The Stop Logging Commonwealth State Forests Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. While we've grown weary of having to remind climate activists protection and preserving forests is most assuredly part of the struggle, it's a bit hopeful to see at least some of them showing up. Michael Kellett of Save Mass Forests returns with some cutting remarks about the Massachusetts Dept. of Cut and Run (DCR) and our favorite roving reporter and troubadour, Tom Neilson joins us in the studio with another Enviro Show Premier Performance of his latest hit, "The Forest Song".  All that and a visit to His Malignancy The Mad King and this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, as well as a peak into The Enviro Show Echo Chamber (if time allows) but first it's time for............Revenge of the Critters! Raccoon rampage in Watertown last Spring. There must be kits by now!

Let's start with some actual good news concerning His Malignancy The Mad King. It seems his offshore oil drilling scheme is a bit of a belly flop. Only 1% of the leases have been sold  so it's kind of "successful" as say Trump Airlines? Trump Steaks? Whatever. On to the dark side: turns out His Malignancy's pick for that stolen seat on the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh has a sorry record on wildlife. "The Center for Biological Diversity's Bill Snape analyzed Kavanaugh's 12 years on the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., and found he ruled against wildlife and endangered species 96 percent of the time." That probably didn't come up in the recent hearings but it did here, OK? The Mad King's new Dark Prince at the EPA, Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist will decide soon to press ahead with a proposed rule that could block EPA's use of some scientific studies, including research on health and pollution. Science? Science! We don't need no stinking science! And this, speaking of "science": The Mad King is trying to sneak a Dow Chemical executive in as chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). You can oppose Scott Hutchins nomination HERE.  Finally, it's reported that His Malignancy wants to frack the Petrified Forest: "The Bureau of Land Management plans to auction off 4,200 acres of public land for oil and gas leases in northern Arizona near Petrified Forest National Park and two rivers. Parcels that do not receive bids will be available for noncompetitive leasing for two years." 

Another return trip for this week's Fool-on-the-Hill. From the Courier Journal herrrrrrre's Mitch! "In remarks on the Senate floor [late last month] Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., applauded the end of regulations around which former President Barack Obama’s “war on coal” was centered. “The Obama Administration’s so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ offered a typical story from that era,” McConnell said. “An innocent-seeming name. A pleasant-sounding objective. But underneath, an intrusive regulatory regime — built not on effective policy, but on far-left ideology. That’s why I am so grateful that, today, the Trump administration is unveiling its plan to pare back this unfair, unworkable, and likely illegal policy.”  Far-left ideology??

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber the group Environment Massachusetts informed us on August 28 "the state Assembly approved a plan to require 100 percent clean electricity in California by 2045. This bill will make California the second state in the country, after Hawaii, to commit to getting all of its electricity from clean sources. Now, the bill is awaiting approval by the California Senate, which passed similar legislation in 2017, before heading to the Governor's desk for his signature. This is a big deal. California is the world's fifth largest economy. And history has shown that when California leads the way, other states tend to follow." We trust by specifying "clean energy" they've excluded dirty biomass?

After our conversations with Tom and Michael we take over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Saturdays, 11am to Noon. Stand Out Against Logging the Wendell State Forest!  This logging project cannot be justified for ecological or forest health purposes, and has minimal if any financial benefits for the public. Freight House Antiques, 11 East Main St./Route 2, Erving, MA. Go to: savemassforests.com 


Thursday September 20, 7pm. CAN (Citizens Awareness Network) is organizing a High-level Nuclear Waste (HLNW) Tour in New England to address the abdication by the federal government and the nuclear industry to deal with HLNW stranded at nuclear sites throughout the country. We have a ‘mock’ high-level nuclear waste cask and are taking it on the road to show people what an estimated 1,000 shipments through New England could look like. The tour will bring speakers from across the country to discuss the issues of nuclear waste, federal policy, environmental justice and direct action. Hawks and Reed, 289 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, NUCLEAR BLUES withThe Wildcat O’Halloran Band, “Downtown” Bob Stannard & Court Dorsey as “Will Nukem”, and other speakers. More info: http://nukebusters.org/ 


Sunday September 23, 10am to 1pm. (And on Sunday October 14) Hike the Mohawk Trail State Forest with Old-growth Guru Bob Leverett. Must register in advance. Email: 
massforestrescue@gmail.com 



Sunday, September 23, 3 - 5pm.  Love For The Trees: A Gathering in Brook Rd. Forest in Wendell State Forest. We invite you to join us to honor the trees of Brook Rd. with our love, gratitude and respect, for the abundant gifts they have provided to the Life of Our Planet for these 110 years.
Directions: enter Wendell State Forest at Marshes Rd., at the intersection of Montague Rd, and Marshes Rd. (GPS 42.541229,-72.450594), 0.6 miles East of the Wendell State Forest Headquarters*
Drive on Marshes Rd. until you come to the intersection of Brook Rd. and Carlton Rd. with the forest (Marshes Rd. becomes Brook Rd.) Our Gathering will be held at the intersection of Brook Rd. and Carlton Rd. (GPS 42.543791,-72.445158)

Monday September 24, 4:30 and 7pm. Two Films with Expert Panel Discussion: "Lost Forests of New England" and "Burned - Are Trees the New Coal", Garden Cinema, 361 Main Street, Greenfield, MA. Cost: Kids & Seniors (65) $5.50 each, Adults - $6.50 each; $10 for both films, at the door only.  Go to: massforestrescue.org  


