Driving into the San Diego fires

By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

CAMPO, California -- A drive to the border to take photos on Sunday afternoon quickly turned into a near disaster. In early afternoon, there was just a puff of white smoke in the distance at Tecate, on the California/Mexico border. In sight from Campo, it looked more like a cloud than smoke on the border. (see photo)

After turning around at the roadblock on Highway 94, I headed back to San Diego. With hurricane-force winds, from 70 to 90 mph on the canyon mountain tops, motorcyclists were hovering in the rest area off Interstate 8.
A semi-truck was pulled off to the side, with the top of its solid metal trailer cut off as if by a can opener from the wind. The truck's metal roof was flapping like a tarp.

The wind was so strong it was difficult to walk outside the car. Then, it seemed like all of San Diego was suddenly on fire, grass was smoking everywhere, flames and plumes of smoke seemed to be shooting out every mountaintop by dusk. At dusk, I made a run for it. Heading out on Interstate 8, near Viejas, a gust of wind picked up my car on a high bridge over a canyon and tossed it around like a toothpick. I pulled over shaking for a while, like other people were doing, then drove on out of there. Suddenly, there were fires everywhere and very few firetrucks were responding. High profile RVs and semi trucks were being halted because of the winds.

By the time I reached the safety of El Centro, huge homes in southern California were burning to embers on television. Now, with fires all over, from Malibu to the border, and one-quarter of a million people evacuated, everything seems to be burning. The Interstates north of San Diego are clogged with cars according to the radio, but cars can still go east on I-8. However, the winds are hurricane strength and light cars will be knocked around, with mountain-top gusts up to 90 mph. Some people just came in the coffeehouse where I'm writing this, fleeing the fire, searching for open highways for their family members to evacuate. The winds are changing quickly and people are having trouble finding safe routes out. The announcements can not keep up with the changing winds.

The grass and trees are parched from drought in San Diego County and the Santa Ana winds are fueling a disaster. In the middle of all this, came a radio report today that a herd of horses were stranded and people were thinking of riding them out of the city. In another report, horses waiting transportation out of the fires were eating the shrubs in town. The radio reporter joked something like, "Tell them to eat fast, less to burn."
Monday, 5 p.m.

Tuesday night
Early Sunday afternoon, when there were only a few plumes of smoke that could be seen from near the California/Mexico border, it seemed that everyone was moving in slow motion. There were only a handful of fire trucks moving and a couple of ambulances, as sadly one man died in the fire near the border at Potrero.

There was an eerie stillness within the movement of people, even in the pace of emergency vehicles. Everyone that knew fires knew what was about to happen. With those hurricane-force winds and the parched grass and leaves, it was inevitable that all of San Diego County would soon be burning. With those conditions, there was little that could be done. At that time, just driving out through the winds on the canyon bridges, with gusts ranging from 70 to 100 mph, was terrifying.

Now, Tuesday night, nearly one million people have been evacuated and more than 1,000 homes burned.

CNN reported the winds peaked at 101 mph

Google Breaking news on California wildfires:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ncl=1122444127&scoring=n

38th National Day of Mourning

38th National Day of Mourning
Thursday, November 22, 2007 @ 12 Noon
Cole's Hill
Plymouth, Massachusetts

