Earthquakes have long been feared as natural disasters that occur with no advance warning. But a different detection methodology is hoping to change that.

Actually making a prediction of a probable earthquake on the way is a risky proposition, admits Tom Bleier (left),  the man behind Quakefinder. So he's committed to sharing that information directly and quietly with emergency officials, and will let them determine what, if anything, they want to make public.

Quakefinder's network of sensors recently added one, on private land in Wikiup. Their full array of locations is shown on the map below, along with a typical  sopilar-powered sensor (photo courtesy of Bay Citizen).

Joining a national protest movement, even knowing that it will result in getting arrested, is one thing. But actually going through that experience for a first time, is something rather different.

Coordinated, peaceful protests don't happen spontaneously. Kenna Lee recounts the preparation she underwent the day before taking her place among the soon-to-be-arrested demonstrators outside the White House.

Not everyone who was there to oppose the pipeline took part in the direct action on the sidewalk each day. Lee says she was supported by a host of vocal encouragement from the crowd that was on hand across the street in Lafayette Park, a group that she readily joined the following day.

Before she left Sebastopol, leaving her three kids for three days while she took part in the protest, Lee tried to help them understand why she was going, but with limited success.

For a deeper explaination of the issue behind the protests and demonstrations, see this previous North Bay Report.

Kenna Lee, a mother of three from Sebastopol, is committed to leaving her kids a healthy planet for their kids. So she's jumped into the effort to block a proposed tar sands pipeline running from Canada to Texas.

Unlike many large environmental issues, the ultimate decision on whether or not the Keystone XL pipeline goes forward or not does not require Congressional action. Instead, Kenna Lee explains, it is solely up to President Obama. That's why the increasingly hihg-profile demonstrations against the project are being directed specifically at the White House.

Opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline is being coordinated by TarSandsAction.org, a coalition of environmental and climate change organizations convened by Bill McKibben's 350.org.  A summation of their position is presented in this video.

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The coalition has  organized a series of daily protests and demonstrations which continued in Raleigh North Carolina Wednesday as the visited that city. Read a report from the scene here.

Cultural stereotypes, ethnic profiling, and simple racism combine to raise fears and risks for Muslims in American, even those who were born here. A local cleric calls this growing problem "Islamophobia."

Imam Ali Siddiqui, a Sonoma County religious leader and peace activist, has been speaking out about the increasing discrimination and verbal attacks that are being directed at Muslims in America. He is especially distressed by the way MUslim women are being targeted.

Imam Siddiqui will speak on "Islamophobia in America" on Wednesday, September 14, at 7 pm, at Congregation Ner Shalom, 85 La Plaza in Cotati. It's an appropriate venue, he says, as Islam, Judaism and Christianity all share a common patriarch, Abraham.