Joan Baez, a conhecida cantora da protest-song dos anos 60, e outras figura da vida cultural e do activismo ecologista norte-americano juntaram-se num acampamento de protesto a fim de impedir a expropriação e destruição de uma extensa quinta rural, gerida por emigrantes latino-americanos, situada a sul da cidade de Los Angeles e que é a última zona verde que ainda resta àquela cidade californiana. Apesar do Presidente da Câmara de Los Angeles reconhecer a importância da sua preservaçãoe ter anunciado a disponibilização de fundos públicos, a verdade é que a quantia exigida pelos proprietários dos terrenos é considerada exorbitante e ainda ninguém conseguiu reunir a quantia de 16 milhões de dólares para a sua compra a não ser os especuladores imobiliários que se aprestam a tomar conta daquelas parcelas, com o aval do tribunal local que se prepara para tomar uma decisão sobre a matéria.
Além de Joan Baez participam ainda no protesto Júlia Butterfly Hill( a famosa ecologista qie passou 738 dias no cimo de uma sequóia no Oregon para evitar que fosse derrubada), a actriz Daryl Hannah, o guitarrista Tom Morello e John Quigley ( artista e ecologista).
Mais info:
www.southcentralfarmers.com
Contact the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa asking them to Support the Farmers by stopping the physical ejection and destruction at the farm. They have the power and resources to do so.
If they can allocate $800 million to bring in a football team to the city, why can't they find $5 million to keep the struggle alive or the $10 million to secure the Farm for the community? $6 million was raised but we need more time!
Call Ralph Horowitz and ask that he be reasonable by giving the community time to fundraise effectively.
It is unfair to ask an already impoverished community to bear the burden that was placed on them.
Contact information for Los Angeles City Mayor:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:
mayor@lacity.org or call (213)978-0600
Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly Hill, Daryl Hannah, John Quigley, Tom Morello and others join South Central Farmers and community supporters on the frontlines. Encampment set up to resist eviction and save the South Central Farm.
Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly Hill, Daryl Hannah, John Quigley, Tom Morello and others join South Central Farmers and community supporters on the frontlines. Encampment set up to resist eviction and save the South Central Farm.
For the last three years, 350 families have been fighting to preserve the South Central Farm, the largest contiguous piece of open green space in South Central Los Angeles. On April 22, 2006, the Trust for Public Land negotiated a 30-day option to purchase contract that depends on efforts by the City to find matching money for the $5 million put up by a private foundation. With only 6 million raised, the 30 day contract was not enough time for politicians and the community to raise the 16.35 million needed to purchase the land. With no time left, the South Central Farmers and their supporters are now vowing to do what is necessary to permanently protect the largest urban community farm in the United States.
South Central Farmers, celebrity supporters, and community members feel that it is necessary to take a principled stand for a more livable city. Livable cities thrive with the preservation of projects like the South Central Farm, the largest urban farm in the United States and a model for healthy communities everywhere.
“I support this project”, stated L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, at a press conference on Friday, May 19th, 2006, “but I have not been able to raise the necessary 10 million still required to purchase the land.”
“We know that saving the South Central Farm is an obtainable goal” according to Tezozomoc, elected leader of the South Central Farmers.
“To illustrate the point, Los Angeles County alone has a population of approximately 10 million people and if every man, woman and child in the county were to contribute just $1 dollar to the Trust for Public Land it would be possible to reach the $16.35 million dollar price tag necessary to save this precious community oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. We are reaching out to appeal to people everywhere to come forward with their support
“To illustrate the point, Los Angeles County alone has a population of approximately 10 million people and if every man, woman and child in the county were to contribute just $1 dollar to the Trust for Public Land it would be possible to reach the $16.35 million dollar price tag necessary to save this precious community oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. We are reaching out to appeal to people everywhere to come forward with their support
