Green Time TV, Nov 2017: Wrapping Up Environmental TV
by Don Fitz
Green Time may be wrapping up it production by the end of the year, depending on the future of KNLC Channel 24. Email me at fitzdon@aol.com to confirm dates of the last three shows and those in December.
Is Elston McCowan crazy to think that he can actually defeat Democratic Party candidates by running on the Green Party ticket in a St. Louis ward that is 95% black? Maybe not, since in 2015 he received 37% of the vote in Ward 2 against the incumbent. In the first November Green Time, host Don Fitz and guest Rev. Elston McCowan discuss how the theme “Strong and Effective Leadership” refers to loss of City funds for Ward 2 due to Democratic Party bosses not standing up for their constituents. Rev. McCowan intends to obtain City funding for cleaning up alleys, improving parks and helping elders receive financing for home energy efficiency. He has experience teaching gardening in schools and will combat “food deserts” by bringing shops with healthy food to the ward.
Rev. McCowan opposes the state appointed board continuing to run St. Louis Public Schools and supports returning power to the elected school board. He supports demonstrations that occurred after Jason Stockley was acquitted of murder for killing Anthony Lamar Smith. Sensitive to the high rate of violence Ward 2, he wants to deal with crime through jobs, education and recreational facilities.
Rev. McCowan wants the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to urge the Missouri legislature to approve a Single Payer (Medicare for All) system for the state. He discusses the fact that funding for needed services in US cities will be unavailable as long as there are endless wars and will call for a Conference of Urban Elected Officials to develop plans for confronting crises which federal and state governments are ignoring.
What does “single payer” mean? How does that term differ from “Medicare for all?” In the second November 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 third November 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.
In the final November Green Time, host Don Fitz and guest Wes Shoemyer of Food for America discuss why Missouri needs the group Family Farm Action. They explore dangers of the pesticide dicamba, including difficulty of proper use, drifts to neighboring farmers, and harm to non-target crops. They look at Monsanto's reaction to complaints and explore the Farmers' Bill of Rights. What should be done about dicamba?
November shows include the movies NOW IS THE TIME: Healthcare for Everybody, EPA helped Tonawanda with air pollution CA-21 and EPA helped Davie with toxic pollution. 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 4, 6: “Strong and Effective Leadership in St. Louis,”
November 11, 13: “Single Payer: State by State,”
November 18, 20: “Federal Budget Cuts,” and
November 25, 27: “Family Farm Action.”
“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
