

Juan then took the stage. "Hola, buenas tardes. Mi nombre es Juan. Soy trabajador de Pomona. Tengo nueve años trabajando. Trabajo de dishwasher. Y quiero darle la gracias a todos por el apoyo que nos están brindando. Nosotros, nos reunimos para tratar de tener el apoyo de todos ustedes y lograr algo, y queremos un poco más de respecto para todos y un mejor salario. Y de mi parte, antes que todo, gracias por el apoyo todos ustedes."

[Hello, good afternoon. My name is Juan. I'm a Pomona worker. I've been working for nine years. I'm a dishwasher. I want to thank you all for the support you've been showing us. We got together to try to get your support and achieve something, and we want a little more respect for everyone and a better wage. For my part, first of all, I want to thak you for your support.]

Benny spoke last. "Gracias por apoyarnos hoy y siempre. Y en verdad, necesitamos todo ese apoyo, porque hay muchas cosas que queremos mejorar en las cocinas de Pomona. Necesitamos que nos den más respecto, y que nos tomen un poco más en cuenta, porque parece que nosotros, el departamento de food service, somos los más abandonados. Ustedes siempre miran unas flores muy bonitas en los jardines de Pomona. Siempre pueden mirar edificios muy bonitos, pero no muchos de ustedes saben lo que realmente pasa en las cocinas y es lo que nosotros, es lo que estamos tratando de hacerles saber en este día, todas las injusticias que estamos pasando. En el pasado ha habido personas, compañeros de trabajo que se han lastimado, y por las pólizas que tiene el colegio, esas personas, después de un año, ya no han sido aceptadas para seguir trabajando. Esas personas han perdido su casa. Se sienten con mucha depresión y yo creo que es necesario cambiar un poco las pólizas. Y creo que todos juntos podemos hacer algo para mejorar todo el ambiente que tenemos aquí en Pomona College."

[Thanks for supporting us today and always. And truly, we need all this support, because there are many things we want to improve in Pomona's kitchens. We need to be accorded more respect, and to be considered, because it seems that we, the food service department, are the most neglected. You always see pretty flowers in Pomona's gardens. You can always see beautiful buildings, but not many of you really know what happens in the kitchens, and that's what we are trying to show you today, all the injustices that we've been experiencing. In the past there have been people, co-workers, who have been hurt, and by the policies that the college has, those people, after one year, are no longer accepted as workers for the following year. Those people have lost homes. They become very depressed and I believe that those policies need to change a bit. I think that together, we can all do something to improve the environment we have here at Pomona College.]

The students and workers then marched to the Smith Campus Center, where they heard from a few more workers, Professor José Calderón, who read a statement of solidarity from Dolores Huerta. Twenty five other colleges also sent letters of support, the professor reported. He also encouraged the students to challenge their professors to become involved in the social change they so often write about, and discussed the card check process. He then informed the crowd that the local Minuteman had taken a position against the creation of a national holiday for César Chávez, saying that "what he did does not merit a holiday,"2 and argued that Chávez does deserve a national holiday for his legacy of non-violence and unity.

Anthony Chávez spoke last, and he began by thanking the professors and students for their involvement in the struggle. "I've been asked to come and speak because I'm César Chávez's grandson, and I'm always very proud of my tata and all of his great work, but before I was even born, my grandfather was out working on behalf of other college staff and faculty when they were organizing. So today, I stand with you as a former college student who's here to see justice for those who feed all the students on the campuses. You guys are all here because you recognize the misnomer promoted by college administrators that say that the dining room workers can only decide the issue through secret ballot elections, and these administrators claim that this is the only way to have a democratic alternative.

"These administrators know this nation's labor laws are broken, they know that when workers vote to be in the union, it's done like any other election in America. They know that all political parties are granted the opportunity to share their opinion, but when employers use a secret ballot election, it's management-rigged balloting. Employers hold all the power, they control all the information the workers get, and they routinely poison the process through intimidation, coercion, and firing. The food workers' struggle here is not new for me, because I grew up among many other types of food workers. The farmworkers, too, have often seen the growers use the secret ballot election as another tool of oppression. At Giumarra Vineyards, the world's largest grape corporation, where I was brought up in Kern, California, workers faced cruel working conditions, and mistreatment, and even two died from extreme heat, to bring us all the fruits and vegetables we enjoy. So 75% of the workers at Giumarra signed a petition saying they wanted to be represented by the United Farm Workers, and a week later, after a secret ballot election, they lost by 49%. California state later threw out this election because of its illegal threats and coercion against the employees. And that's why the farmworkers have convinced the state legislature to pass a bill in each of the last three years, letting the workers choose a process other than secret ballot elections only to have that measure vetoed each time by Governor Schwarzeneggar. And it's why the labor movement is trying to pass a similar bill, the Employee Free Choice Act, in congress, with the support of President Obama. Our workers should be able to vote by signing their name in the privacy of their home or someplace else away from employee bullying. After all, the law allowed homeowners that they couldn't afford with a simple signature. The law allowed banks to loan out money to people who couldn't afford to borrow with a simple signature. The law allow lenders to package these loans and sell them, crippling our economy, with a simple signature. And with a simple signature, all of you can join a gym, and with a simple signature, any one of us can join the armed services. But when American workers seek their fair share in the economic wealth that they themselves produce here at home, they can't sign their names to join a union. What's really at stake here on Pomona College and across this nation is simple self-determination. Courageous workers on this campus are taking a stand, demanding the freedom of a union. Therefore, those of you, as students, have some important questions to ask yourselves. Are you only responsible to your parents and yourselves for being successful in your studies? Or do you owe a broader responsibility to support the dining hall workers who are struggling for a better life against shameful abuse defined on the job site. Is it enough to just sit in class and just study the social ills of society? [...] You have a responsibility to go out there and take part, and be part of the solution. Pomona College cafeteria workers' authentic non-violent aspirations for self-determination cannot be fulfilled in one of the most liberal and wealthy campuses in America, where else is it gonna happen? Who else is gonna do something if not you? The college workers are heroically doing something to redress years of grievances, then what does it say about students on this campus if they remain indifferent, or neutral? How do you stay apathetic in the face of immoral treatment of workers whose only sin is seeking a better life for themselves? Especially when you see the workers the most, and when your tuition pays their salaries? Some words my grandfather shared with students may help us here in this time. He said, 'We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes, and for our own.'"

