Green Time TV

Human Rights Are Environmental Rights

by Don Fitz

Is it often said that one of the endangered species most in need of protection is humanity. May 2017 Green Time episodes explore how human/environmental rights are threatened by fossil fuel pipelines, imprisonment, and marijuana criminalization and how very young humans can be protected via breastfeeding. Sadly, we report that Green Party member James McNeely passed away shortly after the initial broadcast of the Green Time in November 2016. His dedication to decriminalization of marijuana will be deeply missed by social justice advocates.

Pipelines are being used to move fossil fuels, including gas, oil and tar sands. What are problems with each? In the first May Green Time, host Don Fitz and guests Henry Robertson, of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, and Alex Cohen, of the Earth Defense Coalition, examine what has happened and is happening with the North Dakota Access, Keystone XL and Spire Pipelines. What legal avenues does the public have to stop a pipeline? What type of direct actions are people taking?

What can go wrong with “confidentiality agreements” that do not allow prisoners to discuss a legal settlement? During the second May Green Time, host Don Fitz and guests Randall Cahill, of Cahill Partnership, and Angelika Mueller-Rowry, of Missouri CURE, explore medical negligence, malpractice and delayed diagnosis in Missouri prisons. How does the Prison Rape Elimination Act aim to address prisoner vulnerability? What sort of problems could arise from prisoners’ being largely black while guards are overwhelmingly white? What type of services for prisoners are “outsourced?” How could that interfere with prisoner rights? Why should prisoners have human rights?

Are there truly people who are “refugees” from Missouri because of its absence of laws allowing use of marijuana for medical treatment? The third May Green Time has host Don Fitz and guests James McNeely of St. Louis NORML and Marc Clifton of The No Smoke Shop asking how marijuana can help cancer patients cope with effects of chemotherapy. They look at how marijuana can assist with hospice and compare its effects to those of alcohol. Who are the major opponents of marijuana decriminalization? How could minor offenses of possessing marijuana result in jail time in Missouri?

What is happening in St. Louis to promote and support breastfeeding mothers and babies? What are the resources for breastfeeding mothers in the St. Louis region? The final May Green Time features host Don Fitz and guests Erin O’Reilly of “La Leche League” and Denecia Billups of “Women, Infants and Children” discussing the increase of breastfeeding rates in St. Louis and businesses that support breastfeeding moms in the St. Louis region. They explore the development of a milk bank in St. Louis, laws protecting breastfeeding mothers and babies and the “Multicultural Breastfeeding Photo Project.”

May shows include portions of the movie Lemonade Stops the Pipeline, Three Water Protectors and A NORML Life.

Green Time appears at noon on Saturdays in St. Louis on Channel 24-1 and at 8 pm on Mondays in St. Louis on Channel 24-2, Springfield on Channel 39, Joplin on Channel 36 and Marshfield on Channel 17. Green Time programs air on these dates:

• May 6, 8: “Pipelines to Disaster,”
• May 13, 15 “Human Rights of Missouri Prisoners,”
• May 20, 22: “Remembering James McNeely: Medical Marijuana,” and
• May 27, 29: “Breastfeeding for All in St. Louis.”

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

---