Monday September 24, 7 to 9pm. Climate Action Now MA Monthly Gathering. Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, 121 N. Pleasant Street, P.O. Box 502, Amherst, MA. Go to: http://Climateactionnowma.org 

Tuesday, September 25, 7 – 8:30pm. Stop Local Pipeline Expansion: An Organizing Forum. First Churches of Northampton, Massachusetts, 129 Main St, Northampton, Massachusetts 01060 . Go To: http://climateactionnowma.org 


Tuesday, September 25, 7:30pm. Solar Access: Affordable Home Heating and Cooling
Come to Leverett Town Hall to hear a presentation by Morgan O’Conner from the Center for EcoTechnology, Pittsfield on solar access. They have a new 2 year program to allow moderate income families to have access to solar arrays and more efficient forms of heating for their homes. CET helps people and businesses in Massachusetts and the region save energy and reduce waste.  See you there! Go to: https://www.cetonline.org/ 


Wednesday September 26, 6 to 8pm. "Forests and Me" Poetry, Song (or instrumental music) Stories and/or Art about Trees and Forests. FOR ALL AGES! at GCTV, 393 Main St., Greenfield, MA – Register/sign up at GCTV, 393 Main St, by 6 PM, 9-25. (If 18 or under, a parent or guardian must complete a Personal Release Form & attend with them.) Schools, Parents and teachers, please spread the word!  Program will be recorded; Will be shown during GCTV weekly schedule (available by live stream) MFRC www.facebook.com/4climatenhealth and at:www.massforestrecue.org/


Thursday September 27, 7pm. -  A fall speakers’ series “Massachusetts Forests: A 21st Century Vision” ‘presents Call Of The Forest – The Forgotten Wisdom Of Trees’ is a documentary featuring scientist and acclaimed author Diana Beresford-Kroeger. The film follows Diana as she investigates our profound biological and spiritual connection to forests. Her global journey explores the science, folklore, and restoration challenges of this essential eco-system. Mohawk Trail Regional High School auditorium, Route 112  Buckland, MA.


Saturday & Sunday September 29 and Sept. 30, 10am to 5 PM. The Word Stage at the North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival, 60 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, Massachusetts. On Sunday at 1:30pm d.o. will be reading from his book "Bad Atmosphere". Also, don't forget to visit the Climate Action Now tent!


Thursday, October 18, 6 to 8pm. "Saving Massachusetts Forests for Climate, Nature, and People"
Mohawk Trail Regional High School, Rt. 112, Buckland, MA. Massachusetts forests are vital in storing carbon to fight climate change, providing critical habitat for native plants and wildlife, preserving historic and sacred sites, and offering opportunities for nature-based recreation. Yet, almost all of our forests are currently open to resource extraction, which is undermining these values. We need to take action now to protect our forests, before it is too late. Speaker Michael Kellett is cofounder and executive director of RESTORE: The North Woods, a Massachusetts-based conservation organization. Free and open to the public. Email: restore@restore.org



Monday, October 27, 7 to 9pm. Climate Action Now Monthly Gathering. Please join us. Everyone is warmly welcomed! Feel the warmth of community and the strength of collective action as we move forward together at this critical moment in history.  Accessible/on bus line,  First Churches,Main St, Northampton, MA. Go to:  http://climateactionnowma.org


That's it for now but remember to listen to your Mother, yes?

The Vote for the Planet Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. You remember that old phrase "Act Locally Think Globally"? We are resuscitating that one for your voting in the upcoming primaries in the Commonwealth. This time around those in the  Franklin First District have the most excellent opportunity to put Kate Albright-Hanna in Steve Kulik's old MA Representative seat. You may recall Steve was great in the struggle to stop Kinder Morgan's NED fracked gas pipeline, but when it came to burn technologies like wood biomass Steve totally went south on us. Kate, on the other hand, is all about real renewable energy and is no fan of....The Biomess! She joins us in the studio to drill down into the details of her environmental platform. We'll also be promoting Jo Comerford's run for State Senator. Jo also is no fan of Big Biomass and, we assume, neither are you! As always, we also take you for a visit with this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and The Mad King and his enablers, but first, it's time for...........Revenge of the Critters! It's most assuredly the Dog Days of Summer but some dogs might want to consider a change in pursuits.

Utah Repugnican Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee is baaaaack this week, perhaps we should refer to him as the Bishop From Hell given his rampant climate denial and Enemy of the Earth qualifications. This time we find him harassing Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for trying to help China clean up its act. Inside Climate News notes: "The Committee is concerned about the NRDC's role in aiding China's perception management efforts with respect to pollution control and its international standing on environmental issues in ways that may be detrimental to the United States," the lawmakers said in the letter, dated June 5. "The NRDC's relationship with China has many of the criteria identified by U.S. intelligence agencies and law enforcement as putting an entity at risk of being influenced or coerced by foreign interests."  Say what? Are we talking about a bunch of do-gooder latte sipping enviros or the present occupants in the White House??

