Category: WERU News Report

WERU News Report 6/18/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: Imagine spending 40 years in a six-by-nine foot cell. That’s been the fate of Herman Wallace, a prisoner in Louisiana. His story, and that of an artist who got to know him, is the subject of a new film called “Herman’s House”, which will be shown in Portland on Thursday night, and followed by a discussion led by writer and prison reform activist Lance Tapley. We spoke with him earlier today, about the film and the prison system here in Maine

Segment 2: In Augusta Monday, a group called “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” joined the “*No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence*” for a rally and the reading of a very long list of names of victims of gun violence. The event was part of a 25-state national bus tour, promoting what organizers call “common-sense” gun policies, including comprehensive and enforceable background checks. We spoke with one of the participants, Larry Gilbert, a former mayor of Lewiston whose years of experience working in law enforcement led him to take on this cause

WERU News Report 6/12/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: In breaking news, today the state legislature passed a law requiring labeling of food containing GMO’s -genetically modified organisms–though it contains a clause that will delay implementation. We spoke with MOFGA’s Interim Director Heather Spaulding by cell phone, as she was leaving the state house this afternoon

Segment 2: In other news from the state house today, the house also voted 97 to 51 to pass the Mainecare expansion bill, taking advantage of temporary federal funding to extend healthcare coverage to more low income Mainers, following a lengthy debate. Here are some of the arguments for and against the bill, starting with Representative Linda Sanborn of Gorham

WERU News Report 6/11/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: The citizen initiated referendum process in Maine is often touted as a true example of grassroots democracy – and it has come under threat in the past from those who would rather not see the public have that power. A bill currently before the legislature seeks to amend the state constitution to limit citizen based referendums on hunting and fishing issues. A coalition of groups is working to fight that, and we spoke with one of the members earlier today, Katie Hansberry, Maine state director for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

Segment 2: On our Peacetime segment this week we conclude our series of speakers from this year’s HOPE festival, who spoke on the topic of “Do One Thing” – each of them speaking for a few minutes about a specific action that they would like to encourage the listeners to consider

WERU News Report 6/5/13

Producer: Carolyn Coe
Host: Amy Browne

Issue: Occupied Palestinian Territories

Program Topic: Demolition of Palestinian Homes

Key Discussion Points:

a) Israeli military practice and strategy of house demolitions
b) joint efforts by Palestinians, Israelis, and citizens of other countries to rebuild demolished homes
c) examples of families whose homes have been demolished

Recorded excerpts from a presentation by Jean Riesman, volunteer with ICAHD FMI: www.icahd.org

WERU News Report 6/4/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

An investigation into the police conduct at a public hearing for the LPG tank proposal in Searsport last November has concluded that the police did not violate any procedures or laws, or act with malice when they physically removed 75 year old Ben Crimaudo from the meeting after he waved his hands and whispered.

We spoke with several witnesses, most of whom were never contacted by the police during the investigation, and were not aware of anyone who was – here’s what they had to say, interspersed with audio we recorded that November night in Searsport

WERU News Report 5/29/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio recorded by John Greenman

The Mabel Sine Wadsworth Women’s Health Achievement Award was presented last week to Dr. Sandra Caron, Professor of Family Relations & Human Sexuality at the University of Maine. Dr. Caron says that even in this age of easy access to information, many college-aged students are still shockingly uneducated about sex. WERU’s John Greenman attended the award ceremony, and we bring you some of that today – edited to fit this time slot. Please note that there are some graphic sexual references, starting about 15 minutes into the program.

WERU News Report 5/28/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio recorded by Meaghan LaSala and John Greenman

Segment 1: Agent Orange, unlabeled GMOs , seed patents, lawsuits against farmers and small businesses —like Oakhurst Dairy here in Maine– Monsanto Corporation ‘s products and business practices have raised concerns about impacts on health and the environmental, the risks of an international corporate monopoly on food, and preferential treatment –and questionable oversight –from the government.
Saturday there were ‘March Against Monsanto’ protests in hundreds of cities around the world. In Portland, several hundred people attended a rally and march.
Meaghan LaSala takes us there

Segment 2: Our weekly Peactime segment, produced in cooperation with the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine. The theme of their HOPE festival this spring was “Do One Thing” or “DOT” and several speakers presented suggestions for one thing people might do to make the world a better place

WERU News Report 5/22/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio recorded by John Greenman

Last month the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine held its annual HOPE festival, featuring a theme of “Do One Thing”. Instead of a keynote speaker, several people were given the opportunity to try to convince the audience to do one particular thing to make a difference in the community. We’ve been featuring some of these on Peacetime in recent weeks, and today we have several more, starting with a song. FMI: www.peacectr.org