Speak Up! Speak Out!

Group Picture
Dave, jim, Ginny

A half hour weekly radio show committed to community, peace, justice, and non-violence issues.

The show aired on Community Radio stations:
KSVR 91.7 FM (Skagit Valley College) Wednesdays 5:00 PM PT, rebroadcast Sundays 8:00 PM PT
KSVU 90.1 FM, Hamilton, Sundays 8:00 PM and Thursdays 8:00 AM PT
KMRE 102.3 FM, Bellingham, Friday 10:00 AM
KAOS 89.3 FM, Olympia, Thursdays 5:30 PM PT

Many thanks to our listeners since we began in March of 2008, but this is our swan song. Our website will remain active for at least another year so people can go back and listen to shows they might have missed. (And might have been part of ...) We'd love it if others chose to continue reporting on various progressive issues here in Skagit/Whatcom.

Advancing Human Rights & Democracy & Excerpts from past shows. This week we bring you our FINAL Speak Up! Speak Out! radio show. We started with 7 people live in the KSVR studio in March of 2008 honoring Skagit Women since it was International Women's Day. We increased our reporters to about 12, but for the last 16 months it has basically been Dave McConnell & jim justice. All shows should be available on speakupspeakoutrado.org for a least a year from today. Listen online or download the audio.

We open with excerpts from a Fidalgo Democrats recent program, Advancing Human Rights & Democracy.

Listen to learn how bigotry impacts our lives, and what is being done to combat it â€” nationally, in Washington state, and locally in Anacortes. Devin Burgart, Executive Director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, a social justice organization, will discuss who they are, what they do, and how they do it. They are dedicated to defend against bigotry & defending democracy & human rights.

The last part of the show includes excerpts from some shows: The Delta 5; an MLK presentation by the late Dr. Ernest Tutt, a professor at Skagit Valley College; the late host Ginny Wolff talking with Jewell James a local tribal native; a segment on Homeless Youth; and we close with an update on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) which started under President Obama to provide undocumented immigrant youth an opportunity to live and work in the United States while attending school. That currently is being revisited (again) by Congress. Please follow what Congress is doing in this regard.

Many thanks for the MANY presentations offered by non-profits in the county who allowed us to use some audio of their presentations. May they continue to thrive.

Many thanks to No More Bombs for this presentation. Author and activist, Trisha Pritikin has fought over thirty years for justice for the thousands who, like herself and her family, have suffered serious illnesses and death following radiation exposure at Hanford Nuclear site in Eastern Washington near the Columbia River. Hanford, in our backyard, produced the plutonium used for the first ever nuclear bomb, Trinity, and on Nagasaki and continued producing it for more than 40 years.

Emily helped develop and now administers the Nature Rx program at United General District 304 and a Washington Service Corps volunteer. Nature Rx is a program that encourages people to spend time on group walks in the Skagit Valley under the leadership of Emily and others.

This week SUSO will listen in on a regent presentation by Evergreen Islands' Board President, Marlene Finley, about the proposed gravel mine on Fidalgo Island. Marlene shares the status of the permit for the latest subdivision proposal for South Fidalgo Island. This proposal would threaten wetlands and streams. She also shares Evergreen Island's plans for the future.

Host Jerry Shackette talks with Morgan Curry, Executive Director at Skagit Gleaners. How has the Covid pandemic impacted food access and hunger in Skagit County? How does the Skagit Gleaners food program work? Can just anybody grocery shop and take advantage of these resources?

We also talk about who is using Gleaners and where does the organization get its food? The classic definition of gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest.

Join Jerry as he discovers Skagit Gleaners is so much more than what's left in the farmer's field.

This week we listen to excerpts from a recent presentation made by Upper Skagit elder, Scott Schuyler entitled "Sacred River" as Scott gives a historical perspective of the Upper Skagit Tribe (& related peoples) on the Upper Skagit. This was a presentation of the North Cascade Institute, http://ncascade.org

Nuclear weapon activist author Betsy Bell talks about her book "Open Borders" - February 24, 2021

Betsy Bell, longtime anti nuclear weapon activist, and author of "Open Borders", talks to the Skagit No More Bombs Committee about the beginning of the anti nuclear weapon movement in Seattle and the 1983 visit of Seattleites to Sister City Tashkent in Uzbekistan, a part of the USSR at that time.

Betsy Bell is a longtime justice activist living in Seattle. Her anti-war memoir, Open Borders: A personal story of love, loss and anti-war activism, recounts her efforts, along with many others, to end the Cold War nuclear weapon build up.

This week we join the Fidalgo Democrats as they learn about the process of redistricting following 2020 Census. Itâ€™s an every decade process. April Sims, the House Democratic Appointee to the Redistricting Commission, will explain how redistricting will affect us. Osta Davis is also a member of this redistricting committee. In all 50 states, various bodies will re-draw state legislative districts. Washington has an independent Redistricting Commission. Find out what this means and how it impacts our area in Washington State. Link to full video of the meeting below.

Join host jim this week as we hear from Jorge Baron, Exec Director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIPR.org) along with Melissa Rubio, Senior Political Manager with OneAmerica, as they discuss the challenges and opportunities of the changing federal administration. We'll hear about priorities and ways to take action with our communities, because the fight for immigrant rights isn't over.

PS: Speak Up! Speak Out! will continue through our 15th anniversary the first Wednesday in March. If others choose to join our (now small) team of hosts, we will consider continuing beyond that date.

Jerry Shackette talks with Kathrine Pryor about her journey from healthy food advocate to children's author celebrating healthy food. One of her focuses is local food and getting it to local schools.

A collection of clips from previous shows hosted by Ginny Wolff, who died of Parkinson's Disease.

A collection of clips from previous shows hosted by Ginny Wolff, who died of Parkinson's Disease a week earlier.

This Holiday Special is a radio magazine, including commentary, stories and music.

Seattle and Mount Vernon, WA immigration attorney Carol Edward provides us with an update on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) after the recent Supreme Court ruled to reinstate it so new people are now able to apply. Trump tried to end DACA completely a few years ago, but courts ruled that those with DACA should be able to continue to renew, but the renewals were for one year rather than two. Now immigrant children who meet the original criteria, may apply even if they never had. They had to arrive before age 16 and have lived in the United States continuously since June 15, 2007. We close this week with a couple of inspiring songs.

Host Dave McConnell talks with Adele Eslinger, Program Director, who explains the Skagit Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVR) overseen by United Hospital District 304. FVRx connects healthcare providers, nutrition experts, and healthy food retailers to patients experiencing chronic, diet-related illnesses - diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc.

This week we join the Fidalgo Democrats for a discussion with retired history (et al) instructor Kurt Dunbar, of Skagit Valley College, about civil discourse. There is a need to come together and have rational discussions post election in order to get things done. And we need to find a way for policies to last more than four years, so businesses and foreign governments can make long-range plans. Building such consensus may mean both sides having to compromise. If that allows us to build coalitions that last over four years, it will be worth it.

As an aside, Becky Fletcher & other folk associated with http://braverangels.org, talked about its importance. Check it out.

Host Jerry Shackette talks with the leadership team at the Helping Hands Food Bank and the Helping Hands Solution Center in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.

As one of twelve not-for-profit food banks in Skagit County, Helping Hands sees thousands of people seeking help with food access. Executive Director Rebecca Larsen answers the question where does all this food come from?

Not only is there regular food distribution in Sedro-Woolley, Helping Hands has been responding to the Covid-19 pandemic with distribution in Anacortes, Concrete and Marblemount.

Jerry and Development Director Nichole Long explore the concept of the Solutions Center with space for everything from nutrition seminars and computer skill classes, to boy scout meetings. There is a dedicated DSHS navigator on site to help with access to need services in the community.

Join the conversation and discover the food bank is a lot more than just a bag of potatoes.

Host Jerry Shackette talks with Tia Entrikin, the manager of the Mount Vernon Farmer's Market, about the 2020 market season, managing the market during the current pandemic, and what lies ahead for this key element of the food system in Skagit County.

What's happening with the food access programs in place at the Market? Will they continue to support our neighbors who need food assistance?

MaryRose Denton, mother of Jace, her 23 year son, tells the story of his transition of female to male at age 17, describing her reactions, acceptance and support as well as the way he has been received by family and friends. A major source of support and advocacy was, and continues to be Skagit PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) http://pflagskagit.org

Whatcom Peace & Justice Center's 17th Annual Conference speakers Aaron Dixon & Walidah Imarish talk about Black Lives Matter - September 30, 2020

Aaron Dixon, the Seattle Black Panther Party Co-founder, speaks of his experiences and in-going work. He is joined virtually by Walidah Imarish, a PNW historian, artist, and writer. Listen in as they reflect on their respective experiences: Aaron's on the streets on the Seattle Central Area & Walidah as a historian - very different perspectives.

Linden Jordan, Skagit PFLAG Board member and part of the group's Speaker's Bureau, lays out the complexity of Sexual development, Gender identity, and Sexual orientation, using examples from his personal life as well as the biology involved.

Host jim justice speaks with Damani Johnson, the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center's 2020 Rosemary & Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award honoree. Damani is the WWU's College of Humanities & Social Studies Program Director for the Munro Institute for Civil Education & editor in chief of the African Journal of Governance & Development. In 1988, Damani was on the Advisory Committee for the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign. He was also on the Steering Committee of the Washington State Rainbow Coalition from 1988-1992. He's been part of the Whatcom Human Rights Taskforce & offered week long educational sessions on Civil Rights in Washington over the past several summers. Listen in to find out more about all the work Damani has done to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn about others.

Claus Joens, candidate for the Wa State 39LD House position 1 talks about his candidacy - September 9, 2020

This week host jim justice talks in person (with social distancing outdoors) with Claus Joens about his candidacy for WA State 39 LD House Position 1. Per requirements on public radio, we had to contact his opponent (Robert Sutherland) and give him at least a week to reply about equal time. After at least two weeks and no word, here is Claus' main positions and his background which gives us reason to vote for him. Claus talks about his main points: establishing a state public bank (& why), education (he is a teacher after all), the Snake River, and issues with the Washington State Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-washington. Claus' website is https://joens39.com.

This week we share excerpts from an update presented by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (Seattle based) - http://NWIRP.org) on Aug 6, 2020 by two of their attorneys whose primary responsibility is the NW Detention Center

A panel discussion about immigration detention in the Pacific Northwest, NWIRP's efforts to defend and protect community members facing deportation, and how you can join the movement to abolish ICE (Immigration & Custom Enforcement) and end the inhumane immigration detention system. Featuring a conversation with Tim Warden-Hertz, Directing Attorney of our Tacoma office, and Staff Attorney Lesly Avila.

Anna Swenson, Communication Manager for Repose, explains Natural Organic Reduction of the human body, as an alternative to traditional burial or cremation after death. To learn more, check their website: http://www.recompose.life

This week we pay tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis utilizing audio from local singer/songwriter Mark Pearson's podcasts 42 & 47. John Lewis was a civil rights activist and leader who chaired SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) from 1963-1966. Rep. Lewis fought for the rights of black people particularly in the Southeastern part of the US from his early life and throughout his time in the US House of Representatives from 1987 until his death July 17, 2020. This is our way of honoring the Black Lives Matter movement via audio from two of Mark Pearson's podcasts entitled the March on Washington.

We close with recent audio from a Kulshan Chorus concert. Our host today sang with the chorus at the time of this concert: Stand by Me, MLK, and close with their Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn me Round. http://kulshanchorus.org

Many thanks to Mark Pearson for the use of two of his podcasts for this show!
https://markpearsonmusic.com/podcast
There is much more music there to inspire you during these times. Listen in.

No More Bombs Commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII - August 8, 2020

Skagit No More Bombs (peace & disarmament group) presented a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima (Aug 6) during WWII, and then on Nagasaki a few days later (Aug 9). Several people who have been part of NoMoreBombs or fighting for various issues in our county since at least the 70s spoke and you can see and hear them in the video links. This was a presentation via Zoom where Tracy Powell, Bud Anderson and others from Skagit spoke about the horrors of nuclear issues. Click Here for the national event website. See their local website https://www.nomorebombs.org/about.html
The video of the whole presentation (1hr) is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE-byf6eLCZpcTuMI5-IrSQand the short video which was part of the presentation which Zain put together is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKoMugCH9-4

This week on Speak Up! Speak Out! host jim justice opens by speaking with Skagit County Communications Coordinator, Laura Gelwick to provide an update on COVID-19 in Skagit. Much has changed in our local world and beyond since we last reported. When we last reported, the county was on the verge of moving to Stage 3, but some black men, in particular, were killed around the country and protests occurred. Skagit County COVID updates via http://www.skagitcounty.net/coronavirus. Part 2 of SUSO this week host Dave McConnell talks with Tia Entrikin, the Mount Vernon Farmers Market director, about what it had to do to open this spring and how it has evolved since it opened in mid-May.

Ranked Choice Voting with Lisa Ayrault, Director of FairVote Washington, Mohit Nair, and Kit Muehlman. This presentation was by the Fidalgo Democrats via Zoom on June 9. Lisa has been the director of the Washington State chapter for 2 years. Some people may see this as a threat to the current system in Washington State, but it has been used in San Francisco, CA since 2004 with 85-90% positive approval ratings. It seems to increase choices as demonstrated by Minneapolis where women & men of color are running and Rank Choice Voting has seemed to assist them. Listen in to hear how it works. The second link shows where it is in use.

This week we join Jorge Baron, the Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (nwirp.org) in Seattle, as he and Malou Chavez, Deputy Director provide an update on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status after the recent Supreme Court ruling. Due to COVID-19, it was an online session and hence there are some audio discrepancies.

President Trump attempted to terminate the DACA program in the Fall of 2017, but was taken to court on that attempt. From the date of his proposed termination, new applications were NOT accepted, but those who already had DACA were allowed to continue to renew their status every two years. On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the DACA program, rejecting the Trump administration's 2017 attempt to terminate the program. This decision restores the program completely, and both initial and renewal applications should be accepted by USCIS. However, per the NWIRP update, it is NOT recommended for new people to apply as it is uncertain what will happen in the near future. Jorge Baron also commented on the fact that USCIS - the government department that oversees these applications - is running short on funding due to money being used by the President elsewhere ..."border security fencing" perhaps. There is a bill from Congress that was introduced and passed in the house in 2019 to update & replace DACA with - HR 6 - American Dream and Promise Act. It would need to be re-introduced for it to go forward, but likely won't be until after the November election, therefore it likely will not be introduced until January of 2021, hoping to move forward in 2021. Another resource mentioned was http://www.waisn.org (Washington Immigrant Soidarity Network). Do check out their website.

The Skagit Immigrant Rights Council - http://skagitirc.org - has some updates on the home page with links for renewing DACA & DACA loans for recipients in Skagit and Whatcom. There is also a Know Your Right presentation posted. There is more detail listed under the information link. The site is in both English and Spanish.

Katherine Pryor, children's author and food advocate, talks about writing children's books addressing good food, working with hospitals and other institutions advocating the value of sustainable and healthy food.

New SUSO host, Andrea Doll, speaks with Justin Krupa, the director of the Oasis Teen Center. Justin explains the purpose and hoped for future of the Oasis Teen Center in Mount Vernon. The teen center was established several years ago to provide overnight housing & meals for homeless youth. It eventually came under the auspices of the Skagit YMCA.

This show was recorded prior to the closure of SVC due to COVID-19. KSVR studios were closed so this show was recently located virtually. It may be a bit outdated for that reason. There is a group which has recently taken on the tasks of updating furnishings, painting, and otherwise updating the building per a recent SVHerald article. We are not sure what services are currently being offered or how.

Skagit County Communications Coordinator, Laura Gelwicks talks with Jennifer Johnson head of the Skagit Public Health Dept to provide a COVID-19 update for Speak Out. Early on you will also heat Bob Dylan's "The Times They are a Changing". Laura and Jennifer discuss the procedure for the county to finally move to Stage 2; then they cover what that means and what is next. Host jim then talks a bit about the recent killings of black males by police around the country and demonstrations that have followed. We close out with Joe Williams recording of "Every Day I've got the Blues".

Linden Jorden, Skagit PFLAG Board Member, talks about gender, what it means, what it does not mean, how it develops, how it is perceived.

This week's Speak Up! Speak Out! show is part 2 of a presentation made on Tuesday, May 22 via Zoom of the Fidalgo Democrats' meeting. Debra Lekanoff starts part 2 by talking about success she had in her first legislative session bringing Native American concerns to the forefront. Terry talks about how Trump has divided us using scarcity + racism or bias + dehumanizations which has led to violence. It is radicalized violence. Anthony comments more than once on the need to support each other and to sort through the lies. In the Q&A, Jeff Mount commented on Ahmaud Arbery, a jogger who died in Brunswick, GA recently. Terry suggested people look at the "Facts over Fear" Facebook page & website where he posts recent violence activity.

"Coming Out of the Shadows" was a presentation made on Tues., May 12 via Zoom of the Fidalgo Democrats' virtual meeting. Anacortes City Councilman Anthony Young and Rev. Terry Kyllo talk about their new Cultural Inclusion Coalition. The coalition was formed after Anthony, who is black, found a noose hanging from a tree on the hill overlooking Anacortes, and Terry found a swastika on a vendor table at our local flea market. They are joined by 40 LD State Representative Debra Lekanoff, who is a Tlingit tribal member to add her perspective.

Tony White, recently hired General Manager of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, talks about his background and experiences, a bit of the history of food co-ops and shares some of his thinking about the future of Skagit Valley Food Co-op.

Jerry Shackette talks with Erynn Sendrick about United General Hospital's Food "Stamps" Expansion You have probably heard about SNAP benefits, maybe better known to some as "Food Stamps". Host Jerry Shackette talks with Erynn Sendrick, Program Coordinator for United General District 304 whose work focuses on assisting people in understanding and applying for basic food help from what's federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or "SNAP".

The truth is lots of people are challenged with the process of applying for this important benefit to help feed their families. Many don't even know if they qualify for the program.

Erynn gives us an inside look at how the SNAP program works, who qualifies (and just as importantly who doesn't) and how much help with healthy, nutritious food is available.

For more information and help with SNAP benefits and referral to other basic food programs such as W.I.C. and the Basic Food Employment and Training Program, you can reach Erynn Sendrick at (360) 854-7168.

Jane Mayer and Rita Stroosma of Skagit County speak with host jim justice about their experiences witnessing at the US Mexico border in Nogales and other locations. They talked with refugees at the border who were awaiting asylum about the conditions along the border and witnessed how the refugees were treated and the impact of that treatment. They also talk about the School of the Americas (otherwise known as the School of Assassins) on the Fort Benning army base near Columbus, Georgia which trained military in other countries (to fight against their own people).

School of the Americas Watch - This link also provides background info on Father Roy Bourgeois who was its founder. The SOA was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) in 2001.

Witnessing uprisings in Mexico, Colombia, and Central America - February 26, 2020

Andrea Doll has always had an interest in injustice fueled by her degrees in History and Political Science. During the FARC massacres in Colombia, she joined a Fellowship of Reconciliation group to stand as a witness to what was occurring. Since then she has also spent time in Mexico and Guatemala working with the people there. Andrea has worked with a women's co-op in Guatemala. As she told her story to host jim, jim stopped the recording to bring Dave McConnell into the conversation. Dave was in Ocosingo, Chiapas, Mexico attending a friend's wedding when the Zapatistas there with wooden weapons, if any, were overrun and killed by the Mexican Army. He witnessed the slayings. Andrea and Dave then continued together to hold a conversation about the similarities in what they witnessed. As Andrea stated, "Nothing happens in Guatemala that you can't trace back to the US." They both commented about how multinationals are destroying local economies in those areas for their own benefit. Obviously both were greatly moved and continue to be concerned about happenings in those areas.

Host Jerry Shackette talks with Macklin Hamilton who serves as the Community Liaison for Cascades Job Corps headquartered in the Swift Center in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Hamilton outlines the curriculum offered at Cascades, takes a walk through the admissions process and gives us an overview of student life on campus.

According to Hamilton Job Corps is the largest nationwide residential career training program in the country and has been operating for more than 50 years. The program helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, trains them for meaningful careers, and helps them with obtaining employment. Job Corps has trained and educated over two million individuals since 1964.

With a student capacity of 300 plus, the program offers training in computer systems and management, medical careers including a CNA course as well as career track in Homeland Security training for jobs as agents for communities and businesses to ensure safety and security.

Hamilton shares an insider's look at this major educational center in Skagit County.

Retiring manager of the Skagit Valley Food Coop, Todd Wood, talks about his 45 year connection with the Coop and it's growth and development over that time. He also explores the history of coops in general - and takes a brief look at the future.

This week we heard parts of Skagit Election Supervisor David Cunningham's presentation at the League of Women Voters meeting on Mon., Jan. 13, 2020 about the upcoming Presidential Primary Election on Tues., March 10. In this election ONLY, which happens every four years, one MUST declare they are either a Republican or Democrat in order to vote in the election. There is also a reminder about special elections (school levies in particular) which will happen Feb. 12th.

Host jim justice recorded the presentation by Indivisible Skagit's Environmental group by Pete Haase of the Skagit Marine Resources Committee. This is part 2, the first part aired on Nov. 6. Pete is a retired Boeing Computing Manager and volunteers in many environmental organizations: Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Preserve Citizen Stewardship Committee and the Padilla Bay Foundation. He explains the Skagit Marine Resources Committee (Skagit MRC) activities that help protect and save the Salish Sea. It is part of the NW Straits Initiative which is in its 20th year. This part talks more about their work.

The Salish Sea Stewards is a 10 week training program usually offered each spring. The Skagit MRC offers an E-News every 2 weeks with volunteer opportunities and other related events.

We close this segment of SUSO with a few of Bellingham's singer/songwriter Linda Allen's songs about the environment and one to inspire us in these times. Thanks to Linda for her 50 years of inspiring and uplifting music. More about her can be found at https://www.lindasongs.com.

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, DACA update, and more - November 13, 2019

Join host jim justice as she has a conversation about immigration organizations here is Washington with Diane Paul of the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council and Lisa Krivanek who along with Diane are Skagit Representatives to WAISN the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. We talk about what WAISN is and what services it provides. There is a hotline number which folk can call to report ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity in their area of Washington. Their website provides a lot of information about what they do and there is a link for people who want to get involved. They will go through a training before being involved with various activities. Large and small local groups are involved whether they are an official non-profit or not - they may just be a group of neighbors who want to be involved, like a neighborhood watch group.

WAISN hotline 1-844-724-3737 English and Spanish - they will find interpreters for other languages as required. Leave a message. The hotline has a live operator on during normal business hours, but messages may be left at all hours. https://www.waisn.org/

DACA recipients SHOULD renew their status if it will expire within the next year. There are loans available to do this through the North Coast Credit Union for the application fee. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) has been heard by the Supreme Court this week. A final decision will be out in the spring, by the end of June at the latest. Go to: http://skagitirc.org/information.html also, find the forms for renewing at https://www.uscis.gov/i-821d. Do check the http://Skagitirc.org website for contact information for attorneys to review your application. Those who are low income may use CCS Family immigration Service in Mount Vernon.

On a related note: Ask your U.S. Senator to Support S. 874, the Dream Act of 2019

From November 2019 until Spring 2020, while the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates, it is vital that we encourage Congress to act to provide DACA recipients with a path to citizenship. As the House passed H.R. 6 which includes a path to citizenship for DACA recipients, we ask that you turn your attention to your Senators and urge them to stand in support of young adult immigrants by supporting legislative protection for DACA recipients generally and the Dream Act of 2019, S. 874, specifically.

Background
H.R. 6 would provide critical permanent legal protection to DACA recipients, TPS and DED holders who are living in a state of uncertainty and fear. The USCCB's Committee on Migration Chairman, Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas, has voiced support for the bill numerous times: issuing a March 15, 2019 statement endorsing H.R. 6, sending a letter to each Member of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the bill, and endorsing individual component bills of H.R. 6 prior to markup in the House Judiciary Committee on May 22, 2019.

ACTION
While the House passed its version of the Dream Act, we ask you to stand in solidarity with immigrants and their families by sending a message to your Senators and request that they support S.874, the Dream Act of 2019. Many faith groups have sent letters of support to their US Senators. Here is the link for our WA senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm

Host jim justice recorded the presentation by Indivisible Skagit's Environmental group by Pete Haase of the Skagit Marine Resources Committee. Pete is a retired Boeing Computing Manager and volunteers in many environmental organizations: Fidalgo Bay Aquatic Preserve Citizen Stewardship Committee and the Padilla Bay Foundation. He explains the Skagit Marine Resources Committee (Skagit MRC) activities that help protect and save the Salish Sea. It is part of the NW Straits Initiative which is in its 20th year.

The Salish Sea Stewards is a 10 week training program usually offered each spring. The Skagit MRC offers an E-News every 2 weeks with volunteer opportunities and other related events.

After a summer of 2019 visit to the Hanford Nuclear Site by Bud Anderson and his wife, along with Julia Hurd and Kathleen Flanagan from Skagit County, Bud Anderson recently presented information learned on their tour and further research by Bud, a retired Shell Refinery electrical engineer. These people are part of No More Bombs in Skagit. Bud does not dramatize the information, but it will keep you interested to know that little, if anything, has been cleaned up there ALL these years after Hanford was used during WWII to construct nuclear bombs like the one dropped on Hiroshima. The Hanford site is located close to the Columbia River in Washington State. Tracy Powell is the founder of No More Bombs in Skagit. He was born on July 27, 1945 in Roswell, New Mexico, a week after the first detonation of a nuclear weapon and less than 200 miles away from the site.

Join us for Speak Up! Speak out! this week as jim talks with Skagit County Election Supervisor, David Cunningham, about issues from the August primary: many ballots mailed AFTER the post office closed, signatures and addresses didn't match what is on file, and people did NOT have a phone number on record, so the office could verify their info. About 400 ballots could not be counted!

David has taken on other responsibilities in the Auditor's office, but right now this is his concentration.

The League of Women Voters hosted a presentation by Washington Sec of State, Kim Wyman about election security. Many changes have been made since the 2016 election changes all in preparation for the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election. Washington has had very secure systems for many years, but with all that has happened since the 2004 and 2008 elections, MANY changes have been made statewide to make the records MORE secure.

Born of chagrin over the high numbers of homeless children in Skagit County, a small group of volunteers started a local chapter of a national organization called Family Promise, whose aim is to find sustainable housing for homeless families with children. Now, almost 10 years later, with the help of an ecumenical group of churches and hundreds of volunteers, they are doing what they set out to do. This interview with Family Promise volunteers Peggy Bridgman and Shirley Scott, hosted by Ginny Wolff, tells their story, and invites people to their largest fund raiser of the year, "Homeless for a Night" on Sept. 21.

Trash Talk was presented at the Mount Vernon YMCA by Liz McNett-Crowell and her daughter Katy McNett. Trash Talk 1 and 2 are core excerpts from their presentations. In Trash Talk 1, Katy presents a brief history of plastic and Liz shares her journey to reduce the use of plastic in her life.

Dave McConnell presents excerpts from a July 25, 2019 presentation by Maral Kebritchi at the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center entitled Breaking Down Islamaphobia.

The Fidalgo Democrats meeting this June brought the Legislative Affairs Manager for NARAL Prochoice Washington to address threats to the full range of women's healthcare particularly abortion rights. Morgan Steele Dykeman talks about what drew her to political action, the current national and local landscape as it pertains to women's healthcare, and what people can do to help women in states like Alabama and Missouri which are passing legislation to make abortion illegal.

Join jim justice at Bellingham singer songwriter, Linda Allen's newest CD release party which was also a fundraiser for the Food bank there. The CD is entitled Linda Allen Singing the News. Linda was celebrating 50 years writing and singing songs of protest. She was joined by her two daughters and several other singers and musicians to celebrate. Some topics on her recent CD are: supporting Planned Parenthood, tattoos, caregivers, cheap (think WalMart, Amazon, and lack of mine safety), hurricanes and much more.
Website http://lindasongs.com

Linda is currently offering her multi-media presentation, Here's to the Women!, in commemoration of both the state and national battle for the Nineteenth Amendment's passage nationally in 2020.

SUSO host jim justice was a election observer for the Fall Skagit County elections. She witnessed the difficulties that the Election Supervisor, David Cunningham, was having with the November election. Usually Skagit is one of the first to post final results, but this past November it was the last. jim reports on a presentation for Fidalgo Democrats on the changes in the election office since that election. Newly elected Skagit County Auditor Sandy Perkins and Chief Deputy Auditor/Elections Supervisor David Cunningham spoke at the Fidalgo Democrats' meeting on Tues., April 9, 2019 about "How Can We Speed Up the Vote Count in Skagit County?" Listen to hear why the difference in the November election and about the changes since then, including elevating Election Supervisor David Cunningham to now hold the title of Chief Deputy Auditor along with his election supervision duties.

No one in Skagit forgets the explosion at the Tesoro refinery in 2010 that killed 7 people. Investigators decided that that disaster was preventable. The United Steel Workers' Union representing refinery workers has been working for years to increase safety practices at refineries, without much success - until now. A coalition of several unions, and environmental organizations under the banner of the Blue Green Alliance has influenced the Dept. of Labor and Industry to rewrite the rules governing refinery safety practices. California has already made similar changes in what is called "Process Safety Management," greasing the skids for Washington.

In this interview, Ginny Wolff talks with Dr. Michael Wilson, National Director for Occupational and Environmental Health at the BlueGreen Alliance; Steve Garey, retired refinery worker, former president of USW Local 12-591 and BlueGreen Alliance member; and Mary Ruth Holder, retired lawyer with experience in environmental law in Texas, and community member representing Evergreen Islands, to tell us the story. They will hold an informational event on Thursday, May 2, 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Burlington Community/Senior Center at 1011 Greenleaf Ave. Burlington, where the public can learn about this complicated issue in ways that can be understood, and how they can participate in making public comments supporting new safety regulations at all Washington State refineries.

At the age of 13, Dylan D'Haeze asked what happens to plastic when we throw it away. In his search for the answer he traveled the continent, and what he witnessed shocked him. Rather than hide from his fear, he decided to make a film, and "Kids Can Save the Planet" was born. Dylan has made three documentary films to date which were shown at the Lincoln Theatre in an event organized by Carol Sullivan. The first film "Plastic is Forever" has won several awards, the second film "Tipping Point" explores climate change. The third "Everything Connects" addresses sustainability. Dylan was present at the Lincoln and participated in a panel discussion after the films were shown. This show contains excerpts from that panel discussion, a short interview with Dylan and a clip of music from The Irthlings - Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz - who provided music for the evening.

Dave McConnell talks with Jerry Shackette, Hunger to Hope Coordinator for Friendship House, discussing the Hunger to Hope, and other, projects offered by Friendship House which has served the homeless in Mount Vernon for over 30 years.

Rep. Dave Paul represents the 10th LD. He was newly elected to that seat last Nov. beating the Republican incumbent for a seat held by the Republicans for 20 years. In this interview, he talks about his reasons for running and his positions on many issues. He summarizes many of the bills passed by the House during the first half of the 2019 legislative session.

Residents in the 10th district may contact Rep. Paul at his Olympia office at 360-786-7914 of by email at dave.paul@leg.wa.gov.

Filmmaker Paul Espinosa's "Singing our Way to Freedom" and more - March 20, 2019

Join host jim justice this week on Speak Up! Speak out! as she talks with filmmaker and producer Paul Espinosa as he prepared to show his newest film, Singing Our Way to Freedom, at the recent Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival. His film focuses on Cesar Chavez's favorite musician, Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez. Paul not only talks about this film and many others, but the whole process of filming, editing, producing, and marketing this film. Check out his websites to find out more.

Safe and Sane Skagit met recently with Congressman Suzan DelBene's local representatives, Kaylee Galloway and Ben Studley about their concern over the need for background checks and federal legislation: HR-8 and HR1128. Another bill is in committee, HR569, which would protect victims from stocking violence. Another concern was whether the Center for Disease Control will once again be allowed to research and track gun violence.

This week we celebrate our beginning in March 2008 with a celebration International Women's Day as we did then. This time the focus is on music from singers/songwriters Linda Allen of Bellingham, Malvina Reynolds, Anne Feeney and others.

