Category: Specials

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Program Topic: Social Protest, Social Change & the Role of Art
Key Discussion Points:
a) Role of art in society
b) Role of artist as citizen
c) Ability of social protest art to be shown in galleries and museums
Guests:
A) Robert Shetterly, artist
B) Alan, Magee, artist
C ) Martha Piskuskas, moderator
Call In Program: no

Unedited. Recorded by Matt Murphy

FMI: www.mofga.org , http://www.beyondpesticides.org/

From the MOFGA website: “For more than three decades, Jay Feldman has been hammering away at the likes of Monsanto, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Dow, Dupont, Bayer, Syngenta and pesticides industry lobby groups such as the misleadingly named RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment).

Feldman cofounded the advocacy organization Beyond Pesticides and has been its director since 1981. Like MOFGA, Feldman seeks a transition to a world free of toxic pesticides. Under his leadership, Beyond Pesticides maintains a well-organized, national network of allies who pressure the chemical industry, raise awareness among the general public, and promote safer alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The organization’s primary goal is to effect change through local action, helping individuals and community-based organizations stimulate discussion on the hazards of toxic pesticides while providing information on safer alternatives.

Many of us in Maine will appreciate the fundamental belief that Feldman shares with communities threatened by pesticide pollution: People must have a voice in decisions that affect them directly. Decisions should not be made for us by chemical companies or by decision makers who either do not have all of the facts or refuse to consider them.

In addition to Feldman’s commitment to Beyond Pesticides, he serves on the National Organic Standards Board, which makes recommendations to the USDA on policies regulating production and distribution of organic food and products.

2012 marks the 50th anniversary since the publication of Rachel Carson’s, Silent Spring. Please come hear Feldman’s thoughts about our country’s continued reliance on pesticides, and about how we can transition to a world independent of synthetic pesticides.”