Coastal Conversations 3/24/17

Producer/Host: Paul Anderson
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Maine coastal and ocean issues

Program Topic: Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network

Key Discussion Points:
National Science Foundation grant to the University of Maine to establish the Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET).
Aquaculture is an important part of the food system and is being integrated into Maine’s multi-use working waterfront.
Graduate students working across disciplines are creating and interdisciplinary approach to answer complex societal questions about how aquaculture can grow sustainably.

Guests:
Libby Gorse, Graduate Student, University of Maine
Molly Mason, Graduate Student, University of Maine
Ben Scuderi, Graduate Student, University of Maine
Amalia Harrington, Graduate Student, University of Maine

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RadioActive 3/23/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Legislative Hearing on Metallic Mining in Maine

Key Discussion Points:

1) On Monday, the Maine Legislature’s Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a public hearing on seven different bills pertaining to metallic mining in Maine.
2). The issue came front and center in 2012, when JD Irving sought to change Maine’s rules to allow metallic mining at Bald Mountain in Aroosook County. Despite two legislatures voting down rule changes on the basis of environmental and clean up concerns, the State Dept. of Environmental Protection continues to push similar rule changes in this session.
3) We hear testimony from Rep Ralph Chapman who is co-sponsoring three bills. LD 253 would repeal the 2012 rules back to the protective 1991 standards. LD 254, seeks a moratorium until sound policy can be implemented. LD 685 would establish a panel of mining to ensure protection of Maine’s environment.

Guests:
Representative Ralph Chapman of Brooksville, sponsor of LD 253, LD 685, LD 254
Maine Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Melanie Loyzim

This program was produced in partnership with the Sunlight Media Collective.

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Maine Currents 3/22/17

What’s Been Happening in Augusta While Attention Has Been on DC?

We listen in on some of the public hearings held by the state legislature this week.

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: Monday the Committee on Taxation considered several bills that would overturn the results of Question 2 on Maine’s ballot last November, which was approved by voters. By passing Question 2, voters approved a 3 percent surcharge on household income over $200,000 a year, with the revenue earmarked to fund public education.

Segment 2: LD 882, “An Act Prohibiting Public Entities from Contracting with, and Investing in, Companies That Boycott the State of Israel”. The bill targets the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement that successfully applied financial pressure to help end apartheid in South Africa –and has in recent years been focused on the government of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians. FMI: legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280063780

Segment 3: LD 914, “An Act To Establish Indigenous People’s Day”- a bill that would replace Columbus Day with an Indigenous People’s holiday statewide
FMI: legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_128th/billtexts/HP064201.asp

For information about the legislature, including contact info: legislature.maine.gov/

Maine Currents- independent local news, views and culture, every Wednesday at 4pm on WERU-FM and weru.org

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