Join us as we dedicate the 38th National Day of Mourning to our brother, Native prisoner of war Leonard Peltier.
Add your voice to the millions worldwide who demand his freedom. Help us struggle to create a true awareness of Indigenous people and demonstrate unity.
For bus tickets from NYC: 212-633-6646
History of the National Day of Mourning:
In 1970, United American Indians of New England declared US Thanksgiving Day a National Day of Mourning. This came about as a result of the suppression of the truth. Wamsutta, an Aquinnah Wampanoag man, had been asked to speak at a fancy Commonwealth of Massachusetts banquet celebrating the 350th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims. He agreed. The organizers of the dinner, using as a pretext the need to prepare a press release, asked for a copy of the speech he planned to deliver. He agreed. Within days Wamsutta was told by a representative of the Department of Commerce and Development that he would not be allowed to give the speech. The reason given was due to the fact that, "… the theme of the anniversary celebration is brotherhood and anything inflammatory would have been out of place." What they were really saying was that in this society, the truth is out of place.What was it about the speech that got those officials so upset? Wamsutta used as a basis for his remarks one of their own history books - a Pilgrim’s account of their first year on Indian land. The book tells of the opening of my ancestor’s graves, taking our wheat and bean supplies, and of the selling of my ancestors as slaves for 220 shillings each. Wamsutta was going to tell the truth, but the truth was out of place.Here is the truth: The reason they talk about the pilgrims and not an earlier English-speaking colony, Jamestown, is that in Jamestown the circumstances were way too ugly to hold up as an effective national myth.For example, the white settlers in Jamestown turned to cannibalism to survive. Not a very nice story to tell the kids in school. The pilgrims did not find an empty land any more than Columbus "discovered" anything. Every inch of this land is Indian land. The pilgrims (who did not even call themselves pilgrims) did not come here seeking religious freedom; they already had that in Holland. They came here as part of a commercial venture.They introduced sexism, racism, anti-lesbian and gay bigotry, jails, and the class system to these shores. One of the very first things they did when they arrived on Cape Cod - before they even made it to Plymouth - was to rob Wampanoag graves at Corn Hill and steal as much of the Indians’ winter provisions as they were able to carry. They were no better than any other group of Europeans when it came to their treatment of the Indigenous peoples here. And no, they did not even land at that sacred shrine down the hill called Plymouth Rock, a monument to racism and oppression which we are proud to say we buried in 1995.The first official "Day of Thanksgiving" was proclaimed in 1637 by Governor Winthrop. He did so to celebrate the safe return of men from Massachusetts who had gone to Mystic, Connecticut to participate in the massacre of over 700 Pequot women, children, and men.About the only true thing in the whole mythology is that these pitiful European strangers would not have survived their first several years in "New England" were it not for the aid of Wampanoag people. What Native people got in return for this help was genocide, theft of our lands, and never-ending repression.But back in 1970, the organizers of the fancy state dinner told Wamsutta he could not speak that truth. They would let him speak only if he agreed to deliver a speech that they would provide. Wamsutta refused to have words put into his mouth. Instead of speaking at the dinner, he and many hundreds of other Native people and our supporters from throughout the Americas gathered in Plymouth and observed the first National Day of Mourning. United American Indians of New England have returned to Plymouth every year since to demonstrate against the Pilgrim mythology.On that first Day of Mourning back in 1970, Plymouth Rock was buried not once, but twice. The Mayflower was boarded and the Union Jack was torn from the mast and replaced with the flag that had flown over liberated Alcatraz Island. The roots of National Day of Mourning have always been firmly embedded in the soil of militant protest.

–Free All Political Prisoners!email: nycjericho@riseup.net www.jerichony.org~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~+=+=+=+[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.]Due to (U.S.) Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email, post, blog or message without warning, warrant, or notice, in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
=+=+=+=+=+=LPDC WEBSITE:www.leonardpeltier.net

