community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Rustbelt Radio for May 14, 2007
by Pittsburgh IMC: Rustbelt Radio collective
Monday, May. 14, 2007 at 10:23 PM
radio@indypgh.org (email address validated) 412-923-3000 WRCT 88.3 FM
On this week's show... * Rustbelt Radio explores the issue of immigration reform, with the help of three respected immigration lawyers. * Mumia Abu-Jamal is scheduled for a hearing that could grant him a new trial * Community Activists develop Anti-Violence initiatives addressing recent shootings in Pittsburgh * Students and teachers at St. Vincent College protest George Bush's commencement speech * and more in our local and global headlines
audio link: 
MP3 at 27.5 mebibytes
Welcome to this week's edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of the news from the grassroots, news overlooked by the corporate media.
On today's show...
Rustbelt Radio airs live every Monday from 6-7 PM on WRCT 88.3 FM in Pittsburgh, PA, and again on Tuesday mornings 9-10 AM. We're also on Pacifica affiliate WVJW Benwood, 94.1 FM in the Wheeling, West Virginia area, on Thursdays from 6-7 PM. And we're on at a new time on WPTS - 10-11AM on Wednesday mornings on 92.1 FM from the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
We're also available on the internet, both on WRCT's live webstream at W-R-C-T dot ORG and for download, stream or podcast at radio dot I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot org.
We turn now to local headlines.
In response to a recent surge in gun violence, including last Sunday's daylight shooting in Homewood that left three teenagers injured, as well as last month's daytime shooting in downtown Pittsburgh, community groups and Mayor Ravenstahl have both launched new anti-violence initiatives. A collaboration between One Hood and the Black Political Empowerment Project, called the Anti-Violence Initiative, is looking at the root causes of violence and ways to address the lack of educational and economic opportunities in many Pittsburgh Communities. Ravenstahl also has plans for community initiatives including Adopt A Block, a faith-based initiative whereby congregations adopt the areas around their churches. But the Mayor's approach to the crime problem is focused on enforcement. He has proposed the installation of surveillance cameras and deployment of police on foot patrols. Paradise Gray, a community activist with One Hood and the Anti-Violence initiative questions this increased enforcement strategy as a way to combat violence.
One Hood has their own brand of foot patrols, in which a group of men from diverse backgrounds, faiths and communities gather and walk the streets of violence afflicted communities.
Over the past week various community institutions like the YMCA of Homewood and Peabody and Westinghouse High School have held events featuring Cle "Bone" Sloan an ex Los Angeles Blood gang member who spoke about gang life as a "deathstyle" not a "lifestyle" and encouraged youth to seek other life paths. Organizations throughout the Pittsburgh area say they will continue to host similar events to examine the root causes of violence, in order to strategize and implement community based responses to build a healthy vibrant city.
After 25 years as an inmate on Pennsylvania's Death Row, Mumia Abu-Jamal has been granted a new hearing for May 17th. As an independent radio journalist and former Black Panther member in Philadelphia, Abu-Jamal was charged in 1981 with the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, and convicted in a trial which has been widely criticized as unfair and tainted by racism. Since then he has been fighting for a new trial, while continuing his radio work as a weekly commentator from his cell at the State Correctional Institution in Greene County, about 60 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.
People worldwide have been fighting for Mumia's freedom, using his case to shed light on the racism and classism that run deep within the United States criminal justice system. By continually clamoring for his release, activists and lawyers have secured a new hearing for Mumia. On Thursday, May 17th a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia will hear legal argument on whether the death sentence should be upheld, or whether Abu-Jamal should get a new trial or a new sentencing hearing.
Tamika Cage, a visiting English professor at Bucknell university reads Mumia's Lawyer, Robert Bryan's, statement on the importance of the trial.
On May 17th, thousands of people are set to converge on Philadelphia to stand in Solidarity with Mumia during his hearing. Tamika Cage believes it is important for this trial to be public.
