[sustran] FW: CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN #33 / APRIL 2002

[Paul Barter]

I don't think this got through to the list when Car Busters tried to send it
recently. So forwarding now, a little late.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz [mailto:owner-englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz]
On Behalf Of Car Busters
Sent: Saturday, 6 April 2002 2:23 AM
To: englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz
Subject: CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN #33 / APRIL 2002


For sending messages to Car Busters use
carbusters at ecn.cz , please. Do NOT just hit "reply."

=================================== 
-- -- -- -- CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN -- -- -- -- -- 
===================================  
Edition no. 33 - April 2002 - English version  
............................................................................
.......   
CARBUSTERS Magazine and Resource Centre   
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic   
tel: +(420) 2-7481-0849 ; fax: +(420) 2-7481-6727  
<carbusters at ecn.cz> - <www.carbusters.org> 

Thanks to all of you who are sending us your contributions. This 
bulletin was actually made using so much of the stuff that there was 
hardly any room left for our witty original writing.

To avoid the inevitable formatting problems, read this bulletin on-line at 
<http://www.carbusters.org>.

==========
CONTENTS

WORLD NEWS
     - PIES FROM THE SKY - CLIMATE ACTIVISTS VISIT
       POST-KYOTO CONFERENCE
     - CRITICAL MASSACRE IN MINNEAPOLIS
     - SECOND LEVEL FOR MEXICO CITY MOTORWAYS 
     - MAJOR U.S. BICYCLE ACTIVIST KILLED IN TRAFFIC
     - COLLAPSE OF ANTARCTIC ICE SHELF
     - TWO STEPS TOWARDS CAR-FREE CHICAGO
UPCOMING GATHERINGS
     - "END OF THE ROAD" GATHERING TAKES ON U.K.
       ROAD BUILDING
     - WALK 21: THIRD INTERNATIONAL PEDESTRIAN
       CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOBS
     - TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III CONFERENCE
     - DISGUSTING PLEA FOR MONEY
     - SEND IT ALL TO BELGRADE
     - JOB OFFER: Climate change activism INTERNET
INTERNET
     - TWO CAR BUSTERS ON-LINE DISCUSSION FORA
     - REGISTER YOUR WORLD CAR-FREE DAYS 2002 EVENT
       ON-LINE
     - NEW WORLDWIDE CRITICAL MASS ON-LINE
       RESOURCES
     - NEW ITALIAN CRITICAL MASS WEB SITE

=============
WORLD NEWS

1) PIES FROM THE SKY - CLIMATE ACTIVISTS VISIT POST-KYOTO 
CONFERENCE
[submitted by Mark B., London]
People from "Pie in the Sky" walked into a second London high-profile 
emissions trading conference on March 5, distributing leaflets, having 
impassioned discussions with various delegates and declaring the whole 
event a profiteering charade that also wouldn't make a significant dent in 
carbon emissions. One person was forcibly ejected by security, while 
others stuck around for a brief chat.
The conference made no bones about its sense of priorities, seeing as it 
was called "Profiting from Opportunities Presented by the Kyoto 
Mechanisms," and featuring the quote "Position yourself to grasp the 
outstanding opportunities offered to business and finance by the Kyoto 
Protocol."
Web: <http://www.risingtide.org.uk>.

2) CRITICAL MASSACRE IN MINNEAPOLIS
[submitted by Andy Singer, St. Paul, MN, USA - excuse the 
sensationalist headline]
A Critical Mass bike ride in Minneapolis, Minnesota, turned into a show 
of police violence on Friday, March 29, when at least five squad cars 
descended on the 75 or so bicycle riders. Police confiscated 30 to 40 
bikes, which they heaped onto a waiting flatbed truck. They beat and 
pepper sprayed many riders, sending two of them to the hospital, and 
arrested at least ten. 
On Tuesday, April 2, over 30 people met with the Mayor of Minneapolis 
and demanded, among other things, an end to police brutality, return of 
confiscated bikes, the dropping of charges against cyclists, and 
compensation for hospital bills and damaged bikes. We hope that the 
mayor and city council are able to rein Minneapolis police in. 
Web: <http://www.minnesotacriticalmass.org>.