Spang, a Pomona student, then voiced his support for the workers, and Professor Calderón closed the rally by leading a rendition of the farmworker anthem "De Colores."

_____________________________________________
1. Oxtoby, David. "Text of President Oxtoby’s E-mail." Workers for Justice, March 7, 2010. http://workersforjustice.org/2010/03/text-of-president-oxtobys-e-mail/. Accessed March 11, 2010.

2. Wall, Stephen. "Speaker blasts observance of Chavez holiday." San Bernardino Sun, March 2, 2010. http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_14499296. Accessed March 11, 2010.

This is an inspiring video from the March'' Facebook Page, where they write about making a long walk from Bakersfield to Sacramento to preserve public services.

Imagine, marching in the middle of an empty agricultural area and having someone join you.

Their YouTube name is march4CA and you should subscribe to their videos there.

I am so hungry I want to cry. Bank of America took my food away. Mommy worked hard this week to earn enough money to take care of us. It would have been enough to get by, but Bank of America changed that. Our rent was due yesterday. Mommy had saved up most of the money for rent and she got paid today and with the money she already had, it was enough to pay the rent and buy groceries. So what went wrong? Mommy took the rent check to the apartment yesterday at 5:00 PM. She couldn't put the check in late because she'd have to pay a late fee and that would take away our grocery money, so she had to get it in yesterday. At 5:00, she slipped the check into the mail slot at the apartment office. The land lord always takes at least five days to cash the checks, so we knew it would be OK, the money would be there in the morning, so nothing to worry about. During the day, Mommy made three small purchases. She had a large enough balance and her balance was positive when she made each purchase. Then something unexpected happened. Somewhere between 5:00 PM and midnight, the landlord electronically cashed the check. This never happened before. The bank account should have gone negative about $300.00, since there was already about $850.00 in the bank. That would have cost us a $35.00 dollar fee. We would have been out $35.00 from the $140.00 she planned to spend for groceries, but that is what should have happened, not what did happen. Bank of America undid all of the purchases mommy made during the day, just for a few seconds, and then took out the rent check (which was cashed after the business day ended). By taking out the biggest one first (and rewriting history), Bank of America made mommy go negative four times instead of one time. That's right, Bank of America changed the past to make the biggest debit go first so that the account would be negative when it decided then debit the earlier charges, cause the debits to bounce four times instead of one time. This wiped out everything my mommy deposited today. Instead of charging us $35.00, Bank of America charged us $140.00 and now we have no money to buy food. I am hungry and I am mad. I couldn't believe it when my mother told me what happened. She even called the Bank of America and they told her it was their policy to charge people in the order from the biggest charge to the smallest in order to maximize fees. Now some fat bank executive has our $140.00 and we cannot eat. I'm sad enough about this, by what makes me cry is that my little brother, he's only five years old, he can't eat too. I hate Bank of America. They stole my family's food. Will they do it against next week? Please let everyone you know how bad Bank of America is.

Between 4 and 6pm of this last thursday, over one thousand people marched in downtown Santa Barbara. Prior to the large march taking place, a group of 250 students without permits marched to the beach shutting down Santa Barbara's state street. Prior to the gathering downtown, at least 500 students gathered at the UCSB campus. Half a dozen speakers, from students orgs and unions, spoke. Megan White, vice president of UCSB Campus Left, gave a speech. Filipino activist Walden Bello,n on the UCSB campus that day, gave a rousing speech. Student activists also stormed into 2 different large theater halls and called for students to walk out of those classes that were stilling being held. Here are flickr photos from one grad student at the protest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhsprague/sets/72157623432879091/ Articles on the protest in local papers: UCSB Daily Nexus: Students Manifest Dissent During Rally http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=20420 The Daily Sound: Locals take to streets in protest of education cuts http://www.thedailysound.com/News/030510Protest SB Independent: Protesting the Plight of Public Education: Hundreds of Students, Parents, Teachers March on Downtown and UCSB http://www.independent.com/news/2010/mar/04/protesting-plight-public-education/

A unionization drive is the first step. The drive was kicked off by a long procession of students and workers delivering petitions to Pomona Presdent Oxtoby.

