Blog Archive

Thursday, March 14, 2024

A "Timber Targets" Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings & Happy Spring Equinox which takes place between March 19-22 in the Northern Hemisphere. Ostara will not be pleased that the U.S. Forest Service's ‘timber target’ decisions (their words not ours) is putting the climate at risk, undermining Biden's critical climate goals, and violating federal law. Surprise! That according to the Southern Environmental Law Center (and why would we doubt it given USFS' sorry history). Patrick Hunter, Managing Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center joins us to talk about SELC's new, first-of-its-kind lawsuit. If you'd like to comment on the proposed logging in the Green Mountain National Forest just over the MA border go HERE. As always, we will also bring you this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Whose Brains Were Small.." as well as The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and more, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Do Not mistreat Camels, OK? 


This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Tennessee Repugnican Rep. Mark Green who, while still a fool for MAGA b.s., no longer can handle all the other Fools-on-the-Hill. Daily Kos quotes Green: "There's also just the frustration of trying to get something done here.This place is so broken, and making a difference here is just, you know, just it feels like a lot of something for nothing." Green is a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which has played a central role in fomenting dysfunction on Capitol Hill."  A Fool-on-the-Hill who can't stand the Fools-on-the-Hill. 


Since we're going on about bad actors here how about going directly to our "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" segment? Did we do private jet owners here yet?  If so, let's do it again! A Guardian report from November revealed that "200 private jet owners released over 415,000 metric tons of climate-heating carbon dioxide between January 2022 and September 22, 2023, which is the equivalent of what would be released by nearly 40,000 British residents from all of their activities. The richest 1% of the world's population currently generate as much carbon emissions as two-thirds of the planet." Sooooo, if you are among the 99% go HERE to protest the proposed Hanscom airfield expansion here in Massachusetts.


So much negativity. How about we begin our Climate Crisis segment with some good news instead of screaming at everyone that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" ? If you live in, or visit Medell'in Colombia you may have noticed "New plant-filled curb strips, squares, parks, vertical gardens and sidewalks have led to dramatic drop of two degrees Celsius across the  city.... And as the city expands its green corridors program, officials expect a further decrease of four to five degrees over the next few decades, even taking into account climate change."  OK, stick a pin in that one city dwellers, on to the bad news: "S.E.C. Approves New Climate Rules Far Weaker Than Originally Proposed - The rules, designed to inform investors of business risks from climate change, were rolled back amid opposition from the G.O.P., fossil fuel producers, farmers and others" reports the New York Times.  Also from the Times: "Rains Are Scarce in the Amazon. Instead, Megafires Are Raging."  Their rainy season never came. Sound familiar?  It's called climate chaos. Again, the Times: "Winter was weirdly warm for half the world’s population, driven in many places by the burning of fossil fuels, according to an analysis of temperature data from hundreds of locations worldwide." And from The Daily Mail in the UK (not exactly the New York Times) this: "The Arctic could be mostly ice-free in just 10 years - and it means intense heatwaves will plague Earth".  Lots of visuals and links there for actual science. In closing we have an Action Link: Here's the link for the letter to Gov. Healey opposing the plan to strip local control over energy siting - solar, battery, infrastructure and deforestation for corporate solar. 


Meanwhile, over in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we remind everyone that March 21 is International Day of Forests. Hopefully enviro groups won't just use it as a fundraiser? How about some real action to mark the day? And, we replay a Must See video on biomass from the UK to North America, it was recommended by our friends at the Partnership for Policy  Integrity. Sadly, we have to report the sighting of a Biomass Zombie here in the Commonwealth. If you visit the site above there are action links for you to pushback the Zombie. Individuals can contact their own MA legislators with this message: "Massachusetts ratepayers should not fund burning trees for energy. Please ask the TUE committee not to include sections 8 or 22 of H.3216 in any legislation going forward.  Instead, please incorporate the policies of S.2136 /H.3210 and S.2137/H.3211 into the Committee’s climate legislation." If your Rep or State Senator doesn't know about the issue just tell them "Biomass is a Biomess! Also this from the Wisconsin Examiner regarding what may be illegal logging in an old-growth area on public land recently brought to our attention by Environment America. This appears to be in defiance of an Executive Order from the White House.  And finally this, with another anniversary of the meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuke in PA coming up on March 28 the Clamshell Alliance says "Nukes are STILL the wrong answer


With that in mind let's go to our Enviro Show Quote of the Week:

“We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees.”

— Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation


After our visit with Patrick Hunter we go to the Bus Stop Billboard: 


Tuesday March 19, 6:45am & pm. The public is invited to celebrate the day of the equinox, Tuesday March 19, marking the end of winter and beginning of spring at the UMass Sunwheel while viewing sunrise and sunset among the standing stones of the Sunwheel. During the evening session, there will also be an opportunity to enjoy telescopic views of the sun and moon, weather permitting. Directions to the Sunwheel.  


Tuesday March 19, 10am. Webinar: Emergency of Genetically Engineered Trees For Indigenous Peoples. Go HERE.


Tuesday March 19,  3:00-4:30pm.  Rally for Horseshoe Crabs! Mass Audubon and its supporters have fought for decades to secure stronger protections for horseshoe crabs. Horseshoe crab advocates from around the state will gather with our president, David J. O’Neill, and members of the media for a rally, remarks, and light refreshments. Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary 345 Bone Hill Road Barnstable, MA 02367 


Wednesday March 20, 6-8pm: Forest Service public open-house for the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project. Barstow Memorial School, 223 Chittenden Road, Chittenden, VT (in person-only)


Wednesday March 20, 7:00-7:30pm. Virtual forum to learn more about the $6M artificial turf project and to request city leadership to acquire bids for a more affordable, safer and environmentally friendly, natural grass option for Roosevelt Park/Salemwood Park, Malden MA. RSVP here: https://forms.gle/4bpyZEbtBRox7cVm8 or send an email to friendsofrooseveltparkmalden@gmail.com for the Zoom link. 


Thursday March 21, 3pm.  Please join the Center for Biological Diversity, Food & Water Watch, Institute for Policy Studies, WE ACT, and more for a rally outside the U.S. Forest Service headquarters in Washington, DC to demand: no climate scams on federal lands! (We even have a brand-new banner to debut and some signs for people to hold!) U.S. Forest Service headquarters at 201 14th St. S.W. (the red brick building at the corner of 14th Street and Independence Ave) 


Saturday March 23, All Day.  Fix the Grid Community Summit. Please register now for our summit on Saturday, March 23rd in Southern NH. If you already registered for November, your ticket is still valid. I’ll be reaching out separately to ask you to confirm or withdraw your registration.


Saturday March 23, 1- 3p.m.  The City of Boston is organizing a volunteer clean-up at Mattahunt Woods. This clean-up will include City staff and community members, who will work together to remove trash, weeds, and other debris from the natural area. They will also share information about the Mattahunt Woods Urban Wild Restoration Project in advance of the project’s construction, which will begin later this spring.  Please see the event page (linked here) for more information about suggested attire and the meeting location. You can sign up through the event page or this link


Monday March 25, 6:30pm. "Water Cools the Planet" 2nd Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield.  Part 1 on the film "Regenerating Life."  A beautiful documentary film offering fascinating insights into the role of water and plants in nurturing and balancing our climate and life on earth.  Learn new pathways to restore biodiversity and our climate.  Film showing with discussion following.


Monday March 25, 7 to 8:30pm.  Climate Action Now Virtual Monthly Gathering. War and the Climate Crisis: Escalating Impacts. Presenters: Ramón Mejía. Anti-Militarism National Organizer at Grassroots Global Justice Alliance , Ramon enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 18 to support his family and took part in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Ramon supports people who are organizing to dismantle systems of violence and to build healthy, thriving communities. Register HERE.  


Tuesday March 26 All Day. The situation is simple. On March 26, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about access to Mifepristone. This will be the first major case to go in front of the GOP-compromised SCOTUS since Dobbs, and there are more to come. 1,000 people have already committed to putting their bodies on the line to stop this in any way we can. We have marched, and now it is time to escalate. Go HERE.  


Tuesday March 26 4-5pm.  Artificial Turf meeting.  We will have Ravi Simon from Rep Gentile's office in attendance/ on the agenda.   If you have agenda items or specific asks for this meeting please send them to ecolaunch.org@gmail.com by Saturday 3/16/24.  SUB: 3/26 agenda item.


Tuesday March 26, 5 to 6pm.  Protecting Public Science: How to Strengthen Scientific Integrity in Government  People across the United States rely on federal science to ensure our water is drinkable, our air is clean, and our medicines are safe and effective. We must make sure that Congress passes the Scientific Integrity Act so that federal agencies are safe from the political attacks that undermine our public health and environmental protections.   


