Earth Day Special: Environmental Issues in New Mexico

This week on NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, Correspondent Gwyneth Doland speaks with Albuquerque City Councilor Rey Garduño and Ken Sanchez, president of the Albuquerque City Council. They discuss the resignation of three members of the Police Oversight Commission and plans by council members to put more money into oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department, in the wake of a scathing report on APD from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Ahead of Earth Day, this episode of NMiF will focus on several environmental issues.

The Line opinion panel discusses the recent decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species. The grassland grouse has seen its numbers drop by 50 percent last year and it has lost 80 percent of its habitat. The federal designation came in the midst of an aggressive voluntary conservation program already underway by landowners. Gov. Susana Martinez and U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce have blasted the decision and several states are now suing.

Tara Gatewood, host of Native America Calling, speaks with a group of rural and indigenous leaders as part of the “Water Crisis in the West” series of panels taking place at the KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque. Featured are Dr. Rina Swentzell of Santa Clara Pueblo, who holds a doctorate in American Studies and writes and lectures on the philosophical and cultural basis of the Pueblo world. Lyle Balenquah is Hopi and a member of the Greasewood clan from Third Mesa. He has degrees in cultural anthropology and archeology, and documents ancestral Hopi settlements and their lifeways. Juan Estevan Arellano is a journalist, writer and researcher who lives in Embudo, New Mexico. He is an advocate of traditional agriculture and acequias.

NMiF Producer Megan Kamerick talks with Sandra McCardell in a One-on-One segment about sustainability and energy. McCardell is the founder of Current-C Energy Systems, which works with communities, companies and tribes to use energy and resources more efficiently.

GUESTS:
Juan Estevan Arellano, Journalist and Writer
Lyle Balenquah, Archeologist
Rey Garduño, Albuquerque City Councilor
Sandra McCardell, Founder, Current-C Energy Systems Inc.
Ken Sanchez, President, Albuquerque City Council
Dr. Rina Swentzell, Author and Lecturer

LINE PANELISTS:
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group
Sophie Martin, Attorney
Laura Sanchez, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce

GUEST LINE PANELISTS
Janice Arnold Jones, former New Mexico Representative

CORRESPONDENTS:
Gwyneth Doland, NMiF Correspondent
Megan Kamerick, NMiF Producer
Tara Gatewood, Host, Native America Calling

HOST/COMMENTATOR: Gene Grant

The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Megan Kamerick. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation.

Episode 742 for air April 18, 2014