March from Frary



March to Alexander



Handing Petitions to Oxtoby

La mobilización se dio desde la mañana, cuando estudiantes de Pitzer College congregaron en su campus, mientras que estudiantes de Pomona se reunieron en el suyo. Alrededor de las diez de la mañana, los dos contingentes se unieron detrás de una manta letrada de "Trabajadores por Justicia mientras cantaban el himno sindical "No nos moverán."

En pares, estudiantes y obrerxs se enlazaran de los brazos y entraron al despacho del rector para entregar las peticiones firmadas exigiendo un proceso neutro de verificación de tarjeta para formar un sindicato. Este proceso sería legalizado bajo el pendiente proyecto de ley EFCA, que según expertos, reduce la intimidación anti-sindical de parte de empleadores.

Citando un trozo de la petición, "Una elección administrada por la NRLB [Mesa Nacional de Relaciones Laborales], que permite que la gerencia organice campañas en contra de la Unión durante horas de trabajo y crea un clima de terror en el lugar de trabajo no es ni libre ni justa." A continuación exigió la neutralidad del empleador en la decisión de lxs trabajadores de organizarse, y el reconocimiento de un sindicato que tenga el apoyo de la mayoría.

Esfuerzos anteriores para sindicalizar a lxs obrerxs de servicio alimenticio en los colegios se vieron anulados por el amedrentamiento, la colaboración entre la administración universitaria y líderes sindicalistas de gremios reconocidos, y presión sobre trabajadores para suspender apoyo al sindicato.

En cambio, en la campaña actual, lxs obrerxs buscan un sindicato independiente para abogar en su favor al negociar un contrato colectivo. Más de 90 porciento de lxs trabajadores firmaron la petición.

La formación de un sindicato autónomo el es primer paso hacia la justicia para estxs trabajadores, quienes están reclamando por cuestiones de bajos sueldos, falta de mobilidad profesional, y abusos como la denegación de descansos obligatorios, trabajo no pagado, y el sub-empleo.

"Los sueldos que nos dan son una miseria," reporta María R. García, trabajadora de servicios alimenticios en Pomona College. "Llevo ya diez años aquí. Empecé a $8.40, y ahora es $10.65 [a la hora]. Dos años sin incremento de sueldo. El primer año, dijeron que no califacaba porque estaba encinta, y porque tenía una herida. Otra cosa, trabajamos siete meses y medio del año. Entonces, ¿cómo sostiene uno a su familia?" preguntó la madre de 27 años. Aclaró que el hecho de reclamar no tiene que ver con el entorno. "Nos gusta trabajar aquí; nos encanta trabajar aquí. Pero con estas condiciones, es difícil. Cada años se empeoran las cosas."

La acción, notable por su magnitud, es aún más impresionante dado que lxs organizadores estudiantes y trabajadores lograron guardar el secreto de sus planes de la dirección de Pomona College, sorpriendiéndole al rector Otoxby.

De antemano, se hicieron arreglos para asegurar que el mensaje llegara al receptor pretendido. Según unx de lxs planeadores de los eventos, "unx de nuestrxs organizadores, habiendo sido ausipciador del Sponsor Program, programó una cita con el rector hoy a las diez para asegurar que Otoxby estuviera en su oficina."

El Sponsor Program es "un programa residencial a través del cual estudiantes de primer año se hospedan con aproximadamente 15 otros novatos bajo la gestión de dos patrocinadores de segundo año," según la web del colegio.

Aunque el enfoque del día fue sin lugar a dudas la explotación de lxs trabajadores, el movimiento estudiantil, cuyo origen radica en oposición a los recortes presupuestarios e incrementos a las colegiaturas, se ha ampliado para desafiar también la privatización de la educación pública, ocupar y liberar espacios estuciantiles, y exigir una educación emancipatoria (y no neoliberal), ha servido de tela de fondo para la acción laboral, tomando en cuenta la multitud de acciones programadas para el jueves.

"En ambas situaciones, lo que está pasando en la Universidad de California, al igual que lo que pasa ahora en Pomona College, son resultados de intentos malconsiderados de equilibrar presupuestos," explicó Lianna Schechter, estudiante de último año en la facultad de Estudios Internacionales e Interculturales.

"E intentos de volver más corporativa la universidad, lo cual que prefiere presupuestos equilibrados sobre la educación, sobre el rol propio de la universidad dentro de la sociedad: la creación de una nueva visión de la sociedad, de lo que la sociedad podría ser," agregó Christopher Wohlers, estudiante de último año de las facultades de Física y Estudios Ecologistas.

A pesar de que el Presidente Otoxby sonrió y agradeció sumisamente a lxs peticionerxs mientras que se amontonaban los documentos en sus manos, no podía disimular sus verdaderas emociones. Varixs estudiantes y trabajadores indicaron ver temblar las manos del rector. Precisó un organizador estudiante, "Se dio cuenta que le queda una batalla por delante. Si él quiere seguir con 'negocios como simepre," se le van a dificultar las cosas, y esta mañana se dio cuenta de que va a ser un hombre bastante ocupado."

The mobilization began in the morning, when students from Pitzer College assembled on their campus, while Pomona students gathered on theirs. At about ten, the two contingents converged behind the banner "Trabajadores Por Justicia", singing the union hymn "No nos moverán."

Students, arm-in-arm with workers, entered the president's office two-by-two to deliver the signed petition demanding a neutral card check process to form a union. This is the process that would be permitted in all workplaces if the much-hyped but now-stalled Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) would have become law.

