community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Rustbelt Radio for June 6, 2011
by Pittsburgh Indymedia: Rustbelt Radio Collecti
Monday, Jun. 06, 2011 at 11:36 PM
radio@indypgh.org
On today's show: Activists keep the pressure on city officials to bring justice to the case of Jordan Miles' police beating; Pittsburghers plan to protest Target's annual shareholder meeting due to their funding of anti-gay politicians; Hip-hop artists Jasiri X and Paradise Gray ask, Is Pittsburgh Really America's Most Livable City? Rustbelt Radio follows Pittsburgh's rainy spring downriver to learn about flood control efforts on the Mississippi and more in our local and global headlines.
audio link: 
MP3 at 27.2 mebibytes
Rustbelt Radio for June 6, 2011
Welcome to this week's edition of Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's bi-weekly review of the news from the grassroots, news overlooked by the corporate media.
On today's show...
Rustbelt Radio is broadcast live from WRCT studios every other Monday at 6 PM on 88.3 FM in Pittsburgh, and the program airs again on WRCT every Tuesday morning at 9AM.
We can also be heard weekly on the following stations:
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 from our website at radio dot I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot org.
We turn now to local stories.
The retail giant Target, due to open its doors on Penn Avenue in July, has attracted criticism for contributing to the process of displacement in East Liberty. Pittsburghers are also bringing attention to another aspect of the big box stores behavior: the corporation's political donations.
Last year, Target drew outrage after it was revealed that it gave one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to an anti-gay candidate running for election in Minnesota. In order to voice their opposition to this donation, demonstrators are planning on protesting outside of Target on Penn Avenue during their annual shareholders meeting on June 8th.
Rick Claypool is one of the organizers of the event. He works with Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy non-profit that has joined forces with a broad coalition of groups to stop corporations’ blatant funding of political campaigns.
Claypool explains what prompted the upcoming protest in the first place.
Shortly after the backlash last year, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel released the following statement, (Quote) “The intent of our political contribution to MN Forward was to support economic growth and job creation”(End Quote).
Steinhafel continues (Quote) “ I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry.” (End Quote)
* apology3.flac: (0:29)
Even though Target has built up its reputation in Minnesota through donations to public schools and the Twin Cities Gay Pride Festival, Public Citizen's Claypool explains that they are only seeking to whitewash their image.
Claypool continues that Target’s shareholder meeting provides a perfect opportunity for people in the community, as well as Target customers, to urge shareholders to use their influence on Target’s decision making process.
That was Rick Claypool, one of the organizers of the June 8th demonstration planned in front of Target in East Liberty. Pittsburghers will demonstrate outside while Target’s annual shareholders meeting convenes inside.
For more information, go online to www dot protest target dot com
We now bring you the new song by Jasiri X, "America's Most Livable City."
* Jasiri_X_-_-Americas_Most_Livable_City-.flac: 03:01
You're listening to Rustbelt Radio, the Pittsburgh Independent Media Center's bi-weekly review of news from the grassroots.
And now we present the Indymedia Calendar of Events. To have your event included, write to radio@indypgh.org:
* Carnegie Library's "Our Library, Our Future" will kick-off with a day of activities and information on Wednesday, June 8th beginning at 10:30 am at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland and continuing in the late afternoon & early evening at locations across the city. Our Library, Our Future is a community-based initiative that has been organized to raise awareness about the need to provide financial support for Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the critical services that the Library provides. For more information, visit carnegielibrary.org
* Pittsburgh United asks people to show their support for the Pittsburgh Clean Air Act, at a press conference just before City Council's Post-Agenda Hearing. on Wednesday, June 8th. The press conference starts at 1:00pm in front of City Council chambers, to demonstrate how important the clean air bill is for community health. For more information, visit PittsburghUnited.org
* The Alliance for Police Accountability asks Pittsburgh residents to support the Police Reporting & Accountability Bill #2010-0234 to help prevent future Jordan Miles incidents! Attend the City Council Standing Committee Meeting at 414 Grant Street on Wednesday, June 15th at 10am or come at 9:30am for the press conference. Councilman Burgess will be introducing a new, community-amended version of the Police Reporting and Accountability Bill. City residents may make a public comment up to 3 minutes in length. Browse the text of the bill at JusticeforJordanMiles.com
* Global Solutions Pittsburgh is hosting an International Happy Hour! Global Solutions wants to connect all the different organizations and individuals in Pittsburgh that work on international issues and causes, in order to bring light to the amazing things happening in our own backyard to make the world a better place. The International Happy Hour will feature representatives from the Pittsburgh Human Rights Network, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Jewish Family and Children Services, the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, Global Pittsburgh, Amnesty International Pittsburgh and others. This event will take place Wednesday June 15th at 6pm at Tusca Global Tapas, located at 2773 Sidney Street, South Side Works.
* There will be a Juneteenth celebration on 5th Avenue, on Friday June 17th. If you are a performer of African descent, please come out, share your gifts and blessings, and encourage others to do the same! You will enjoy performances by Poets, Musicians/Singers, African Dancers, and more. From 4:30-9:30pm June 17th at 5th Avenue and Moultrie Street, next to Meyers Plumbing. For more information, call Landslide Community Farm at 412.628.7186
[ Outro Music ]
Thanks for tuning in to Rustbelt Radio here on WRCT Pittsburgh, WIUP Indiana, WNJR Washington, WLRI LanChester, and FRSC Santa Cruz.
Our hosts this week are Carlin Christy and Emily DeMarco with contributions from Jessica McPherson, Nigel Parry, Seth Bearden, Hannah Taleb, and Matt Olsen. This week's show was produced by Shawn Watson. Special thanks to all of our hosts, producers, and contributors - and to our New Orleans correspondents Matt Toups and Matt Olsen for their editorial review.
You can get involved with Rustbelt Radio! To contact us, email RADIO at I-N-D-Y-P-G-H dot ORG. Become our fan on Facebook to receive updates on our latest episode, and follow us on Twitter @pghimc. All of our shows are available 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 bi-weekly review of news from the grassroots.
Rustbelt Radio for June 6, 2011
by Pittsburgh Indymedia: Rustbelt Radio Collecti
Monday, Jun. 06, 2011 at 11:36 PM
radio@indypgh.org
audio: ogg vorbis at 20.4 mebibytesaudio: ogg vorbis at 20.4 mebibytes
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