Born in Mexico, Dr. Mario Molina is a professor at the Massachussets Institute of Technology and 1995 Nobel Chemistry Prize for his research on pollution in the atmosphere. His discoveries led to an international environmental treaty, banning production of industrial chemicals that affect the ozone layer. Dr. Molina is one of the world’s top experts on chemical pollution and its effects on the environment. In this interview, Dr. Molina proposes new agreements to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, modernize cars with catalytic converters in Mexico and other polluted areas, and increase efforts to educate more engineers and scientists in under developed countries. Part of the series Latinos in Engineering, this program also celebrates Latino Heritage Month.

RIO GRANDE. This long-celebrated river, symbol of greatness and fertility, is now among the most endangered in America. The river is drying out and being polluted by industrial waste dumping and urban raw sewage. What's being done to save it? This is a LIVE broadcast from XERF 1570 AM, the super-power station that reaches Southern Texas from Ciudad Acuña, Mexico.

Guests:

Ignacio Peña Treviño, Mexican Section - International Commission of Boundaries and Waters, Ciudad Acuña; Javier Reyes Salas, Environmental Education Coordinator, Department of the Environment, City of Ciudad Acuña; Francisco Muñiz Hernandez, Community Liaison, Department of the Environment, Ciudad Acuña; Heberto Pérez, General Manager, XERF, Ciudad Acuña.

DUST IN THE AIR. Claiming that large-particle dust from mining and agriculture is not hazardous to health, federal officials want to drop clean-air rules for rural areas. If successful, the new regulations would allow agricultural and mining sources from California and other Western states not to meet federal rules for windblown clouds of dust. A community organizer, an environmental scientist and a federal official join this edition to discuss the science behind this move and the potential impact on rural areas.

Guests:

Lina Younes, Hispanic liaison, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC; Dr. Ramon Alvarez, chemist, Environmental Defense, Austin, TX; Susana de Anda, community organizer, Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, Delano, CA.

ADDICTED TO OIL. “America is addicted to oil”, admitted President Bush, a former oil tycoon, in his State of the Union address. He promised cleaner, cheaper and more reliable alternative energy sources. Are these serious measures to cure the addiction or election-year rhetoric?

Guest:

Javier Sierra, columnist and spokesperson, Sierra Club, Washington, DC.

DR. MARIO MOLINA – GLOBAL WARMING. A member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Molina received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the effect of some chemical products on the ozone hole. One of the world’s top experts on pollution, he’ll talk about gas emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming. This is a simulcast with the twelve-station network of Radio Michoacán in Morelia, in Western Mexico.

In commemoration of this week’s Earth Day, this program features two topics:

PIONEERING GREENHOUSE GAS LIMITS. A bill announced as historic in the California legislature seeks to set new limits on global warming pollution. If passed, The Global Warming Solutions Act would establish California as the first state to limit emissions of greenhouse gases and spur investments in a clean energy economy.

Guests: Jose Carmona, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, Sacramento, CA.

SMOG FEES. California’s Central Valley began forcing builders to pay fees on new developments to help clean the air in the region, one of the worst in the U.S. The fees, a first in the nation, are intended to curb urban sprawl and buy cleaner engines for school buses, among other goals.

Guests:

Carolina Simonovic, Fresno Metro Ministries, Fresno, CA; Jorge Hayek, WZI, Inc., Bakersfield, CA.

GLOBAL WARMING DEBATE HEATS UP. California’s legislature is considering a historic bill to significantly cut global warming pollution. California is listed as the 12th largest global warming polluter in the world and warming of the earth is already threatening the coastline, air quality and agricultural activity in California. This is a conversation with Assembly leader Fabián Núñez, co-author of the Global Warming Solutions Act.

KICKING THE GAS ADDICTION. Gas prices are soaring and depleting the pocketbooks. What are consumers doing to save money and pollute less? This program explores ideas for green transportation.

Guest:

Liz Cornejo, Outreach director, Environment California, San Diego, CA.

SIMULCAST WITH MICHOACÁN: LAND EROSION AND PESTICIDES. The massive deforestation of the Mexican Northern Sierras has caused vast soil erosion in the region. This lack of productive land to grow any kind of crops has expelled many farm workers out of their homeland. The farm workers tend to migrate to the north and into the United States, in which fields of modern agriculture they find the abundant use of pesticides.

This is a simulcast with the twelve-station network of Radio Michoacán in Morelia.

Invited guests:

Isidro Baldenegro López, 2005 Goldman Prize winner, member, Fuerza Ecologista, Chihuahua, Mexico; Angus Wright, professor of environmental studies, California State University, Sacramento.

CARROS HÍBRIDOS. Los compradores de carros híbridos califican para numerosos incentivos y descuentos en diversas localidades del pais, desde créditos fiscales hasta uso individual de carriles colectivos y estacionamiento gratis. En algunos estados, estos privilegios están a punto de expirar. Entérese de cómo es que la compra de un carro híbrido pudiera beneficiar sus bolsillos y ayudar a limpiar el aire del medio ambiente.

Invitados: Hugo Morales, propietario de un carro híbrido, director ejecutivo de Radio Bilingüe, Fresno, CA; Luis Cabrales, propietario de carro híbrido, Coalición pro Aire Limpio, Los Angeles, CA.

GLOBAL WARMING AND LATINOS: A LIVE BROADCAST. This is a special coverage from the site of the National Latino Congreso in Los Angeles, one of the largest gatherings of Latino leaders, which this day focuses on the environment. According to studies, global warming will affect the hardest Latinos and other low-income communities. How concerned are Latinos about this issue? How involved are Latino leaders in the state and national policy debate? Policy-makers and community leaders are invited to comment on a landmark global-warming bill in Sacramento and other news developments.

Guests:

Rubén Tapia, correspondent, Los Angeles; Ana Lilia Barraza, correspondent, Los Angeles; Antonio González, executive director, William C. Velázquez Institute, co-organizer National Latino Congreso; Millie Treviño-Sauceda, executive director, Líderes Campesinas; Martha Dina Argüello, director of Health and Environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles.

