opedagriculture

Fight climate change on a local level

Global warming will negatively impact your food

Wouldn’t it be great if you could go to the beach in the winter? What if it meant you could never eat almonds again? Or potatoes? Or cherries? Sure, it’s nice that it’s sunny and warm in the winter now, but global climate change is negatively affecting agriculture around the Read More…

oped.graham_haught

Is the South more racist than the North?

Parts of the Voting Rights Act need to go

The Supreme Court recently heard oral argument in Shelby v. Holder regarding the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The VRA is a historic piece of legislation designed to enforce the 15th Amendment. Among its provisions, it outlaws the use of any “voting qualification or Read More…

palestine.jacob_wilson

Divestment debate: Echoes of Apartheid

Perspectives on Israel-related divestment as the ASUC Senate considers bills connected to the topic

Last Monday, after much dialogue and debate, the Organization of African Students unanimously decided to support the ASUC bill that calls for divestment from companies profiting from, or investing in, the occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The decision to support divestment is a result Read More…

lu_han

Divestment debate: Support peace instead

Perspectives on Israel-related divestment as the ASUC Senate considers bills connected to the topic

On Wednesday, the ASUC Senate will likely consider either to divest from companies that do business with Israel or to instead invest peacemaking initiatives that bring Israelis and Palestinians together. As a freshman, I experienced the divestment effort of spring 2010. From dusk to dawn on three Wednesday nights through Read More…

Divestment debate: Our university is complicit in human rights violations

Perspectives on Israel-related divestment as the ASUC considers bills connected to the topic

Jim Crow was wrong for the United States, and it’s wrong for Israel. Last month, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders gathered at the U.S. Capitol to unveil a full-size bronze statue in honor of Rosa Parks. The legendary civil rights icon was honored for sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Read More…

op-ed.kira_walker

Put a Cal student on the Berkeley City Council

Students ought to have their voices heard in city government

Have you ever wondered how to find more affordable student housing or make a complaint to your elected official in Berkeley? What if you ran into your city council member in Wheeler Auditorium as you headed into class? It would make it much easier to remind the council member about Read More…

divestmentoped_sucharitha.yelimeli

Divestment is the tactic, climate justice is the goal

Students should urge the university to stop supporting the destructive fossil fuel industry

Editor’s note: This op-ed was previously published by the California Student Sustainability Coalition. April 9 through 11, students at UC Berkeley will be asked to vote on a referendum in support of fossil fuel divestment at Cal and across the UC system. Student support for the referendum will send a Read More…