Over 25% of the people in Skagit County are over 60 years of age. Host Jerry Shackette interviews Renee Corcoran, Senior Program Coordinator at Skagit County Public Health who oversees the Skagit Senior Nutrition Program.

Corcoran shares the details of the "Meals on Wheels" program which delivers a daily meal to seniors who have difficulty leaving their home unassisted or preparing their own meals. The discussion also examines the food operations at the County Senior Centers and talks about how the entire program is funded and how volunteers are a critical part of the effort.

Thereâ€™s another part of the story that reveals a part of the program that is almost as critical as providing the food. Seniors living alone can experience a personal sense of isolation that is often relieved by a delivery visit by the Meals on Wheels delivery driver.

Hear the details about this key piece of the Skagit County Food System and how you can play a part in making sure no Skagit County senior goes hungry.

Protesting Trump's Wall - February 20, 2019 Join host jim justice as she hears from people by the Skagit County Courthouse in Mount Vernon, Washington as they participate in the National Protest against Trump's Emergency Declaration so he could have money to finish his Southern Border wall. Ages ranged from toddlers to well-spoken 14+ year olds to the many retirees who have lined this intersection in the past, following the tradition set by peacenik Jerry Sommerseth. Included is a lengthy segment from the Rev Paul Moore, the new priest of St.Paul's Episcopal Church/ La Iglesia de la ResurrecciÃ³n in Mount Vernon and a heart spoken message from a Mexican immigrant who served several years in the US military. We close with Odessa's Freedom Trilogy, so listen to the end. The Skagit Valley Herald had an article and a couple of photos on Tues., Feb 19.

This week on Speak Up! Speak Out! host jim justice speaks with Diane Paul, a trained social worker affiliated with the National Lawyers Guild and a long time human rights advocate and researcher. Diane has worked in Bosnia and with UNICEF working to protect civilians. Today on SUSO, Diane discusses her work as a legal observer in Tijuana, Mexico recently when caravans were arriving from Central America. As a legal observer, she worked in affiliation with Al Otro Lado (alotrolado.org) which has monitored US ICE (Immigrant and Customs Enforcement) activities on the border. Diane explains the conditions she witnessed where immigrants seeking asylum were "housed" in the Benito Juarez Sports Complex. More are still on the journey north from Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, and Cameroon English speakers coming up from Honduras. Why? Listen and find out the various reasons, and more background on this continuing crisis.

Surge Festival - Local Artists and Scientists Collaborate in Climate Change Exhibit - January 30, 2019

The Museum of Northwest Art (MONA) hosted the third Surge Festival from Oct. 2018 through early Jan. 2019. Local artists and scientists collaborated to create the exhibition, meant to increase awareness of local impacts of climate change. Our show for Jan. 16 played excerpts from the panel presentation involving some of those artists and scientists held the last weekend of the exhibit. Today's show features excerpts from the discussion between panelists, moderators and the audience which followed the formal panel presentation.

Included below are websites of some of the artists who spoke on Jan. 5 which give the listener some idea of the artists' work, and include some of the images spoken about in today's program.

What's the future for family farming in Skagit County? Is the glass half full or half empty? Host Jerry Shackette talks with Don McMoran, Director of Washington State University Extension for Skagit County. The discussion includes the answer to the question; "What is Extension anyway"? and ranges from sustainability to the future of the family farm and value-added agriculture. McMoran also shares details of the upcoming Country Living EXPO in Stanwood on Saturday, January 26th and the Skagit Ag Summit at the WSU Mount Vernon Research & Extension Center on Saturday, February 16th.

Surge Festival - Local Artists and Scientists Collaborate in Climate Change Exhibit - January 16, 2019

The Museum of Northwest Art (MONA) hosted the third Surge Festival from Oct. 2018 through early Jan. 2019. Local artists and scientists collaborated to create the exhibition, meant to increase awareness of local impacts of climate change. Today's show is excerpts from the panel presentation involving some of those artists and scientists held the last weekend of the exhibit. A follow-up show will play excerpts of the discussion which followed the presentation.

Included below are websites of some of the artists who spoke on Jan. 5 which give the listener some idea of the artists' work, and include some of the images spoken about in today's program.

Access to healthy nutritious foods for children continues to be a goal for the Concrete School District's "Farm to School" program. This effort is supported by the United General District 304 in Sedro-Woolley.

Host Jerry Shackette talks with Marjorie Bell and Rachel Muia from District 304 who tell the story of the "Farm to School" program and how it is changing kids minds about healthy, nutritious foods. They call it a "revolution" in school meal programs. Plus, they answer the questions "what is United General District 304 anyway" and talk about the concept of a "food desert" in Eastern Skagit County.

Speak Up! Speak Out! for these two shows follow our show for Nov. 21, which featured Rep. Kris Lytton reflecting on her 8 years in the State Legislature on the eve of her retirement. The Question and Answer period for this conversation was as interesting and candid as Kris' opening remarks, so we are airing it in 2 shows. Part one on Dec. 5, and Part 2 on Dec.12. An insider's view of how our legislature works is vital for anyone who wants to make change.

For 20 years, Moving Images Video Project, a non-profit organization, has produced and distributed documentaries about war and peace, human rights, global justice, and protection for the environment. Host jim justice speaks with co-founders, Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin, about a new film entitled Plane Truths.
The recent expansion of Navy training activities in the Northwest has many local residents concerned. Community members on Whidbey Island, the San Juans, and the Olympic Peninsula are disturbed by an increase in noise caused by new jets based at Naval Air Station Whidbey (NAS). On Whidbey, communities have been additionally impacted by water system pollution caused by chemicals used for firefighting on NAS landing strips.

Their new 30-minute film Plane Truths explores a variety of perspectives on these issues from farmers, current and retired military personnel, environmentalists and other citizens of the affected areas. Listen as Melissa and Mark talk about their new documentary.

This film will be shown in LaConner, Friday, November 30th, 7PM, at the United Methodist Church, 601 S. 2nd St., on top of the hill.

"Plane Truths is brilliant...simmering...." Catherine Lutz, Professor of Anthropology and International Studies, Brown University, Author, Homefront: A Military City and the American Twentieth Century.

NEW: Their next project will be out soon, "Argentina, Don't Give Up Your Voice", about the current struggles there especially after their new leader was elected a year before Trump. Mark says Argentina's leader and Trump are quite the pair. Following that, they will go back to cooperative enterprises theme - one worker, one vote.

Website: Plane Truths, there is a preview there that you can watch. Their original website is http://www.movingimages.org/

Retiring Washington State Representative from the 40th LD, Kristine Lytton, addressed the Indivisible Skagit group on Nov. 14. Kris talked candidly about her experiences in her 8 years in the State Legislature, on the eve of her retirement. She summarized the election results as they stood on Nov. 14. She shared her thoughts on "next moves" to support progressive values in our state, and how ordinary citizens can become involved. This a Part 1 of what will likely be a 2 or 3 part show. An informative Q&A session followed Kris's uninterrupted remarks that will air soon.

Dr. Ernest Tutt, who was our guest on several SUSO programs, died in June 2918. Ernest was instructor in communications at Skagit Valley College, actor, didgeridoo player, portrayer of Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, and, as you will hear in these shows, admired, appreciated - and missed - by all who knew him.

A memorial service was held in McIntyre Hall in August. The two shows are excerpts from that service - words from family, fellow teachers at Skagit Valley College, friends and neighbors. They also include brief excerpts from one of the on air conversations with Ernest.

Dr. Deborah Giles and Lovel Pratt on the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force - October 24, 2018

This show returns to efforts to save the Southern Resident Killer Whales, (SRKW) or Orcas, as two members of the Working Groups for the SRKW Recovery and Task Force join Ginny Wolff to update us on what the Task Force may propose to the Governor. The last chance for the public to weigh in on those recommendations is Oct. 24 - Oct. 29.

Today's guests are Dr. Deborah Giles, whale biologist with the Center for Conservation Biology, and Lovel Pratt, Marine Protection Programs Director for Friends of the San Juans. Dr. Giles is on both the Prey and Vessels working groups for the Task Force. Lovel Pratt is on the Vessels working group. In the discussion, Giles (as she prefers to be called) covers how whale biologists study the whales non-invasively, and what they have learned. Both Giles and Lovel talk in some detail about recommendations the Task Force are considering for their final report to Governor Inslee.

To comment on the Revised Draft recommendations of the SRKW Recovery and Task Force between Oct. 24 and Oct. 29, visit the website below. You will find links to both the revised recommendations, and a survey where you can weigh in on the revised recommendations before the Task Force finalizes them on Nov. 16.

In this two part series the effects of Chinese tariffs in Skagit county and beyond are discussed by a panel of three: Don McMoran, Director of the Washington State University Skagit County Extension; Sean Connell, director of the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County, (EDASC), as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington State China Relations Council; and Rich Austin, a decades' long union activist and current president of the Pacific Coast International Longshore and Warehouse Union Pensioners Association, (ILWU).

In the first segment, Don McMoran talks about farming in Skagit County, including the possible effects of new tariffs, and then we hear the first half of Sean Connell's explanations of proposed tariffs both locally and in Washington State in relation to China.

During the second segment we return to Sean Connell's explanations of proposed tariffs followed by Rich Austin providing background and history of free trade agreements in general.

The shows were recorded by jim justice at the September Fidalgo Democrats meeting with Corinne Salcedo, Chairperson, moderating.

The Effects of Tariffs in Skagit County and Beyond - part 1 - September 26, 2018

During the second segment we return to Sean Connell's explanations of proposed tariffs followed by Rich Austin providing background and history of free trade agreements in general.

The shows were recorded by jim justice at the September Fidalgo Democrats meeting with Corinne Salcedo, Chairperson, moderating.

A child not getting enough to eat on a regular basis can delay brain development and the child's ability to learn and it's happening here in Skagit County. Over half of Skagit families must choose between buying groceries and paying rent and that translates into 10,000 Skagit kids at risk of food insecurity and hunger.

Host Jerry Shackette talks with Rebecca Larsen, Executive Director of the Helping Hands Solution Center, (formerly the Helping Hands Food Bank), and Debra Lancaster, Executive Director of United Way of Skagit County, about an innovative partnership underway to get food to families who need it.

"Cutting Hunger on Weekends" or C.H.O.W. allows families with kids in need to request help and food is packed and delivered right to their home. Learn about this unique coalition of non-profits and Skagit Publishing fighting hunger right here in Skagit County.

Sen. Kevin Ranker - Southern Resident Orcas Face Extinction if We Don't Act - September 12, 2018

Our beloved Southern Resident Orca population, which frequents the Salish Sea, is at an all-time low of 75 whales with no successful births since 2015. Sen. Kevin Ranker has loved the orcas since his childhood and been a fierce and passionate advocate for them for over 2 decades, first as Executive Director of Friends of the San Juans, and currently as WA State Senator from the 40th LD since 2008.

In this interview with Ginny Wolff, Sen. Ranker reviews the stressors that are threatening the whales with extinction. As a member of the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) Task Force convened by Gov. Inslee in March, 2018, he is finally hopeful that bold measures to address these stressors may actually happen because "a nation woke up" to the crisis while watching a mother orca mourn her dead calf by holding it above water for 17 days. In some detail he discusses both immediate and longer term measures he feels hopeful the Task Force will recommend. The public can help both by writing to the Task Force, but more importantly, by holding their legislators' and the Governor's "feet to the fire" during the coming legislative session starting Jan. 2019 to make sure the recommendations actually become law, and enforcement is fully funded. He says this is our last chance to save these magnificent creatures from extinction.

Sen. Kevin Ranker's email address: Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Ranker's office phone number: (360) 786-7678

Eric de Place on Expansion Plans for the Trans Mountain and Puget Sound Pipelines - August 29, 2018

Eric de Place, Programs Director for Sightline Institute, continues his research on the "Thin Green Line" along the coast of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, where the fossil fuel industry wants access to facilities and ports that would refine and/or ship their products to domestic, and potentially foreign, markets. In this interview, Ginny Wolff talks with Eric de Place about plans to expand the Trans Mountain Pipeline, formerly called the Kinder Morgan Pipeline before the Canadian Government bought it from the Texas-based oil company. The Trans Mountain Pipeline connects the tarsands oil fields in northern Alberta to the Pacific Coast port at Burnaby in B.C. Expansion of this pipeline would hugely increase tanker traffic through the Salish Sea, increasing the risk of an oil spill that could be the death knell for the Salish Sea and southern resident orcas. This interview focuses special attention on the little known spur that leaves the Trans Mountain Pipeline at Abbotsford and heads south to feed the refineries in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Plans are to approximately double the capacity of this spur, known as the Puget Sound Pipeline, which already feeds oil sands from Alberta to our refineries in WA State. Eric de Place fields questions about the impacts of this proposal in Washington, and some of the many questions that arise from a project that has no precedent: i.e. foreign ownership of a pipeline on U.S. soil.

Announced Aug. 30, a Canadian federal court of appeals panel has quashed the government's approval of the pipeline, citing the failure of Prime Minister Trudeau's Cabinet to consider environmental factors and consult with the First Nations.
Eric de Place wrote, "This decision will almost certainly go to the Canadian Supreme Court. [This is a] meaningful setback and delay for the project, but it's still alive and a serious threat."

Climate Action I-1631 in WA State and the Quinault Indian Nation Cultural Center and Museum - August 1, 2018

Join host jim justice as she visits the Quinault Indian Nation. In part 1 of this show she speaks with Tribal Council member, Gina James, about the tribal initiative working with NW tribes and other groups to put I-1631 on the November 2018 ballot. The initiative's goal is to protect the health of communities, invest in clean energy creating many jobs in the state while cutting pollution. Gina then talks about other challenges and successes the Quinaults have had and progress they are making including a bit of an historical account. Part 2: Lani Chubby, Director of the Quinault Cultural Center and Museum, talks about the museum she has set up in the village. She was able to repatriate many items that had been taken by, or lent to, museums around the country. The museum is worth the trip to Taholah.

Dual Threat: Climate Change and Cascadia Subduction Zone event - July 25, 2018

Join host jim justice on location on the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) to talk with their Senior Planner Kelsey Moldenke about his task to move the village of Taholah from the mouth of the Quinault River (located at about 17 feet elevation) to higher ground given threats of climate change and a Cascadia Subduction Zone event. Taholah is located on the Pacific Ocean of Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula. Kelsey and others of the QIN have been proactively looking into funding and logistics to move the village to higher ground since 2014. So far no group (governmental or otherwise) seems to be taking the tribe's concerns seriously. The Cascadia Fault has a 300-500 year cycle. We are at about year 320 now.

Home Rule Skagit is a group of local residents promoting a change in the structure of our county government in Skagit County. Margery Hite and Gary Wickman join Ginny Wolff to discuss what a "charter" or "home rule" government is, and describe how it might differ from the three-commissioner system we have now. They identify problems with the current structure which could be handled differently with a County Charter, and address some common concerns about making such a change. They explain the process needed to bring the issue to a vote, and what would happen next should voters approve it.

Home Rule Skagit members are currently gathering signatures for a petition to put the issue on the ballot this November. The deadline for signatures for that petition is August 3.

We couldn't pass up an opportunity to interview a Palestine man from Gaza who actually got out of Gaza and visited the U.S. Dr. Mustafa El-Hawi spoke with jim justice and Ginny Wolff from Pennsylvania by Skype. (Pardon the sound quality early in the interview - It gets better.) Dr. El-Hawi talks about the critical challenges of living in Gaza, from lack of basic necessities such as food, safe water, lack of medical care and education to the chronic threat of violence from drones flying overhead 24/7.

With a PhD in Environmental Management, Dr. El-Hawi teaches at Al Aqfa University, and actively looks for solutions to inadequate waste water treatment and lack of safe drinking water. But his volunteer work with Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) gives him the most satisfaction as he teaches and fosters both Palestinians and some Israelis in skills of non violence and how to deal with chronic trauma. AVPUSA is what brought him to the U.S. on this trip. His message to Americans it that the Palestinians locked in Gaza badly need our help for basic necessities, and for the U.S. to recognize and end the human rights abuses of those trapped in the "open air prison" of Gaza.

Dave McConnell continues the conversation with Skagit Valley College History instructor about Fascism. We focus on the Fourteen Characteristics of Fascism described by Lawrence Britt that appeared in Liberty Forum in 2003.

Kurt Dunbar, Instructor of History at Skagit Valley College, talks with Dave McConnell about fascism; a discussion focusing on the Sinclair Lewis play "It Can't Happen Here." We discussed the similarities between events of the 1930's (when the play was written) and recent events in the United States. The conversation will continue next week as we discuss Lawrence Britt's study of fascism that identified 14 characteristics that were shared by fascist governments of the 20th century - and see how they apply our country today.

Sarah van Gelder on the Power of Communities to promote Resilience - May 16, 2018

Sarah van Gelder, co-founder of Yes! Magazine, gave the keynote address at FutureFest held in Anacortes this April. Today's show features highlights of that talk, including stories from her 12,000 mi. 4 month road trip to challenged communities across the country where she found people using the power of community and the love of the place where they live to foster regenerative growth rather than extractive exploitation. Her book on her journey is called "The Revolution Where you Live; Stories from a 12,000 Mile Journey Through a New America."

Sarah's newest venture is "Peoples' Hub," an online teaching tool where community groups can learn skills to make them really work well.

Listen in to hear Rob Mercatante and Dania Rodriguez, co-directors of the non-profit in Guatemala, called the Human Rights Defenders Project. Their work is in Guatemala, but were recently visiting friends in Skagit. They work with human rights defenders to protect them and in defense of their speaking out. Rob talks about a community called Laguna Large (450 people) which no longer exists as residents were forced by national police and soldiers to flee their homes in the middle of the night. Their community land was land that the government wanted. They currently live in a no mans land between Guatemala and southern Mexico. He talks about other cases, including one about young women detained and the abuses they must live with or die fighting.

Lummi Master Carver Jewell James - Bring Tokitae (AKA Lolita) Home to the Salish Sea - May 2, 2018

Jewell James and the House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation have a tradition of gifting totem poles to communities in need of hope or healing. Three such gifts commemorated the victims of 9/11. Since 2013, yearly journeys have visited communities impacted by fossil fuel extraction and transport. For the Lummi, the health of the Salish Sea is of critical importance.

This year's journey addresses that mission through a campaign to bring an orca whale unlawfully taken from the Salish Sea in 1970, home to her native pod in the Salish Sea. Tokitae, also known as Lolita, is a 50 year old orca whale held in captivity at the Seaquarium in Miami for the last 48 years. She is the only surviving whale left of the 60 captured in 1970. In this interview, Jewell James tells Tokitae's story, the significance of the Lummi's desire to bring her home, and how they propose reintroducing her into her native environment. In the process, Jewell James shares poignant, even heartbreaking stories of the history of treatment of Native Americans by the governments of both the U.S. and Canada, reflections on how our world views differ, and makes a strong case for how we need to change course if humans, as well as whales, are to survive on earth.

Events will be held in the following places. For more specific information see the Facebook page above:

Seattle, WA: Thursday, May 10
Tacoma, WA: Friday, May 11
Portland, OR: Saturday, May 12
San Diego, CA: Wednesday, May 16
Austin, TX: Saturday, May 19
Houston, TX: Sunday, May 20
Miami, FL: Two Events on Saturday, May 26
Miami, FL: Sunday, May 27

Jerry Shackette interviews Trevor Lane, County Director for Community Economic Development with Washington State University Extension on the potential for AgriTourism.

When you drive to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival or stop at roadside farm stand and buy some local produce, you are participating in what Trevor Lane calls "AgriTourism". Lane defines this kind of tourist activity as any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm. He says this kind of tourism is a great fit for Skagit County and allows farmers to add value to their operations. Lane talks with host Jerry Shackette and shares his ideas about the impacts of AgriTourism.

Is this tourism activity compatible with our concerns about environmental responsibility? Does AgriTourism change our view of the traditional farming operation and what about tourists creating more traffic and intruding on private property? Lane addresses these questions and more in this conversation following his presentation at the "Ag Summit" held this past February in Mount Vernon.

Join host jim justice as she talks with Wende Sanderson of the League of Women Voters of Skagit and the Dispute Resolution Center in Skagit. Wende first talks about the two organizations and what they do, including the They Represent You pamphlet the LWV recently produced available at libraries and on the LWV's website. Next Wende describes the upcoming events that are part of a 3-pronged presentation on Civil Discourse: a Community Event on Sat. May 5th, 5 skill building events over the summer and fall, and a day long workshop over a local "sticky issue" facing our community, the topic of which will be determined over the course of these gatherings. A diverse group of local voices steer this venture to be sure all in our community feel their viewpoint will be heard and is welcome.

Convening Meeting Civil Discourse Project, Northwest Career & Technical Academy 2205 W Campus Place (off LaVenture Rd E of College Way), Mount Vernon, WA 9 AM â€“ noon

Gun Violence in Our Communities, Part 2 with The Alliance for Gun Responsibility - April 11, 2018

This show is the second half of a recording of a March 2018 Indivisible Skagit meeting on Gun Violence in Our Communities. The timing happened just after the Parkland high school shootings and subsequent student school walkouts, and just before the national and local March for Our Lives. In this portion Cathy Munsen, Coalition Manager for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, describes the Alliance and talks about the 2018 legislative session. The Alliance has done more in Washington State than any other organization to get responsible gun laws passed since Sandy Hook, including comprehensive background checks and much more.

Part one with four high school students, Safe and Sane Skagit, Skagit Moms Demand Action and Strategic Emergency Education is available on http://speakupspeakoutradio.org.

On today's show, Evelyn Adams talks with Ginny Wolff about FutureFest, an ambitious and visionary weekend planned by Transition Fidalgo and Friends on April 21-22. FutureFest is a free weekend event designed to guide participants in re-envisioning the future we want, helping them find hope and renewed energy by working towards solutions at the local level that aren't happening nationally.

Sarah Van Gelder co-founder of Yes! magazine is their keynote speaker. Innovative workshops address Strengthening our local Economy, "Homes for all," "Regenerative Resistance: Facing the Mess We're in Without Going Crazy" and Citizen Scientists. Multiple creative activities include a song writing contest, "The Qube," the "Walk of Why Not," the "Grove of Life," an art display by MONA and more. Sommer Carter and the Anacortes Music Project lead in a conversation about the importance of creativity to our future during supper on Saturday.Vicki Robin wraps up the weekend with the "Future Cafe." There will be an ending parade.

FutureFest happens Saturday, April 21, 2018, 10-7PM, and Sunday, April 22, 12:30-6PM, at the Transit Shed Event Center, Anacortes. It is FREE.

San Juan Islanders are in a better position than most of the rest of us to watch what's threatening the tenuous environment of the Salish Sea; and they are more immediately connected to how the ecology and economy for all communities surrounding this international body of water are intertwined. In today's show Ginny Wolff talks with Stephanie Buffum, Executive Director of Friends of the San Juans; Lovel Pratt, Marine Protection Programs Director for Friends; and Shaun Hubbard of Islanders for Safe Shipping, about their concerns over increases in international shipping traffic, especially those vessels carrying Canadian crude oil, and refined fossil fuel products. They discuss oil spill risk, underwater noise pollution, their alarm over the endangered chinook salmon and the Southern Resident Killer Whales, and how Islanders' love of the iconic orca is galvanizing them into action, to protect the beloved whales, and the Salish Sea itself.

In response to the Valentine's Day shooting at Marjorie Douglas Stoneman High School in Florida, Indivisible Skagit's March meeting became a forum on Gun Violence in Our Communities and was recorded for Speak Up! Speak Out!. With this tragic event, the national gun violence dialogue has moved. Brave students have become the voice, turning grief into action.

Jade Carter from Anacortes High School, Jennifer Ramirez from Burlington-Edison High School, Ava Ross from Mount Vernon High School, and Llyra Roe from Sedro Woolley High School helped organize their school's national walk-out on the one-month anniversary of the Florida shooting and spoke eloquently about it. In addition, the chairpersons of two local gun violence prevention groups, Margy Lavelle for Safe and Sane Skagit, and Julie Wenzel of Skagit Moms Demand Action, spoke, as did Krista Salinas for her emergency management business, Strategic Emergency Education. Cathy Munsen from the Alliance for Gun Responsibility presented a slide show on Washington State GVP legislation and the Alliance's ability to push it. This will air in a second segment, April 11.

Writer Matt Malyon joins host jim justice to talk about his Underground Writing of which he is the director. This is a literature-based writing program that fits into a peace and justice focus of his life. It is a creative writing program using writing prompts from literature and works on empowering students. He has started a joint project with Aaron Wagner to have Aaron's contacts use the student writing to "illustrate" it through art work and film. The Underground Writing works with students in juvenile detention, Migrant Student Leadership Club in Mount Vernon, and other groups in Skagit County to encourage their writing to focus on their future and empower them through providing a means to express themselves. The project has a new book about to be released soon, What No One Ever Tells You. Also, a new group will start soon at the new Skagit Community Justice Center (formerly jail) which provides meeting rooms for this sort of activity.

Conversation with with Andrew Miller, Director of Business Retention and Expansion for the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) - March 7, 2018

There is a changing face of consumer interest in agriculture and value-added food and it's a window of opportunity for Skagit Valley that can help provide a sustainable future for local family farms. That's the story shared by EDASC's Andrew Miller at the recent 3rd annual "Ag Summit" last month at the WSU Research Center in Mount Vernon.

Miller talks with SUSO host Jerry Shackette about a new "authentic food and farm story". Miller argues that sharing this new story with the populations of the two hottest consumer markets in North America can help bring a new economic reality to Skagit agriculture. Hear his concept of a new "ag of the middle" as an economic model for a sustainable future.

Friends of the San Juans is an environmental non-profit organization established in 1979, and based in Friday Harbor. Today's show is Part 1 of 2 shows. Board members San Olson and Janet Alderton; and staff members Tina Whitman and Katie Fleming describe some of the many projects and issues Friends of the San Juans addresses and how they each use their passion and expertise to further Friends' mission to preserve and restore the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea. This show focuses on the land based preservation and restoration work of Friends. Part 2 of this program will examine marine shipping and safety issues.

This week on SUSO, Dave catches up with co-host Jodie Buller to talk about natural or green burial. Jodie is cemetery manager and conservation coordinator at White Eagle Memorial Preserve, near Goldendale, WA. White Eagle is one of 9 Conservation burial grounds in the US, and part of a growing movement of people reclaiming death and dying traditions.

Their conversation also explores community building events like the Subdued Stringband Jamboree and the power of community radio to tell inspiring stories at the local level.

"Nothing we use for a few minutes should end up in the belly of a whale!" says Carol Sullivan, creator of the Skagit County the Plastic BAG BANd Wagon. In this interview hosted by Ginny Wolff, Carol Sullivan discusses the campaign to encourage city councils across Skagit County to enact single-use plastic carryout bag ordinances. With the organizational skills of a teacher, the enthusiasm of an optimist, and the determination of a grandmother, Carol talks about what motivates her, and her goals: To enact ordinances banning single-use plastic bags in Skagit cities, educate Skagit residents about plastics in the environment, and encourage recycling, reusing, and repurposing of plastics in Skagit County.

Fighting for immigrant communities, indigenous communities, our freedoms, human rights, democracy, the health of women and children, and Mother Earth, the People's Movement Assembly (PMA) is a process of collective problem-solving. It is an act of coming together to share, work and move toward a collective vision led by the people on the frontlines of the struggle. It is a social movement of those most affected by historical and current injustices to demand justice with a coordinated and sustained collective force.

Join Junga Subadar of Bellingham Racial Justice Coalition, Michelle Vendiola and Talia London of Red Line Salish Sea, and Rosalinda Guillen of Community to Community in a conversation about the PMA. Recorded for the Community Voz program at KSVR's sister station KMRE in Bellingham.

Convening once again in a Trump administration anti-inauguration PMA, community members are invited to join in a participative analysis of actions and commitments of the PMA held in January of 2017.

Al Gore's Climate Reality Project is designed to mobilize people all over the world, put them in touch with the resources they need to make change, and teach them skills to persuade and push the people with the power to make those changes. Today's show hosted by Ginny Wolff features Jill MacIntyre Witt and Steve Garey, both of whom have attended former Vice President Gore's training, and want to start a local chapter. Their Launch Party is Jan. 11, 6:30 pm, at the Sustainable Living Center above Re-Sources on Meridian St. in Bellingham. This interview addresses some of what they learned at the training, and their plans to mobilize people to act at the local level to help our communities and state address the crisis of climate change.

Join jim justice as she speaks with Chris Cammock, Lt. Mount Vernon Police and Shannon Meyer, FBI Clinical Psychologist and Victim Specialist for a conversation about what happened at the mall in Skagit in the Fall of 2016. jim was impressed with the management of the situation and how it was very different from other similar events before and since then. Listen in to find out about what was happening behind the scenes and what to do now if found in a similar situation.

Since the summer of 2016, Skagit residents have become aware that our county commissioners have been consulting with anti-public lands groups seeking local control over federally owned lands, paving the way for resource extraction on these lands. In the state of Washington this means national park and national forests lands. The commissioners agreed to stop paying membership fees to two of these groups: the American Lands Council and the American Stewards of Liberty. However, residents have learned that our tax dollars have been funding DC lobbyist Robert K. Weidner, who supports an extreme right wing environmental agenda, for many years, currently contracting his services for $20,000 in 2017.

In an effort to bring this to public attention, and express objection to our tax dollars funding this lobbyist, people spoke up at the Tuesday commissioners' comment periods on Nov. 21, and 28, 2017. This show, organized by host Ginny Wolff, plays recordings from nine people who spoke on those days.

This is a complicated issue, and an evolving one. More information: Google "coordination and county supremacy."

Join us for a conversation about water rights in Washington State. The 2016 state Supreme Court "Hirst Decision" is the latest in a long line of court decisions and attendant laws around this contentious issue. Julia Hurd spoke with Eric Hirst from Bellingham, whom the decision was named after, and Tom Glade from Anacortes. Both have been involved with water issues for several years. Eric served on the Board of ReSources for Sustainable Communities and Tom is President of Evergreen Islands.

"The Hirst decision clarified that Washington's Growth Management Act requires counties to protect ground and surface waters by ensuring there is enough water available to accommodate growth before more development is authorized. It also clarified that residential wells - which do not require a state permit - are not currently managed to ensure protection of our water resources." - Timothy Ballew, Chairman of Lummi Nation, Seattle Times, August 6, 2017

The Hirst decision also came to hold up the Washington State $4 billion two-year Capital Budget, leaving funds for construction projects, jobs, fire fighting - and Blanchard Mountain - in limbo.

Testimony from Public Hearing for Tesoro's Xylene Project Shoreline permit - November 15, 2017

On Nov. 2, 2017 the Skagit County Hearing Examiner took public comments regarding Tesoro (now Andeavor) Refinery's Shoreline Substantial Development Permit for their "Clean Product Upgrades" proposal at the March Point refinery. The upgrade would allow Tesoro to produce and export mixed xylenes, flammable petrochemicals used to make plastics and synthetics, and to produce lower sulfur fuels. The plan to produce 15,000 barrels of mixed xylenes per day would bring an additional five marine vessels per month through the Salish Sea: a mix of tankers and articulated tug barges bringing feedstock to the refinery and shipping the xylenes to Asia.

The majority of comments at the hearing were from people either opposed to the project or concerned about negative environmental impacts. This show, organized by host Ginny Wolff, plays a sampling of those comments made by local individuals and representatives from various environmental organizations, with a range of concerns and a variety of expertise. Skagit County Planning and Development Services will make the entire proceedings of this hearing available to the public soon. The Hearing Examiner will announce his decision on whether or not to grant the Shoreline Substantial Development Permit 4 weeks from the date of the hearing.

Dave visited Baldham Farm East of Clear Lake for a conversation with one of the owners - Miriam Garrote. The conversation included a bit of history of the Farm (very short - 3 years), their organic operation and what that entails - and some description of life as a farmer. I chose this farm because it runs counter to what seems to be happening; it's a young couple, one of which (Miriam) grew up in a city (Madrid, Spain), recently settled on the farm and working their way through the details of making it work.