Tuesday March 26, 6:30pm: Standing Trees' and Save Public Forests Coalition's virtual information and action session on the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project in the Green Mtn. National Forest. Register at this link: HERE


Wednesday March 27, 6:30 to 8pm. Large Battery Storage Systems & Solar Fields - What Are the Issues. Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol, MA. Speakers + Q&A.  


Sunday April 7,  10:30am to Noon. Prof. William Moomaw one of the Earth's major FOREST scientists,  a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Storage of Carbon by Forest Trees  speaking at the Greenfield All SOULS Unitarian Meeting House, 99 Main Street, across from the Post Office & New Library, at intersection of Main and Hope Streets.  Free parking on Street, PO, Library on Sundays.   



Thursday April 11,(TBA)  Join Washington Post Live for a compelling and high-powered summit with policymakers, innovators and civic leaders examining the tipping points at this critical moment. Watch Live: wapo.st/climateapril11 . Humanity is entering a new climate era. The peril and promise of record-breaking temperatures, unprecedented investments in clean energy and a growing public recognition of the effects of global warming are shaping the future of the planet. Register HERE.     


Saturday April 20 All Day (Rain Date April 21)  Solar Rollers Earth Day River Ride. Bicycle ride from Greenfield, MA to Northfield, MA with stops along the way and a Rally at the Riverview Picnic area in Northfield to Shutdown Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. Contact: ctriverdefenders@gmail.com  


Saturday April 20, 10am on.  Earth Week Gathering at the Unitarian Church on Main Street in Northampton, MA. Outdoor & indoor, possible parade & other activities. Stay tuned!  


Saturday April 20, 2pm.  The Boston Red Rebel chapter will be participating in the Red Rebel International Day of Action on Saturday April 20. We invite you to meet us at the Park Street MBTA station at 2pm on Saturday April 20. Together we will process throughout downtown Boston, MA as a funeral procession with die-ins. The Red Rebel International Day of Action is focusing on the death of life on earth.


Monday April 22, 4pm.  This Earth Day, join XR Boston’s Rebels and others to throw a party in honor of our planet in downtown Boston. This is an event for everyone, and will be celebratory in nature, featuring art, music, chanting, and a short walk through the district to share our love of the planet — and the need for greater action to protect it — with fellow Bostonians. We will gather on the Greenway (exact location TBA) at 4pm on Monday, April 22. Join us in celebration, love, and rage for the planet! RSVP Here   


That's all, folks......except to remember to listen to your Mother!




 



 


  

Friday, March 01, 2024

Another Beware the Ides of March Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Once again we are coming up to that time of year when tyrants everywhere need to watch their backs because of their sins. We can think of more than a few such sins to attribute to His Malignancy The Mad King but what about those who trash the planet for fun & profit? Meg Sheehan & Katherine Harrelson of Community Land & Water  returns to the show for the latest from the Sand Wars, the rape of The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens and the threats to the environment by the “Cranberry Cosa Nostra.”  As always, we will also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small, and more but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! Do not mess with the Crows.


This week's Fool-on-the-Hill would be wise to heed the Ides of March. Tennessee MAGA Repugnican Rep.Andy Ogles stepped in it recently saying in reference to Palestinians, "I think we should KILL THEM ALL ... it's time to pay the piper. Not sure about the piper thing but we're damn sure about the Fool thing.


We're pretty sure Andy Ogles isn't a believer in science but would he be if Jesus showed up at his door and said "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" ?  One thing's for sure, most climate scientists believe it and some "Scientists are freaking out about ocean temperatures". That's what the New York Times is telling us (thanks to a listener). "For the past year, oceans around the world have been substantially warmer than usual. Last month was the hottest January on record in the world’s oceans, and temperatures have continued to rise since then. The heat wave has been especially pronounced in the North Atlantic. “The North Atlantic has been record-breakingly warm for almost a year now,” University of Miami, Brian McNoldy, an expert in hurricane formation said. “It’s just astonishing. Like, it doesn’t seem real.” Also, the folks at Wired added, ""Sea surface temperatures have been skyrocketing beyond expectations. That may be a bad sign for hurricane season—and the health of ocean ecosystems." All that warming will, of course, trigger the "Disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current" we've been talking about on this show for years. That could freeze Europe, scorch the tropics and increase sea level rise in the North Atlantic. "The tipping point may be closer than predicted in the IPCC’s latest assessment" Inside Climate News reports.  Finally, here's something you may not have considered: "Reining in the unruly global trade in wild species could help mitigate the climate emergency, experts say." Our friends at the Center for Biological Diversity get into it in depth HERE.


