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Greeting Earthlings. We had a lot of Earth Day events recently, so many in fact that many folks began using the term "Earth Week". We say, why stop there? A reminder: Arbor Day is upon us! Yes, a special day focused just on trees and you know we're all about that on this show and with that in mind we have a special announcement: d.o.'s new collection of poetry & prose titled "It's the Trees" is launching. More on that later, for now we'll introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those whose brains were small" as well as our Doublespeak of the Week and way more but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! When bunnies attack.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is a repeat offender. Repugnican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) is all about undermining the Judiciary branch of government in the MAGA/DOGE coup. Repugs "have railed against federal judges after a string of rulings have slowed down President Donald Trump’s agenda. As a result, congressional [Repugs] have explored several options to counteract the rulings, including the No Rogue Rulings Act led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA).....[they] have also introduced several articles of impeachment against federal judges. The House Judiciary Committee held a joint subcommittee hearing... on judicial overreach which saw lawmakers clashing over threats to impeach the judges. The No Rogue Ruling Act will now head to the Senate, where its path is more unclear as the legislation will need to clear the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) praised the passing of the legislation, saying in a statement shortly after the floor vote that the bill “ensures that policy decisions remain with the democratically elected branches of government, not unelected judges.” Whoa Jimmy! Have you read The Constitution lately??
Time for a classic Doublespeak of the Week. In the wake of the January 6 insurrection His Malignancy and the MAGA freaks "began working diligently to re-write history: The offenders weren't Trump supporters, they were Antifa or the FBI, or they were “tourists” peacefully visiting the Capitol. Those who were convicted of crimes were treated very poorly and therefore they should all be pardoned (and they were). Until finally, we are expected to believe that January 6th was actually “a day of love”. So much for love.
We have Breaking News! d.o.'s new book "It's the Trees" has its launch on Arbor Day. How fitting is that. He will do a sneak preview during the show but radio and podcasts go only so far. To get the full effect loyal listeners and others can get copies of the book for themselves and as gifts for their loved ones. It's the tactile experience of the printed word! Perfect for your bathroom library too. Go HERE to order copies from our friends at Levellers Press. Celebrate Arbor Day. Rumor has it d.o. will be on this week's........interview?
Back to the Bad Guys. Yes, His Malignancy The Mad King and his MAGA enablers continue the traitorous work of trying to tear the nation apart starting at the heart in Washington, DC. That said, where to start? Since we broadcast The Enviro Show from the Five College Area of Massachusetts how about we start with the universities pushing back? Our own Rachel Maddow did a good segment on that in a recent MSNBC show. Out here in the Commonwealth there are well attended protests against any number of His Malignancy's fascist unconstitutional moves almost daily in the streets. We can hardly keep up with the number of events on our Bus Stop Billboard. Meanwhile, The Mad King's war against wind power (screaming against the wind?) was underlined recently in Inside Climate News: "Trump Administration Halts Construction on New York Offshore Wind Project". His Malignancy has always been sensitive about being rejected, if not reviled by high profile New Yorkers. So, this move is just another example of his thin skinned antics. "The halting of construction at Empire Wind 1 could lead to further delays for the state’s energy transition. The... administration’s stop work order is also likely to sow uncertainty well beyond the downstate regions of New York." That said, the growing push back against The Mad King from many corners is encouraging. Case in point: "Judge blocks Trump EPA from clawing back billions in Biden-era climate grants." And this from Rolling Stone: "The Court Battle to Stop Trump’s $20 Billion Climate Clawback." There's a new hashtag making the rounds out there: #TrumpIsFailing. Finally, we hear His Malignancy wants to mess with our state climate actions? We don't think so! Go HERE to tell your Gov no way.
It's not all good news for the climate when far too many ignore the fact that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" This very recent study on tipping points should give them pause: "Scientists .... released yet another study warning that humankind is at risk of triggering various climate "tipping points" absent urgent action to dramatically reduce planet-heating emissions from fossil fuels." How about the risk to life? Read it and weep....then Stand Up/Fight Back! Longtime Enviro Show listeners well know we are forever promoting natural solutions to carbon capture. That's why it's disturbing to read: "The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere last year grew at the fastest rate in recorded history — a dramatic spike that scientists fear may indicate that Earth’s ecosystems are so stressed by warming they can no longer absorb much of the pollution humanity emits." Of course, lawless logging is only part of the problem, given all the government sanctioned logging out there. Yet, lawless operations must be challenged given the slippery slope they represent. You can act on that HERE & HERE.
