January 17th saw 10,000 people converge on Maine’s Capitol to witness the Women’s March on Maine. The event, organized by ordinary day-to-day women featured a dozen speakers and performers, including Maine Senator Shenna Bellows and Maine Representative Lois Reckitt. Each delivered a talk on the many subjects which concern, not only women’s rights, but human rights, as well. This was the largest event of this kind ever to unfold in Augusta and , perhaps, one of the most well organized. A...
On Oct. 7, Doctor Scott Allen of The Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights addressed a group of students and local citizens about torture. The presentation at the Diamond Building of Colby College in Waterville focused mainly on torture in military prisons overseas, but Dr. Allen pointed out that many of the techniques and methods are used on our own civilian population, as well. Dr. Allen concludes that torture would not be possible without the complicity of doctors.
On September 24th, author Louise Ketchum Hunt, a Penobscot Indian from Indian Island, Maine addressed a full house at the Madison Historical Society. She talked about growing up on Indian Island and how that contributed to her decision to write a book about the Sebastien Rasle and Abenaki massacre by the Massachusetts English Colonial Militia in 1724.
Thanks to Bruce Gagnon and Harpswell TV I’m bringing you another interview from “This Issue”. In this one, Bruce speaks with Christine DeTroy. Christine was brought up in Germany during the pre-war and war years in Northern Germany. She recalls many experiences in the war that most Americans cannot imagine. She spoke of how most of the German people did not protest the Nazi treatment of Jews and other political prisoners. She offers an observation of why they did that. Her answer may surprise...
On August 1st, Veterans for Peace and Code Pink co-sponsored a rally outside the gate at Bath Iron Works during the launch of yet another war ship. The rally's purpose was to encourage the people of Maine to convert the iron works into building products of peace, rather than weapons of mass destruction. Mary Beth Sullivan of Bath gave an overview of the impact of weapons on human beings. Lisa Savage delivered the results of her research on weapons conversion and displayed charts on how, by...
August 30 State Capitol Park, Augusta. 6:30 pm. Over 500 people gathered to speak out against bullies and for compassion. As you might guess, Governor Paul Le Page was the focus of attention. Organized by State lobbyist, Betsy Sweet. Several remedies were suggested by the four guest speakers. One thing they all agreed on: Paul Le Page is in great need of therapy. A moving circle at the end.
From the Harpswell Community TV show “This Issue”. Kay Mann talks with Bruce Gagnon about her web site Green Energy. Her website has become a clearing house for all things green. Land and offshore wind power, solar power, green goods and services, green education and more. Kay emphasizes local control of all these things. Speaking of local control. I speak briefly about the financial problems of many Community Access TV stations and what the viewers of this station can do to help.
On may 18th Regis Tremblay interviewed Professor of History at the American University, Peter Kuznick, in Washington DC. Professor Kuznick cited three popular myths widely believed by the American people: 1 – that America won World War II, 2- that Russia started the Cold War and 3- that the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary to force Japan to surrender. The professor will cite many personal letters and notes and documents to prove these myths to be just that...myths. After...
Sheri Honkala, National Organizer of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign conducted a workshop on April 3 at the State Arboretum in Augusta. Sheri, a former homeless mother from Philadelphia, outlined strategies for the poor to organize themselves and create a movement to lift themselves out of poverty. A diverse group of over two dozen people from all over Maine heard Sheri speak about the problems she had encountered over the years. After watching this, you will have a better...
Late in April, Bruce Gagnon interviewed Richard Rhames, Biddeford farmer on Bruce’s show’ “This Issue” about recent American history and the current state of wealth distribution. Together they will connect many seemingly unrelated events to paint a picture of a crumbling American social infrastructure. Before their presentation, I show a chart comparing the bottom wage earners to the Wall Street gang.
We hear the phrase ranked choice voting quite a bit these days but hear little about it. Former State Representative and Senator, John Nutting has been going about the State of Maine to explain just what ranked choice voting is. Ernie and Gwen Hilton of Starks hosted a group of interested citizens at their Event Barn to hear what John had to say.
In the Summer of 2012, an 84 year old nun, a Vietnam veteran and a carpenter entered the nuclear processing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and for hours painted peace slogans and banged on walls. Finally, security showed up to detain them.
Though this thrift shop was started by a church, it has evolved in a couple of ways. First, and most important it, has become a total community effort. Entire communites, even beyond Madison, are now participating. Completely operated and supplied by volunteers, this thrift shop uses its entire proceeds to help those in need in the whole community, regardless of denomination or religion.
Two stories: First, clips of presenters at the 22nd annual HOPE Festival at the UMO and interactive art with Ripley Artist, Wally Warren. Music was provided by Ethan Miller and Kate Boverman. In the second section, you will hear from Donald Christian, founder of Maine Vocals. In here, he smokes pot in front of the Somerset County Courthouse to protest marijuana prohibition. Segment closes with a tune by Athens singer, John White.
On July 15th I interviewed Jon Olsen, author of “Liberate Hawaii” a book about how the United States illegally overthrew the sovereign country of the Kingdom of Hawai’i and used the military and congress to illegally annex Hawai’i as a territory of the United States. Historical documents show that Hawai’i was recognized by not only other nations but the US, as well, as a sovereign nation. In 1993 the United States issued an official apology to Hawai’i for the overthrow of the Kingdom of...
At the end of April, Madison Electric Works will have IGS Solar of Ohio begin installing 80 acres of solar panels to supply all of Madison’s residential and business electrical needs. MEW, as it is known is a locally and publicly owned utility that has affordable and reliable service for over a hundred years. During the last huge ice storm, Madison lost power for a maximum of four hours. CMP and Bangor Hydro were out for up to two weeks or more. This solar move should keep Madison in a very...
Craig Saddlemire, a Lewiston film maker, premiered his film "Neighbor by Neighbor" at the Lewiston Public Library in February. The film depicts the struggle of poor Lewiston residents at odds with city officials trying to force a highway through their neighborhood.
Bruce Gagnon, host of “This Issue” which originates with Harpswell Community TV interviewed Billy Rixon of 350.org, Maine. Billy will explain about the dangers of climate change through our misuse of this earth’s resources. He will suggest what we can all do to stop and even reverse the process.
A group calling for Le Page’s impeachment and a group supporting Paul Le Page showed up at the State Capitol on January 6th. The pro-Le Page demonstrators had there peaceable rally and the impeach group had theirs immediately after. The impeach group went along fine until the Le Page supporters came over to disrupt the rally.
On October 18th, peace advocate “Kit” Evans-Ford presented a perspective on violence and non-violence. This segment was recorded at the Sacred Heart Spiritual Center in Alfred, Maine on October 18th, 2014.
For the first 3 weeks of April, the University of Maine at Farmington is hosting a film festival dedicated to social justice.
Jack and Margy Flynn, advocates for the Constitution of the United States went into depth about the 7th and 8th Amendments of our Bill of Rights. Basically, the 7th and 8th are about when a person has a right to grievance in a civil court and entitlement to a reasonable bail and fine and is free of cruel and unusual punishment.
On June 20, native people of the Wabanki Nation and their white allies gathered at Sockalexis Arena on Indian Island to talk about injustice being done on the Penobscot River and other parts of Maine to both the Indian and their white brothers and sisters.