Greater Boston
March 2, 2023
Season 2023 Episode 32 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Greater Boston Full Show: 03/02/2023
Greater Boston Full Show: 03/02/2023
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Greater Boston is a local public television program presented by GBH
Greater Boston
March 2, 2023
Season 2023 Episode 32 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Greater Boston Full Show: 03/02/2023
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Greater Boston
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> I'’M CHRISTIAN HAYNES.
TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON JOE KENNEDY AND DERRICK JOHNSON JOINED ME ON THEIR NEW PARTNERSHIP BRINGING TRAINING AND FUNDING TO EMERGING CIVIL-RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.
LATER JERROD BOWEN SITS DOWN WITH ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY ON HIS TIME AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
HIS HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL AND WHAT HE LEARNED UP THERE ABOUT LIFE DOWN HERE.
THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARE FED UP WITH THE STATUS QUO AND WANT TO MAKE A STAND AGAINST GENERATIONS OF SYSTEMATIC RACISM, CLIMATE AND JUSTICE, LGBTQ DISCRIMINATION, AND MORE.
WITHOUT THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS, EVEN THE MOST PASSIONATE VOICES CAN GO UNHEARD.
THAT IS THE IDEA BETWEEN A NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE INDIA -- NAACP AND UP POLITICAL ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY POLITICAL CONGRESSMEN JOE KENNEDY LAUNCHING THE ORGANIZING ACCELERATOR A 20 WEEK MENTORING, TRAINING, AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FROM FOUR UP-AND-COMING GRASSROOTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, CAMPAIGNERS, SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES, AND CIVIL-RIGHTS LEADERS.
IN THE STUDIO TODAY IS JOE KENNEDY AND PRESIDENT PENCE CEO OF THE NAACP -- PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NAACP DERRICK JOHNSON.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE NEW PROCESS -- PROJECT.
THIS IS A NEW POLITICAL AVENUE FOR YOU.
>> ITIT'’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE A LOT OF WORK THAT I AND OTHER MEMBERS OFI AM THRILLED TO DO THIS WITH PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE NAACP.
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM A CONVERSATION WE HAD TOGETHER AS THE ORGANIZATION WHILE THE PROJECT WAS GETTING UP AND RUNNING IN MISSISSIPPI.
DURING ONE OF OUR FIRST PHONE CALLS PRESIDENT JOHNSON SAID THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TALENT IN PLACES THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY THE REGULAR TRADITIONAL POLITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE IS TALENT, THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH, THROUGHOUT THE PLANES, HIS BIRTHPLACE AND THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
IT IS HERE, THE SYSTEM JUST DOES NOT SEE IT, HONING, OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
IT DOES NOT MENTOR IT.
WE ASKED IF WE COULD WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT.
I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TO GIVE IT A SHOT.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE NAACP'’S ROLE IN ALL OF THIS.
AND WHY YOU HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH MR. KENNEDY.
>> I RESIDE IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI AND MANY OF THE VETERANS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WERE MENTORS OF MINE.
I GREW UP IN DETROIT BUT WENT TO TO GO TO COLLEGE.
THEY EXPOSED TO ME WHAT WAS POSSIBLE.
I HAD NO CONCEPT OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE OR THAT I COULD BUILD A CAREER OUT OF HELPING PEOPLE.
WE HAVE AN EXISTING PROGRAM IN MISSISSIPPI, MYSELF AND CHAIRMAN THOMPSON, THE CHAIR OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMISSION.
WE CREATED, THIS IS NOW OUR 11TH YEAR.
THE GOAL IS HOW DO WE GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE EXPOSURE FOR WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR HOW THEY CAN ADD TALENT AND TIME?
WHEN JOE AND I STARTED TALKING I SAID, WELL, WHAT IF WE DID THIS NATIONALLY?
HOW CAN WE EXPOSE INDIVIDUALIST OPPORTUNITIES THEY IN MANY CASES DO NOT EVEN KNOW ARE POSSIBLE.
