Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzolas, his running mate for President of the USA, spoke at UW-Eau Claire on September 5, 2008. His campaign is less about him than it is about finding an alternative to the corporate power that has so much control over our national life. Nader mixes dire warnings with inspirational advocacy, urging citizen involvement for a better future.
Each week, Spirit In Action brings you stories of people living lives of fruitful service, of peace, community, compassion, creative action and progressive efforts. We will trace the spiritual roots that support and nourish them in their service. Above all, we will seek out Light, Love and Helping Hands, being shared between our many neighbors on this planet, hoping to inspire and encourage you to sink deep roots and produce sacred fruit in your own life.
Spirit In Action is an hour of interviews with those providing leadership in peace, justice and "good works", interspersed with relevant music. The theme music is "The Turning of the World" performed by Sara Thomsen (written by Ruth Pellham).
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Tom Chisholm of Veterans for Peace
First Air Date
Tom Chisholm served in the military on and off over 45 years, as a medic and a doctor. For most of that time he found himself opposed to all of the wars and military invasions the USA was part of. He's been a long-time member of Veterans for Peace and is a member of the Catholic peace group, Pax Christi, as well.
Tom has also valued his service on a reservation in South Dakota, and his volunteer time as a doctor in Nicaragua.
Kathy Kelly - Voices for Creative Nonviolence Walk Chicago to the Twin Cities
First Air Date
Kathy is currently co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Noviolence, is active with the Catholic Worker movement and since becoming a pacifist has refused payment of all federal income tax for 25 years. She went to prison for one year for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites and has a Masters in Religious Education from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Forgiveness, Holistic Therapy and Ann Recine
First Air Date
Ann Recine is working for the world's healing in many ways - she is a Nurse Practitioner with a Holistic Therapy LLC (715-379-5331, 515 S Barstow, Eau Claire), specializing in forgiveness and mindfulness meditation. She is a Third Order Franciscan, and she is also an organizer in the Voices for Peace Institute.
Medical Students Putting It On The Line
First Air Date
Recipients of the 2008 McGovern-Tracy Scholarships "exemplify the values of community service and leadership", and we visit with 5 of the med students recognized this year: Callie O'Neil, Michelle Buelow, Betsy Doherty, Joseph Hansen and Kevin Thao - great examples of the promise of the the upcoming generation of doctors.
Holly Near - Singer and Activist
First Air Date
Holly Near has put in more than 4 decades advocating and training for peace and justice through her music. With more than 27 recordings, she has spoken out on a diverse rainbow of issues and provided inspiration and fuel for millions of workers for improving our world.
Aaron Ellringer - Just Local Food
First Air Date
Aaron Ellringer's journey to living consciously, responsibly and healthily on this planet has included a number of years working with Sunyata Food Co-op before its closing, and as a major force in the creation of Just Local Food, a worker's collective bringing local and healthy food to Eau Claire.
Toward Taking Away the Occasion of Abortion - Rachel MacNair and Stan Becker
First Air Date
A thoughtful dialog about abortion, peace witness and care for creation. Guests are Rachel MacNair, Phd. in Psychology and undergraduate in Peace & Conflict Studies, and Stan Becker, Phd. in Demographics at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where he is currently professor in the Dept of Population, Family and Reproductive Health.
Sr Judie (Judith Ann) Wagener - A Life of Community and Service
First Air Date
Judith Ann Wagener has been a School Sister of Notre Dame since 1961, a period that has seen vast changes in American society and in the Catholic Church. She started as a teacher but followed a leading into pastoral ministry over 20 years ago, for the last 9 with St James the Greater Catholic Church in Eau Claire.
Delegation to the Middle East - Cathy Sultan, Tom Chisholm, Jason Hicks
First Air Date
Cathy Sultan, Tom Chisholm & Jason Hicks were recently part of a delegation to Israel/Palestine sponsored by the Interfaith Peace-Builders, witnessing first-hand the suffering and aspirations of the people both sides of the wall.