#Protesters gather outside #Brunswick air show, voicing ethical concerns over headlining act

Advocates with #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights said the air show glamorizes #war and misleads youth.

Author: Pearl Small
August 3, 2024

BRUNSWICK, #Maine — "The Great State of #MaineAirShow is marketed as a weekend-long event of planes swooping through the sky with incredible aerial performances to leave the community in awe.

"However, groups standing outside the show on Saturday had a different message to send about its intentions.

"The Maine Voices for #Palestinian Rights organized a protest to encourage people not to attend the show over questions regarding the #ethics of its headlining act: the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

"'We object this use of our tax dollars and we object to warplanes as entertainment,' #LisaSavage with Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights said.

"The group compared the planes on display to those being flown over #Gaza, for very different purposes.

"'If you were a child in Gaza, you would be hearing that noise constantly and it wouldn't be for entertainment, you would be waiting to see if a bomb was going to drop on your family's home,' Savage said.

"The group objects to the U.S. government's involvement in the war in #Israel and says the air show glamorizes the U.S. military and its power.

[...]

"[Marketing Director] Mary Breen said she's amazed by the positive effect the show has, specifically on younger crowds.

"'It's amazing to see the kids' reactions, whether they're checking out the planes on the ground or watching the planes flying,' Breen said.

"Yet, that inspiration is another point advocates said makes the show deceptive.

"'It's actively designed to be fun, almost video game-esque for these kids and make them think this is something that would be an exciting career for them instead of something that's potentially very dangerous for them and is guaranteed to be very dangerous for people across the world,' #RosemaryCorkins with Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights said.

Source:
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/entertainment/events/protesters-gather-outside-brunswick-maine-air-show-voicing-ethical-concerns-over-headlining-act/97-4272ef71-aa90-40d5-b139-7bf737451ce4

#NoWar #GazaSolidarity
#BrunswickMaine
#CoalitionForPalestineMaine
#MaineVoicesForPeace #PeaceActionMaine
#FreePalestine

Several #protesters arrested at #BathIronWorks ship christening event

Story by NEWS CENTER Maine Staff
July 27, 2024

"Several people were arrested during a protest Saturday morning at an event hosted by Bath Iron Works.

"At about 8:30 a.m., a group of around 75 pro-#Palestinian protesters gathered outside Bath Iron Works to protest during its christening of the new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer #USSPatrickGallagher, the Bath Police Department said in a news release.

"Police said the group of protesters consisted of members from various groups, including the #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights and the #MaineVeteransForPeace chapter. Police added that many of these individuals have protested at past Bath Iron Works events before.

"At about 8 a.m., just before the gathering, a man associated with the protest group was reportedly seen 'dumping a red-colored liquid' on the sidewalk and front step area in front of #BIW's main building at 700 Washington St. before driving away.

"The man, identified as 76-year-old #MarkRoman of Solon, was later found and summonsed for Class D criminal mischief and cited for littering, according to the release.

"Police said Roman's wife, 67-year-old #LisaSavage, was one of the protesters arrested for criminal trespass.

"Then, around 9:45 a.m., a group of protesters split off from the larger group that had been peacefully protesting on the sidewalk and made their way onto Bath Iron Works property at the intersection of King and Washington streets.

"'These protestors sat down in the road, linking arms, and refused to clear from the public way or move off BIW property despite requests and warnings by officers to do so,' the release stated.

"Police said all nine individuals involved were taken into custody without incident. Of the nine people, two were charged with Class E obstructing a public way and seven were charged with Class E criminal trespass.

"The following individuals were arrested, according to police:

#RobertShetterly, 77, of Brooksville, was charged with criminal trespass
#BradleyConway, 32, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was charged with obstructing a public way
#RussellWray, 69, of Hancock, was charged with criminal trespass
#AbigailFuller, 64, of Portland, was charged with obstructing a public way
#LisaSavage, 67, of Solon, was charged with criminal trespass
#DudleyHendrick, 82, of Deer Isle, was charged with criminal trespass
#JamilaLevasseur, 69, of Waldo, was charged with criminal trespass
#ConstanceJenkins, 76, of Belfast, was charged with criminal trespass
#MarySullivan, 70, of Brunswick, was charged with criminal trespass

"Roman, Fuller, and Savage were also arrested and charged in a protest that disrupted traffic in Portland earlier this year.

"Police said all charged individuals were assigned a court date of Sept. 3 at the West Bath Unified Criminal Court.

"'They were booked at Bath Police Department and bailed on personal recognizance by a bail commissioner,' the release said."

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/several-protesters-arrested-at-bath-iron-works-ship-christening-event/ar-BB1qJTkA

#NoWar #GazaSolidarity #Gaza #Rafah #CoalitionForPalestineMaine #MaineVoicesForPeace #PeaceActionMaine #Maine #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow
#Palestine #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights

Some #environmental advocates oppose the creation of a #Maine #Space Corporation

Maine Public | By Irwin Gratz
Published February 28, 2022

"Encouraging the development of a #SpaceIndustry in Maine would be bad for the state's environment and do little to help its economy, according to opponents of a bill that proposes a public-private partnership to assist nascent rocket companies.

"The measure, #LD1923, would offer technical assistance and attempt to put state government behind a bid to find a suitable rocket launching site.

"Opponents, including former Independent U.S. Senate Candidate #LisaSavage of Solon, say the bill, and the idea of Maine as a rocket launch site, are bad ideas.

"Savage says rocketry has proven to be harmful to the #environment. 'Rocket launches in other places have been very hard on #wildlife, killed lots of #birds,' she said.

"And Savage adds rocket launches, 'always add to climate crisis by putting exhaust into the atmosphere. Rockets that go up high enough, punch holes in the ozone layer, which was just beginning to get repaired.'

"Savage says she doubts a space industry would generate many jobs, and it could hurt Maine's brand as a vacation haven where 'you go to enjoy pristine waters and good air quality and beautiful wildlife.'

"Savage says she's also unhappy with the way the Maine Space Corporation legislation is moving through the legislature. She says there was inadequate notice of a #PublicHearing on the bill and the committee voted to recommend its passage contingent on two amendments that have yet to be written."

https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2022-02-28/environmental-advocates-oppose-the-creation-of-a-maine-space-corporation

#NoToxicRocketsForMaine #SpaceCorporations #Pollution