All across the world, people are holding Solidarity actions to demand a new trial. Pam Africa the coordinator of The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal says of the hearing (quote) "Mumia can still be executed. Further, since the Supreme Court is unlikely to hear his case, this is realistically his last chance to get a new trial. We understand that they're getting ready to kill another Black revolutionary who has refused to bow down and suck up to his oppressor. His case represents all that is wrong with this system. We must take action now before it's too late." (end quote)
On Friday, May 11th, President Bush delivered the commencement address to St. Vincent’s college graduating class of 2007. But it was not only the family and friends of the graduates who were visible in Latrobe, PA for the address. There was also a demonstration taking place to protest Bush’s appearance.
For the past month 6 weeks Students, Professors and members of the Basilica have been protesting Bush's appearance by holding weekly vigils. These vigils aimed to create a visible presence of dissent to Bush's appearance that would lead up to the large protest of the commencement celebration. Elizabeth Donohoe, an organizer of the vigils and commencement rally, says they were barred from holding their protest close to the commencement activities.
Donohoe stressed the importance of standing up to the powerful elite
For more on local news, you can visit pittsburgh dot I-N-D-Y-M-E-D-I-A dot org.
You are listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news overlooked by the corporate media. We turn now to news from other independent media sources around the world.
In honor of Mother's Day and the anniversary of Rachel Carson's birth, Rustbelt Radio now reports on new research linking breast cancer to environmental exposures.
Breast cancer rates in America are among the highest rates in the world, affecting one in 8 women at some point in their lifetime. The prevalence of breast cancer in American women has risen steadily over the last several decades, and many have proposed a link between this rise in breast cancer and the proliferation of chemicals in our environment. People alive today have an unprecedented body burden of chemicals accumulated from environmental exposure. Most chemicals used in industrial production and in common products such as soaps, make-up and household cleaning products have never been thoroughly tested for health impacts.
However, solid documentation of the link between environmental exposures and breast cancer has proved elusive. Much of the research on cancer has focused on identifying genetic causes. But now an emerging new paradigm in health research has led some researchers to ask different questions, and the evidence is mounting. Many studies have now documented that a wide variety of chemicals can mimic the hormones in the human body and disrupt our internal signal systems. Cancer is one of the many health problems this disruption can cause. A major study of the effects of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women showed that these hormones elevate the risk of breast cancer by 24%. In fact, 2007 is the first year in which a decline in breast cancer cases has been observed, and researcher attribute the change to the large number of women who ceased hormone replacement therapy after its risks were made public. Since artificial hormones increase breast cancer risk, chemicals that mimic these hormones are almost certain to carry the same risks.
Sandra Steingraber, author of the book Living Downstream, describes a close-to-home example of this phenomenon:
Specific mechanisms for the pathways by which cancer is caused through hormone mimicry have also already been documented for some chemicals, such as the widely used pesticide atrazine.
Furthermore, while many studies have shown that some genes are linked to an increased risk for breast cancer, new research is also showing that genes do not absolutely determine our fates. Genes are turned on and off by control mechanisms in the body, and these mechanisms can be influenced by diet, stress levels, and exposure to environmental toxins. Hence, many cases of breast cancer than are linked to the genes a person possesses are likely also influenced by that person's life experience and environmental exposures.
Dr. Devra Lee Davis, director of the center for environmental oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School:
* devra.wav [1:00]
For more information on links between human health and our environment, visit www.healthandenvironment.org.
You're listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news from the grassroots.
That was Marlon Esguerra and I Was Born With Two Tongues, with "Pillars."
As communities around the country are targeted by raids on migrant workers - like last December’s record-breaking ICE raids, and anti-immigrant ordinances - like those in Hazleton, PA, immigrants and their allies are taking to the streets to demand justice. Meanwhile, government officials debate immigration policies that will determine the futures of millions, from undocumented workers to US citizens seeking legal status for their family members.
New proposals follow a long line of acts, agreements, and ordinances that determined who could enter the US and who couldn't, who could stay and for how long, and at what costs. These costs could be monetary, in the case of high application fees, or emotional, when families are forced to separate for indefinitely long periods of time.
On April 3, 2007, the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act, or STRIVE Act, was introduced to the House Judiciary Committee and Homeland Security Committee. The bill was introduced by Representatives Luis Gutiérrez, a Democrat from Illinois, and Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona. The STRIVE Act, also known as the Gutiérrez/Flake bill, is currently undergoing review in the House.