CLEAN AIR FOR ALL, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES: LIVE COVERAGE. Latinos live in some of the most polluted regions of the country, in areas afflicted by traffic congestion, industrial blight and toxic air. While legal protections from air pollution are being weakened, more people are dying prematurely and children are suffering from asthma. What’s being done to have cleaner and greener barrios? What’s being done to improve the health of Latino families? How represented are Latinos in environmental public agencies and advocacy organizations? This is a broadcast from the site of the National Latino Congreso in Los Angeles.

Guests:

Adrianna Quintero, National Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, Risa Hoffman and Susana Paz, Earth Day Network, Washington, DC; Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, State de California; Raúl Macías, director, ANAHUAK Youth Soccer Association, Los Angeles; Rosa Rosales, national president, LULAC, San Antonio, TX.

CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE. Known as the Clean Energy Initiative, California’s Proposition 87 seeks to reduce the state’s dependence on gasoline and diesel, produce cleaner and cheaper energy, and reduce air pollution, asthma and lung disease. To fund these projects, gas companies will be charged oil drilling fees. The initiative will be on the ballot in California on November 7. This is a debate on the issue.

Guests:

Nidia Bautista, representative of Yes on 87 Campaign, community outreach director for Coalition for Clean Air, Los Angeles; Jaime Rojas, president and executive director, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, representative, No on 87, Sacramento, CA.

TOUR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. Latinos and low-income populations live in communities with the worst air quality and toxic pollution, facing increased risks of disease and premature death. To make this point, hundreds are traveling in a nationwide tour calling for environmental justice. In this program, public health and environmental leaders in California’s Central Valley identify highly contaminated communities and disclose top polluters. This program also focuses on the upcoming elections and the agenda toprotect communities and regulate polluting industries.

Guests:

Assemblyman Juan Arámbula, Democrat, Fresno, CA; Rey Leon, policy analist, Latino Issues Forum, Fresno, CA; Martha Argüello, director of health and the environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles.

CHEMICALS IN THE BODY: LEAD IN CANDIES. Some of the largest candy makers in the world have for the first time agreed to strict standards for protecting children from lead exposure in candies imported from Mexico. This is the first agreement that forces the industry to test their products to ensure that candy does not pose the risk of led-poisoning to children. Lawsuits on lead in candy were filed two years ago under California’s Proposition 65 law, which requires warnings on products that can expose the public to cancer-causing substances or reproductive toxins.

Guest:

Leticia Ayala, director, Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Lead Poisoning, Environmental Health Coalition, National City, CA. www.environmentalhealth.org

TOXIC DUMP BIOREACTOR: A NEW BATTLE. A farm working town in California's Central Valley continues challenging the world's largest waste disposal company, Chemical Waste Management, Inc. In the early 90's, under intense community pressure, the company halted plans to build a hazardous waste incinerator. Today, groups of residents of Kettleman City are again opposing plans to create a modern waste landfill known as bio-reactor. This is a report on the current efforts.

Guests:

Maricela Mares-Alatorre, leading member, People for Clean Air and Water, Kettleman City, CA; Bob Henry, spokesperson, Chem Waste Management; Peter Anderson, President, Recycle World Consulting; Executive director, Center for a Competitive Waste Industry, Madison, WI.

CLIMATE CHANGE IN MEXICO. In this special interview, Homero Aridjis, one of Mexico’s most renowned fiction writers and environmental leaders, talks about the impact of climate change on Mexico’s coastline and the dry northern lands. Aridjis also warns about the increasing use of gas-fueled vehicles in Mexico City and the lack of leadership to introduce clean energy alternatives in the country. He also talks about initiatives by Grupo de los Cien to promote clean energy and environmental protection, and shares opinions about the incoming administration

ALSO, GREENHOUSE GASES AT THE SUPREME COURT. The U.S. Supreme Court justices consider a lawsuit over the government’s power to stop businesses from polluting. The Court hears arguments from twelve states and environmental
groups, and the Bush administration, which is opposed to regulating greenhouse gases emitted by industries. Javier Sierra, a spokesperson for the Sierra Club in Washington, DC, comments on the case.

MEGADAIRIES, MEGACONTAMINATION. Mega dairies are considered among the top smog polluters and sources of drinking water contamination in the San Joaquin Valley. Now, the industry is planning to bring 50,000 more cows in the next five years to Fresno County. Mega dairies have been excluded from state water permits for decades. Now the public is being invited to comment on new measures to reduce smog-producing gases and protect the water supply.

Guests:

Jesús Quevedo and Verónica Mendoza, retired farmworkers and members of Vecinos Unidos, Cutler, CA; Susana de Anda, co-director, Community Water Center, AGUA Coalition, Visalia, CA.

OPERATIVO MICHOACAN. Michoacán was the site of the first federal operation in Mexico to crackdown against drug traffickers. President Calderón sent 7,000 troops early last month. The operation netted dozens of detentions. Hundreds of acres of marihuana crops were burned. But will this strategy succeed in controlling organized crime in the nation?

ALSO, THE BIG FREEZE. A cold wave ruined most of California’s citrus crops and left thousands of workers without work. Laid-off workers Guillermo and Yolanda García talk about the hardships to pay utility and housing bills and to get emergency aid. Their support for their parents back in Michoacán will also suffer. Also, Mayor Víctor López from Orange Cove talks about his state of emergency declaration and his efforts to get federal relief funds. This program is a simulcast in collaboration with the twelve-station network of Radio Michoacán.

CLIMATE CHANGE CENSORSHIP. Top Democratic legislators accuse the White House of deliberately distorting federal research about global warming and pledged to curb greenhouse gas emissions, in an imminent policy clash with the White House.

Guest: Javier Sierra, political commentator, Sierra Club, Washington, DC.

ALSO, PORT TRUCKERS AND AIR POLLUTION. Truck drivers in the ports of Los Angeles and Oakland are joining forces with community and environmental groups to deal with substandard working conditions and fix air quality problems. Diesel cargo trucks are considered one of the largest sources of pollution but low-income truck drivers find it hard to keep up with truck upgrades and air quality regulations.

