WERU News Report 3/23/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributor: Marge May

**NOTE: There are a few seconds of hissing sound at the beginning of this audio file before the show starts.**

Segment 1: Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance of 2011

These ordinances have now been passed in Penobscot and Sedgwick, and been defeated in Brooksville voters by a margin of just 9 votes. The town of Blue Hill will be voting on the issue on April 2nd. For some background on the movement, WERU’s Marge May spoke with a local farmer Heather Retberg, owner of Quill’s End Farm in Penobscot. (Note: This interview originally aired on WERU’s “Women’s Windows”)

Segment 2: Local News Headlines
As hundreds of workers rallied in support of unions in Augusta yesterday, Governor LePage has ordered that a mural depicting labor history in Maine, be removed from the lobby of the Department of Labor. He has also ordered that conference rooms bearing the names of heroes of the labor movement be renamed…
At a statehouse news conference earlier today, sportsmen, lake advocates, and experts on wildlife, water quality and fisheries decried legislative attacks on Maine’s natural heritage (LDs 1, 156, 159, 219, 341, 434, 872, 888, 1022 and 1031)…
A group of small business owners and the Maine Small Business Coalition, held a press conference in Portland yesterday, ahead of the Maine Bureau of Insurance’s public hearing on Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s proposed rate increase on individual health insurance plans…
Animal Welfare Advocates to plan to Lobby State Legislators at the Capitol Tomorrow…

Segment 3: LePage TV
Governor LePage– well known for avoiding talking to media or attending debates when he was on the campaign trail, now has his own TV show. “Inside the Blaine House”, which premiered this week, is hosted by Chamber of Commerce employees and stars the Governor himself… (Time Warner Cable TV and www.MaineVOD.com)

WERU News Report 3/15/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributors: Meaghan LaSala, Carolyn Coe

Segment 1:
Produced by Meaghan LaSala
Meaghan LaSala joins Florida’s Immokalee farm workers at a recent protest

Segment 2:
Reported by Carolyn Coe with assistance from Lindsey Saunders
Topic: sick and injured coal mine workers in Colombia–their struggle for worker protections and union rights
What are the risks these unionists face in the workplace and as trade unionists? How have sick and injured workers organized?
Interviews in Valledupar, Cesar, Colombia
Estivenison Avila, press secretary for the ElPaso local of Sintramienergetica
Eliecer Rojas, vice president of ASOTRED, an association for sick and injured workers in Drummond
Joaquin Villadiego, president of ASOTRED

Related web sites:
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
http://www.business-humanrights.org

Drummond Company
www.drummondco.com

WERU News Report 3/9/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Meredith DeFrancesco

Segment 1: Today we pick up where we left off yesterday in our coverage of testimony at Monday’s public hearing on Governor LePage’s proposed budget cuts. The public hearing was preceeded by a large rally– one of many at the statehouse in recent weeks, in response to LePage’s budget and legislative wishlist. Here are some excerpts.

Segment 2: The Natural Resources Council of Maine is tracking what they call the “50 Worst Bills” for Maine’s environment, that are currently under consideration. Meredith DeFrancesco gets an overview from Pete Didisheim, Senior Director of Advocacy for the NRCM.

WERU News Report 3/1/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Meaghan LaSala

Segment 1: Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center in Bangor, Maine and HR1: Proposed Cuts to Family Planning & Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Choice in Maine
What is the history of the MWWHC? How would HR1’s proposed cuts to Family Planning and Planned Parenthood affect people in Maine? What bills in Maine are targeting reproductive choice? How can listeners learn more?
Guest: Ruth Lockhart, Executive Director of the Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center. www.mabelwadsworth.org

Segment 2: The new “Maine People’s Voting Coalition”- An Interview with Edward Schlick, the group’s founder
Formerly known as the “Maine People’s Veto Alliance”, this new group has already broadened the scope of it’s mission. What are the group’s goals? How many people are involved? How do they plan to use social media to network across the state and mobilize members?