The Sex Strike
By Alvaro Vargas Llosa, TCS Daily
Some women in Pereira, Colombia, are tired of local gang violence and won't sleep until it stops -- at least not with their husbands or boyfriends. The women of Pereira are taking advantage of the fact that, according to research cited by Alvaro Vargas Llosa, 'violent men apparently consider sex more enjoyable than snuffing their neighbors.' So, if men are forced to choose between sex and violence, peace becomes a more desirable option. Vargas proclaims that even if the tack doesn't work, it is part of a larger victory: civilians actively and nonviolently working to resolve problems, rather than waiting for government and law enforcement to do it for them. (Thanks, Treehugger.) -- Suzanne Lindgren
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=092006C

Invasion of the Foody Snatchers
By Suzi Parker, Grist
Efforts to buy locally and seasonally by patronizing farmers' markets can seem futile when bunches of bananas sneak in among the pumpkins and squash. Indeed, the growing popularity of farmers' markets across the United States has brought with it some negative aspects, reports Suzi Parker. Many markets mislead consumers and harm local farmers by selling produce that's shipped in from out of state or overseas. To address the problem, some cities and states already have banned out-of-area goods at the markets. That's an important move not only for local farmers but for consumers as well, says Parker. As the cost of transporting food across long distances skyrockets, Americans may be increasingly dependent on their local farmers. -- Elizabeth Oliver
http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/09/21/local/index.html