Green Time TV, Nov 2015: Healthy People, Healthy Environment
by Don Fitz
Tar sands, hyper-expensive medical insurance, wasting energy and racism are not healthy for children or the planet. November Green Time episodes explore healthy alternatives to all of these.
The first November Green Time features From the Pipeline, a documentary film that captures images and stories along the route of Missouri’s arm of the Flanagan South tar sands pipeline. Filming along the pipeline began in March 2014. The pipeline became operational in mid-2014 after the film was completed. From the Pipeline was first screened at the St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase in 2014. It screened as part of the Franciscan Sisters EcoJustice film series. It is directed by Caitlin Zera, produced by Hazel Mullan and has cinematography by Max Barnett. Host John Hickey comments on the film.
How do private insurance companies dominate health care in the US, making it much more costly than other industrialized nations? The second November Green Time features Mimi Signor, of Missourians for Single Payer, Jan Rodolfo, of National Nurses United, and host Don Fitz contrasting promises of candidate Barack Obama when he was running for President to what he proposed once he was in office. They explore some of the problems with the “individual mandate” in Obamacare of 2010 and how those issues could be resolved with a single payer program.
EarthDance was a multi-ethnic urban farm in Ferguson for several years before that city became infamous for the police killing of Michael Brown. Its participants share the common ground of growing food together. During the third November Green Time, EarthDance Founding Director Molly Rockmann tells of its origins, growth, and development of educational programs. EarthDance alumnus James Young describes the stigma that African Americans can feel from growing food and working outside. He explains his history as a black educator and experience of overseeing the YEAH (Youth Exploring Agriculture & Health) program at Earth-Dance.
The final November Green Time includes Gary Steps, of Butterfly Energy Works, Terry Walsh, of Insulators Local 1, and host John Hickey discussing how energy efficiency affects individual residences as well as large corporations. They ask how homeowners can increase the energy efficiency of their homes and why they should invest in an energy audit. They also look at how mechanical insulation can impact the environment and create local jobs.
November shows include the movies From the Pipeline, Medicare for All! 50th Anniversary, Rooted in Ferguson, Thank you, Sierra Club Supporters for an amazing 2014, and The 5,000+ Strong Tar Sands Resistance March.
Green Time appears at noon on Saturdays in St. Louis on Channel 24-1 and at 8 pm on Mondays in St. Louis on Channel 24-2, Springfield on Channel 39, Joplin on Channel 36 and Marshfield on Channel 17. Green Time programs air on these dates:
·November 7 & 9: “From the Pipeline: A Journey Along the Flanagan South,”
·November 14 & 16: “Health Care in the USA / Medicare for All,”
·November 21 & 23: “Rooted in Ferguson,”
·November 28 & 30: “Energy Efficiency and Our Future.”
“Like” Gateway Greens on Facebook and click “Get notifications.” Also see Green Time on greentime.tv. To help produce Green Time TV call 314-727-8554 or email don@greentime.tv