In this week's "Their Brains were Small" segment we venture back to the opening moments of the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC where the worst of the worst meet to cheer each other on over who can make the most asinine statements about their plans to destroy the Union. Perhaps MAGA Christian fascist Jack Posobiec holds the record for saying, "Welcome to the end of democracy. We're here to overthrow it completely. We didn't get all the way there on January 6th, but we will endeavor to get rid of it and replace it with this right here…Because all glory is to God.”  OK, from his twisted brain to God's ear; maybe when Jack raptures up to his Heaven after he dies, His God will send him elsewhere. Who cares! 


In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we want to warn you the Gov et al may be trying to pull a fast one with regard to solar siting that may involve deforestation. "On February 16, 2024, the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting released questions for public input. The Commission seeks comments by Friday, March 1, to provide a summary before the Commission's meeting scheduled for the following week, but will continue to accept comments through March 15. The link to the survey is HERE.  ALSO THIS! A Zombie Biomass bill on Beacon Hill CALL TO ACTION! Read between the lines Enviro Show listeners! If we want to be able to protect forests, agriculture, water and soil integrity at the local level, they need to hear from you ASAP. Also, we repeat Environmental Action's alert on Monarch Butterflies: "According to this year's monarch wintering counts, eastern monarch populations are at the second lowest level ever recorded, dropping 59% drop from last year's counts. Their western cousins are falling too, with a 30% decline from last winter. Right now, the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is approaching a deadline to decide on monarchs' endangered status, and the stakes are clear: give monarchs protections or let them flutter closer toward extinction. Go HERE for their Action Alert. And this from the BBC: "The cities stripping out concrete for earth and plants". The piece goes on to state, "The idea of depaving, sometimes known as desealing, is a simple one – replace as much concrete, asphalt and other forms of hard landscaping as possible with plants and soil. It's been around since at least 2008, when the Depave group in Portland was founded."  Thank you Portland! 


Some more Backslidin' with Biden  here from CNN: "The Biden administration announced Thursday it would delay part of its signature climate plan to slash planet-warming pollution from the power sector. The Environmental Protection Agency said it would carve existing gas plants out of a proposed regulation to cut emissions from power plants. The EPA will move forward with finalizing rules cutting emissions from existing coal and new natural gas plants this spring.." Say it ain't so, Joe. 



Time for an Enviro Show Quote of the Week:

“In some mysterious way woods have never seemed to me to be static things. In physical terms, I move through them; yet in metaphysical ones, they seem to move through me.”

- John Fowles 


After our conversation with Meg it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:


The first week of March also looks to be perfect Salamander migration conditions this year.  The town [of Amherst, MA] and the Hitchcock Center will make every effort to provide updates for those interested in volunteering at the site and for people who use this section of Henry Street [in Amherst, MA] For more information on Big Night, please visit: https://amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3517       or  https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/programs/henry-street-salamander-tunnels/  You can also reach out to:Jeff Mazur, Hitchcock Educator and Camp Director (jeff@hitchcockcenter.org)  


Tuesday March 19, 10am. Webinar: Emergency of Genetically Engineered Trees For Indigenous Peoples. Go HERE.


Tuesday March 19,  3:00-4:30pm.  Rally for Horseshoe Crabs! Mass Audubon and its supporters have fought for decades to secure stronger protections for horseshoe crabs. Horseshoe crab advocates from around the state will gather with our president, David J. O’Neill, and members of the media for a rally, remarks, and light refreshments. Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary 345 Bone Hill Road Barnstable, MA 02367 


Saturday March 23, All Day.  Fix the Grid Community Summit. Please register now for our summit on Saturday, March 23rd in Southern NH. If you already registered for November, your ticket is still valid. I’ll be reaching out separately to ask you to confirm or withdraw your registration.


Saturday March 23, 1- 3p.m.  The City of Boston is organizing a volunteer clean-up at Mattahunt Woods. This clean-up will include City staff and community members, who will work together to remove trash, weeds, and other debris from the natural area. They will also share information about the Mattahunt Woods Urban Wild Restoration Project in advance of the project’s construction, which will begin later this spring.  Please see the event page (linked here) for more information about suggested attire and the meeting location. You can sign up through the event page or this link.