Speaking of! Let's see what His Malignancy The Mad King is up to this week. How about this headline from The Guardian: "Trump administration lifts ban on pesticides linked to declining bee numbers"? Here we are planting weeds all over our yards trying to help the pollinators survive and that freak in the Oval Office and his slimy enablers are ruining everything. We reported on this earlier when it was just a proposal, now we are living with it. Elsewhere, a tweet His Malignancy spewed out late Sunday about California’s wildfires will surely qualify as another one of the thousands of lies issuing from Fake News Central. According to the LA Times, "Trump blamed the fires on “bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized.” He complained that water needed for firefighting is being “diverted into the Pacific Ocean.”
Sorry, but fire fighters say they have plenty of water, it's the climate chaos that His Malignancy and fellow Repugnicans deny that's the problem. And this: The Mad King's choice to fill that stolen seat on the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh has a horrendous history on environmental cases. He wrote the unanimous opinion finding environmental groups did not have standing to challenge an EPA decision not to tighten carbon monoxide standards and also on cases where he found that industrial groups have standing to oppose environmental restrictions. It seems Kavanaugh is a Scalia kind of guy in many cases and no friend of the Earth. How about His Malignancy's plans to open more than a million acres of public lands in central California to oil drilling and fracking.? The move would end a five-year moratorium on leasing federal public land in the state to oil companies — won largely by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies. The NY Times tells us The Mad King "is expected to propose rolling back regulations on emissions from coal plants on Tuesday. We looked at the role of the top air pollution official at the Environmental Protection Agency, who once represented the industries that would stand to benefit from the change."  Finally, in the wake of Scott Pruitt's escape, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is busy making matters worse in any number of ways. One is trashing the Clean Water Rules. You can comment HERE. Also, you can "fight to protect clean air standards" HERE.

Time for an Enviro Show Quote of the Week (and soon apropos!):

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth." - William Faulkner

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber the New York Times tells us: "Globally, 2018 is shaping up to be the fourth-hottest year on record. (The hotter years were the three previous ones.)" SURPRISE! How about some good news from Common Dreams? The headline reads: "'Guilty on All Counts!': In Historic Victory, Monsanto Ordered to Pay $289 Million in Roundup Cancer Lawsuit".


After our conversation with Kate Albright-Hanna we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:


Saturday September 8, 11am-5pm. WMass Pagan Pride Day at the Florence Civic Center,
Northampton MA. There is no admission fee to the event, however we ask that you bring a non-perishable food item for our food drive. You can come expecting to experience open ritual, musical entertainment, workshops and many vendors for a fun, family friendly community driven event. There will be some food for purchase on site, and there are a number of restaurants and cafes in the area. Go to: http://www.wmppd.com/


Saturday September 8th, 1pm. RISE for Climate, Jobs and Justice in Worcester,  Institute Park Worcester, MA 01605 Go to: https://actionnetwork.org/events/rise-up-for-climate-jobs-and-justice-rally


September 8, Noon12:00pm. Boston RISE for Climate, Jobs, Justice: Rally at East Boston Memorial Park, Boston 02128.  Host Contact Info: vignesh@betterfutureproject.org.


Saturday September 8, 3:00pm. Critical (and Kidical) Mass Bike Rally for Climate Action. New England Youth Theatre parking lot, 100 Flat Street. Brattleboro, VT. Contact Info: brattleboro@350vt.org


Saturday September 15, All Day+. Ambush Wall Street. Go to: https://www.micahmwhite.com/ambushwallstreet


Thursday September 20, 7pm. CAN (Citizens Awareness Network) is organizing a High-level Nuclear Waste (HLNW) Tour in New England to address the abdication by the federal government and the nuclear industry to deal with HLNW stranded at nuclear sites throughout the country. We have a ‘mock’ high-level nuclear waste cask and are taking it on the road to show people what an estimated 1,000 shipments through New England could look like. The tour will bring speakers from across the country to discuss the issues of nuclear waste, federal policy, environmental justice and direct action. Hawks and Reed, 289 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, NUCLEAR BLUES withThe Wildcat O’Halloran Band, “Downtown” Bob Stannard & Court Dorsey as “Will Nukem”, and other speakers. More info: http://nukebusters.org/ 


Thursday September 27, 7pm. -  A fall speakers’ series “Massachusetts Forests: A 21st Century Vision” ‘presents Call Of The Forest – The Forgotten Wisdom Of Trees’ is a documentary featuring scientist and acclaimed author Diana Beresford-Kroeger. The film follows Diana as she investigates our profound biological and spiritual connection to forests. Her global journey explores the science, folklore, and restoration challenges of this essential eco-system. Mohawk Trail Regional High School auditorium, Route 112  Buckland, MA.




That is all for now. We won't be back 'til sometime in September, until then remember to listen to your Mother, OK?

The Highly Endangered Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Is the rise of fascism in our nation making you feel endangered? At least we can all stand together and fight back, right? Other Endangered Species of the non-human persuasion however don't have the options we humans have (except for the ones featured on Revenge of the Critters that is). Stephanie Kurose, Endangered Species Policy Specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity calls in to spotlight The Mad King and assorted Reugnican's attack on the Endangered Species so many others have historically tried to protect. Also, our guy in Portugal, George Aguiar* calls in about those massive fires brought about by climate disruption (see The Echo Chamber below). As always we will also drag you along to see our Fool-on-the-Hill and His Malignancy The Mad King and his enablers, but first it's time for.............Revenge of the Critters!  Noted hunter and House of Reprehensibles Speaker Paul Ryan, known for his weak kneed enabling of the Mad King and endless Libertarian claptrap, had his oversized, gas guzzling Chevy SUV trashed by Woodchucks this past winter. Apparently their preferred habitat of grassy areas near woods also makes them abundant along roads and highways where they often become the victims of passing cars. Not this time!

