Democracy Forum 3/17/17

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine    
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Two Maines: Can We Bridge the Divide?

Key Discussion Points:
a) We’ll talk about the cultural, demographic, and economic differences that define the two Maines and how those differences are sharpening political differences. b) Are there only two Maines?
c) Can we bridge the divide?

Guests:
a) Alan Caron, is the owner of Caron Communications and the author of “Maine’s next Economy” and “Reinventing Maine’s Government”
b) Erin Rhoda, Editor of Maine Focus for the Bangor Daiy News bangordailynews.com/staff/bdn-maine/content/erin-rhoda/
c) Matt Stone, journalist and writer for the Bangor Daily News

To learn more about this topic:
What So Many People Don’t Get About the U.S. Working Class, Joan C. Williams in the Harvard Business Review, November 30, 2016 hbr.org/2016/11/what-so-many-people-dont-get-about-the-u-s-working-class%20
6 takeaways from an examination of rural Maine’s future, Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News, January 29, 2017 bangordailynews.com/2017/01/29/mainefocus/6-takeaways-from-an-examination-of-rural-maines-future/
This remote Maine region has a chance to grow, Matt Stone, Bangor Daily News, December 7, 2106 mainefocus.bangordailynews.com/2016/12/wilderness-and-a-way-forward/#.WLsNjfnyuUk
Maine’s Next Economy: How the State’s Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Doers are Growing a New Prosperity, Alan Caron, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 16, 2015)

The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes:
Starr Gilmartin
Maggie Harling
Linda Hoskins
Ann Luther
Maryann Ogonowski
Pam Person
Leah Taylor
Linda Washburn

FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org

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Notes from the Electronic Cottage 3/16/17

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Amidst the huffing and puffing that passes for government these days, you may be forgiven if you haven’t heard that the very important Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire at the end of 2017 unless Congress renews it. This is a part of FISA that attempts to control, albeit to a less than optimum degree, what the NSA can and cannot do within the borders of the United States. It is a really important law that could stand improvement.

For background info:
theregister.co.uk/2017/02/15/section_702_mass_surveillance
aclu.org/search/section 702

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Maine Currents 3/15/17

“Democracy Lives in Truth” Rally & Welcoming City Resolutions in Maine

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Joel Mann

Segment 1: Speakers at Saturday’s “Democracy Lives in Truth” rally in Bangor: Sean Faircloth, Kimberly Hammill, Stacy Leafsong and James Varner The rally and march that preceded it were hosted by Mainers for Accountable Leadership and cosponsored by Indivisible: Bangor, Standing For The Common Good, Bangor Racial and Economic Justice Coalition, Food AND Medicine Peace and the Justice Center of Eastern Maine.
FMI:
Mainers for Accountable Leadership www.facebook.com/groups/223438051414968/
Indivisible: Bangor www.facebook.com/groups/indivisiblebangor/
Standing for the Common Good www.facebook.com/groups/245994745824081/
Bangor Racial & Economic Justice Coalition www.facebook.com/BangorREJC/
Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine www.facebook.com/Peace-Justice-Center-of-Eastern-Maine-102131166536360/
Food AND Medicine: www.facebook.com/foodandmedicineme/

Segment 2: Several towns in Maine have joined others across the country in adopting what are known as “Welcoming City” resolutions. Today we’re going to talk with some of the organizers: Nicolle Littrell of Belfast, Becca Shaw Glaser of Rockland, Elisabeth Goodridge of Appleton and Betsy Sweet of Hallowell.
FMI:
Details on Belfast’s petition for a resolution: www.change.org/p/please-sign-to-support-adoption-of-this-resolution-to-make-belfast-maine-a-welcoming-city-for-all
BelFem (group organizing Belfast’s efforts to pass a resolution): www.facebook.com/belfemgroup
Village Soup article about Rockland’s resolution passing: knox.villagesoup.com/p/rockland-council-oks-diversity-resolve/1632942
Appleton’s Resolution reads:
“Appleton is a home to people from all walks of life, whose heritage and origins are diverse, and is a community whose well-being depends on the security, serenity, and mutual respect of all its citizens.
Therefore, Appleton is resolved to respect the dignity of all people, promote civil discourse, and honor diversity in all forms. We as a town and individuals will work to make our community a place where all people feel safe in their homes, on the streets, in our schools, and within the community at large.
Appleton is resolved to be a community where all people are welcome.”

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

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