AND YOUR ACT TOO.....

• Helen Caldicott reports: The Obama administration has given final approval for dramatically raising permissible radioactive levels in drinking water and soil following “radiological incidents,” such as nuclear power-plant accidents and dirty bombs. The final version is a win for the nuclear industry which seeks what its proponents call a “new normal” for radiation exposure among the U.S population.  Issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, the radiation guides (called Protective Action Guides or PAGs) allow cleanup many times more lax than anything EPA has ever before accepted. 

•  Some loyalists are still waiting for Obama to unveil his hidden plan to be a real progressive but it appears that the magician is having way too much fun with his current act.   Don't hold your breath. 
• The Pentagon owns or leases 75% of all federal buildings.

• A magnitude 7.8 earthquake has struck Khash, Iran, making it the biggest earthquake to hit there in forty years. Estimates have varied widely on how many people may have been injured or killed. And one week ago, a deadly earthquake hit Buhsher. The National Iranian American Council is urging people to join them in calling on Obama to act so that sanctions do not in any way block earthquake relief efforts in Iran.  You can help by sending a message from here

• Last night I picked up the local paper (Times Record) which covers the midcoast of Maine.  It was the Monday edition, I was a day late looking at it.  I turned the second section of the paper over to see the back page and was immediately stunned.  There at the top of the page a very familiar face jumped out at me.  It was Mayor Kang from Gangjeong village on Jeju Island.  There before my eyes was a full-page layout with many color photos of the village Navy base resistance efforts along with words by Carolyn Coe from Maine.  Carolyn went to Jeju for three weeks during Christmas break and since returning home has done two feature radio stories on WERU where she volunteers as a stringer.  I had forgotten that she'd ask me weeks ago where she might try to place such a photo essay and I had suggested the Times Record.  I never gave it a second thought and it was really remarkable for our paper to run the piece considering our local connection.  Inside the short story Carolyn wrote she made sure to mention that the Navy Aegis destroyers built here in Bath are likely to be deployed on Jeju.  It makes the April 28 visit to nearby Brunswick of Young Hee Jong (Chairwoman, Gangjeong Women Villagers' Committee to Stop the Naval Base) all the more special.  We now have six Mainers who have gone to Gangjeong village and five of them will be at the April 28 speaking event to hear Young.  Her talk will be held at the Curtis Memorial Library.