Muslims are perhaps the most demonized immigrant group in our country. Comprising only about 1% of our population, they are frequently the victims of bigotry, micro aggressions and hate crimes. For today's show, the Reverend Terry Kyllo of Anacortes joins Ginny Wolff to talk about his work partnering with Muslims to answer Islamophobia.

Pastor Kyllo feels that interfaith dialogue is critical, enabling us to live with each other given our cultural differences. He now works full time as the director of Neighbors in Faith, an interfaith effort to recognize Muslims as neighbors and partners in building a more peaceful world. With Muslim speakers, he co-leads a presentation called Faith Over Fear - an overview of the Islamophobia industry, the threat it poses to our nation and civil liberties, and what we can do about it together. This is an in-depth look at what makes Americans vulnerable to anti-Muslim propaganda, what allows the fear to grow, and how we can work together to build a movement which allows us to see each other as human beings and live together in peace.

Reverend Kyllo will present "Faith Over Fear" on Nov. 13 at 3 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on 18th St. in Mt. Vernon.

Speak Up! Speak Out! recorded the presentation "Human Rights in Mexico: How US Policies Affect State Violence, Militarization, and Displacement" at the Garden Street UMC in Bellingham. The speaker was Roberto Mendoza Perez, a member of Mexico's National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH), and the Frente Nacional de Lucha por el Socialismo (FNLS). Roberto was in Bellingham as a part of a three week tour sponsored by Witness for Peace NW.

Join jim justice as she speaks with Hannah Stone, Bellingham immigration attorney to get an update from her on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) and the proposed legislation (DREAM Act of 2017) in both House and Senate. This bill would replace DACA with similar plan but the actual legislation will have a path to legalization as a final outcome. What does the legislation look like AND what are its prospects in this Congress? FYI, jim is also founder of the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council. DACA recipients have until Oct. 5th to submit their renewal (if eligible to do so at this time.)

Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy Introduces Ballot Initiative to Address Climate Change - September 20, 2017

The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy (AJCE) is a coalition of 176 supporting organizations including businesses, non-profits and community groups. For today's show, two members of the AJCE: Sameer Ranade, Clean Energy Campaign Associate for the Washington Environmental Council, and Steve Garey, retired refinery worker who serves on the AJCE steering committee, join Ginny Wolff to discuss a ballot initiative the Alliance intends to put on the Washington State ballot in 2018.

The Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy has been working for over 3 years on an environmental policy that effectively reduces carbon emissions, and helps us transition to a clean energy economy. The ballot initiative they have designed would put a price on carbon, and use the revenue to jump start a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The initiative is designed to mitigate effects of this transition on those disproportionately harmed such as low income workers and refinery workers; to build a more resilient environment that can face the challenges of climate change; and to invest in clean energy development.

Join host jim justice as she brings you stories from DACA recipients. DACA means Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival. It is a federal program that was implemented in September of 2012 through a proclamation by then President Obama. He had pushed Congress to pass an immigration reform bill, but was unsuccessful in that, so he started it through a Presidential proclamation. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival means that since September 2012, undocumented immigrant students who were under age 16 when they arrived and arrived in the United States before June 15, 2007, were eligible to apply for "deferred action" from being deported if they were stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They could NOT have left the US since they arrived. They could apply when they were at least age 15, if they under age 31 on June 15, 2012. They were basically required to stay in school to at least finish high school. This DACA permit also granted them status for two years to remain in the US without being deported and included a work permit. It had to be renewed every two years.

President Trump is ending the program and at present no more may apply. Those who currently have their DACA will have valid work permits and DACA until their expiration date. If their DACA expires between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018, they may renew NOW with their renewal application arriving at USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) BEFORE Oct. 5, 2017. The cost for each DACA permit is $495. Many think of them as "Dreamers", but that also refers to those who are of age and meet other criteria, but didn't arrive in the US in time.

Listen to their stories and the story of one student who arrived in the United States one month AFTER the deadline date for arrival in the US in order to apply for DACA.

Long time peace activist Tracy Powell has gathered a large print and media collection on nuclear weapons and disarmament and formed a group, No More Bombs http://www.nomorebombs.org/ . He sees his role as filling an information gap between experts and ordinary citizens, to empower people to become more active. Julia Hurd talks with Tracy about the history of nuclear weapons, the significance of the nuclear industry in Washington State, threats to our future and what we can do.

It is significant that on July 7th this year 122 non-nuclear nations adopted the first United Nations treaty banning all nuclear weapons. Years in the making, it frames nuclear weapons not simply as a security issue, but places them in the same class as chemical and biological weapons and tied the issue to international humanitarian law. The nine nuclear nations, including the U.S. plus its NATO Allies, and Japan and South Korea did not sign.

A recent crisis involving Farmworkers in Sumas with temporary H2A Visas highlights some of the challenges these workers face. The Reverend Josefina Beecher and Mary Kay Barbieri join Ginny Wolff to describe the crisis precipitated when adverse working conditions and the illness and ultimate death of a worker prompted about 70 men to protest. They were fired and expelled from the farm. This is the story about these workers, the young man who died, the impressive community response to support them, and the nature of the H2A Visa program under which these men were working.

An interview with Patsy Martin, Executive Director, Port of Skagit at the La Conner Marina.

There's a lot going on at the Port of Skagit with new tenants arriving at the Bayview Business Park at a rapid pace, the redevelopment of The Center for Innovation and Technology in Sedro-Woolley (also known locally as the Northern State Hospital campus or more recently as the "Swift Center") and lots of area` partnerships all built around economic development.

Port Executive Director Patsy Martin outlines an intensive program of work with host Jerry Shackette asking the question "what are these Port people up to?" What does all the new agribusiness activity including the WSU Bread Lab, Skagit Valley Malting, NW Mills & Specialty Grains, Chuckanut Brewery and From the Farm's commercial kitchen mean for sustainable farming in the valley? If I'm a farmer, how do I plug in to all this new development?

Three key participants in an education program in Malawi talked with Dave McConnell about the work there. Diane Bushley, Manager of Global Programs or Planned Parenthood of the Greater Northwest and Hawaii (PPGNHI); Joni-Ann Burey, Health Systems Associate at VillageReach (sic); and Clint Weckerly, Community Outreach Educator for PPGNWHI, explained the program to make the health care system in Malawi more responsive to young people, especially women.

Central Skagit County Library Director Jeanne Williams talks with Jerry Shackette about the library's governance, daily operations and the recent move into downtown Sedro-Woolley. Progress towards partnership with the Sedro-Woolley City Library is updated. Could that mean a new library facility is planned? What might that look like? Plus, Jerry finally learns how to get his library card.

The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been working for years to restore sustainable populations of grizzly bears, listed a threatened under the Endangered Species Act, to selected habitats in the U.S. Without active restoration, biologists believe grizzlies will disappear from the North Cascades Ecosystem. This show tells that story. Joe Scott, International Programs Director with Conservation Northwest has spent 20 yrs. working on restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades. Skagit resident Tim Manns spent 34 yrs. with the National Park Service, 10 of those years in Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Both men have camped and hiked in backcountry wilderness areas for decades. Joe Scott and Tim Manns join Ginny Wolff in this show to talk about why they believe we should restore grizzlies to sustainable populations, what that means, and why do it in Washington. They discuss reservations and fears people have about restoring grizzlies to our public lands, and how this topic is sparking controversy about how our public lands are managed.

On Wednesday, July 19th, 6 - 8 pm, a free program on grizzly bear restoration and county supremacy actions against our federal lands is offered; Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, 10441 Bayview-Edison Road, Mount Vernon. Sponsored by: Indivisible Skagit, Skagit Audubon, Protect Skagit, Conservation Northwest, National Parks Conservation Association.

Anti-transgender initiative defeated and Grist about environment - July 12, 2017

Join host jim justice as she speaks with Brady Walkinshaw about the successful No on I-1552, the Anti-Transgender Initiative. Brady was the campaign's co-chair for the successful Washington Won't Discriminate campaign and the Chair of all the campaign's finance efforts. The campaign was successful in keeping this initiative off the ballot! Find out who all was involved in this push back on hate and discrimination.

Brady Walkinshaw is also CEO at the non-profit online magazine http://grist.org/, that has been publishing environmental news and commentary since 1999. Grist's taglines are "Gloom and doom with a sense of humor" and "A beacon in the smog". Find out about their work and fight for local and national environmental justice and how that impacts our lives.

Mark McDermott is a union activist and community organizer who has worked all his life for economic, social and racial justice, and peace. In today's show he speaks with Ginny Wolff about the history of the deliberate corporate takeover of democracy in the U.S. since the late 1800's, and what we must do to unite and win it back. Illustrated with revealing quotes, historical perspective, and real life experience, Mark's style serves as a example we can all use for how to talk with people, tell our own stories, and win back hearts and minds.

Join us this week for a conversation about death and dying; a life event that can use more discussion. Heather Burke, co-founder of the Death Cafe in Anacortes, and Nancy Ward, a death midwife who also offers http://www.sacredendings.com/ end-of-life services called Sacred Endings, share their perspectives.

People Power Skagit, inspired by the ACLU, was recently founded in response to President Trump's mandate to step up detention of undocumented immigrants. For today's show, People Power members Rob Coffey, Steve Crider and Anne Winkes join Ginny Wolff to talk about what motivated them personally to join the group, and how they are focusing their efforts. Working closely with the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council, they have been in communication with local law enforcement about their agencies' policies regarding cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel; coordinating visible demonstrations of immigrant support such as holding vigil at the Detention Center in Tacoma; and working on creating a "Rapid Response Team" to bear witness at ICE raids.

The group is growing rapidly. For more information or to sign up for the email list for People Power, email peoplepowerskagit@gmail.com. Any level of participation is welcome.

Immigration Policy and Relationship between Immigrants and Citizens, Part 2 - May 24, 2017

Join host jim justice as we listen to excerpts of speeches by Hiroshi Motomura, a leading scholar of American immigration and citizenship, recorded in Bellingham on May 3, 2017. Hiroshi Motomura was awarded a 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship for 2018 to work on his new book, Migrants, Refugees and Citizens. He is Vice Chair of the Board of the National Immigration Law Center, Founding Director of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network and a professor of immigration law at UCLA. What is immigration policy now?

Hiroshi asks whether immigration is as a matter of Civil Rights: What do we do with people who are fleeing intolerable conditions in their home country? What is the relationship between Immigrants and Citizens? And, he talks about the presumed economic displacement of citizens by immigrants taking jobs here.

Books by Hiroshi Motomura: American's in Waiting and Immigration Outside the Law.

Immigration Policy and Relationship between Immigrants and Citizens, Part 1 - May 17, 2017

Books by Hiroshi Motomura: American's in Waiting and Immigration Outside the Law.

When former congressional staffers wrote the Indivisible Guide to resist the Trump agenda, it helped fill a bleak void following the November election. With specific, practical recommendations for action, the guide went online in December 2016, went viral, and has inspired almost 6,000 Indivisible groups to form nationwide.

The Skagit Indivisible group is comprised of over 700 Facebook members with varying interests, as reflected in several sub-groups. Julia Hurd interviews Brenda Cunningham and Peggy Ratermann, Co-Chairs of the Skagit Indivisible Environment sub-group. They talk about their experiences with the Indivisible movement, how the environment sub-group is organized and its current focus, which includes local and national issues.

Dave McConnell talks with Sarai Stevens, Executive Director of the Woolley Food Forest Association. Sarai explains the nature of a Food Forest and describes the development of the Woolley Food Forest in conjunction with Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro-Woolley.

Here is the challenge presented by a panel talking about increasing women in leadership held recently in Skagit as part of a series being presented by the Women's Funding Alliance. Are you happy about the state of government now at any level? If not, what are you planning to do about it? If you want change, you personally need to consider that you should be part of that change. Female candidates are needed at many levels, but support staff is also critical for running a successful campaign.

Moderated by Liz Vivian, President and CEO of the Women's Funding Alliance, listen in on a conversation between Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau and Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick about their experiences, including the trials, running for office. Joining the conversation is Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics.

This presentation took place at McIntyre Hall on the Skagit Valley College campus on March 28, 2017. It was presented by the Women's Funding Alliance in collaboration with the Center for American Women and Politics. The Women's Funding Alliance's mission is to advance leadership and economic opportunity for women and girls in Washington State.

Julia Hurd interviews Bill Moyer of Vashon Island. He is the Solutionary Rail Campaign Director and Co-founder and Executive Director of the Backbone Campaign. He also coauthored the book Solutionary Rail.

Erma Baude of KSVU interviews Linden Jordan about his transition at age 63 from female (Linda) to male. He talks about the reasons for doing so at that stage of life, and his role in helping others with their own transitions - including families, health care facilities and otthers

Join host jim justice as she talks with Mount Baker Planned Parenthood Executive Director, Linda McCarthy, about the latest bills filed supposedly to cut funds for the abortions Planned Parenthood provides using federal funds. But Planned Parenthood does NOT use federal funds on abortions AND only a very small percent of their budget includes abortion services. Linda explains very thoroughly the various services they do provide - both educational and medical. jim asked about various fundraisers and Linda says they know virtually nothing about them because their allies are hosting them. Linda is concerned that allies are sending their funds to the National office, which doesn't pass them on. So, she'd prefer they be sent/taken directly to MBPP. They have clinics in Mount Vernon, Bellingham and Friday Harbor.

Then hear from various supporters, local as well as Bernie Sanders and ACLU Deputy Legal Director Louise Melling (who was on the recent ACLU broadcast).

If you would like to weigh in on issues at MBPP or keep up on happenings, please contact advocacy@mbpp.org.

It's been proven in Washington State that common-sense gun laws are favored by the majority of citizens. The Alliance for Gun Responsibility works to create laws that reflect this, promoting a culture of gun ownership that balances rights with responsibilities. Following the successful passage of two citizen-initiated gun violence prevention initiatives in 2014 and 2016 - both by wide margins - there is now a better opportunity to create common-sense gun legislation in our state. Julia Hurd talks with Renee Hopkins, Executive Director of the Alliance, about the Alliance's current policy points as well as its collaboration with civic leaders, other organizations, and grass roots networks, including Safe and Sane Skagit https://www.facebook.com/Safe-and-Sane-Skagit-171649423199321/?fref=photo ; and promotion of community education to reduce the gun violence crisis in our society.

Our community libraries are still great repositories of reading materials, but times are certainly changing. LaConner Library Director Joy Neal shares the story of today's library of wifi connections, meeting places, continuing education classes and computer training with host Jerry Shackette. It's moved way past long rows of books. It's a new story of meeting the informational needs of the community today. This conversation will bring you up to the minute and maybe you'll renew that library card!

Today's show features physician-activist Dr. Ira Helfand, president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Dr. Helfand has studied the threats to human existence posed by use of nuclear weapons, and has tirelessly advocated for international disarmament for decades. His talk is a wake-up call addressing the widespread cultural belief that the end of the Cold War brought an end to worries about nuclear annihilation. Along with this sobering message, Dr. Helfand also describes work by the international community of non-nuclear countries to pressure the nuclear powers to dismantle their nuclear arsenals; work which has been ignored by U.S. media. This show brings you highlights of Dr. Helfand's talk at Seattle's Town Hall in 2016, edited for Speak Up! Speak Out! by Ginny Wolff. Our thanks to KUOW for generously providing their recording, and to Town Hall for hosting the event.

It's been over 100 years since the first woman was elected to Congress. Since then, the rise of women into positions of political and corporate power has been slow-going to say the least.

Jay Newton-Small is TIME Magazine's Washington D.C. correspondent and the author of "Broad Influence: How Women Are Changing the Way America Works." She had to dig, and hire a team of researchers, but the data she discovered reveals how a critical mass of women in public and private leadership positions clearly benefits both realms.

Washington State files lawsuit against Trump's Exclusion of Muslims - February 1, 2017

Join host jim justice as we listen in on a press conference held by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 to announce filing a lawsuit against Trump's Executive Order banning Muslims from entering the United States. The Attorney General is joined by Governor Jay Inslee and Washington Solicitor General, Noah Purcell. Following the main part of the press conference, we hear comments from Rev. Josefina Beecher, a retired Episcopalian priest and a founding member of the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council. We close with comments from Fumio Otsu comparing this Executive Order to the 1942 Executive Order 9066 incarcerating Japanese and Japanese Americans during WWII

In partnership with Skagit Climate Science Consortium, Skagit Land Trust, Skagit Watershed Council, and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Museum of Northwest Art, (MoNA), sponsors Surge, a week-long exhibition of art, science, and information centered on climate change and its impacts on Northwest coastal communities.

In this recording of the keynote address at Surge 2016, Steve Moddemeyer talks about the future of society through the lens of climate change, particularly in terms of resilience when thinking about built systems. Steve is a Principal specializing in sustainability at CollinsWoerman, a Seattle based architecture, planning and design firm.

After decades of effort and following a hard won, successful agreement, will this precious forest become a permanent reserve and recreation area or will it be logged? 2017 is the crucial year. Julia Hurd talks with Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki, Skagit Land Trust Executive Director, Molly Doran, and Conservation Northwest Executive Director, Mitch Freedman, who describe the forest's significance, historical efforts to preserve it, conservation and funding issues, and what citizens can do now.

"It would be a shame to see 10 years of successful partnership end due to a simple lack of funding from the Legislature." - Lisa Janicki

This week on Speak Up Speak Out Radio, Jodie Buller talks with Richard Brocksmith, Executive Director the Skagit Watershed Council; A Community Partnership for Salmon, which is an "umbrella organization" of community stakeholders, about their ongoing efforts to restore habitat for fish in the Skagit watershed.
The Skagit river system is home to all five native species of wild pacific salmon, as well as steelhead and trout. Richard talks about SWC's "watershed-wide" approach to conservation and restoration, outlines projects underway with the 37 SWC partners, and shares details about their new #OurSkagit campaign, to connect with the community about what makes Skagit so special. There are a few days left in the Seasons of Skagit Fall Photo Contest - submission deadline is January 15th, via their website and Facebook.

In the first half of this show, Ginny talks with Emily Johnston and Ken Ward, two of the activists who shut off valves in pipelines carrying tar sands from Alberta, B.C. to the U.S. in a direct action on Oct. 11, 2016. The activists discuss their motives, the action itself, the charges they face, and their defense. The trial for Ken Ward, who shut off a valve in Skagit County, is scheduled to start Jan. 30.

Part 2 is a conversation with Alex Ramel, the Field Director for the Extreme Oil Campaign with Stand.earth, formerly Forest Ethics, about fossil fuel transport projects in our local and regional area. Alex recaps successes in 2016, projects that remains in the permitting process, and challenges ahead with the incoming fossil fuel-friendly Trump administration. He makes a plea for continued citizen engagement supporting a carbon pricing law. Finally he suggests a big-picture approach toward fighting these huge infrastructure projects when faced with an atmosphere in D.C. hostile towards addressing climate change.

Dave McConnell puts together a radio magazine - commentary, information and songs about Christmas.

On Pearl Harbor Day 2016, jim justice interviews Fumio Otsu, a Japanese American, who was born in a US concentration camp ("internment camp") during World War II. Fumio tells of the experiences of his family and others in being removed from their homes with maybe seven days notice. Fumio and jim talk about Executive Order 9066, "No No"s, assembly areas, what the camps were like and what life was like after the war when people returned to their communities. AND, How does this relate to President-elect Trumps comments (threats) about rounding up Muslims today?

Allegiance, the Musical - http://allegiancemusical.com/#xFWRMqCEOy4VS9xC.97
A movie about George Takei's (Star Trek's Sulu) family's experience in a camp. His family included those who said, "No No", and those who said, "Yes, Yes" to the loyalty oath. The musical is airing nationally on Tues., Dec. 13. Check schedule for theatre near you.

Japanese American Citizens League - https://jacl.org/
JACL Seattle - http://jaclseattle.org/
The Seattle Chapter JACL has been unafraid to tackle difficult and, often, controversial issues related to the wartime experience of their community and other civil rights issues.

http://densho.org/
A grassroots organization dedicated to preserving, educating, and sharing the story of World War II-era incarceration of Japanese Americans in order to deepen understandings of American history and inspire action for equity. It houses an extensive digital collection of materials, including oral histories, about internment and beyond.

Seabrook Farm - http://www.albany.edu/jmmh/vol2no1/seabrook.html
Seabrook Farm in New Jersey was one of the largest sponsors for Japanese Americans who were willing to leave a concentration camp on the West Coast (mostly) during WWII to work on the farm.

The Methow Valley Citizens Council has been advocating for sensible, sustainable growth in the Methow Valley for forty years and it has paid off - helping to preserve this pristine valley and its environment for all inhabitants, now and for generations to come. Julia Hurd spoke with Maggie Coon and Brian de Place, Founder / Chair of the Board and Director, about the MVCC's role, history and accomplishments in shaping this special place.

In a 25 year battle, one of MVCC's signature accomplishments was averting the location of a large-scale downhill ski resort that could have accommodated 10,000 people a day in valley with 3,500 residents. Today the valley is known as a world-class outdoor recreation destination, and maintains its environmental integrity along with a viable economy. MVCC recognized the grandeur of this valley, continues to watch-dog and fight for it, and has nurtured a culture around it.

Jodie Buller talks with Beverly Faxon, whose recent article in the Skagit Valley Food Co-op's newsletter details the history and context behind the passage of what has come to be known as the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act, a labeling bill which President Obama signed into law in July, 2016.

Over the last few decades, genetic engineering has dominated major crops like corn, soy, canola, sugar beets, cotton, and alfalfa. The fight for mandated labeling of GE ingredients had been taking place at the state level, with Vermont's labeling law slated to go into effect and major corporations beginning to label their products, until this new law superceded state efforts. But there are problems with the bill, which became known as the Dark Act 2.0.

This conversation looks at the history of our complicated relationship with GMOs, and what consumer options are now that this bill has become law.

Ginny Wolff talks with Leonard Eiger, outreach director for the Ground Zero Center for Non-Violent Action, about their work since 1977 to protest the Trident submarines housed at the Bangor Naval Base in Kitsap. Leonard Eiger discusses the history of Ground Zero, the bigger picture of U.S. foreign policy as regards the use of nuclear weapons, ongoing international tension, and the agreement between Congress and the Obama administration to spend a trillion dollars over 30 years to rebuild the entire U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons. He ends with a simple message listeners can deliver to President Obama.

Amy Goodman, host on Democracy Now!, spoke at the Lincoln Theatre, in Mount Vernon WA, in May of 2016, mid-way through a nationwide tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of Democracy Now! Dave McConnell presents portions of that presentation

Anacortes resident Evelyn Adams gave an eloquent talk to a live audience during the People's Climate Conference as part of the Break Free from Fossil Fuels events last May. Entitled "Living with Clarity and Courage in a Warming World," Evelyn's presentation received a standing ovation. Today's show features that talk with a brief introduction by host Ginny Wolff. The show includes music by Carolyn McDade from her album of climate-change inspired compositions called "My Heart is Moved."

Join host jim justice as she speaks separately with Superior Court Judge Laura Riquelme and her opponent District Court Judge David Svaren. What is their court experience and how do Skagit courts reflect the demographics of Skagit County?

This week on Speak Up Speak Out Radio, Jodie Buller talks with Rebecca Schlat from Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro Woolley and Jerry Shackette from Friendship House in Mount Vernon, about Hunger Action Month, a national campaign through FeedingAmerica.org, which highlights ways that people can raise awareness and take action to solve hunger. This year, community organizations are partnering up in Skagit, Whatcom, and Snohomish counties for food drives, Project Homeless Connect (at SVC September 10th), and other events to raise funds and food to help feed our communities. Find Helping Hands and Friendship House on Facebook, for more information on Hunger Action Month, and ongoing initiatives, including ways to pitch in personally.

Dave McConnell put together a Labor Day Special of music and commentary focusing on the War on the Workers.

Ginny Wolff interviews Kristin Eberhard, Senior Researcher for Sightline Institute, whose work focuses on climate change policy and democracy reform. In this interview, Kristin talks about how changes in the way we elect our government representatives would improve the quality of our democracy. She discusses how most of the democracies in the world use some version of "proportional representation" to elect representatives that more closely mirror their constituents. Such reforms also remove the incentives for "negative campaigning," reduce the influence of big money on elections, remove the "spoiler effect" of third party candidates, and could lessen the partisan gridlock that paralyzes our legislatures,.

Kristin Eberhard also describes the major provisions of the Washington Government Accountability Act, I-1464, which will be on the Washington state ballot in November.

Join host jim justice as she speaks with the Aaron Wagner, Director of Voices of the Children a local non-profit organization, focused on pairing teens worldwide in collaborative art projects to promote social and global awareness and create positive change. Former middle school music educator in Mount Vernon, WA, Aaron Wagner has been on an international and cultural journey to work with middle schools students in Mount Vernon and Syrian refugee students in Jordan on collaborative art projects through music, photography, and films. We discuss projects, cultural differences, challenges of working on two continents and memorable moments and growth.

Honoring The Centennial Of Our National Parks - August 3, 2016
A Love of the Wild, With or Without Us

Honoring the centennial of the National Park Service, award-winning author Terry Tempest Williams spoke in Bellingham about her latest book, "The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America's National Parks". Part memoir, part natural history, and part social critique, it is a meditation and manifesto on why wild lands matter to the soul of America. "We are here because of love. A love of the wild, a love that is wild, wilderness, wildness, with or without us."

Listen to portions of Ms. Williams presentation on June 15th, sponsored by Village Books, North Cascades Institute and the Mount Baker Theater.

Climate Change is happening, and two grassroots groups in Washington are taking initiative to develop framework and policy to guide our transition toward a clean energy future.
This week's show features two interviews. First, host Jodie Buller talks with Kyle Murphy from Carbon WA, about Initiative 732, on the ballot this November. I-732 is a four step proposal to promote cleaner energy and to restructure some of Washington's taxation policy.
http://yeson732.org/

During the second half of the program, Jodie talks with Rosalinda Guillen from Community to Community Development, and Rich Stolz from One America, about their work with the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy and Front and Centered, to prioritize equity and justice in Climate Change policy development.
http://jobscleanenergywa.com/
http://frontandcentered.org/

A book about an oil spill would usually not be considered "light" reading, but today's interview with David Anderson about his book "Spill, A Story of Oil and Orcas in the Salish Sea" features such a book. Alarmed by plans to triple the capacity of the Kinder Morgan pipeline in British Columbia (thereby greatly increasing tanker transport of tar sands through the Salish Sea), and hoping to write a novel people would want to read, Whidbey Island resident Dave Anderson has created an action-packed tale about a relatively small oil spill in the San Juan Islands. Dave's background as a commercial fisherman, four years in the Washington State Legislature, experience with The Oil Spill Prevention Task Force, and service on the board of Orca Network, makes this book as educational as it is entertaining.

In this interview with Ginny Wolff, Dave Anderson talks about the story he wrote and why he wrote it. He sounds a clarion call for public protest of the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion proposal.

You can find "Spill, A Story of Oil and Orcas in the Salish Sea" at Village Books in Bellingham, Watermark Bookstore in Anacortes, and through Amazon. If possible, please support our locally owned, independent bookstores.

On the ballot this November, I-735 would urge the Washington state congressional delegation to propose a federal constitutional amendment that constitutional rights belong only to individuals, not corporations, and that constitutionally-protected free speech excludes the spending of money. Washington is the 18th state to introduce a ballot measure, and there is action underway in 42 states on this issue. This week, SUSO's Jodie Buller interviews Maggie Sullivan, who along with Gail Nichols is the Skagit County coordinator for Initiative 735, and Matthew Streib, who is the Communications Director for WAmend, the organization coordinating the state-wide effort to educate citizens in advance of the vote on this ballot measure in November.

June 15 marked the fourth anniversary of the DACA Program, (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), that provides benefits to young immigrants living in the United States who arrived with their parents. In November 2014, President Obama expanded the existing DACA Program and created the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program to allow parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to remain in the U.S. and work. The executive actions creating these programs were challenged in the courts by 25 states and arrived at the Supreme Court in the case of United States v. Texas. On June 23, the Supreme Court effectively blocked President Obama's executive actions in a 4-4 split decision. It will be up to Congress or a new president to implement new laws.

KC Golden, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Solutions in Seattle, joins host Ginny Wolff for a discussion of how we must, and how we can, meet the daunting challenges of climate change. Starting with describing the impact of attending the Paris Climate Conference last year, KC Golden goes on to catalogue the numerous ways the Pacific NW, despite lack of federal political leadership, is already transitioning away from fossil fuels, and towards a clean energy economy. KC addresses how feelings of complicity, hypocrisy, shame and futility serve to silence us and keep us complacent as users of fossil fuels. He tackles the particular problems of communities such as those in Skagit County which are economically dependent on the fossil fuel industry, emphasizing the importance of citizen engagement in developing clean energy alternatives and policies that support a "just transition" from an economy dependent on fossil fuels to one supported by renewable energy.

Join host Ginny Wolff in an interview with Carlo Voli of 350 Seattle; Alex Ramel of Stand (formerly known as Forest Ethics); and Bud Ullman, climate change activist from Guemes Island, for a conversation about Break Free PNW (Pacific Northwest). Break Free was a huge event including civil disobedience, marches, presentations, discussions, art, and more in Anacortes and in the vicinity of the refineries May 13-15. Today's show examines how Break Free is stimulating a conversation about a "just transition" from fossil fuels to a renewable energy economy, in a community whose economy and residents are heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry.

Join host jim justice as she visits with participants at the weekly Friday peace vigil in Bellingham that is currently in its 50th year. The peace vigil started in December of 1966 and has been continuous since then. Meet a variety of people who participate.

Today's show, hosted by Ginny Wolff, features Steve Garey, retired refinery employee, and former president of United Steel Workers local 12-591. He currently serves on the executive board of the Washington State BlueGreen Alliance. Steve works to engage union members in becoming part of the solution in making policy decisions about how we transition to a post fossil-fuel economy. The interview explores the concept of "just transition" which considers the economic stress on workers and communities dependent on the fossil fuel industry. Steve identifies areas of common interest between labor and environmentalists, and describes projects the BlueGreen Alliance in Washington is currently addressing. Steve Garey is a featured speaker at a forum in Anacortes, details below.

Coming events in Skagit County explore an equitable transition to a clean energy economy:

"Energy Crossroads: A Community Forum"
Wed. April 27
Lincoln Theater, Mt. Vernon
7 - 8:30

"Community Dialogue about Just Transition"
Wed. May 11
Depot Art & Community Center in Anacortes
7- 8:30.

This week, Speak Up Speak Out Radio's Jodie Buller interviews Margy Furst, who is chairwoman of Safe and Sane Skagit, and Joanna Paul from the Seattle-based Alliance for Gun Responsibility. Their conversation includes the larger cultural context and goes into deptth about local actions to raise awareness and communication about guns, and Initiatives to create stronger gun laws in Washington State.

Join Clint Weckerly as he talks with Kathy Reim (founder of Skagit PFLAG) Linden Jordan and Krista Carter (local transgender rights activists) about recent political actions that seek to limit trans* folks' access to the public restrooms. Join Clint and his guests as they talk about the issues at-large, allyship and ways we can support transgender people from such discriminatory efforts in Washington State.

Host jim justice airs audio from the September 2015 launch of Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson's Wing Luke Civil Rights Unit. Listen in to learn about this new unit, its staff and goals, as well as who Wing Luke was. We close with a brief interview with the Chief of the Wing Luke Civil Rights Unit, Asst Atty General Colleen Melody.

Wing Luke Civil Rights Unit - http://www.atg.wa.gov/ - then search to find pictures and the ATG's press release. One picture is of Wing Luke's sisters, ATG Bob Ferguson, and an historic picture of Wing Luke.

Dave McConnell talks with Jo Beecher and jim justice, Co-founders of the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council (SIRC) about the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Legal clinics organized by the SIRC. Some 20 clinics in the past three years have served over 600 participants. Jo and jim shared their concern about the possible affect the current presidential election cycle may have on the program.

Ginny Wolff hosts this selection of reflections of members of the Delta 5, recorded at a celebratory gathering of supporters following their trial in January, 2016. The Delta 5 were arrested and tried for trespassing in the Delta rail yard in Everett and attempting to stop an oil train in Sept. 2014. Patrick Mazza, Abby Brockway, Jackie Minchew and Mike LaPointe share their thoughts on why they chose an act of civil disobedience to showcase the critical need to adequately address climate change. You'll hear their experiences at the trial itself, and words of appreciation for those who supported them. There is some impromptu a capella music mixed in as well.

