Racial & Economic Justice

Filmmakers Len Morris and Robin Romano will discuss child labor around the globe tonight at 7.30 pm in Memorial Hall on the UNC campus. This lecture is free, open to the public, and will include never before seen footage of the conditions in which children labor so the rest of us can have carpets, coffee, and--in the US--fruits and vegetables. These are award-winning filmmakers doing front-line activism--worth the trip in to town.

You can meet the filmmakers at a reception celebrating Robin Romano's photographs this afternoon at 4 pm; room 039, the James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence in Graham Memorial.

Guest Post by George Cianciolo

The Orange Community Housing & Land Trust is kicking off a 30-day fundraiser beginning tonight at Whole Foods on Elliot Road from 5 PM - 8 PM. The fundraiser is utilizing a raffle for four (4) bottles of premium wines. The wines are a Los Carneros Syrah (value $ 16.99), a 2004 Saintsbury Chardonnay ($19.99), a 10-year old Tawny Port ($31.99) and a Ferrari-Carano Merlot ($24.99). The tickets are $5.00 each and the winner gets all 4 bottles. Of course, it is all for a good cause, even if you don't drink. After tonight, tickets will also be available through October 14th at the Land Trust office at 104 Jones Ferry Road, Suite C, Carrboro. The telephone number for the Land Trust is 967-1545.

So, if you can, show your support for the Land Trust and affordable housing in Orange County by buying a ticket (or several).

Thanks.

Guest Post by James Protzman

The idea of communitiy wi-fi is emerging as a potential local election issue -- and would seem to warrant broader public discussion as well.

Some say wi-fi should be a purely commercial undertaking left to the private sector. Others (like me, for example) see wireless connectivity as an increasingly critical part of community infrastructure -- similar to sidewalks, parks and public safety -- services that support the common good.

My view is simple: we cannot allow the issue of connectivity to become yet another element in the growing "digital divide." That is, no one should be disadvantaged for not having resources to buy high-speed access for their homes and families.

There are plenty of ways to think about this and many experiments going on around the country. Some of them are reported here . . . and I'm sure there are other good resources. If you know of any, please share them.