RadioActive – Page 5 – WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

RadioActive 3/9/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Program Topic: Report on Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act

Key Discussion Points:

1) Today we hear part of a March 2nd presentation before the Maine State Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, on new report examining the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act, authored by the Suffolk University’s Indigenous Rights Clinic and commissioned by the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission.
2).The report, “The Drafting and Enactment of the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act: Report on Research Findings and Initial Observations”, includes a compilation of documents and communications from the time of the Settlement Act negotiations, with particular examination of such issues as reserved rights to resources, unabrogated treaty rights, conflicts of terminology between sustenance and subsistence, “internal tribal matters”, and the application of federal Indian law in Maine.
3). We hear interviews from the four of the five Wabanaki tribal chiefs present.

Guests:
Nichole Fredricks. Report author, Suffolk University’s Indigenous Rights Clinic, www.mitsc.org/documents/157_2017-2-22Suffolk.MICSAReport.Final.Feb2017.pdf
Chief Kirk Francis, Penobscot Nation, www.penobscotnation.org/
Chief Brenda Commander. Houlton Band of the Maliseet, www.maliseets.com/index.htm
Chief Charlie Peter Paul. Aroostook Band of the MicMac, www.micmac-nsn.gov/
Chief Ralph Dana, Passamaquoddy at Sipayik, www.wabanaki.com/

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

RadioActive 2/23/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Penobsoct Water Protectors at Standing Rock, as police, federal agencies and the North Dakota National Guard move in to evict the Oceti camp at Standing Rock
Key Discussion Points:
1) Today we speak with Penobsoct Water Protectors June Sapiel and Dawn Neptune Adams, who are at Standing Rock, as police, federal agencies and the North Dakota National Guard move in to evict the Oceti camp at Standing Rock.
2) Under the directive of a Trump executive order, the Army Corp of Engineers halted an Environmental Impact Study and issued the last easement needed by Energy Transfer Partners to lay the Dakota Access Pipeline across Standing Rock Sioux treaty lands, directly above their reservation and under the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe, source for the area’s water supply.
3) Though legal challenges are still in court, the company has resumed construction of the pipeline.

Guests:
June Sapiel, Penobscot Water Protector at Standing Rock
Unicorn Riot, live stream from www.unicornriot/ninja
Dawn Neptune Adams, Penobscot Water Protector at Standing Rock

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

RadioActive 2/16/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Update from Resistance to Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock

Key Discussion Points:
1) Penobscot Water Protector Dawn Neptune Adams and Indigenous Environmental Network organizer Kandi Mossett report on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is slated to cross Standing Rock Sioux treaty lands, directly above their reservation and under the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe, source for the area’s water supply.
2)Under the directive of a Trump executive order, the Army Corp of Engineers halted an Environmental Impact Study and issued the last easement needed by Energy Transfer Partners to lay the Dakota Access Pipeline across Standing Rock Sioux treaty lands, directly above their reservation and under the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe, source for the area’s water supply. Though legal challenges are still in court, the company has resumed construction of the pipeline.
3) The Dakota Access Pipeline is slated to carry fracked oil from the locally polluting Bakken Shale fields, an extraction operation effecting the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation at the Fort Berthold Reservation. IEN organizer, Kandi Mossett is a member of this Nation.

Guests:
Dawn Neptune Adams, Penobscot Water Protector at Standing Rock
Kandi Mossett, Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) www.ienearth.org www indigenousrising.org
indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/fort-berthold-reservation-to-provide-backdrop-for-international-discussion-on-energy-and-climate-change/

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

RadioActive 2/2/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Dakota Access Pipeline Divestment Protest at TD Bank in Bangor, Update on DAPL and Standing Rock, Council on American-Islamic Relations Federal Suit on Muslim Ban

Key Discussion Points:
1) On Saturday, January 28th, close to 300 people demonstrated at TD Bank’s Stillwater Ave, Bangor branch in Bangor. TD Bank, along with 16 other financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and Citibank, are major investors in the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is slated to cross Standing Rock Sioux treaty lands, directly above their reservation and under the Missouri River’s Lake Oahe, source for the area’s water supply.
2) At the end of last year, the Army Corp of Engineers withheld granting the necessary easement to construct the pipeline segment near Standing Rock until the EPA could conduct an Environmental Impact Statement. The Trump administration, however, is pressuring for an expatiated approval.
3) We also speak with the Council on American-Islamic Relations on their federal lawsuit on behalf of 20 individuals challenging the constitutionality of the Trump Administration’s Muslim travel ban.

