The bi-partisan infrastructure bill just passed by the U.S. Senate has allotted $50 billion over the next 10 years to bolster the dying nuclear power industry, according to Hannah Smay, Digital Organizer of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service. And the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill promises even more, fails to create jobs, reduce carbon, and the Band-Aid approach interferes with the transition to clean energy.

John Cavanagh, Senior Advisor at the Institute for Policy Studies, talks about the life and career of Richard Trumka, mineworker, labor-leader, and former head of the AFL-CIO, following his recent death on August 5th.

On July 31, 2021, the Point Beach Nuclear Power Reactor experienced a number of valve and computer monitoring failures which could have been catastrophic, had it not been for manual overrides performed. Hannah Mortenson, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility WI, talks about the poorly publicized incident involving the 50-year-old complex (which was designed for a 40 year service period), and their request to the NRC to send an inspection team to the reactor site.

President Biden has the opportunity to appoint a commissioner to the FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a little-publicized federal group that regulates pipelines, natural gas, electricity, and other energy needs of the country. 466 environmental groups have written a letter to Biden, urging him to fill that position with someone who will be an environmental, energy justice champion — as opposed to Trump’s appointments of industry insiders. Drew Hudson, Senior National Organizer at Friends of the Earth, talks about their recommendations for the job.

Back in December, Jimmie Joshua broke his hip in an altercation with Sheriff’s Deputies while he was incarcerated in the Dane County Jail.  Five months later, Joshua’s fiancee Allison Davidson is still seeking justice.

On December 23, 2020, Jimmie Joshua, a detainee at the Dane County Jail, got into an argument with Dane County Sheriff’s deputies.  As the argument escalated, the altercation became physical.  Surveillance camera footage of the incident shows deputies attempting to pick up Joshua, then crashing to the ground after losing their balance.  Joshua suffered a broken hip, then was stripped naked and restrained in an isolation cell for 16 hours before receiving medical treatment.  Joshua filed a civil complaint, which he withdrew in March, then asked to have reinstated in May of this year.  Eight months after the incident, Joshua’s fiancee, Allison Davidson, is calling for Joshua’s release and the firing of the deputies who injured him.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change releases its sixth Assessment Report.  The news is not good. Environmental geographer Stephanie Spera from the University of Richmond joined the Monday Buzz.

August 9th, the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change released the Physical Science installment of its Sixth Climate Assessment.  The news is dire and the blame unequivocal: massive climate change is already upon us, and the blame lies squarely with human activity.  Even if every nation on earth hits its Paris Accord carbon targets, the earth will likely warm by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, or more than 2 degrees Celsius if current trends continue.  The Arctic ocean could be ice-free every year, sea levels could rise as high as 2 meters or more, and droughts and wildfires such as those experienced in Western North America and the Greek Islands will become commonplace.  Joining us with a reaction is Professor of Geography and the Environment at the University of Richmond, Stephanie Spera.

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Local Activist, Sunshine Raynebow, On The Importance Of Self-Love

Local poet, artist, activist and drag queen, Sunshine Raynebow, has been on a mission to change the world through the spreading of kindness and self-love, since she was a junior in high school.

Sunshine joins Friday Buzz host, Holly Marley-Henschen, to talk about the importance of self-love.

 

 

(Image courtesy of Sunshine Raynebow)

WORT 89.9FM Madison · New Organization, Madison Climbers of Color, Aims To Get More People Of Color Into The Sport

Madison resident Karim Njie grew up climbing mango and orange trees in his home city off the Atlantic Coast of Gambia, West Africa. Karim began climbing rocks in 2012. He easily found his niche in bouldering, a form of free climbing. He lived in Madison for 14 years before relocating to Colorado where Karim got involved with a group that encouraged people of color to get into the sport. After returning to Madison, Karim noticed there wasn’t a similar group — so he decided to start one.

Founded by Karim, Madison Climbers of Color, is a local organization that promotes diversity in rock climbing. Joining Friday Buzz host, Holly Marley-Henschen, Karim talks more about the group.

 

 

(Image courtesy of Abdoukarim Njie)

WORT 89.9FM Madison · Next Level Park Street Music Festival Returns

The Next Level Park Street Music Festival is returning for its fourth year. It’s a free outdoor, family-friendly music event. It’s also a platform for Madison’s racial diversity and to highlight relevant issues. Next Level Park Street Music Festival is a multi-genre event, including local and regional artists playing Pop, R&B, Smooth Jazz, Blues. The Festival starts Saturday Aug. 7 on the Labor Temple Grounds at 1602 S Park Street from 3-8pm.

Organizer of the Festival, Clyde Gaines, joins Friday Buzz host, Holly Marley-Henschen, to talk more about it.

 

 

(Image courtesy of Clyde Gaines)

To commemorate those who died in the bombing by the United States of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II 76 years ago, and to protest the billions of dollars spent on our continued nuclear weapon arsenal, the Physicians for Social Responsibility is holding a “Lanterns for Peace” gathering on August 9 at Tenney Park. Ann Berman and Hannah Mortenson talk about the gathering and how you can join.