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill goes plural once again 'cuz we never run out of fools on that Hill. Our friends at the Center for biological Diversity take it from here: "More than 75 legislative attacks have been launched against the Endangered Species Act since Trump took office and more than 300 since 2011, when Republicans took over the U.S. House of Representatives.  Today’s attacks are being led by Utah Rep. Rob Bishop, Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman, Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce and other House Republicans beholden to oil and gas and other extractive industries. Among the bills, Rep. Westerman’s “Petition Act” would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare a petition backlog if it is presented with too many species in need of protection and then suspend any deadlines responding to those petitions and prohibit consideration of any subsequently filed."

His Malignancy The Mad King and his court of crazed enemies of the planet are also busy endangering Endangered Species. Surprise!  Lyin' Ryan's Interior Department proposed the most sweeping changes in decades to the Endangered Species Act which Repugnicans say is "cumbersome and restricts economic development." The revisions have far-reaching implications making it easier for roads, pipelines and other construction projects to gain approvals. You can make a Public Comment on this travesty HERE. Of special interest to us here in the Connecticut River Valley, Ryan Zinke intends to make it more difficult to shield species like the Atlantic sturgeon that are considered “threatened,” which is the category one level beneath the most serious one, “endangered.”  You can go after Lyin' Ryan HERE. Meanwhile, over at The Mad King's Department of Energy Rick Perry has embraced Ol' King Coal....literally. The "Chief Creative Officer" who caught the big hug on camera was fired for blowing the whistle on what turned out to be coal baron Bob Murray's wish list being rubber-stamped into policy by Perry.

Meanwhile, over in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find the headline in Common Dreams: "As Wildfires Rage and Heat Records Broken Worldwide, Corporate Media Urged to Cover Climate Crisis' Link to Extreme Weather".  The New Republic concurs. We, of course, cover the Climate Crisis every week since we're decidedly NOT the corporate media but who pays attention to us?? In any case, The Mad King fiddles while the planet burns......as far north as the Arctic Circle. Our friends at Grist covering the same story have this mind bending paragraph buried in their piece: "It’s the hottest month of one of the hottest years in the history of human civilization, and unusual wildfires are sprouting up all over the map. Sweden has called for emergency assistance from the rest of the European Union to help battle massive wildfires burning north of the Arctic Circle. Across the western United States, 50 major wildfires are burning in parts of 14 states, fueled by severe drought. The wildfires burning in Siberia earlier this month sent smoke plumes from across the Arctic all the way to New England, four thousand miles away. Last year, big wildfires burned in Greenland for the first time in recorded history."

After our conversation with Stephanie and George we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:


Monday August 6 - 9, 6am to Noon. Hiroshima Nagasaki Vigil on the Greenfield Town Common. Coming together as a community, we wish to devote the time and space this issue deserves. For four days between the anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a vigil will take place on the Greenfield Common to bear witness, deepen understanding and take action. Besides focusing on the dangers nuclear weapons pose, we also want to affirm life, imagination and joy. With grassroots creativity, we want to express the magnificence of the world and its cultures. Along side the vigil, individuals and groups are invited to share displays, activities and performances. Related discussion
groups, workshops and events will take place day and evening in other venues throughout Greenfield. Go to: https://hn4vigil.org/


Friday, August 15, 7-9pm. Screening of Gasland Part II at the First Congregational Church, 514 Main Street, Dalton, MA


Wednesday, August 20, 5:30-8pm. 350 Mass Node Meeting at the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA


Saturday September 8, 11am-5pm. WMass Pagan Pride Day at the Florence Civic Center,
Northampton MA. There is no admission fee to the event, however we ask that you bring a non-perishable food item for our food drive. You can come expecting to experience open ritual, musical entertainment, workshops and many vendors for a fun, family friendly community driven event. There will be some food for purchase on site, and there are a number of restaurants and cafes in the area. Go to: http://www.wmppd.com/


Saturday September 8, 3:00pm. Critical (and Kidical) Mass Bike Rally for Climate Action. New England Youth Theatre parking lot, 100 Flat Street. Brattleboro, VT. Contact Info: brattleboro@350vt.org


Saturday September 15, All Day+. Ambush Wall Street. Go to: https://www.micahmwhite.com/ambushwallstreet


That's it for now campers. Until next time remember to listen to your Mother, OK?



*George collaborated with d.o. and Tom Neilson on the YouTube video "Climate Chaos & the Quabbin Woodlands"

The Forest Preservation & Protection Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We can see the forest for the trees and all the lifeforms dwelling there. You? Shelby Perry, Stewardship Director at Northeast Wilderness Trust joins us to enhance the view and remind us "We are faced with the challenge of helping Nature continue to heal and flourish for future generations. The need to restore and protect wild lands and waters has never been greater." As always we will also invite you to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to thumb your nose at The Mad King and his vile enablers, as well as a visit to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber but first it's time for.......... Revenge of the Critters! Lions stand up for highly endangered Rhinos/Poachers lose. 

