Ralph Nader to Speak at BCC

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Ralph Nader
Consumer advocate and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader will speak at Berkshire Community on Saturday afternoon, April 21, at 2 in the college’s Robert Boland Theatre. His presentation, “Challenging Corporate Power and Building Democracy,” is free and open to the public but requires a ticket for admission. Tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis through the Office of Student Life in the Susan B. Anthony Center on BCC’s main campus in Pittsfield. Office hours are Monday - Friday from 8 to 4. Tickets may be obtained in-person, by phone or e-mail. Tickets for walk-in requests will be available beginning Monday, April 9. Requests to reserve tickets may be made now through Thursday, April 19, by calling 413-236-1660, or by e-mailing mzancona@berkshirecc.edu. No more than 10 tickets may be reserved per call or e-mail. Reserved tickets may be held in the theatre’s box office for pickup on April 21. Tickets that are not claimed by 1:50 will be released for walk-in requests. E-mail requests should include “Ralph Nader tickets” in the subject line. The text of the message should include the first and last name of the person making the request, number of tickets requested, and a statement specifying whether the tickets should be held at the box office or prepared for earlier pickup at the Office of Student Life. Named as “One of the 100 Most Influential Americans of the Twentieth Century” by Time magazine, and more recently as “One of the 100 Most Influential Figures in American History” by The Atlantic Monthly magazine, Nader began his public life in 1965 with the publication of his book “Unsafe at Any Speed,” in which he accused the auto industry of disregarding their customer’s safety. The Senate hearing into his accusations and the resulting motor safety laws catapulted Nader into the public sphere. In subsequent years, working with lawmakers, Nader was instrumental in creating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Commission. He also helped to draft and pass such laws as the Safe Drinking Water Act, Meat and Poultry Inspection Rules, Air and Water Pollution Control, and Freedom of Information Act. Working to empower the average American, Nader has formed numerous citizen groups, including the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, Pension Rights Center, National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest, and the student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) that operate in more than 20 states. Recently the subject of the critically acclaimed documentary, “An Unreasonable Man,” Nader is also the author of a number of best-selling books including “Winning the Insurance Game,” “Why Women Pay More” and “Getting the Best From Your Doctor.” More recent books include “Children First: A Parents Guide to Fighting Corporate Predators” and “The Seventeen Traditions.” A question and answer period, and a book signing, will follow his presentation. Forum credit is available for BCC students.
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Companion Corner: Freya, Fudge & Charlotte

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If looking for the perfect feline pet, why not triple the fun? There's a threesome at Berkshire Humane Society waiting for a family to call their own.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

We highlighted Freya, Charlotte and Fudge last month and they are still looking for their new home together. 

Kittens Fudge and Charlotte and their mother, Freya, have been at the shelter and in a foster home since April. All three have tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), often described as feline HIV/AIDS

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to them. 

"They originally were brought in from animal control. The conditions weren't the best in the home. But when they came in, they were tested positive for feline AIDS (FIV). We do send our kittens normally to foster programs to get socialized with the mom. So they got sent to a foster program for about two months to get socialized," she said.

The shelter preferably would like the three to as a family, and to a home with respectful children that will keep them inside.

"We would prefer if they could all go together, but they are a very sweet trio of kitties. They would have to be indoor only because of them being feline AIDS positive," Petell said. "It is OK for them to go into a home with other cats. We prefer if they go into a home with feline AIDS-positive cats, but even if they are negative for feline AIDS, as long as they're not actively scratching each other and biting each other to transmit it, then it should be OK."

Each cat has their own personality. The two kittens love to play with an abundance of toys; one is shy and the other is outgoing. They both like to curl up and sleep in your lap once they get to know you.

It turns out that Fudge is actually a girl. In our previous article, he was mistakenly identified as a boy. 

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