Pull the Root: Berkeley Passes War Resister Amnesty Resolution

Sign from antiwar demos on the 7th Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion in SF, March 19, 2010

Berkeley’s City Council passed a Resolution on Tuesday recommending “Universal and Unconditional Amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan War Military Resisters and Veterans Who Acted In Opposition to the War for Matters of Conscience.”

It recommends forgiveness for all convictions or pending charges of desertion, Absence Without Leave (AWOL), and Unauthorized Absence (UA), or who have been convicted of charges related to their exercise of free speech concerning opposition to the illegal war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and/or Pakistan. It also recommends amnesty for those with less than honorable discharges for absence offenses and applies to all service-members serving since October 7, 2001.

Green-partiers rally for strong Energy and Climate Action Plan

Dave Room of Bay Localize, OCAC, and Local Clean Energy Alliance

Oakland is one step closer to living up to its aspiration to be a model green city. Oakland City Council held a special meeting Tuesday night to hear city staff recommendations and public comments concerning the Energy and Climate Action Plan it is working on.

The council meeting was preceded by an energetic rally in front of City Hall hosted by the Oakland Climate Action Coalition (OCAC) and allies, who have been busy over the last year drafting their own comprehensive set of recommendations.

Wearing a green hard hat and flanked by people with caulking guns (symbol for weatherizing Oakland homes) and leafy greens (symbol of healthy, local food systems), Emily Kirsch, lead organizer for the green collar jobs campaign at Ella Baker Center, primed the crowd.

“We can take a different path. We can take a path of innovation, a path of equity, a path of justice, of green job creation and local food systems, and water catchment, using caulking guns to retrofit our buildings.  That’s the path we can take. Do you want that path?”  Kirsch asked, receiving a loud cheer from a crowd of about a hundred, who held signs that read “Green Jobs Now” and “Oakland is Ready.”

Read my full story on Oakland Local.

The Ripple Effect: Cannabis-related businesses expand—and profit

This is the fourth piece in my six-part series on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana.)

Not everybody breaking into the marijuana industry wants to grow plants or run a dispensary. In fact, entrepreneurs of all stripes are launching new efforts to cash in on the budding popularity of the cannabis business.

Read the full story on Oakland Local.

Pot Biz: New Opportunities

This is the third piece in my six-part series on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana.

In the current economy, financial incentives alone are sufficiently enticing to make many people consider a career change. Though the initial cost of indoor lamps, wiring, fertilizer, soil and fans can add up, start-up costs pale in comparison with most small businesses. Depending on the size of the operation, growers can spend several hundred to several thousand dollars to create suitable conditions for healthy plants. Once operational, however, it costs as little as a couple hundred dollars per pound of premium product.

Somedude (who preferred to remain anonymous) is one such businessman who saw the writing on the market wall. Somedude is a tech engineer and consultant, massage therapy student, husband and father. He is also a student who is about half-way through the 13-week horticulture course at Oaksterdam University.

Read the full story on Oakland Local.

Oakland Climate Action Coalition Recommendations

We know the problems: too much pollution, too much waste and inefficient use of energy, exacerbated by issues related to transportation, food, energy, waste and building systems.

Luckily, we know some of the solutions too. One big target has been set: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 36 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 85 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. The Oakland City Council approved this goal last summer, making Oakland a national leader in setting GHG reduction goals.

But what does that mean in terms of concrete action on the ground?  How can Oakland really become a model green city? What will have to change?

The hard work is under way, and both city staff and community organizations identifying how to meet that goal in concrete steps. City Council is holding a special workshop Tuesday evening, the first major hearing on Energy and Climate Action Plan.

Oaksterdam: Expanding Cannabis Education

(This is the second piece in a six-part series on Oakland Local on the business of marijuana.)

After just two years, Oaksterdam University is an institutional heavy-weight, drawing hundreds of students from all over the United States to learn to cultivate marijuana and legally sell the plants. Forty-seven-year-old entrepreneur and Oaksterdam founder Richard Lee started the school after seeing the need for a disciplined, academic approach to cannabis cultivation, and also cannabis law and business. And in the process he wanted to legitimize the marijuana industry.

“This isn’t your older brother growing a plant in the garage,” said Oaksterdam spokesperson Greg Grimala. “This is a legitimate industry like any other. Everyone here is an entrepreneur.”

Read the whole story on Oakland Local.