VIDEO: Power for the Powerless : California's New Immigrant Voice

With increased media coverage of the national immigration debate it has become more difficult for young people to navigate the media messages they receive and formulate their own ideas and opinions around the issue. A young poet in San Jose California, Yosimar Reyes, is helping high school students navigate these confusing messages in a safe and fun environment free of judgment.

VIDEO: Berkeley Stand Off

Ever since the Marines placed a recruiting center at the center of Berkeley the peace loving citizens of this liberal town have been up in arms, literally. Leading the fight is Code Pink a women centric peace organization co-founded by Medea Benjamin. Determined to shut the office down Code Pink has been protesting outside of the recruitment office 5 days a week. Located on Shattuck avenue right at the center of Berkeley protesters fear that the Marines will pull young people from near by UC Berkeley Campus and Berkeley High School with promises of training, education and at times US citizenship.

After taking notice of the strong disdain for the Marines the Berkeley City Council joined the fight by passing 29 different resolutions aimed at discouraging the military recruiters from conducting their business. Code Pink was given a parking pass and permit to use a loud speaker right in front of the office every Wednesday. The council also delivered a letter to the recruiters calling them unwanted inside the city limits of Berkeley.

Already having great dislike for the "peace loving residents of Berkeley" right wing media and Military supporters have respond in kind with their own protest of support for the office. This past week the council meet again to revisit the issue. This time they were courted by hundreds of Peace Activists and Pro Military Supporters.

Video : Biodiesel, California Trend or Sustainable Solution

From a high powered motorcycle to a community fueling station, learn why thousands of Californians are turning to Biodiesel.

VIDEO: Green for All : Moving Oakland into the Green Economy

Like many industrial cities in America, Oakland California has suffered over the past several decades from the loss of jobs to overseas manufacturing. A port city in one of the largest economies in the world Oakland sees little of the money that passes through to neighboring towns. In the heart of the SF Bay Area she has seen economic growth take off all around her. This economic depression is one of the key ingredients to Oakland’s soaring crime rate. With few jobs to come home to Oakland’s young and incarcerated often bounce right back to prison once released.

Working for more than 20 years to alleviate the suffering of Oakland’s poor and marginalized youth Van Jones discovered what he hopes to be a solution. With the soaring demand for skilled labor in the “Green Energy” sector and scores of out of work residents Van launched a Green Jobs Campaign. Established in 2007 this campaign quickly gained local and national attention. With a new mayor committed to making Oakland a model “Green” city and the allocation of $250,000, 2008 will see the birth of the Oakland Green Job Corp.

In September of his year 40 unemployed and underemployed residents will begin a 3-month training course in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Retro fitting followed by a 6-month internship at one of the programs 10 local partners. From a bio-diesel manufacturing plant to a solar panel installation operation, these companies will provide the trainees essential on the job skills. Although no jobs have been created to date Van Jones, Mayor Ron Dellums and the staff at the Ella Baker Center have committed to creating 250,00 green collar jobs in the coming years. As the Ella Baker Center’s Executive Director Jakada Imani said fear is their only major obstacle.

I promised Van I would come check on their progress…