The petition read, in part, "An NLRB-administered election, which permits management to campaign against the Union on work-time and create a climate of fear in the workplace, is not free and fair." It went on to demand employer neutrality in the workers' decision to organize, and recognition of a majority-backed union.

Previous efforts to organize food service workers on the campus have been thwarted by intimidation, collaboration between the administration and upper-level bureaucrats from established unions and bribery-based decertification drives by management.

This time, however, the workers are seeking an independent union to collectively bargain in their interest. Over 90 percent of the food service workers signed the petition.

Forming an independent union is the first step toward justice for the workers, who complain of poor salaries, few opportunities for advancement, abuses such as disallowance of breaks and working off the clock, and underemployment.

"The salaries that we have are miserable," reports Maria R. Garcia, a Pomona food service worker. "I've been working here for ten years already. I started at $8.40, and now it's $10.65 [per hour]. Two years without a raise. The first year, they said I didn't qualify because I was pregnant, and I had an injury. Another thing, we work for seven-and-a-half months of the year. So how do you support a family?" She made it clear that it wasn't an issue of disliking the job. "We like working here; we love working here. But with these conditions, it's hard. They just make it worse every year."

The action, impressive for its size alone, is all the more remarkable in that the student/worker organizers were able to keep all of their plans secret from the Pomona administration, taking President Oxtoby completely by surprise.

Efforts were made to ensure that the message would reach its intended audience. According to one of the planners of the events, "one of our organizers, having been head sponsor of the Sponsor Program, had arranged to have a meeting about the Sponsor Program with President Oxtoby at ten o'clock today to make sure that Oxtoby was at his office."

The Sponsor Program is "a residential program through which all first-year students are housed with approximately 15 other first-years led by two sophomore sponsors," according to the college's website.

While the day's emphasis was definitely on the exploitation of workers, the student movement, which began in opposition to budget cuts and tuition hikes and has since expanded to question the growing privatization of public education, occupy and liberate student spaces, and demand liberatory (rather than neoliberal) education, formed the dramatic backdrop for the action, particularly in light of the multiple actions being planned for Thursday.

"Both what is happening at the UCs and what's happening at Pomona College right now is due to misguided attempts to balance budgets," explained Lianna Schechter, a senior International and Intercultural Studies major at Claremont.

"And attempts to turn the university into more of a corporation, which prioritizes balancing budgets over education, over the university's rightful place in society, which is to create new vision of society, of what society could become," added Christopher Wohlers, a senior Physics and Environmental Studies major.

While President Oxtoby smiled and politely thanked the petitioners as they piled the stacks of documents into his hands, he was unable to dissimulate his true emotions: several students and workers reported viewing his hands tremble as the signed forms mounted. One student organizer commented, "He realized that he's gonna have a fight ahead of him. If he wants to maintain business as usual at the university, he's going to have a difficult time doing it, and I think this morning he realized that he's gonna be a busy man."

On February 24th, a caravan of four big rig trucks and around 150 cars carried over 200 people and $30,000 in food to support the Rio Tinto miners in Boron, California.

The supporters drove in a "parade" up into the main street of Boron, 20 Mule Team Road, named for the famous 20-mule teams that used to haul the borax from the mines.  Older readers may remember the 20 mule team as sponsors of Death Valley Days, with Ronald Reagan.  The community came out to wave to the caravan, and we waved back.

Then, the caravan went to the mine, so the company and the cops could see our demonstration of support.  Returning to the union hall, we unloaded the food into the hall, which has been transformed into a kind of food bank for the locked out workers.

The situation for the miners is difficult.  The company has locked the miners out of the mine, and has brought in scab workers - unemployed people hired, temporarily, to do the miner's jobs.  Rio Tinto, a multinational company HQd in London and Perth AUS, with operations across the globe, is the fourth largest mining company in the world.  They are attempting to rid the mines of the traditional contract, which has been modified for decades, and has offered up a contract that cuts into workers seniority protections, institutes a system of "merit pay" not subject to peer oversight, and also allows Rio Tinto to transfer workers to other mines.

Such a contract would have a potentially devastating and destabilizing effect on the local community, which appears to need all the stability it can get.  So, the miners are holding strong to retain their contract, or important parts of it.  If they cave in, it'll be bad for miners all throught the company.  That's why miners in Australia had a demonstration at Rio Tinto HQ in support.

That's why this strike has resonated with so many people.  The turnout at the union hall was difficult to guesstimate, because things were so spread out. People were also driving up from Palmdale and Lancaster, and some activists and media people from Los Angeles. It was at least 700 people, maybe 1,000.

Among the media people was Joan Sekler, one of the IMC founders, who was making a video about the lockout.  She is looking for assistance, and needs a boom mic operator.  If you know someone interested, contact her at joan.sekler@gmail.com.

More videos:

The photo shows the approach to ilwu 30's union hall, which is in the middle of the panorama. It's the small-looking gray building.