Our Critter of the Week this time is the Jaguar. They "are the only big cat in the Americas and the third biggest in the world after tigers and lions. They look a lot like leopards, which live in Africa and Asia, but jaguars’ spots are more complex and often have a dot in the center". [Btw] "Black panthers do not form a distinct species, but are melanistic specimens of the genus, most often encountered in the leopard and jaguar." "Jaguars once roamed broadly from central Argentina all the way up to the southwestern United States. Since the 1880s, they’ve lost more than half their territory. Their main stronghold today is the Amazon Basin, though they still exist in smaller numbers through Central America as well. Jaguars face a number of threats, including habitat fragmentation and illegal killing. South and Central America’s high rates of deforestation—for grazing land, agriculture, and other uses—have not only destroyed jaguars’ habitat but also broken it up. Fragmented forests mean that cats get boxed into patches of forest and can’t travel far to find new mates. That kind of isolation can lead to inbreeding and local extinctions. Fighting deforestation, which a number of international NGOs and indigenous groups are involved in, is critical."
On to "Their Brains Were small and They Died" segment where we find the current occupants of both The White House and the Dept. of Interior in full reactionary mode. Like the dinosaurs of old, these guys just keep munching away at our Public Lands while the asteroid of climate chaos bears down on all of us. His Malignancy's " day-one executive orders and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s secretarial orders ... positioned drilling and mining interests as the favored users of America’s public lands and threatened to scrap existing land protections and conservation measures. Following those orders, assistant secretaries were supposed to have submitted action plans to Secretary Burgum...with steps to review, revise and rescind protections for potentially hundreds of special places nationwide. The department has not yet commented on the content of these plans or committed to any public input or transparency around the process." Hopefully underlings who have yet to be shown the door are dragging their feet. And yes, this same mindlessness is going on in The National Forest Service. First the clearcuts then "Drill baby, drill". Wild Earth Guardians is on the case: "Sign our petition calling on Congress to protect federal forests from [the] chopping block. All those monsters will be dead someday but will the asteroid wait for that?
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we replay Defenders of Wildlife's recent alert:
"Congress is considering legislation that would eviscerate the Endangered Species Act – contact your legislators TODAY to tell them you oppose this massive betrayal of threatened and endangered species!"
"Of greatest concern is H.R. 1897, a bill that would drastically rewrite the ESA and which could receive a House vote later this spring. And the Senate is considering whether to include provisions from this bill as part of legislative packages it is developing. Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-Ark.) so-called ESA Amendments Act would be more aptly called the Extinction Act, as that’s just what it would do – drive species already on the brink of extinction over the edge."
Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week may be a repeat but it's in keeping with the moment:
“Deep down, at the molecular heart of life, the trees, and we are essentially identical.”
— Carl Sagan
After our interview with.....um....yours truly? It's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Tuesdays, 4-6pm Hold banners, signs and flags, on I-91 overpass to show people that they are not alone -
and help give them the courage to join us and take a stand against the Coup & DOGE. Please make signs with very few words and very big and bold letters. Come even if you don't have a sign, we'll have plenty! Here's the link for more info and to register:https://mobilize.us/s/4Gq1hs We've
added this coming Sunday and Thursday, from 4-6 pm, at the
same location: the I-91 overpass at Mountain Park Rd, Holyoke.You can
sign up for Sunday or Thursday on Mobilize: Sunday 3/23, 3:30pm. - https://www.mobilize.us/
ALSO: Tuesdays 4-5pm. No Kings Weekly Vigil, Park Square, Elm and Main Streets (Route 20) Westfield, MA 01085 AND Tuesdays 3:30 – 5pm. 12 Mountain Dr. Overpass, Hatfield, MA 01038
Weekly on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The MA State House Stand Out is back in a new incarnation! This historic climate action lasted for 14 months and engaged hundreds of volunteers from across the climate movement. Volunteers are needed!The new version, lovingly referred to as Stand Out Two, happens at the Massachusetts State House between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This is a great way to participate in the climate movement with no risk
of arrest! Volunteers normally sign up for a 2 hour “shift." If you have questions about the Stand Out or would like to get a link to the sign-up sheet please contact organizers at fossilfuels.standout.ma@
Every Saturday. Geendfield Standout for a Ceasefire.. 11 a.m.-noon, On the green by Court Square
Saturday May 3, 10-11am : May Day! May Day!: South Hadley Stands up for Democracy on the National Day of Action.
