Solartopia Green Power & Wellness Hour

 Long-Time activist, educator and author BILL AYERS joins us in Solartopia to talk about his new book DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE: A RADICAL MANIFESTO and much else about our current American miasma. > > Bill has spent a lifetime working to make education available and democratic for the mainstream American public.  Meaningful learning is “a right, not a product,” he says.  He makes clear that treating education as a business guarantees that the privileged few will prosper at the expense of the many. > > Bill also discusses his opinions on voting for the Green Party in a non-swing state, and on how to make long-term  social change in a nation that’s on the brink of collapse.   We barely scratch the surface of Bill’s amazingly interesting and productive life.  But what we cover in this jam-packed hour is worth every minute.  

ELECTION THEFT is once again our topic as we’re joined by BOB FITRAKIS, JON SIMON and presidential candidate ROCKY DE LA FUENTE. Rocky is on the ballot in more than 20 states and has been waging a powerful campaign for the presidency which has been completely ignored by the corporate mainstream media.  He brings us fascinating tales of attempting to bring democracy to a rigged process. Prof. Bob Fitrakis brings his unique expertise as an attorney and election monitor for decades.  Together Bob and Harvey have co-authored six books on “strip & flip” election theft, including the most recent STRIP & FLIP SELECTION OF 2016. Jon Simon’s CODE RED is one of the leading books on our electoral process. This lively and unique discussion is essential for anyone struggling to understand the utter corruption of our electoral process.  

100-SOLAR-PANEL HOUSES & the TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD are brought to us by PAUL KANGAS, a leading northern California activist pushing hard for a Solartopian solution to our global eco-crisis.   Paul has been organizing throughout California to convert the state’s energy system to a green-powered basis, with a special focus on polarizing individual homes to the point that they con produced four times as much energy as they use.  Paul has travelled throughout Germany and the rest of the world studying conversion models.  He tells us how California can become totally green soon enough to save us all. Paul has taken his research to Russia, China and Mongolia, from which he just returned following a month-long journey along the trans-Siberian railroad.  His stories are absolutely fascinating.  Don’ miss hearing this brilliant guy on this amazing show.

The CRISIS AT PACIFICA is at the breaking point.  The network of five crucial radio stations in New York, DC, Houston, Los Angeles and Berkeley is on the brink of bankruptcy.  Always full of faction, the stations are now close to collapse. We are joined by STEVE BROWN, JAN GOODMAN, MYLA RESON and GARY NULL to discuss the depth of the stations' problems and if, how and why the network can be saved.

A WORLD WITHOUT WAR is the message from DAVID SWANSON, author, activist and Nobel Prize nominee.  David’s many books, campaigns and an upcoming conference underscore his conviction that war can (and must) be eliminated from the behavior of our nations. David speaks regularly throughout the world on issues of non-violence and conflict resolution without organized warfare.  He warns that both major presidential candidates this year are deeply involved with the war-for-profit mentality.  We discuss along those lines the current addiction to war that is dragging down the American nation.  The annual US expenditure of more than $1,000,000,000,000,000 could easily solve the world’s problems with hunger, injustice and ecological devastation.  But our Puritan-corporate establishment has become too deeply tied to a state of permanent war without which the country can’t seem to exist. In this show we discuss David’s upcoming conference on war in Washington DC.  David also talks in fascinating detail about the necessary conversion to toal non=-violence, touching in passing on how a non-violent campaign might have dealt with Hitler’s Nazis. David is a brilliant, uniquely challenging guest.  If you are at all interested in a world without war, don’t miss this discussion. 

THE INSANE NY NUKE BAILOUT headlines in Solartopia today as TIM JUDSON of the NUCLEAR INFORMATION & RESOURCE SERVICE joins MANNA JO GREENE of CLEARWATER and KEVIN KAMPS of BEYOND NUCLEAR to discuss the $7-11 billion potential handout to keep four dangerously decrepit nuke reactors on line in the Empire State. Because they are obsolete and uncompetitive, the Ginna, Fitzpatrick, Nine Mile One and Nine Mile Two reactors have been headed for shut-down.  The cannot compete with renewables, worsen climate chaos and threaten the entire northeast with radioactive catastrophe. In fact, their owners have been angling to shut them down for years.  But Gov. Andrew Cuomo has now strongarmed the New York Public Utilities Commission to take up to $11 billion in public money to prolong the operation of these dying nukes. If it goes through, the proposal would cost jobs, heat the planet and threaten millions with radioactive death and destruction.  Yet without a public vote, Cuomo has decided to risk New York’s future on this dead technology. Tim, Manna Jo and Kevin run us through the essential basics, and tell us how we can and must unite to stop this.  Don’t miss this vital strategy session.  