Let's go straight for The Mad King since he's was such an easy target this past week, but where to start?? His Malignancy's Prince of Darkness at the EPA followed The Mad King's lead by announcing "last Friday that [the EPA] would evaluate and require approval for new uses of asbestos but would not evaluate the health risks of asbestos already in the environment" (this before he was shown the door.....finally!). The Mad King is a fan of asbestos (and apparently a Ruskie asbestos operation is a fan of  His Malignancy!) . Back in '97 he stated: “I believe that the movement against asbestos was led by the mob, because it was often mob-related companies that would do the asbestos removal. Great pressure was put on politicians, and as usual, the politicians relented”. We're not sure if he ever asked his mobster friends about that but now you'll be glad to know all that old asbestos in your basement is no longer a problem! Another move Scott The Dark Prince Pruitt made before emptying out his bullet proof desk was to remove the old Obama cap on dirty polluting "glider trucks" that have old diesel engines not up to present day standards. Gliders can spew 55 times more pollution than newer trucks. Maybe Scotty will run in to one of those trucks as he hits the road. No more first class flights on the public dime for him. BTW, the guy who is replacing Pruitt may qualify as a Prince of Darkness too. Inside Climate News tells Andrew Wheeler a "former coal lobbyist inherits some important decisions from Scott Pruitt, including on the Clean Power Plan, auto standards, methane and use of science." (Check the link for some in-depth analysis). Of Course, His Malignancy doesn't need lame-ass underlings to do outragious things he's perfectly capable of doing himself. Just this past Tuesday The Mad King pardoned ornery cowpokes "Dwight and Stephen Hammond, the father-son team of Oregon ranchers whose 2012 conviction for arson inspired the right-wing Bundy militia's armed takeover and month-long occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016."  Speaking of cowpokes, The Mad King's guy at the Interior Department, lying' Ryan Zinke wants to allow landowners and hunters to kill any of the last 30 Red Wolves in the world that leave their refuge. You can try and talk some sense into him here.

We have another twofer this week for our Fools-on-the-Hill courtesy of the Mountain Journal: "Last December, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines of Montana introduced legislation that would open five Forest Service wilderness study areas in Big Sky Country, totaling 449,500 acres, to all kinds of multiple use, including intensive resource extraction. Then in March, newly-elected U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte of Montana (and the previous boss of Daines in a tech business Gianforte founded) introduced companion legislation in the House. Apparently not satisfied with just joining ranks with Daines, Gainforte at the same time introduced still another bill that would release an additional 365,300 acres in 24 Bureau of Land Management wilderness study areas in his home state." Privateers at work!

Big news in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber from The Boston Globe (and that's surfaced elsewhere): The testing for CO2 emissions related to efforts to deal with the Climate Crisis may be inaccurate.  “Without actual measurements of changes in emissions, we don’t know — and we can’t know — if we’re meeting our goals, and that’s a problem,” said Lucy Hutyra, an associate professor of earth and environment at Boston University, one of the lead authors of a new study on emissions..... Current methods of quantifying emissions don’t actually measure the carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Instead, they rely on complex calculations that estimate emissions by tabulating the pollution from power plants, buildings, transportation, and other sources. That method often overlooks a range of factors, such as unknown natural gas leaks, traffic from outside the state, or the amount of photosynthesis by trees and other vegetation."  Come on guys, it's not rocket science.....O wait....maybe it is

We have a bit of E-Valley-uation here regarding that proposed assault on the Wendell State Forest's 110 year old-growth oak stand near Wickett Pond by the Department of Cut & Run (DCR). There was a meeting of the DCR Stewardship Council in Turners on Thursday with recipients of The Enviro Show's Big Green Clearcutters Award, DCR's Leo Roy and Elisa Campbell and others. Both Lisa Hoag from Wendell and our own d.o. spoke on behalf of the trees. Here's d.o.'s testimony:           

" I strongly support the proposal from Wendell Residents calling for an 80-acre, 110-year old-growth oak forest to be placed in reserve status, and classified as a zone 1 wildland pursuant to the forest management policies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

It is the 21st century and science has confirmed we are in a Climate Crisis. Forests are among the few natural systems capturing the excess of CO2 in the atmosphere and old-growth forests are particular in their ability to sequester those emissions.

It is the 21st century and we are in a Climate Crisis. Many old notions of “forest management” are no longer valid in this crisis. Even students of forestry who graduated a few years ago have not been brought up to date in their knowledge base. Forestry has changed and experts are changing our thinking on the need to preserve and protect our forests almost daily. DCR and the DCR Stewardship Council must be in step with the times if our children and grandchildren are to have a livable world." 

After our conversation with Shelby we move over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Beginning Monday July 23, 350MA and Better Future Project are planning a series of vigils next week outside the Beacon Hill offices of the conference committee members who are failing to act on climate and immigration:

• • Monday from 12-1pm 
  • Tuesday from 11-12pm (there will also be an Immigrant Rights vigil from 12-1:30)
  • Wednesday from 12-1pm
  • Thursday from 12-5pm (culminating in a HUGE mobilization)

Click here to fill out your availability for vigil spots. And feel free to sign up for more than one if you can!  Go to: http://www.betterfutureproject.org/

Monday, July 23, 7 - 9pm. Climate Action Now MA Monthly Gathering. We come together once a month to meet each other, plan, and imagine how to contribute, in our corner of the world, to the urgent fight against climate change . We love to meet newcomers, whether you are brand new to activism or have been doing this a long time. We do not have a membership or dues. People give of their time and talent when they see fit. You are welcome to join us!  Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst (UUSA), 121 N. Pleasant Street, P.O. Box 502, Amherst, Massachusetts.  Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org/  


Tuesday July 24, 4 to 6pm. Protest Baystate Medical Center's Pig Lab!  Baystate Health

759 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA. We'll be at the intersection of Dover St. and Chestnut St. (right in front of Baystate Medical Center sign, at traffic light)! Please attend if you can and give the pigs needlessly suffering and dying for Baystate's Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training program a voice. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/246545272806601/ 