Monday March 25, 7 to 8:30pm.  Climate Action Now Virtual Monthly Gathering. War and the Climate Crisis: Escalating Impacts. Presenters: Ramón Mejía. Anti-Militarism National Organizer at Grassroots Global Justice Alliance , Ramon enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 18 to support his family and took part in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Ramon supports people who are organizing to dismantle systems of violence and to build healthy, thriving communities. Register HERE.  


Tuesday March 26 All Day. The situation is simple. On March 26, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about access to Mifepristone. This will be the first major case to go in front of the GOP-compromised SCOTUS since Dobbs, and there are more to come. 1,000 people have already committed to putting their bodies on the line to stop this in any way we can. We have marched, and now it is time to escalate. Go HERE.  


Tuesday March 26 4-5pm.  Artificial Turf meeting.  We will have Ravi Simon from Rep Gentile's office in attendance/ on the agenda.   If you have agenda items or specific asks for this meeting please send them to ecolaunch.org@gmail.com by Saturday 3/16/24.  SUB: 3/26 agenda item.


Tuesday March 26, 5 to 6pm.  Protecting Public Science: How to Strengthen Scientific Integrity in Government  People across the United States rely on federal science to ensure our water is drinkable, our air is clean, and our medicines are safe and effective. We must make sure that Congress passes the Scientific Integrity Act so that federal agencies are safe from the political attacks that undermine our public health and environmental protections.  


Wednesday March 27, 6:30 to 8pm. Large Battery Storage Systems & Solar Fields - What Are the Issues. Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol, MA. Speakers + Q&A.  


Sunday April 7,  10:30am to Noon. Prof. William Moomaw one of the Earth's major FOREST scientists,  a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Storage of Carbon by Forest Trees  speaking at the Greenfield All SOULS Unitarian Meeting House, 99 Main Street, across from the Post Office & New Library, at intersection of MAIN and HOPE STREETS.  Free PARKING on Street, PO, Library on Sundays.   



 

 

Thursday April 11,(TBA)  Join Washington Post Live for a compelling and high-powered summit with policymakers, innovators and civic leaders examining the tipping points at this critical moment. Watch Live: wapo.st/climateapril11 . Humanity is entering a new climate era. The peril and promise of record-breaking temperatures, unprecedented investments in clean energy and a growing public recognition of the effects of global warming are shaping the future of the planet. Register HERE.     


Saturday April 20 All Day (Rain Date April 21)  Solar Rollers Earth Day River Ride. Bicycle ride from Greenfield, MA to Northfield, MA with stops along the way and a Rally at the Riverview Picnic area in Northfield to Shutdown Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. Contact: ctriverdefenders@gmail.com  


Saturday April 20, 2pm.  The Boston Red Rebel chapter will be participating in the Red Rebel International Day of Action on Saturday April 20. We invite you to meet us at the Park Street MBTA station at 2pm on Saturday April 20. Together we will process throughout downtown Boston, MA as a funeral procession with die-ins. The Red Rebel International Day of Action is focusing on the death of life on earth.



Monday April 22, 4pm.  This Earth Day, join XR Boston’s Rebels and others to throw a party in honor of our planet in downtown Boston. This is an event for everyone, and will be celebratory in nature, featuring art, music, chanting, and a short walk through the district to share our love of the planet — and the need for greater action to protect it — with fellow Bostonians. We will gather on the Greenway (exact location TBA) at 4pm on Monday, April 22. Join us in celebration, love, and rage for the planet! RSVP Here   


That's all, folks......except to remember to listen to your Mother!




 

 

 

Saturday, February 17, 2024

A Somewhat Presidential Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Presidents Day starts the week off and we're hoping you'll stick with the one we have and not go with the one who will destroy near everything in the USA. Yes, His Malignancy The Mad King is creeping around in the wings again (when he's not in court for 91 counts in four criminal cases), hoping to slither into the White House home base before being dragged off to prison. We're hoping for the latter and thus, Abidin' with Biden regardless of just about anything. Our guest this week is MA Sierra Club organizer Celeste Venolia who will discuss MA Sierra Club's Forest Protection Team's efforts in their Watershed Forest Subcommittee. As always, we will bring you with us to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small and more but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Revenge of the Leopard.....on video.


