Category: WERU News Report

WERU News Report 4/19/11

Producers/Host: Amy Browne, John Greenman

Supporters of the effort to return Judy Taylor’s History of Maine Labor mural to the Department of Labor in Augusta, held a rally this morning in Bangor, across from the Federal Courthouse, in conjunction with a hearing on their lawsuit which charges that Governor LePage violated citizens’ First Amendment right of access to the mural by removing it. WERU’s John Greenman recorded the event, and this afternoon we have highlights, starting with Art historian Daniel Kany who spoke as the hearing was coming to a close:

WERU News Report 4/13/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Topic: LD 879 “An Act To Ensure Adequate Landfill Capacity in the State for Solid Waste” — allowing the expansion of the Norridgewock dump. The legislation would undo protections put in place after that dump collapsed in a landslide in the late 80s.

The Natural Resources Committee of the Maine State Legislature is holding public hearings this afternoon on several pieces of legislation related to waste disposal in Maine, including LD 879, “An Act To Ensure Adequate Landfill Capacity in the State for Solid Waste” — which activists have called “the bill that just won’t die”. Here to explain why, is Hillary Lister, an environmental activist from central Maine who has spent years researching and working on waste disposal issues in Maine.

WERU News Report 4/12/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributor: Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: The Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing this afternoon on LD 1046
“An Act To Amend the Application of the Maine Human Rights Act Regarding Public Accommodations”, sponsored by Representative Kenneth Fredette. The group “EqualityMaine” is among those opposing the proposed legislation. They say it chips away protections under the Maine Human Rights Act. Here is some of the testimony heard by the committee this afternoon.

Segment 2: AntiWar rallies were held in New York & San Francisco– as well as here in Bangor, Maine on Saturday. The rallies in New York and San Francisco were organized by the United National Antiwar Committee, and endorsed by hundreds of other peace and human rights groups, and were held in conjunction with demostrations being held in the middle east, also calling for peace. One of the speakers in New York was (Ret.) Colonel Ann Wright — a peace activist, the subject of one of Robert Shetterly’s “Americans Who Tell the Truth” portraits, and participant in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that was tragically raided by the Israeli military last year, resulting in several deaths. WERU’s Carolyn Coe recorded her speech, and spoke with her later, during the march.

WERU News Report 4/6/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs heard testimony in Augusta today, on LD 1237 “An Act to Prohibit Bullying in Schools”. The legislation is sponsored by Representative Terry Morrison, who says that it would provide a clear definition of bullying, and guidelines for prevention that are consistent throughout Maine’s schools. Opponents, including the Maine Christian Civic League and representatives of some of the state’s school boards, spoke against the legislation. They say the legislation is unnecessary, removes local control and impedes free speech. The Maine Civil Liberties Union testified as neither in support nor opposed, citing concerns about the scope of the legislation, which they hope can be addressed in an upcoming legislative work session.
Everyone seemed to agree, however, that bullying IS a problem in Maine’s schools. Here is what the high school students who testified at today’s hearing, had to say.

Segment 2: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, who lives in Beit Sahour in the West Bank. He teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. He spoke at USM in Portland on March 27 during his book tour for his most recent book, Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment. His talk titled “Connections: The Palestinian Connection, Arab Popular Resistance, and the US” highlighted examples of sixty-two years of largely nonviolent Palestinian popular resistance and described US-Israel relations.

WERU News Report 4/5/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio contributed by Matt Murphy and Chris Stark
Yesterday, back to back rallies were held at the state house. We have some audio from each of them today on the WERU News Report. First, the “Bring Our War Dollars Home” rally, emcee’d by Bruce Gagnon of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. Following the “Bring Our War Dollars Home” rally, a group gathered to call for the return of the Labor Mural that Governor LePage had removed from the Department of Labor lobby. Artist and activist Robert Shetterly introduces Edgar Allen Beem.

WERU Special: “Understanding Islam in the West” 3/31/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio recorded by: John Greenman

Topic: “Understanding Islam in the West”, a talk by Mostapha Aghamoosa, Graduate student in Chemistry at UMaine. He spoke at the University on March 24th, 2011 as part of the Social and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. The Q&A section was edited for length, to fit this timeslot.

WERU News Report 3/30/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: Listen in on a Work Session on a Constitutional Amendment to Allow Run-off Elections for Governor in Maine

The state of Maine has not had a governor who was elected by a majority of voters since 2002. Governor LePage, like Governor Baldacci before him, won the election with the support of less than 50% of voters. Senator Tom Saviello, a republican from Wilton, is sponsoring an amendment to the state constitution to address that problem by requiring run-off elections between the top 2 candidates, when none receives more than 50% of the vote. The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government held a work session on the bill this afternoon. Senator Douglas Thomas, a Republican from Somerset County , Chairs the committee.

Segment 2: An update on Federal Legislation Cutting Funds for Community Radio with WERU General Manager Matt Murphy

WERU News Report 3/29/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Meaghan LaSala

Segment 1: LD 1129, “An Act To Provide the Department of Environmental Protection with Regulatory Flexibility Regarding the Listing of Priority Chemicals”, and LD 1185, An Act To Amend the Process for Prioritizing Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products
Producer: Amy Browne
The Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard testimony today on 2 pieces of proposed legislation, aimed at revising the Kids Safe Products Act— which was passed in 2008, with the goal of protecting children from harmful chemicals like bisphenol A, or BPA.
LD 1185, An Act To Amend the Process for Prioritizing Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products, is sponsored by Senator Seth Goodall and several co-sponsors, and has the support of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Goodall’s bill would narrow the scope of chemicals for consideration as “priority chemicals”, and require that at least 2 additional priority chemicals be designated by January 1, 2013.
Environmentalists say that the other piece of proposed legislation being presented to the committee today would gut the KidsSafe Product Act. LD 1129, “An Act To Provide the Department of Environmental Protection with Regulatory Flexibility Regarding the Listing of Priority Chemicals” is sponsored by Representative James Hamper, a Republican from Oxford. The Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources was still hearing testimony as we went to air, but here are excerpts from Representative Hamper’s presentation of his bill.

Segment 2: An interview with Sheila Watt-Cloutier, a Canadian Inuk, Nobel Peace nominee and world leader on climate change and human rights.
Producer: Meaghan LaSala
Sheila is also a visiting scholar for the 2010-2011 school year at Bowdoin College’s Arctic Studies Center. Sheila discusses her belief that indigenous voices must be brought to the forefront of international dialogues around climate change, describes the traditional Inuit hunting culture, and details the ways in which this ancient culture is already under threat due to climate change. She explains why the Arctic experiences the minute changes of global warming more drastically than other areas of the world, and how these changes threaten the Inuit way of life. Sheila also discusses her vision of “bridging the gap” between indigenous knowledge and the rationalism of globalization– one that does not consign indigenous cultures to a museum, but rather puts them at the forefront of the solution, with feet planted firmly in both worlds.