THAT IS WHY WE LANDED HERE.
TO MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK FOR ALL, INDIVIDUALS MUST UNDERSTAND THEIR AGENCY.
HOW THEIR TITLES CAN BE APPLIED.
AND, THE TRUE NATURE OF HOW THINGS HAPPEN.
IT HAPPENED FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE CONNECTED WITH EXPOSURE, CONNECTED TO NET WORTH AND PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING OPPORTUNITY.
>> THE GROUNDWORK PROJECT IS IN ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, WEST VIRGINIA, OKLAHOMA, AND OF COURSE, MASSACHUSETTS.
ARE THOSE STATES INTENTIONAL?
WE UNDERSTAND THE MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTION, BUT THE OTHER STATES IS IT INTENTIONAL TO BE IN THOSE PLACES FIRST?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I HAVE SPENT NEARLY A DECADE IN CONGRESS AND CAMPAIGNED FOR CANDIDATES AT LEVELS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
ANY TIME I WAS ASKED TO CAMPAIGN FOR CANDIDATE IN THE DEEP SOUTH, THE PLANES, OR APPALACHIA WAS VERY INFREQUENT.
I WAS ONE OF THE ONLY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO GO CAMPING FOR SOMEBODY IN WEST VIRGINIA.
TOO MANY OF US WROTE IT OFF AND SAID, WE CANNOT WIN THERE.
YOU REALIZE THAT BY WRITING COMMUNITIES OFF, WRITING PEOPLE OFF, EVEN IF YOU'’RE TRYING TO SAY HEY, WE HAVE TWO EFFORT, TALENT, AND RESOURCES, YOU ARE REALLY SAYING, WE CANNOT REACH YOU.
YOUR VOICES, WE SAY THEY COUNT, BUT THEY DON'’T HAVE AS MUCH.
DEMOCRACY IS NOT JUST A GIVEN.
YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT.
YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE IT.
YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN IT.
WOULD WE WRITE-OFF WIDE SWATHS OF THE COUNTRY IT HAS HUGE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
IT MEANS WHEN YOU RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY THERE ARE SWATHES OF THE COUNTRY YOU DON'’T HAVE THE ENTER STRUCTURE SET UP TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH.
WE CAN HAVE UNIFIED CONTROL, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAN HAVE UNIT CRIED -- UNIFIED CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, SENATE, AND PRESIDENCY AND STILL LOSE ROE V. WADE.
WE CAN SEE VOTING RIGHTS THREATENED OUT OF ALABAMA AND SEE OUR ABILITY TO REGULATE CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENED OUT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
THESE ARE PLACES WE OFTEN DON'’T THINK ABOUT -- AS BATTLEGROUND STATES BUT THEY ARE AT THE END OF THIS BE A FOR SOME OF THE MOST BIGGEST FIGHTS IN OUR COUNTRY AND ARE FAR TOO OFTEN NEGLECTED BY FORCES THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEFENDING AND PROTECTING ALL OF US.
>> PRESIDENT JOHNSON, WHAT EASY AS BARRIERS TO ACCESS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER?
YOU MENTIONED THE LIST A LITTLE BEFORE.
WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO THE CONNECTION TO THE TRADITIONAL POLITICAL MACHINE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THOSE FOLKS TO GET INVOLVED, TO GET ON THE BALLOT, TO GET THEIR VOICES HEARD, TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE OF LEGISLATION?
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE WE HAVE DWINDLED THE CONVERSATION TO TWO POLITICAL PARTIES THAT QUARANTINE EFFORTS IN REGIONS OF THE STATE.
FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IF YOU LIVE IN THE DEEP SOUTH YOU ARE QUARANTINED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR INTEREST, THAT WORKS AGAINST YOUR SURVIVAL, AND IN MANY WAYS SEEKS TO DIMINISH HER VOICE.