 The Republican, the Democrat and the Green. Bob heads the “Federal Elections Commission” for the Green Party and spoke at all three conventions on the need to prevent our elections from once again being stolen.   As co-author of seven books on election theft, Bob makes it clear that Bernie Sanders was the rightful winner of the Democratic nomination.  Co-author (with me) of THE STRIP & FLIP SELECTION OF 2016:  FIVE JIM CROWS & ELECTRONIC ELECTION THEFT, Bob has a Ph.D. in political science and is a member of the Ohio Bar.  As a full professor at Columbus State Community College, Bob is known worldwide for his writings and research. Together we will co-author a new piece on this year’s primaries.  Meanwhile, be sure to listen to the hard realities of how bad our electoral system really is.  

A SHOCKING NUKE BAILOUT has been proposed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.  It will use billions of New York’s public money to prolong operations at four of New York’s dangerous, dirty upstate nuke reactors. The great KARL GROSSMAN tells us why this is a truly horrendous idea, and how we might stop it. Karl’s great career in the Long Island media and his superb coverage of the nuclear issue make him a unique authority on this extremely threatening proposed bail-out. No one knows the story better than Karl, who knew Andrew’s father Gov. Mario Cuomo and who understands the complexities of this crucial moment as well as anyone. If you are concerned about our nuclear future and the realities of what’s now happening in New York, don’t miss this show.

HILLARY v. TRUMP & the CARBON TAX ROAD TO SOLARTOPIA Our superb guest is the great CHARLIE KOMANOFF, pioneer of the carbon tax and one of the world’s leading experts on the realities of our energy system. We start with an in-depth look at strategies and pitfalls in the presidential campaign.  Did Bernie really win the primaries?  Can Hillary beat Trump?  Is it actually a fight between “Mussolini and Margaret Thatcher”?  Did the Dems steal it fro Bernie, and will the GOP now steal it from Hillary? We then go deep on the German transition from King CONG (Coal, Oil Nukes & Gas) to Solartopia.  Charlie shows that taxing carbon is at the core of our survival.  And that the German decision to shut nukes and move away from fossil fuels has actually CUT carbon emissions rather than raise them, as industry apologists are trying to say. We further talk about the amazing success of bicycle use in New York and other cities where bike activism has had a huge positive impact, a movement Charlie helped create. Charlie is a brilliant, cogent and important guest.  Don’t miss this show!!!

INDIAN POINT and DIABLO CANYON are two nuclear reactor names that strike fear in the hearts of anyone who knows about atomic power.  We discuss the two reactors north of New York City with MANNA JO GREEN (Clearwater), GARY SHAW (IPSEC) and KEVIN KAMPS (Beyond Nuclear). These long-term activists and experts are dedicated to shutting the two nukes irradiating the Hudson River. They outline the critical deterioration threatening the future of these aging, uneconomical reactors. We are then joined by ROCHELLE BECKER of California’s Alliance 4 Nuclear Responsibility who describes the landmark new deal cut between PGE, the unions and environmental groups to shut the two nukes at Diablo Canyon by 2025.  This complex multi-faceted agreement calls for a 100% conversion to renewable energy, a “retain and retrain” program for the plant’s workers, and a definitive death date in 9 years.  A wide range of issues have arisen amongst those of us demanding an immediate shutdown of these decayed, deteriorating and deadly reactors.  Lets figure out how to get them down...

