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Green Time TV, Oct 2017: Overcoming Irresponsibility

on Sat, 09/16/2017 - 6:19pm

by Don Fitz

What are environmentalists to do when confronting irresponsible people with power? October 2017 Green Time episodes explore how to respond to a congress that will not provide medical care for all, a president who wants to destroy energy assistance for low income families and an economic system which fosters species extinction and international food dependency.

What does “single payer” mean? How does that term differ from “Medicare for all?” In the first October Green Time, host Don Fitz and guests Mimi Signor and Pamella Gronemeyer, of Missourians for Single Payer, discuss efforts to create single payer health care programs in each state and obstacles that need to be cleared in doing so. They ask if the Affordable Care Act is a step in the right direction or if it has actually interfered with the single payer movement. Strong attempts have been made to establish single payer in Vermont, Colorado and California. Is it possible that single payer bills will pass in Missouri and Illinois?

Donald Trump plans to destroy the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). During the second October Green Time, host John Hickey and guests George Robnett, of the St. Louis County Community Action Agency, and Sarah Willey, of the Missouri Sierra Club, discuss how its elimination would affect people and why the Sierra Club opposes Trump's plan. How many St. Louis County residents depend on LIHEAP in order to keep their utilities on? Who is eligible? Are renters able to apply for funding? The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) works to reduce the long-term utility costs for low income customers. WAP both promotes cleaner air and provides local jobs.

How can Christian congregations approach problems such as species extinction, fossil fuels and food deserts? The third October Green Time features host Don Fitz and guests Rev. Rodrick Burton, of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, and Rev. Elston McCowan, of the Green Party of St. Louis, exploring the concept of stewardship over nature and what it means for individual behavior and collective actions. Rev. Burton, whose church was featured in the December 2016 Sierra magazine for its use of solar panels, discusses how the congregation and church leaders were involved. What are pollution problems confronting residents of Bridgeton and those living near the Carter Carburetor site? Guests look at contamination of air, land and water.

What is wrong with the way food is produced? In the final October Green Time, host Don Fitz and guests Ollie Fisher and Perdita Fisher, of www.ghanedenaee.org, look at how barriers to changing the food system could be overcome. The Fishers have visited the African countries of Ghana, Senegal and Kenya. They saw people whose ancestors were food independent for generations now being forced by international finance to focus on cash crops. Instead of growing a variety of foods to feed their communities, they must grow a single crop for export, which increases hunger and fosters food dependency.

October shows include the movies NOW IS THE TIME: Healthcare for EverybodyEPA helped Tonawanda with air pollution CA-21, EPA helped Davie with toxic pollution, and Greening the Revolution. 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:

  • October 7, 9: “Single Payer: State by State,”

  • October 14, 16: “Federal Budget Cuts,”

  • October 21, 23: “Humanity's Responsibility for the Earth,” and

  • October 28, 30: “Feeding Sub-Sahara Africa.”

“Like” Gateway Greens on Facebook and click “Get notifications.” Also see Green Time on https://www.youtube.com/user/GreentimeTV. To help produce Green Time TV call 314-727-8554 or email fitzdon@aol.com