Statewide Effort Against Cancer; Pesticide Lawsuit; Local Band Makes it Big
EPA Files Complaint Against Syngenta on Kauai: Alexis Strauss
Almost a year ago you may remember that 10 Kauai agricultural workers who entered a recently pesticide sprayed field wound up in the hospital. The EPA is now suing Syngenta Hawaii over what it says was a failure of the company to protect its workers per the agency’s Agricultural Worker Protection Standard. Meanwhile the state’s agriculture and health departments announced they will expand a Kauai initiative - the Good Neighbor Policy- along with new components to the rest of the state. Better protection of workers is part of them. We called Alexis Strauss, the acting head of the EPA’s western region, to see how the state’s efforts and the EPA’s standards compare. Alexis Strauss is on the phone now.
Intro Music: Montevideo by Monty Alexander
Outro Music: Diggy by Spencer Ludwig
Jonathon Franklin of Streetlight Cadence
Streetlight Cadence, the Hawaii band that got its start on the streets of Waikiki, is home for the holidays with a new Christmas album and another year’s worth of performing experience on its resume. Jonathon Franklin is the Lead singer and violinist for the band, and he’s with us in our studio.
Intro Music: Don't Let Go by Streetlight Cadence
Outro Music: Magic of a Christmas by Streetlight Cadence
Civil Beat Reality Check: Lessons From Standing Rock
Since the standoff at Standing Rock began, there have been comparisons to other native peoples asserting claims for control of their land. But in the lessons for Native Hawaiians, is one of them the fact that the Sioux tribe has federal status? Civil Beat reporter Chad Blair has today’s reality check.
Intro Music: PTP by Black Joe Lewis & The HoneybearsNew State Plan to Defeat Cancer Disparities in Hawaii: Dr. Virginia Pressler
If there is one resounding refrain about cancer, it’s early detection means early treatment and in many cases a greater chance for recovery. But early detection as well as treatment efforts are often frustrated by the disparities in services and access across the state. Annually about 67 hundred residents are diagnosed with a form of cancer; a third of them die. Now the state has released its aspirational and strategic plan to up the access for screenings and care across the islands. Department of Health Director Doctor Virginia Pressler joins us now.
Outro Music: Sincere Replies by Damien Jurado, Richard Swift
Farming Large and Small: Vincent Mina
Hawaii’s farmers are determined to move our islands toward food independence -- and it’s going to be a long journey. In a state that was long dominated by industrial agriculture, Hawaii’s small independent farmers have formed an alliance to make sure that our food future is in local hands -- and have formed a farmer’s union to advance the goal of regenerative agriculture.
Intro Music: Misty by Caamp
Outro Music: Spring Wind by Jack Johnson