OUR GOAL IS, HOW DO WE EXPAND THE LANDSCAPE SO PEOPLE CAN BE HEARD AND THEIR VOICES CAN BE FELT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY.
THE FACT THAT MISSISSIPPI CREATED PUBLIC POLICY THAT ENDED UP IN THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS NOW OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, IS A DIRECT EXAMPLE OF A WHOLE PHILOSOPHER COMMUNITY THAT VOICE HAS BEEN LEFT OUT.
JUST IN 2015 THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO ADOPT STATE PERSONHOOD BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS DEFEATED THAT BATTLE GROUND REFERENDUM BECAUSE THE MAJORITY PARTY IN THE STATE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AND GET IT IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT.
WE MUST AS A NATION GET OUT OF TRIBALISM, RECOGNIZE PUBLIC POLICY IS PIERMONT -- PARAMOUNT THE PEOPLE'’S VOICE AND THAT POLITICAL PARTIES ARE VEHICLES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE PARTIES IN THE SOUTH THAT WILL NOT RECOGNIZE AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN WEST VIRGINIA, WILL NOT RECOGNIZE POOR PEOPLE, WE WILL HAVE A LOPSIDED REALITY.
THAT SOMETIMES ONE PARTY WINS AND OF THE NEXT TIME ANOTHER PARTY WINS, BUT WHOLE COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT OUT ALL OF THE TIME.
>> ONE OF THE DATA POINTS ON THE WEBSITE FOR GROUNDWORK IS IN 20 PEOPLE OF COLOR MADE UP 20% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS BUT ONLY CAST AROUND 10% OF ALL BALLOTS.
THAT POWER GAP WAS NEARLY 50%.
IS IT THE BEST APPROACH THEN TO ADDRESS THAT?
THE FACT THAT WE ARE EMPOWERING CIVIL-RIGHTS LEADERS AS ACTIVISTS, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS?
>> IT IS A CRITICAL STEP DOING SO.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEEP SOUTH, APPALACHIA, AND THE PLANES.
DEMOCRACY IS EARNED.
DEMOCRACY HAS TO BE EXERCISED.
THAT IS TRUE NO MATTER WHERE, INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS.
WE SEE SIMILAR INEQUITIES EVEN IN THIS STATE AS PROGRESSIVE AND PROUD OF SOME OF US MIGHT BE.
YOU STILL SEE VOTER TURNOUT DIFFERENCES IN BOSTON AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.
YOU STILL SEE A CONCENTRATION OF RESOURCES IN GREATER BOSTON VERSUS OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, THE SOUTH COAST, SPRINGFIELD, WORCESTER.
THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO.
THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE GOING OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS, CHECKING IN OUR NEIGHBORS, ASKING THEM WHAT THEY ARE CONFRONTED WITH.
WHAT ARE ISSUES THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW CAN WE HELP?
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, ACROSS OUR COUNTRY YEAR-ROUND.
IT IS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE A BASIC RESPONSE ABILITY OF CITIZENSHIP.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT -- GET ASKED.
>> IN THIS NATION OF 60% OF THE TOTAL VOTING AGE POPULATION HAS HIGH TURNOUT THAT SHOULD BE AN EMBARRASSMENT.
IN CANADA YOU TALK ABOUT 92% VOTED FOR DISSIPATION AND IN GERMANY 93%.
IN AUSTRALIA, 96%.
WE HAVE TO OPEN ACCESS TO THE VOTING BRONX -- BOX SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO TRUE REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
ONE OF THE COUNTRIES SEEKING TO SHUT DOWN AXIS DEVOTING HIS FORMER CONFEDERATE STATES OUT OF THE FEAR OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND NOW THE EMERGENT LATINO COMMUNITY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IF THEY ARE CITIZENS.
IF WE DO THAT, WE OPEN OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH ACCESS AROUND GOVERNANCE, ENSURING GOVERNANCE IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL COMMUNITIES.
THAT'’S WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT.