Guests:
A) participants in Standing Rock/TD Bank protest including: June Sapiel, Penobscot tribal member, Don White, Bucksport resident, Kimberly Hammill, Bangor Racial and Economic Justice Coalition, Cecil from Waterville, Margot Roberts, Bangor, Isis Moon, Bangor, Mariah Helms, Monroe
B) Jade Begay, Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) ienearth.org indigenousrising.org
C) Lena Masri, Council on American Islamic Relations, litigation director and acting civil rights director cair.com

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

RadioActive 1/26/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice
Program Topic: Inauguration Demonstrations In DC: Disrupt J20 and Women’s March

Key Discussion Points:
1) Today’s hour long edition covers the inauguration demonstrations in DC this past weekend, both the Disrupt J 20 on the day of the inauguration of Donald Trump and the historic Women’s’ March, which flooded the city with over a half a million people the day after.
2)Demonstrations on the day of the inauguration, were reportedly the largest in US history. We hear from march participants in the Disrupt J 20 Festival of Resistance march and speakers from the rally that followed, addressing a wide range of issues that will intensify under the Trump Administration.
3) We also hear from participants from the Women’s March on January 21st in DC. The Trump inauguration team had blocked the Women’s March from getting a permit for the Mall, but the reportedly half a million people overwhelmed the permitted site on Independence Ave. Rather then stay on the march route, people streamed across the city, taking over streets in spontaneous, giant, leaderless marches towards the Mall and as close to the White House that barricades would allow.

Guests:
A) participants at January 20th inauguration protest march
B ) Jacquelyn Cordoba, International Indigenous Youth Council
C) Chase Iron Eyes, Standing Rock Sioux
D) Daraksham Raja, Muslim American Women’s Policy Forum and Washington Peace Center
E) Melissa Miles, It Takes Roots
F) Evan Greer, musician and activist
G) Michael Moore
H) Son of None, musician, police brutality and mass incarceration activist
I) Participants in Women’s March in DC
J) Taina Asili, musician, police brutality and mass incarceration activist

RadioActive 1/19/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Planned Disrupt J 20 Inauguration Actions and Discussion on Trump’s Nominees’ Impact on Environment and Climate Change

Key Discussion Points:
1) Reporting from Washington DC, the day before the inauguration of Donald Trump, we look at the protests planned for tomorrow, including the Disrupt J 20 direct action blockades of the inauguration entrances.
2) We also look at what Trump’s nominees to head the EPA, the State Dept, the Dept of Energy and the Dept of Interior could mean for environmental health and climate change.
3) We discuss the urgency of climate change and the need for action.

Guest: Janet Redman, climate justice activist, part of coordinating committee of the climate contingent of Disrupt J 20; policy analyst for Oil Change, in Washington DC

RadioActive 1/12/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Governor LePage’s proposal to build a privately run mental healthcare facility in Maine

Key Discussion Points:

1) Today we take a closer look at Governor LePage’s proposal to build a privately run mental healthcare facility in Maine, and what that could mean for quality and continuity of of patient care, transparency and legislative oversight
2) There is a national trend towards the privatization of mental healthcare. One of the bidders for the Maine facility id Correct Care Solution who has be criticized for it record in for profit prison facilities.
3) We also look at other labor issues in the state, including the implementation of this elections referendums on the minimum wage and income tax reform.

Guests by name and affiliation:
Shelby Moreau, mental health worker at Riverview Psychiatric Center, Vice-president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, local 1814
Sarah Bigney, Maine AFL-CIO

RadioActive 1/5/17

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Board of Environmental Approves Passes Mining Regulations

Key Discussion Points:

1) Today, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection voted to support changes to environmental regulations that would allow metallic mining in Maine. The Proposed rule changes now go to the legislature.
2) Over the paste past 5 years, the Department of Environmental Protection has tried to push the rule changes through the legislature, where it has been voted down. Changes to Maine’s mining law were originally designed by JD Irving, who has interest in mining Bald Mountain in Aroostook County.
3) Widespread public opposition has organized around com batting the DEP’s proposed rule changes, while trying to offer alternative protections to the state’s current inadequate statute.

Guest: Lindsay Newland Bowker, Environmental Risk Manager, Bowker Associates, Science and Research In the Public Interest