Squeaky Wheel Productions
Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. is a nonprofit community media organization whose mission is to promote and foster public awareness of points of view, news and information — generally ignored or marginalized in the media — in order to encourage a more just and democratic global community.
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011
RALPH NADER to Keynote Between The Lines' 20th Anniversary Forum in New Haven, CT
Citizen activist and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader will be the keynote speaker at Between The Lines Radio Newsmagazine's 20th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 14 in New Haven, CT. Nader's speech, "Overcoming the Power of the Plutocrats by Forging the Power of the People," will address the topic of corporate dominance of the U.S. political system and the fight now underway in Wisconsin and around the country to restore democracy. Nader will also be signing his latest novel, "Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!" hailed by The Globe and Mail (Toronto) as "a powerful idea by the perfect person at a fortuitous time."
Public forum and Q&A with Ralph Nader 7-8:30 p.m.
United Church on the Green
270 Temple St., New Haven, CT (corner of Temple and Elm Streets).
Suggested contribution: ($10 advance, $15 at the door).
Directions and parking for Ralph Nader's keynote address
In addition to Ralph Nader's talk and booksigning, Between The Lines will present its "Democracy in Action" awards to two Connecticut groups that embody the best of grassroots progressive activism:
- The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut for their campaign advocating health care reform in Connecticut
- Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - AFSCME for their actions protecting jobs and benefits of state and municipal workers
After the talk, join Ralph Nader, the awardees, event co-sponsors and the Between The Lines crew for a reception celebrating Between The Lines' 20th anniversary on the air. The reception will also feature a silent auction. Tickets for the reception will be from 9-11 p.m. at the home of Charlie Pillsbury and Allie Perry. ($50 per person, limited number of tickets available).
Related articles:
- "5 Reasons Why Obama will Get Second Term in White House," Bloomberg News, April 27, 2011
- "PBS-NPR-Leaning Right,"Ralph Nader's blog, March 14, 2011
- "Waiting for the Spark," Ralph Nader's blog, April 18, 2011
- "Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! - A Practical Utopia for Modern Times," BuzzineLifestyle.com, Feb. 16, 2011
- "Keeping Up with the Gateses: The world's leading philanthropists ask other tycoons to join their movement," The Economist, June 17, 2010
If you cannot attend, but would like to make an online contribution to Between The Lines, please do so at our Firstgiving.com page at firstgiving.com/betweenthelinesappeal
Proceeds benefit Squeaky Wheel Productions, nonprofit distributor of Between The Lines radio newsmagazine. Its tax-exempt fiscal sponsor is The International Center for Global Communications Foundation (doing business as "The Global Center").
For more information, call (203) 268-8446.
Help us spread the word:
- Download flyer
- Audio PSA for radio stations
- Audio PSA (WPKN Radio version only)
- Download 2-up flyers
- Download 2-up flyers ("Rebel")
- Download press release
Community co-sponsors: The CT Green Party, the New Haven Green Party, the Fairfield County Green Party, the Working Families Party, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, CT Center for a New Economy, Greater New Haven Peace Council, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Fight the Hike, the May Day Celebration Committee and WPKN Radio 89.5 FM
Media sponsors: 
Net proceeds benefit Squeaky Wheel Productions, nonprofit distributor of Between The Lines Radio Newsmagazine. A portion of net proceeds from Ralph Nader's talk to benefit WPKN Radio 89.5 FM.
Location and Directions:
United Church on the Green
270 Temple St., New Haven, CT (Corner of Temple and Elm streets)
From Interstate 91 North and South
Take Exit 3 - Trumbull Street. Make sure to be in the center lane (Trumbull Street) as you approach the stoplight.
At the third stoplight on Trumbull (passing Orange St. and Whitney Ave.), turn left onto Temple Street, a one-way street. Go past the Grove Street stoplight. Just before the stoplight at Elm Street, a Yale University parking lot (entrance on right) is available with free, public parking.
The United Church on the Green is at the corner of Temple and Elm; you must cross Elm Street to get to the church.
The Day's Schedule
- 6-6:30 press interviews with "Democracy in Action" awardees and cosponsor groups.
- 6:15 p.m. - Doors open, booksigning of "Only The Super-Rich Can Save Us", and product sales, co-sponsor tabling in church lobby. All tickets can be paid at the door, cash or check made payable to The Global Center
- 7 to 7:15 p.m. Introductions and "Democracy in Action" Awards
- 7:15-8:00 p.m. Ralph Nader talk
- 8:00-8:25 p.m. Q&A
- 8:30-8:55 p.m. Booksigning of "Only The Super-Rich Can Save Us"
- 9-11 p.m. Reception and Silent Auction at the home of Charlie Pillsbury
- New Fuji Crosstown or equivalent bike, courtesy of Devil's Gear, New Haven
- 1 Week in the Adirondaks, fully-furnished 3-bedroom house on Schroon Lake, N.Y.
