Green Time TV, Feb 2015: Social Challenges/Energy Challenges
by Don Fitz
Social justice requires attention to environmental racism and environmental protection must incorporate social justice. Though it may not be intuitively obvious, abolishing racist violence means using the world’s resources in a rational way. Conversely, efficient use of energy can only occur in a world where people are safe from attacks by those sworn to protect them. February 2015 episodes of Green Time TV explore these interconnections.
What happened immediately after the August 9, 2014 killing of Michael Brown and October 11, 2014 killing of VonDerrit Myers? What did residents of Canfield Apartments see when they came out of their homes? Why did their reactions spark a movement that spread across the country and then around the world? Kayla Reed, of Organization for Black Struggle, Michael T. McPhearson, of Veterans for Peace, and host Don Fitz explore these issues in the first February episode of Green Time.
Much of Ferguson burned on November 24, 2014, the night of the announcement that Darren Wilson would not be charged for killing Michael Brown. During the second February show, John Chasnoff, of the Don't Shoot Coalition, Michael T. McPhearson, of Veterans for Peace, and host Don Fitz discuss how protest organizers attempted to work with police prior to that evening. They address ways that police violate law with practices such as intimidations, sending agent provocateurs to demonstrations, limiting protest time and duration, falsely arresting non-violent protestors, and “kettling.”
Can using energy efficiency save you money while it helps the environment? Residential energy efficiency is the focus of the third February show. For low income home-owners, reduction of energy bills can be critical for affording medications or food. Jessica Freiberger and Connie Taylor ask why “healthy homes” are important and how home retrofits can provide local jobs.
Why does it make sense to incorporate energy efficiency when a structure is built, instead of later? How difficult is it for builders to adapt to modern energy efficiency standards? During the final February show, Caryl Kinsey Fox, from the American Institute of Architects, and Richard Reilly, from the Missouri Botanical Garden, discuss local building codes with Don Fitz.
February shows include “Mike Brown's Memorial – Canfield” and “I Believe That We Will Win – Rally Cry for VonDerrit Myers Jr,” “#FergusonOctober - St. Louis Police Tear Gas Protestors - October 11, 2014,” “VonDerrit Myers, Jr. - #BlackLifeMatters,” “My Generation: Home Energy Efficiency,” “You Know Clean Energy is winning when …,” “Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,” and Morgan Freeman on climate disruption.
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:
·February 7 & 9: “Police Violence in Ferguson”
·February 14 & 16: “Police Accountability”
·February 21 & 23: “Residential Energy Efficiency”
·February 28 & March 2: “Energy Efficient Building Codes”
“Like” Gateway Greens on Facebook and click “Get notifications.” Also see Green Time on greentime.tv. If you would like to help produce Green Time TV call 314-727-8554 or email don@greentime.tv