Smart Alec and Diablo Canyon are with us today in Solartopia. We begin with Matthew Cardinale who has formed a new progressive campaign for human legislation aimed at countering the horrific Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council. The Koch’s ALEC has polluted our government since the 1970s with a heavily funded flood of bad bills aimed at enthroning the rich and powerful. They have now issued a “cease and desist” letter to Cardinale demanding his Smart Alec stop trying to pass legislation that might actually serve democracy. This is a fun and informative conversation. We’re then joined by Linda Seeley and Myla Reson to talk about the horrific decision by California’s State Lands Commission to not require an Environmental Impact Report at Diablo Canyon. The report is required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Myla and Linda are long-time activists devoted to shutting this horrendous atomic reactor complex upwind of Los Angeles. On Tuesday, June 28, the Lands Commission hearing resulted in a unanimous vote taken as a kick in the teeth by those wanting Diablo shut ASAP. Myla and Linda give us the inside story.

The Diablo Canyon Nuke will shut and we are honored to talk about it with three great players in this amazing success for citizen activism.   Jim Riccio of Greenpeace USA gives us the perspective of a world-class safe energy campaigner on the global stage. Linda Seeley of the San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace tells us what’s happening on the local level with one of the most powerful and persistent of all our grassroots groups. Ace Hoffman fills us in from the backyard of San Onofre, which he has helped to shut, and whose epic struggles with massive debt and unmanageable wastes continue unabated. Together we vet the Diablo shutdown agreement. We start with PGE’s admission that all Diablo’s power can be got from renewable. We explore the landmark deal that’s been cut with organized labor and we emphasize the reality that this agreement has been pioneered by environmental groups whose commitment to a green-powered Earth is unshaken. For an in-depth look at the most important step yet taken toward end nuke power and winning a Solartopian future, don’t miss this show. 

Solartopia is home to two great activists, David Swanson and Linda Seeley who are fighting against war and the Diablo Canyon nuke. David starts with his World Beyond War perspectives on military madness and the fact that nearly all terror attacks are motivated by people seeking revenge for US attacks on their country. David’s legendary speeches and writings on peace, disarmament and the need to abolish nuclear weapons have made him one of the world’s leaders in winning us a peaceful planet. Linda then speaks to us from San Luis Obispo, California, on the June 28 hearing in front of the California Lands Commission.  The three members of this commission will determine whether Pacific Gas Electric, owner of the Diablo Canyon nukes, will be required to meet standards laid out in 1970 by the California Environmental Quality Act.  Signed by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, the law requires an Environmental Impact Review to protect the tidewater regions now being abused by Diablo Canyon’s cooling system. A long-time veteran of the fight for safe energy, Linda gives us the details on a regulatory debate that could finally force shut two of the world’s most dangerous nukes. 

The legendary Golden Rule peace ship hosts its first ever on-board radio cast as we call in from the deck. The ship is in Portland, Oregon to demonstrate as the navy brings in its men of war to display to the local citizenry. We hear from veterans for peace organizer Helen Kaccard narrate the amazing history of this powerful boat. Long-time activist Mimi German tells us how we will shut down the Columbia Generating station, the last nuke in the northwest. As we sail the Wilamette River through Portland, encountering huge armed vessels from the US Navy we rejoice in the ability to fight against the nuclearadness aboard this wonderful ship with the fabulous legacy

The legendary PAUL KRASSNER is the star of this Solartopia Show. We join Paul in his California home to run through his astonishing lifetime as a “guerilla satirist,” stand-up comedian, author, activist, videographic expert, psychedelic pioneer and much much more. Paul has been with us in Solartopia before, but his boundless experience and wit make him always an A-List guest.   Today we discuss Ken Kesey, Tim Leary, the CIA, LSD and the Agency’s inadvertent role in introducing psychedelics to the counter-culture.   Since Paul was the founder of “Yippie,” the hippie/left offspring of the 1960s anti-war movement, we also ruminate on what “might have been” had Mayor Richard Daley granted permits to the demonstrators (me among them) at the 1968 Chicago Convention. We also then plunge into today’s booming world of on-line pornography.  Paul was a writer for Hustler when its publisher Larry Flint was shot, and has written extensively about the industry that has become the most-watched phenomenon in all the world of video.  The discussion is fascinating but unfinished, so we’ll have to have Paul back with us again soon!