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2008 Chávez Commemoration Home • Calendar of Events • Resources • Media
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Berkeley Daily Planet
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
B-Tech Addresses Increase in Latino Student Population
By Riya Bhattacharjee
Berkeley Technology Academy’s (B-Tech) hour-long discussion on youth violence with Barrios Unidos co-founder Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez Friday was the first of many events the school hopes to host for its Latino students, who make up 45 percent of the school’s population. For full story go to:
BUSD Marks Cesar Chavez Day
Riya Bhattacharjee, April 1, 2008
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 4, 2008
Commentary:
Must We Stamp His Footprint Into Nature to Remember Cesar Chavez?
By Alesia Kunz
I’ve been walking at the Marina and Cesar Chavez Park for 14 years. My dog Grace loved our walks and runs around the perimeter and in the center where it was pure nature. In the early 1920’s the area was the city municipal dump and in the 1990s it was landscaped and converted to a public park, North Waterfront Park. Now, Cesar Chavez Park, it has become a beautiful haven for all manner of nature beings with a Wildlife Sanctuary at the northern end. Red tail hawks, black shouldered kites, hummingbirds, finches, crows, ravens, pelicans, burrowing owls, ground squirrels, rabbits, feral cats, gopher snakes, great blue herons, snowy egrets, Northern Harriers, sea gulls and more. There are beautiful native plants, sages, fennel, pampas grass, purple and white statice, pine trees, purple thistle plants, matilija, or, “fried-egg” poppies, and crimson clover. It’s wild with nature. I walk there every day to enjoy the sounds, scents and sights....
FULL STORY
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 18, 2008
Commentary:
The Nature of Cesar Chavez
By Rafael Casal
Since my childhood, the Berkeley Marina has been a place of sanctuary and reflection for my wandering mind and feet. As a child I went to birthday parties there, flew kites on windy days, and rolled down the big hills with my hermana. It was a place of infinite beauty, with a panoramic view of the bay area and a sunset that no words could be tailored for. Before we’d leave, my father would always calm us to take a moment and appreciate our place in the universe. We would breathe in deep, feel the setting sun against our faces, and stare at the horizon with a humbling appreciation for the world we often forget is bigger than ourselves. To this day, I still frequent the Berkeley Marina and César Chávez Park, and am always met with the same feelings of reflection and awe during my peaceful visits. FULL STORY
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 7th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
CHAVEZ’S FOOTPRINT
I would like to respond to the commentary in the March 3-6 edition of the Berkeley Daily Planet, “Must We Stamp His Footprint into Nature to Remember Cesar Chavez?” I have been a Berkeley waterfront commissioner during all of the discussions of the off-leash area for dogs and the Solar Calendar/Cesar Chavez Memorial. For both of these proposals there was a great deal of public input that reflected a division of opinion between leaving things pretty much as they are or making changes seen by some as an “intrusion on nature.” The off-leash dog area the writer of the commentary now enjoys was opposed by many as vigorously as the writer now opposes the Solar Calendar/Cesar Chavez Memorial. It has been my experience that people on both sides of this ongoing debate between leaving things pretty much alone for the benefit of the flora and fauna or development for the primary benefit of human beings have perfectly valid opinions. It’s not that there’s a correct position; it is that each of us has an opinion based on our life’s experiences and an evaluation of the impact of the proposed change. I have supported both the off-leash area for dogs and the Solar Calendar/Cesar Chavez Memorial because all things considered, I thought they were the best use of the land. Not everyone is thrilled with the off-leash dog area as the appropriate use of the land, but, all things consider, it has worked out pretty well. (I’m not thrilled with how restricted access is to Eastshore State Park Meadow, but my point of view didn’t prevail in this instance.) In my opinion, the Solar Calendar/Cesar Chavez Memorial will be a wonderful cultural, educational, scientific, and aesthetic addition to Cesar Chavez Park that will add to the visitor’s experience of coming to the spectacular Berkeley Waterfront. I think we are most fortunate in Berkeley to have a dedicated group of citizens putting in the time and effort necessary to make this vision a reality.
Brad Smith
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 7th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
TOLERANCE
Alesia Kunz is put out because nobody consulted her before engraving the words Hope, Courage, Tolerance and Determination on rocks surrounding a solar calendar on the top of the old Berkeley dump, now named Cesar Chavez Park. She thinks his spirit would be better served if we left nature alone.
Frankly my dear, Cesar Chavez wouldn’t give a damn. He would be too busy organizing the jornaleros who stand on Hearst Street in all weather with Hope to find work and with little leverage to demand a fair wage and rest breaks. Chavez would wonder at the contrast between the Courage of these men and the leisure of shoppers on nearby Fourth Street. He would reckon that the cash a laborer earns in a day of backbreaking work, if he is lucky enough to get picked up, is less than an item on sale in the trendy stores.
