RadioActive 1/9/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Mining Bill at BEP; Divestment from Fossil Fuels

Key Discussion Points:
a) Today we discuss the ongoing moves to change Maine’s mining laws,which open the state up to metallic mining, without regard for environmental consequences or adequate industry clean up responsibilities.
b)Tomorrow the state Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) is expected to approve a new set of rules, which would send it on the legislature.

We also look at the movement to divest colleges and universities from the fossil fuel industry, and a bill in the state legislature which would similarly divest Maine Public Employees Retirement System.

Guests:

A) Beth Ahern, Maine Conservation Alliance; Maine Mining Watch
www.maineminingwatch.org/

B)Sarah Linnekan, climate activist with 350 Maine

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RadioActive 1/2/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: 20th anniversary of the Zapatista uprising; Rally of Unity in Maine

Key Discussion Points:
a) Today we look at the Zapatista movement, on the 20th anniversary of the uprising in Chiapas, on the day the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect. The uprising was an accumulated response to centuries of colonization, poverty, repression and authoritarian and neo-liberal structures, particular to the experience of the indigenous people of Chiapas. However, it was not just a push back, or a call for government reform; it explicitly focused on the creation of alternative models. The analysis of the Zapatatista movement and it organizational examples has been profoundly impactful on social movements across the globe.
b) We look at the Zapatista Escuelitas, open to participants outside the community, for the purposes of application to the struggles in the places they’ve come from.
c) We look ahead to the second annual Rally of Unity, in Augusta, coordinated by a broad network of environmental, social justice and democracy groups “Alliance for the Common Good”.

Guests:

A) Tony Nelson, Mexico Solidarity Network, Centro Autonomo and the Autonomous University of Social Movements in Chicago.

www.mexicosolidarity.org/

enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/

Periodismo de abajo

roarmag.org/2013/08/escuelita-zapatista-10-year-autonomy/

B) Chris Buchanan, organizer with Defending Water for Life, and the Stop the East West Corridor

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RadioActive 12/5/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Fraud and Repression in Honduran Elections; Fast Food Wages Rally

Key Discussion Points:

a) We look at Hondurans elections, rife with numerous instances of election fraud recorded by election observers. Despite this the European Union and the U.S. Have verified the oficial results, in favor of the National Party, the party behind the coup and who was declared the winner of the following elections.
b) Violence against social movement activists and journalist has been continuous since the 2009 military coup, and intensified against supporters of the LIBRE party preceding the elections, including at least 18 killed in the past year.
c) Today, fast food workers in 100 cities are walking off the job in a one day strike for higher wages. Supporting rallies were expected in close to 100 more cities, including Ellsworth.

Guests:
A) Grahame Russel, director of Rights Action, www.rightsaction.org/
B) demonstrators at Ellsworth rally for increased wages at fast food restaurants, including members of the Ellsworth Community Union. www.facebook.com/communityunionofellsworth

Additional links:
therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11164&updaterx=2013-12-08+15%3A13%3A10
upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4584-the-results-of-the-elections-in-honduras-were-changed-says-european-union-observer-
upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4590-honduras-beyond-the-eye-of-the-electoral-storm
upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4580-the-different-souls-of-the-libre-party-and-repression-against-honduran-students
www.ips-dc.org/reports/fast-food_ceos_rake_in_taxpayer-subsidized_pay
www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/05/us-usa-employment-fastfood-idUSBRE9B40WW20131205
www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/12/05/fast-food-strike-wages/3877023/
www.thenation.com/blog/177451/fast-food-strikes-hit-100-cities-thursday#
upsidedownworld.org/main/honduras-archives-46/4601-international-election-monitors-in-honduras-do-they-ensure-clean-elections-or-whitewash-fraud

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RadioActive 11/21/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: The 19th Conference of Parties(COP) to the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change conclusion and analysis

Key Discussion Points:

a) The UN climate talks in Warsaw were meant to build towards a goal of a binding agreement in 2015, but even this modest directive has disintegrated. Today, established environmental groups and other social movement representatives walked out of the COP 19, saying they felt not enough was being done. They say they will focus on building a movement to pressure on governments for the next conference.
b) Main areas to be addressed at the climate talks are the mitigation of climate change, adaption to the increasing extreme weather effects and funding for countries who are the hardest hit, the least able to afford it, and have had the least contribution to carbon dioxide levels. On Wednesday, members of the G77 and China temporarily walked out negotiations on “loss and damages”, responding to the lack of engagement by developed countries, who want to put off the issue until 2015.
c) With all the current carbon dioxide emissions reduction goals submitted by party countries, there is still a projected mitigation gap of 8-13 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide. To hold the planet to 2 degree Celsius, CO 2 emissions can’t exceed 44 gigatonnes by 2020. With the current party goals, the planet will be at 52-58 gigatonnes at 2020.