Wednesday July 25. 6:00 to 7:00pm. Saving Massachusetts Forests for Climate, Nature and People, a presentation by Michael Kellett, Executive Director, RESTORE The North Woods. Bascom Lodge at the top of Mt Greylock. Free and Open to the Public. Presented on the porch. Optional : Sunset Beverage Hour starts at 4:00 PM      Dinner at 7:00 PM  Reservations requested   413-743-1591 or MAIL@BASCOMLODGE.NET

Monday, August 6, 7 PM.  "Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees" at the Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA.

https://amherstcinema.org/films-and-events/call-forest-forgotten-wisdom-trees


Saturday September 8, 11am-5pm. WMass Pagan Pride Day at the Florence Civic Center,
Northampton MA. There is no admission fee to the event, however we ask that you bring a non-perishable food item for our food drive. You can come expecting to experience open ritual, musical entertainment, workshops and many vendors for a fun, family friendly community driven event. There will be some food for purchase on site, and there are a number of restaurants and cafes in the area. Go to: http://www.wmppd.com/ 

Saturday September 8, 3:00pm. Critical (and Kidical) Mass Bike Rally for Climate Action. New England Youth Theatre parking lot, 100 Flat Street. Brattleboro, VT. Contact Info: brattleboro@350vt.org

That's it for now. Remember, always listen to your Mother. 

The Zero Hour Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We know terms like "Zero Hour" can feel a bit chilling but have no fear, this Zero Hour has to do with everything heating up! It's Zero Hour - The Youth Climate March destined for the belly of the beast in Washington, DC on Saturday, July 21st.  [UPDATE: Here's their platform] These guys are fired up as their website notes: "Enough is enough.We, the youth, believe that #thisisZeroHour to act on climate change. We cannot afford to wait any longer for adults to protect our right to the clean and safe environment, the natural resources we need to not just survive, but flourish. We know that we are the leaders we have been waiting for!" Zero Hour Youth March Organizer, Sohayla Eldeeb calls in with the details. As always, we'll also take you to see this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to gawk at the latest outrage from The Mad King and his court of crazed climate criminals, as well as peek into The Enviro Show Echo Chamber but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Rattlesnake attacks from the afterlife! 

[UPDATE] In case you missed our award ceremony for The Enviro Show Big Green Clearcutters Award here it is! This years recipient was the Massachusetts Department of Cut & Run's Commissioner Leo Roy. Congrats to Leo for his massive underachievement.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Texas Repugnican representative Pete Olson who introduced a House bill which "amends the Endangered Species Act so that federal wildlife managers will have to consider economic factors as one of the primary criteria when deciding whether to accept or deny listing a new species or designating critical habitat." Soooooo, how much is your endangered species worth to us anyway, huh?

On to The Mad King. This time we find His Malignancy is repealing an executive order drafted by  President Obama intended to protect the Great Lakes and oceans bordering the United States. Surprise! According to The Hill: "In his own executive order signed late Tuesday, Trump put a new emphasis on industries that use the oceans, particularly oil and natural gas drilling, while also mentioning environmental stewardship." Hey great, The Mad King mentioned Enviro stewardship! Wonder if he knows what that means? How about this recent headline: "Trump Vows to Open Minnesota's Superior National Forest to Mines"? His Malignancy "vowed to keep open large swaths of lands in Minnesota’s remote Superior National Forest to mining, a move that could benefit a copper-nickel project being pursued by Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a subsidiary of Antofagasta Plc." Yes, of course, he was reversing another Obama effort "to make hundreds of thousands of acres in the national forest off-limits to industrial activity."  Exploitation through privatization, folks! Who needs all that pristine woodlands just sitting there anyway?? The Center for Biological Diversity tells us the Mad King's administration "this week launched the largest rollback in history to the vital protections for air, water and wildlife provided by the National Environmental Policy Act." NEPA is like the gold standard of environmental protections. "The Trump administration is taking a sledgehammer to the review process that allows scientists and the public to have a say on federal projects that harm clean air, water and wildlife,” said Paulo Lopes, public lands policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This is the beginning of the largest rollback in the history of the National Environmental Policy Act, and it will yield polluted air, dirty water and devastation for our beautiful public lands.” Meanwhile Lyin' Ryan Zinke over at Interior  "is considering whether to open up more than 30,000 acres of public lands at the northern gateway of America's oldest and most iconic national park, Yellowstone to aggressive gold, silver and other mineral extraction." How long do you think his "consideration" will take, before I finish typing this? The next day? You can try to talk him down by going here if you want. 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we see The Boston Globe discovered "The oil billionaires Charles and David Koch, not content with pushing the United States out of the Paris climate accords or undermining the Affordable Care Act, have trained their sights on local transit projects, from Phoenix to Nashville. Through their front group Americans for Prosperity, they are bankrolling campaigns to kill proposals for light rail or new bus routes, in part because government-controlled transportation runs counter to their deregulatory 'freedom agenda'." Didn't David Koch recently announce he was getting out of the planet trashing business for health reasons? Will he turn down a ride in a government subsidized ambulance if he really starts to tank?  And this: we have word from down south "An estimated 50 to 80 percent of southern wetland forest is now gone. Logging is considered one of the biggest threats to the 35 million acres of remaining wetland forest in the southern U.S., and conservation organizations are saying this threat is coming largely from the wood pellet biomass industry." Guess which forests that rapacious industry would love to go next after clearcutting down south? OK climate activists who have been avoiding any talk of biomass or forest protection, we dare you to read this all the way through!