Chavez would wonder why a city known for its Tolerance hasn’t done more to fix acceptable standards for wages and working conditions for the jornaleros.
If you need help, the Multicultural Institute has a website where you can apply for a laborer who has Determination to do a good job. The going wage is $12-15 an hour.
Toni Mester
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 7th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
NEO-STONEHENGE
Each year, at the approach of spring, there are two events that I look forwards to.
First, is the high-noon ringing of the Peace Bell at City Hall—part of a global celebration of the Vernal Equinox—and walking up the hill at the Chavez Memorial to gather ‘round the neo-Stonehenge sundial and marvel as the sun and moon dip and rise simultaneously—a celestial curtsy to the planet’s dance.
Gar Smith
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 7th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
CHAVEZ SOLAR CALENDAR
In 2002 when I moved to Berkeley from Southern California, I was delighted to discover the waterfront park, but even more thrilled to stumble upon the solar calendar on a hill top. A dump transformed into a public park and a circle of stones honoring the sun and four directions?! Too good, and I praised the City of Berkeley. I also went online to learn more about the solar calendar. For some reason, unlike your March 4 opinion writer, Alesia Kunz, I didn’t find it difficult to get information, nor to be informed about upcoming meetings, which I attended, regarding the development of the monument. I stood in favor of allowing the solar calendar to become a permanent feature of the park.
If it had been up to me, I would have left it as it was in 2002: boulders, small enclosing mounds, central stone. I would have left off the didactic words, let go the ties to a specific man. But this was a community effort and I would rather have the solar monument with qualifications than no calendar at all.
The relationship of the sun to the earth is the primary relationship of life as we know it. To stand on a hill top and know where you stand in relation to the greater cosmos is the function of such a site, and sites like it created by humble humans throughout the ages in all cultures. It is an awe-inspiring experience made possible by thoughtful placement of markers in space and time. Nature is not willy-nilly. It has form and structure and exactitude. Yes, you can set your clock to its rhythms. The solar calendar atop Cesar Chavez park is a sacred spot, and even though I no longer live in Berkeley, I still travel to this circle on the solstices and equinoxes, to honor the forces of forces of life, forces far greater than myself.
Carolyn Radlo
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 7th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
SOLAR CALENDAR
Regarding Alesia Kunz commentary and the Solar Project at Cedar Chavez Park: Ms Kunz has really missed the point of the solar calendar at Cesar Chavez park. My friends and I hardly see the solar calendar as “stomping on nature,” To say, as Ms Kunz does, that these rocks lay like tombstones crowding out the natural world seems a sorry characterization.
This is a special place indeed, visited by many and for many different reasons. I have attended several of the informal gatherings held there at sunset on special days of the year and since I was born on the autumnal equinox a visit to that spot on the hill has been a regular part of my birthday celebration for years.
Despite the fact that it was built on a dumping ground for garbage, this is a unique and beautiful park with a stunning view of the glorious Bay Area. The addition of the solar calendar does not diminish this place but truly enhances it. The careful placement of stones aligned to mark the movement of our planet around the sun celebrates awareness, spiritual connection, and human intelligence.
I for one, am grateful for Santiago Casal and the other tireless volunteer citizens who have taken the time to “attend those meetings” necessary to carry forth a sustained vision. This is a simple yet meaningful tribute that can be enjoyed by those who visit the area intentionally or just happen to stumble upon it by accident. The solar calendar is not complete nor even permanent. Perhaps more Berkeley residents will come forward and support the full vision of a lasting monument that honors Mr. Chavez and encourages all visitors through tolerance, courage, hope and determination to be reminded of our place in the solar system.
Claudia Smukler
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 11th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
SLIGHT DEVELOPMENT
I want to add my voice to those of Berkeley residents who find the slight development at the top of Ceasar Chavez park a great addition to our city. I frequently walk there at sunset (without a dog), and love the sense of wonder and beauty that I feel by following the stone prompts. Standing at the center of the installation and watching the sunset (or, in fact, the spinning of the earth) is beautiful to me.
I am less interested in the political history (although I respect Mr. Chavez), but quite inspired by being reminded of the relationship of our planet to our solar system and beyond. I always feel uplifted and 'bigger' afterwards, less bogged down in my own petty fears. I am pleased and proud that the City of Berkeley made the decision to support this development. In addition, the informal and informative gatherings during solstices and equinoxes are a very welcome community-growing activity. I love the park, and look forward to future, carefully planned development there.
