WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne, Meredith DeFrancesco, John Greenman

Professor Doug Allen, University of Maine, speaking on MLK, Ghandi, and hope in times of fear.

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Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs heard testimony in Augusta today, on LD 1237 “An Act to Prohibit Bullying in Schools”. The legislation is sponsored by Representative Terry Morrison, who says that it would provide a clear definition of bullying, and guidelines for prevention that are consistent throughout Maine’s schools. Opponents, including the Maine Christian Civic League and representatives of some of the state’s school boards, spoke against the legislation. They say the legislation is unnecessary, removes local control and impedes free speech. The Maine Civil Liberties Union testified as neither in support nor opposed, citing concerns about the scope of the legislation, which they hope can be addressed in an upcoming legislative work session.
Everyone seemed to agree, however, that bullying IS a problem in Maine’s schools. Here is what the high school students who testified at today’s hearing, had to say.

Segment 2: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, who lives in Beit Sahour in the West Bank. He teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. He spoke at USM in Portland on March 27 during his book tour for his most recent book, Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment. His talk titled “Connections: The Palestinian Connection, Arab Popular Resistance, and the US” highlighted examples of sixty-two years of largely nonviolent Palestinian popular resistance and described US-Israel relations.

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Producer/Host: Valentine R. H. King

Topic: Peace as Reality

Do people need violence?  Are people afraid of peace?  What must individuals do to create a peace investment?

Guest: Doug Allen, University of Maine Professor, also activist for Bangor Peace & Justice Center

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Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Contributors: Carolyn Coe, Lawrence Reichard

Segment 1:  Husam Zomlot and Ann Wright, speaking at the United for Justice with Peace strategy conference titled “Breaking the Siege of Gaza” on June 19,2010 in Cambridge, MA :  What are activists doing to build the movement and to end the seige of Gaza and U.S. support for the occupation of Palestine?  What was the experience of the passengers aboard the humanitarian flotilla raided by the Israeli navy?  Producer: Carolyn Coe

Segment 2: Lawrence Reichard report on conditions in Honduras, on the 1 year anniversary of the coup.

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Producers/Hosts: Meredith DeFrancesco & Amy Browne

Today, as we wait to hear back from the most recent delegation of human rights activists to visit Gaza, we bring you an interview with Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian peace activist now living in the U.S.  Meredith spoke with him in June 2009, when he was in Bangor, speaking at an event was co-sponsored by the Eastern Maine Chapter of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom (the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace) and The Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at George Mason University, where Aziz Abu Sarah is a Senior Research Associate.

FMI: www.gmu.edu/departments/crdc , www.azizabusarah.wordpress.com

You can also hear the talk given by Aziz Abu Sarah (recorded by Carolyn Coe, and broadcast on WERU’s Weekend Voices in June 2009), here:  http://archives.weru.org/voices/weekend-voices-62709

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Executive Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributors: Meredith DeFrancesco & Marge May
Topics: Organizer Jerry Call on the Single-Payer Universal Health Care Rally in Augusta (today from 12-2p.m at the Statehouse). FMI:www.mainehealthcarereform.org;
Jim Bahoosh on the “Come Boating” program in Belfast. FMI:www.comeboating.org;
Ina & Esu Anahata and Danny Garcia on the “Peace, Water and Wisdom” walk for the BARKA Foundation and their work on Burkina Faso West Africa. FMI:www.barkafoundation.org, www.globalwalk.cc, email inaandesu@barkfoundation.org, and www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxvjl5z3DvU;
Sonali Kolhatkar on Afghanistan. FMI: www.uprisingradio.org or http://loveandsubversion.net

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Producer/Host: Anita Arnold

Topic: Peace-At the surface and at the core

What is peace as a noun?  As a verb?  How does peace start with the individual and result in a changed, more peaceful world?  Describe the peace studies program at the University of Maine— what are it’s goals and mission?

Guest: Phyllis Brazee, Director of the Peace Studies Program at the University of Maine

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NOTE: The show aired while the station was broadcasting at low power due to technical difficulties–the result is a “hiss” in the recording in the latter part of the show.

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