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.

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 )

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/

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)

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

RadioActive 2/04/10

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Segment 1: On February 8th, the Bangor City Council will vote on an ordinance that would allow Bangor homes in residential zones to keep up to 6 chickens in their yards.   Guest: Thomas Young, farmer and organizer

Segment 2: On February 23rd, the Alliance for a Clean & Healthy Maine will organize and host a “Lobby Day” in Augusta concerning a number of bills the legislature will rule on which will effect environmental and human health in the state.    Two in particular are:  LD1547 “An Act to Revise Notification Requirements for Pesticide Applications Using Aircraft & Air Carrier Equipment”, and LD1631 “An Act to Provide Leadership Regarding Recycling of Consumer Products”   Guest:  Taryn Hall Weaver, Toxics Action Center   FMI: www.cleanandhealthymaine.org or 207-871-1810

RadioActive 1/28/10

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Topic: LD 1611: “An Act To Ensure Humane Treatment for Special Management Prisoners”

State Representative Jim Schatz (D-Blue Hill) has introduced legislation that is aimed at reducing abuses of solitary confinement in Maine’s prisons.  Today we take a closer look at the legislation, the reasons it was proposed, and why it has drawn widespread support from a growing, diverse coalition of groups & individuals in the state.
LD 1611 “An Act To Ensure Humane Treatment for Special Management Prisoners”, would, if passed, do several things to reduce abuses on the SMU’s in Maine’s prisons.   It would protect severely mentally ill prisoners from being placed there, require the discharge of those who develop major mental illnesses while in solitary, restrict the use of restraints, chemical agents and other corporal punishment, require a system of reviews— and a need for justification for long-term placement on the SMU, and prevent prison officials from transferring prisoners out of state if they were to be placed in prisons that still allow such abuses.
Guests:
Emily Posner, Mainers Against the Abuse of Solitary Confinement, www.maineprisonproject.org
Reverend Stan Moody, former state legislator, former chaplain at the Special Management Unit, or SMU at Maine State Prison. He’s the  author of “Crisis in Evangelical Scholarship” and “McChurched: 300 Million Served and Still Hungry”, and author of several articles about his experiences there, that have been published in Village Soup.  He currently serves as pastor at the Meeting House Church in Manchester.  FMI: www.stanmoody.com & www.villagesoup.com
Alysia Melnick, Maine Civil Liberties Union FMI: www.mclu.org
Sheila Comerford, Executive Director, Maine Psychological Association
Link to text of LD 1611:

As we’ve reported previously on RadioActive,  State Representative Jim Schatz (D-Blue Hill) has introduced legislation that is aimed at reducing abuses of solitary confinement in Maine’s prisons.  Today we take a closer look at the legislation, the reasons it was proposed, and why it has drawn widespread support from a growing, diverse coalition of groups & individuals in the state.
Prisoners on the Special Management Units, or SMU, spend 23-24 hours per day in solitary confinement.  LD 1611 “An Act To Ensure Humane Treatment for Special Management Prisoners”, would, if passed, do several things to reduce abuses on the SMU’s in Maine’s prisons.   It would protect severely mentally ill prisoners from being placed there, require the discharge of those who develop major mental illnesses while in solitary, restrict the use of restraints, chemical agents and other corporal punishment, require a system of reviews— and a need for justification for long-term placement on the SMU, and prevent prison officials from transferring prisoners out of state if they were to be placed in prisons that still allow such abuses.

Guests: Emily Posner, Mainers Against the Abuse of Solitary Confinement, www.maineprisonproject.org
Reverend Stan Moody, former state legislator, former chaplain at the Special Management Unit, or SMU at Maine State Prison. He’s the  author of “Crisis in Evangelical Scholarship” and “McChurched: 300 Million Served and Still Hungry”, and author of several articles about his experiences there, that have been published in Village Soup.  He currently serves as pastor at the Meeting House Church in Manchester.  FMI: www.stanmoody.com & www.villagesoup.com
Alysia Melnick, Maine Civil Liberties Union FMI: www.mclu.org
Sheila Comerford, Executive Director, Maine Psychological Association
Link to text of LD 1611:www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280035042

RadioActive 1/21/10

Producers/Hosts: Amy Browne & Meredith DeFrancesco

The Natural Resources Council of Maine is calling upon it’s membership to attend public hearings in Augusta tomorrow on what it calls “Three of the most important bills of this legislative session”.   Matt Prindiville, the Project Director of the Toxics and Clean Production campaign at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, is with us today to tell us why the NRCM considers LDs 1662, 1631 and 1568 to be so important
And as we’ve reported in the past on RadioActive,  legislation has been introduced that would regulate the use of Solitary Confinement in Maine prisons, which many believe is being used abusively.    At a press conference in Augusta this morning it was announced that a coalition of groups has come together to work for the passage of LD 1611 “An Act to Ensure Humane Treatment of Special Management Unit Prisoners” (sponsored by Rep. Jim Schatz, Blue Hill), including the Maine Civil Liberties Union, the Jeremiah Project, the Maine Psychological Association, the NAACP- Portland Branch, and the Maine Council of Churches. We speak to Emily Posner of Mainers Against the Abuse of Solitary Confinement.  FMI: maineprisonjustice.org

The Natural Resources Council of Maine is calling upon it’s membership to attend public hearings in Augusta tomorrow on what it calls “Three of the most important bills of this legislative session”.   Matt Prindiville, the Project Director of the Toxics and Clean Production campaign at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, is with us today to tell us why the NRCM considers LDs 1662, 1631 and 1568 to be so important.  FMI: www.nrcm.org

And as we’ve reported in the past on RadioActive,  legislation has been introduced that would regulate the use of Solitary Confinement in Maine prisons, which many believe is being used abusively.    At a press conference in Augusta this morning it was announced that a coalition of groups has come together to work for the passage of LD 1611 “An Act to Ensure Humane Treatment of Special Management Unit Prisoners” (sponsored by Rep. Jim Schatz, Blue Hill), including the Maine Civil Liberties Union, the Jeremiah Project, the Maine Psychological Association, the NAACP- Portland Branch, and the Maine Council of Churches. We speak to Emily Posner of Mainers Against the Abuse of Solitary Confinement.  FMI: maineprisonjustice.org