Guest:
A) Janet Redman, the Institute for Policy Studies, director of the Climate Policy Program.

Home


www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/21/mass-walk-out-un-climate-talks-warsaw
www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/20/climate-talks-walk-out-compensation-un-warsaw
climate-connections.org/
allafrica.com/stories/201311210409.html
allafrica.com/stories/201311210463.html
www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/20/climate-change-fight

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RadioActive 11/14/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Climate Change and Increasing Storm Intensity

Key Discussion Points:
a) As the 19th round of UN climate talks open in Poland and the Philippines reels from Typhoon Haiyan, climate scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Kevin Trenberth, talks about how global climate change effects the intensity of extreme weather, like typhoons.
b) Trenberth discusses the science behind how rising temperatures and rising sea levels effects the severity of storms, how carbon outputs effect ocean acidification,
c)and some of the recommendations for mitigation outlined in a recent report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Guest:
Kevin Trenberth, climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

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RadioActive 11/7/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Penobscot Nation Natural Resources director on the work to protect the health of the Penobscot River Watershed

Key Discussion Points:

a) Today we hear a talk by John Banks, a member of the Penobscot Nation and the Natural Resources Director for the tribe. He has been an active and tireless advocate for environmental sustainability and tribal rights.
b) In his talk, he outlines the Penobscot Nation’s work to protect the health of the Penobscot River Watershed from the impacts of paper mill dioxin, to the work of the Penobscot River Restoration Project to dismantle dams, allowing for the expansion of fish species into original habitats, to legal issues on state vs federal control over pollution permits, with explicit industry pressure, and now the tribes current court case to oppose the 2012 state Attorney General’s opinion that the Penobscot Reservation does not include any of the Penobscot River.

c) John Banks spoke at the University of Maine’s 10th annual Eco-Peace Sustainability Training and International Affiliates Conference on October 25th in Belfast. This years Conference was titled “Reclaiming the Commons : Water Ethics and Nature Rights in Maine”. We spoke with organizer Hugh Curran on RadioActive October 10th, 2013.

Guest:

A) John Banks, Natural Resources Director for the Penobscot Nation; Penobscot tribal member

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RadioActive 10/31/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Potential Tar Sands Pipeline and Waterfront Protection Ordinance in South Portland

Key Discussion Points:

a) On November 5th voters in South Portland will weigh in on proposed “Waterfront Protection Ordinance”.
b) The underlying motivation for it’s crafting is an attempt to stop a potential reversal of the Portland Montreal Pipeline to carry tar sands oil from Montreal to South Portland for export, linking to the Energy East tar sands pipeline project in Canada.
c) Portland Pipeline Corporation denies plans to reverse the pipeline at this time, and says the Waterfront Protection Ordinance will harm industry in South Portland.

Guests:

A) Sarah LaChance, 350 Maine

B)Jim Merril, Bernstein Shur Group, New Hampshire State Director (www.thebernsteinshurgroup.com/), spokesperson for Working Waterfront Coalition and Portland Pipeline Corporation (www.pmpl.com)

C)Bob Klotz, 350 Maine (350maine.org)

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RadioActive 10/3/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Medicaid Loophole in ACA, Maine

Key Discussion Points:

a) Despite the Affordable Care Act’s original design to have coverage in the US, the courts granted states the right to opt out of the Medicaid expansion portion of the law, which would provide subsidies for those who could not afford it. In the first 3 years, the federal government would pay 100% of the program, and after that 90%. 26 states, including Maine have opted out. Though Maine’s legislature approved the Medicaid expansion, LePage vetoed it, forcing the opt out.
b) On January 1st, 70,000 Mainers will lose or be denied access to healthcare through Medicaid. 24, 000 will lose MaineCare through state cuts and an additional 45,000 who would have been covered by the ACA’s Mediciad expansion will be left without coverage.
c) We also look at yesterday’s unveiling by LePage’s Offcie of policy and Management proposal to make over $30 million in state cuts, including to Head Start and General Assistance, and at House Republican leader, Rep. Fredette’s two bills that would reform Maine’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Guest:
A) Christine Hastedt, Maine Equal Justice Partners, (www.mejp.org)

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