Jodie Buller interviews Eric DePlace from Sightline Institute in Seattle, about their recently released report which details the next onslaught of energy export proposals facing Washington and Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is becoming known as the Thin Green Line, as communities push back against wave after wave of infrastructure projects - including coal, Bakken crude oil, and now fracked fuels, methanol, and xylene - for pipeline, rail traffic, refining terminals, and shipping routes to Asia.

Host jim justice talks with Bob Hicks, Operations Manager for Skagit County Health Dept. Bob will provide an overview of housing needs in Skagit. Then jim talks with Don Mitzel and Joan Penney, of the Housing Affordability and Availability Task Force (HAATF). Don, lead on the task force, and Joan, a citizen participant, will talk about their findings and challenges to date. Joan Penney also mentions the potential start of a Skagit Housing Trust Fund to build low income housing. There will be a follow-up interview in the late spring.

Ginny Wolff talks with Dr. Bruce Amundson and Laura Skelton, president and executive director of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility about global threats to human health and survival that can only be addressed by prevention. WPSR actively addresses nuclear contamination at Hanford, and the national drive to spend a trillion dollars on "modernizing" our nuclear arsenal. Physicians and other health care advocates from WPSR are speaking out against fossil fuel projects that threaten to worsen climate change, and pose safety threats to our rail and coastal communities. WPSR also promotes policies to address income inequality.

Host, Clint Weckerly, interviews local farmer and operator of Bow Hill Blueberries, Harley Soltes, in the fourth of a six-part series that examines the history of multi-generational farming traditions and the future of local agriculture in Skagit County. While Harley and his wife and equal hand in the business, Susan, do not hail from families who have been farming in the Valley for generations, they are sustaining the oldest blueberry farm in the Valley and are foundational members of Skagit's very own Puget Sound Food Hub, which offers an incredibly opportunity for generations-old and new farmers alike to keep local farming alive.

This week on Speak Up, Speak Out Radio, Jodie Buller talks with energy conservation consultant Steve Hoffman, about PSE's Home Print Assessment process, steps to take toward better winter energy usage practices, and the larger energy picture in our region.

Join host jim justice in a conversation with Jorge Baron, Executive Director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) - to apply now or not, the Supreme Court case about Expanded DACA and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans), and the request for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Central Americans threatened with deportation after having being denied permission to stay in the USA. This conversation also explores immigrant rights - what they are, are not, and what to do. We close with information about upcoming DACA legal clinics - check websites below for more information.

Host Dave McConnell talks with Ellen Gray, Executive Director of the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network about their plan to take dozens of people to Olympia on Monday, February 8, to talk with State Representatives and Senators about more funding to get local food into schools.

Ginny Wolff speaks with Steve Crider, Liaison for Government and Industry Affairs with Amy's Kitchen, about GMOs. Steve talks about how and why food crops have been genetically engineered. He discusses what is currently known, and not known, about how the widespread adoption of GMOs has affected agriculture in the U.S., human health, the environment, and food economy. Finally Steve reviews legislative efforts since I-522 failed in 2013, and he urges listeners to contact Senator Patty Murray about new legislation, proposed by industry proponents of GMO technology, which would make it virtually impossible for states to pass legislation requiring that GMO foods be labeled.

Contact Senator Patty Murray: 202-224-2621. Ask her to oppose the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. Tell her Americans have a right to know whether or not GMOs are in their food.

On September 2nd, 2014, five fighters for climate and against fossil fuel expansion in Washington State took their resistance to the next level, holding an 8 hour blockade of a train in the BNSF Delta rail yard in Everett used to ship explosive Bakken oil. They were inspired by those who have participated in acts of peaceful civil disobedience as a way to spark deep change, and will be pursuing a unique defense in court, arguing that their blockade was morally - and legally - justifiable given the imperatives of the climate crisis.

SUSO's Jodie Buller recorded Abby Brockway, one of the Delta 5 who are standing trial this week for this action, during Climate Justice Sunday at the Woodland Park Presbyterian church on Sunday, the day before the Delta 5 trial start date on January 11, 2016 at the Snohomish County South District Court.

Host, Clint Weckerly, interviews local farmer and Owner of Hedlin Farms, Dave Hedlin, in the third of a six-part series with local farmers that examines the history of multi-generational farming traditions and the future of local agriculture in Skagit County. The Hedlin family has been farming in the Skagit Valley for over 100 years and 4 generations and, in this interview, Dave shares many stories about his family's Skagit roots and paints a beautiful picture of La Conner's settler history. His incredibly strong call-to-action to support local farming and stewardship of our precious farmland is well worth the listen and will encourage all to shake the hand of a local farmer.

Dave McConnell hosts a year end special radio magazine - closing with John Lennon's hope for a peaceful world - Imagine.

Dave McConnell puts together a radio magazine - commentary, information and songs about Christmas.

Join host jim justice to find out about the 1980's movement in Skagit and around the world to stop nuclear proliferation. jim speaks with three women who were part of the leadership of involved in SCND (Skagit Citizens for Nuclear Disarmament) - Grace Hubbard, Ginny Darvill, and Julia Hurd. From the recent book on Seattle's Archbishop Hunthausen at the time, "From the vantage point of the twenty-first century, it's hard to imagine the overwhelming fear of nuclear war that gripped the world in the 1980s... It was very different in 1982, the year the first Trident submarine arrived in Bangor (WA). Doomsday seemed very close." Listen in to hear their stories as they reminisce about the network and its place in history. In 1984 voters made Skagit County a Nuclear Free Zone. At the time, LaConner became a sister city with a Russian town, so we also hear Catherine Carter sing "Song for a Russian Mother" written by singer/songwriter Holly Graham.

Recommended reading:
McCoy, John A., A Still and Quiet Conscience: The Archbishop Who Challenged a Pope, a President, and a Church. Orbis Books. Maryknoll, NY. 2015. WWU archives provide info on SCND and SCANP: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv41967#dscID

Join Ginny Wolff in a discussion with Stephanie Buffum, Executive Director for Friends of the San Juans, a public interest environmental organization based in Friday Harbor, which acts as watchdog to protect the environment of the Salish Sea. Friends of the San Juans has done a study predicting a 43% increase in marine vessel traffic in the Salish Sea from multiple new proposals for the transport of both fossil fuels and bulk commodities. In response to new environmental threats, the group is making application to the International Maritime Organization for a "Particularly Sensitive Sea Area" designation for the Salish Sea. In this interview, Stephanie describes the origin and nature of projects which will impact our waters, and the work they are currently doing to protect them.

Speak Up! Speak Out! presents audio from a recent presentation on Climate Change Mitigation in Washington State: Understanding Policy Options to Reduce Carbon Emissions held in Mount Vernon, Washington. Richard Brocksmith moderated the conversation between panel members: Chris Davis, Gov. Inslee's advisor on Carbon Markets; David Jackman, Carbon Washington's Whatcom County Regional Representative; and Stephanie Celt, Washington state policy coordinator for Blue Green Washington. This presentation may help people understand the conversations in Paris now at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.

Dave McConnell hosts the Speak Up! Speak Out Thanksgiving special - a 'radio magazine' of short items related to the holiday - including some insight on what might have been on the table at the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony - not what we've been taught.

Ginny Wolff speaks with University of Oregon Law Professor Mary Christina Wood, author of "Nature's Trust: Environmental Law for a New Ecological Age." Professor Wood discusses why our current environmental laws are failing to protect resources human life on earth depends upon, and proposes the Public Trust Doctrine as a new paradigm for dealing with our critical climate-driven problems. Her work has inspired lawsuits in every state, with youth as the plaintiffs, to force governments to mandate carbon emissions controls sufficient to ward off catastrophic climate change.

Join jim justice this week as she and three local school district superintendents revisit the question of school funding after a year. Leading off the discussion this year is State Representative Kristine Lytton who has been working on a committee set up by the governor to find solutions. The superintendents joining jim and Rep Lytton are: Laurel Browning, Burlington Edison School District; Carl Bruner, Mount Vernon School District; and Phil Brockman, Sedro-Woolley School District. Listen in to find out what is and isn't happening on the McCleary Decision and No Child Left Behind and how that impacts our local school districts.

Dave McConnell talks with Jeff Reynolds, Director of the Skagit Reach Center. The Center is a peer run outreach facility which works primarily with persons looking to move on with their lives - to get beyond homelessness, mental health issues and addictions.

jim justice speaks with Devin Burghart, Vice President at the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights about various facets of contemporary white nationalism. We explore the effect of the election of a black President, compare the KKK and the Council of Conservative Citizens, and look at the impact of the Tea Party's rise on white nationalist groups. We explore White Nationalist issues and close with how individuals and communities can make a difference.

The public comment period for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Shell Refinery's oil-by-rail project is open. Ginny Wolff interviews a group of local volunteers and staff from Forest Ethics and Re-Sources for Sustainable Communities in Bellingham who are mobilizing community input about what should be included in that EIS. Listen to Carolyn Gastellum, Eleanor Hines, Anna Oommen, Alex Ramel and Matt Petryni talk about why it is so important to get involved and how to do it. This show was edited and arranged by Jodie Buller.

Three public meetings (hearings) are being held:
* Mount Vernon: Tues., Oct. 13, Best Western Plus, 2300 Market St., 4-8 p.m.
* Anacortes: Wed., Oct. 14, Anacortes Middle School, 2202 M Ave, 4-8 p.m.
* Lynnwood: Mon., Oct. 19, Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW, 4-8 p.m.

Dave McConnell talks with Ellen Gray, Executive Director or Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network. WSFFN has successfully backed the development of the Organic Farming Program at WSU, and encourage and enabled local schools to use items from local farmers as a part of their food service. The Network continues to advocate and educate for sustainable agricultural practices nationally as well as locally. More information is available at their website: http://wsffn.org

Multi-generational Farming and its Future in Skagit, Part 2 - September 9, 2015

Host, Clint Weckerly, interviews local farmers and agricultural experts, Don McMoran Jr. and his father, Don McMoran Sr., in the second of a six-part series with local farmers that examines the history of multi-generational farming traditions and the future of local agriculture in Skagit County. The McMoran family has been farming in the Skagit Valley for over 100 years and come from a long line of farmers, going back more than a dozen generations. More, Don McMoran Jr. is the acting Executive Director of the WSU Extension in Mt Vernon and is both a renowned expert and advocate for local farming in the Valley.

Ginny Wolff speaks with Eric de Place, Policy Director for Sightline Institute, a Seattle based think-tank whose mission it to make the northwest a global model of sustainability. Eric de Place spearheads the Institute's work on energy policy, and is a lead area authority on coal and oil export plans for the the Pacific NW. With the incisive clarity characteristic of his writing, Eric describes the big picture of the fossil fuel industry's proposals in NW Washington. Eric has specific insights regarding Shell's oil-by-rail facility at their Anacortes refinery. He describes the risks to our way of life and the entire economy of the region threatened by these proposals, and how the public can influence the direction we choose to take by allowing or denying these projects. He stresses how our decision regarding fossil fuel projects impacts whether or not we address the challenge of climate change.

Anne Feeney, Dana Lyons and Pete Seeger all wrote and sang about labor issues. Dave McConnell hosts this Speak Up! Speak Out! program playing and talking about some of their songs.

Join jim justice as she speaks with several people about the impact of the recent Supreme Court Decision on LGBT marriages. How has this decision changed the lives of people in our valley and beyond - especially in the states where one may now marry but perhaps lose their job if their employer finds out?

After a 30-year teaching career, Kathy Reim from Sedro-Woolley, WA, worked in mediation services. She is now serving as president of PFLAG Washington State Council and on the board for Mount Baker Planned Parenthood. She lives with her husband, daughter and daughter-in-law on five acres in rural Skagit County.

Pastor Cody Natland serves two United Methodist congregations in the Skagit Valley of Washington. He is an advocate for the full inclusion of LGBTQ-identifying people in the life and ministry of church.

Michael Lavers is a reporter with the Washington Blade, a D.C. newspaper that covers LGBT issues at the local, national and international level. He has reported on LGBT issues domestically and internationally for more than a decade.

Jodie Buller interviews Climate Scientist Eric Grossman for an upcoming documentary about climate changes in the Skagit Valley.

Grossman is a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, who specializes in coastal and marine systems, sediment transport, coastal change, natural hazards, climate change and sea level rise. He is a founding member of the Skagit Climate Science Consortium (SC2), and conducts research in 6 of the large river-deltas of Puget Sound, Nooksack, Skagit-Padilla-Samish system, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Nisqually and Skokomish.

Host, Clint Weckerly, interviews local farmer, Norm Dahlstedt, in the first of a six-part series with local farmers that examines the history of multi-generational farming traditions and the future of local agriculture in Skagit County. Norm is a lifelong resident and farmer of the Skagit Valley and shares story and tremendous insight on both the history and future of local farming.

jim talks with WWU Anthropology Professor James Loucky who teaches and does research related to world issues, especially on inclusion and exclusion of peoples in or from Latin America. He worked as an anthropologist in Mayan communities in the 1970's and has since become deeply involved in Mesoamerican and immigrant communities in the USA. James reads from and comments on his new book, Humane Migration.

Ginny Wolff talks with Dr. Jon Riedel, National Park Service geologist and Chair of Skagit Climate Science Consortium, a group of 13 scientists who study impacts of climate change in the Skagit River Valley. Their mission is to use their scientific findings to help influence local decision makers better prepare us for climate change. Dr. Riedel discusses his own work studying glaciers in the Skagit watershed, and their impact on available water supplies; and touches on multiple other impacts of climate change - flooding, fires, stream temperature, sea level rise and more, which his colleagues study. His comments reflect both the urgency of the situation we face, and the opportunities it presents.

Watch for the Surge Festival, an exhibit of climate change-inspired work at the Museum of Northwest Art in LaConner on Sept. 25-26.

A radio magazine for the Fourth of July; commentary by Michael Parenti and Logic Amen, music by Dana Lyons, Phil Ochs, John Prine and Jimi Hendrix.

Ginny Wolff talks with Phyllis Shacter of Bellingham, whose husband Alan died 2 years ago when he voluntarily stopped eating and drinking to avoid living into the late stages of Alzheimers disease. In this very personal and revealing interview, Phyllis discusses how Alan reached his decision; how she, with help, supported him through it; community reactions to his decision; legal issues; the lack of compassionate choices for patients with dementia; and the growing need for more end of life choices for an aging population.

You can hear Phyllis Shacter's TEDx Bellingham talk entitled: "Not Here By Choice" at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiYPaU3h3w8
You can also google: Phyllis Shacter Not Here By Choice
Additional resource: Compassion and Choices of Washington - http://compassionwa.org/

This week on Speak Up! Speak Out! jim justice speaks with Bev Mowrer, Emerson High School teacher for their Natural Resources Connections (NRC) class, and Jim Johnson, Skagit Land Trust steward for the Cumberland Creek area, about NRC student work with the Skagit Land Trust. We will also hear statements from some of the students about the impact on their lives of their work with Skagit Land Trust projects in Skagit County, WA.

Dave talks with Lynne Fouquette, Psychology Instructor at Skagit Valley College, about Gender, what it is, why it is, why some are confused by it. She also discusses transgender people, the issues they face and how they deal with them.

Join Ginny Wolff for a conversation with Anna Fahey, Senior Communications Specialist for Sightline Institute. Sightline Institute is a Seattle based think tank that researches and digests volumes of information about the major environmental challenges of our day. Anna Fahey synthesizes research from public opinion polling, focus groups, and fields like neuroscience and psychology, distilling lessons about the most effective ways to talk about climate change and clean energy in a way that engages people, motivates them to act, and builds support for solutions. Hear Anna's elevator speech on "Why are you concerned about climate change."

This week on Speak Up! Speak Out! jim justice speaks with Annie Benson, Directing Attorney for the Washington Defenders' Association's Immigration Project, and Laura Riquelme, a public defender in Skagit Co, WA about ICE detainers. ICE is Immigration and Custom Enforcement. What are these detainers, their history and enforcement, and how they impact immigrants in our communities across Washington State and the United States. What is the best policy locally toward ICE detainers to gain or regain the trust of immigrant communities?

Clint Weckerly, the newest host to the SUSO team, interviews Kathy Reim, Co-founder of Skagit PFLAG and Board Member of the PRIDE Foundation and Mt Baker Planned Parenthood, about support services for trans individuals in Skagit County.

Two members of the Mount Baker Planned Parenthood -Nilofar, Field Organizer, and Clint Weckerly, Community Health Educator, talk with host Dave McConnell about their outreach programs in Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan Counties, and, hopefully, dispel some commonly held misconceptions about Planned Parenthood.

Water rights in Skagit County has been a hot, contentious issue for over a year. The history of water rights law is complicated, and current disputes have led to lawsuits, and to a supreme court decision. Join Ginny Wolff in a discussion with Tom Glade, president of Evergreen Islands, and Stephen Orsini, Guemes Island resident and member of Friends of Guemes Island. This show addresses the history of water rights law, the current ramifications of those laws, and how at least one Guemes Island resident has dealt with his own water access issue. Our guests suggest solutions for how water access can be provided without endangering stream flow to protect salmon.

Jodie talks with Sarah Alisabeth Fox, author of the recently released book
Downwind: A Peoples' History of the Nuclear West, about the history of
uranium mining and nuclear testing in the Four Corners region during the
Cold War, and the impacts of that radiation fallout on the communities
downwind.

Join jim justice as she talks with one of the new co-managers of the Mount Vernon Farmers Market, Jill Quanstrom. Find out what she and co-manager Jodie Buller have in store for the market and what is new this year in addition to the move to the Waterfront Plaza along the river walk in Mount Vernon.

Dave McConnell travels to the Oasis Teen Shelter to talk with Claudia Avendeno Palemera about services offered at the Shelter, which includes overnight accommodations for homeless youth and programs to re-unite them with family or other caring adults, and an afternoon and weekend drop-in center for youth. We also talk about the nature and causes of youth homelessness.

Fred Felleman is a 25 year veteran of maritime advocacy in NW Washington and consultant with Friends of the Earth. He was the driving force behind the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the establishment of the emergency response tug in Neah Bay. For today's show, Fred joins Ginny Wolff for a discussion of the risks of a major oil spill in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Fred talks about the history of oil transport in these waters, and how current and projected increases in marine transport of fossil fuels increase the risks of a devastating oil spill. Fred talks about suing BP in Ferndale, and the recent Hearing Examiner's decision to require an EIS for Shell's oil by rail facility in an appeal for which he testified.

Friends of the Earth is "a bold and fearless voice for justice and the planet:" http://www.foe.org

Community Solar and Alternative Energy Technologies with Kevin Maas - March 18, 2015

Jodie Buller talks with Kevin Maas about his life-long interest in viable alternative energies, including his Farm Power bio-digestor sites, Community Solar projects in Anacortes and La Conner, and electric cars.

Rosie the Riveter and 9th Anniversary of Speak up! Speak out! - March 11, 2015

As hosts and producers of Speak up! Speak out! celebrate our 9th Anniversary on the air, we also celebrate International Women's Day, which is how we started. Listen in as jim justice speaks with Georgie Kunkel, a Rosie the Riveter during World War II, retired teacher, active freelance writer and activist for women's rights. Hear Bellingham singer songwriter Linda Allen's song, Rosie the Riveter, Revisited. jim also speaks with Cindy Payne, Executive Director of Washington Women in Trades to learn about their work assisting and celebrating women in trade work.

Speak Up Speak Out Radio's Jodie Buller talks with Jodie Monroe, new Executive Director of Home Trust of Skagit.The Home Trust of Skagit (HTS) is a community land trust organization, incorporated to help homebuyers in Skagit County secure affordable homes and achieve an equity return on their investment, while preserving affordability for the next homebuyer.

Their goal is to have homes in neighborhoods and communities throughout Skagit County, providing opportunities for both home ownership and affordable rentals, with a healthy mix of housing types and home size available to those earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI). In 2008, more than 200 community land trust organizations were operating in 48 states with many in the Pacific Northwest.

Ginny Wolff speaks with two guests about legislation requested by Gov. Inslee, being debated in Olympia now. One addresses oil train safety, and the other addresses carbon emissions in the state. In the first half of the show, Rebecca Ponzio, Oil Campaign Director with Washington Environmental Council discusses the Oil Transportation Safety Bill (HB 1449, SB 5087), highlighting the most important provisions, and comparing it to Sen. Erickson's competing bill in the Senate. In the second half of the show, Ben Serrurier, Washington Policy Specialist with Climate Solutions talks about the Carbon Pollution Accountability Act, which would put a price on carbon pollution, and generate revenue for education, transportation, and institute a working families' tax credit. Ben introduces us to the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy.

Since this show was recorded, there have been three more derailments and two more oil train fires in Canada and West Virginia, emphasizing the need for action. Contact your local and state government officials.

This week on SUSO, Jodie talks with Melissa Miner, a a Bellingham-based ecologist with the University of California at Santa Cruz, whose work with citizen scientists is helping put the pieces together about what is happening to Sea Stars along the Pacific Coast of the US, where some colonies have lost 95% of their populations.

Secret Harbor is a long standing program for foster youth. Previously a residential home for boys on Cypress Island, Secret Harbor moved inland several years ago and is now a community based program. In this show, Ginny interviews Jon Rylaarsdam, Director of the Foster Care Program, and Megan Osterhout, a case manager, at Secret Harbor. Jon and Megan explain the concept of "treatment foster care," or "trauma informed care," which they provide to meet the needs of kids damaged early in life, whose traumatic experiences leave them with needs that can't be met with traditional foster care. They discuss the various programs they run - residential, foster family care, and direct in home services, and how they prepare and support the foster families which provide homes for these youth. They also share some stories describing both the challenges and rewards of working with these kids.

For more information, or to contact Secret Harbor, check their website at http://secretharbor.org.

On the 42nd anniversary of Roe v Wade, jim justice talks with Linda McCarthy, Executive Director of Mount Baker Planned Parenthood in NW Washington. On the same day, House Republicans voted to permanently forbid federal funds for most abortion coverage, to be vetoed in by the President if the Senate passes the bill. Many people equate Planned Parenthood with abortion, but abortion makes up only about 3.5% of their cost and time, so we learn about what services Planned Parenthood does provide and their diverse medical and educational programs.

jim talks with Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, the author of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States. Roxanne is a self described feminist, revolutionary and historian. She grew up in rural Oklahoma, the daughter of a tenant farmer and part-Indian mother. Roxanne has been active in the international Indigenous movement for more than four decades and is known for her lifelong commitment to national and international social justice issues. We will speak with her and hear parts of a presentation she made recently at Skagit Valley College in NW Washington State. With a PhD in history from UCLA, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's most recent book is An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States.

Jere LaFollette, instructor in the Human Services program at Skagit Valley College, joins Ginny Wolff for a discussion of the "Science of Well-Being," or what Jere calls "positive psychology." This is a recent movement in the field of Psychology, whose premise is that building on strengths may have more value than focusing on a person's problems. Jere discusses the ideas, the studies which back them up, and gives examples of research compiled by the Center for the Greater Good in Berkeley, CA. Jere also talks about using these ideas with students in the Human Services program, both in the classroom and during their practicums.

At the end of each year FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting), makes its PU-litizer Awards for the 'stinkiest news reporting' of the year. Host Dave McConnell highlights these awards and comments on the media in general

This is our annual Christmas Special - commentary, humor, observations and music.

This week on SUSO Radio, Jodie Buller talks with Mark and Pat Pearson about a Civil Rights Pilgrimage they made last fall, in conjunctions with the UW and Bellevue Community College speech communication programs, to places of emotional and historic significance across the Southern US. The pilgrimages, organized by professors David Domke and Tim Jones, bring students and adults from the community, together with civil rights activists like Bernard Lafayette and Bob Zellner, who are still working to empower the next generation of leaders in human rights and non-violence.

On Thursday, November 20, 2014, President Obama used Executive Action to Defer Action on more undocumented immigrants who arrived before age 16 and on undocumented parents of US citizen or green card holding (LPR) children. Listen in as jim justice talks with Jorge BarÃ³n, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP.org http://nwirp.org/) to find out the details: what is deferred action, who is effected by these actions, what people who think they are eligible should do to prepare, where to find more information (uscis.gov http://uscis.gov/, wa.cir.org http://wa.cir.org/ and NWIRP.org http://nwirp.org/) and notario scams.

Washington State Dept. of Ecology held a public hearing on "The Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study" in Olympia on Oct. 30. It drew a standing-room only crowd from all over western Washington, the Columbia River Gorge, and Oregon. In spite of extending the length of the hearing, there were far more people who wanted to speak than there was time for. Speak Up! Speak Out!'s Jodie Buller compiled selected testimony from that hearing, recorded by Ginny Wolff, for this show two weeks ago. There was so much eloquent, heartfelt testimony, we are bringing you "part 2" - more comments from public officials, doctors, clergy, teachers, representatives of environmental advocacy groups, and people who live in communities impacted by transportation of crude oil by rail and water.

The recent Oil By Rail Hearing meeting in Olympia drew a crowd of 700
people. Speak Up Speak Out's Ginny Wolff recorded the public comments and
this show features heartfelt statements from elected public officials,
representatives of railroad workers and longshoreman's unions, and
community members from impacted communities along our coastline: Vancouver,
Grays Harbor, Anacortes, Bellingham, Olympia, and Aberdeen, as well as the
communities that trains run through along the Columbia River: Stevenson,
Bingen, Hood River, and White Salmon, as they register their widespread
dissent against oil trains and terminals.

Join jim justice as she talks with Rita Ordonez, Community Food Access Manager for Community Action of Skagit, and Diane Smith, Washington State University's Skagit Community Educator on Food Access and Nutrition. We talk about efforts in Skagit County to end hunger and its root causes. jim will also speak with Sharon Thornberry, Community Food Systems Manager of the Oregon Food Bank, who personally experienced food insecurity earlier in life and now advocates to end hunger and its root causes.

A Place at the Table: The Crisis of 49 Million Hungry Americas and How to Solve it.

2014 Skagit Reads: Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty. Mark Winne. Beacon Press, Boston. 2008. Copies of this book were made available through Skagit libraries in October. Support your local library by picking up a copy there OR buy one from a local bookstore.

http://www.nokidhungry.org/, Jeff Bridges, National Spokesperson, Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign and Founder, End Hunger Network. Check out the problem and solution on this website.

The Washington State Department of Ecology held a public hearing on Oct. 30 for feedback on a draft of the Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study they sent to Gov. Inslee. Over 700 people showed up from all over western Washington and Oregon to give a loud message telling our legislators we DON'T want dangerous oil trains coming through our communities; that we DON'T want to become a traffic corridor that benefits oil companies to the detriment of our own communities; and that we DO want investment in a clean energy economy.

Today's show starts with an interview with Matt Petryni, Clean Energy Program Manager with Re-Sources for Sustainable Communities in Bellingham. Matt gives some background about both rail and marine transport of oil in our state, and puts the hearing in context. The second part of the show is short interviews with people who rode the bus from Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties to go to the hearing.

Testimony from the hearing itself will be available on this site at some future date.

Dave McConnell took a recorder to the fourth Project Homeless Connect, held September 11, 2014 and talked with organizers, volunteers and service providers. There is also a follow-up interview with one service provider discussing specific success stories.

Tonight's SUSO show presents elements from Bellingham death midwife Ashley Benem's workshop during The Art of Death Exhibition in October. The presentation looks at the context of death and dying in America, and walks people through the process of creating a Death Plan, to help friends and family support your wishes during end of life.

Schools in Crisis - McCleary Decision and No Child Left Behind - October 8, 2014

Join jim justice this week as three local school district superintendents discuss the McCleary Decision and No Child Left Behind. Those joining jim are: Phil Brockman, Superintendent, Sedro-Woolley School District, Laurel Browning, Superintendent for Burlington Edison School District, and Carl Bruner, Superintendent for Mount Vernon School District. How is the Washington State Supreme Court Decision on McCleary and loss of a state waiver for No Child Left Behind impacting local schools. Are schools really failing, or is the reporting used not very accurate. Why is the McCleary decision critical for schools? Listen and find out.

Today's show features David Byers, Response Manager for Washington State's Department of Ecology. Mr. Byers manages the prevention and preparedness program for oil spills in our marine waters.

Washington State is facing a transformation in energy transportation with the push to transport crude oil and coal by rail through the state to west coast ports. This shifts the risk of oil spills from being a primarily marine threat, to include inland communities and environments. The type of crude transported also brings the risks of explosive fires. David Byers talks in detail about what his program does and how the state is trying to adapt to the new risks and threats of crude by rail transportation in Washington.

There will be a public hearing on Governor Inslee's draft Marine and Rail Oil Transportation Study. You can sign up for bus transportation to the hearing via the RSVP link below:
When: October 30, 5:00-9:00 p.m. The doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Red Lion Hotel, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr. SW, Olympia, WA 98502 [MAP]
RSVP: http://tinyurl.com/Govtransport-Lacey

This week we air part II of excerpts of an interview done by WBAI's OutFM's John Riley and Naomi Brussel with famed gay historian Martin Duberman about his newest book, Hold Tight Gently: The BattleField of AIDS. This week covers the life of black, gay, poet activist Essex Hemphill and how he dealt with living with AIDS in the early days of AIDS. White gay artist Michael Callen's life (covered in part I and the beginning of this week) in the white LGBT community was quite different from that of Essex Hemphill's in the black LGBT community.

Part two of a presentation by Yehuda Shaul, Foreign Relations Director of Breaking the Silence, an organization of Veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces. Mr. Shaul was in Bellingham as a part of a West Coast tour promoting a book by Breaking the Silence. The book, Our Harsh Logic, consists of the testimonies by Israeli soldiers about their actions in the occupied territories between 2000 and 2010. Mr. Shaul describes something of those actions - and the real reasons behind them, which are quite different than the 'official' reasons.

Part one of a presentation by Yehuda Shaul, Foreign Relations Director of Breaking the Silence, an organization of Veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces. Mr. Shaul was in Bellingham as a part of a West Coast tour promoting a book by Breaking the Silence. The book, Our Harsh Logic, consists of the testimonies by Israeli soldiers about their actions in the occupied territories between 2000 and 2010. Mr. Shaul describes something of those actions - and the real reasons behind them, which are quite different than the 'official' reasons. Part two will air on September 17.

Ginny Wolff talks with long time climate advocate, Patrick Mazza - co-founder, and former Research Director for Climate Solutions. With 30 years of experience addressing the challenges of climate change, Mazza makes a case for how it is technologically possible to transition to 100% renewable energy. He succinctly summarizes the climate science which compels us to urgently make deep cuts in our carbon emissions in order to avoid the worst consequences of global warming. What is missing is political will - and he has ideas about how to get there.

Patrick Mazza blogs at cascadiaplanet@blogspot.com. In the July "archives" you will find "Eyes on the Prize: 100% Renewables Now!" - the text of the speech he gave at a rally in Seattle which prompted Speak Up! Speak Out! to request an interview.

We air excerpts of a recent interview done by WBAI's OutFM's Jon Riley & Naomi Brussel with famed gay historian Martin Duberman about his newest book, Hold Tight Gently: The Battlefield of AIDS. His book covers the lives of the late activist artists Essex Hemphill and Michael Callen, both of whom were openly gay and openly living with AIDS until their deaths in the mid-1990s. Hemphill's and Callen's activism and art in the early days of the AIDS epidemic had profound effects on the movements that emerged from disparate LGBT communities. Duberman's new dual-biography explores the events and politics of the 1980s and how these two iconic figures responded to them. This week we air segments related to Michael Callen with Essex Hemphill audio to be shared in near future on Speak up! Speak out!

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Michele Catalano, Executive Director at Tilth Producers of Washington, about their history as a support network and organization, started by our region's growers in the 1970s. Tilth is planning an exciting 40th Anniversary conference in Vancouver WA this November, and eaters can support their efforts by taking the online pledge to choose organic during Washington Organic Week, coming up September 7-13th.
http://www.tilthproducers.org

Dave talks with Elizabeth Murray, Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East. Elizabeth has been in Gaza and talks knowledgeably about the current invasion and bombardment of the area. She gives a historical perspective not found in the corporate media.