What would it mean if this act became a law? Rustbelt Radio spoke to three immigration lawyers about the state of immigration in the US today, how things got this way, and the possible impact of a policy like STRIVE.
Attorney Jacqueline B. Martinez of the Pittsburgh-based Immigration and Nationality Law firm ‘JBM Immigration Group’ outlined five types of immigrants: family members of citizens, workers, asylum seekers, diversity lottery winners, and those affected by so-called amnesty laws, like the immigration reform and control act of 1986:
Many people who enter the US from other countries are not immigrants, but rather temporary visitors or workers. This group of people is required to obtain one of many types of non-immigrant visas. The US only allows a limited number of seasonal and low skilled workers every year - just one hundred thirty-one thousand - while there is no limit to the number of agricultural workers or inter-company transfers.
Martinez explained the diverse range of immigrants in Pittsburgh:
Immigration affects a wide range of people, as shown by the diversity in the immigrant population of Pittsburgh, as well as the United States as a whole. But most of the current immigration debate focuses on undocumented workers. This includes the discussions within Congress, immigrants rights organizations, and anti-immigrant groups, around the STRIVE Act.
What would the passage of STRIVE mean to communities living in fear of detention and deportation? Benita Jain, of the Immigrant Defenders Project of the New York State Defenders Association:
Kavitha Pawria, an attorney with DRUM, a group organizing with South Asian immigrants in New York City spoke on STRIVE's provision requiring increased border security before legalization can take effect:
STRIVE creates barriers to applying for, receiving, and keeping legalized status. More from Kavitha:
Benita thinks that STRIVE is missing a lot of important details. Here's what the authors forgot:
Benita thinks a group’s position on the STRIVE act says a lot about a group's priorities:
Kavitha has her own analysis of why some groups support STRIVE, while others refuse:
So what would a truly complete immigration reform bill include?
Though Congress is missing legislation to address these points, activists at the grassroots level have drafted their own vision of truly just immigration reform. Kavitha Pawria spoke about a project co-authored by organizers in New York City:
As immigration reform is debated across the country, at the grassroots level and at the Congressional level, millions of undocumented people continue to go about their day-to-day lives, dealing with the obstacles they encounter as they come up. Benita explained earlier that detention can be one of those obstacles. In Pittsburgh, Jacqueline Martinez has helped her clients deal with law enforcement officials:
As Pittsburgh has seen from the Pamela Lawton case and many others like it, immigrants are not the only group affected by unjust police. Kavitha describes how struggles for social justice are linked across communities:
Legalization is one small step in the immigration struggle - even this small step might not be taken by the United States Government. Congressional hearings will continue, and may lead to some legislation being considered in the Immigration Subcommittee after the Memorial Day recess. The immigrants rights movement is continuing on the energy of the May First demonstrations - the largest demonstrations in US history - and will push for larger steps to be taken towards the recognition of human rights for all.
And now we present the Indymedia Calendar of Events:
[ Outro Music ]
Thanks for tuning in to Rustbelt Radio here on WRCT Pittsburgh, WVJW Benwood and WPTS Pittsburgh.
Our contributing hosts this week are Diane Amdor and Andalusia Knoll with additional contributions from Lizzie Anderson, Carlin Christy, Jessica McPherson, Vani Natarajan, and Matt Toups. This week's show was produced by Donald Deeley. Special thanks to all of our hosts, producers, and contributors.
You can get involved with Rustbelt Radio! To contact us, or to send us your comments, email RADIO at I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot ORG. All of our shows are available for download or podcast on our website at RADIO dot INDY-P-G-H dot ORG and this show can be heard again Tuesday morning on WRCT at 9 AM after Democracy Now!
Tune in next week at this time for another edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's weekly review of news from the grassroots.
Rustbelt Radio for May 14, 2007 (ogg vorbis)
by Pittsburgh IMC: Rustbelt Radio collective
Monday, May. 14, 2007 at 10:23 PM
radio@indypgh.org 412-923-3000 WRCT 88.3 FM
audio: ogg vorbis at 23.8 mebibytesaudio: ogg vorbis at 23.8 mebibytes
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