HOW DO YOU GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN TARGETED STATES SIMILAR TO WHAT STACEY ABRAMS DID IN GEORGIA OPENING DEMOCRACY SO I'’LL VOICES CAN BE HEARD.
>> THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, THE LATEST COHORT HERE IS WORKING TO DO JUST THAT.
I WANT TO KNOW THE PROCESS IN SELECTING THESE FOLKS.
WE KNOW THAT ACCESS IS AN ISSUE AND NOT EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS IF THIS IS AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE HOPE TO GET FROM THE COHORT?
>> WE PUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS OUT.
IT WAS A TIGHT TIMELINE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD TO TRY TO BRING THIS TO OUR PARTNERS AT HARVARD AND WASHINGTON WITH THE BIDEN INSTITUTE AND AT JACKSON COLLEGE.
IN A COUPLE WEEKS WE HAD OVER 110 APPLICANTS.
WE SELECTED 16 FROM 26 STATES, AGES RANGING FROM 18 TO OVER 16 YEARS OLD.
THE APPLICANTS WE SELECTED WERE PREDOMINANTLY BETWEEN 20 AND 40.
THEY ARE FROM 11 STATES FROM WEST VIRGINIA, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, NEBRASKA, NEW YORK, OKLAHOMA.
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS, ONE, ALLOW THESE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN TALENT.
TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS AND ENABLE THEM TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP.
TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM SOME OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS IN THE COUNTRY AT SOME OF THESE PLACES.
TO BUILD CAMARADERIE AND COMMUNITY WITH THEM AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP OVER THE YEARS AHEAD, TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES OVER TIME AND START TO BUILD THE POLITICAL ECOSYSTEM THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE IN PLACES LIKE BOSTON OR CAMBRIDGE OR NEW YORK.
AND OTHER SPOTS OF THE COUNTRY.
>> MUCH HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE QUESTION.
IS WORK, LIKE THE GROUNDWORK PROJECT, IS WORK LIKE THE NAACP IS DOING, I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT CONVENTIONS COMING TO TOWN THIS YEAR.
IS THAT PART OF THIS STRANGE?
DO WE BELIEVE THAT SELECTION CYCLE WILL BE MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST TWO?
>> THIS IS PART OF THE CHANGE.
BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE, RIGHT?
THIS IS A REALITY.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, BE SEEN, AND HEARD AND BE RECOGNIZED AS PART OF A COMMUNITY UNORGANIZED, ALLOWING THOSE ORGANIZERS, FOLKS IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE CREDIBILITY AND HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT TO HONE THAT TALENT, THIS GOES BACK TO THE FOUNDING ASPECTS OF DEMOCRACY.
WHILE UNFORTUNATELY SOME ASPECTS OF THIS IS NEW, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO INVEST IN AND EXPAND HIS NEW.
WE SEE THE REAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DEMOCRACY DEFICIT.
IN PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY.
THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO TO BUILD A DEMOCRACY HOLY INCLUSIVE, FAIR, AND REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF US.
>> IT IS A WEIRD INFLECTION POINT FOR THIS COUNTRY.
BUT, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROGRESS.
THINK ABOUT MEMPHIS AND THE POLICE BRUTALITY THAT JUST TOOK PLACE.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY WAS ONLY BECAUSE WE WORKED REALLY HARD IN MEMPHIS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION TO REMOVE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT HAD BEEN THERE EIGHT YEARS THAT REFUSED TO ACCEPT DNA EVIDENCE.
SHE WAS HORRIBLE.
BUT WITHIN A WEEK WITH NEW DNA THE OFFICERS WERE SUSPENDED, FIRED, AND BROUGHT ON CHARGES.
THAT IS WHAT REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNANCE LOOKED LIKE.
WHERE PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE AND ENSURE THE SYSTEM IS ACCOUNTABLE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF WE CONTINUE TO GO IN THE WAY OF THE PAST ADMINISTRATION, WE WILL DEVOLVE INTO TRIBALISM.