Ginny Wolff does on-site interviews with Farmer's Market managers Sarai Stevens of Bow Little Market, and Mouse Bird of the Mt. Vernon Farmers' Market, as well as market vendors Gilda Gorr, Laura Matthews, and Debbie Clough. This is our mid-summer tribute to the many markets in the valley, giving listeners a taste not only of what vendors are selling, but also the atmosphere, special events, and "What's new" in promoting locally grown or crafted goods, talents, and activities.

After the first anniversary of a strike by Sakuma farmworkers, host jim justice speaks with Steve Sakuma about the farm he co-owns and his goals for the future. Rosalinda Guillen of Community to Community in Bellingham and Ramon Torres, President of Families United for Justice chose to not comment. Hear that others are reticent to speak and why. Hear about other farmers in the area being collateral damage from a blog post by farmer Martin Burwash. A farmworker and her daughter give their point of view. Be reminded of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. Please listen with an open heart.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Rebecca Ponzio, Puget Sound Policy Specialist with the Washington Environmental Council, about oil transport in the Northwest, and the increasing community concerns along the Pacific coast about the volume of bakken and tar sands oil coming through our regions. http://www.stopoiltrains.org, http://www.WECprotects.org

Jodie talks with Mount Vernon WA Mayor Jill Boudreau about good government, Mount Vernon's roots, the waterfront plan, climate change and planning for natural disasters, and the Wellness Challenge, coming up during the month of August.
http://www.mountvernonwa.gov

This SUSO we hear from Caitlin Price Youngquist, presenting her WSU doctoral dissertation in June, on her research into biosolid composting in the town of La Conner.

Author, environmental activist, and educator Bill McKibben addressed a near-packed audience in Bellingham this May. He talked about the critical dangers we face from climate change if serious and immediate action is not taken to reduce global CO2 emissions, the world-wide understanding of the urgency of the task, and efforts that are being made to meet the threat.

McKibben was hosted by Western Reads, WWU, with support from the North Cascades Institute, Huxley College of the Environment and the Institute for Energy Studies, WWU. We thank Western Washington University for this recording, which we bring to you in 2 parts. Today's show is part 2. Part 1 is available at http://www.speakupspeakoutradio.org.

McKibben was hosted by Western Reads, WWU, with support from the North Cascades Institute, Huxley College of the Environment and the Institute for Energy Studies, WWU. We thank Western Washington University for this recording, which we bring to you in 2 parts. Today's show is part 1. Part 2 will be broadcast June 18, 2014, and will be available at http://www.speakupspeakoutradio.org.

jim speaks about regional healthcare in the NW part of Washington focused on the changes that have taken place in the five county area after the Affordable Care Act went into effect. She speaks with Dorothy Bradshaw, North Sound In Person Assister Program Manager, who oversees the enrollment process for five counties: Snohomish, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Whatcom. Then jim speaks with Jeanne Rupert, Medical Education Director for Skagit Regional Health about access to healthcare in Skagit County. Finally, jim talks with Shirley Floyd and Joe Leonguerrero of UFCW21 about contract negotiations for over 1000 employees at Skagit Regional Health.

To enroll now in a health insurance program or to ask questions:
in Skagit call Community Action at 360 416-7585,
in Whatcom contact Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement 360 788-6594
OR, go to http://wahealthplanfinder.org

Dave talks with Linda Jordan, psychology instructor and advisor to the Rainbow Alliance at Skagit Valley College about changes in attitudes and behavior toward the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender) communities in recent years - and areas where changes are still needed.

Excerpts from the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NCAA) public hearing and rally concerning the permitting of the Shell refinery's proposed rail unloading facility. The facility would have the capacity to unload 14 railcars per day carrying a heavy petroleum "feedstock".

SUSO's Jodie Buller gathers the Magic Skagit Superheroes into the radio studio to talk about their Leadership Skagit team and the project work they are doing to support Growing Veterans - a program that gets vets farming and connected to the land and to each other. The Superheroes are spreading the word about the Growing Veterans outpost at Viva Farms through an open house style Farm Tour, coming up May 17th at 2pm at Viva Farms.

Transition Fidalgo and Friends is an Anacortes based group that strives to "imagine a world where how we live nourishes the earth, helps people reach their potential, and creates joy in community." They recently created a document called "Vision 2030, Our Vibrant Sustainable Community," which paints a picture of what the communities of Fidalgo and Guemes Island could look like in 15 years if they face the realities of climate change, energy challenges, and economic shifts which we already see happening. For this show Evelyn Adams, one of the founders of the group and current chair person, joins Ginny Wolff for a discussion of the inspiration, content, and purpose of "Vision 2030, Our Vibrant Sustainable Community."

Mt.Vernon Fire Chief Roy Hari and Skagit County EMS Manager Earl Klinefelter join Ginny Wolff for a discussion about Emergency Services in Skagit County. In addition to the "everyday" emergencies such as medical emergencies, accidents, and fires, they talk about their experiences in managing the I-5 bridge collapse last year, and the more recent tragic mudslide in Oso. Chief Hari and Earl Klinefelter talk about how both residents and our formal emergency response system can prepare for larger disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

Music From the Heart - Climate Change Education with Sharon Abreu and Mike Hurwicz - April 23, 2014

Sharon and Mike, singer songwriter activists from Orcas Island join SUSO's Jodie Buller in the studio to talk about the role of music in climate change awareness, and to swap Pete Seeger stories. Sharon's one woman show The Climate Monologues will air on KSVR's Wide World of Radio next month, and in this interview she talks about collecting those stories from everyday people who became activated because of the climate impacts they felt in their communities.

Dave McConnell talks with Sam Hillerman about his presentation, "It's Pronounced Metrosexual" and his book, "The Social Activist's Handbook: A Guide to Gender". Hillerman addresses a variety of issues related to the LGBT community, and has an interesting take of Social Justice - talking about "Equity" and the "Platinum Rule" rather than "Equality" and the "Golden Rule". Killerman's definitions: Social justice: a status in society where all people, regardless of their individual identities and social group memberships, have an equitable shot at achieving success. The Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would have done unto them.

jim talks with Eric Knudsen, fisheries and wildlife specialist living in Skagit, who is a co-founder of Ecologist Without Borders.

Host and producer, jim justice, talks with Matt Adams, Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle, about detainee bond hearings, bed quotas for detention centers, and conditions in the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

Dave McConnell talks with Sarai Stevens about here sculpture: Woman Power, the role of women in society, and about the need to organize locally in light of the continuing ecological crisis; which is headed toward ecocide; changing our lives drastically, and the lives of our children and grandchilddren even more so.

Dave McConnell talks with Enrique Guillen, Foster Home Licensor, Division of Licensed Resources, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services about the need for foster homes, how they are selected and resources available. Enrique noted that 'non-traditional' families are encouraged to become foster homes.

Local lifelong Skagit Valley farmer, Andrea Xaver, talks with Ginny Wolff about the critical issues facing farmers in Skagit County. In this thoughtful interview, Andrea describes past and ongoing threats to farmland, forests, wildlife habitat, even water resources, giving specific examples of where the consequences of interventions to protect one resource have harmed another. She makes a plea for those of us who live here to "connect the dots," and work together to protect and preserve the local resources we use, value, and still have.

Matt Krogh of Forest Ethics talks with Ginny Wolff about the increasing transportation of oil by railroad through our communities to local refineries in the Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Matt discussed the nature of the oil being transported, where it's coming from, where it's going, and what needs to happen for our communities to be safe. He addresses how citizens can give input both on individual permit processes, and in calling for a statewide moratorium on new permits for oil transport until adequate measures can be taken to ensure rail transport safety.

Matt Krogh and Dana Lyons are giving a concert/presentation on March 8 at the Lincoln Theatre: Here are the details:

Crude Awakening: The Oil Train Tour
Music and information about the explosive growth of oil trains and crude by rail proposals in the Northwest
Lincoln Theatre, Mt. Vernon
Saturday, March 8, 7-9 pm.
Suggested donation: $10

Request that a moratorium on further oil transport permits be imposed in Washington and Oregon until all safety concerns have been adequately resolved: http://www.forestethics.org/rail

Dave McConnell talks with Elizabeth Murray, who retired to Bellingham, WA, after serving as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East in the National Intelligence Council. Elizabeth described the role of intelligence officers in governmental policy making decisions and also underscored the importance of 'whistle-blowers' in our current atmosphere of unnecessary government secrecy.

jim justice talks with Dianne Foster, a Bellingham citizen activist and a member of the Bellingham Occupy TPP working group, and Kristen Beifus, Board member and former Executive Director of Washington Fair Trade Coalition, about Fast Track and (TPP) Trans-Pacific Partnership (a trade agreement being negotiated) known as "NAFTA on Steroids"

SUSO host Jodie Buller catches up with Ryan Walters, who is an Anacortes City Council member, and a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Skagit County, about his work for the county, including his time as the County's Sustainability Administrator. The conversation also covers the kind of policy that helps produce good planning, the story of Tethys, and where Anacortes is at with its visioning process for the future of the city's growth, especially along the waterfront.

Ginny Wolff has a discussion with four community members about Family Promise, an inter-faith effort to help homeless children and their families. Our guests today, all members of different congregations, and all passionate about making this program a reality in Skagit County, are Pastor Laurin Vance of Burlington Lutheran Church, Ted Kostek, Celeste Weaver, and Peggy Bridgman. Family Promise is a national effort with an impressive success record, which uses volunteer services provided by community churches to help homeless families transition back into stable housing.

Dr. Ernest Tutt of Skagit Valley College talks about his re-enactments of the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others; as well as exploring the nature of racism and responses to it.

Eli Hastings is the author of "Clearly Now, the Rain," a memoir of his 10 year long relationship starting in college, with a talented and troubled young woman, struggling with mental illness and drug addiction. The relationship ends with her death at age 27. Hastings shares his story of the lessons he learned about how to love other people from his friend and lover. Eli Hastings now works with the Pongo Teen Writing Project in Seattle, a program which uses writing as a tool to help troubled youth in juvenile detention.

Local producer and host jim justice talks with Cynthia Eichner, Executive Director of SCAHA (Skagit County Alliance for Healthcare Access) and Dorothy Bradshaw, In-Person Assister Program Manager for the North Sound, about the Affordable Care Act locally.

To make an appt with in person assister (one-on-one help) - in Skagit and Whatcom, call 360 788-6542 or go to http://Whatcomalliance.org for contact info Local hospitals can also assist.

Dave McConnell has put together another New Year's special; a look at how the New Year is celebrated in other places and other times; recalling the Christmas Truce of 1914 and a plea for peace for everyone.

Dave McConnell hosts what has become a Christmas tradition on Speak Up! Speak Out! - an audio magazine of information, observation and music related to Christmas. Logic Amen takes a look at Christmas from a Black man's point of view, Cheryl-Ann Milsap and Mary Finch talk about their Christmas experiences, we hear some of the legends and lore of the season, and we listen to a couple of unusual Christmas songs.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Community Mapping Specialist Annie Brule, about the two year process of developing Vashon's Green Map, asking: what in this place is worth celebrating and protecting, and what would make a more sustainable Vashon Island?

They also talk about Maps used as tools of power; in Western culture, maps are the vanguard of dividing and conquering - or they can be used in an entirely different way, they can be used to take back the stories that they tell.

The Supreme Court decision know as Citizens United, handed down in January of 2010, has resulted in massive amounts of money, some of it donated anonymously, from corporations, unions, and wealthy individuals to buy ads, which are influencing election outcomes and peddling influence at every level of government.

Today's guests on Speak Up! Speak Out! want to return a semblance of sanity to campaign financing. They are working locally in conjunction with a national push for constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Gail Nicolls of Guemes Island is a retired teacher committed to community action. Cookson Beecher o Sedro Woolley, is a journalist, small business partner, and community volunteer. They are heading a local effort to collect signatures on petitions, educate both the public and city council members, and advocate for our city and county councils to pass nonbinding resolutions calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn Citizens United. The resolutions will ultimately be sent to our state legislators.

Join jim justice as she speaks with three DACA recipients about their life before President Obama's immigration policy change on June 15, 2102 and after. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival grants immigrants who entered the USA illegally before the age of 16 a chance to obtain a legal work permit. Alma, Martha, and Juan tell a bit of their stories about life before and after DACA and their desire for immigration reform that will effect the rest of their family and community.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Brian Flowers, Funeral Director and Green Burial Coordinator for Moles Farewell Tributes in Ferndale, about what Natural Burial means, and what a meaningful experience it can be for families and loved ones, as well as the ecological aspects and standards involved in Green Burial. During the interview, Brian recommends a website that helps to walk families through the conversation about end of life wishes, and mentions how important it is to tell your loved ones how you want to be buried and celebrated, Before it is time, so that they do not have to make these decisions from the ground level up, during grieving: http://www.theconversationproject.org

Carolyn Kelly, manager of the Skagit Conservation District, and Kristi Carpenter, the agency's Public Information and Education Coordinator join Ginny to discuss the origins and mission of conservation districts in general, and the scope of activities of the Skagit Conservation District. With a reputation for being one of the most active Conservation Districts in the state, the Skagit District sponsors a wide variety of services and programs. Carolyn talks about how the agency assists small farmers and foresters to protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat; the role they play in the Clean Samish Initiative, the CREP program, and the Firewise Communities program. She briefly describes the Farmland Legacy Program, and the Skagit Watershed Council, separate programs to whose boards she belongs. Kristi describes the many community outreach and education programs she runs or supervises: Stream Team, Marine Bio-toxins, Backyard Conservation, Watershed Masters, the annual Native Plant Sale, and the many Youth Education Programs the District offers.

Check out their very user-friendly website at http://www.skagitcd.org
To talk to a real person, or get on their mailing list for activities and notification of the yearly native plant sale, call 428-4313.

Dave McConnell recorded Ray McGovern, retired CIA officer, when he made a presentation at the Garden Street UMC in Bellingham on October 22, 2013. This Speak Up! Speak Out! program presents two lengthy segments of that recording. The first is a discussion of the American Empire; the second is McGovern's take on the role of whistle blowers - and the public - in curtailing government behavior that goes against the U.S. constitution.

jim talks with Janet Marino, Executive Director for the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center(WPJC) in Bellingham. The WPJC just celebrated it's tenth anniversary. Janet explains the various activities of the WPJC and their on-going success on a variety of fronts due to volunteer leadership and her guidance. She reveals a bit of her personal journey to take on this leadership role.

Check their website for their newsletter, volunteer opportunities, and calendar. http://www.whatcompjc.org

WA State Director for Climate Solutions, Jessica Finn Coven, joins Ginny for a discussion of Gov. Inslee's Climate workgroup CLEW - the Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup. Gov. Inslee created the group to study policies that would help WA State meet it's green house gas emission goals. Public hearings are being held to solicit public comments. Comments can also be submitted online.

Jessica Finn Coven's work focuses on developing legislative and policy strategies to reduce global warming pollution and grow a clean energy economy in Washington State. She discusses the kinds of policies that will be considered by the workgroup, and how people can participate.

Public Hearings scheduled after Oct. 22:
October 23, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Bell Harbor International Conference Center - 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle
December 6, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. House Hearing Room A - State Capitol Campus, Olympia

To submit a comment online, email the Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup: climateworkgroup@ecy.wa.gov

This week, SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with water quality educator Pat Pearson, recently retired WSU Jefferson County Extension faculty, about how we as humans interact with the Puget Sound and our water systems. Pearson also talks about the process and progress of the Puget Sound Partnership, which aims to clean up the Sound by 2020.

Dave talks with Sandi Doughton, author of "Full Rip 9.0; The Next Big Earthquake in the Pacific Northwest." Sandi talks about the detective work that led to the knowledge that the last big one was at 9pm on January 26, 1700. The average interval for the last 10,000 years has been 250 years. We're overdue - and it will be devastating. We can survive - as individuals and as a society - if we prepare.

Resources: Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup: crew.org CREW formed in the late 1990s to address the regional nature of earthquake hazards in the Pacific Northwest.

Update on the State of our Food System, with Ellen Gray of the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network

Happy Taste Washington Day! Sept 25th, schools across Washington State are celebrating local food in their cafeterias. SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Ellen Gray from WSFFN (The Network), about what it's like to advocae for food policy on the state level, as wells as upcoming ballot measure I-522 to label GE ingredients in food, and exciting progress sourcing local food in schools. She gets into upcoming ongoing national food system issues as well, like the Food Safety Modernization act and trying to pass a Farm Bill.

Toby Nixon, President of Washington Coalition for Open Government, joins Ginny Wolff for a discussion of open government concepts and laws. Toby Nixon has served in the Washington State legislature, where he was ranking member of the committee responsible for overseeing Washington's open government and election laws. He is currently a member of the Kirkland city Council.

Today's interview includes a description of our two most visible open government laws, the Public Records Act, and the Open Public Meetings Act, and how and why these laws are most often violated. Toby Nixon gives several examples to illustrate how this plays out in real life. He also gives some very specific advice about how to make a public records request so that you get what you want in a timely fashion. He includes several web based resources to help citizens effectively participate in local government.

jim talks with Cynthia Eichner, Executive Director of the Skagit County Alliance for Healthcare Access (SCAHA), who is responsible for the roll out of the Affordable Care Act here in Skagit County. Find out who is eligible and how to apply if one is eligible.

For more personal information, info available now at (can apply through these starting Oct. 1)
Call center open 7 AM - 8 PM Monday through Friday - 1-855-923-4633
Website - http://wahealthplanfinder.org
For group presentations, contact Cynthia Eichner at 360 899-5669.

Sit down with someone to discuss your case at Community Action of Skagit County, Skagit Regional Health (hospital and clinics), Island Hospital, United General Hospital, Mount Baker Planned Parenthood, or SeaMar clinics.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks about the Affordable Care Act and the current state of need for the uninsured and underinsured in our area with Bill Kluin, Development Director at Safe Harbor Free Clinic in Stanwood, and Candie Tafoya, the clinic's Patient Assistance Coordinator, who is also the medical coordinator for the upcoming free health and services event called Project Homeless Connect.

PHC happens this year Thursday September 9th on the SVC campus next to the Technical Building. Safe Harbor and Sea-Mar are teaming up to provide medical, dental, women's services, podiatry and mental health help, as well as a meal, through the efforts of a huge team of volunteer staff.

Safe Harbor Free Clinic operates on Friday evenings and two Saturdays a month out of the Skagit Regional Clinics office in Stanwood, and provides a comprehensive range of health care services.

On August 28, 1963, 250,000 people gathered on the mall and heard Martin Luther King, Jr's "I have a dream" speech. This one hour Speak Up! Speak Out! special includes that speech; a conversation with Barbara Jackson, who attended that March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom; speeches from the 50th anniversary march on August 24, 2013; and closes with the "Freedom Trilogy" by Odetta

Dr. Frank James, Bellingham physician and outspoken proponent for doing a Health Impact Assessment for the proposed Cherry Point coal terminal, joins Ginny for this week's show. Dr. James is a member of the Whatcom Docs, a group of 215 Whatcom and Skagit healthcare professionals who are calling for such a study. He discusses what a Health Impact Assessment is, and how it differs from what an regular EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) would look at. He gives an update on recent developments in the process that will decide the ultimate fate of the controversial terminal. Dr. James talks at length about the various health impacts physicians are concerned about, based on their research of the medical literature, and his own personal experience.

Our guests are two board members of the Central Skagit Library District - Mindy Coslor, chair of library board, and Chris Silves. Officially, the Central Skagit Rural Partial County Library District, the library district covers the rural areas in the Sedro-Woolley School District (not Lyman, Hamilton nor the town of Sedro-Woolley itself). Mindy and Chris give us an idea as to how the library district is developing (establishing a budget and timeline) and invite people to participate in the focus group meetings which will take place in September. These meetings will be facilitated meetings to find out from the public what the SWOTs are for the library district (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). The meetings will last about 4 hours, check website for more information. Or, contact Mindy mindy@centralskagitlibrary.org or Chris chris@centralskagitlibrary.org

Our guest is Seth Holmes, Assistant Professor at the University of California Berkeley in the School of Public Health and the Graduate Program of Medical Anthropology. Seth talks with jim about his new book, Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States. In this part, Seth talks about his experience in crossing the US-Mexican border with his Triqui friends and addresses why they cross the border and their similarities to local farmers. Seth also talks about the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, but not reform which increases deaths at the border, like drone usage and increased border patrol.

Our guest is Seth Holmes, Assistant Professor at the University of California Berkeley in the School of Public Health and the Graduate Program of Medical Anthropology. Seth talks with jim about his new book, Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States. He talks about his travels with Triqui farmworkers from the Skagit Valley in Washington to California to their home in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Seth discusses the health disparities and work hierarchies he observed in his travels.

NOTE: Join us on Wed., August 7th for the second part of this interview in which he talks about his experience in crossing the US-Mexican border with his Triqui friends and the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Jodie talks with Terry Belcoe from North Coast Credit Union and Bill Henkel from Community Action, about the upcoming Bite of Skagit (Sat. July 27 Noon-4pm in downtown Mount Vernon) which is a "food party" to raise funds to buy food directly from local farmers for distribution at food banks and local meal programs.

This week jim talks with Linnea Hirst, past President of the Washington League of Women Voters, about their vote411 online voter information system and their high school civics text. In the second half of the program jim talks with David Cunningham, Election Supervisor for Skagit County, about the specifics of the items on the primary ballot in Skagit County. All voters in the county have the opportunity to vote on funding for a new jail.

http://www.lwvwa.org - Washington State League of Women Voters website. Civics text available as well as local LWV action and contact information
http://www.vote411.org - National League of Women Voters voter information website, type in your address and get information about your ballot
http://www.skagitcounty.net/elections - Skagit County Election website 360 336-9305 - Skagit County Election information phone number - call if you have not received your ballot by 20 July or have questions about your ballot

Join us next week when Jodie talks with Terry Belcoe, President and CEO of the North Coast Credit Union, about their upcoming Bite of Skagit (Sat., July 27) which provides funds to buy food directly from local farmers for distribution at food banks and local meal programs.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Susan Soltes from Bow Hill Blueberries and Lucy Norris from Northwest Agricultural Business Center (NABC) about our local agricultural system, food security and the evolution of the North Sound Food Hub, which helps local farmers get their harvest to local restaurants, hospitals and institutions, and bulk buyers more easily. Lucy calls blueberries the gateway to real food, and the Food Hub is a consolidation site where Skagit Whatcom and San Juan purchasers can order from a number of farms online and then pick up a number of orders in one place, and in conjunction with 21 Acres, offers a weekly delivery to the Seattle area.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Elizabeth Larter about I-522 - The People's Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act - which gathered 350,000 ballot signatures last year, the second highest number of ballot signatures for an initiative to the legislature in Washington's history, and will be on the ballot this November.

The conversation gets into local, state level, national and international movement on the Right to Know what's in our food, and touches on how people can become advocates for this issue in their own kitchens, by talking to friends and family.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with educator, beekeeper and micro-pollination provider Bruce Vilders about how bees and hives work, the impact of Colony Collapse Disorder on commercial beekeeping and the importance of backyard beekeeping and pollination to our food supply.

Skagit County resident Ginny Darvill talks with Ginny Wolff about the Vida Nueva Cooperative in Teotitlan, Oaxaca. Ginny has been supporting Vida Nueva for the last several years, by finding local markets for the traditional Zapotec tugs woven by this women's collective. Now two of the women are visiting western Washington in June to talk about, demonstrate, and sell their hand made rugs. A schedule of events they will participate in is below.

Farmers' Market in Sedro Woolley - Wed. June 12
Farmers' Market in Mount Vernon - Sat. June 15

Burke Museum at UW in Seattle:
Pastora will speak on Sat. June 15 at 12:30 pm.
Rugs will be on exhibit from June 12 until mid Oct.
Rugs will be available for sale at a market on June 20-21.

Western Washington University, Carver Gym in Bellingham - June 20-22
Demonstration of traditional natural dyes
Vendor stall where rugs will be for sale
Details: Google Association of NW Weavers' Guilds

This week jim speaks with leaders of the League of Women Voters (LWV) in Skagit and at the state level. Guests are Loretta Saarinen (Skagit) and Washington State co-presidents Linnea Hirst and Kim Abel. The tag line for the LWV is "Making Democracy Work" and the issues discussed are certainly ones that people who care about democracy will want to hear. Men have also been welcomed in the league since the 1970s. National issues discussed in this interview are: Protecting and Engaging Voters; Reforming Money in Politics, and Defending the Environment. If coal trains are of interest, there is a LWV position. If the proposed Anacortes bottling plant is of concern, then the League of Women Voters' upcoming unbiased forum in late June will be of interest. More members are always welcome in the league to keep their valuable work going forward!

Part two of this interview to be aired in mid-July will discuss the league's http://Vote411.org program, where voters can get unbiased info on ballot issues and candidates.

http://www.lwvwa.org - this is the state website. Click on Leagues on the left side to access Skagit - local contact info included.

Dave McConnell talks with Liz McNett Crowell, Healthy Communities Coordinator at Skagit Valley Hospital, and avid cyclist, about cycling in our area: off road possibilities and plans; safety on streets, highways and multiple use paths; rules of the road for cyclists - which are the same as for any other vehicle; education in schools and communities; and law enforcement.

Ellen Bynum, Executive Director for Friends of Skagit County, joins Ginny for a discussion about Friends of Skagit County. She talks about why Friends came into existence after the Growth Management Act passed, and how it has worked to help preserve the rural character of Skagit County. Ellen gives us a crash course in permitting and appeals processes for development projects, and amendments to the Comprehensive Code. She advocates strongly for citizen participation in land use decisions.

Skagit County Planning Commission Meetings: open to the public; also broadcast on Skagit 21 Television and streamed online
Community Conversations: What Do YOU Want the Valley to Look Like? Sat. June 22 10 -11am Burlington Library

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Keri Knapp, Jeremy Kindlund, Mouse Bird and Sarai Stevens, who are the Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, Mount Vernon and Bow Little Market Managers, about the upcoming Farmers Market season and the newly formed Skagit Valley Farmers Market Coalition.

What's new?: Mount Vernon's market is moving this year - across from the downtown library, Anacortes is offering a series of workshops presented by Transition Fidalgo and Friends, Sedro-Woolley is looking for more live music, and Bow Little Market is offering a spot for kids to vend for free!

Local Hospitals Propose Partnering with Larger Medical Center - April 24, 2013

The proposal that Skagit Valley, Island, and Cascade Hospitals form a partnership with a larger hospital system has received a fair amount of local press recently due to concern over how a partnership with a Catholic Hospital might affect access to certain healthcare services in Skagit County. In today's show, Ginny interviews Clark Todd, president of the Skagit Valley Hospital Commissioners Board; Kathy Reim, healthcare advocate; and Kathryn DeFillipo, of Planned Parenthood in Skagit County. Both Kathy and Kathryn are members of People for Healthcare Freedom, the citizens' group which has formed to address concerns about affiliation with a Catholic hospital.

Clark discusses the larger issue of why a partnership is necessary, and would facilitate delivery of quality care locally. He also addresses how the commissioners are responding to community concerns. Kathy and Kathryn discuss what concerns they have, how experience elsewhere informs that concern, and the process of how the public can present concerns to the decision makers in this proposal.

Future Community Forums:
Island Hospital Board of Commissioners forum: April 30, 5:30 pm, Council Chambers, Anacortes City Hall, 906 6th St.
People for Healthcare Freedom community meeting: May 3, 6 pm, PUD - Aqua Rm.

Ginny speaks with Pastor Laurin Vance of Burlington Lutheran Church about Family Promise, a cooperative, interfaith, community-based program to help homeless families. Pastor Vance is spearheading an effort to make Family Promise a reality in Skagit County by networking with churches and their congregations throughout the valley. In this interview, he describes what makes the program unique and valuable to both participating families and the churches supporting them. He talks about how it is working elsewhere, and what is needed to make it happen here.

For more information contact:
Pastor Laurin Vance by phone at: (360) 840-4565 (mobile)
Burlington Lutheran Church at: 134 E. Victoria in Burlington
website: http://www.burlingtonlutheran.org

Dave talks with Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau. Jill talks about her experiences during her first year in office and her goals for the remainder of this term: completion of Phase two of the waterfront project, and solution to the issues surrounding jail overcrowding, in particular. She also expressed great appreciation for the responses to her weekly "Coffee with the Mayor" sessions.

Evergreen Islands - a citizen advocacy group - is a "watchdog" over proposed development projects in and around Fidalgo Island, that threaten our resources and the rural character of the area. They have a long history going back at least 36 years to protect Fidalgo Island and the salt water islands nearby, using existing laws. In today's show, Ginny talks with Steve Clark, former president, and Tom Glade, current president of Evergreen Islands about the history of the group and how they conduct their campaigns.

Preparing for the Skagit Human Rights Festival (SHRF) event on Healthcare on Thursday, March 28 at the Lincoln Theatre, jim talks with Jeanne Crump, D.O., Director of Medical Education at Skagit Regional Health and with Peter Browning, Director of Skagit County Health Department. It is a bit of the current state of healthcare in Skagit as opposed to a year ago, and a talk about the roll out of Affordable Health Care which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

SHRF - Film and panel: Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare - panel includes both Peter Browning and Jeanne Crump. Lincoln Theatre, Thursday, March 28, 7 PM.

Bellingham singer-songwriter and tireless activist Dana Lyons joins Ginny and Dave in advance of his concert appearance for the Human Rights Festival. In this entertaining interview he reflects on his experiences in his Great Coal Train Tour, and talks about his upcoming Australian Tour, where activists are facing the same challenges from industries hungry to extract and export fossil fuels at huge costs to local residents. This show features the radio premiere of Dana's new song about the Salish Sea orcas, and his old stand-by "Cows With Guns."

Dana Lyons performs in concert at the Phillip Tarro Theatre on the campus of Skagit Valley College on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 pm. The show is free to the public and is sponsored by the 10th Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival.

March is Women's History Month and this week marks the 7th anniversary of Speak up! Speak out! Join jim as she re-visits a couple of our first interviews in 2006 (with MVHS Peace and Justice members and with then 93 year old educator, Peace Corps volunteer and actor, Virginia Spray.) Kathryn DeFilippo of Mount Baker Planned Parenthood and the Skagit Human Rights Festival (SHRF) planning committee joins jim to talk about an International Women's Day celebration on Sat., March 9 and the SHRF program entitled Women in Leadership on Saturday, March 23rd from 2 - 4:30 PM on the Skagit Valley College campus in the Phillip Tarro Theatre. The program closes with a 2011 SUSO International Women's Day interview with Bellingham singer/songwriter and preserver of women's history in song, Linda Allen.

The Tenth Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival is just around the corner. Jodie talks with Andy Kirkpatrick about the first event: - GMOs; and Dave talks with Kathy Reim and Barbara Jordan about the second - Transgender:Transformation.

February is Black History Month. Dave draws together a number of related pieces for this program: Local resident Barbara Jackson tells about being present for Martin Luther King, jr's 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963; Skagit Valley College Instructor Ernest Tutt addressing the question 'Why is Obama Black', Billie Holiday singing 'Strange Fruit', Kentucky commentator relating what it was like to grow up in the south with virtually no knowledge of Black leaders -- and more.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Sarita Schaffer of http://www.growfood.org and Viva Farms about the upcoming Women in Agriculture conference, held in 21 locations throughout Washington on February 23rd from 8-4pm. The focus this year is Growing Your Successful Farm Business, featuring keynote speaker Trina Campbell from 500 acre organic Riverdog Farm in California, and will include local panelists and workshops at WSU in west Mount Vernon.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Courtney Long from Skagit DVSAS about Skagit statistics on gender-based violence, and about the larger example of rape culture. They are joined in the studio by Wendolyn Rue from Studio 1010 in Anacortes, who shares personal experience that prompted her to help coordinate local "risings" in Oak Harbor and Anacortes on February 14th, to recognize V-DAY. Eve Ensler, who wrote The Vagina Monologues and started V-Day in 1998, has something special planned for this February 14: One Billion Rising, as supporters and friends of victims of gender based violence gather to "strike, rise, dance!" as part of this global movement to end violence against women and girls.