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. South Hadley Town Commons Across the street from US
Post Office. Join us in South Hadley to stand united for our
democracy against Trump, Musk, and billionaire profiteers. They’re
defunding our schools, privatizing public services, slashing important
programs and funds, attacking our rights, and targeting immigrant
families with fear and violence. This is a war on working people—and we
will not stand down. We want a future that works for us. Our union has
always been a work in progress, but when faced with threats, our
democratic values have prevailed. Let us not be the generation that
fails to stand up for our cherished democracy.We are the many. They are
the few. Join the fight. More information
Saturday May 3, 11am to 3pm. Planet Fiesta - Youth Living for a Sustainable Future. Games; Booths; Food; Entertainment; Workshops & More. Longmeadow Green, Longmeadow, MA.
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Saturday May 3, 1 pm - 3 pm. Elon Takedown Western MA, Hadley, 25 Russell Street, (Rt.9) Hadley, MA. Pride Station Public Sidewalks near Tesla Supercharging Station. Rain or Shine. Elon's busy wreaking havoc, and we're busy letting our fellow citizens and elected officials know how we feel about it. What's the message? Elon Musk is an unelected political actor. He's causing tremendous damage to our government, and is hurting people who work(ed) for governmental agencies, and people who are served by governmental agencies. Elon Musk is hurting our country and its people.
Saturday, May 3, 7-9pm {doors open 6:30; reservations expire at 6:45}. Voices of Working People’s History, a free program of dramatic readings and lots of songs, with emphasis on Western Mass. voices, telling the origin story of May Day as International Workers’ Day in Chicago with an inspiring introduction to US labor history up to present-day voices of workers rising up ~ inspired by Howard Zinn. Produced by Warren J. Plaut Charitable Trust, Wellspring Cooperatives, and LightHouse Holyoke.Sponsored by the Western Mass. Area Labor Federation and The Enviro Show (list in formation; please reply if you want to sponsor). LightHouse Holyoke, 92 Race Street, Holyoke {on street parking}. Seating is limited! Reserve seats by May 1st here. There’s no charge. Donations to cover costs accepted here or send a check to Warren J. Plaut Charitable Trust, 25 High St, Granby MA 01033, memo: Voices.
Tuesday May 6, 4:00–6:00 p.m. Rally for Clean Air on World Asthma Day: Bremen Street Community Park Amphitheater, 344 Bremen St., Boston, MA 02128. Thank you for taking action to help protect clean air across Massachusetts. We invite you to take the next step and attend an upcoming event organized with the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Table in East Boston.
Tuesday May 6, 6:00 pm. Speaker Series: Rewilding Across Continents. The webinar will feature
Kathleen Fitzgerald, Sebastián Di Martino, and Tom Butler, veteran
conservationists with decades of combined experience rewilding
landscapes and ecosystems across North America, South America, and
Africa. Fitzgerald and Di Martino will give presentations on their work,
followed by a discussion moderated by Butler comparing key insights and
reasons for hope. Register HERE.
Tuesday, May 6, the Franklin Park Defenders invite you to a community discussion on the White Stadium project. As the City of Boston and Boston Unity Soccer Partners continue efforts to build an oversized, overpriced, for-profit professional sports and entertainment complex in Franklin Park, we want to hear from neighbors and park users on the project’s updated transportation plan, the opportunity for a fully-public alternative, and the legal action to enforce environmental law and protect public parks. Register online here.