Our lying Fool-on-the-Hill is Rep. Andrew Clyde, one of 65 Repugnicans brazenly sponsoring a resolution [last] week declaring that Donald Trump “did not engage in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.” Clyde even claimed January 6 rioters were coming on a “normal tourist visit.” This is Clyde on January 6, 2021, clearly understanding that an insurrection was coming for him as he hid behind a Capitol Police officer: 



 A reminder to Presidents everywhere: "It's the Climate Crisis,Stupid!" And this new study is another in the "worse than we thought" category. "The study, published last month in the journal Nature, effectively captures ice loss at the edges of glaciers where they meet the sea. The researchers manually recorded changes at the edges of the ice and also trained algorithms to track melting along the border where the glacier meets the sea. Previous research focused primarily on capturing melting within a fixed ice mask, an established perimeter, of the ice sheet, which often missed the notable impacts of calving ice breaking off from the edges of the ice sheet. The new research indicates that 1,000 gigatons of ice went unaccounted for in previous estimates. "  reports Inside Climate News.  



 On to "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" We reported on the avocado controversy on a past show but given the mentality of the cartels in this sorry business we thought we'd echo our friends at the center for Biological Diversity for this segment: "Most avocados sold in the United States come from a single region in Mexico, where the industry burns forests and uses an enormous amount of water — 18.5 gallons to produce one avocado — in a region already suffering from extreme drought [where millions of monarch butterflies migrate to spend the winter and other imperiled wildlife struggle to survive.] Avocado production also brings land grabs, pollution, and violence to Indigenous and other local communities. Research from Climate Rights International has linked this devastation to importers [try Climate Criminals] that supply major U.S. grocery stores with avocados." Here's an Action Link:
Tell U.S. grocery stores to adopt avocado-sourcing policies that protect human rights and monarch habitat.


For our Abidin' with Biden segment yours truly d.o. has a special Presidents Day commentary for you. Let's start with a pithy quote from Emerson:

"The years teach much which the days never know."

In many cultures around the world, cultures far older than what we have here in the United States, elders are held in high regard. Their experience and knowledge serve to guide those less experienced as they grow into their roles as leaders and teachers. It seems our fashionable youth oriented culture in the U.S. missed the memo. Worse, our mainstream media with its tendency toward constant replay goes along to get along, thus reinforcing youth culture's failure to grasp what ancient cultures knew all along. 
The more progressive or thoughtful among us, while quick to point out racism, sexism or other gender inequalities, appear to have overlooked ageism as another form of oppression. During the current presidential cycle, most likely between two older men, issues of age related capabilities have arisen in the media and elsewhere focusing mostly on the slightly older but more articulate candidate, President Joe Biden. The President has had his share of memory lapses and gaffs in his speeches and comments over time, but his opponent has gone far beyond mere forgetfulness into outright incoherence. The media, for the most part, has chosen to focus on the few years older President rather than an opponent who actually acts unhinged. It's called ageism and it threatens the future of our democratic republic.
My advice to the mainstream media is to immediately balance the scales before history condemns them for contributing to the end of the Republic because that is what the other candidate has called for.


In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we replay an alert that Glen found: "Due to the lack of snow, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has closed all snowmobile trails in Western Mass including: Mount Greylock State Reservation, Monroe State Forest, Savoy Mountain State Forest, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Windsor State Forest, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest, and Dubuque State Forest. Trails will reopen if conditions improve, but we encourage visitors to enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at these locations" Thanks, Mother Nature! 


Time for our Enviro Show Quote of the Week:


God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.

- John Muir 
      


After our conversation with Celeste we go to the Bus Stop Billboard:

 you can help make positive change in 2024. Go HERE.   


Thursday February 29, 6-8 pm . Community Land & Water Network Meeting. Agenda:  6:00 - 6:15 Introductions; 6:15 to 6:30 Plymouth Updates: Airport expansion, protecting our ponds and wetlands, town elections, sand mining; 6:45 - 7:00 Wareham Updates: numerous AD Makepeace solar/clearcut projects, other solar and development projects, sand mining enforcement; 7:00 - 7:15 Carver Updates: sand mining expansion, elections, town meeting warrant article on Cranberry Point; 7:15 - 7:30 Industrial solar projects/ statewide networking, solar legislation to strengthen zoning powers for solar; 7:30 - 8:00 Action steps, discussion. Go HERE.  