After our conversation with Sohaylak Eldeeb we head over to the Bus Stop billboard:

Saturday, July 14, 10 - 11am. Candidates Pledge for a Nuclear Free Future. Northampton City Hall, Northampton, MA. U.S. Representative Jim McGovern will be signing a pledge to support the abolition of nuclear weapons. He is the first voting member of Congress to take this pledge - a step that nearly 1,000 parliamentarians from 30 countries have taken - and he will be joined by a number of State Senate and House candidates! Contact The Resistance Center for Peace and Justice  http://theresistancecenter.org

Sunday, July 15, 4-5pm, System Change Not Climate Change. 20-minute video report from the 2017 World Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany, by Anna Gyorgy with Janet Masucci, for the Women & Life on Earth internet project/Traprock Center for Peace & Justice. Wendell Free Library, 
7 Wendell Depot Road, Wendell, MA

Wednesday, July 18, 6-8pm. Berkshires 350 Mass Node Meeting, Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield

Thursday, July 19 - 1:00pm. The Department of Energy Resources is hosting stakeholder meetings that will feature a presentation of the Comprehensive Enenergy Plan’s initial analysis, with topics including data on future demand across transportation, thermal conditioning, and power sectors and will highlight the trends and challenges through 2030. Westfield State University Loughman Living Room, Scanlon Hall, 77 Western Avenue Westfield, MA 01086  Go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comprehensive-energy-plan-stakeholder-meeting-july-19-westfield-tickets-47671281085

Monday, July 23, 7 - 9pm. Climate Action Now MA Monthly Gathering. We come together once a month to meet each other, plan, and imagine how to contribute, in our corner of the world, to the urgent fight against climate change . We love to meet newcomers, whether you are brand new to activism or have been doing this a long time. We do not have a membership or dues. People give of their time and talent when they see fit. You are welcome to join us!  Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst (UUSA), 121 N. Pleasant Street, P.O. Box 502, Amherst, Massachusetts.  Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org/ 

Wednesday July 25. 6:00 to 7:00pm. Saving Massachusetts Forests for Climate, Nature and People, a presentation by Michael Kellett, Executive Director, RESTORE The North Woods. Bascom Lodge at the top of Mt Greylock. Free and Open to the Public. Presented on the porch. Optional : Sunset Beverage Hour starts at 4:00 PM      Dinner at 7:00 PM  Reservations requested   413-743-1591 or MAIL@BASCOMLODGE.NET

Monday, August 6, 7 PM.  "Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees" at the Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA.

https://amherstcinema.org/films-and-events/call-forest-forgotten-wisdom-trees

September 8, 3:00pm. Critical (and Kidical) Mass Bike Rally for Climate Action. New England Youth Theatre parking lot, 100 Flat Street. Brattleboro, VT. Contact Info: brattleboro@350vt.org

OK, that's all folks. Remember to.....what? Listen to your Mother, OK?

Summer Solstice 2018 Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Summer Solstice is nearly upon us, what shall we do to honor that which sustains us? The Good Green Witch returns to help us on that one and  Lisa Merton, co- creator of the film "Burned" calls-in to talk about "a film for anyone who cares about forests". Like always we will take you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to mock His Malignancy The Mad King and his den of demons, as well as present to you our Quote of the Week, but first it's time for............Revenge of the Critters! Maybe doing baptisms in a Croc infested lake wasn't such a good idea?

Our Fool-on-the-Hill this week is up for reelection so let's remind everyone Repugnican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, yes, another member of the House "Science" Committee, is a vocal skeptic of the link between human emissions and climate change, and has called the campaign to rein in climate-altering emissions "a tangible threat to our freedom, and to our prosperity as a people." As if all those climate-altering emissions aren't THE greatest threat of all? 

On to His Malignancy The Mad King! Have you seen his new crown? No, neither have we but he certainly seems to think he's got one given all his delusions about divine rights of kings. We keep pushing the LOL button on Facebook like lab mice repeatedly hitting the treat bar every time The Mad King juts his jaw out and struts around like Benito Mussolini. Thanks Central Casting, you guys have really outdone yourselves this time! Of course, while all that farce is entertaining the reality (not the "reality show") is quite the opposite. His Malignancy and his court of climate criminals continue to tear down environmental protections daily, so much so that it's hard to keep track of all the damage. Last Monday The Mad King's National Marine Fisheries Service, a division within the Commerce Department run by cranky old billionaire Wilbur Ross, sent a rule on marine protection for whales and sea turtles caught in fishing nets off the West Coast down the memory hole. The rule change was made despite the fishing industry's having proposed the measures in the first place, according to the Associated Press. Recently we also learned His Malignancy has proposed a 103% cut to America’s most successful conservation program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund. For over 50 years, the program has protected more than two million acres of land and supported more than 40,000 state and local park projects. And, the Fund doesn't cost taxpayers a thing because it's funded entirely by royalties from the offshore oil and gas industry. O wait, what does THAT tell us! Speaking of corruption, our friends at Grist ask: "Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt already faces at least 12 federal inquiries from the EPA’s Inspector General, Government Accountability Office, and House Oversight committee. Could a criminal probe be next?" Excellent question, we've wanted to probe The Dark Prince of the EPA for months now. Finally, with the new 2018 hurricane season upon us we can't help but wonder if The Mad King will do as miserable job as he did last year with the devastation to Puerto Rico and the islands in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The island's power grid remains a horror show of it's own and the no bid repair contract went to that fishy Whitefish operation based in the tiny hometown of Interior Secretary  Lyin' Ryan Zinke, who knows the CEO. The Mad King and his creepy court are like a revolving always restocked gaudy smorgasbord of greed and corruption. Are you full yet? 

