Meanwhile, in the Red Zone, violence persists
Filing this report from a 'Green Zone' near Sacramento - a Green Zone being a place where if you call the cops, they come. Things work more or less in Green Zones. How much of America is in a Green Zone? I dunno. Anyway, in this Green Zone, lots of bicycles, takin' back the streets. Protests. That's life in a Green Zone.
Filing this report about life in the Red Zone. Sacramento has one (most major cities do) - it's the place where the cops do not go, where you are on your own. This is life in a Red Zone. And this. And this.
Of course you never quite know where you are. No maps show the zones. The boundaries are fluid, indistinct.
THE FEMA CAMPS
I found two out here in the Central Valley. One outside Sac and one down by Modesto. People packed in pretty compactly. People who have fled the cities. Fences for security. Surrounded by ag land. The people in the camps go out and work the fields, or tend their own gardens. The National Guard gives the orders. They don't like people like me coming around, asking questions.
So let me put it out there, people: do you have FEMA camps where you are? Who's in them? What are they for?
SECESSION
Just now catching up on the Dustbowl in Australia, from drowned_saved. And been hearing lots about Cascadia. Running a little short on oil seems to be exposing the fractures that were there all along? Cheap oil was the bandaid that held it all together I guess. The feel-good narcotic.
MISSIONS
Lots for you to do, people, if you're lucky enough to live on the Green side of the line. Chuckles has requested something this site needs more of - photographic evidence. I like this mission from Gracesmom A LOT. And saint3milion's 26 Things Whatever Without Oil still has plenty of play left. Anda_sf - she gots game. Peakprophet posed this excellent reconnaissance mission. Bodi Lane wants to see photos of cool bikes. And FallingIntoSin has her Changing Lanes Challenges. And look, some SERIOUS political action from eigenseide. mPathytest explains why we all need to do this.
Shoutin' out to some brave Missioneers: First, my fave, eek in Ocean Beach, grazing the landscape in response to platonicpimp's Guerrilla Gardening challenge. Willwithoutoil, so locally clean. Miawithoutoil, buying music direct. Cycleboy, vacationing without oil. Yeebee29 answered Illiana's Mom's Day mission. Shirauo took up pippa brighton's bright solar idea. And really bigg props to peakprophet, who conquered X, the toughest Whatever Letter. And more besides, sorry, I can't keep up. See all of the mission challenges and responses HERE.
GOTTA RUN
Inky urged you to listen to the podcasts, and of course we all say SPEAK UP, tell your story. In an email, or a phone call, or a blog post, but especially with more photos and video. Document what's going on, people, or else it'll be rewritten out from under you.
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