Racial Tensions in the U.S., Climate Change & Water Resources in N.M., The Rio Grande River

This week on NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, a special edition of The Line opinion panel continues the discussion on race, in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case. The acquittal of George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed Martin, an African-American teenager, and the subsequent reactions to the verdict have revealed how deep racial tensions still are in this country. What steps can the community take to begin having difficult conversations around these issues?

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS continues its exploration of climate change and water resources in N.M. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland talks about the impacts of climate change on plants and animals in New Mexico with Jeremy Vesbach, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and Deborah Finch, program manager, for grassland, shrubland and desert ecosystem science at the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Producer Megan Kamerick interviews G. Emlen Hall and Fred Phillips, two of the authors of “Reining in the Rio Grande: People, Land and Water.” The book explores how the river has shaped human society in the Southwest and the ways humans have changed the river forever.

GUESTS:
Deborah Finch, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
Jeremy Vesbach, New Mexico Wildlife Federation
G. Emlen Hall, co-author of “Reining in the Rio Grande”
Fred Phillips, co-author of “Reining in the Rio Grande”

LINE SPECIAL PANELISTS:
Dr. Harold Bailey, president, NAACP-Albuquerque Chapter
Hakim Bellamy, Albuquerque poet laureate
Shawna Brown, chair, 2014 NM Black History Month Organizing Committee
Cathryn McGill, founder/director, New Mexico Black History Month Organizing Committee

CORRESPONDENT:
Gwyneth Doland
Megan Kamerick

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 709 for air August 30, 2013