From the International Longshore Workers Union press advisory: Contributions from millions of working families across America will help buy groceries for nearly 600 families who were locked-out of their jobs on January 31st by the Rio Tinto Corporation, a giant foreign-owned mining firm that operates one of the world’s largest borax mines near the town of Boron in California’s Mojave Desert. A truck filled with groceries purchased with contributions from the 15 million families who belong to the AFL-CIO is expected to arrive shortly before noon on Monday, February 15th at the Local 30 union hall in Boron: 24001 Chaparral Avenue (take Highway 58, exit Borax Road, go south one block). Community volunteers will unload food from the truck and help fill more than 500 grocery bags that are being delivered to families in the coming days. Most families will receive their groceries on Tuesday, February 16th, when union leaders from around the world will arrive in Boron to meet with the locked-out families. The families and supporters will march together one mile through the desert carrying American flags until they reach the entrance of Rio Tinto’s mine, where families and workers will tell company officials, “Let us work, we want to work!” Rio Tinto decided to lock-out the workers in an effort to starve families into signing an agreement that would let the company convert good full-time jobs into part-time temporary positions that pay little or no benefits. “We’re just like everyone else in America who’s tired of seeing good jobs turned into ‘junk jobs’ with no benefits,” says Terri Judd, a military veteran who operated heavy equipment at the mine for more than a decade until Rio Tinto put her and almost 600 other workers out of work on January 31st. “We’re drawing the line in Boron, because this same sort of thing is happening to working families all over America,” said Judd. “It has to stop somewhere, and it might as well be here in Boron. We’re doing this for our families, our communities, and for everyone who agrees with us that ‘part-time America won’t work.” Foreign-owned Rio Tinto reported net profits of nearly $4.87 billion dollars in 2009, an increase of 33% over net earnings of $3.68 billion reported in 2008. Rio Tinto’s mine in Boron produces almost all of the nation’s borax, a versatile mineral used to make many products, including glass, wood preservatives, fire retardants, laundry detergents, and fertilizers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ These miners paychecks are the lifeblood of a tiny town like Boron. Without good wages, the community will disintegrate. Revenues at stores and restaurants will decline. Borax is an important mineral in our everyday products, like laundry detergent. Here's an article with info: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-borax.htm Borax forms in playas, where water runoff from mountains gathers, dries out, and minerals in the water solidify. Information about the lockout. Definition of a lockout: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockout_%28industry%29 Videos of the Rio Tinto lockout situation (seems to be from a daughter of one of the workers). http://www.youtube.com/user/cierraredhead WSWS story on the stiuation: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/bora-f06.shtml http://peaceandfreedom.org/blog/?p=2003 Upcoming event: a caravan to support the miners. http://launionaflcio.org/fullstory/?id=1269

LA Students & UTLA Teachers Speak Out On Privatization-No More Give Aways, Save Our Schools! On February 9, 2010, students, teachers and parents rallied throughout the Los Angeles area to defend public education and to protest the use of restructuring to weaken public schools. The effort to break up public schools by removing local community control and then restructuring the public schools while cutting the budget of the schools is creating havoc and helping to destroy public education in Los Angeles and many other cities in the US. Produced by The Labor Video Project laborvideo.blip.tv www.laborvideo.org (415)282-1908

On January 30th, the Rio Tinto company locked miners out of their jobs mining borax in the California desert city of Boron, CA. Rio Tinto is a large UK mining concern, and is the main company in Boron. Article on WSWS has information about the situation, and global issues: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/bora-f06.shtml The Bakersfield Californian has local details on the ground as workers were locked out: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x113241726/Lockout-Hundreds-of-miners-turned-away-from-U-S-Borax Other stories: http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/02/02/california-borax-miners-locked-out/ http://www.goldenpoppyav.com/2010/02/rio-tinto-materials-lockout-shuts-down.html http://www.tehachapinews.com/content/lockout-expected-borax-sunday http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-boron31-2010jan31,0,3641146.story The company that sells Turkish borates in the US: http://www.americanborate.com/ Borax on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax Comment: In an ideal situation, the ILWU would have a strong relationship with the Turkish workers union, and would help them strike to raise their wages and work conditions. That would prevent Turkish borate companies from being able to undercut Rio Tinto products on price (if that's the issue). That situation doesn't appear to exist. Rio Tinto has a huge fraction of the borates market share. They can afford the good wages paid to borax miners. The Turkish miners can also be paid well. The company, however, doesn't seem to be interested in that. They want to break the union, break the workers, and weaken the community of Boron, CA.