Priests protesting US torture in Florence prison

Dear friends,
On Saturday morning, October 20, we visited Steve and Louie. They are well, and send thanks for your prayers and support.
They are being held together at the Central Arizona Detention Center, a privately owned prison in Florence, Arizona. There is no telling if they will be there for a short time before being moved, or for the entire five months. They will remain in federal custody for the duration of their sentence.
Below is a revised message about what people can do to support them. And below that is a statement of the Franciscan Friars, Province of Saint Barbara in support of Louie. We'll also attach a wonderful photo taken by Lee Stanley before Steve and Louie went into court on the morning of October 17.
Peace,
Felice and Jack
(Photo credit: Lee Stanley)
SUPPORT FR. STEVE KELLY AND FR. LOUIE VITALE
On October 17, 2007, the first anniversary of the signing of the Military Commissions Act, Fr. Steve Kelly and Fr. Louie Vitale were sentenced to 5 months in prison for their nonviolent witness against torture at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona in November of 2006. They were taken into custody immediately. (More information at http://tortureontrial.org/)
Please support them -
* Write a note of support to:
Stephen Kelly #00816111
CCA
P. O. Box 6300
Florence, AZ 85232
Louis Vitale #25803048
CCA
P. O. Box 6300
Florence, AZ 85232
They were taken to a privately run detention center in Florence, Arizona the day of their sentencing. It is not known if, when or where they may be transferred. If the priests are moved, your letters addressed to Florence will be returned to you. You may then send letters to them c/o The Nuclear Resister, PO Box 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733 and their mail will be forwarded to them.
If you are mailing something to them at this prison, please know:
- All books and magazines must be sent by the publisher or directly from a book store.
- Non-copyrighted documents in manilla envelopes are fine, but to expedite it, print on the manilla envelope "paperwork enclosed".
* Fr. Kelly and Fr. Vitale ask that every woman and man of conscience do all that they can to protest the injustice of torture and to end U.S. policy that sanctions torture.
- They encourage people to participate in the protests at Ft. Benning, Georgia and Ft. Huachuca, Arizona on November 17 and 18, or consider having a protest in your community. For more information, visit http://www.soaw.org/ (protest at Ft. Benning) and http://southwestwitness.org/ (protest at Ft. Huachuca)
- Visit http://torturelaw.org/ and sign the petition to repeal the Military Commissions Act and use the handy form to customize a letter that will be emailed to your Senators.
* Their commissary needs are taken care of but contributions for prison support expenses are welcome. Checks can be made payable to the Nuclear Resister (please put Torture on Trial on the memo line) and mailed to the Nuclear Resister, PO Box 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733. Donations can also be made securely online at the Torture On Trial website at http://tortureontrial.org/donate.html
* Prison visits are being coordinated by Br. David Buer. Visiting hours at the detention center in Florence are limited, and occur very early in the morning. It is very important to contact David if you are interested in visiting either of the men, so he can make sure that no one travels all that way only to be turned away because there is already a visitor there. You can contact David at or call (314)803-6735.
xxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Statement of the Franciscan Friars, Province of Saint Barbara
Regarding the sentencing of Father Louis Vitale, OFMFather Louis Vitale, OFM, is a member of the Province of Saint Barbara (western U.S.) of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscan Friars).
Striving to be a true follower of Saint Francis of Assisi throughout his 48 years as a Franciscan friar, Father Louie has been dedicated to peace, justice and the well-being of creation. In a world that suffers from violence and war, Father Louie has often engaged in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience to promote these causes.
Father Louie's nonviolent actions are motivated by the deep spiritual conviction that peace, justice and mercy are mandates of Christ, and such actions have a long and respected history in Christianity and many other religious traditions.
On November 19, 2006, Father Louie was among others protesting military "interrogation training" at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. This was in conjunction with a larger protest at Fort Benning, Georgia, calling for the closure of the school there that has supported Latin American military regimes that committed heinous violence against their own citizens.It is our understanding that Father Louie was arrested at Fort Huachuca when he attempted to speak with enlisted personnel and deliver a letter to the commander denouncing the immoral teaching of torture there, and that he has now been sentenced for a total term of five months.Father Louie's religious superior, Father Melvin Jurisich, OFM, Provincial Minister of the Province of Saint Barbara, commented on the sentencing:"Father Louie's Franciscan brothers fully support his actions at Fort Huachuca because we know they are consistent with his life-long dedication to work for good and oppose evil. He does so in the spirit of prayer and nonviolence. He is doing what he believes Saint Francis of Assisi would do if he were at Fort Huachuca. We stand by Father Louie during his time of incarceration, and we know that even in jail he will continue to work and pray for peace."

Treaty Council: Pesticides workshop in Sinaloa, Mexico

Pesticides, human rights and food workshop in Yoreme (Mayo) community in Sinaloa, Mexico

“AGROQUIMICOS: LA AMENAZA A NUESTRA SALUD COMUNITARIA Y AL MEDIO AMBIENTE; CONOCIENDO NUESTROS DERECHOS, EXPLORANDO LAS ALETRNATIVAS Y TRABAJANDO JUNTOS CON UN FUTURO SALUDABLE”
Una Tarea anfitrionada por la Red Indigena Norte y Sur Contra los Plaguicidas, un proyecto del Consejo Internacional de Tratatos Indios (CITI), con la Organización de Yoremes Unidos del Municipio de Ahome, A.C.
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"Pesticides: The Threat to our Community Health and the Environment, Knowing our Rights, Exploring Alternatives and Working Together for a Healthy Future."
A workshop hosted by North-South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides, a project of the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) in coordination with the United Municipality of Organizaciones Yoremes of Ahome, A.C.
EJIDO GABRIEL LEYVA SOLANO, AHOME, SINALOA.

Octubre 26, 27, 28 2007
Agenda Provisional
Provisional Agenda
Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2007
The agenda will start each day from 9 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
The afternoon agenda will restart at 2:00 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
The evening agenda will continue form 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. (Tentative)
El registro para la Tarea se realizara en el sitio a partir de 8 de manana el dia 26.

Programa Diario:
Programa de la manana: 9:00 am – 12:00pm
Programa de la tarde: 2:00 pm – 5: 30 pm
Programa de la noche (no confirmado): 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Horario de la comidas del 26-28
de 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm – ALMUERZO
de 6:00 TO 7:30 PM: CENA (el 29 y 30)

Lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
And 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. for Dinner

VIERNES 26 DE OCTUBRE DE 2007.