3) SECOND LEVEL FOR MEXICO CITY MOTORWAYS TO SORT OUT 
JAMS
[submitted by Areli Carreon, Cuernavaca, Mexico]
Believe it or not Mexico City's new chief of government has proposed 
the construction of a second level for two of the major most congested 
big avenues in the world's most polluted and chaotic city. According to the
mayor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the 
construction of a second level to the Avenidas Periferico and Viaducto 
will solve the traffic jams and will reduce air pollution, because "the cars

will go faster, so they will burn less petrol." This will cost the city
8,000 
million pesos (aproximately US$8 million).
Unmentioned is the danger to the motorists themselves in the event of 
an earthquake. As was demonstrated by the 1989 collapse of the Bay 
Bridge in San Francisco, California, and an adjacent double-decker 
freeway, building "up" in a seismically active zone merely increases the 
risk of instant death. Mexico City was devasted by an earthquake in 1985 
that killed tens of thousands. That was without elevated highways! 
Many Mexican ecologist groups had questioned this project with 
numbers: the 42 millons of litres of petrol burned daily in Mexico City 
produce 2,100,000 tons per year of toxic emissions. With the second 
level's increase of speed the emissions could be reduced to 5,292 
ton/year, which does not justify a expenditure that could provide almost 
a bike to every inhabitant of the city, or that could be best invested in 
improve the city's chaotic public transport system.
The Mexican group Bicitekas invites you to write to AMLO, Mexico City 
Mayor, to invite him to reconsider this proposal. Visit our page 
<http://www.laneta.apc.org/bicitekas/noalsegundopiso> or write to us 
directly at <bicitekas at hotmail.com>.

4) MAJOR U.S. BICYCLE ACTIVIST KILLED IN TRAFFIC 
[submitted in various forms by some half dozen U.S. bike activists] Susie
Stevens, an alternative transport activist based in Seattle, was run 
over and killed by a bus while crossing a street in downtown St. Louis, 
Missouri. It happened in the morning of March 21. She was 36 years old. 
Stephens was famous around the country as one of the top leaders of 
the movement.
She was both one of the most hard-working and competent people you'd 
ever want to work with, and one of the most fun. She often would get 
crowds singing in unison to the tune of civil rights songs with new 
bicycle-oriented words. Susie was a founder and former Managing 
Director of the Thunderhead Alliance (national coalition of bicycle 
organisations) and also served as Executive Director of the Bicycle 
Alliance of Washington.
Chris Morfas, executive director of the California Bicycling Coalition, 
said in a phone interview that Stephens "had a remarkable vision for a 
world in which people who want to walk or ride a bicycle can do so in 
safety."
"Susie was one of the most passionate people I know, and her passion 
carried over to others," said Amy Carlson, a founding member of the 
Bicycle Alliance.
Susie's family is planning a memorial service for May, in Winthrop, WA. 
The Bicycle Alliance of Washington has planned a wake in Seattle. For 
more information, contact the Bicycle Alliance of Washington at (206) 
224-9252.

5) COLLAPSE OF ANTARCTIC ICE SHELF
[submitted by Novi Dyen]
During a five-week period in February and March, a piece of the Larsen 
B-22 Ice Shelf with a surface area of 3,000 square kilometres dramatically 
splintered into a plume of drifting icebergs. Although the ice shelf has 
persisted through 12,000 years of climate changes, scientists hesitate to 
say whether the collapse was due to human-induced climate change. 
Even so, the event should serve as another wake up call. 
Web: <http://cybercentre.greenpeace.org//t/s/1016626265/index_html>.

6) TWO STEPS TOWARDS A CAR-FREE CHICAGO
[submitted by Michael Burton, <mickhailb at yahoo.com> and Lisa 
Phillips <lisarides8 at yahoo.com>]
An eight-lane superhighway in Chicago will be closed to automobile 
traffic for a day on June 9 for the "Ride the Drive" bicycle ride. The 
complete closure of Lake Shore Drive will not happen in the foreseeable 
future, but this serves as an important first step. The highway is stupidly 
located in a beatiful area next to a lake, as there is a parallel highway
only 
about a mile away. Planners have proposed re-routing traffic, but this far 
no action has been taken.
"While Chicagoans enjoy a shoreline free of the usual noise, dangers 
and pollution posed by automobile traffic on June 9," said Michael 
Burton, secretary of the Camapign for a Free and Clear Lakefront,"Riders 
will no doubt realize how tragic it is to violate our beautiful shoreline
with 
an eight-lane superhighway the other 364 days of the year." Another step for
Car-Free Chicago was called by the local Critical Mass 
group, who staged pro-bicycle/anti-car message booth at last weekend's 
Subaru (!?) "BIKE" Show, held at Chicago's monument to excessive 
tourism, Navy Pier. The action was very well received by everyone but 
the sponsors.
Web: <http://www.ForeverFreeandClear.org/>.

