This week’s show focuses on environmental issues through an examination of the Pickens Plan and the targeting of environmental activists. Our guests are Josh Fox and Will Potter.
Josh Fox:
Josh Fox is the founder and artistic director of the International WOW Company. Josh has written/directed/produced two feature films and over twenty works for the stage which have premiered in New York, Asia and Europe. His narrative feature film debut MEMORIAL DAY (2008), is a jarring roller coaster ride from the beaches of girls-gone-wild spring break to the torture chambers of Abu Ghraib. His most recent film is Gasland (2009) which takes a long look at ‘Fracking’. Josh earned his BA from Columbia University.
Quote: “T. Boone Pickens is an just an oil baron turned gas baron trying to game the system into subsidizing his business interests. The Pickens plan does nothing to reduce emissions and would push unregulated toxic gas drilling into overdrive, further contaminating huge areas of the United States. His plan won’t work, not just because it is costly and toxic, but because there are literally millions of Americans living in the drill zones in 34 states who are not willing to have their health, water and air put at risk by drilling. I have seen the strength of the movement against gas drilling all across the United States, it is resilient, smart, democratic, non-violent and adamant in opposing this massive drilling plan. Pickens promotes his plan under the guise of clean energy and independence from foreign oil. But his plan is dirty as any fossil fuel and just means more dependence on T. Boone Pickens and his oil and gas buddies. Renewable energy and biofuels are a much better way to go. There are numerous plans that exist today that don’t include risking the permanent contamination of the water supply.”
Website:
For a map of all the areas that T. Boone Pickens would like to drill go to the homepage of http://www.gaslandthemovie.com
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Will Potter
Will Potter is the Author of the new book “Green Is the New Red: An Insider’s Account of a Social Movement Under Siege”. Will is an award-winning independent journalist based in Washington, D.C., who has become a leading authority on “eco-terrorism,” the environmental and animal rights movements, and civil liberties post 9/11. He has tracked how lawmakers and corporations have labeled animal rights and environmental activists as “eco-terrorists.” And he has closely followed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, the Earth Liberation Front arrests in “Operation Backfire,” and the landmark First Amendment case of the SHAC 7. Will has testified before the U.S. Congress on his reporting, and frequently speaks with journalists and in public forums about efforts to roll back civil liberties in the name of fighting terrorism.
Quote:
“With Earth Day approaching, everyone is talking about ‘going green.’ But most people are unaware that anti-terrorism resources are being used to target environmentalists and animal rights activists. In Pennsylvania, a counter-terrorism firm was used to spy on people who attended film screenings of the documentary ‘Gasland.’ In California, activists have faced terrorism charges for chalking slogans on the sidewalk. And
environmentalist Tim DeChristopher is now facing 10 years in prison for
non-violently disrupting an oil and gas auction. Industry groups have created the term ‘eco-terrorism’ to demonize a group of people because of their political beliefs. And their campaigns have successfully turned these groups into the FBI’s ‘number one domestic terrorism threat.’”
Website:
http://www.GreenIsTheNewRed.com
Background:
“‘Bogus Bidder’ Convicted Of Disrupting Energy Auction”
This week is Tax week. People all over the country have been preparing and paying their taxes and writing checks or, waiting for refunds. But do we really know where our tax dollars go or how they are spent? After tonight’s interview with Jo Comerford we hope to have answers to these questions. Jo Comerford is the executive director of the 
Karl Grossman and others have been advocating raising the emergency level as a first step for weeks. Professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, Grossman is author of “Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power” and “Power Crazy.”