Eran alrededor de las nueve de la mañana, cuando cerca de 40 jornaleros partieron del Boulevard Newport y la calle 18, esquinas en donde tradicionalmente se congregan a buscar trabajo. Su destino; la alcaldía municipal en donde más tarde sostendrían una conferencia de prensa junto a los abogados demandantes. Durante el trayecto de dos millas y media el grupo creció hasta alcanzar una multitud de al menos 80 personas, la cual estuvo animada con música de Son Jarocho y consignas a la vez que los trabajadores portaban sus letreros con mensajes en inglés y español, denunciando las injusticias a las que son sujetos y otras que exigían la derogación de la ordenanza anti-jornaleros. Una vez en la alcaldía y antes de las declaraciones oficiales, hubo espacio para una breve sesión de fotos y entrevistas con los participantes de la marcha. Thomas A. Sáenz, presidente y asesor legal de MALDEF, dio inicio a la conferencia de prensa ante las cámaras y micrófonos de varias televisoras y medios impresos, anunciando formalmente la querella legal contra la ciudad de Costa Mesa a nombre de la Asociación de Jornaleros de Costa Mesa y el Colectivo Tonantzin. “(La ordenanza) viola la libertad de expresión garantizada por la primera enmienda de la Constitución; uno de nuestros derechos civiles más preciados” dijo Sáenz. Siguieron Belinda Escobosa Helzer, abogada representante de ACLU y Gladys Limón abogada representante de MALDEF, quienes dieron más detalles sobre la ordenanza y el litigio. “Ésta ordenanza es ilegal porque no solo prohíbe a las personas buscar trabajo; también prohíbe a los niños en edad escolar anunciar con letreros llamativos eventos como los tradicionales auto-lavados” apunto Escobosa Heltzer. Pablo Alvarado de NDLON dijo que, “Los jornaleros han contribuido en mucho a la economía”, destacando las aportaciones de los trabajadores informales a la ciudad de Costa Mesa. Finalmente, Gabriela Trujillo y Arturo T. del Colectivo Tonantzin, hablaron sobre el amplio impacto que este tipo de leyes tienen en la comunidad, abarcando desde multas de miles de dólares hasta deportaciones como las del pasado 25 de septiembre, cuando 12 jornaleros fueron deportados después de que agentes de policía encubiertos les ofrecieran trabajo. El código municipal 10-354; ordenanza en cuestión, fue aprobado por primera vez en 1988 y re aprobada una versión más estricta en 2005 por el ayuntamiento municipal liderado por el alcalde Alan Mansoor, desoyendo las protestas de organizaciones comunitarias en pro de los trabajadores y la comunidad en general que en varias ocasiones llenaron la alcaldía de la ciudad para expresar su descontento ante la resolución. Una de las características más notables del reglamento es el lenguaje confuso que emplea, especialmente en el capitulo XIX que establece que: (a) Es ilegal pararse en la calle y activamente solicitar empleo o contribuciones de personas en vehículos en movimiento * (b) Es ilegal que una persona en un vehículo en movimiento solicite empleo a una persona parada en la calle, haga contribuciones, negocie o haga cualquier tipo de transacciones * *traducido al español Solicitar activamente, de acuerdo a la sección de definiciones, significa que, “está prohibido llamar la atención a un posible empleador por medio de gritos, movimientos de brazos, señas con las manos, brincos, agitar letreros, etc. No está prohibido en cambio, pararse inmóvil en una acera o cualquier calle sin acera con un letrero que anuncie su disponibilidad para trabajar o pidiendo contribuciones, distribuir volantes a peatones o pasajeros en un vehículo estacionado legalmente. Tampoco prohíbe la comunicación verbal expresando la disponibilidad para trabajar o pidiendo contribuciones de peatones o personas dentro de vehículos estacionados legalmente.” Esta estrecha línea entre una multa o posible deportación y un trabajo es que tienen que observar los jornaleros de Costa Mesa, cuyos problemas aumentaron en 2006 cuando después de mucha oposición de varios sectores de la población, el ayuntamiento municipal cerro el único centro de trabajo con que contaba la ciudad argumentando que dicho espacio costaba a los contribuyentes unos $100,00 al año, sin embargo, a la misma vez solicitaba al Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) entrenamiento para que algunos agentes del departamento de policía pudieran desempeñarse como agentes de migración, lo cual costaría a la ciudad unos $82,000 por oficial al año.

2/9LA Picket Of Tesla Motors Inc. Dealership And 2/10 Bell Worker/Community Forum-Speakout On Downey Toxic Dump Site 2/09/2010 1:30 PM Picket At Los Angeles Dealership Of Tesla Motors Inc. 11163 Santa Monica Blvd/Cotner Ave in West Los Angeles Injured Downey Workers To Ask Tesla Why They Are Still Interested In Building Auto Assembly Plant At Toxic Downey Dump Site Injured workers and their advocates will be rallying at the Los Angeles Tesla automobile dealership in Los Angeles. Tesla Motors Inc. has said it is still continuing to consider building a "green" electric auto assembly plant at the contaminated former Superfund military industrial complex in Downey, California with a $465 million dollar loan from the Department of Education DOE. Hundreds of workers and their families have been sickened and contaminated at the sight including movie workers who have recently worked there. Injured workers and their families have also personally visited the world headquarters of Tesla Motors Inc. to warn Tesla about the health and safety problems and discussed the issues with Ricardo Reyes VP for Communications but apparently Tesla still has not received the message from the injured workers. http://blip.tv/file/3017234 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1juQvw1Tc The injured workers, their families and injured worker advocates will again call on Tesla do the right thing and reject any further plans to build at the site which has not been properly cleaned up. They have also spoken out at a press conferenc in Los Angeles at the LA Press Club and at the Downey Kaiser Hospital Complex. http://blip.tv/file/2483914 The Los Angeles Times have also reported on the serious illness issues at the site. Why are the Tesla owners and executives ignoring these serious health issues? http://www.workersmemorialday.org/documents/LAtimes-Downey.htm Tesla Motors Inc. Los Angeles Dealership Picket/Press Conference Tuesday February 9, 2010 1:30 PM 11163 Santa Monica Blvd/Cotner Ave In West Los Angeles Sponsored by California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day California Coalition for Workers Memorial Day 323-535-4583/562-863-3097/661-312-2323 E-mail: lvpsf(at)igc.org http://www.workersmemorialday.org 2/10/2010 Bell Speak-out By Downey Movie, Kaiser And LACO Workers On Downey Toxic Dump Site Labor & Community SPEAK-OUT! On The Toxic Nightmare In Downey February 10 (Wednesday), 2010, 7:00 PM 4850 Gage Avenue/Palm St., Bell, CA 90201-1409 Injured Downey Movie and Kaiser Workers along with community members will speak out about the continuing contamination and sickness at Downey Studios,the Downey Kaiser complex and Los Angeles County Office of Education LACOE in Downey. IRG Downey developer and owner Stuart Licther promised to properly clean up the former Superfund Site which has now been named a “Brownfield” site before it was developed but workers continue to get sick at the Downeylocation. These workers will report on their long struggle to get healthcare and how they have been affected by this toxic contamination. This is not just an issue for the workers of the Downey site, but the community who have not been properly informed about the serious health hazards on the site and how they have affected people in the neighborhoods. These injuries were even reported in a front-page story in the August 2, 2009 Los Angeles Times but no ACTION has been taken to take of these injured workers and people in the community. (http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/02/business/fi-ct-downey2) It is time to let the public know that these issues have to be addressed and people have to be protected whether they are workers or people who live in the community. YouTube - Raging Grannies Bust Tesla Motors Inc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1juQvw1Tc The California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day (www.workersmemorialday.org) and the workers along with the Dr. Larry Rose, the last doctor at Cal-Osha have called for a epidemiological study of all workers on the site and people in the community before any further development at the site takes place. We need to protect our health and safety and the health of the families in the communities. Come to the meeting to hear about what has been happening and what we can do about this health emergency. For further information call California Coalition for Workers Memorial Day at 323-535-4583 or 562-863-3097 E-mail: lvpsf(at)igc.org http://www.workersmemorialday.org