NONE OF US CAN AFFORD THAT.
BECAUSE WE ARE PROGRESSING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS THE RESULT OF A GOOD VOTER TURNOUT IN 2020 AND AT THE END OF 2022, WE ARE SEEING PROGRESS MADE.
WHEN WE GET TO 2024, IT IS OUR HOPE AND GOAL TO EMPOWER MORE PEOPLE TO ADD THEIR VOICES, TALENTS, AND SKILLS TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS AWAY FROM TRIBALISM AND TRUE REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
>> SPEAKING OF THAT BOSTON HAS A CERTAIN REPUTATION.
WE HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT THE NAACP WILL BE HOLDING A CONVENTION THERE.
AS TANISHA SULLIVAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON CHAPTER SAID, IT'’S INTENTIONAL AND NOT A MISTAKE THAT IT IS HERE.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE WORK WE HOPE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED IN BOSTON.
>> >> FIRST, TANISHA SULLIVAN IS ONE OF THE MOST SKILLED AND TALENTED LEADERS IN THE ASSOCIATION.
BOSTON IS IMPORTANT, BUT BOSTON IS AMERICA.
I GREW UP IN DETROIT, THE MOST SEGREGATED METRO AREA IN THE COUNTRY.
I LIVED IN JACKSON MISSISSIPPI, ENOUGH SAID.
BOSTON HAD A UNIQUE HISTORY LIKE THE REST OF AMERICA.
BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE NOT ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BUT THE NAACP WITH THE GOAL OF NOT ONLY BEING IN THE CONVENTION CENTER BUT GETTING INTO COMMUNITIES TO SHOW THAT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, PLURAL, IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION.
WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IN THE CITY.
IN 2020 THE PANDEMIC HIT AT IN THE WORLD WENT UPSIDE DOWN.
NOW, WE HOPE TO COME FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RICHNESS OF THE BOSTON COMMUNITY AND BRING REAL, SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATIONS ROUTE EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND OPPORTUNITY.
>> THIS PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH THE COHORT AND YOU ARE IN TOWN TO CONNECT WITH THEM.
THERE WILL BE LOTS OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING.
WE HAVE A FORM TONIGHT AT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL AT HARVARD.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMMING TOMORROW AND SATURDAY.
GREAT SITES, INSTITUTIONS, HISTORY IN BOSTON AS WELL.
AND A LOT OF WORKING AND COLLABORATING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO AS WELL IS THE BACK-AND-FORTH THAT THIS COHORT IS ACTUALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE STUDENTS OF HARVARD, UNIVERSITY.
UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE.
IT CAN TAKE PLACE ON BOTH SIDES, AND OPPORTUNITIES WILL COME FROM THAT.
FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE.
JUST TO WATCH TALENT INTERACT IN THAT ENVIRONMENT TO SEE THE GOOD THAT WILL COME FROM IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
JOE KENNEDY, DERRICK JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
FOR MORE INFORMATION HAD TO THE ORGANIZING -- THEORGANIZING ACCELORATOR.ORG.
THIS ASTRONAUT HAS BEEN TRAVELING THE WORLD VISITING THE PLACES HE STOPPED FROM ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SHARING THE LESSONS HE LEARNED OUT THEY ARE ABOUT LIFE DOWN HERE ON EARTH.
AMONG HIS LATEST STOPS, THE GBH STUDIO AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WHERE HE SAT DOWN WITH JARED BOWEN FOR A WIDE-RANGING CONVERSATION ABOUT IT ALL.
>> SCOTT KELLY, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> YOU BROKE THE RECORD FOR TIME SPENT IN SPACE.
ALMOST A FULL YEAR THERE VARIANT HOW YOU -- A FULL YEAR THERE.
HOW DO YOU ENCAPSULATE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE LIVING IN SPACE FOR ALMOST A FULL YEAR?
>> IT IS HARD.
IT IS CERTAINLY EXCITING.