- "The Good Fight," autographed book by Ralph Nader. Great activists' collectible and inspiration
- Two bike tune-ups by Devil's Gear, New Haven
- Framed Paintings, "Africa (Red)" and "Africa (Blue)," by Gerald Saladyga
- Three Acupuncture Sessions (in Fairfield) by licensed acupuncturist Jody Eisemann
- Four one-hour Spanish Lessons by Sarah Forman, M.A. in Spanish, experience in Spanish-speaking countries and 5 years' teaching
- Private Salsa Lesson for a couple - learn steps, turns and partnering of the Latin dance Salsa, by Mikata's Richard Hill (Between The Lines' theme music co-composer)
- Up to 5 Tarot Readings, positive energy experience, up to half an hour each, by Liz Becker, Between The Lines' narrator
- "Food for Thought"- Dinner for Two with the Between The Lines Producers. Between The Lines producers Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus, Anna Manzo take you and a guest out for an evening of wining, dining and political talk.
About Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader has been called one of America's most effective social critics. He also has been called everything from "Muckraker" to "Consumer Crusader" to "Public Defender." His documented criticism of government and industry has had widespread effect on public awareness and bureaucratic power. He is the "U.S.'s toughest customer" as Time magazine noted. His inspiration and example have galvanized a whole population of consumer advocates, citizen activists, and public interest lawyers who in turn have established their own organizations throughout the country.
The crusading attorney first made headlines in 1965 with his book Unsafe at Any Speed, a scathing indictment that lambasted the auto industry for producing unsafe vehicles. The book led to congressional hearings and a series of automobile safety laws passed in 1966.
Since 1966, Nader has been responsible for: at least eight major federal consumer protection laws such as the motor vehicle safety laws, Safe Drinking Water Act; the launching of federal regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Administration; the recall of millions of defective motor vehicles; access to government through the Freedom of Information Act of 1974; and for many lives saved.
Nader has built an effective national network of citizen groups that have had a major impact in areas ranging from tax reform to nuclear energy to health and safety programs. The ultimate goal of this movement is to give all citizens more rights and remedies for resolving their grievances and for achieving a better society. As the New York Times said, "What sets Nader apart is that he has moved beyond social criticism to effective political action."
Nader's original research organization is the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Study of Responsive Law. Since 1969, the Center has produced innumerable reports on wide-ranging subjects such as the Interstate Commerce Commission, food safety, pensions, corporate welfare, and government procurement.
Other Nader-inspired groups include the Aviation Consumer Action Project, Center for Auto Safety, Clean Water Action Project, Disability Rights Center, Pension Rights Center, Freedom of Information Clearinghouse, and the Congressional Accountability Project.
Nader also helped establish the PIRGs -- Public Interest Research Groups-- the student-funded and controlled organizations which function on college campuses in 23 states. Their impact alone has been tremendous. The groups have published hundreds of ground-breaking reports and guides, lobbied for laws in their state legislatures, and called the media's attention to environmental and energy problems.
The largest of the Nader organizations is Multinational Monitor, tracks the global intrusion of multinational corporations and their impact on developing nations, labor, and the environment.
Nader's overriding concern and vision is presently focused on empowering citizens to create a responsive government sensitive to citizens' needs. The top of Nader's agenda has been defending the U.S. civil justice system. Corporate lobbyists and certain legislators have worked on both the federal and state levels to restrain consumers' rights to seek justice in court against wrongdoers in the area of product liability, securities fraud, and medical negligence. Nader recently co-authored a book on corporate lawyers and the perils of the legal system, entitled "No Contest."
The savings and loan bailout is also a large concern of Nader's; the de-regulation of the banking industry in the early 1980s led to speculative real estate deals which taxpayers must now unfairly finance. This is one of many examples of corporate subsides taxpayers finance through a system Nader calls "corporate welfare." Nader is also an advocate of insurance reform including loss-prevention activity and insurance consumer education. He co-authored the book Winning the Insurance Game, and has been working with consumer activists in Massachusetts and California on improving the cost and coverage of automobile and health insurance in those states.
Nader seems undaunted by the de-regulatory setbacks posed by the Reagan and Bush administrations and perpetuated by Clinton. He says, "You've got to keep the pressure on, even if you lose. The essence of the citizen's movement is persistence." Nader certainly has remarkable tenacity, as well as an unshakable commitment to his mission. When asked to define himself, he always responds, "Full-time citizen, the most important office in America for anyone to achieve."
Nader's impact on the American political spectrum is enduring. As former U.S. Senator James Abourezk observed, "For the first time in U.S. history, a movement exists whose sole purpose is to keep large corporations and the government honest."
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