======================
UPCOMING GATHERINGS

1) "END OF THE ROAD" GATHERING TAKES ON U.K. ROAD 
BUILDING
[submitted by Earth First! Manchester and others]
Direct Action Gathering to build resistance to the new roads programme 
and the corporate dominance it fuels, April 19-21, Nottingham, UK. This 
gathering is being organised to provide a forum for those interested in a 
direct action response to the resurrection of Britain's road building 
programme. The previous roads programme became the front-line for 
radical ecological resistance, and opposition to capitalist expansion. Now 
it's time to learn from past struggles and go on.
Friday - arrivals, food, preliminary meeting. Saturday - update briefing on 
new road schemes and corporate links. Planning tactics and response. 
Sunday - no formal organisation, but meeting space will be provided for 
those wishing to take the opportunity to build further on the day before. 
Arrivals will be met on the Friday evening  from 5 pm at The Sumac 
Centre, 245 Gladstone St, Nottingham. NG7 6HX. Contact: tel: +(44) 0781-
350-5480; e-mail: <endoftheroad at hushmail.com>.

2) WALK 21: THIRD INTERNATIONAL PEDESTRIAN CONFERENCE [submitted by Blanca,
Walk 21 Technical Secretariat, 
<general at 2ados.com>]
Organised by the Federation of European Pedestrian Associations 
(FEPA) in collaboration with the Donostia ­ San Sebastián City Council, 
and due to be held from May 8-11, 2002, in San Sebastián's Kursaal 
Conference Centre. Web: <www.walk21.com>; tel: +(34) 943-430-569; fax: 
+(34) 943-431-069; e-mail: <walk21.informacion at fer.es>.

=========================
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOBS

1) TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III
[submitted by Randy Ghent, Car Busters]
Car Busters is starting to organise the third Towards Car-Free Cities 
conference, to be hopefully held in March 2003 in Prague. So we're 
looking for partner organisations and individuals to join the organisation 
team. After successful rounds in Lyon and Timisoara, we're going to take 
Praha by storm. There is still plenty of time to contribute to the 
programme. Just contact us to get involved...

3) DISGUSTING PLEA FOR MONEY
[who could have possibly submitted this?!]
Here it is. The announcement you haven't been waiting for. The one 
where we urge you to give your hard-earned money away to some 
fanatical organisation on the other side of the planet. Well, this is it:
Now more than ever, Car Busters needs your support. We're a team of six 
energetic, self-exploited, hard-working international activists here in 
Prague, sweating away (at least when it's hot out) day after day to 
provide information, resources and inspiration for transport activists and 
others. So of course we hope, therefore, that you can join us as a 
member, magazine subscriber or donator. A little goes a long way here in 
the Czech Republic. And if you have friends who might wish to support 
us, please send them our way, force them to write a cheque at gunpoint, 
or give them gift subscriptions/memberships. You can order by credit 
card on our web site: <http://www.carbusters.org>. Otherwise, cheques 
in US$ / EUR / GBP / AU$ can be sent to Car Busters, Kratka 26, 100 00 
Prague 10, Czech Republic. See, it's not so hard...
MEMBER [includes a one-year magazine subscription, a copy of Andy 
Singer's "CARtoons," and an assortment of bike stickers]: US$30 / 
EUR30 / GBP20 / AU$40
SUPPORTER [includes a one-year magazine subscription, a copy of 
"CARtoons," and a copy of "Roadkill Bill" by Ken Avidor]: US$50 / 
EUR50 / GBP30 / AU$60
SAVIOUR [includes a two-year magazine subscription, a copy of 
"CARtoons" and a copy of "The End of the Road" by Wolfgang 
Zuckermann]: US$100 / EUR100 / GBP60 / AU$120
DONATOR [economic liberty rate]: __________
ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION [magazine only]: US$15 / EUR15 / GBP7.50 / 
AU$18.50
TWO-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION [magazine only]: US$26 / EUR26 / GBP13 / 
AU$32.50