PROGRAMA DE LA MAÑANA:

Inaguracion del Evento

Bienvenida
Lic. Bulmaro Bacasegua Campos
Secretario
Yoremes Unidos de la Municipalidad de Ahome

Honores a la Bandera

Ceremonia Tradicional
Fiesteros de Los 8 Centros Ceremoniales del Municipio de Ahome.

Introducción del CITI- Consejo Internacional del Consejo Internacional del Tratado Indios
Saul Vicente
Representanta Nacional deL citi- Mexico

Alberto Saldamando
CONSEJERO JURIDICO
consejo INTERNACIONAL de tratados indios (CITI)

INTRODUCCION de la RED NORTE Y SUR CONTRA LOS PLAGUICIDAS
Sara Mendoza, Coordinadora de Proyecto
Presentación de la Organización “Yoremes Unidos del Municipio de Ahome, A.C.”


PROGRAMA POR LA TARDE

Presentacion: Soberania Alimentaria, Derechos Culturales y los Pueblos Indígenas
Saul Vicente, Representatnte Nacional Mexico

Taller: Indicadores Culturales
Saul Vicente, Representatnte Nacional Mexico


Programa por la Noche

Programa Cultural por los Fieseros del Municipio de Ahome, El Fuerte, Choix, Guasave, Sinaloa de Leyva y Angostura.

Ballet Folklorico a Cargo de la Maestra Alejandra Cervantes Ayala.

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Friday, October 26, 2007

Morning Program:

Event Inauguration

Welcome
Lic. Bulmaro Bulmaro Bacasegua Campos
Board Member, Secretary
United Yoremes of the Municipality of Ahome

Flag Honoring

Traditional Ceremony
Fiesteros of the 8 Ceremonial Centers of the Municipio of Ahome.

Introduction of the International Indian Treaty Council- IITC
Saul Vicente,
National IITC Representative Mexico
Alberto Saldamando,
General Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council

Introduction of the North South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides.
Sara Mendoza
Program Coordinator
International Indian Treaty Council

Introduction of the “Organización Yoremes Unidos del Municipio de Ahome, A.C.” (United Yoremes of the Municipality of Ahome)


Afternoon Program:

Presentation: Food Soverignty, Cultural Rights, and Indigenous Peoples
Saul Vicente, IITC Mexico Representative

Workshop: Cultural Indicators
Saul Vicente, IITC Mexico Representative

Evening Program

Cultural Program by the Fiesteros of the Municipality of Ahome, El Fuerte, Choix, Guasave, Sinaloa de Leyva y Angostura.

Ballet Folklorico directed by Ms. Alejandra Cervantes Ayala.

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SABADO 27 DE OCTUBRE DE 2007.

PROGRAMA POR LA MAÑANA

PANEL: QUE SON LOS PLAGUICIDAS? LOS EFECTOS Y DAÑOS A LA SALUD DEL SER HUMANO Y AL MEDIO AMBIENTE

ING. REYNALDO CERVANTES LEYVA, COORDINADOR DEL PROGRAMA ZONA PACIFICO
CONSERVEMOS UN CAMPO LIMPIO

DR. GABRIEL DIAZ YZETA, DIRECTOR DE TOXICOLOGIA, DEL GOBIERNO MEXICANO

PAM MILLER, BIOLOGA Y DIRECTORA EJECUTIVA ACCION COMUNITARIA SOBRE LOS TOXICOS EN ALASKA.

PATRICIA DIAZ ROMO, ASESORA DE LOS INDIGENAS HUICHOLES.

MARGARET REEVE, CIENTIFCA Y COORDINADORA DEL PROGRAMA SOBRE LA COMUNIDAD Y LA SALUD AMBIENTAL (PANNA).

DRA. ELIZABEHT GUILLETT, UNIVERSIDAD DE FLORIDA, ESTUDIOS EN NIÑOS INDIGENAS DEL RIO YAQUI.


PROGRAMA POR LA TARDE

PRESENTACION: DERECHOS HUMANOS, EL DERECHO DEL CONSENTIMIENTO PREVIO, LIBRE E INFORMADO, LA DECLARACION DE LOS DERECHOS DE LOS PUEBLOS INDIGENAS; Actualización sobre el trabajo del Relator de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Productos Toxicos

ALBERTO SALDAMANDO,
CONSEJERO JURIDICO
CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

DERECHOS HUMANOS Y LOS EFECTOS DE PLAGUESIDAS
TESTIMONIOS DE PERSONAS AFECTADAS POR LO AGROQUIMICOS:


ING. FRANCISCO VILLEGAS PAREDES, COORDINADOR DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN COMUNITARIA POR LA MADRE TIERRA.

