Notes from the Electronic Cottage 5/17/12

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

The FCC is asking for comments on whether and/or under what circumstances government agencies should be able to shut down cellphone service to protect public safety. That’s a big question. Here’s some context. If you’d like to make a comment, you can do so at apps.fcc.gov/ecfs by May 30, 2012. You can read the comments already made there by others as well.

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Democracy Forum 5/14/12

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters
Engineer: Joel Mann

(NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, this audio file is 47 mins long, and the recording starts with the show in progress)

Issue: Participatory Democracy

Key Discussion Points:
a) Do corporations have too much power in politics and government? What is the source of their power? Campaign finance? Lobbying? How does corpororate economic power translate into political power?
b) Do you think free enterprise and democracy go together? Do concerns about corporate power translate into concerns about capitalism as an economic system?
c) Discuss your ideas on what is needed for a healthy democracy to work? Has our own system been healthier at other times? What would be the proper role of corporations and very wealthy individuals? What can ordinary citizens do to make things work better?

Guest:
Robert Monks, shareholder activist, author, and corporate governance adviser, www.ragm.com/.

Call In Program: Yes

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Talk of the Towns 5/11/12

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Renewable Energy Options

Program Topic: Community and Ecological Impacts of tidal energy in Cobscook Bay
Key Discussion Points:
Sustainability Solutions Initiative… what is the overall approach and who funds it
How does tidal energy fit into the search for alternatives to fossil fuel energy?
What is happening in Cobscook Bay / Eastport to develop a tidal energy alternative?
Ocean Renewable Power Company’s approach and generally, how its technology works? What is the current status of operations?

Guests:
A) Teresa Johnson, UM School of Marine Sciences
B) Gayle Zydlewski, UM School of Marine Sciences
C) David Hart, Director, Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, UM (recording)
D) John Ferland, Ocean Renewable Power Company
E) Will Hopkins, Cobscook Bay Resource Center

Call In Program: Yes

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RadioActive 5/10/12

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Action in Maine to eliminate Bisphenol-A (BPA) from consumer products

Key Discussion Points:
a) In 2008 Maine passed the Kids Safe Products Act. In 2010, Maine passed a law banning the hormone disrupting plastic additive, BPA, from baby bottles, sippy cups and other reusable plastic containers.
b) Maine law also now requires baby food manufacturers to list whether BPA is used in their container lids. Not all companies are complying, though BPA is present. It is also used in the lining of food cans. Citizen movement is pushing for further action on BPA.
c) The LePage Administration, who has vigorously opposed action on BPA, demoted of Department of Environmental Protection employee, Andrea Lani, for testifying at a legislative hearing in defense of strong BPA protections. Lani just won a settlement against the state, but no longer holds he position overseeing the Safer Chemicals in Children’s Products Programs.

Guest: Mike Belliveau, exc. director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, www.preventharm.org, founding organizational member of Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, www.cleanandhealthyme.org

Call In Program: no

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