Guests: Luis Ceja, spokesperson, United Truck drivers, Los Angeles; Patricia Castellanos, co-director, Campaign for Better Ports, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, Los Angeles.

TEXAS EDITION – DREADFUL DETENTION CAMPS. The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security found serious health, safety and civil rights violations on the treatment of immigrant detainees imprisoned at five U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement facilities. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security was not able to join the show. Immigrant advocates comment the report.

Guests:

Patricia Mejia, attorney, immigration law, Tucson, AZ; Christopher Nugent, member, Detention Watch Network, Washington, DC.

CLEANING THE AIR NOW. The San Joaquin Valley’s dangerous pollution level has prompted federal authorities to require the region urgent plans for cleaning up the air. Valley air authorities say their task is huge, costly and will need more time. This week, community advocates replied with a study revealing the soaring health care costs of current air pollution and proposing a plan for a faster clean up. The narrative is available at www.issrc.org.

Guests:

Maricela Velazquez, spokesperson, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Fresno, CA; Enrique Medina Ochoa, City manager, Arvin, CA

UN MUNDO SIN EJÉRCITOS. Costa Rica está inspirando a los activistas pacifistas de distintas partes del mundo para que impulsen iniciativas que ayuden a desmilitarizar a sus países. En ese país se abolieron las fuerzas armadas en 1949 y actualmente cuenta con los mayores niveles de vida en Centro América. Una delegación de activistas en derechos humanos de Costa Rica visita Estados Unidos para promover su sueño.

ADEMÁS, ADRIÁN VILLANUEVA. Una conversación con este músico boliviano y artesano fabricante de instrumentos tradicionales, quien nos hablará de su propósito de construir el "charango mágico". Adrián es el creador de charangos de hojas de coca, que el presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, obsequió a la presidenta de Chile, Michelle Bachelet. Él también fabricó el charango de hojas de coca que fue ofrecido a Condolezza Rice luego de las discusiones acerca de las políticas de erradicación de la coca que promueve Estados Unidos en Bolivia.

CLIMATE WATCH LIST. Leading U.S. investors announced the formation of a “Climate Watch List”, a list of ten companies that have been identified as failing to address a response to climate change. Investors have filed in 2007 a record number of shareholder resolutions seeking greater disclosure from companies on their plans to deal with global warming.

Guest:

Brooke Barton, Corporate Accountability Manager, Ceres, Boston, MA.

ALSO, “STILL TOXIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS”. Despite being known for its tradition of “green” activism and progressive policies, the San Francisco Baye Area is home to serious environmental inequalities. According to a study, neighborhoods of color of this nine-county region face greater exposure to air pollution and toxics, and are at higher risk for cancer and respiratory illnesses. This is a conversation with Dr. Rachel Morello-Frosch, professor of Environmental Studies and Community Health at Brown University.

RENEWED FIGHT OVER TOXIC WASTE. The Environmental Protection Agency has not found evidence of environmental racism in Kettleman City, home to a major landfill owned by Chemical Waste Management and plans to reissue this hazardous-waste giant a new permit to continue storing PCB waste at the landfill. This proposal has many in this agricultural community up in arms. A recent public hearing was surrounded by protests in town.

Guests:

Maricela Mares Alatorre, organizer, El Pueblo por Aire y Agua Limpio, Kettleman City, CA; Enrique Manzanilla, Director, Division of Communities and Ecosystems, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, San Francisco, CA.

TEXAS EDITION - ELDER AND DISABLED ABUSE. According to the most recent statistics compiled by the National Center on Elder Abuse, about 1 out of every 10 incidents of elder abuse involves a Latino. Long-Term care, planning for disabilities and other elder and disabled issues are often neglected among minority families. Research suggests that as most Latino families care for their own elderly the issues become more complex. Host Samuel Schmidt speaks to attorneys fighting for the rights of the elderly and the disabled in this edition from El Paso, Texas.

Guests:

Stephanie Thownsend-Allala, Elder Law attorney, Hammond Townsend Allala, PLLC, El Paso, Texas.

LIVE FROM NEW ORLEANS - A HEALTH CARE WALL. Latino migrants who do the dirtiest work and live in substandard conditions while helping rebuild New Orleans face serious threats to their health. There is a wall of distrust and marginalization separating migrants from traditional health safety net agencies. Is there any emergency response service for this growing population? What are doctors and clinics doing to break down the wall? Leaders of New Orleans’ Latino Health Access Network and local health officials will be among the guests. This is a live broadcast from the site of the conference of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters in New Orleans.

Guests:

Jennifer Whitney, coordinator, Latino Health Outreach Project, New Orleans, LA; Shaula Lovera, director, Latino Health Access Network. Other invited guests include representatives from the Louisiana Department of Public Health and Latino patients.

LIVE FROM NEW ORLEANS - REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS: MIGRANTS HEED THE CALL. Tens of thousands of new migrant workers have arrived at the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild New Orleans. This is a construction contractor bonanza. Yet, migrants are reported to live in abandoned cars, get poor wages, and under the fear of police or immigration agent detention. This live broadcast from the annual conference of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters in New Orleans bring to the airwaves the voices of reconstruction workers, migrant and union organizers, and Katrina survivors.

Guests:

Frank Curiel, organizer, Laborers Union, New Orleans, LA; Daniel Castellanos and Javier Gallardo, organizers, Workers Center for Racial Justice, New Orleans, LA.

An international group of scientists warns that by mid-century, global warming will stress water resources around the world. Global warming will change current patterns of rain fall, snow formations and droughts, reducing water availability in some regions and flooding others. These changes will exacerbate competition for over-allocated water resources for residential and agricultural uses. The hardest hit areas will be the poorest and least developed. Experts comment on this issue.