3) SEND IT ALL TO BELGRADE
[submitted by Branka Zgonjanin, ul. Momcila Zivojinovica 28, 11400 
Mladenovac, Serbia, <zgonja at ptt.yu>]
Hello people! Some news from the Serbia ghetto: Okay, some people from 
Belgrade have gathered to set up an info shop [we don't have info shops 
here], very seriously planning to develop that idea into something like a 
meeting point for all kinds of activism, for all groups and individuals.
It's 
gonna be a house with two rooms and kitchen/cafe. One room will be a 
library and info shop, another we will use for meetings, workshops, video 
projections, discussions, places for sleeping for people from other 
places, etc. The house will be in the centre of the town so it will be very 
practical, also useful, we hope so... So what we need from you, if you 
want to support our project: issues, 'zines, books, videotapes, audios, 
everything printed or xerox with/for @ purposes... also, contacts, distros, 
individuals who can help... put our contact somewhere visable, let 
everybody informed about our project, send send stuff, everything you 
think is important. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

4) JOB OFFER: Climate change activism position: 
rising tide international co-ordinator
[submitted by Walter Markov, Rising Tide Germany, 
<climate_bonn at yahoo.de]
Are you interested in working on climate change activism but have no 
way to support yourself?  Well there will be a one year position 
available, as the Rising Tide international network co-ordinator, starting 
in September 2002 or for half a year starting already in May 2002, and it 
will be based in Bonn, Germany. Although it's a long, dull job title, the 
role itself is far from it. Your Rising Tide responsibilities should only
take 
half of your time, so the rest is freed up for your own personal climate-
related project. You must be under 26 on the start date and be a citizen of 
an EU country or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,  Bulgaria, Cyprus, 
Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, 
Romania, Slovak Republic, or Slovenia. Before applying, see the full job 
description and more on the web: <http://www.risingtide.nl>. If 
interested, contact the e-mail address above.

===========
INTERNET 

1) TWO CAR BUSTERS ON-LINE DISCUSSION FORA
[submitted by Juho Vuori, Car Busters]
Following upon our "Whatever Happened to the Great British Road 
Protests" article in Car Busters magazine 13, we've set up an on-line 
forum to continue the discussion. Take a look, join the debate, and 
participate in shaping the future of anti-roads movement. Web: 
<http://www.carbusters.org/phorum.htm>.
On top of that, we've set up a second forum for sharing ideas, tactics 
and strategies for the upcoming World Car-Free Days 2002, two weeks of 
actions and events from September 13 to 27. Same web address applies.

2) REGISTER YOUR WORLD CAR-FREE DAYS 2002 EVENT ON-LINE [submitted by Petr
Kurfurst, Car Busters] Just letting you know that some more resources for
World Car-Free Days 
2002 are available on our web site, such as an updated logo. We want to 
especially call your attention to an on-line form we designed, so that you 
can announce to the world your plans for September. This way people 
can get inspiration from your action plans, and we will have someone to 
contact for post-event reports, etc. Go to <http://www.carbusters.org> 
and click on "World Car-Free Days."

3) NEW WORLDWIDE CRITICAL MASS ON-LINE RESOURCES
[submitted by Jym Dyer, San Francisco]
There are two new on-line Critical Mass resources of note: 
A worldwide Critical Mass e-mail list: 
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/critical-mass/>. (Note the hyphen; 
there's also a "criticalmass" and a "critical_mass" list, which has nothing 
to do with our Critical Mass.)
Check the Worldwide Critical Mass Flyer Exchange at 
<http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/flyer_exchange.html>. 
Also, a number of locations in the U.S. are holding an "Earth Car-Free 
Day Critical Mass." Be sure to check your local Earth Day activities for 
one - and to hold a Critical Mass if there isn't one listed.

4) NEW ITALIAN CRITICAL MASS WEB SITE 
[submitted by Paolo Zanon, somewhere in Italy, 
<paulo.zanon at unipd.it>]
Here in Italy we have a brand-new Critical Mass web site: 
<http://www.inventati.org/criticalmass/>. Some actions are now 
happening weekly in Milan, soon in Rome (next on June 1), some in 
Naples... On April 13 a meeting of Critical Mass Italy will be held in 
Milan, and a Critical Mass will ride from Bulk BSO (where a bike 
workshop is under construction) to the Milan Chinatown to defend 
Chinese bike lanes (and to promote Italian ones still existing...).

===========
DISCLAIMER
Since the person delegated to handle the bulletin has no idea what to say 
in the disclaimer, let's do it the usual way: Car Busters doesn't feel 
responsible for anything that's written here. It's all your fault, anyway.