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.

Maine Currents 2/22/17

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributor: John Greenman

Segment 1: Public hearings are being held this week on Governor LePage’s proposed 2018-2019 state budget, which would make dramatic cuts to several programs and services that serve some of Maine’s most vulnerable populations. Hospitals, municipalities, social services programs and clergy say they are already stretched beyond their capacities to serve Mainers who fall through the holes that already exist in Maine’s safety nets, and do not have the resources to deal with the consequences of the major cuts being proposed.
The public hearings are drawing overflow crowds to the statehouse. We take you there.

Segment 2: John Greenman reports back from 2 protests in Bangor today, held in conjunction with protests in Lewiston and Portland, calling on Sen. Susan Collins to hold a town hall meeting with her constituents.

Segment 3: A brief update on the developing story at Standing Rock in North Dakota. Standing Rock water defenders were given a deadline of 2pm Mountain time today to leave one of their encampments but some have vowed to stay and continue to resist the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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 12/8/16

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Program Topic: Update from Standing Rock; Solidarity Event in Bangor; Reaction to Trump EPA Nominee

Key Discussion Points:

1) Today we hear an update from Standing Rock where Water Protector camps reorganize, as the Army Corp of Engineers rules against an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under the Missouri River until an Environmental Impact Statement can assess alternative routes.
2) We also look at Trump’s nomination to head the EPA, Oklahoma State Attorney General , Scott Pruitt. Pruitt is known for his pro oil, gas and coal industry stances and his opposition to policies aimed at addressing air and water pollution and climate change.
3) We also hear from some voices from the Solidarity Rally with Standing Rock at the Penobscot River Waterfront in Bangor on December 5th.

Guests:
A) Kandi Mossett, Indigenous Environmental Network
indigenousrising.org/whats-next-for-the-water-protectors-at-standing-rock-coalition-statement/
www.ienearth.org/
indigenousrising.org/
B ) Bob Deans, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) www.nrdc.org
C) Kathy Paul, Penobscot elder, rally organizer, Sunlight Media Collective
D) Hope, Bangor resident
E) Barbra Moore, Penobscot Nation