Public Comments on Cherry Point Coal Terminal - What's Next? - January 30, 2013

Matt Krogh, North Sound Baykeeper with Re-Sources for a Sustainable Community in Bellingham; and Beth Doglio, Campaign Director for both Climate Solutions in Seattle and for the regional Power Past Coal Campaign, join Ginny Wolff for today's show. This is an update on efforts to stop the Gateway Pacific Terminal - the coal export facility proposed at Cherry Point.

Matt and Beth share their perspectives on what happened in the recently concluded Scoping Period for the Environmental Impact Statement process mandated by law for this project. "Scoping" was a four month period when the public spoke up with concerns about the proposal. Matt and Beth describe the unprecedented volume and quality of comments submitted by the public. They also discuss where their respective organizations will focusing their efforts in the weeks and months to come.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with author, economist, academic and activist Raj Patel, who will be giving the keynote address after the SVC GlobalFest International Dinner on January 28th. Raj's 2008 book Stuffed and Starved looks at the disastrous consequences of our current Global Food System, and follows emerging sustainable global food movements. This engaging conversation follow some interesting threads, including the consequences of debt and shame on farmers across the world, how obesity and hunger are points along the poverty spectrum, and how women's rights are necessary to balance the inequities of our food system.
http://www.skagit.edu - for more information on tickets for GlobalFest International Dinner
http://www.rajpatel.org - for more information on Raj

Ted Maloney, Director of Global Initiatives at Skagit Valley College talks with Dave about two recent trips to Vietnam; trips that included crawling through the Ku Chi Tunnels, visiting museums dedicated to memories of the Vietnam War; taking part in door to door surveys in a mountain village - but most importantly, meeting, getting to know, and coming to enjoy the people and the country. Reflections on war and its aftermaths - and recoveries - round out the conversation.

This year end special highlights favorite programs from the past year with four short segments: Ginny's interview with Christie Stewart-Stein of North Sound Alliance; Dave's interview with Lynn Fouquette about the nature of Gender; Jodie's interview with Terry Belcoe, Bill Hinkel, and Debra Lancaster focusing on a movement called 'One Community. One Voice; and jim's interview with Jeanne Crump and Peter Browning about Health Care facilities in Skagit County.

Co-host and co-producer, jim, speaks with Gerald Hankerson and Teresa Clark of Washington Community Action Network (CAN!), Clint Weckerly of SeaMar, and Rev. Josefina Beecher about the recent release of the 2012 report on the state legislature related to issues of poverty and racial equity. Gerald gives background information on the report written by Washington CAN! now in its fourth year as well as information about legislators' scores. jim also talks with Clint Weckerly, SeaMar's Promotores Coordinator for Skagit and Whatcom about the impact of health care legislation on our community. Clint then makes a personal statement about the importance of the Marriage Equality law in his life. Finally jim talks with Josefina Beecher, Skagit Immigrant Rights Council, about legislation related to immigrants, particularly reduction of the maximum sentence for gross misdemeanors by one day and the importance of immigrants having access to drivers licenses. Josefina also talks about the Fair Tenant Screening Act.

Speak up! Speak out!'s co-host and co-producer, jim justice, will provide an update on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival). She talks with local immigration attorney, Carol Edward, Rev. Josefina Beecher of the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council, DACA applicant Gladis Castellanos, and Jorge BarÃ³n, Executive Director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle. Guests talk about what is happening now with DACA, FAQ about what to do once a DACA applicant receives a work permit, the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and Gladis talks about fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.

SUSO co-host Jodie Buller talks by phone with one of the organizers behind Label It WA, Chris McManus, about ballot measure initiative I-522: "The People's Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act", which would require that food sold in retail stores be labeled if it contains Genetically Engineered ingredients. Label It WA organizers are on track to collect enough signatures to bring I-522 to the State Legislature and Governor for a decision this Spring.

Joan Cross, physical therapist and neuro-rehabilitation practitioner, joins Ginny for a discussion of a non-drug therapy for stress and anxiety related conditions. Neurofeedback retrains the brain to behave with less excitability, and more stability and resilience. Useful for a wide range of conditions, including, insomnia, mood disorders, PTSD, ADD, and even autistic behaviors; it is free of side effects, and requires no conscious effort on the part of the client. Joan talks about how it works, effectiveness, and gives examples of client experiences.

SUSO's Jodie Buller speaks with Laura Lavigne, who started up the Anacortes Center for Happiness, about the many kinds of offerings emerging from the old ballroom space, including the 90 Day Gratitude Attitude Challenge and the Happiness Sprinkling Project, and also with local musician and healer Simme Bobrosky about an upcoming evening at the Anacortes Center for Happiness called Ecstatic Chant and Dance... from the Heart. Simme plays a few examples of chants, one from Zimbabwe on the mbira and one Sanskrit chant supported by guitar, to give listeners a taste of what to expect from the event on November 9.
http://www.anacortescenterforhappiness.org

Voters living in the unincorporated areas of the Sedro Woolley School district are voting on a ballot proposition which asks if a "Rural-Partial County Library District" should be created. For this episode of Speak Up! Speak Out! Ginny is joined by Beverly Conn, the chairperson of the committee to approve this proposition, and Debra Peterson, librarian at the Sedro Woolley city library. We discuss the ballot proposition itself, as well as the advantages library access gives to people living in rural communities.

The Sedro Woolley Library is hosting an Open House on Thursday, Nov 1 from 4-7-pm at the SW library to let people know what the library can do for them.

Singer Songwriter DanaLyons, best known for his hit "Cows With Guns," joins Speak Up! Speak Out! for a special show prior to his Great Coal Train Tour concert at the Lincoln Theatre Oct. 23. He talks about what he hears from people along the proposed coal train route and why he feels passionate enough to go on concert tour for months to oppose the proposal. He also speaks to the importance of community radio. Two of Dana's songs are included in this version of today's show: "Sometimes," and "Swimming in the Big Deep."

Members of the Speak Up! Speak Out! collective - Ginny, jim, Jodie and Dave - share some short pieces from recent shows and talk about upcoming events and shows. Recorded during the 2012 Fall membership drive for KSVR and KSVU.

Grassroots movements are underway to overturn the Supreme Court decision know as "Citizens United" by amending the Constitution. Ginny is joined by long time Port Townsend community organizer Steve Hamm, representing the group "Move to Amend"; and Ken Dammand, retired Everett fire captain, and member of Occupy Everett, who is representing Washington Public Campaigns.

Steve and Ken address the historic background which set the stage for the Supreme Court decision, and outline how their groups and others are fighting it. In this early stage of the campaign, citizens are asked to encourage municipal, state, and federal legislators to pass resolutions addressing corporate personhood and money as speech.

Today's show is dedicated to Craig Salins, who until his recent untimely death, was the larger-than-life executive director of Washington Public Campaigns.

SUSO host and producer jim talks about a new film, Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work, with film producer Melissa Young of Moving Images known in Skagit for their film, Good Food, and associate producer and Moving Images Board member, Tony Harrah. Shift Change looks at employee-owned cooperative business enterprises in North America, as well as in the Basque region of Spain. Ever heard of Mondragon in Spain? It is a cooperative founded in 1956 with 125 companies and over 83,000 worker owners in Basque country which is thriving and serving as a model for others seeking an alternative in our sour economy and beyond. It's Putting Democracy to Work!

Shift Change closes out a film series at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op in Mount Vernon which will run Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM in October, starting Oct. 9. The first 3 films make up Teddy Bear Films' Globalization Trilogy: Store Wars, China Blue, and Bitter Seeds. More information can be found about the series and the films at Skagit Food Co-op under events. Associate producer, Tony Harrah, will be on hand on Oct. 30 when Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work will debut in Skagit. It will be at the Pickford on Nov. 3rd.

Looking ahead (subject to change): Oct. 3rd - Move to Amend; Oct. 10 & 17 live - fund drive - various topics; 24 Sedro-Woolley Library District initiative; 31 Dana Lyons

Dave McConnell spent a couple of hours at the 2012 Skagit Homeless Connect talking with Service providers and recorded several that he shares on the program this week - from leather clad bikers who provide food for veterans to a law office that provides legal services for the disabled.

Ross Macfarlane is Senior Advisor, Business Partnerships for Climate Solutions. He will present to the MV City Council on Wed. Sept 19 at 6 pm. The session is open to the public. Ross did this interview with Ginny In April, 2012. Mr. Macfarlane will focus on the transportation issues and costs Skagit County would face should the Gateway Pacific Terminal be built.

Dr. Preston Schiller, co-author of An Introduction to Sustainable Transportation: Policy, Planning and Implementation, talks with Dave about sustainable transportation in NW Washington - what has been done, and what needs to be done.

SUSO's Jodie Buller speaks with Deymain Lesar and Scott Morgan from the local group Living Democracy Skagit, about the consequences of corporate personhood and the way that communities across the country are re-organizing the legal framework and leveling the playing field, with Democracy Schools and Citizens Bills of Rights Initiatives. Living Democracy Skagit is hosting a Democracy School on October 12 & 13 at the Skagit Food Co-op in downtown Mount Vernon.
For more information about this work:
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund - http://www.CELDF.org Living Democracy Skagit meets every other Thursday at the Skagit Food Co-op, email Deymian for more information on their meetings and to register for Democracy School: dl.evergreen@yahoo.com
The Spokane Declaration - http://envisionseattle.org/2012/08/the-spokane-declaration-by-the-washington-community-rights-network.html
Bellingham's Initiative and the Coal Trains Fight - http://www.coalfreebellingham.org

Official application under the "Deferred Action Program for Childhood Arrivals" opens on this date (August 15, 2012). Dave McConnell talks with jim justice, co-founder of the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council; Hannah E. Stone, Bellingham based Immigration Lawyer, and Margarita Esquivel, a young woman eligible to apply. Basically, DACA (Deferred Action Program for Childhood Arrivals) provides the possibility for young people (ages 15-31) who were born outside the US, migrated here at least 5 years ago without official recognition, to obtain the necessary papers to enable to work legally in this country. For more information go to the NorthWest Immigrant Rights Project website for more information: http://www.nwirp.org/resources/dreamer

James Wells and Nicole Brown of Whatcom County explain the Scoping process of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Cherry Point Coal Terminal (GPT). They describe how people can effectively draft either oral or written comments to register their concerns about impacts of the terminal and resulting increase in train and shipping traffic. They also discuss the workshops they are holding to motivate and train people to write their own comments and spread the message.

Up-coming workshops:
Tuesdays, Aug. 14 & Aug. 28, in Bellingham: ReSources office in Bellingham, 7 pm Thursday, Aug. 9, in Mt. Vernon: Skagit Valley College, Rm A-125, 6:30-8:30 pm

jim talks with David Cunningham, Skagit County Election Supervisor and Barbara Leander, Skagit's Chief Deputy Auditor, about basic voter information and ballot questions including what to do if your ballot hasn't arrived. We also talk about the glitch between the DOL website address update and it's connection (or lack thereof) with voter registration address changes. jim also talks with Green Party of Skagit's Scott Morgan and Deymian LeSar about politics in the USA today, the principles of the Green Party, and what they feel most people want.

Find election info via http://skagitcounty.net - follow links to election info
Or, http://sos.wa.gov - the Secretary of State's website has text of ballot measures for November election posted, along with other voter info.
Skagit County's election office - 360 336-9305, if you have questions

http://progressivevotersguide.com - FUSE and other progressive organizations provide this voters guide. NOTE: Not mentioned in the guide, but critical to many in Skagit - only one 1st CD candidate opposes the coal terminal and is very supportive of the need for comprehensive immigration reform - Darshan Rauniyar

This weeks program gives a review of some food and farming connections in Skagit County. jim starts the program by speaking with Terry Belcoe (President & CEO of North Coast Credit Union and Skagit Community Action Board member) and Arielle Stein (Community Action - heads up the county Food Distribution Center) about the upcoming Bite of Skagit. The 4th Annual Bite of Skagit will take place on Sat., July 28th in downtown Mount Vernon. Listen to hear about the Skagit Food Share Alliance which it benefits as well as what is in the offing that day - or go to their website.

Next jim talks with Kveta Morgan, manager of the Garden of Hope Farm (2 Acres) on Avon Allen just south of SR 20. She talks about who works the farm and who benefits from its bounty. Work party this weekend (July 21) 9-noon or 1-4 PM.

Then Sarita Schaffer of Viva Farms provides an update on the Farm Bill working its way through Congress. Finally, jim provides info on the various Farmers Markets here in Skagit County.

Eulalia "Lili" Sotelo, Senior attorney with the Foreclosure Prevention Unit of the NW Justice Project, talks with jim and Ginny about what people can do if they face the danger of foreclosure. Lili Sotelo discusses the Foreclosure Fairness Act which took effect in Washington State in July, 2011, and improvements to the act made this year. She advocates early action if people are behind on their payments, and describes resources available.

To contact the NW Justice Project, go to: http://nwjustice.org, or call 1-888-201-1014.

Starting with Michael Parenti's definition of Patriotism, Dave and Ginny gathered a number of songs that confront the self-centered nationalism that we see and hear so much of at this time of year - including Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.", Phil Ochs "I Ain't Marchin' Any More" and others.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with local clinical nutritionist Karl Mincin about vitamins, minerals, enzymes - the building blocks of nutrition - and how they work in the complex ecosystem of the body, and what happens when the body is out of balance because of deficiencies and toxicity. Karl shares suggestions for incorporating a variety of phytonutrients in your diet, and describes the analysis testing tools he uses to determine levels of minerals and vitamins in the body, in order to develop a individualized Nutrition Baseline.

Dave Interviews Rip Robbins, General Manager of KSVR and KSVU about the role of community radio. Rip interviews Rober McChesney about the nature of the media in our times.

Rick Dubrow and Stoney Bird join Ginny to discuss the Coal Free Bellingham Campaign. They are two organizers of an effort to get a ballot initiative passed in Bellingham which would ban coal trafficking within the city. Rick and Stoney talk about the limitations of the existing regulatory processes which have prompted other communities to pass this kind of legislation, why their group in Bellingham is attempting do it now, and what kind of response they are getting.

Events: July 21: Thomas Linzey, founder of CELDF, will be in Bellingham - details on Coal Free Bellingham website
Oct: Richard Heinberg, of the Post Carbon Institute will be in Bellingham. More at Living Democracy website: http://www.livingdemocracy.org

Mount Baker Planned Parenthood, Komen Foundation and the war on women - May 23, 2012

jim speaks with Linda McCarthy, Mount Baker Planned Parenthood (MBPP), Executive Director and Christina Wright, MBPP, Director of External Affairs about the war on women and it's effects here in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Linda and Christina talk about their programs, the Congressional and legislative attacks on women as well as the Komen Foundation. The national Komen Foundation in December of 2011 announced they were cutting off grants/funds to Planned Parenthood. After public outcry, they changed their mind. This decision was NOT discussed with local Komen affiliates who have always been very supportive of MBPP. Listen in to hear how this impacts both Komen and Planned Parenthood locally today and what you can do about it.

Linda McCarthy, Mount Baker Planned Parenthood, Executive Director
Christina Wright, MBPP, Director of External Affairs
http://www.mbpp.org 360 603-7703

Ina May Gaskin is called the godmother of authentic midwifery. She has been attending women in labor for over 40 years on "The Farm" in southern Tennessee, and more than any other single person, has helped revive the ancient profession of midwifery in the U.S. Ina May is now an internationally known advocate of honoring the natural process of childbirth - supporting and assisting women who want an option to the interventions of modern obstetrics. She joined us by phone from her home in Tennessee to talk about her life's work.

Hear her 2011 address in Sweden when she accepted the "Right Livelihood Award" on her website: http://www.inamay.com

Jodie Buller talks with Debra Lancaster from United Way, Karen Parnell from Community Action, and Steve Crider from neighbors in need food Bank and Garden of Hope Food bank Garden, about their work on the steering committee of Skagit's 1095 Club, whose mission is to ensure that kids in Skagit get 3 nutritious meals a day, 365 days a year. That equals 1095 - a magic number. They are currently focused on summer feeding programs throughout Skagit County.

Dave McConnell talks with Elizabeth McNett Crowl, Skagit Healthy Communities coordinator and a League of American Bicyclists certified bicycle instructor, Roger Ridgeway, a leader in the Mount Vernon Downtown Association, and Gabe Phillips Transportation Planner for the Skagit Council of Governments, about plans to have Mount Vernon, Anacortes and the rest of Skagit County recognized as Bicycle Friendly Communities.

Jodie Buller talks with Debra Lancaster from United Way, Bill Henkel from Community Action, and Terry Belcoe from North Coast Credit Union about their participation in a community-wide initiative called One Community One Voice, which aims to break the cycle of poverty by coordinating existing local efforts and resources, and forging new connections to address homelessness, life and job skills, food, healthcare and housing access, and education. Committee members include: Bill Henkel, Carl Bruner, Charlie Wend, Deb Davis Bundy, Debra Lancaster, Jim Meyer, Letty Alvarez, Lisa Janicki, Peter Browning, Ryan Sakuma, Sue Krienan

Ginny Wolff speaks with Ross Macfarlane, Sr. Advisor for Climate Solutions, about coal export in Washington and Oregon, particularly the terminal proposed at Cherry Point, north of Bellingham. Ross explains the mission of the non-profit organization - Climate Solutions, Practical Solutions to Global Warming - and why they have taken on this issue. He also explains how people can be involved in the Environment Review process for this proposal which is approaching, and how to participate in the "Scoping" process.

Letters and Comments made during Scoping (time to be determined) can be submitted to:
Whatcom County Council: Tyler Schroeder: tschroed@co.whatcom.wa.us
Washington State Dept. of Ecology: Ted Sturdevant: tstu461@ecy.wa.gov
Army Corps of Engineers: Randel Perry: Randel.J.Perry@usace.army.mil

Dave McConnell talks with Lauren Mehl, Program Manager for Northwest Youth Services in Skagit County. Northwest Youth Services works to provide homeless young people - 18-21 - with transitional housing, i.e., transition to permanent housing. Lauren talks about the work of Northwest Youth Services, the causes of homelessness and the variety of services available in the Skagit Valley - and beyond.

Listen in this week on a conversation with Jeanne Crump, DO, PhD, Director of Medical Education at Skagit Valley Hospital and Peter Browning, Director of the Skagit County Public Health Department. They talk about the quality of care in Skagit County compared to the country and other counties in Washington state. Jeanne and Peter also discuss various collaborations and changes that are in the works for health care delivery and medical record access here. Skagit is on the cutting edge! Listen in to hear the details.

Medical Information Network - North Sound
Health Information Exchange (HIE) for Skagit County WA and North Puget Sound http://www.min-ns.org/

Dave McConnell talks with Heather Carter, Manager of the OUTLoud Project of the Washington State Youth Suicide Prevention Program. Heather shares insights on the causes of youth suicide, suggestions of how to deal with potential youth suicides, and describes workshops and training sessions provided by the Youth Suicide Prevention Program.

Skagit Human Rights Festival Looks at Defending Water and Labor - March 14, 2012

SUSO co-hosts Ginny Wolff speaks with Sandra Spargo and Kay McDonnell about Defending Water during the first half of the show: the upcoming event on March 22nd, 7pm at the Lincoln Theatre will feature a screening of Tapped and some conversation about Skagit water rights and the proposed bottling plant in Anacortes. During the second half of the show, co-host Jodie Buller talks with labor activists Rich Austin and Steve Garey about how unions support all workers, organized or not. The March 29 evening on Labor (also at 7pm at the Lincoln) will feature two short films, Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor council AFL-CIO, and a panel of labor leaders.

Speak Up! Speak Out! explores the moral dimensions of the challenge climate change presents to all of us. Dr. Kathleen Moore, philosopher and nature writer, and Evelyn Adams, one of the founders of Transition Fidalgo and Friends, join Ginny Wolff in our show for March 7. We talk about the mission of Transition Fidalgo and Friends, and discuss the ethics of climate change.

Dr. Kathleen Moore is the featured speaker at an event entitled: "Moral Ground: What Do We Owe the Future?" sponsored by Transition Fidalgo and Friends. This event is on Sunday, March 18, at the Phillip Tarro Theatre on the Skagit Valley College campus at 3 pm. Admission is free. Donations accepted.

jim gives an overview of this year's Skagit Human Rights Festival which starts with two art openings this week and continues on Thursdays through the month of March. The SHRF theme is Whose Valley is it Anyway? Corporate Power or Community Power. Listen in to hear about the various events and hear Seattle singer/songwriter sing Over My Dead Body (will they incorporate the world.) You will also hear segments from Anne Fenney's War on the Workers. SHRF: Corporations, Civil Liberties & E-Verify, Defending Water, & Labor. Art Exhibits: Lee Mann's Photography & Letters to the Editor at Skagit Valley College Art Gallery & other Skagit Artists in the Lincoln Art Bar.

In preparation for the "Corporations and the Rise of Occupy" night on March 8th, featuring a panel and a screening of Inside Job about our financial system de-regulation and collapse, co-host Jodie Buller talks with with James Bauckman, a video producer and teacher who has become involved with the northwest occupy movement and with Mount Vernon homeowner Jill Eelkema about her 16 month ordeal to try to re-finance her home.

Wed., March 7 - there will be interviews about the last two nights of the Skagit HRF.

This special includes segments from earlier shows, commentary from around the country, plus Odetta's version of the Freedom Trilogy.

SUSO honors local photographer, naturalist, and human rights advocate Lee Mann, in advance of the upcoming month-long exhibit of his life and work at the art gallery on SVC campus during March, as part of the Skagit Human Rights Festival. Lee's son Bryce will speak at the opening of the exhibit on Thursday March 1 at 5pm. This show features past interviews with Lee, including excerpts from a KSVR interview with Stuarto Glasser from 2011, as well as samples of his letters to the editor over the years, read by SUSO co-hosts.

Join jim as she talks with three Skagit County school superintendents: Laurel Browning, Burlington-Edison School District, Carl Bruner, Mount Vernon School District, and Mark Venn, Sedro-Woolley School District.

During the past few years schools have had state funding cut dramatically; last year a retroactive cut occurred in January, although school budgets are set the spring before the academic year. This January, the Washington State Supreme Court handed down a decision which determined that the state is NOT meeting its state constitutional mandate to adequately fund education.

Join us for this conversation about how all this effects school funding now and in the future. This is all critical information to make an informed decision about the upcoming levy elections - all 3 districts have ballots due on an operating levy by Feb. 14.

Dave talks with Ted Maloney about the 2012 Globalfest at Skagit Valley College; and in some detail about Lisa Shannon, the founder of Run For Congo Women and keynote speaker for the kick-off event for Globalfest.

Happy International Year of Cooperatives! In this show, SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with local cut flower grower Diane Szukovathy about the Northwest Wholesale Flower Growers' Market - a new cooperative venture she is working on, which is held weekly in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.

Dave traveled to Bellingham to record the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration and shares here some of the music and some of the speeches from the event.

Dave talks with Daniela Contreras, producer of the film "Viva Mexico" about the film, the economic, political and social situation in Mexico.

The North Sound Alliance is building a non-partisan alliance of organizations to work together for the common good in Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties in northwestern Washington state. Broad-based community organizing unites churches, labor, education associations and local non-profits to develop grassroots leaders and take action on issues of common concern.

For today's show, Christie Stewart Stein, Mary Lindsey, and Lee Langdon, leaders of this local effort, join GInny Wolff to talk about what the North Sound Alliance is, and their recent meeting with Senator Kevin Ranker promote job creating legislation.

Dave hosts a show that looks toward 2012. The show consists of clips from a variety of sources: the description of a LAN New year's eve party; the Persian New Year, some thoughts about praying for Peace, and some music - John Lennon's Imagine and Dona Nobis Pachem

Dave hosts the 2011 Christmas Special that included short takes on such subjects as: the coded messages in Black Spirituals; kids talking about learning Santa Claus isn't real; the Southern Appalachia tradition of 'Breaking Up Christmas; and more.

Reproductive Health and Healthy Sexuality with Mount Baker Planned Parenthood - December 14, 2011

SUSO host Jodie Buller talks with MBPP's Health Educator, Jill Sprouse and Director of External Affairs, Christina Wright about their integrative programs, their new location on Division St in Mount Vernon, and resources they offer to help parents, educators, and kids peer-to-peer.

jim airs excerpts from the Nov. 23rd, 2011 Skagit release of the 2011 Racial Justice Report on the legislature. This report talks about the racial disparity in the effects of budget cuts made and being considered by the Washington State legislature. Sixty-two organizations in Washington endorsed this 3rd Annual report written by Washington CAN! (Community Action Network).

Check out the following link for ways to find money in the budget to fund basic needs for members of our communities. A Jobs and Recovery Plan for Washington and One Billion in Progressive Revenue
Economic Opportunity Institute -- http://www.eoionline.org/

Dave talks with David Barsamian, producer of Alternative Radio, about the state of the media in the US, the future of the Occupy Wall Street Movement; Barsamian shares some of his background and how he became involved with the media and why he began Alternative Radio - and continues with it after 25 years.

jim speaks with photojournalist David Bacon about migration, globalization, and labor. David is a former union organizer and regularly contributes to truthout.org, The Nation and other publications.

This is the second of 2 shows addressing the many consequences of building a coal shipping terminal at Cherry Point near Ferndale.

Co-host Ginny Wolff is joined by Phillip Holder, tireless proponent for the economic vitality of Skagit County and quality of life he treasures here; Matt Krogh, the North Sound Baykeeper at Re-Sources in Bellingham; and Carolyn Gastellum, the local coordinator of Skagit County citizens opposed to the terminal and increase in coal train traffic.

Topics discussed in this interview include concerns of the Mount Vernon businesses, health and environmental impacts of transporting coal from Wyoming to Asia, jobs and local economy, and some of the myths being promoted, such as that "the coal will go to Canada anyway."

Co-host Jodie Buller talks with Steve Hoffman from the non-profit NW Center for Sustainability and Innovation (NW CSI) about climate change, our energy future, and his work as an Energy Detective, sleuthing out common sense efficiency and renewable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and communities.

The proposed shipping terminal at Cherry Point near Ferndale has many people worried about the many consequences of sending US coal to China, transporting it through the heart of Skagit County.

Matt Krogh, the North Sound Baykeeper at Re-Sources in Bellingham; Carolyn Gastellum, the local coordinator of Skagit County citizens opposed to the terminal and increase in coal train traffic; and Phillip Holder, tireless proponent for the quality of life he treasures in Mount Vernon; join Ginny Wolff in this interview. Their many concerns include questions of the real intent of the SSA Marine, who proposes to build the terminal; the effects of the increased train traffic on the economy and quality of life in Skagit County; and the global consequences of mining, transporting and burning coal for energy. They examine some of the myths being promoted, such as that "the coal will go to Canada anyway".

jim takes Speak up! Speak out! to Seattle to hear from Southern Law Poverty Center Exec. Director, Richard Cohen, and Founder and chief litigator, Morris Dees. Their presentation was entitled The State of Hate and Extremism in America, honoring their 40 years of championing and fighting for the civil rights of people of color and other foci of hate in America. Norm Gissel, a Coeur d'Alene, Idaho lawyer who spearheaded the lawsuit against the Aryan Nations and its leader, also speaks about that case and what it has meant to his community.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks by phone with advocate and educator Goldie Caughlan, recently retired from a public career at PCC, about the ongoing work to fight against Genetically Engineered food, and this month's GMO Free events, including a rally at Westlake and a presentation from Jeffrey Smith on How to Navigate a World of GMOs.

Rosalinda Guillan, Bellingham community organizer, speaks at the 8th annual International Day of Peace Celebration in Bellingham; describing how the war being waged by the powerful against the weak, particularly the disenfranchised and the workers can be countered by creating a radical peace culture.

Workers, current and retired from all over the United States, talk about their work - both assigned tasks, and other things - that become a part of the job.

A discussion with local teachers and union leaders from the Mount Vernon and Burlington-Edison school districts about recent state and local budget cuts, their effect on our schools, and what teachers and their unions are doing about them. SUSO's guests included John Sadzewicz, President of the Mount Vernon Education Association ( MVEA website: http://mountvernonea.org/ ) and librarian at LaVenture Middle School, Carolyn Anderson, Vice President of MVEA and a 6th grade teacher at Washington Elementary, Richard Glick, President of the Burlington-Edison Education Association ( B-EEA website: http://www.b-eea.org/ ) and a 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher at Allen Elementary, and Joe Werder, a B-EEA member and 6th grade math teacher at Edison Elementary.

Felicia Minto-Rodman, Outreach Coordinator for the Mount Vernon YMCA Oasis Teen Center, and Quinn Slayton, Volunteer Program Manager for the Skagit County Community Action Agency - and volunteer coordinator for the Skagit County Project Homeless Connect are the guests. Dave McConnell talks with them about the project, what it is, how it works, and why it is needed in Skagit County.

SUSO radio host Jodie Buller talks with Sandra Spargo, of the citizen's group Defending Water in the Skagit River Basin, about the contract the City of Anacortes signed with Tethys Enterprises, to build what could become the largest bottled beverage plant in the US. The Tethys contract is for 5 million gallons of Skagit River water per day, and would involve 800 rail cars each day to transport materials and product. Sandra explains some of the context of the contract and citizen response, and suggests an upcoming Water Summit to bring Skagit communities together to collectively decide what happens with the future of our water resources.

Today we host Part II of "Labor Talk Today" produced by a group of local leaders. Craig Jones, of the international Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 191, speaks with Rich Ewing and Rachel McKibben of the Teamsters Local No. 231, and Ken Winkes, a retired educator. They discuss how the recent debt limit crisis affects working people, and give us some perspective on the history of unions locally.

Dave asked three questions of each the candidates for Mayor of Mount Vernon. The questions concerned a) the possibility of more coal trains; b) downtown revitalization, c) managing growth.

Speak Up Speak Out's Ann Leason talks with Karen Parnell from Community Action and Terry Belcoe from the North Coast Credit Union, two of the organizers of the upcoming Summit to End Childhood Hunger in Skagit County - which will be held on Wednesday August 16th from 11-2pm in conjunction with the ribbon cutting on the Food Bank Distribution Center - about ending hunger as a community initiative.

In 2008, the Department of Homeland Security implemented a pilot program entitled, "Secure Communities", which has now expand to include over 1400 jurisdictions including several in Washington State. jim talks with Margaret Stock, a lawyer and a retired military officer with considerable experience with national security and immigration issues, about this program. It was started to catch serious criminals who are immigrants living in the USA. Find out who is being caught in this web and what Margaret has to say to jurisdictions currently considering participation, including Skagit County.

Margaret Stock has a law degree from Harvard, is a retired military officer and taught from 2001 - 2010 at West Point, and is currently an adjunct instructor of Political Science at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She also works for the law firm Lane Powell. She has written about and testified before Congress on immigration and citizenship matters and immigration as related to national security. Margaret has won many awards - one being the 2008 American Immigration Lawyers Association Pro-Bono award and since 2007 has been Alaska's Super Lawyer.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Arielle Stein from Community Action and Jenny Sandbo from the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, as well as Bite of Skagit organizers Susan Lanahan and Terry Belcoe from North Coast Credit Union about this year's event, which goes toward helping the Skagit Food Share Alliance source local produce for Skagit's 13 area food banks and 5 hot meal programs. The Bite of Skagit will go from 12 noon-4pm on Saturday July 30th, 2011 on Gates Street in downtown Mount Vernon.

As the second part of our broadcast on the education funding crisis, WA State Representative Kristine Lytton, from the 40th LD, discusses in detail, why - and how we fund education, why the money isn't there, and what all this means in terms of specific cuts to education. Dr. Marsha Riddle Buly and Dr. Carmen Werder discuss just how bad it is.

This special broadcast on Speak Up! Speak Out! features a group of local Labor leaders holding a discussion which could also be called "Labor Unions 101." This show, which we hope will be pilot of a longer series on labor, was coordinated and edited by Janet McKinney. Our guest interviewer is Rich Ewing. Rich is speaking with Leonard Kelley of the Teamsters, Local 231, and Craig Jones of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 191.