A LOT OF STUFF IS FUN BUT HARDSHIP GOES WITH IT.
BEING AWAY FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
BEING AWAY FROM EARTH.
PARTICULARLY, THE WEATHER.
BEING ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE.
SO, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING I THINK I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
>> WHAT IS IT FEEL LIKE?
WEEKEND NOT UNDERSTAND.
WOULD WE ARE WATCHING IT IT LOOKS LIKE A GRACEFUL LIFTOFF.
WE ARE SEEING,, SERENE PICTURES OF YOU ALL INSIDE.
>> WHEN THE SHUTTLE LIFTS OFF IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS LIFTING OFF SLOWLY.
WHEN YOU ARE INSIDE THERE IS NOTHING SLOW ABOUT IT.
YOU GET THE FEELING YOU ARE GOING SOMEWHERE.
YOU ARE NOT SURE WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
BUT YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT COMING BACK TO FLORIDA.
IT IS A WILD RIDE.
7 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST INSTANTLY WHEN THE SOLID ROCKET MOTORS LIFE.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR WHERE WE CAN GO NEXT?
>> I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM AND PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WE WILL SEND A CREW OF FOUR PEOPLE AROUND THE MOON.
IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE THAT SINCE THE EARLY 1970'’S.
IT'’S VERY EXCITING.
WITH THE GOAL OF FIVE OR MAYBE, I DON'’T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS LATER, LANDING PEOPLE ON THE MOON.
AND, HAVING A LUNAR SPACE STATION, LUNAR ORBIT, MAY BE POTENTIALLY, A LUNAR BASE SOMETIMES.
ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO GO TO MARS.
THERE'’S A LOT WE CAN LEARN FROM GOING TO MARS AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THE NEXT 50, 100 YEARS, I THINK THE BIG GOAL IS TO PUT HUMAN BOOTS ON MARS.
HOPEFULLY, I WILL GET TO SEE THAT SOMEDAY.
>> WE WILL START WITH THE PTOSIS, THE MOON LANDING.
WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT TO GO BACK THERE?
IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 50 YEARS AT THIS POINT.
>> WE CAN LEARN A LOT FOR OUR FUTURE MISSION TO MARS.
THE MONISM THAT SOME THE MOON IS ONLY A COUPLE DAYS AWAY VERSUS HUNDREDS OF DAYS AWAY.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU CAN GET HOME QUICKLY.
IF YOU ARE IN MARS -- ARE ON MARS, YOU CANNOT.
THE MOON IS 1/6 THE SIZE OF EARTH.
1/6 THE AMOUNT OF GRAVITY COMPARED TO MARS, ONE THIRD.
SO, LESS GRAVITY MAKES CERTAIN THINGS EASIER FOR YOUR -- THE DESIGN OF YOUR MARKET, YOUR OPERATIONS, WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THEM.
THERE IS NO ATMOSPHERE ON THE MOON.
THAT HAS SOME ADVANTAGES.
MARS HAS A LITTLE BIT OF ATMOSPHERE.
IT ALMOST SEEMS AS IF IT WAS PUT THERE FOR US TO PRACTICE WITH.
ALSO, CHINA HAS PLANS TO LAND PEOPLE ON THE MOON BY 2029I THINK.
SO, WE USED THIS GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITION DURING THE 1960'’S AND 1970'’S TO GET TO THE MOON.
I THINK THERE IS STILL AN ARGUMENT FOR THE SAME REASONS, TO GO BACK BEFORE THE CHINESE.
>> SPEAKING OF GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITION, YOU WERE ON BOARD INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WITH RUSSIANS.
THEY WERE YOUR COLLEAGUES UP THERE.
WHAT IS IT THAT RELATIONSHIP LIKE NOW?
WELL, WITH SOME OF MY RUSSIAN FRIENDS, IT HAS CHANGED, BUT NOT IN A BAD WAY, NECESSARILY.
