January 7, 1974 - Both Richard Banks and Russell Means express their views on the Wounded Knee trial. Banks speaks first, interrupted by Means. He says Wounded Knee happened because of over 200 years of neglect by the BIA, total repressive action on the reservation. There's been total ignorance of treaties and sacred trust. The U.S. is on trial because of treaty rights. The trial is for all American people and their constitutional rights. Gladys Bissonette: "American government has put us under so much repression that we cannot stand up under it any more. After Wounded Knee we can stand up and fight back for our children, our people who are suffering".William Kunstler: "If we get a fair and impartial jury it will see through the grotesque and bizarre federal conspiracy prosecutions that have the goal of curtailing social movements. The trial has nothing to do with claims of indictment whatsoever, has to do with destruction of an entire movement. The government is trying to buy off witnesses."
January 7, 1974 - MPR’s Greg Barron presents an audio montage of news reports, music, poetry, eyewitness accounts and interviews before and after the 1973 military coup in Chile.
January 8, 1974 - Nixon recently urged the country to increase carpooling efforts. 3M has a carpool plan in place already due to the need to reduce traffic congestion at the complex. The company supplies commuter vans for carpools. Helen Seaver talks about how drivers are chosen and how the system works. She said the program was so popular the company had trouble finding enough vans. Howie Woll talks about his experience as a driver with the van program. He says he sold the family?s second car, can use the van for personal use, and talks about van features. Seaver says employees are happy with the program. The company has received inquiries from companies wanting to start similar programs.
January 8, 1974 - First speaker talks bout how the trial affects her personally because she?s Indian, it will affect her children, and says anything in that courtroom affect all Indians in the country, if treaties aren?t honored every Indian in the country will be affected. Second speaker says the Indians were first here. White people and immigrants who came here have a lot to learn about how to relate to the land and live in a cooperative and communal way. Indians know how to make use of resources and land without damaging and exploiting it.
January 8, 1974 - A public meeting was held to determine if an environmental impact statement (EIS) would be required before a proposed Northern States Power (NSP) fossil fuel plant could be built near Henderson, Minnesota. Both the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) agreed to the preparation of an EIS, with the PCA (Pollution Control Agency) being the lead agency in the preparation in consultation with the DNR (Department of Natural Resources). SAVE, (Save American?s Vital Energy), a Henderson citizen group, was present to express their views. They were pleased with the EIS decision but were concerned they were only allowed to speak after much discussion had already taken place. Reporter voiceover, no actualities.
January 8, 1974 - Speaker Skendnatore(sp?)talks about security in place for the AIM trial. Areas of heightened security include the St. Paul AIM Center, and the Federal building. The speaker hopes to discourage major congregations by AIM supporters at the federal building, with most rallies taking place in the neighborhoods near the AIM Center.
January 10, 1974 - The ADA, a liberal citizen activist group, has done a survey of votes by legislators on on public interest issues. Don Stoll (sp?) explains the group believes in legislative accountability and provides legislative performance to the public. He says any bias in the survey is against special interest legislation. Rep. Neil Dietrich of St. Paul says he?s seen voting against proposals because of the authorship, DFL or GOP, not the issue.
January 14, 1974 - Baron Stig Ramel, CEO of the Nobel Foundation, speaking at Nobel Conference X: The Quest for Peace held at Gustavus Adolphus College. Ramel’s speech was titled “Nationalism and International Peace.”
January 16, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten reports on Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson’s State of the State address, with the "energy crisis" being Anderson’s highest priority and support for a separate Department of Energy to address this issue. He also supports the federal 55 MPH bill to save on gasoline usage and Campaign finance reform.
January 16, 1974 - A proposed Minnesota bill will create a seperate Department of Energy. Republicans oppose it. Another bill will grant $10,000 towards the Rosemount Energy House (a University of Minnesota project) to experiment with solar and wind energy.