In this first of 2 shows on severe funding cuts to Washington State's public education system, Ginny talks with two professors from Western Washington University. Dr. Marsha Riddle Buly, the faculty representative from Western to the state legislature, and Dr. Carmen Werder of the Dept. of Communications and the Teaching Learning Academy discuss what amounts to a crisis, especially in higher education, from their individual perspectives. Pt. 2 airs July 6, 2011.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with three local female artist farmers: Ann Leason, Jess Gigot, and Sarita Schaffer, about what they do and why they do it, and how their creative process informs, and is fed by, their work on the land.

Dave talks with Lisa Mitchel and three Mount Vernon High School juniors about VOICE - Voicing Our Ideas; Challenging Everyone - an youth driven organization that addresses issues for young people in the Skagit Valley - and beyond.

SUSO's Jodie Buller interviews RE-Sources for Sustainable Communities Executive Director Bob Ferris about the proposed coal contract at the Gateway Pacific Terminal and the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts affecting Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Bill McKibben will be appearing at Bellingham's Fairhaven Village Green on May 31st for an event to raise awareness about coal coming through our state on the way to China.

Environmental Legal Defense Fund. Mr. Linzey has worked for years to help communities protect themselves from corporate development project that would cause environmental destruction in their jurisdiction. He now helps municipalities design legislation to challenge the legal foundations that prohibit communities from governing themselves and creating a sustainable future. CELDF conducts "Democracy Schools" in communities throughout the country to train local leaders and activists to do this kind of work.

Malalai Joya, Afghan activist, feminist, outspoken critic of US involvement in Afghan politics, spoke at Western Washington University in April 2011; Speak Up! Speak Out! was able to record her presentation and some of the questions she answered as toured with her book "A Woman Among Warlords."

As Jerry Sommerseth lies in Harborview Hospital's intensive care unit recovering from a fall in his home, jim talks with a variety of people about how they know Jerry and what they know of him. Among the speakers are Marilyn Kallshian of Central United Methodist Church, Elinor Nakis, Consuelo Guandique, and those who have stood vigil with him at the courthouse: Bud Meyer, John Knudsen, Jim Johnson, Marilyn Kinney, Ginny Darvill, Irma Bode, and John, the peace wizard.

Sunday, May 1 is the 24th Annual Farmworkers Solidarity March. Jerry won't be out of the hospital, so the call has gone out to those who know him to join the march for him. Meet at Maiben Park in Burlington at 10:30 AM. March to Skagit Valley College's Pavilion where a meal will be served and a speakers will make presentations.

Host Dave McConnell talks with Kathy Reim, chair of Skagit PFLAG, Mike Travis, regional coordinator for GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educational Network) and Lisa Mitchell, program coordnator for the Community Health Outreach Program for United General Hospital in Sedro-Wooley, about life in Skagit County for gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgender persons - especially youth. Audio clips of young people addressing this issue from the movie 'We Live Here' are played.

Seattle architect Bill Kreager, presenter of "Honey I Shrunk the Lots," joins Ginny for this 1/2 hour interview about how "compact development" can address population growth in Skagit County without destroying the rural and small town character of the valley. In an introduction to the concept of "New Urbanism," he also addresses the social, economic, and ecologic benefits of living closer together. Bill Kreager offers specific recommendations to overcome such obstacles to compact development as fear of "the Uglies," and archaic zoning codes.

Host Jodie Buller talks with Courtney Long and Colleen Connor from Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services about Denim Day, an awareness raising campaign in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness month, and their 2nd annual Take Back the Night rally and walk at SVC on April 28th.

The Color of Cuts: The Disproportionate Impact of Budget Cuts on Communities of Color in Washington State

Fatima Morales, the Communications Director of Washington CAN! (Community Action Network) and the Coordinator for the Racial Justice Report Card Coalition speaks with jim about the recent report, The Color of Cuts. Other guests are Mark Venn, Superintendent of the Sedro-Woolley School District and Jill Pettersen, Burlington Edison Migrant Home Visitor. Other local examples of the impact of state budget cuts are mentioned.

Week of Action (April 2-8) in Olympia to counter the budget cuts - info & to sign up for actions, go to http://www.wearewashington.org.

Dave talks with Joe Wilson, co-producer of the film "Out in the Silence"; Kathy Reim, chair of PFLAG Skagit; and Mike Travis, Human Right Festival planning committee - responsible for the final night of the 2011 festival, looking at GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Trans- gender) issues.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Rita Ordonez, parent and W WA Coordinator of the Fresh Food in Schools grant, Ellen Gray, Executive Director of the Washington Sustainable food and Farming network, and Tim Terpstra, a local organic farmer, about their work to get healthy local food in Skagit cafeterias. Jodie's guests will continue their conversation on March 24th - after the WA premiere screening of the documentary Lunch Line. Lunch Line looks at the history of the school lunch program, and follows a group of students as they learn to cook, and try to satisfy the USDA's budget and guidelines at the same time. Rita Ellen and Tim will be part of a panel including one of the film makers, Ernie Park, and georgia Johnson from the La Connor school District. The Lunch Line screening is part of the Skagit Human Rights Festival, which is free -7pm on Thursday March 24th, at the Lincoln Theatre.

This hour long special broadcast celebrates both our Fifth Anniversary on air at KSVR, and International Women's Day. Present and past hosts of Speak Up! Speak Out! gather to share both serious and comical reminiscences of a grassroots radio collective; and several local women talk about issues dear to their hearts.

As introduction to the Skagit Human Rights Festival's night focusing on immigration, SUSO's jim talks with three members of Community Action's Latino/a Advisory Committee (LAC) and some LaVenture Middle School students and their advisor. The topic for the Thursday, March 17th event at 7 pm in the Phillip Tarro Theatre on the Skagit Valley College campus is "Countering Common Myths about our Latino Immigrants." LAC members, Rev. Josefina Beecher who has an Episcopal Hispanic ministry in the valley, Bethany Dearborn who works with Tierra Nueva's Family Support Center, and Diana Morelli of EDASC (Economic Development Assoc. of Skagit County) introduce the topic by mentioning some common myths that will be addressed and telling stories to refute them. jim also talks with LaVenture Middle School migrant students, Marta, Angelina, and Ana who were present with their migrant graduation specialist, Janice Blackmore.

Two Skagit Valley women - Sarai Stevens and Janet McKinney - join Ginny Wolff in a discussion of the "Transition Movement". This is a world wide effort whose purpose is to create interdependence among neighbors, and build resilient communities that can adapt to the challenges of the future. Chuckanut Transition and Transition Fidalgo and Friends, are two such groups active in the valley who will participate in the opening event of this year's Skagit Human Rights Festival at 7 pm on March 10 at the Phillip Tarro Theatre at Skagit Valley College.

Don Wick, Exec. Director of EDASC (Economic Development Assoc. of Skagit County), Marie Marchand, Exec. Director of Friendship House in Mount Vernon, Terry Belcoe, President and CEO of North Sound Credit Union and Board Chair of Skagit Community Action, and Kathleen Bisagna of the Mount Vernon Downtown Association talk with jim about where the economy is in Skagit County now.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Skagit County Community Action's Arielle Stein and Emily Nelson about their new gleaning program: Harvest for Hope, and other food access programs during the first half of the show.

During the second half,
SUSO's Ginny Wolff talks with members of Citizen Committee for Envision Skagit 2060, Jim Meyer and Peggy Flynn, about engaging the broader community in planning for growth in Skagit Valley.

Envision Skagit 2060 is a 4 year project to study the consequences of how we respond to the growth Skagit Valley can expect to see in the next 50 years; and make policy recommendations to county authorities.
Kirk Johnson, project manager of Envision Skagit; John Lombard, a natural resources consultant to local project coordinators; and Kerri Cook, a member of the Citizens Committee for Envision Skagit give us their perspectives on the effort.

Community Meetings throughout Skagit County are happening now:
Feb. 08 Concrete High School 5:00 pm
Feb. 16 Anacortes City Hall 5:30 pm
Feb. 23 Burlington City Hall 6:00 pm
Feb. 28 LaConner Maple Hall 5:00 pm
Mar. 03 Mt.Vernon High School 6:00 pm
Mar. 08 Sedro-Woolley City Hall 6:00 pm

Event: "Honey I Shrunk the Lots" by Bill Kreager: Feb. 15, Lincoln Theatre, 6:30 pm

Dr. Ernest Tutt of Skagit Valley College talks about his re-enactments
of the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others; as well as
exploring the nature of racism and responses to it.

SUSO's Jodie Buller talks to Bethany Dearborn who works with Skagit Against Slavery, SDVSAS, and Tierra Nueva, about an upcoming training for support services, law, and legal professionals on this international and local human rights issue. Detective Sergeant Ryan Long from SPD's Vice and High Risk Victims Unit will be at the INTERVENE training, presented by Shared Hope Intl., and joins us in the studio by phone to talk about bigger picture of human trafficking and what it looks like close to home.

Do race and poverty matter when legislators in Washington state make laws? John Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, legislative director for Washington Community Action Network (CAN) and Julie Chinitz, Policy Director for the Alliance for a Just Society (formerly the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations) join Speak up! Speak out! this week to discuss how Washington state legislators in Olympia scored in the 2010 legislative session when considering legislation that affects racial justice. With one quarter of the state's population being people of color, are they considered in the enacting of laws in the state. For the second year, a Washington coalition of groups concerned about poverty and racial justice evaluated legislators and presented the scores in a report available online at either of the mentioned speakers' websites.

John Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, legislative director for Washington Community Action Network (CAN) - http://www.washingtoncan.org

Julie Chinitz - Policy Director, Alliance for a Just Society (formerly Northwest Federation of Community Organizations) - http://www.allianceforajustsociety.org

Speak Up Speak Out's third New Year's Special. Looking back a bit, looking forward a bit; some history, some commentary, some music.

The third annual Speak Up! Speak Out! Christmas special includes memories, history, commentary and music - all related to the season.

SUSO talks with Co-op health and beauty staffer and cooking class instructor Jill dodge, about the journey toward feeling good in your own skin. The holiday season can be charged with hard emotions under the celebratory glow, and we explore some ways to build positive momentum towards healthy eating, living, and thinking.

Dr. John Geyman, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, and past President of Physicians for a National Health Plan returns to Speak Up! Speak Out! to talk about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - the healthcare reform legislation passed earlier this year. Dr. Geyman talks both about positive changes the bill is designed to make, as well as its limitations. He ends with reasons for optimism in the prospects for further reform.

Migrating Towards Justice: Stories to Transform People and Policy - Dec. 1, 2010

Recently, Witness for Peace partnered with Tierra Nueva and the Skagit Immigrant Rights Council to bring a Nicaraguan campesino leader to Skagit. Augusto Castillo Obregon weaves personal stories to connect issues of globalization and neo-liberal economic models to migration and environmental degradation in Nicaragua.

"For me, free trade agreements, neo-liberal policies and the conditions on the aid from the international financial institutions has brought our country to extreme poverty..." Obregon explains, "In my community, the installation of a tobacco factory generates employment but also miserable salaries and contamination of our environment, principally to our water supply. The worst is that some farmers are selling their land to cultivate tobacco, causing less production of food to sustain us."

Join Speak up! Speak out! as we listen through an interpreter to what Obregon has to say about the perils of corporate and IMF (International Monetary Fund) and WTO (World Trade Organization) rule over communities and trade.

Dave interviews Margo Grothe, Coordinator for the Life Transitions Program (formally the Displaced Homemaker program) at Skagit Valley College. The program's mission is to prepare (mostly) women, to transition to a new life career.

SUSO listens in to excerpts from author and YES! Magazine founder David Korten's recent talk at the Whidbey Institute during the Beaming Bioneers conference in October. David's keynote was video-recorded and can be viewed in five parts on YouTube. SUSO listeners can hear him outline 3 elements of change strategies for shift toward resilient local living economies, and outline design elements of re-organized economic systems.

Speak Up Speak Out Radio's Jodie Buller interviews Outreach Coordinator Kris McRea and Programs Director Heather Johnson, from the non-profit Whidbey Institute, about their programming, and their experience hosting the recent Beaming Bioneers Conference, with speakers like Jane Goodall, Lynne Twist from Pachamama Alliance, Gary Hirschberg from Stoneyfield Farm, and a local address by David Korten, advisor to the Whidbey Institute, publisher of Yes! magazine, and author of When Corporations Rule the World.

Skagit Business Alliance hosted a candidate forum at the Skagit PUD
for the candidates for Congressperson from the 2nd District - Rick
Larson and John Koster. This is a slightly edited recording of the
forum.

This week we listen in on the League of Women Voters of Skagit candidate forum in Sedro-Woolley. We hear the segment with county commissioner candidates (Sharon Dillon and Mike Anderson). Other races will be posted here as they are edited for presentation.

League of Women Voters of Skagit - http://www.lwvwa.org -- click on local leagues for Skagit. They have LWVWA positions on the initiatives posted.

Dave interviewed the Peace Wizard, the man who carries his Peace sign everywhere he goes. A Marine veteran, he talks about what led him to this position, what he hopes to accomplish, and comments on his very simple life style.

Welcome to Speak up! Speak out! Today we air another segment of a KSVR recording from the League of Women Voters' candidate forum held in Sedro-Woolley on October 12. This segment is for Skagit County coroner - Ken Clark and Daniel Dempsey. Unfortunately candidate Ken Clark's microphone was off during his opening statement and answer to the first question so the sound is distorted.

League of Women Voters of Skagit http://www.lwvwa.org click on local leagues for Skagit. They have LWVWA positions on the initiatives posted.

Speak up! Speak out! of KSVR brings you another segment of the League of Women Voters' candidate forum held in Sedro-Woolley on October 12. This is the races for state House Representatives in the 39 Legislative District. The empty chair rule is followed in this forum as well since position 1 candidate Dan Kristianson was present and was called away before this segment was presented. Eleanor Walters, running for position 1 is heard, along with Kirk Pearson who is the incumbent in position 2, running unopposed.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and SUSO speaks with Colleen Connor and Courtney Long, from Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, about the support services they offer and how the community can help victims of domestic violence to heal - including October's Awareness campaign: Purple Light Nights, the candle light vigil on October 23rd, and Shatter the Silence, a free monthly inter-generational gathering at the Skagit Food Co-op that explores how to create healthy communities.

An interview with Callie Martin, Waste Reduction Outreach Specialist with Skagit County Public Works; and Katie Hampton, Sustainability Coordinator for the Climate Action and Sustainability Taskforce. Callie and Katie talk about nuts and bolts pragmatic attempts, by the County, to reduce waste and save energy in county operations; and to encourage the public to do likewise.

DREAM Act: Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors, III - September 22, 2010

On Tues., Sept. 21, 2010, the US Senate voted on the Dept of Defense Appropriations bill which included both the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" provision and the DREAM Act attached to it. There were only 56 of the 60 votes need to pass.

Rev. Josefina Beecher of La Iglesia de la Resurreccion (Episcopal Hispanic ministry in Skagit County) talks about the DREAM Act and Alonso Chehade, a DREAMer, tells his story. Then Sally Hintz of Senator Cantwell's off ice talks about the HTATEFULL speech. Next Jorge Baron, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle, talks about the complexity of immigration issues and reform of immigration law. We close with high school students making a plea for the DREAM Act to pass.

As of 9/26/2010, in Washington State, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell support the DREAM Act as well as Congress members Jim McDermott, Rick Larsen, and Adam Smith. Contact your representatives about the DREAM Act! DREAM Act H.R.1751 or S.729.

Dave McConnell interviews Elizabeth Elliott, Single Family Housing Specialist for the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program, about ways in which low income families might finance home ownership or rental.

The Skagit Wholesale Market runs through harvest season on Thursday mornings in the parking lot of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. New farmers from Viva Farms, who went through the bi-lingual WSU program, are starting to grow crops at the Port of Skagit. Join us for a discussion about the Viva Farms incubator program with Sarita Schaffer, and the newly launched Skagit Wholesale Market, with Lucy Norris from Puget Sound Food Network.
http://www.vivafarms.org/
http://www.psfn.org/

Speak up! Speak out! talks with Colette Cosner, Witness for Peace's NW Regional Coordinator about a recent WFP educational delegation to Oaxaca around the theme of "Roots of Migration: Trade, Privatization, and Resistance." We also talk with Henry Cruz who participated in the delegation.

Project Homeless Connect is a one day event whose purpose is to provide a wide array of services to homeless people in Skagit County, while at the same time calling on the community to collectively address the diverse problems of this growing population. Service providers will gather on the campus of Skagit Valley College on Sept. 1, 2010, to meet as many of the needs of the homeless as possible in one day, in a friendly environment. In this show, Thad Allen, Vicky Young and Quinn Slayton, steering committee members of Project Homeless Connect, talk about the event and the greater issue of homelessness.
For information or to volunteer, call (360) 416-7585 and ask for Quinn.

Get Your taste Buds Ready, the Bite of Skagit is Back! SUSO talks to the organizers of the Skagit Food Share Alliance fund raiser, about this year's Bite of Skagit on Gates street in downtown Mount Vernon. Music, a local beer and wine garden, Cooking Corner demonstrations with chef Graham Kerr, and bites from many great Skagit restaurants. Terry Belcoe and Susan Lanahan from North Coast Credit Union, and Arielle Stein from the Skagit Food Bank Distribution Center, talk about the Food Share Alliance partnership with SCAA and the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, and the state of Skagit County's food security, with SUSO host Jodie Buller.

Supreme Court decision in "Citizens United," and Corporate Personhood, part 2 - July 14, 2010

This is part 2 of our interview with Steven Reisler, practicing attorney and Chair of the Seattle Chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild, concerning the Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case removing limits to what corporations may spend in political advertising.

In this interview, Mr. Reisler discusses the nature of the modern corporation, what the legal standing of corporate personhood means in practical terms, and how this recent Supreme Court decision is being used to erode what's left of our democracy.

Supreme Court decision in "Citizens United," and Corporate Personhood - July 7, 2010
Steven Reisler, practicing attorney and Chair of the Seattle Chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild, discusses the Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case removing limits to what corporations may spend in political advertising.

In this first of two interviews, Mr. Reisler puts this recent decision, and the legal status of corporations as persons into context, by reviewing the history of our court system and the role of corporations in our economy and politics since the late 18th Century.

Weight Wellness - June 16, 2010
Speak Up! Speak Out! speaks with registered nurse, certified hypnotherapist, and life coach Karen Louise, about the obesity epidemic in the US, and balanced living strategies for maintaining healthy weight loss. We look at hypnotherapy and brain change, and how to make good choices into habits. Karen spoke with us in advance of her free June 28th workshop at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op.
http://www.awakenaware.com
http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com

Local artist Lin McJunkin speaks of her passion to "do something" about global climate change" by blending her twin careers as a science educator and glass artist. She is touring the county with her unique presentation: "Artful Persuasion: Artists Helping Scientists Convey Messages of Change," showing artists' responses to the gravest environment challenge of our times in order to inspire, educate, and motivate.

Visit her website: http://www.mcjunkinglass.com or contact her at lin@mcjunkinglass.com . She welcomes invitations to speak. Lin will speak at Padilla Bay Interpretive Center on Thursday May 27 at 6 pm.

This week Speak up! Speak out! presents a speech by Anthony Chavez of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. He was recently in Bellingham, WA to speak at a program by Community To Community honoring his grandfather, civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez on what would have been his 83rd birthday.

This week, we get a good stretch for the car or workday and a taste of the native flute as Jodie Buller talks with Simme Bobrosky about Yoga and Ira Fein about Sound Healing and Resonant Silence Technique. Simme, Ira, and over 20 other local wellness practitioners will be demonstrating their work at a free Community Wellness Fair at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op on Saturday April 24th, from 11am-2pm. The Co-op will offer live music and free samples from all departments in-store, but make sure to head up to the 3rd floor for free presentations on the half hour on subjects ranging from dreams and aromatherapy, to nutrition testing and weight wellness, to Cranio Sacral Therapy and Alexander Technique. Full details available on the Co-op's website.

A lecture by Joya in which she talks about her experiences in the Afghan Congress, from which she was expelled for speaking up for women's rights. Her view is that the best thing that could happen for the Afghani people is for all foreign troops to leave.

Speak Up Speak Out Radio catches up to west coast Organic Gardening magazine editor WIlli Galloway, during her stopover in town for a presentation called "Grocery Gardening". Will is the author of an engaging blog: DigginFood: a vegetable garden and food blog that serves up organic gardening tips, recipes, backyard chicken advice, and DIY gardening projects. SUSO's Jodie Buller talks with Willi about how she grows food at home, how to harden off seed starts and help heat loving plants thrive, what to remember about chickens, and the speckled wonders of flashy troutback lettuce...

This week on Speak up! Speak out! jim talks with Denie Luna, Media Specialist for the 2010 Census to find out the specifics about how the 2010 Census is attempting to reach the undercounted communities, a bit of census history and how one can track the census returns by zip code. jim also talks with Jeanne Youngquist, Skagit County Auditor, and/or Gabrielle Clay, Outreach Coordinator for Elections in the Auditor's office. They give the impact on our electoral system. Will Skagit County get a Spanish ballot as required by law if a language group reaches 5% of the total population? If per the census Washington State is allotted a 10th Congress person, who does the redistricting and how is it done? Also joining Speak up! Speak out! is Karen Parnell, Deputy Director of Skagit Co Community Action Agency to talk more specifically about the local impact of program funds based on the census.

What makes a society healthy? Is it access to quality health care? According to Dr. Stephen Bezruchka, emergency room physician and professor in Population Health Studies at the University of Washington, healthcare does not make us healthy. The results of much research show that what determines the health of a society is related to the degree of equality in that society. Our growing disparity between the rich and poor, and lack of public policies to to assure well being to pregnant mothers and young children is the reason we are falling behind other developed countries.

We will carry Dr. Bezruchka's March 26 presentation to this year's Skagit Human Rights Festival on this site in a few weeks.

SHRF co-organizer Jodie Buller speaks with Whatcom Peace and Justice Center co-founder Nick Mele about his experience working with the Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international peacekeeping organization providing witness and facilitation of peacebuilding in conflict zones around the world. This show was aired in advance of the Peace, and War evening for the 2010 Skagit Human Rights Festival, which featured a screening of the 2009 documentary Rethink Afghanistan and the short feature Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping: Building a Nonviolent Peaceforce.

Lifelong human rights' activist and writer, Peter Lippman has spent many years researching human rights issues in eastern Europe, as well as Israel/Palestine and Latin America. He has been traveling to Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia since 1981, lived in northern Serbia for a year, and speaks fluent "Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian." The Advocacy Project - a Wash. DC based NGO - sent Peter to Bosnia, Kosovo, Guatemala, and Ecuador to research and report on grassroots human rights campaigns. In the last few years he has been working on a book about post-war Bosnia.

Peter Lippman will be speaking at the Phillip Tarro Theatre at Skagit Valley College on April 2, 2010 at 7 pm. In conjunction with this presentation is a display of remarkable quilts - actually more like carpets - woven by a collective of Bosnian women, commemorating the thousands of slain Muslim men and boys who were massacred in Srebrenica in 1995 during the Bosnian War. The quilts will be on display at the Lincoln Theater during the month of March, and at Phillip Tarro Theater for 3 Festival events on March 12 &17 and on April 2, 2010.

Housing as a Human Right night at the Skagit Human Rights Festival SUSO speaks with event and workshop coordinator Monica Chaplin, about what's in store for the first night of the Skagit HRF, including the movie *First Earth: Ecological Architecture *and a panel of Skagit housing and natural building experts. We learn about a hands-on workshop introduction to the simple joys of cob building, and hear excerpts from Monica's interview with Jack Stephens, from the Natural Building Network.

Host Dave McConnell, talks with planners of third annual Over the Rainbow Festival at Mount Vernon, WA High School, the only event of its kind in Washington. Dave also interviewed the producer and the screen writer of the film Hannah Free.

NAMI - Skagit is a local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In this show, four local NAMI members join me to talk about the organization which is such a important part of their loves. Mike Ellis, president of NAMI - Skagit; Marti Wall, longtime member and board member of NAMI - Skagit; Beth Gould, involved in NAMI on both a local and national level; and Brandon Nevi, a NAMI member who participates and leads some of the local programs, discuss how and why NAMI developed in our community, what programs it offers and who benefits from this all-volunteer effort.

Important contact numbers for help with mental illness:
Crisis Line: 1-800-584-3578 This line is staffed by mental health professionals with a masters degree or better.
County Mental Health Services - Mental Health Program Director, Rebecca Clark: 360-419-3363
Marti Wall: NAMI board member and organizer for Family-to-Family, and NAMI Basics courses: 360-770-5666

Rev. Josefina Beecher of La Iglesia de la ResurrecciÃ³n (Episcopal Hispanic ministry in Skagit County) talks about the DREAM Act and Alonso Chehade, a DREAMer, tells his story. Filmmaker and director of The Other Side of Immigration, Roy Germano, talks about the importance of his film in the immigration debate.

Skagit County is a leader in Washington State in studying the needs of it's low income population. Skagit County Community Action Agency commissions this study every 4 years in an effort to direct program development and collect data that helps to secure funding. In today's program, Karen Parnell, Deputy Director for SCCAA and Greg Winter, a consultant with Cornerstone Strategies in Bellingham discuss the recently completed Low Income Needs Assessment for 2009. Their findings shed light onto how the current recession is affecting the most vulnerable in our community and identify stresses that might be predicted from budget cuts.

On the MLK holiday in 2010, the first Washington state racial justice report card (RJRC) was released at the People's Summit in the state capital, Olympia. This is a report on the 2009 Washington state legislators and how their voting impacted the lives of people of color in Washington state. Join jim for an interview with Maru Mora Villalpando of Washington CAN (Community Action Network) and Kendra Anderson of OneAmerica about the recent March for Justice in Everett.

RJRC - Report can be downloaded at http://www.nwfco.org - click on publications (by date), then click on 2010 (release date) then click on report to download.
More info at http://www.washingtoncan.org

Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now! spoke in Everett about the healthcare system in the United States and Canada's paranoia about journalists in the lead up to the Winter Olypics in Vancouver.

Energy Efficiency for Home and Business SUSO speaks with Steve Hoffman, Executive Director of the Northwest Center for Sustainability and Innovation (NWCSI), about the big picture and everyday details behind energy conservation, for individual cost savings and for the sake of climate change. NWCSI's newly launched "Energy Sleuths" program helps business and homeowners ferret out where their energy leaks are coming from, and collaborates with local manufacturers to improve air quality and tighten up existing structures. Steve leads workshops on this topic, including one at the Skagit Food Co-op on Tuesday January 12th 6:30pm.

Dave McConnell introduces music, opinion and commentary on the past on the last Speak Up! Speak Out! of 2009

Join host Dave McConnell for a collection of stories, readings, and music for the Holiday Season, some poignant, some amusing. Capture the flavor of the season - whatever your holiday may be.

Agricultural Skagit County, WA & economic impact on Social Services - December 16, 2009

We've heard and read about the cuts in county government, but now listen as Peter Browning, Skagit Co Health Dept Director and Bill Henkel, Exec Director of Skagit Co Community Action Agency give us their perspective on the impact of the bad economic times on folk in Skagit County. And there is a silver lining.

Skagit County Community Action Agency - http://www.skagitcap.org Stacy Miller - 360 416-7585, Housing Manager, SC Community Action Agency

This show is a tribute to Sue Boyle, long time advocate for the mentally ill, who recently passed away. We speak with Mike Ellis and Marti Wall from NAMI Skagit - That's the local chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness - about efforts in Skagit County to to provide services for people with mental illness. In the second half of the show Brandon Nevi, a young man with mental illness, talks about his own story. Margo Boyle, Sue's daughter; and Nancy Hoffman, friend and neighbor of Sue and Margo, tell stories about a remarkable woman who would stop at little to help this largely neglected population.

Visit http://www.namiskagit.org for more information. We will do a sequel to this show in early 2010.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform - a conference call with Luis Gutierrez - December 02, 2009

Recently there was a national conference call about Comprehensive Immigration Reform with Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Chicago, Nydia Velasquez of New York, Chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, and Raul Grijalva of Arizona, co-chair of the Progressive Democratic Caucus. Some 150 people in Skagit County listened in at Skagit Valley College thanks to KSVR. Listen in on the recording of the conference call. Apologies to Congressman Grijalva for some mis-pronunciations in this presentation. http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/

Envía un mensaje de Texto con la palabra
"justicia" a 69866 para recibir:
* información en tu área sobre acciones y
* alertas sobre legislación federal

Text "justice" to 69866 to receive:
* updates on actions in your area
* action alerts on Federal Legislation

During the holiday season, Americans generate 25% more trash in the form of packaging, party supplies, and holiday gift wrapping. SUSO talks to Callie Martin, Skagit County Waste and Recycling Education Specialist, about practical ideas for cutting down on the amount of garbage you create during this holiday season, and a free presentation on Waste-Wise Holidays from Climate Steward Maribeth Crandell at the Burlington Library on Wednesday December 3rd at 7pm.
Listen for tips on trees, gift and gift-wrapping ideas, how to get yourself off junk mail lists, zero-waste party ideas, and what can be recycled in the Skagit Valley.

Dr. John Geyman, family physician, professor emeritus in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, and former president of Physicians for a National Health Plan returns to discuss HR 3962, the Affordable Health care for America Act, which just passed the House of Representatives and is now begin debated in the Senate.

For more information on the movement for national health insurance, see Physicians for a National Health Plan website: http://www.pnhp.org

Dr. Stephen Bezruchka, emergency physician and professor of Population Health Studies in the University of Washington's Department of Global Health discusses the root causes of poor health care outcomes in this country, and how this is related to the social and economic disparities in our society. Dr. Bezruchka will present at the Skagit Human Rights Festival on March 26, 2010. You can also hear talks he gives through Alternative Radio, which are rebroadcast by KSVR, 91.7 FM in Mt. Vernon.
The website for the Population Health Forum is: http://depts.washington.edu/eqhlth/

Recording of presentation by David Neiwert at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon. Neiwert, spoke on the malignant influence of right wing hate talk on the conservative movement in the United States.

We hear from Burk, longtime co-owner and chef at Burk's cafe in Ballard and current leader of Slow Food Skagit, and WSU Extensions Climate Stewards coordinator Christine Betchley, about their upcoming presentation at the Burlington Library, and the wealth of local seasonal options for holiday feasts. Skagit County Climate Stewards are hosting a five part lecture series this season, sponsored by NW Clean Air Agency, Padilla Bay Estuarine Reserve, and WSU Extension. Climate Stewards is a university level educational program to engage community members in Climate Change projects.
For more information visit: http://www.slowfoodskagit.org and http://www.padillabay.gov/ClimateStewards.html

Bellingham resident Larry Kalb, president of Health Care For All - Washington, discusses HR 3200, the health care reform bill being considered in the House of Representatives. From his own reading of the bill, Larry dissects how the bill offers more benefit to insurance companies than to ordinary people, and how taxpayers will pay the costs.

Dave McConnell interviews Duane Jager about his recent trip to Cuba with Pastors for Peace. Duane calls into serious question most of what people think about Cuba.

The Handle Approach - a Non-Pharmacologic Treatment for ADD/ADHD - September 30, 2009

Speak Up Speak Out Radio speaks with Kate Bowers NDT, Owner/Director of Cascades Yoga and Neurotherapeutics, and her clients Jodi Thomas and Brianna Gardiner, to demystify ADD/ADHD and other common brain disorders. Bowers uses Aryuvedic nutrition, Hatha Yoga, and the HANDLE approach to increase learning efficiency and increase understanding of behaviors that create difficulties in school, at home and in the social lives of struggling children.

Rip Robbins interviews Robert McChesney, professor at Northwestern University, about the ascendancy of right wing pundits in the media, and how they have become the voice of the Republican Party. In the second half of the show Chris Hedges talks about the impact corporate media has in defining our culture.

The League of Women Voters held a Health Care Forum in early summer of 2009. This show features the opening speeches of the presenters.

Mount Vernon, Washington has been in the news recently ? gaining notoriety for bringing a "native son" to town to receive a key to the city and have a day named after him, Glenn Beck Day. Today we talk with residents in Skagit County about why this is happening and to give a different view, a local spin, of the town in rural Skagit County an hour north of Seattle.

