RadioActive 8/2/12

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Key Discussion Points:

a) Hundreds demonstrated at the Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in Burlinton, VT July 31st . In the early evening, when a smaller group attempted to peacefully block the road, Burlington police used rubber and pepper bullets against them point blank.

b) Inside the Hilton Hotel conference, the New England Governors, Eastern Premiers and their energy consultants meet on, among other things, what they call “building a clean and cost effective energy future for the Northeast”.

c) Outside, activists from all around the Northeast converged to underscore their opposition to the local and global impacts of a number of proposed regional energy projects. These include Quebec’s $80 billion resource extraction and energy development “Plan Nord” project; the so-called Northern Pass transmission plan to bring energy from Quebec through New Hampshire to New England markets; the proposed private East West Highway which would link Quebec and the Martimes through Maine; and the Trailbreaker pipeline, which is in the process of being reversed to bring tar sands oil from eastern Canada to Portland, Maine, for shipping. Activists from the Innu in Quebec to Mainers living along the the Trailbreaker Pipeline spoke of the community and environmental impacts of these initiatives, including climate change.

Guests:
A) Demonstrators from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Occupy NYC and more
B) Elyse Vollant, Innu First Nations delegation, from Maliotenam indigenous community in Quebec
C) Bill Mckibben, 350.org

www.cutvmontreal.ca
www.towardfreedom.com/americas/2916-connecting-the-struggles-regional-activists-greet-new-england-governors-conference-with-protests
www.350.org
plannord.gouv.qc.ca/english/messages/index.asp
www.northernpass.us/project-overview/route-map
www.workerscenter.org/
vtdigger.org/2012/07/30/environmental-groups-disrupt-governors-conference-cruise/
www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/opinion/game-over-for-the-climate.html?_r=1
intercontinentalcry.org/tactical-unit-dismantles-innu-blockade-against-controversial-hydro-complex/
fsrn.org/audio/headlines-monday-july-30-2012/10655
rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/behind-numbers/2012/04/plan-nord-really-economic-development-tool-qu%C3%A9bec
climate-connections.org/2012/07/29/breaking-news-police-violently-attack-peaceful-protest-in-burlington-vt/

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Healthy Options 8/1/12

Host: Andree Bella
Engineer: Amy Browne
Issue: Health/Violence
Program Topic: “Violence: Our Deadly Epidemic and Its Causes”
Key Discussion Points:
What causes violence?
How does our shame culture help to increase violence?
What can we do to prevent violence in our culture?

Guest:
Dr. James Gilligan, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, New York University

Call In Program: no

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Talk of the Towns 7/27/12

Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Amy Browne
Issue: Public investment in health research
Program Topic: Maine Research Collaboration to Prevent Kidney Disease

•How do kidneys function, why are they important to every day and long-term health? What happens to kidneys and their owners when they have kidney disease? What are the various contributors to kidney disease (genetic, human behavior, environmental factors)? How is kidney disease treated, and what are the costs (quality of life, economic)?
•What reminders do we need about the scientific method, the research process? What is the history of using mice and zebrafish at Jackson Lab and MDI Biological Lab, as substitutes for humans in the research into diseases like cancer, kidney disease?
•What are genes and how do they influence human health? What do we know about genes and kidney function… and how do we know (research on humans, research on mice as “substitutes” for humans?)
•What led to use of zebrafish in this research, and what advantages does this approach have over others?
•We hear about collaboration in many fields today… what brought about the collaboration that is intended in the present partnership (reMaine Healthy) that includes MDI BL, Jackson Laboratory, and Maine Medical Center and its Research Institute? What do you hope to achieve together that you couldn’t achieve on your own
•Phone Interview with Kim O’Brien
oHow has kidney disease impacted your family? Where do you turn for information andadvice? What have you learned so far? How might projects like this help you and other families?
•Where do you hope this collaboration will lead in the future? How can listeners learn more?

Guests:
Jen Litteral, Mount Desert Island Biological Lab
Dr. Hermann Haller, Mount Desert Island Biological Lab
Dr. Ron Korstanje, Jackson Laboratory
Dr. Mark Parker, Maine Medical Center
Kim O’Brien, Mount Desert Island YMCA, parent

Call In Program: Yes

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