CALENTAMIENTO GLOBAL Y SUMINISTRO DE AGUA. Un grupo internacional de científicos advierte que para la mitad de este siglo el calentamiento global afectará los recursos de agua en todo el mundo. El calentamiento global cambiará los actuales patrones de las lluvias, formaciones de nieve y sequías, reduciendo la disponibilidad de agua en algunas regiones e inundando a otras. Estos cambios exacerbarán la competencia por los recursos de agua destinados para uso residencial y agrícola. Las zonas más afectadas serán las más pobres y las menos desarrolladas. Un grupo de expertos comentan en torno al tema.

Invitados: Dr. Luis José Mata, miembro del Panel Intergubernamental sobre el Cambio Climático, Investigador becario del Centro por la Investigación del Desarrollo de la Universidad de Bonn, Nueva York; Martha Guzmán, directora, Fundación de Asistencia Legal Rural de California, Sacramento, CA; Susana de Anda, directora, Centro del Agua para la Comunidad, Visalia, CA.

EARTH DAY: APOLLO ALLIANCE. This is a conversation with Anne Thompson, spokesperson for the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of labor unions and environmental groups that is proposing a program to promote energy efficiency, eliminate the nation’s dependency on imported oil, and combat climate change. She comments on a recent court decision rebuking the Bush administration on the federal government’s inaction to curb greenhouse gases. In addition, Linda Chávez Thompson, executive vice president for the AFL-CIO, comments on the millions of new jobs the new economy based on clean technology would create.

“GREEN NOBEL”. Peruvian Shipibo Indian Julio Cusurichi was recently awarded in San Francisco the Goldman Award, known as the Environmental Nobel Prize. Cusurichi was recognized for his fight against illegal logging of mahogany trees in Peru’s rain forest and in defense of indigenous nomadic tribes. This is an interview with Cusurichi.

ALSO, ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUIT AGAINST CHEVRON. This is a conversation with Pablo Fajardo, the lead attorney in a lawsuit against Chevron Corp. on behalf of Ecuadorean Indian and settler communities. They are seeking to force the California-based oil giant to clean up a rain forest that became a toxic-waste dump as a result of oil drilling operations. Fajardo recently visited California to address Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting.

ETHANOL. The Bush administration has made ethanol a cornerstone of its plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ethanol is being advertised as a renewable, homegrown and clean alternative to gasoline. Is it really a clean, efficient and healthy alternative? This is a debate on this issue.

Guests:

Amy Miranda, Biochemical platform technology manager, Office of Biomass, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC; Dr. Ignacio Chapela, Professor of Microbiology Ecology, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley.

ALSO, VOLATILE GAS PRICES. This week begins the summer driving season around the country and the sky-rocketing gas prices threaten to inflict a heavy toll on the finances of U.S. families. How can commuters and vacationers plan their expenditures?

Guest:

Vanessa Cárdenas, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC.

This program takes a look at the environmental practices of a rural and an urban center in California. What are local governments doing to mitigate traffic congestion, smog, waste disposal and other burdens on our lands, air and water? Local elected officials talk about policies to improve energy use, public transportation, high-density and smart growth.

Guests: Sofía Pagoulatos, Supervising Planner, City of Fresno, CA; Ignacio de la Fuente, president, City Council, Oakland, CA; Adrián García, Council member and vicechair of the transportation, infrastructure and aviation committee, City of Houston, TX.

This program takes a look at the environmental practices of a rural and an urban center in California. What are local governments doing to mitigate traffic congestion, smog, waste disposal and other burdens on our lands, air and water? Local elected officials talk about policies to improve energy use, public transportation, high-density and smart growth.

The Senate debates a bill that would raise fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 20 years. It would also make gas price gouging a federal crime. The bill is being challenged by leading Republicans in the Senate.

Guests: Carlos González, spokesperson, Hispanic Republican Conference, Washington, DC; Federico de Jesús, spokesperson, Sen. Harry Reid, Leader of the Senate Majority, Washington, DC.

ALSO, THE ENERGY BILL AND THE GREEN AGENDA. Javier Sierra, a political analyst with the Sierra Club, comments on the debate about the energy bill.

Drinking water supplies for over 110 million people in the U.S. are at risk, threatened by dumping and pollution of the streams and destruction of upstream waters. The report, prepared by the environmental group Sierra Club, is released coinciding with efforts in Congress to strengthen the Clean Water Act and to ensure access to clean, safe and affordable water.

Guest: Juana Torres, Sierra Club, Los Angeles. www.sierraclub.org/cleanwater/

ALSO, TAINTED WATER. A chemical company went out of business leaving behind a legacy of groundwater contamination and suspected diseases in Arvin, a farm working town in Central California. Federal authorities have declared the area a Superfund site and have announced plans to clean up the tanks and ponds that overflowed with toxic pesticides. How thorough will the clean up work be? Who will foot the bill?

Guest: Jaime Berumen, Brown and Bryant Arvin Cleanup Committee, Arvin, CA.

Texas ranks as the number 1 greenhouse gas polluter among all U.S. states. It is seventh worldwide. Yet, Texas is about to release tons of carbon dioxide a year to the atmosphere after approving 16 new power plants that burn coal, the most carbon-intensive fuel for producing electricity. While these plans are generating increasing public debate, Texas has no formal plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help mitigate global warming.

Guest: Oliver Bernstein, Spokesperson, Sierra Club, Austin, TX. www.sierraclub.org

Honey bees are dying and disappearing by the billions, reducing the amount of agricultural pollination and putting many crops in danger. A scientist looks into this puzzle.

Guest: Dr. Victoriano Garza, Centro de Estudios del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, México; Director del Observatorio Ambiental, Colegio de Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez, MX.

ALSO, MEXICAN TRUCKS DRIVE IN THE U.S. The first Mexican truck authorized by the Bush administration under a pilot program and the North American Free Trade Agreement entered the U.S. this month through Laredo. Union leaders in the U.S. are opposing the access of Mexican trucks to U.S. highways claiming they are unsafe. The owner of a Mexican trucking company comments on these issues.

Guest: Manuel Sotelo, Owner, Transportes Sotelo, Ciudad Juárez, MX.