Joining in the conversation are Mike Urban, a business owner and City Council member; Georgiann Dustin, Executive Director of the Mount Vernon Downtown Association, a historical Main Street District; Alberto Candivi, a restaurant owner in downtown Mount Vernon; Kathy Reim, chair of Skagit PFLAG (Parents, Friends & Family of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender); Steve Crider, a local activist involved in the arts community who also has strong sustainability interests; and Jerome Edge, a young, black/Native man who has another radio show on KSVR.

This is a recording of a recent student led DREAM Act forum at the University of Washington. Washington State Representative Phyllis Gutierrez-Kinney explains the DREAM Act then immigrant students talk about their or others? stories as they relate to the DREAM Act. This act, if passed by Congress, would allow immigrant students who were born outside of the United States, but grew up in the US, to fulfill their dreams to further their education and pursue gainful employment in the US, continuing their to give their generous gifts to the American society. Ultimately they would also be able to legalize their status in the US and become citizens.

In Washington State, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell support the DREAM Act as well as Congress members Jim McDermott, Rick Larsen, and Adam Smith. Contact your representatives about the DREAM Act! DREAM Act H.R.1751 or S.729.

Harvest time in the Skagit Valley makes it easy to choose Local! SUSO talks with Georgiann Dustin, from downtown Mount Vernon's main Street Program about upcoming downtown events and the 3/50 project, which asks people to choose 3 independent businesses and prioritizes $50 to go to supporting these businesses. We also talk with Slow Food Action committee member Shelley Schoenberger, about Skagit's upcoming Eat Local Week, September 14-20th, and how people can get involved by dining out at local restaurants and bringing a local dish to one of five community potluck picnics on Sunday 9/20 from 1-4pm.

This interview was conducted and produced by Stephanie Potter for "Recovery Zone" on KBOO radio in Portland. We broadcast it with her permission. You can access the original broadcast at http://kboo.fm/node/14909.

Paul Cienfuegos believes that the rights and privileges of "corporate personhood" can be challenged by citizens in their local communities. He gives workshops and lectures training people how to confront this fundamental basis for corporate power, as a more effective way of addressing corporate harms than doing "damage control" through regulation. In this fascinating interview, Paul traces the history which redefined corporations as "persons" and discusses how local communities in this country have successfully challenged this concept. Programs which assist communities is this effort include Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy http://www.poclad.org, and The Community Environmental legal Defense Fund http://www.celdf.org. A coalition called Envision Spokane http://www.envisionspokane.org is the first to introduce a ballot initiative challenging corporate rights west of the Mississippi.

Paul Cienfuegos runs an online bookstore: 100fires.com. He can be reached at 707-443-4483 or paul@100fires.com.

This show is a recording of portions of the Single Payer Health Care Road Show concert in Bellingham put on by Anne Feeney and company in late July of 2009.

Since Food, Inc hit the movie theatres this summer, the conversation about industrialized food is stirring up some interesting questions about the consolidation of control over our food system. We talk with local organizer Shonie Schlotzhauer from Whatcom County's Sustainable Connections and Max Morange from the Small Potatoes Gleaning project about efforts to re-localize our regions food system, creating an equitable food system where people of all income levels have access to good food, and how to engage the Eaters to pay more attention to where their food is coming from.

jim interviews Arielle Stein, Distribution Center Coordinator & Justin Keefe Community Resource Coordinator both of Skagit County Community Action Agency and Terry Belcoe, CEO/President of North Coast Credit Union about the Skagit Food Share Alliance and the current status of food needs in Skagit. They also talk about the upcoming Bite of Skagit, a fundraiser for the Skagit Food Share Alliance on Sat., Aug. 1, noon - 6 PM on Gates St, Mount Vernon, WA between First and Second.

An interview with Anne Feeney about the Single Payer Road show. Anne has been an effective community organizer for almost 40 years. She will perform in Bellingham on Monday, July 27. 8 PM. Whatcom Peace and Justice Ctr.100 E Maple St, Bellingham. Concert is free. More info Betsy Pernotto betsyp@openaccess.org or Dotty Dale dotty@nas.com

Revisit of an interview recorded in the summer of 2007 with Dave Hedlin of Hedlin Farm, a local, multi-generational family farm. Dave talks about the reality of farming in Skagit, the future of family farms, buying locally, various certifications, Community Supported Agriculture, and ecology.

Addressing Global Climate Change, part 2 - July 1, 2009
Local resident Dr. Jerry Whitfield, Cambridge trained PhD, engineer, inventor and pioneer in energy innovations continues the discussion of how we can reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions to the levels necessary to avert devastating climate change. In this show we explore mechanisms that would put a price on carbon emissions, and how that would influence the "mix" of power generation by our electric utilities. Dr. Whitfield concludes the interview by explaining how these changes, coupled with using electricity for transportation would not only lower CO2 emissions to safe levels, but would actually save us all some money.

Pine Square Project - June 26, 2009
Sue Edelberg, one of the organizers talks about the Pine Square Project; monthly gatherings in Pine Square in Mount Vernon for food, music, conversation. The goal is to provide some safe place for people to develop a sense of community.

March for Health Care Reform - June 17, 2009
The rally and march for Health Care Reform in Seattle on May 30 drew an estimated 3,500 people. This program features the voices of some of the participants, and an interview with single payer advocate Marshall Goldberg M.D. - retired Ob/Gyn doctor from Whidbey Island.

In Washington State, contact Senators Murray and Cantwell. Ask them to co-sponsor Senate Bill 703: Call toll free 866-338-1015 and ask for the Senator you'd like to speak with. Or call their offices directly:
Senator Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441 Email through her website: http://cantwell.senate.gov/
Senator Patty Murray: 202-224-2621 Email through her website: http://murray.senate.gov/

To reach Representative Rick Larsen, and to ask him to co-sponsor HR 676:
202-225-2605 rick.larsen@mail.house.gov

Wellness - June 10, 2009
What is it? A multidimensional state of being, impacted by many factors. During this program, SUSO talks with local biological dentists Dr Russ Borneman and Dr Ken Killpack from the Sound Health Center in Anacortes about the impacts of mercury amalgam fillings and visit The Scientific Case Against Mercury Amalgam from the Institute for Oral Medicine and Toxicology. And we speak with Bowenwork Health Center Therapist and Integrated Wellness Practitioner Nancy Clark, about the body's capacity to heal itself, once it is no longer in a state of distress.

Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Kathy Kelly; Marie Marchand, Exec. Director of the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center; Nick Spring of the B'ham Sanctuary City Movement - June 3, 2009
Kathy Kelly, Nobel Peace prize nominee and co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, has participated in peacemaking missions to Bosnia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Haiti, and Iraq. Part II of an interview done in Sept. 2008 while she was in Bellingham for International Day of Peace.

Following Kathy, Marie Marchand speaks about the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center?s Iraq Vet Outreach program to start summer 2009. Then, Nick Spring of the B'ham Sanctuary City Movement, talks about the recent hearing and vote by the Bellingham City Council on becoming a Sanctuary City for Iraq Vets.

Addressing Global Climate Change - May 27, 2009
Local resident Dr. Jerry Whitfield, Cambridge trained PhD, engineer, inventor and pioneer in energy innovations, discusses how we can lower our CO2 emissions to address the challenges of global climate change. Specifically, Dr. Whitfield speaks to the changes we need to make to "green" our electric grid, and electrify transportation.

Food Sovereignty - May 20, 2009
Speak Up Speak Out radio looks at Food Sovereignty this week: the right of peoples to nutritious, sustainably grown food, and the right of farmers and agricultural workers to control the land they work and the policies that impact them. We talk with Betty Carteret from Skagit Beat the Heat's Anacortes Community Garden project, Jayne Uerling, owner of Eco Com, a quadruple bottom line company doing sustainable landscaping and gardening, and Callie Martin, Skagit County's Waste Reduction and Recycling Educator, who works with the Skagit County Climate Action and Sustainability Taskforce.

Witness for Peace - May 13, 2009
In the cafeteria of Skagit Valley College, Baldemar Mendoza Jimenez from the Union of Organizations of the Sierra Juarez, Oaxaca, spoke about the devastating effects of the Green Revolution and NAFTA on small-scale agriculture in Oaxaca and throughout Mexico.

Immigration Outside the Law - May 06, 2009
Hiroshi Motomura spoke recently at Fairhaven College. He is a UCLA immigration law professor who is a noted expert on immigration having co-authored the leading immigration law text and he served the Obama transition team on immigration policy. Hiroshi also wrote, Americans in Waiting: The Lost Story of Immigration and Citizenship in the United States. Hiroshi Motomura looks at the 1982 Supreme Court case of Plyler vs Doe in which Justice Brennan's and Justice Berger's arguments frame today's immigration debate.

Realities and Politics of Single Payer Healthcare - April 29, 2009
Two local activists, Ginny Wolff and Richard Austin, discuss why single payer healthcare is the answer to our broken health insurance system, and why we can't get our lawmakers to support in, despite the support of nearly 2/3 of the American public. See http://www.pnhp.org and http://www.healthcare-now.org for more information.

Action: Contact Maria Cantwell (202-224-3441), member of the Senate Finance Committee, and ask her to invite a member of Physicians for National Healthcare, or the California Nurses Ass. to their weekly roundtable discussions on healthcare reform, May 5 and 14. Ask Senator Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray (202-224-2621) to cosponsor S703, and ask Rep. Rick Larsen (202-225-2605) to co-sponsor HR 676.

If you have questions, or comments of any kind, or would like to have the opportunity to ask a questions on the air, please email us at askagitspeaks@yahoo.com.

Community radio - April 15, 2009
Rip Robbins, General Manager of KSVR 91.7 FM, talks about the mission of community radio; and producers of local programs share their views of the importance of KSVR to the community.

The Threat of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) to Small Farmers and the World's Food Supply - April 08, 2009
Steve Crider, Skagit Valley resident and long time advocate for sustainable and organic food production, joins us to discuss the implications of private ownership of seed genetics, made possible by the science of Genetic Engineering. He talks about the threat to seed diversity, and to the autonomy of small farmers world wide.

Green Power in Skagit County, Part 2 - April 01, 2009
The continuation of our interview with Gary Smith, Renewable Energy Project Director for Highland Energy Systems in Burlington. Gary discusses the current local. state, and national climate for renewable energy resources and how that is influencing the whether, and how, people use them. Highland Energy Sytems is located on Hwy. 99 north or Burlington at 360 757-4496, or http://highlandenergysystems.com.

Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz in Concert - March 25, 2009
Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz opened the celebratory Finale for the Sixth Annual Human Rights Festival at the Lincoln Theatre on Sat. March 21. If you missed this delightful performance, here it is. With humor and pathos, this sample of Sharon and Michael's original compositions is an eloquent testament to our current environmental crisis and how fundamentally it is linked to human rights.
More about Sharon and Michael online at http://www.sharmuse.com.
Learn about their environmental education campaign at http://www.irthlingz.org.

Eat Better on a Budget - March 18, 2009
Jodie Buller, Skagit Valley Food Co-op's Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, and Jill Dodge, SV Food Co-op's Cooking Skills Coordinator, talk about why & how eating whole and organic foods can be cost effective and be done on a budget.
http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com

6th Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival - Food and Farming - March 11, 2009
The third event of the Sixth Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival, on March 19, addresses Food and Farming locally. Melissa Young, one of the filmmakers of "Good Food" to be shown at the event; Anne Schwartz, long time organic farmer and activist from Rockport who appears in the film; and Jodie Buller, outreach coordinator for the Skagit Valley Food Coop and event organizer, are interviewed in this show. Visit http://www.goodfoodthemovie.org and http://www.blueheron-farm.com.

6th Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival - Water - March 04, 2009
Water: who owns it? who gets access? at what price? We take clean drinking water as a given; but much of the world struggles to find access. This program is a discussion of the issues raised by the movie: FLOW - For Love Of Water

6th Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival - February 02, 2009
Renewable Energy, Thursday, March 5, 2009, 7 PM at the Lincoln Theatre. Ron Nichols, of the Festival planning committee with a passion for the issue, provides a glimpse of the movie Kilowatt Ours. Panel member Gary Smith of Highland Energy talks about the higher than average usage of energy in Washington state, the history of wind energy in the US, and how the new administration could support the development of renewable energy. SUSO closes with an excerpt of an interview with Jim Page demonstrating his storytelling abilities and biting commentary. The HRF runs Thursdays through March 19th, then closes with a Jim Page concert on Saturday, March 21 at 7 PM. Reception for musicians at 5:30 PM with local wine, beer, pizza and tamales available. Sharon Abreu and Michael Hurwicz open for Jim Page.
Details about the festival at http://www.lincolntheatre.org
Film - http://www.kilowattours.com
Jim Page - http://www.jimpage.net
Sharon Abreu - http://www.sharmuse.com/sharmuse/

6th Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival - Revitalizing Community - February 18, 2009
Discussion with 5 panel members about Revitalizing Community. Jodie Buller of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op coordinated the discussion for the festival's first night. Kimberly Neagle of the Mount Vernon Main Street project, Russ Weiser (a green architect), and Callie Martin and Ryan Walters of Skagit County's new Climate Action and Sustainability Taskforce (CAST) give insights as to what is happening or could happen in our community. Jodie first gives an overview of the entire HRF for this year - running Thursdays from Feb. 26th to March 19th, then closing with a Jim Page concert on March 21. Details about the festival at http://www.lincolntheatre.org.
http://www.skagitcounty.net/sustainability
http://www.greendrinks.org
http://www.mainstreet.org

Green Power in Skagit County - February 04, 2009
Gary Smith, Renewable Energy Project Director for Highland Energy Systems in Burlington, discusses the "nuts and bolts" of residential solar (photovoltaic), wind, and solar hot water systems. Gary has pearls for homeowners interested in installing systems, and thoughts for those who think this is out of their budget. This is the first of a 2-part interview about green energy in Skagit County. Highland energy Sytems is located on Hwy. 99 north or Burlington at 360 757-4496, or http://highlandenergysystems.com

Martin Luther King, Jr - January 14, 2009
A dozen people from the Skagit Valley - ages 15 to 80 - share their thoughts about Martin Luther King, Jr., on the 80th anniversary of his birth.

Sustainable Connections - December 10, 2008
Conversation with Melissa Grandy of Bellingham Sustainable Connections describing the organization and its goals, which focus on supporting local businesses of all types and connecting them to local consumers.

Skagit County Food Bank - December 3, 2008
Ariel Stein and Justin Kelly, who work with the Food Banks in Skagit County describe the needs and the possibilities for those in the county who are living on the financial edge.

Christian Fascism, Part 2 - November 24, 2008
Part 2 of our interview with Reverend Rich Lang on "Christian Fascism." In this segment, Rev. Lang discusses the biblical narratives which fundamentalist Christian thought use as its foundation, some of the reasons for the popularity of these churches, and the biblical narratives progressive Christians draw on to support a very different world view.

Rev. Rich Lang is the pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Seattle. Visit their website at http://www.tumseattle.org for more information and links to articles by Rev. Lang.

Christian Fascism - November 19, 2008
Reverend Rich Lang discusses what he terms "Christian Fascism": the fundamentalist Christian movement which preaches an end times theology and supports the political policies of the neoconservatives. He explains the genesis of this theologic movement, and how it is used to serve the purposes of fettered capitalism and American empire. Rev. Rich Lang is the pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Seattle. Visit their website at http://www.tumseattle.org for more information and links to articles by Rev. Lang.

NW Detention Center Report on Detained Immigrants - Nov. 5, 2008
Rosalinda Guillen, Executive Director of Community to Community Development in Bellingham talks about immigrants detained at the NW Detention Center in Tacoma and what she has witnessed during her organization's vigils there.
Community to Community Development
OneAmerica - article on website about NW Detention Center with links to Executive summary of "Voices from Detention" report and full report.

A Public Utility District General Manager speaks for public ownership of Electric Utilities - October 23, 2008
Rick Lovely, General Manager of Grays Harbor PUD, which provides electric service in the Aberdeen area, discusses how public ownership and local control of a utility translate to better service with lower rates and higher customer satisfaction than private investor-owner utilities provide. He warns Skagit residents of the magnitude of debt we may be incurring if Macquarie assumes control of Puget Sound Energy.

Skagit Transit Ballot Measure- A Good Deal - October 22, 2008
The interview described a current ballot measure which will allow Skagit Transit to preserve all its current service (some of which is funded by expiring grants) and also allow improvements to the service. For example, the very popular Everett service will likely have to be abandoned if the measure doesn't pass. The measure will also allow some Sunday service (there is currently none), more frequent service during the rush hour, and service in areas like East Mount Vernon, which currently have no service. Coupled with policies that favor walking and bicycling, these improvements will make our communities cleaner, safer, more attractive, quieter, more vibrant, and will help to combat the obesity epidemic.
For more information go to http://peopleforskagittransit.com, or call 428-7929

Presidential Election 2008 in Skagit County - October 15, 2008
Jeanne Youngquist, Skagit County Auditor and David Cunningham, Skagit County Election Supervisor talk about the upcoming election. Ballots went out Oct. 15th, Last day to register in-person MONDAY, Oct. 20 (Skagit Election office open until 8 PM that night - 2nd and Kincaid, Second floor of Administration Building), ballots due back on Nov. 4th - in drop boxes by 8 PM, or postmarked Nov. 4th.

Check for active/inactive status for election - http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/OSOS/VoterVault/Pages/MyVote.aspx. If inactive, call Election office (360) 336-9305 by Monday, Oct. 20th to update address.
Skagit County Election website - http://www.skagitcounty.net, click on Elections.
Electronic version of voter guide online plus other information, including results election night after polls close. Information about election at national level - Election Assistance Commission (EAC) - http://www.eac.gov

PUD Proposition 1 - October 08, 2008
John Smith and Mike Newman, members of Skagit Citizens for Electric Authority explain why a group of Skagitonians are working in support of Proposition 1, which would give Skagit Public Utility District the authority to provide electric service in Skagit County.

Nobel Peace prize nominee Kathy Kelly - October 1, 2008
Kathy Kelly, Nobel Peace prize nominee and co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, has participated in peacemaking missions to Bosnia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Haiti, and Iraq. Kathy was in Bellingham, WA to speak at the 5th Annual International Day of Peace Celebration held by the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center. She talks about Iraq, non-violent direct action, and a path to social change.
For more information visit, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Whatcom Peace and Justice Center, and read this [Bellingham Herald article](http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/564220.html].

Washington Public Campaigns Works for Voter Owned Elections - September 24, 2008
Craig Salins, the Director of Washington Public Campaigns, explains public campaign financing and how it has worked to elect candidates in Maine and Arizona who are more responsive to voters that to big moneyed interests. He describes current legislative efforts in Washington State and in the U.S. Senate to make public financing of campaigns a reality. Craig Salins is visiting Mt. Vernon to help start a chapter of Washington Public Campaigns in Skagit County. He will be at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 6 pm on Sat. Sept. 27. Visit http://www.washclean.org.

Peace Corps Activities - September 17, 2008
The Northwest Washington representative for the Peace Corps describes the Corps activities and tells how to become involved.

SedroWoolley Transfer Station Conflict - September 10, 2008
Mary McGoffin describes the conflict over the proposed siting of a trash transfer and recycling station across the street from the SedroWoolley High School.

Alternatives to Military - Opt out of Military calling database for students - September 03, 2008
In this program jim interviews (with Ginny's help!) Steve Crider and Ginny Wolff - parents of students attending Burlington-Edison High Schools or who have attended BEHS. Also, involved in the interview is Evan Knappenberger an Iraq Vet Against the War who this past year was involved with the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center's Alternatives to Military program which Skagit is trying to duplicate. Opt out forms are due in school districts immediately!! So, if you (a student) or your student hasn't turned one in, go to http://www.leavemychildalone.org to download a form for the high School opt out form. While there, download the Pentagon Opt out form and send it in, too! Other websites: http://www.afsc.org and a video on what military recruiters don't want you to know at http://www.noarmy.com.

Iraq Vet Talks About His Experiences - August 20, 2008
Recording of Ash Woolson presentation. Ash, President of Bellingham Chapter of Iraq Vets Against the War, talks of why he joined the Wisconsin National Guard, his observations about Iraq, and his experience on a Peace Walk in Japan supporting the Japanese constitutional restrictions on military activity. IVAW, Bellingham WA Chapter

Chuckanut Mountain Parks District - July 30, 2008
Franklin Eventoff joins us to make the argument for why a Chuckanut Mountains Park District would be a good think for the residents of Skagit County. Since this show was recorded, the issue has failed to make the ballot this November, but Frank's arguments tell us the issue - and the interest - is still alive. Stay tuned.

Skagit Artists Together - July 23, 2008
In this program, Speak Up Speak Out interviews Thais Armsrtong of Skagit Artists Together. Thais discusses the annual Artists Studio Tour, the wealth of artistic talent in the valley and how artists and the community benefit from one another.

Support Iraq War resisters - July 16, 2008
Marie Marchand, Director of the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center and Nick Spring, WWU student leader of the Bellingham Sanctuary City Movement, speak about the deportation of Mr. Robin Long, the first Iraq War resister to be deported from Canada rather than be offered refugee status. Nick also talks about Bellingham's process as it seeks to become the first city to legally offer sanctuary to Iraq War resisters. For more information contact Whatcom Peace and Justice Center at whatcompjc@fidalgo.net - (360) 734-0217 and Bellingham Sanctuary City Movement at sanctuary.city@gmail.com - (360) 610-3700

Wetlands Mitigation Banking - July 09, 2008
Dave interviews Mary Heinrich, executive director of Washington Ag Institute, about Wetlands Mitigation Banking - especially as it affects agriculture in Skagit County. For more information Ms Heinrich can be contacted at: washingtonaginstitute@earthlink.net or 360-572-4356.

Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce hosts Skagit PUD and PSE - July 02, 2008
The June 25 membership luncheon of the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce featured presentations by Dave Johnson, General Manager of Skagit Public Utility District, and Jennifer O'Connor, senior vice president and attorney for Puget Sound Energy. Dave Johnson presents PUD's feasibility study and makes a case supporting consideration of the public assuming ownership of the electric utility. Jennifer O'Connor gives PSE's reasons why the utility should remain private, and defends the pending sale to Macquarie Consortium. This is the abbreviated version edited for our radio show. For more information goto Skagit Citizens for Electric Authority.

Hold the Dept of Homeland Security Accountable - June 25, 2008
A conversation with Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director of One America, formerly Hate Free Zone, about the Summer of a 1000 Conversations campaign to hold the Dept. of Homeland Security accountable for the lack of due process in immigration matters - raids, poor conditions at detention facilities, and the backlog of unprocessed citizenship applications.
To participate in, or host a conversation, visit We Are One America and Night of 1,000 Conversations - toolkit and much more available.
In Skagit County, contact skagitspeaks@yahoo.com. To participate in the electoral program underway at One America, contact aj@WeAreOneAmerica.org.

Skagit County Mediation and Facilitation Services - June 11, 2008
Roger Ridgeway of Skagit County Mediation and Facilitation Services joins Speak Up, Speak Out to discuss the various programs offered to the community. Roger explains how mediation resolves disputes in many different situations from international to family conflicts and how Skagit County residents can access these services.

Dunga Orphanage Project - June 4, 2008
The Dunga Orphanage Project for AIDS orphans in Dunga, Kenya is the creation and mission of Skagit County native Sarah O'Brien. In this interview, Sarah tells the story of the orphanage, including the impact the recent political crisis in Kenya has had on her ability to care for the children.
To learn more visit http://www.dungaproject.org. Contact Sarah O;Brien by phone at 360 466-8726, or email sarahob76@yahoo.com. "Afrika Nite," a fundraiser for the Dunga Project, will take place Friday, July 11, 6 pm at the Croatian Club - 1202 7th St. - in Anacortes.

Death with Dignity - May 28, 2008
Michael Bonacci, former executive director of Compassion and Choices of Washington, talks about Initiative 1000. If backers are successful in obtaining the necessary number of signature, I-1000 will place a Death with Dignity measure on the state ballot in November - a measure patterned after the Death with Dignity law in Oregon. For more information: Death with Dignity.

Iraq Vet Walks for Peace in Japan - May 21, 2008
Ash Woolson, President of Bellingham's Iraq Vets Against the War, speaks about his recent 3 month participation in The Peace Walk in Japan. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution forbids Japan from having a standing army and becoming involved militarily in disputes in other countries. Current Japanese leadership would like to do away with Article 9. For more information: Global Article9 Campaign and contact Ash at Bellingham@ivaw.org

WUTC Hearing - Public Testimony on Proposed Sale of PSE - May 20, 2008
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) heard testimony from the public about the pending sale of PSE to Macquarie Partners, and the proposed PSE rate increase. About 50 of the 150 people who attended the Bellingham hearing spoke. The comments recorded here have been edited to remove contact information for the people who spoke. Most speakers were from Skagit and Whatcom counties, but Island and Kitsap counties were represented as well.
The WUTC will continue to receive comments on the proposed merger until July 31, and on the proposed rate increase until the end of August. Contact them on line at http://wutc.wa.gov/; by mail at Box 47250, Olympia, 98504; by phone at 360 664 1160. Contact PSE directly about the merger by email: merger@pse.com
You may obtain more information about the proposed merger, as well as find easy links to take action, at http://www.savepse.org/ and Skagit Citizens for Electric Authority.

Skagit Public Utility District - April 30, 2008
Dave Johnson, General Manager of Skagit Public Utility District talks about the possibility that the Skagit PUD could provide electric service to Skagit County in light of the increasing electric rates here - soon to be the highest in the state. For more information goto Skagit Citizens for Electric Authority.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness - April 23, 2008
Stacy Miller, Housing Manager at Skagit County Community Action Agency, and Brian Paxton, Skagit County Superior Court Commissioner, share their perspectives on "Who are the Homeless, and those struggling with affordable housing." They advocate a holistic, comprehensive approach to working with people in these circumstances as the best, and in the long run, cheapest, way to achieve long term success.

Pending Sale of PSE to Macquarie Partners - April 22, 2008
Ed Jenkins, a concerned citizen living in south Whidbey Island, relates some of his findings in researching the pending sale of Puget Sound Energy to Macquarie Infrastructures Partnership. He urges people to get involved, and inform themselves about what this sale may mean to our energy rates long term, and the ownership and health of our considerable energy resources in NW Washington.
For more information contact Ed at localpower@live.com. Contact the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission through their website. You can learn more about this case by entering the docket number (U-072375) in the search function. Visit PUD's website. For more information goto Skagit Citizens for Electric Authority.

Winter Soldier - April, 16, 2008
As part of her work with The Peace Alliance, Orcas Island resident, Rena Patty went to Washington D.C. in mid March of 2008, to witness testimony by Iraq Veterans at the Winter Soldier event. In this interview she talks about what she heard there, and what messages she brought home with her.

Rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina - April 2, 2008
Zane Mehl, local college student shares his experiences working with AmeriCorps rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Community Land Trust: Affordable Housing - March 26, 2008
Kari Russom of Skagit County Community Action Agency describes Community Land Trusts as an alternative model of property ownership that allows people in certain lower to medium income brackets to own their own homes, who would not otherwise be able to do so. She talks about recent early efforts in Skagit County to establish such a Community Land Trust.

Iraq Veterans Against the War - March 19, 2008
On this 5th anniversary of the Iraq War Evan Knappenberger talks about his experiences in Iraq and as a veteran in America. Evan also speaks about IVAW's winter soldier event and counter-recruiting in local high schools. IVAW, Bellingham WA Chapter

San Juan County Council meeting with Border Patrol - March 18, 2008
About the end of February, the US Border Patrol started random searches at the Anacortes ferry dock of incoming ferries from the San Juan Islands - not CANADA since those ferries have not yet started for the year. On Tues., March 18, 2008, the San Juan Co. Council allowed Joe Giuliano, Deputy Chief of the Custom and Border Protection in Blaine, time to explain what is happening and then took comments from islanders.

Fifth Annual Human Rights Festival - March 05, 2008
Planning committee talks about what, why, where and when the 2008 Skagit Human Rights Festival takes place. The festival takes place March 11-15 at the Lincoln Theatre, in down town Mount Vernon, WA. Human Rights Festival

Poverty, One Woman's Story - February 27, 2008
Dr. Donna Beegle grew up in abject poverty. Remarkably she was able to move out of that world, and now uses her personal experience, education, skills, and passion to improve the lives of people living in poverty. In this interview she tells her own story, speaks about what helped her, and talks about the paradigm shift in the way we think about people in poverty - from judgment to understanding - that is needed to be able to make a difference in their lives. Communication Across Barriers

Iraq Veterans Against the War - February 20, 2008
Spc. Evan Knappenberger talks about "Winter Soldier", personal stories about counter recruiting, and more. IVAW, Bellingham WA Chapter

YES! Magazine - January 30, 2008
We recently spoke with Susan Gleason of Yes! magazine and Positive Futures about the development and direction of the magazine and their recent issue on global warming. Susan explains how Yes! maintains a level of hope and positivity without obscuring the grave dangers our world faces. Yes! Online

Mount Baker Planned Parenthood - January 23, 2008
Around the 35th anniversary of Roe v Wade legalizing abortion in the US, Linda McCarthy talks about abortion and abortion services then and now, availability of birth control, Planned Parenthoods 3R program, and the problem with Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Mount Baker Planned Parenthood

Iraq Veterans Against the War - January 16, 2008
Part 3 of our discussion with a group of Iraq Vets Against the War. In this segment, 4 veterans from Bellingham and one from Seattle join in a conversation about their experiences in Iraq and their reflections on the war.

Privilege and Power - January 19, 2008
6th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr Festival keynote speaker Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez, Western Washington University Professor, in Mount Vernon Washington.

Iraq veterans Against the War - January 2, 2008
This is part of our ongoing conversation with a group of Iraq Vets Against the War from Bellingham. In this recording, 3 of them share more of their stories and reflections on why they choose to oppose the war. IVAW, Bellingham WA Chapter

Wetlands Mitigation Banking - December 26, 2007
Interview with Mary Heinricht. Is it possible to balance the pressure for more homes and businesses with the desire to preserve prime agricultural land. How does Wetlands Mitigation Banking fit in the picture. Who profits?

Iraq Veterans Against the War - December 12, 2007
Five Iraq Veterans tell why they oppose the Iraq War and share personal experiences that led to their decision to speak out. They talk about the mission of IVAW. IVAW, Bellingham WA Chapter

Doris Brevoort interviews Larry Kunzler, local historian with years of study on the history of flooding in the Skagit River Basin, about current policies and thinking about flood control.

Iraq Veterans Against the War - December 05, 2007
An interview with Spc. Evan Knappenberger and Lt. Doug Connor of Bellingham, two Iraq War veterans active with Iraq Veterans Against the War, who share their personal stories in Iraq and at home, and why they have chosen to speak out against the war. IVAW, Bellingham WA Chapter

Transgender - December 13, 2006
Interview with the founders of the Washington Gender Alliance that explores the nature of transgender and other gender variant aspects of our culture. Washington Gender Alliance

Migration and NAFTA - October 18, 2006
Miguel Pickard, an economic and political researcher and co-founder of the Center for Economic and Political Research for Community Action (CiEPAC) in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, talks about his organization's work with indigenous groups and explains the impact of NAFTA on migration out of Chiapas and its impact on Mexican industry and the economy. CiEPAC

Former Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois talks about the School of Americas Watch, an advocacy organization founded by Bourgeois and a small group of supporters in 1990 to protest the training of mainly Latin American Military officers, by the US Department of Defense at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The program continues our honoring of Skagit women who other Skagit women "nominated" for the honor. jim also interviews Skagit's own, Virginia Spray at age 93 - teacher, thespian, Vietnam protester, Peace Corps volunteer at age 70 to Liberia, West Africa just after she retired from teaching.

Inaugural Speak up! Speak out! program honoring Skagit Women.
Join the original hosts of Speak up! Speak out! on their first radio show at KSVR, 91.7 FM. The first half of the program honors Skagit Women who other Skagit women found worthy of the honor. For the second half of the program hosts talk with MVHS students who were triumphant in successfully lobbying to have a MVHS Peace and Justice Club.