MIEMBROS AFECTADOS DE LA COMUNIDAD YOREME.

LUZ IRENE BACASEGUA CAMPOS, PRESIDENTA ESTATAL DE LOS MEDICOS INDIGENAS DEL ESTADO DE SINALOA.

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Saturday, October 27, 2007

Morning Program:

Panel: What are Pesticides? The Harmful Effects of Pesticides on Human Health and the Environment.

Reynaldo Cervantes,
Pacific Zone Program Coordinator
Conservemos un Campo Limpio

Dr. Garbriel Diaz Yzeta,
Director of Toxicology
Mexican Government

Pam Miller
Biologist and Executive Director
Alaska Community Action on Toxics

Patricia Romo
Filmaker and Organizar

Margaret Reeves, PhD.
Senior Scientist/Program Coordinator (Community and Environmental Health)Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)

Dr. Elizabeth Guillete,
Associate Research Scientist
University of Florida

Afternoon Program:

Presentation: Human Rights, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and update on the work on the U.N Rapporteur on Toxics

Alberto Saldamando
IITC General Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council

Panel: Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples and Effects of Pesticides

Francisco Villegas Paredes
Program Coordinator
Yaquis Unidos Por la Madre Tierra
Rio Yaqui, Sonora

Local Community Yoreme Members Affected by Pesticides
Various Participants

Luz Irene Bacasegua Campos
Statewide President
Unites Medical Doctors of the State of Sinaloa

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DOMINGO 28 DE OCTUBRE DE 2007

PROGRAMA POR LA MAÑANA


Panel: RESTORACION DE CONOCIMIENTO Y DIVERSIDAD, PERSPECTIVAS Y ALTERNATIVAS

ING. REYNALDO CERVANTES LEYVA
COORDINADOR DEL PROGRAMA ZONA PACIFICO
CONSERVEMOS UN CAMPO LIMPIO.

SANTOS VALENZUELA RAMIREZ
EMETERIO VALENZUELA AGUILAR
EXPERIENCIA EN CULTIVOS TRADICIONALES DE AUTOCONSUMO SIN AGROQUIMICOS


PROGRAMA POR LA TARDE

TALLER: A TRAVES DEL LIBRO “LOS PLAGUICIDAS SON VENENOSOS”

SARA MENDOZA
MESAS DE TRABAJO

PLENARIA: ELABORACION DE UN PLAN DE ACCION Y EL FORTALECIMIENTO DE NUESTRAS ALIANZAS

Lino Buitimea Sauceda
ADelina Bacasegua Alvarez
Rita Amarillas Anguamea
SARA MENDOZA
SANTOS VALENZUELA

CLAUSURA DEL EVENTO
SANTOS VALENZUELA RAMIREZ, PRESIDENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN “YOREM UTTIA”
LIC. BULMARO BACASEGUA CAMPOS, SRIO. DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN “YOREMES UNIDOS DEL MUNICIPIO DE AHOME, A.C.


CONDUCCION DEL PROGRAMA
PROFR. LINO BUITIMEA SAUCEDA
ADELINA BACASEGUA ALVAREZ
RITA AMARILLAS ANGUAMEA

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Sunday, October 28, 2007

Morning Program:


Panel: Restoring Tradicional Knowledge and Biodiversity: Perspectives and Alternatives

Yernaldo Cervantes Leyva
Pacific Zone Program Coordinator
Conservamos un Campo Limpio

Santos Valenzuela
Presidente
Yorem Uttia Organization

Emerito Valenzuela Aguilar
Presentation: Tradition Farming Methods without Pesticides.

Afternoon Program:

Workshop: “ Pesticides are Toxic”
Sara Mendoza
Program Coordinator
North South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides
International Indian Treaty Council

Panel: Rights, Solutions, and Future Plans.

Alberto Saldamando
Legal Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council

Elaboration of the Action Plan and the Strengthening of our Alliances

Profesor Lino Buitimea Sauceda
Adelina Bacasegua Alvarez
Rita Amarillas Anguamea
Sara Mendoza
Santos Valenzuela

Closing Ceremony for the Event

Santos Valenzuela
Presidente
Yorem Uttia Organization

Bulmaro Bacasegua Campos
Secretary
United Yoremes of the Municipality of Ahome


Agenda Coordiantors are:
Profesor Lino Buitimea Sauceda
Adelina Bacasegua Alvarez
Rita Amarillas Anguamea