BECAUSE, SOME RUSSIANS I KNOW FEEL VERY SIMILAR ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE AS I DO AND MANY AMERICANS DO.
THAT THIS IS WRONG.
WE ARE COMMITTING MORE CRIMES.
IT IS A THREAT TO FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD.
SO, A LOT OF THEM THAT I KNOW FEEL THAT WAY, WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
IT MAY BECOME A TWO UPSET -- EXCEPTIONS.
THEY ARE ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED, RIGHT, BY THE WHOLE THING.
THAT THEIR COUNTRY IS DOING THIS.
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THESE ULTRANATIONALIST RUSSIANS DO.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST DEFENDING THEMSELVES FROM HOW THEY HAVE DESCRIBED, YOU KNOW, THE NAZIS AND NATO.
IT'’S NONSENSE.
SOME OF THE FOLKS I KNOW ARE --, YOU KNOW, THEY SEEMED AT THE TIME TO BE SMART PEOPLE.
THEY SEEMED TO BE GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD FRIENDS.
SOMEHOW, THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY BRAINWASHED AND IT IS SAD TO SEE.
MY HOPES ARE THAT SOMEDAY THEY WILL COME AROUND, BACK AROUND TO REALITY.
>> YOU HAVE GOT TO KNOW PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY.
WHAT DO YOU SEE UNFOLDING THERE?
WHAT ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THIS WILL PLAY OUT?
>> IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR I WAS A REAL ADVOCATE FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
I HAD SOME UKRAINIAN AMERICAN FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS.
I AM ALSO A BIG BELIEVER IN FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
I THINK IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS NOT ONLY A THREAT TO UKRAINIAN SOVEREIGNTY, BUT ALSO, A THREAT TO JUSTICE THE IDEA OF LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY FOR -- FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD.
SO, I HAD A BIG PLATFORM, A BIG SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AS A RESULT.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN SPACE.
A LOT OF MY FOLLOWERS ARE ALSO IN RUSSIA.
I WROTE A BOOK THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN RUSSIAN.
SO, I FELT LIKE MAYBE I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE TRYING TO GIVE THE RUSSIANS SOME REAL INFORMATION.
SO, EARLY ON IN THE WAR I TRIED TO DO THAT.
OFTEN IN RUSSIAN.
I GOT KIND OF SIDEWAYS WITH THE HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN SPACE PROGRAM AFTER HE THREATENED TO LEAVE AMERICAN SPACE.
HE ALSO THREATENED NUCLEAR WAR AND STUFF TOO.
BUT, YEAH, AND, I RAISED A BUNCH OF MONEY ON MY OWN.
INITIATIVE.
THAT WAS NOTICED BY THE UKRAINIANS.
THEY ASKED ME TO COME ON BOARD AND HELP WITH THE FUNDRAISER TO RAISE MONEY FOR AMBULANCES.
>> DO YOU EVER GET SO USED TO BEING THERE THAT YOU STOP THINKING ABOUT THE FACT YOU ARE >> LIVING IN SPACE?
>>NO.
YOU NEVER REALLY FEEL COMPLETELY NORMAL OR FORGET.
EVEN DESPITE THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH AND HOW INCREDIBLE IT IS, WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT FOR A YEAR FROM THE SPACE STATION, YOU GET PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
ONE TIME I OPENED THE WINDOW SHADE.
VERY QUICKLY I NOTICED THIS SAND , ON EARTH, THIS PATCH OF SAND, THAT JUST FROM THE TEXTURE AND COLOR, I KNEW IT WAS THIS LITTLE PASS OF DESERT NORTH OF MOGADISHU IN SOMALIA WITHIN SECONDS.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, MAYBE IT'’S TIME TO GO HOME.
>> DID YOUR NOTION OF WHAT EARTH IS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE EVER CHANGE WHEN YOU HAVE THIS MUCH DISTANCE AND YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN AT IT?
>> YES.
OFTEN ASTRONAUTS TALK ABOUT THIS THING CALLED THE OVERVIEW EFFECT.
