Law

The first session in a day long conference, 'Transparency and Accountability in Government - Public Records, Open Meetings and Campaign Finance Disclosure' sponsored bythe American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Vermont, in collaboration with the Vermont Press Association and the New England First Amendment Coalition. 

Opening presentation by Greg Sullivan, counsel to the New Hampshire Union Leader and a member of board of directors of the New England First Amendment Coalition. Follow-up panel discussion with

• Paul Gillies, attorney and former deputy secretary of state
• Jim Barlow, senior staff attorney, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
• Mike Donoghue, Vermont Press Association
• Anne Galloway, VtDigger.org

Daryl Pillsbury and Vidda Crochetta discuss the movement to legalize marijuana.

WWYW is a multimedia program focusing on issues of accountability, that is produced by the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization. Episode 29, Segment 1: To get to the root of some of the causes of the current food safety problems, a recent survey commissioned by the nonprofit organizatoin Union of Concerned Scientists asked a key public - FDA and USDA scientists- to 'evaluate how well the government uses science to protect the food supply'. Francesca Grifo, shares the enlightening results.  Segment 2: Transparency at the State Department: The Foundation for the Future, and FOIA under Obama.  Iraq War architect Paul Wolfowitz resigned as World Bank President amidst several scandals.  The investigatory loop took 33 months of FOIA processes.  What did the investigation find out? Why did it take so long? And, how has the process of obtaining information via FOIA changed under the Obama administration.  Panelists includ: Shelley Walden, Patrice McDermott.

  you want to purchase a copy of this program, please visit http://www.whistleblowertv.org/.

Ivette Torres, Associate Director for Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

How we communicate about addiction, treatment and recovery to people seeking and receiving help and individuals living in long-term recovery makes a difference. Words have the power to help and heal, but also to discriminate and stigmatize. Some terms have a negative connotation (“abuse” or “addict”) that stigmatize people with an illness as well as those who provide the treatment and recovery services. Other terms (“person in long-term recovery” or “substance use disorder”) identify individuals and their illness with dignity and respect. This episode will address the language that we and how language can influence public perceptions; what research has shown about the use of language and suggestions and tips on how to speak about addiction, treatment and recovery to encourage individuals and family members to get help and support people in recovery and the individuals who work in the field providing services.

If you have questions or comments about this program, please contact Richard Kemp at rtkemp@aol.com.