A House-Senate conference committee is taking up two bills that are said to address issues of energy dependence and global warming. Among the issues to be debated are new auto and truck mileage standards, a provision requiring electric companies to produce 15% of their power from renewable sources, incentives to produce alternative fuels, a repeal of tax breaks for oil and gas companies, and more. This is a roundtable on the bill.

Guests: Gabriela Lemus, Executive director, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Member of Driving America's Future, Washington, DC; Javier Sierra, Spokesperson, Sierra Club, Washington, DC; Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, Assistant to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Washington, DC; James Warner, Congressional affairs fellow, Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Arlington, VA.

A water program established to improve the quality of the water discharged from farms in California is under fire from community groups, who are calling for more groundwater protection and monitoring. They say toxic wastewater laden with pesticides, fertilizers and salts is ending up in the drinking water supply of the Central Valley. Organized farmers say they have invested millions in water testing and monitoring and they are succeeding to prevent agricultural contamination. This is a roundtable discussion on this issue.

Guests: Margie Read, Senior Environmental Scientist for Monitoring Unit, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Fresno, CA; Parry Klasen, Chairman, East San Joaquin Water Quality Coalition, Fresno, CA; Susana de Anda, coordinator, Asociación de Gente Unida por el Agua, Tulare, CA; Jesús Quevedo, resident, Cutler, CA.

PROTECTING FORESTS AND ISOLATED COMMUNITIES. Visiting fellow journalists Cecilio Soria and Youlder Florez, Shipibo and Quechua Indians respectively, interview renowned environmentalist Julio Cusurichi (Shipibo) and Robert Guimarais from Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva peruana, who are in San Francisco as part of a U.S. tour promoting legislation to restrict imports of mahogany associated with the illegal logging of rain forests in traditional Indian territories. They also comment on their upcoming visit to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission in an effort to get special protection for Indian communities who live in isolated reserves.

Despite its greenery, Atlanta may run out of water in 90 days. An ‘exceptional’ drought, the worst drought category, affects one fourth of the South. Georgia has declared many counties in state of emergency and has requested federal disaster aid. Scientists are predicting mega-droughts for the whole Southwest. What are policymakers and individuals doing to help save and conserve water?

This is a conversation with Carlos Albacete and Piedad Espinosa, co-founders of the Guatemalan environmental organization, Trópico Verde. Fighting against powerful adversaries, this activist organization has been able to shut down oil exploration threatening fragile ecosystems in Guatemala. It has also exposed the devastating impact on Guatemala’s Mayan Biosphere Reserve of government-sponsored drug trafficking. Albacete and Espinosa are currently living in the U.S. after being the targets of an assassination attempt in Guatemala City.

GLOBAL WARMING BILL: COMPROMISE. A Republican filibuster has forced Senate leaders to give up key provisions of the energy bill, including the repeal of tax breaks for oil companies and standards for renewable electricity. The bill passed by the Senate includes a requirement to manufacture fuel-efficient cars that deliver more miles per gallon. Latino and small business leaders had urged Congress to agree to an aggressive plan for higher fuel efficiency standards. This program also reports on the culmination of the world meeting on climate change in Bali.

Guests:

Iris Amador, Spokesperson, U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, Washington, DC; Federico de Jesús, Spokesperson, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, Washington, DC; David Ferreira, Vicepresident for governmental relations, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC; Adriana Quintero, Spokesperson, National Resource Defense Council, Washington, DC, www.nrdc.org

2008: A CLEANER YEAR? California is taking the federal government to court after the EPA denied California and 16 other states the chance to set rules for cleaner cars and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Congressional committees are planning to hold hearings on this issue. This program also explores prospects for cleaner air during 2008.

Guests:

Rep. Xavier Becerra, Assistant to the Speaker, D – Los Angeles; Nidia Bautista, Community Engagement Director, Coalition for Clean Air, Los Angeles; Juan Parras, Director of Community Outreach, Citizen’s League for Environmental Action Now – CLEAN, Houston, TX.

Mexican wrestling star El Hijo del Santo, the son of the legendary wrestler El Santo, is taking his fights

Formerly known as “Little Mississippi,” a backwards, segregated town run by plantation politics, Blythe, CA is today a hotbed of environmental activism and civic participation.

Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

Marine biologist Mónica Medina has been studying how ocean water pollution and climate global warming affect coral reefs. This program explores how the elimination of coral reefs impacts marine life and the well being of entire countries.

Guest: Mónica Medina, Assistant professor, Founding faculty, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

DRY TIMES, DRY GARDENS. Urban lawn care accounts for one third of outdoor water use in the nation. In times when drought and water shortages threaten entire regions around the country, how to cut down on water use while still enjoy a beautiful garden? Experts talk about how to replace lawns with native trees and shrubs and design drought-resistant landscapes.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

EMEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS. Four Latin American grassroots environmentalists were recent recipients of the Goldman Award, the world's largest environmental prize. Ecuadorians Luis Yanza and Pablo Fajardo are leading an unprecedented community-driven legal battle against global oil giant Chevron.

PUERTO RICO EDITION. In this pre-taped edition from San Juan, PR, WRTU’s Wanda Colón Cortés, brings news and analysis on major developments in the Caribbean basin.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

MEXICO EDITION. Martha Elena Ramírez hosts this edition of the Voz Pública series from Mexico City. The civic journalist brings news and analysis on Mexican developments.

GLOBAL WARMING AND DISEASE. Floodwaters that inundated Iowa are destroying homes and the polluted stream also brings the danger of disease. Hot temperatures have caused the death of at least one farm worker this year in California. These and other emergencies attributed to climate change and their impact on vulnerable communities are explored in this program, broadcast in collaboration with San Francisco's public radio KQED.

Guests: Dr. Gilberto Chavez, founding chief, Center for Infectious Diseases, Chief Epidemiologist, Department of Health and Human Services, State of California, Sacramento, CA; Dr. Carlos Corvalan, Consultant scientist on environmental health, Department of Protection of the Human Environment, Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization, Brasilia, Brazil.