2/10/2010 Bell Speak-out On Downey Toxic Dump Site Labor & Community SPEAK-OUT! On The Toxic Nightmare In Downey February 10 (Wednesday), 2010, 7:00 PM 4850 Gage Avenue/Palm St., Bell, CA 90201-1409 Injured Downey Movie and Kaiser Workers along with community members will speak out about the continuing contamination and sickness at Downey Studios and the Downey Kaiser complex. IRG Downey developer and owner Stuart Licther promised to properly clean up the former Superfund Site which has now been named a “Brownfield” site before it was developed but workers continue to get sick at the Downey location. These workers will report on their long struggle to get healthcare and how they have been affected by this toxic contamination. This is not just an issue for the workers of the Downey site, but the community who have not been properly informed about the serious health hazards on the site and how they have affected people in the neighborhoods. These injuries were even reported in a front-page story in the August 2, 2009 Los Angeles Times but no ACTION has been taken to take of these injured workers and people in the community. (http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/02/business/fi-ct-downey2) It is time to let the public know that these issues have to be addressed and people have to be protected whether they are workers or people who live in the community. The California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day (www.workersmemorialday.org) and the workers along with the Dr. Larry Rose, the last doctor at Cal-Osha have called for a epidemiological study of all workers on the site and people in the community before any further development at the site takes place. We need to protect our health and safety and the health of the families in the communities. Come to the meeting to hear about what has been happening and what we can do about this health emergency. For further information call California Coalition for Workers Memorial Day at 323-535-4583 or 562-863-3097 E-mail: lvpsf(at)igc.org http://www.workersmemorialday.org

Raging Grannies Bust Tesla Motors Inc. The electric car developer Tesla Motors Inc. has said that it is considering building a "green" assembly plant at the highly toxic dump site in Downey California. IATSE Local Local 44 movie workers and Kaiser Downey SEIU UHW workers have been sickened as a result of the fact that the Downey toxic dump site was not cleaned up properly. On Jan 9, 2010 at the Tesla Inc. dealership in Menlo Park, California the Raging Grannies and the California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day CCWMD had a speak-out on this insanity. The Grannies called for the NUMMI workers to be hired to build electric cars at the Fremont site. They also raised the issue of why the US DOE would give a $465 million dollar loan to Tesla Motors Inc. to build on a toxic "Brownfield" dump site. www.workersmemorialday.org www.RagingGrannies.com

"This summer" / "Este verano" (impreciso)

FRONT ROYAL (VA) - ""The police department will be conducting these types of checkpoints throughout the summer and fall." (http://www.nvdaily.com/911/2010/07/front-royal-police-are-conducting-traffic-checkpoints-this-summer-fall.php)



"This month" / "Este mes" (impreciso)

FRANKLIN COUNTY (PA) -"Pennsylvania State Police in Chambersburg will conduct sobriety checkpoints in Franklin County throughout July. " (http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_15572543)

PLATTE COUNTY (MO) - "sobriety checkpoint in Platte County by the end of this month. A time and location for the checkpoint was not disclosed" (http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2010/07/dui-checkpoint-planned-for-platte-co.html)



"This week" / "Esta semana" (impreciso)

SEABROOK (NH) — "The checkpoint will be held this week in the Seabrook area." (http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100721/NEWS/7210350/-1/NEWSMAP)



Jueves / Thursday (22/jul)

SALINAS (CA) - "DUI and driver's license checkpoint will be conducted at an undisclosed location in the city." (http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20100721/NEWS01/7210324/Salinas-police-to-have-DUI-checkpoint-Thursday)

UPLAND (CA) - "DUI/driver's license checkpoint from 6 p.m Thursday to 1:15 a.m. Friday. The checkpoint will be at an undisclosed location in the city" (http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_15559641)



