RadioActive 4/1/10

Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne, Meredith DeFrancesco, Carolyn Coe

Segment 1:  Speakers from the recent Active Community Teach-In held in Bangor and sponsored by the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine:  MaryBeth Sullivan, social worker at Preble Street in Portland, and member of the Bring Our War $$ Home Coalition; and Peter Kellman, labor leader, labor history writer and educator, and member of US Labor Against the War.    The provide background on the Bring Our War $$ Home campaign, and a labor perspective on U.S. military history

Segment 2:  Special “news” for April 1, 2010

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 3/25/10

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Earlier today the Maine House of Representatives voted down the Health and Human Services Committee’s minority report on LD 1706.  The proposed bill would have required labels on cell phones sold in Maine, warning of potential health risks, including brain cancer, and would have specifically cautioned against their use by pregnant women and children.
The public hearing LD 1706 drew experts from the scientific and medical fields across the US and Europe, cell phone industry lobbyists, and a great deal of media attention, but the bill did not make it out of committee.
As we’ve reported, both here on RadioActive, as well as on Weekend Voices, some of the expert testimony from the public hearing on LD 1706 was not available, due to an apparent technical glitch with the webstream from the State House.   With the assistance of Representative Andrea Boland, sponsor of the bill, we were able to obtain a copy of the audio from an independent videographer, Liz Barris, and with her permission we are able to bring you these excerpts today, from expert witnesses who flew to Maine from different parts of the US, and even Europe, to testify at the public hearing in Augusta on March 2nd.  Not exactly the missing Nixon tapes, but important nonetheless, as we are left to educate ourselves on this issue.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 3/18/10

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Topic:

Today we look at how the health insurance industry’s still unbridled quest for profits hits close to home.  Tomorrow state courts will hear Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s lawsuit against Maine for stopping their proposed 18% rate increase.

We also hear an editorial on a bill which would require cell phones to carry labels cautioning consumers on the health hazards of their radiation.

And we also review upcoming events which we will be covering in the next few days, concerning the war in Afghanistan,  the constitutional rights of corporations, and mountain top removal coal mining.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 3/11/10

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Not many Mainers may realize it, but trash processing and disposal is a growth industry in Maine. A number of quick moving policy changes and bills making their way through the state legislature are slated to expand commercial waste facilities, further increase the stream of out of state waste being processed and disposed of in Maine, and would re-define what is considered “green energy”, despite the environmental costs of burning trash and producing land fill methane.
On today’s program we share reporting done by Indymedia correspondent Hillary Lister. We also interview Debbie Gibbs, selectperson for Alton, which borders the West Old Town waste facility, and Gloria Fredrick, long time resident of Norridgewock, the location of Maine’s only remaining commercial waste facility, since the 1989 ban on such dumps. Current propose policy changes seek to overturn that ban.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 3/4/10

Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne & Meredith DeFrancesco

Guest contributor: Meaghan LaSala

Topic: LD1611– Legislation to address abuses of solitary confinement in Maine’s prisons

Also: A broadcast of “Outside the Box”, produced by Larry Dansinger, on the topic of “Charity vs. Change” (which is also archived individually at: archives.weru.org/outside-the-box/outside-the-box-3210 )

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 2/25/10

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Topic:  Cell Phone Dangers & Pending Labeling Legislation

Interviews with investigative journalist & blogger Christopher Ketcham, author of a recent article that is drawing national attention to dangers associated with cell phones (“Warning: Your Cell Phone May Be Hazardous to your Health”— GQ Magazine, Feb.2010), and with Maine State Representative Andrea Boland who is introducing LD 1706, “An Act To Create the Children’s Wireless Protection Act”.

The Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing re: the proposed legislation, on March 2, 2010 at 1p.m.   The public may offer written or verbal testimony at that time.   Rep. Boland advises that in order for written comments to be entered into the record, the committee must receive 20 copies by mail at the following address:  Health & Human Services Committee, 100 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 prior to the hearing on 3/2/10 or the work session on 3/9/10.  If you are unable to make copies yourself, Rep. Boland can assist you.   Her email is [email protected], or mail her c/o Clerk of the House, 2 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04334  The H&HS Committee can by reached c/o Jan Clark, [email protected]

FMI:  www.christopherketcham.com  http://electromagnetichealth.org/ http://www.gq.com/cars-gear/gear-and-gadgets/201002/warning-cell-phone-radiation,  http://www.microwavenews.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 2/18/10

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Topics: Executive bonuses at Fraser Papers while workers got pay cuts and company filed for bankruptcy,  in 2009.    Legislation to ban toxic DECA in plastic pallets and other pending environmental legislation.  An update on Plum Creek’s massive development plans in the Maine woods.

Guests:  Duane Lugdon, Union Rep. for Maine’s United Steelworkers;  Judy Berke, Natural Resources Council of Maine (www.nrcm.org)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

RadioActive 2/11/10

Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne & Meredith DeFrancesco

Segment 1: A deadline is looming for those hoping to get a public hearing on a large scale industrial wind project in Western Maine.  Today we talk with Jonathan Carter of the Forest Ecology Network, a group that vocally opposes the project.   (FMI: www.forestecologynetwork.org)  Requests for a public hearing on the Highland Wind Power Project (DP 4862) can be emailed by 2/19/10 to [email protected]

And we talk with Heather Spaulding of MOFGA, about LD1547, “An Act to Revise Notification Requirements for Pesticides Applications Using Aircraft and Air Carrier Equipment, which would Streamline Maine’s Pesticide Notification System.  FMI:  www. mofga.org , www.thinkfirstspraylast.org

Link to bill:  www.legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1547&snum=124

Podcast: Play in new window | Download