MICHOACAN SIMULCAST - BACK TO THE MILPA: Traditional farmers in Mexico's highlands are reviving ancient indigenous practices, including traditional milpas, replanting ocote pines and building stone walls to terrace the hillsides. This is their answer to industrialized agriculture and the food crisis.

TRUCKERS UPSET OVER RISE OF DIESEL PRICES. Independent truck drivers are being hit by record high diesel gas prices. This is an interview with truck drivers who have called into Línea Abierta to protest against rising diesel prices. Also, a resourceful listener shares his experience purchasing a vegetable oil conversion kit and preparing to make his own brand of bio-fuel at home.

LATINOS AND AIR POLLUTION. Latinos see air pollution is a very serious health threat to them and their families and favor efforts to clean up air pollution caused by maritime port traffic and cars. These are findings of a recent survey on the environment in California. The report also includes news on the presidential election – voters comment on global warming, energy policy and the presidential candidates handling of those issues. An environmental advocate comments on these findings.

Guests: Armando Nieto, Chief Operating Officer, Redefining Progress, Oakland, CA, www.rprogress.org; Renatta DeFevre, Research Associate, Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, CA, www.ppic.org.

GREEN-TECH PROPOSALS. California voters are being asked to stop using old energy technology and move faster into the use of clean power generation. The California ballot includes two initiatives that propose "to make the most aggressive investment of public funds in clean and renewable sources of energy in the history of the nation". Proponents and opponents debate these initiatives.

Guests: Miguel Pulido, Mayor of Santa Ana, CA, Member of the Governing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Yes on Prop 10; Francisco Rodríguez, Vice-President, California Federation of Teachers, Watsonville, CA; Jim Gonzalez, Chief proponent, Yes on 7: Solar and Clean Energy, Sacramento, CA; Hilda Delgado, Spokesperson, Latinos say no to prop 7, Los Angeles, CA.

ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR. Dr. Jane Delgado has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Urban Air Toxics Research Center, a first for a Latina. In this conversation, she talks about her work to find the human health problems caused by exposure to air toxics and her efforts to get low-income communities and kids involved in the work to clean the air. She also comments on other major challenges to Latinos' health.

Guest: Dr. Jane Delgado, President and Executive Director, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Washington, DC. www.hispanichealth.org

THE WORST DROUGHT. Heading for its third dry winter in a row, California faces what may be the worst drought in the history of the state. Residents are preparing for severe water rationing. Los Angeles plans to ration water for first time. Some cities have announced up to 50% mandatory rationing, others are raising water fees. This is a discussion on the ramifications of the current drought. In addition, a conservation expert shares water-saving tips.

Guests:

Daniel Kahane, Program Specialist, Sonoma County Water Agency, Santa Rosa, CA

Miriam Torres, Project Coordinator, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Los Angeles, CA. www.ejcw.org ;

Adrianna Quintero, Directora, La Onda Verde, Senior Attorney and Director of Latino Outreach, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, CA, www.nrdc.org ;

GREEN JOBS. Environmental justice advocate Van Jones has been appointed to the Obama administration as Green Jobs Adviser. This program brings together environmental experts to discuss the new administration's plans to create green jobs and a new effort of green construction as an answer to the economic downturn. This Aire Libre edition also explores job training programs and other initiatives to help Latinos and low-income workers benefit from the green economy.

Guests:

Rubén Morla, Editor, California Verde Magazine, Whittier, CA, http://californiaverde.org.

Ignacio de la Fuente, Councilmember, District 5, Oakland, CA

Verónica Sánchez Casián, Workforce Development Manager, Spanish-Speaking Citizens’ Foundation, Oakland, CA, www.sscf.org;

Javier Sierra, Columnist, Sierra Club, Arlington, VA, www.sierraclub.org;

GREEN CLEANERS. The company SC Johnson & Son recently agreed to reveal all the ingredients in their home cleaning products, which include the popular Windex and Drano, among others, and to eliminate phthalates. These chemicals have been found to change hormone levels, cause birth defects, and trigger asthma. The community organization Women’s Voices for the Earth has campaigned for several years to get this and other companies to reveal their product ingredients. A leading representative comments on greener cleaners and how to make cleaning products at home.

Guests:

Maria González Mabbutt, Latino Outreach Coordinator, Women’s Voices for the Earth, Nampa, ID, www.womenandenvironment.org

Jennifer Taylor, Director of Global Public Affairs, SC Johnson, Racine, Wisconsin, http://www.scjohnson.com/

WATER LACED WITH ARSENIC. Latino communities across the Southwest are suffering from toxic levels of arsenic in their drinking water. Long-term exposure to arsenic is known to cause cancer and skin damage, and a new study shows a possible link between high levels of arsenic in drinking water and Type 2 diabetes. Federal environmental authorities are beginning to impose penalties on communities that fail to reduce the threat of arsenic in their water system. Still, many water systems continue facing difficulties to clean up their water. This program is part of Radio Bilingüe’s Aire Libre series.

Guests:

Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD

Francisco Arcaute, Spokesperson, Environmental Protection Agency, Los Ángeles, CA

FARMWORKERS PUSH FOR PROTECTION. More than seventy years ago, the Roosevelt administration guaranteed worker protections like overtime, disability pay, days of rest and union organizing for most workers, but left out farm and domestic workers. This month, encouraged by the atmosphere of political change, advocates are pushing for the Obama administration to finally include farm workers and domestic laborers in a reworked National Labor Relations Act. In an open letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, petitioners ask, "If not now, when?"

Guest: Baldemar Velásquez, President, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Toledo, OH, www.floc.com.

POOR PEOPLE'S CAR. An Indian car company has come up with a small car that, at a price of 2,000 dollars, is advertised as the world's cheapest car. The manufacturer also claims the Tata Nano model runs at 50 miles per gallon. Even as some celebrate the invention of the Tata Nano, others raise concerns that if more people are able to buy cars, the world may experience even more air pollution.