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week concerns The Mad King but you will have to jump into the Wayback Machine with us to get there:

"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." 

                                                                                                      - Frederick Douglas


After our conversations and celebration with The Good Green Witch we head on over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Thursday June 28, 6:30-8:00pm. Public viewing of the film "The River Cried, 'Mni W'Coni!" at the 

Leverett Public Library, Leverett, Mass. About the water protectors at Standing Rock Reservation in 2016. 

Thursday, June 28,  6-9pm. Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel in the multipurpose room at Brattleboro Area Middle School.  The agenda will include a discussion with staff representing Vermont's congressional delegation, along with a presentation on spent fuel storage by a representative from the US Department of Energy. For more articles about Vermont Yankee's sale and decommissioning, go to:

http://www.safeandgreencampaign.org/resources/decomissioning-resources 

Thursday July 5, 7 PM.  "Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees" at the Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA.

https://amherstcinema.org/films-and-events/call-forest-forgotten-wisdom-trees

Saturday, July 7, 1 - 3pm. Giant Puppet Parade & Circle Up for the Earth. The third annual Interdependence Day Celebration! Giant Puppets! Music and Song! community "Circle Up" for the Earth, and direct action with Climate Action Now, will be held July 7th at 1PM at Pulaski Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. The community is encouraged to contribute to the parade and the Circle Up by arriving with flowers in hand at 12:30pm.  More details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/210011913126855/ 

Saturday & Sunday July 7-8th , 9-5pm. Street Medic Training @ Open Way farm in east Montpelier (10 Minute drive from downtown Montpelier, VT). This class will cover the fundamentals of how to provide emergency care, basic first aid and DIY healthcare at protest and actions. This is a class for activists, community organizers and ANYONE who wants to empower themselves to learn to provide medical support to those in need in times of need! Cost: Sliding Scale. For registration and/or questions contact Mo:phone/txt 802-279-3833  email-mstanwor@gmail.com 

OK, Happy Summer Solstice and remember: Listen to your Mother!

Another Protecting Public Lands Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We are sorry to report (once again) that the Massachusetts Department of Cut and Run (DCR) have yet to figure out what that Climate Crisis thing has to do with our public forests.  DCR also seems rather clueless about preservation even though that term has been around forever! Wendell residents Jonathan von Ranson, Dan Leahy and Jim Thornley join us to scrutinize DCR's absurd plans to cut 110 year-old oaks from the Brook Road or Wickett Pond section of Wendell State Forest. Many residents from Wendell and surrounding towns want the "forest as a living, wild and natural asset, not to be "managed" and turned into dead logs for the biomass and wood pellet industry" as stated in a recent petition. Also we take you to see this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to check out His Malignancy The Mad King and his evil enablers, but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! More selfie obsessed humans off to that great photoshoot in the sky by critters who just wanted to be left alone.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill hails from Texas, where common sense goes to die home on the range. Repugnican Rep. John Abney Culberson, who according to the Pacific Standard is "a classic climate skeptic. He's questioned the integrity of climate research, voted almost exclusively against environmentally friendly legislation, and, in 2013, the congressman introduced a measure to block the EPA from using a social cost of carbon measure in its cost-benefit analyses of environmental regulations." And it seems as of last month Culberson "voted in line with...Trump's position in 98.6% of the votes" so now we really know he is......a fool!

If we're going to follow Rachel Maddow's advice "Watch what he does, not what he says" then it makes sense to bring up the image of Melania nudging His Malignancy to place his hand on his heart during the National Anthem rather than listen to The Mad King blather on about how Americans should be forced to perform those public rituals. Even for a pathological narcissistic liar, His Malignancy has been especially active this past month torturing reality but now even some of his enablers can no longer see the Emperor's new clothes? (sorry about that image). Of course, the Mad King's Dark Prince over at the EPA is still onboard and nearly as toxic to stuff like truthfulness or ethical behavior.  As an example, Truthout tells us: "Trump's EPA is moving to shake the foundations of protections for American drinking water supplies from contamination by oil and gas waste, opening the doors for the industry to sell its wastewater as a product instead of paying for its disposal." Great moments in rebranding! Not enough sleeze for you? Send for a corrupt Cardinal from Central Casting to assist The Dark Prince in trashing "God's Creation".

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber the Guardian informs us "The world’s 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things, according to [a new] study. Yet since the dawn of civilization, humanity has caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of plants..." We've touched on this Sixth Mass Extinction during the show over the past few years but now researchers calculated global biomass estimates using data from hundreds of existing studies. But we have some good news! Earth Justice tells us Hawaii is the first state in the Union to ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, which is better than nothing, right? It's not like they don't have their hands full in the midst of volcanic eruptions. 

After our conversation about DCR's proposed assault on Wendell State Forest we go to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday June 8, 9:30am. Walk the Talk on Climate. On Thursday June 7, Boston Mayor Walsh will hold an International Mayors Climate Summit. The following day, on June 8th, he will kick off the US Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting. Join the rally Friday morning to call on Mayor Walsh and all US mayors to turn their climate promises into climate action! They must 'walk the talk' on climate. Call 617-971-8568 with any questions.

Wednesday Jun 20, 6-8 pm. 350 Mass Node Meeting, Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.

Monday, June 25, 7:00 - 9:00pm. Climate Action Now Monthly Gathering. pin First Churches of Northampton, Massachusetts, 129 Main St, Northampton, MA. Go to: https://climateactionnowma.org/ 

OK, that's all for now. Remember to listen your Mother, OK?