James Shallenberger
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 11th, 2008
Response to Commentary:
GREAT EDUCATIONAL FEATURE
Since the issue of appropriateness of the Cesar Chavez Solar Calendar Project has been brought up again, I'd like to point out some of it's positive qualities that I feel greatly outweigh any perceived intrusion on nature.
1. It is a great educational feature to raise peoples' awareness and understanding of the relationship of Earth, Sun, and sky. Four quarterly observances (solstices and equinoxes) not only serve as remembrance of Chavez, but have mini-workshops about the seasons, aimed at understanding how the motions and orientation of the Earth with respect to the Sun have profound influence on us.
2. In it's current form, it's actually quite harmonious with nature in that the largest features--the rocks that mark the sunrise and sunset points at solstices and equinoxes--are all just plain rocks and completely in keeping with the "natural" setting of the former municipal dump, now turned park. The "non-natural" features are not particularly intrusive and provide fascinating information: The gnomon serves as an important element which will be a central feature of a Sun Dial---something I absolutely love when I come across them in parks, rare as that may be. I view sun dials as a real treat, each being so unique and having a "character" attuned to the local setting. And the plaques explaining about the Sun Calendar features and commemorating Cesar Chavez are quite small, but very helpful and informative.3. It's very very small by comparison with the 17 acres of off-leash area for dogs--hardly any impediment for dogs to chase any the wildlife there to their heart's content. Sorry for the bit of sarcasm here, but I cannot resist pointing out the irony in Alesia Kunz's depiction (Daily Planet 2008-03-04) of a beautiful haven for all manner of beings complete with domestic dogs chasing rabbits and birds. I witnessed someone there being bitten by one of the off-leash dogs. In truth, I feel that the modest arrangement of stones is not much intrusion, if any at all, on the natural setting. Far less than certain dogs that cannot refrain from threatening the local animals and human visitors, including small children. There are thankfully few dogs like that, but all it takes is one in a bad mood to intrude on your calm, your appreciation of nature, or bite.
Ms. Kuntz perhaps was unaware of the lengthy process that happened leading to the Solar Calendar, including full vetting at several Waterfront Commission meetings and City Council sessions. Lots of the issues she raised were thoroughly examined at those meetings before approval of the project. Many of those of us who favor the project are nature-lovers, dog-lovers, and are quite sympathetic to those concerns as well. The planners took great care in the design of the project to be harmonious with the setting.
Alan Gould
Astronomy Educator
Berkeley Daily Planet
March 18th, 2008
SOLAR CALENDAR
Editors, Daily Planet:
I read the March 4 commentary by Alesia Kunz, which, though well written, somehow missed the mark for me. The solar calendar that has been installed there is not at all intrusive to the surroundings. It is, in fact, an ideal location for an installation of this sort and has been put in place in a very respectful manner. There are no restrictive buildings or trees so that a 360-degree view can be had by everyone whether or not they are there to see the installation.
Alesia seems to be angered just because there are a few stones placed in specific locations at the top of this hill. Rather than looking at them as impediments to her enjoyment she can simply think of them as objects for meditation or even to sit on while enjoying the view. She did correctly indicate that this portion of the park is outside the leash free zone so it won’t even hinder her dog from having any more fun or freedom than it would have without the calendar being there.
The four stones she called tombstones are not at all intrusive in the area. They do not ever rise above the four rocks marking North, South, East, and West. These “large” rocks are themselves only three or four feet in size. They certainly should not cause the anguish that Alesia seems to have. Her life must be quite limited if this is all that she has to worry about.
I have been at several of the solstice and equinox events held there during the last year or so. They have all been well attended by a group of respectful people interested in how our world fits into the larger scheme of things. It is always humbling when trying to grasp the larger picture of how we fit into the cosmos. One way to do this is to watch the sun rise or set. Hopefully Alesia can attend one of these gatherings and realize an installation like this is not just a monument to Cesar Chavez but on a larger scale is a monument to how we fit into the universe.
Russell Nelson
WORDS FROM CHAVEZ
Editors, Daily Planet:
March 28-31, 2008
On March 31 we celebrate the birthday of the late Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers. Hopefully this will a national holiday some day, for Chavez was a true American hero.
Chavez fought for the rights of all beings, not just the farm workers. Unbeknownst to many of his followers, Chavez was a long-time vegetarian for ethical reasons. One of my most treasured possessions is a letter he wrote to me on Dec. 26, 1990 in support of my animal welfare efforts. It contains these insightful words:
“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival, dogfighting and cockfighting, bullfighting and rodeos are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.”
Words to live by.
Eric Mills, coordinator
Action for Animals
Oakland