Guests: Jorge Koechlin, President and CEO, Automundo Magazine, Miami, FL, www.automundo.com; Miguel Angel Sánchez, Publisher and editor, Autoenciclopedia.com, Baldwin Harbor, NY, www.autoenciclopedia.com.

ALSO, SOLAR PANELS: EASY AND CHEAP. More families are looking into installing solar panels to save energy and money. But installing a system the professional way can cost thousands of dollars. A construction worker who learned about the technology by himself and built his own solar panels talks about how to make solar panels yourself to power your home.

WATERS WITHOUT FISH. Ocean waters are being polluted by sewage, oil, chemicals and agricultural fertilizers. Also, overfishing is depleting the fish population and many fisheries have gone broke. What can we do about it? A scientist talks about the extent of the crisis and an ocean educator shares seafood recommendations to better choose what we eat.

Guests:

Guillermo Torres-Moye, professor and researcher, Marine Ecology, Universidad de Baja California, Mexicali, Lecturer, University of California, Davis;

Jenny de la Oz, Seafood Watch, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA, www.seafoodwatch.org

GREEN JOBS. Leaders of worker-owned and environmentally friendly cooperatives in impoverished urban areas talk about the way they make their green businesses thrive in a time of crisis and help create clean energy jobs for the unemployed. They also talk about President Obama’s budget and the new programs to build a clean energy economy and high-quality green jobs in the barrio.

Guests:

Omar Freilla, Team coordinator and founder, Green Workers Cooperative, Bronx, NY, www.greenworker.coop;

Gerome Villanueva, Employee/Cooperative Academy participant in 2009, ReBuilders Source, Bronx, NY, www.rebuildersource.coop

“THE CLIMATE GAP.” Job losses in the agricultural fields, higher electricity and water costs for consumers, more heat wave-related deaths are all climate change effects that are hitting people of color the hardest. That’s the finding of an academic study titled “The Climate Gap.” Scholars warn environmentalists to consider cost issues and green jobs creation in addition to reducing carbon emissions. They also urge policymakers to intervene to protect those who are most vulnerable. This is a roundtable on the issue.

Guests:

Dr. Manuel Pastor, Professor, Geography and American Studies & Ethnicity, University of Southern California, Director, Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) at USC's Center for Sustainable Cities, Co-Director, USC's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration

HEATWAVE WARNING. Hot weather is causing trouble in many states around the U.S. Authorities report several deaths and hundreds of people treated for heat-related illnesses. This program focuses on the safety of outdoor workers, including health advice, proposals for emergency relief and efforts in California to amend heat-stress regulations in the fields.

Guests:

Luis Ramón Mireles, Senior Safety Engineer, California Division of Occupational Safety & Health
Sacramento, CA, http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/HeatIllnessInfo.html
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/

Ephraim Camacho, Community Worker, CRLA - California Rural Legal Assistance, Fresno, CA, http://www.crla.org, http://tiny.cc/Heatillness

Luciano Perez, Kpost Construction Company, Field safety coordinator, Dallas, Texas

CLIMATE BILL. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a national energy and climate change bill. Announced as a historic bill that creates jobs, move to a clean energy economy, and reduces carbon pollution, the proposal moves now to the Senate. Some in Congress oppose the higher costs of energy and what they call “cap-and-tax” policies in the bill. This program brings news and analysis on this debate.

Guests: Claudio Mártinez, Analyst, Renewable Energy Project, Union of Concerned Scientists, Chicago, IL, http://ucsusa.org; John Rogers, Analyst, Clean Energy Project, Union of Concerned Scientists, Boston, MA, http://ucsusa.org; Javier Sierra, Bilingual Media Consultant, Sierra Club, Washington, D.C., www.sierraclub.org.

SAVING THE PARKS. Communities of color are among the most deprived of access to green space, including parks and school fields. Civil rights and environmental justice advocates say that investing park funds in communities that are park poor and income poor will help solve social problems such as unemployment, environmental degradation, obesity, hopelessness among the youth and others. This program also discusses the budget cuts that may force to close many state parks in California.

Guests: Robert García, President and Counsel, L.A. City Project, Los Angeles, CA, www.cityprojectca.org; Irma Muñoz, President and founder, Mujeres de la Tierra, Los Angeles, CA; Raúl Macías, Director, ANAHUAC Youth Sports Association, Los Angeles, CA; Ph.D. Elva M. Arredondo, Professor, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, http://tiny.cc/Elva_Arredondo

MOVEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION EQUITY. Advocates of less new highways and more public transit, biking and walking are launching a campaign for equity on federal transportation spending. With a 450 billion transportation authorization pending in Congress, this broad coalition wants to see spending going to create healthier and more sustainable communities.

Guests: Francisca Porchas, Organizer, Bus Riders’ Union, Los Angeles, CA, www.transitriders.org ; Juan Soto, Illinois Director of Gamaliel Foundation, Transportation Equity Network, Chicago, IL, www.transportationequity.org

NEW CLIMATE - CHANGE BILL. Almost three months after Congress passed a climate change bill, Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer released a climate change and energy bill for the U.S. Senate. Known as “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act,” the new bill seeks to drastically cut the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Leading environmental Latino organizations hailed the initiative and called for immediate action on an issue that hits low-income and underserved communities the hardest. Radio listeners call in to comment on this and other issues, such as the recent Nobel Peace Prize given to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Guest: Rafael Fantauzzi, CEO, National Puerto Rican Coalition, Chair, National Latino Coalition on Climate Change, Washington, D.C., http://www.latinocoalitionclimatechange.org/

PLASTIC BAGS BANNED. Billions of plastic bags are thrown away every year in the United States. Many of those bags end up in the ocean, where they threaten marine life. Two years ago, the city of San Francisco became the first in the country to ban plastic bags. Now San Jose follows by banning both plastic and paper bags. A new water regulation in the San Francisco Bay Area would require area cities to slash the amount of trash they allow to flow into the Bay.