Thursday February 29, 6pm. State Wildlife Biologist (and Cummington Resident) Nathan Buckhout will give a presentation about Living with Black Bears. He will talk about the life history and status of black bears in Massachusetts and how to coexist with them. This event is cosponsored by the Cummington Tree Alliance, Cummington Cultural Council and Berkshire Voters for Animals.  Light Refreshments will be served.  Cummington Community House, 33 Main Street, Cummington, MA  


 Monday March 4th, 12-1pm.  The 2024 Omnibus Climate Bill legislation is currently gaining momentum within the MA Statehouse. Don't miss this upcoming Zoom meeting to hear experts unpack the bill and provide insights on effective advocacy. Please come together, connect, learn and SPEAK FOR THE TREES!  Go HERE.  


Tuesday, March 5, 6:00-7:30pm.  Resarch Discussion: Growing Solar, Protecting Nature . Fisher Museum at Harvard Forest, 324 North Main Street, Petersham, MA 01366  Massachusetts needs more solar energy to meet its goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But so far, much of the solar energy deployed in central and western Massachusetts has been built at the expense of forests, farmlands, and some of our most biodiverse habitats. This pattern isn’t good for the climate; forests, wetlands, and farm soils absorb one tenth of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions each year. 

Wednesday March 6, 7pm.  Webinar: Hear the latest updates on Hanscom private jet expansion. The private jet hangar expansion plans – what the developers are saying now;  Climate impacts of the proposed expansion & why it’s a statewide issue; Next steps in MEPA state environmental review, including public comments  &  What you can do to help stop the largest private jet hangar expansion in New England, and possibly the nation. Go HERE.    


 Thursday, March 7, 8 p.m.  Horse Slaughter: Ending America’s Secret ShameThe next installment in the Claudia Miller Ignites Series on Animal Welfare focuses on America’s dirty little secret of horse slaughter for human consumption. Specifically, we’ll be addressing the export of thousands of healthy American horses to be butchered for meat in Mexico and then sent to foreign diners in Asia. Go HERE. 


Monday March 18, 7-8:30pm. Climate Action Now invites you to a virtual community conversation about the future of our Regenerative Farming, Forests and Food Systems Group (RF3).  Our intention is to bring together people who have worked with us over the years and to encourage new voices and leadership as we envision the next chapter of our work. Go HERE 


Monday March 11, any time 7:45am – 4:30pm (TBA)  You may remember that last fall, eight of our friends were scooped out of their boats in the middle of the Merrimack River and charged with trespassing on Granite Shore Power property. The defendants are waiting to hear about plea offers, but based on the strength of their cases, it's clear that some number of these folks will be at trial in Concord, NH District Court all day on March 11th.Stay tuned for more detailed information, and feel free to reach out to me (Marla marla@climatedisobedience.org) if you'd like to volunteer to support trial organizing in the lead-up or if you are available to take on support tasks on March 11th   


Saturday March 23, All Day.  Fix the Grid Community Summit. Please register now for our summit on Saturday, March 23rd in Southern NH. If you already registered for November, your ticket is still valid. I’ll be reaching out separately to ask you to confirm or withdraw your registration.


Tuesday March 26 All Day. The situation is simple. On March 26, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about access to Mifepristone. This will be the first major case to go in front of the GOP-compromised SCOTUS since Dobbs, and there are more to come. 1,000 people have already committed to putting their bodies on the line to stop this in any way we can. We have marched, and now it is time to escalate. Go HERE.  


Saturday April 20 All Day (Rain Date April 21)  Solar Rollers Earth Day River Ride. Bicycle ride from Greenfield, MA to Northfield, MA with stops along the way and a Rally at the Riverview Picnic area in Northfield to Shutdown Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. Contact: ctriverdefenders@gmail.com  


Monday April 22, 4pm.  This Earth Day, join XR Boston’s Rebels and others to throw a party in honor of our planet in downtown Boston. This is an event for everyone, and will be celebratory in nature, featuring art, music, chanting, and a short walk through the district to share our love of the planet — and the need for greater action to protect it — with fellow Bostonians. We will gather on the Greenway (exact location TBA) at 4pm on Monday, April 22. Join us in celebration, love, and rage for the planet! RSVP Here  


 OK, let's keep up The Resistance AND also remember to listen to your Mother!