Friday / Viernes (23/jul)

CLAREMONT (CA) - "sobriety checkpoint from 6 p.m Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday. The checkpoint will be at an undisclosed location" (http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_15568577)

FARGO (ND) - "A sobriety checkpoint is set for Fargo on Friday." (http://www.kfgo.com/news_Detail.php?ID=11242)

FOLSOM (CA) - "The Folsom checkpoint will operate from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city" (http://www.modbee.com/2010/07/22/1262852/sacto-9-1-1-sacramento-area-pds.html)

LORAIN (OH) - "OVI checkpoint will be held in Lorain County Friday night. The location of the [sic] Friday’s checkpoint will be announced Friday morning." (http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/07/22/news/doc4c488c16a746a950463306.txt)

LAUREL (MD) - "The sobriety checkpoint will be held in the 100 block of Second Street between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m." (http://www.explorehoward.com/news/73463/laurel-police-conduct-sobriety-checkpoint-july-23/)

MONTEREY PARK (CA) - "The checkpoint runs from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. Police did not specify a location." (http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_15555227)

PALM SPRINGS (CA) - "DUI checkpoint July 23" (http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100716/NEWS01/100716020/Palm-Springs-police-to-conduct-DUI-check-next-week)

PETALUMA (CA) - "Petaluma police warn they’re planning two drunken driving checkpoints Friday night. Where and when they’ll be held wasn’t released." (http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100721/COMMUNITY/100729929?Title=Petaluma-DUI-checkpoints-planned-for-Friday)

RANCHO CORDOVA (CA) - "DUI and driver's license checkpoint beginning at 8 p.m. Friday and continuing until 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city" (http://www.modbee.com/2010/07/21/1261399/sacto-9-1-1-rancho-cordova-pd.html)

SACRAMENTO (CA) - "drunken driver checkpoint on Friday in the eastern part of the city at an undisclosed time and location." (http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2010/07/sacramento-pd-p-5.html)

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY (CA) - "California Highway Patrol's Newhall Area Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County starting at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 23 and ending at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, July 24. The location will be announced just prior to the operation." (http://www.the-signal.com/section/36/article/31218/)



Sábado / Saturday (24/jul)

MARTINEZ (CA) — Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint July 24 in the 3700 block of Alhambra Avenue. .. from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. that night" (http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15564004)

REDLANDS (CA) - "The DUI roadblock is scheduled to be set up from 10 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday on the eastbound side of Redlands Boulevard between Nevada and Iowa Streets." (http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2010/07/dui-checkpoint-set-for-redland-1.html)

TRACY (CA) - "The checkpoint somewhere in town will run from 7:00 pm to 3:00 am Sunday morning." (http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/8812061/article-Checkpoint-scheduled?instance=home_news_lead_story)



Monday / Lunes (26/jul)

SOLEDAD (CA) - "The Soledad Police Department will be looking for drunken drivers as officers are set to hold a DUI checkpoint Monday night." (http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20100721/NEWS01/100721028/1002/South+Monterey+County+city+to+hold+DUI+checkpoint)



Next Saturday / próximo sábado (31/jul)

NORCO (CA) - "DUI / Driver’s License Safety checkpoint in Norco on July 31, 2010, from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m." (http://www.riversidesheriff.org/press/jvs10-0731.asp)



Upcoming / Próximamente

SANTA ROSA (CA) - "Santa Rosa's next effort will be Labor Day weekend." (http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15497957)

Media Release July 19, 2010 PCORE /JFAV Community Forum on July 26, 2010 at the Silver Lake Medical Center (SLMC) Los Angeles --The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and the Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (AWARE) marks the 69th year of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) Day, July 26, 1941 with a community forum. The commemorative event will be held on Monday , July 26, 2010 at the Silver Lake Medical Center ground floor at the Cafeteria at 1711 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026 around 5;00 PM. The community forum will also discuss People’s CORE Smoke Free Apartment Project and issues about the veterans equity. “Conscription Day” The USAFFE Day is when the US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an executive order that placed Armed Forces of the Philippine Commonwealth and the US Army under the command of the newly formed USAFFE under General Douglas Macarthur. It also known as the conscription day. It also made the Philippines, then a US colony --the largest US Army garrison outside of the mainland United States. This in preparation for the coming war in the Pacific. War in the Philippines Six months after the war broke out when Japan attacked the US naval fleet in Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. The next day, Japanese planes bombed Clark Field and Manila. The Philippines became a battleground in the Pacific. Two days, on December 10, 1941 later the Japanese forces landed in Vigan, Laoag and Gonzaga in Cagayan. The full scale invasion came later when the Japanese forces landed in Agoo. La Union after being repulsed in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Later on the USAFFE surrendered in Bataan and Corregidor in April -May 1942. More than 500,000 Filipinos served during the war and the US government recognized only 250,000 guerillas and regular soldiers. 46,000 filed for the lump sum claims provided by ARRA or the Stimulus Bill. *************

Rinpoche's youthful enthusiasm combined with his amazing knowledge of Buddhist doctrine, fluent English and a wonderful sense of humor make his teachings an enriching experience for all.

Southern California Immigration Coalition calling to protest Arizona SB1070

at the Federal building located 300 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Tuesday 27th, and 28th July 2010
at 5pm

We Can Stop SB1070 and any attacks in immigrant working class.

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