Guests: Linda Escalante, Spokesperson, Natural Resources Defense Council, Los Angeles, CA, www.nrdc.org , www.laondaverde.org ; Carolina Camarena, Spokesperson, City of San Jose Environmental Services, San Jose, CA, www.sanjoseca.gov/esd

DRY TIMES, DRY GARDENS: A REPEAT. Urban lawn care accounts for one third of outdoor water use in the nation. In times when drought and water shortages threaten entire regions around the country, how to cut down on water use while still enjoy a beautiful garden? Experts talk about how to replace lawns with native trees and shrubs and design drought-resistant landscapes. This program is a repeat.

Guest: Rosa Barasoain, Co-editor, La Fertilidad de la Tierra magazine, Estella, Spain.

CLEFT PALATE CLUSTER. A REPEAT. Five babies were born with cleft palate to women living in the small town of Kettleman City, California, in a period of a little more than a year. Residents are demanding an investigation to see if the birth defects could be linked to the nearby hazardous waste landfill owned by garbage conglomerate Waste Management. This edition includes exclusive interviews with the mothers; an epidemiologist and a company representative have also. been invited.

COPENHAGEN CLIMATE TALKS. As world leaders meet in Copenhagen to decide how to move forward to stop climate change, developing countries push the U.S. to commit more funding to stop global emissions and to sign the Kyoto protocol.

Guests: Luisa Fernanda López, Correspondent, Radio Netherlands,
The Hague, The Netherlands, http://www.rnw.nl/english ; Marcos Nordgren, Researcher, Center for the Promotion and Research of Farmworkers, Bolivia, Copenhaguen, Denmark, http://www.cipca.org.bo/
; Homero Aridjis, Writer, poet and Mexican ambassador to UNESCO, Paris, France. bettyaridjis@yahoo.com

SPOTLIGHT ON KETTLEMAN CITY. A tiny town in California’s central valley with a large number of birth defects is finally getting some attention. State health officials visit the town this week, following an order by Governor Schwarzenegger for a full investigation. Their first results, however, were met with indignation from residents.

Guests: Magdalena Romero, Mother, Kettleman City, CA; Alejandro Álvarez, Father, Avenal, CA; Kevin Reilly, Chief Deputy Director of Policy and Programs, California Department of Public Health, www.cdph.ca.gov ; California State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, Sacramento, CA, www.albertotorrico.com ; Zaidee Stavely, Environmental reporter, Radio Bilingue, Fresno, CA.

REDUCE TOXICS, SAVE MONEY. A new report shows that Americans would be healthier and would save money if they had less exposure to toxic chemicals. Environmental activists are advocating for a reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act, which they say would save the U.S. five billion dollars a year in healthcare costs. Chelis Lopez hosts this edition from San Francisco.

Guests: Martha Arguello, Executive Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles Chapter, Los Angeles, CA, http://www.psr.org/ ; Juan Parras, Executive Director, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, Houston, TX, http://www.tejasbarrios.org ; Rosario, Mother of boy with leukemia, Manchester, TX.

TOXIC SCHOOLS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that half of the students who attend public schools in the U.S. may be exposed to polluted air, lead, asbestos, pesticides, and other toxins. A recent investigation by the AP showed a large number of the nation’s schools also have polluted drinking water. This edition explores what people are doing to green their schools.

Guests: Guillermo Gómez, Chicago Director, Healthy Schools Campaign, Chicago, IL, www.healthyschoolscampaign.org

CLEANING THE AIR IN A RECESSION. California’s historic greenhouse gas emissions law is being fought tooth-and-nail by businesses, which are funding a ballot initiative to delay the law until the state cuts its unemployment rate in half. Even so, the law, known as AB 32, has created a snowball effect nationwide, sparking emissions regulations in other states and national rulings to lower ozone standards.

Guests: Javier Sierra, Columnist and Spokesperson, Sierra Club, Arlington, VA. www.sierraclub.org ; Veronica Rodriguez, Spokesperson, California High Speed Rail Authority, Sacramento, CA. www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov ; Nidia Bautista, Policy Director, Coalition for Clean Air, Sacramento, CA. http://www.coalitionforcleanair.org ; Lisa Hoyos, Coordinator, Apollo Alliance, San Francisco, CA. apolloalliance.org

LATINOS TAKE A STAND ON CLIMATE CHANGE. Studies show that an overwhelming majority of Latino voters consider global warming a serious problem, and Latino communities are among the most likely to be affected by air pollution. Yet Latino groups say they are underrepresented in the public debate on climate change and global warming. This edition, to commemorate Earth Day, takes a look at how Latino communities will be affected by possible changes to emissions laws, and what some Latinos are doing to stand out in the climate change debate.

Guests: Manuel Pastor, Director, Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. http://college.usc.edu/pere/home/ ; Rafael Fantauzzi, Chair, National Latino Coalition on Climate Change, Washington, D.C. http://latinocoalitiononclimatechange.org

OIL SPILL IN LOUISIANA. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to surpass the 1989 Exxon-Valdez oil spill and become the largest disaster of its kind in history. The spill is wrecking havoc on Louisiana’s wetlands and fishing industry, and raising concerns over workplace safety, as well as sparking renewed debate over the safety and sustainability of oil and calls for more efficient fuel economy.

Guests: Dolores Bernal, Reporter, New Orleans, LA; Claudio Martínez, Clean Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists, Chicago, IL, www.ucsusa.org ; Darlene Kattan, Executive Director, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, Nuevo Orleans, LA, www.hccl.biz ; Dean Wilson, Executive Director, Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, Baton Rouge, LA, http://basinkeeper.org ; John Curry, Spokesman, British Petroleum, Houston, TX, www.bp.com

APPEAL TO STAKEHOLDERS OF OIL GIANT. At least four people were arrested today during a mass protest outside a meeting of Chevron shareholders in Houston, Texas. The oil-giant is the largest corporation in California and the third-largest corporation in the nation. In the face of global warming and the present oil spill crisis, scientists and environmentalists urge to move away from oil as an energy resource, yet oil-giant Chevron had a 25% increase in revenues last year. Protesters say Chevron's extraction practices have provoked gross human rights abuses, wars, pollution, and economic injustice.