The contraction of the global economy caused U.S. infrastructure spending to decline by an estimated 4.3 percent in 2009, according to analysts from HIS Global Insight, in spite of the $48 billion given to the Department of Transportation as part of stimulus packages. Non-highway spending is expected to decrease by 10.2 percent. The only infrastructure [...]

A couple of articles reminding us how our struggles can make a real difference for the big picture:
1. Check out this article analyzing some of the connections between the push for expanded liquefied natural gas infrastructure in the United States and the recent massacre of indigenous protesters in Peru. The writer points out how increased [...]

Hugh Farrell, who has been indicted on misdemeanor and felony charges of intimidation, improper use of property, and corrupt business influence for publicly organizing against the I-69 “NAFTA Superhighway”, has released an open letter to his supporters. In the letter he writes, among other things, about the significance of the fight against I-69:
“What the State [...]

International Rivers has just published two good articles analyzing the recent massive push for new dams coming out of Chile and the Amazon. They make good reading for anyone wanting to follow these issues.

On May 26, High Country Earth First! (HCEF!)  launched its Stop I-70 campaign by hanging a banner from a Denver overpass reading, “Stop I-70 Expansion!”
The city of Denver is planning either to widen I-70 through Denver from 6 to 10 lanes or to add a two-mile, 8-lane detour to the highway. The expansion would destroy [...]

Recent reports indicate as many as 84 people killed and 150 arrested in clashes stemming from an early morning violent raid by police on unarmed protesters on June 5. Police are reported to be burning the bodies of the dead and dumping them into the river.
Astonishingly — but not surprisingly — the government is accusing [...]

***Please Disseminate This Alert Widely***
Background
Early this morning (June 5th), Peruvian police launched a violent attack on a nonviolent road blockade held by Amazonian indigenous protesters opposing 10 laws that would open up their territory to increased mineral, oil, gas and timber exploitation. Police opened fire with live ammunition, killing at least 28 people (see below).
Why [...]

The Independent has published a good article highlighting the vulnerabilities inherent in the global economic system. It has lots of nice quotes from economists saying many of the same things we say in our own presentations: that globalization has made the system so interconnected that hitting it at a critical point (they call them “nodes”; [...]

A couple of us recently did an interview with Healing the Earth radio, out of Guelph, Ontario. The interview is available for listening or download at:
Healing the Earth
Rabble.ca
We talked about the Root Force analysis and strategy, how infrastructure projects are interconnected, how to oppose infrastruture in the climate of  “economic stimulus,” and more. Check it [...]

A couple of news stories, one old and one newer, highlighting how vulnerable the system is due to its dependence on complex infrastructure:
Saboteurs Knock Out Telecom: Saboteurs knocked out land lines, cell phones, Internet, ATMs, credit card readers for police, banks, businesses and residents in three California counties on April 10, merely by cutting 8 [...]