Thursday May 8, 6 p.m. Join Responsible Solar MA to discuss important solar siting-related actions relating to EFSB and DOER solar siting hearings. Zoom link to come soon! Also, a reminder: if you are interested in the Smart Solar MA google group, please fill out this form, and also let them know what you would find most useful from this Responsible Solar MA group. Learn more about this issue on the Responsible Solar MA web site HERE.
Thursday May 8, 7 - 8pm. Would you like more of Massachusetts public forests to be protected from logging? Join the Sierra Club MA Forest Protection team's virtual webinar to learn about our efforts to preserve the public lands surrounding the Quabbin, Ware, and Wachusett reservoirs and how you can take action! Go HERE.
Friday May 9, 11:30am – 12:30pm. White Rose Rally! Northampton City Hall, 210 Main St. Northampton, MA 01060. May
9th commemorates the White Rose Movement, a student led non-violent
resistance group that urged the German people to oppose Hitler and his
fascist regime. “We will not be silent,” was the powerful statement used by the White Rose in Nazi Germany. And we cannot be silent today. After listening to speakers in front of City Hall, participants will
spread out along the sidewalks of Main Street downtown to proclaim our
message of resistance. Go HERE.
Friday May 9, 4 - 5:30 pm. Hands Off Students Visibility Standout. Kendrick Park, Amherst, MA. Rain or Shine. Join us to show support for students, researchers, faculty, colleges, and universities targeted and harmed by the Trump Regime! Visit indivisiblewestquabbin.org for more actions you can take!
Saturday May 10, 10 AM - 4 PM. [Rescheduled] Amherst, MA Sustainability Festival. Amherst Town Common. Join us for a day of family fun, education and entertainment. The Sustainability Festival is in its 13th year! There is literally something for everyone with vendors of renewable energy, energy efficiency product suppliers, advocacy groups as well as sustainable crafts and artisans! Go HERE.
Saturday May 10, 11am-3pm. FIRST EVER Teen Tree Summit & Exhibit at the Foundry in East Cambridge! RSVP Today! Canopy Crew is an internship program from Green Cambridge focused on building the next generation of environmental and civic leaders by planting trees on private property across the city. The Crew has organized this Summit & Exhibit to showcase the importance of trees!
Monday May 12, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm. It is time again to stand up and support the Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda. We need more legislative senators and representatives to co-sponsor the bills. We need more community organizations and individuals to endorse the bills. We need everyone to join our action day at the State House. Goals: – Center Indigenous Voices. & – Gather Co-Sponsors for our 5 Bills. Schedule: – 11:30 Rally and Get Organized; – 12:30 Head Into the Statehouse to Visit legislators with fact sheets and invite to briefing; – 1:30 Briefing in Room 428; – 2:30 Close. Sign up to attend.
Monday May 12, 1 to 3pm. The Climate Action Now Cultivating Relationships group is building an action-focused volunteer team to support local farms. We have a special invitation for hands-on volunteering at the Farm for The Food Bank of Western Mass. Text "May 12th Project" with your name to Dan at 413-244-6559 if you would like to participate or have questions.
Wednesday May 14, 11am Excited to announce the Fix the Grid Campaign's next big action: ISO-NE Doesn't Play Well With Others -- a rally for reform on the Boston Common! We've spent a year working with researchers on a detailed report card
evaluating every regional electric grid operator in the country on their
governance practices. How well do they do on transparency,
accessibility, and accountability? How well do they engage with and
listen to the public, to the people who foot the bill for the entire
system? The grades are in, and our region came in dead last. Join Fix the Grid on Wednesday, May 14th at 11am on
the Boston Common to demonstrate that the people want reforms -- it's
past time for a passing grade on governance. After a rally on the Common
near the statehouse, we'll walk to 100 Cambridge St to deliver the
report card to state offices. Be sure to invite your friends to come
along!
Thursday May 15, 7pm. Free Online Webinar: Microplastics’ Impact on the Brain & Heart. Recent studies have found small fragments of plastics known as
microplastics in the human brain and heart arteries. These studies have
also shown a link between the presence of microplastics and adverse
health outcomes. How do these tiny bits of plastic enter our bodies and
make their way into our brains and our hearts? And what happens when
they lodge there? Register HERE.
That's it folks except to remember to listen to your Mother.