ORBITAL PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK I HAVE HEARD THOSE TERMS.
BASICALLY, WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE EARTH FROM SPACE YOU UNDERSTAND JUST HOW FRAGILE THE ENVIRONMENT IS.
OUR ATMOSPHERE LOOKS LIKE A FILM OVER THE SURFACE.
ALMOST LIKE A CONTACT LENS OVER SOMEBODY'’S EYES.
YOU SEE PARTS OF THE PLANET ALMOST ALWAYS COVERED IN POLLUTION.
ASIA, AREAS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
YOU KNOW THAT THE UNITED STATES IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLLUTERS IN THE WORLD.
IT IS THE TYPE OF POLLUTION YOU CANNOT SEE.
NOT WHERE IT WOULD OBSCURE THE GROUND.
SO, YOU KNOW POLLUTION IS A BIG PROBLEM.
YOU SEE THE RAIN FOREST IN SOUTH AMERICA.
I NOTICED OVER THE COURSE OF MY TIME IN SPACE, EVERY TIME I FLEW, IT SEEMED TO GET WORSE AND WORSE.
MORE CLEARED FIELDS, MORE BURNING FIELDS.
YOU ALSO SEE THE PLANET WITH NO POLITICAL ORDER LIKE YOU ARE USED TO SEEING ON A MAP.
IT MAKES YOU THINK, WE ARE ALL IN THIS THING CALLED HUMANITY TOGETHER.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES AROUND THE WORLD WITH WHETHER IT IS CLIMATE OR OTHERWISE.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ONE SIDE OF THE PLANET CAN AFFECT THE REST OF THE PLANET VERY QUICKLY.
AS WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO, I THINK IT GIVES A GOOD SHIFT TO YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ALSO, ON HUMANITY.
>> YOU HAVE HAD A REALLY INTERESTING PURSUIT BEING BACK ON EARTH VISITING PLACES THAT CAPTIVATED YOU FROM IN SPACE.
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE TO VISIT THEM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL?
>> THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT REALLY CATCH YOUR EYE FROM SPACE.
THE BAHAMAS OR SO.
SUCH AN EXPANSIVE AREA OF BLUE.
THAT IT JUST REALLY IS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL.
SO, I HAVE BEEN TO THE BAHAMAS BEFORE, BUT I WENT A COUPLE TIMES AFTER I HAVE BEEN BACK.
THERE ARE THESE LITTLE TINY COLORFUL LAKES NORTH OF THE HIMALAYAS AND TIBET.
I HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE I HAVE BEEN BACK.
WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS A LOT OF PLACES.
THAT I HAVE WANTED TO GO AS A RESULT FROM LOOKING AT IT IN SPACE.
THE SPOT BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND, THAT STREAK.
I HAVE BEEN THERE.
I MEAN ALL OF IT.
I HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PLACES SINCE I HAVE BEEN BACK.
PLACES I DECIDED WHEN I WAS IN SPACE I WANTED TO GO.
>> FINALLY, YOU ARE WEARING THE NASA BEEN TO SIGNAL TENACITY WILL GO BACK AT A MOMENTS NOTICE?
>> I WOULD GO BACK INTO SPACE, BUT NOT FOREVER.
I WOULD NOT DO THE ONE-WAY MISSION TO MARS.
NOT INTERESTED.
>> SCOTT KELLY, THINK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> YES, MY PLEASURE.
>> THAT IS IT TONIGHT BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS.
THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE COMING FOR THE STATE'’S COASTLINE.
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION EFFORTS WILL BE COMPENSATED AND COSTLY.
WHO WILL PAY FOR IT?
ADAM REILLY AND HIS PANEL WILL DIG INTO THAT.
PLUS, TO GOVERNOR HALEY'’S NEW TAX AND BUDGET PROPOSALS LIVE UP TO THE PROMISES MADE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
I AM CRYSTAL HAYES.
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