The Off Grid Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Time to turn our collective back on King Coal; Big Nuke; Big Hydro & Big Wind and see about generating our own power. Yes, it’s home utilities hour with our friend Brad Compton who lives out in the woods a good distance from power lines and the grip of corporate America. We’ll open up the phone lines if you have any questions about living independently here in the alleged Land of Liberty. As always we’ll checkout The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and the dastardly deeds of Darth Cheney and the boy emperor. Also, the Quote of the Week and the Bus Stop Billboard, but first it’s time for.....Revenge of the Critters! A Repugnican National Convention Special. In Palermo, Sicily the skies have been raining rats. Rodents that otherwise leap from rooftop to rooftop in the rundown center of Sicily's capital, had grown too fat to jump and were plummeting to the streets, sometimes hitting passersby below. Warning, this could happen in the Twin Cities!

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week is in keeping with the independence theme of this show. It comes from none other than Thomas Jefferson, who knew a bit about democracy and independence:
"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to Heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all."
Also, this election year bonus from Jefferson: "A politician looks forward only to the next election. A statesman looks forward to the next generation."

Brrr! What’s that sudden chill, Glen? How long before it’s gone?? Last time we spoke about the Bush regime’s assault on the Endangered Species Act. We’re asking our listeners to ACT NOW on this critical issue. There’s only a few weeks before the deadline on comments to the U.S. Department of Interior (for what that’s worth!). Also, let’s set the record straight on Darth Cheney’s myth about China drilling for oil off the Cuban coast. The Dark Lord finds no fabrication too extreme in his crazed quest for oil and profit.

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we read that going veggie can reduce your carbon footprint. And, the AP tells us the bad news that Arctic sea ice drops to second lowest level on record. Also, from the Amherst Bulletin, Amherst High School students launch Project Solar Lunchbox.

"Livin’ a lie", by Girl on Top takes us to our interview with Brad AND reminds us that all is not as it appears here in the USA........SURPRISE!

Then it's time to checkout the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Greenfield Community College Downtown Campus located at 270 Main Street in Greenfield to discuss the update of the Franklin County Bikeway Plan. Call 413-774-1194 ext 104


Thursday, Sept 4, 5pm. Franklin County Parade No Nukes contingent.
Downtown, Greenfield, MA. Start off from the Greenfield Middle School parking lot. Join the Wrecked Honda Insight painted "Vermont Yankee an Accident Waiting to happen" Join the Solar Rollers on Bicycles! We can Replace Entergy's Vermont Yankee! Help hand out Literature! For info email cchang@nukebusters.org


Sunday, September 7th through Saturday, September 13,th citizens of the City of Northampton will play host to a unique public process crafted to help shape the future of their city. DESIGN NORTHAMPTON WEEK will start with an introductory presentation at the Northampton Senior Center from 7 PM to 9 PM. After that, the studio will be open for business in the ground floor gallery space of APE at 126 Main Street throughout the week. For a complete schedule and additional information on activities see http://northamptondesignforum.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, September 10, 7pm. Citizens United for a Healthy Future general meeting. Downstairs at the Untitarian Society on Main Street, Northampton. Call 584-8873

September 12-14, 2008, Eighth Fire Gathering, a cross-cultural gathering of Native American elders, sustainability leaders, and concerned citizens will spend two days in dialogue, ceremony and celebration with the intention of building a network for sustainable culture in the Northeast. Contact Bill Pfeiffer at: bill@sacredearthnetwork.org.

Saturday, September 13th from 9 to 1 it’s Hazzardous Waste Day at the Montague Highway Garage, the Rt. 2. Park and Ride in Charlemont, and the Town of Orange Transfer Station. To participate at any of the sites, residents must pre-register by September 5th. Registration forms will be available in local newspapers, at local town offices, and at most town transfer stations. Online registration forms may be completed at: www.franklincountywastedistrict.org. Call: (413) 772-2438.


Friday, September 19. Park(ing) Day. Help transform car-space into people & art-space. Go to: www.parkingday.org. Local contact: Garth gshaneyfelt@yahoo.com

Saturday, September 20th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Amherst Bike Fair on the Amherst Town Common. Contact Mary Wentworth for The Commons Group 413/256-6005

Whoa! Looks like things are picking up here in Happy Valley. Sooooo many events, so little time. Well, that's it for us this time. Next time it's Food Not Bombs along with the usual hijinks. Until then, remember: listen to your Mother!

The Dump on the Aquifer Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. It’s nest-fouling watch once again on the Enviro Show. Time to have a longer conversation about the proposed expansion of the Northampton dump over the Barnes Aquifer. We’ll have Linda Hiesiger and Mike Fedora of Citizens United for a Healthy Future in the studio to talk about the issues. As always, we’ll take a healthy piece out of the Bush regime ; check-in on The Enviro Show Echo Chamber; hear the Quote of the Week and some tunes, but first it’s time for Revenge of the Critters!
Criket Attack!

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week comes from Al Gore (or Gore-al, as we like to say, sounding the alarm on Earth, rather than on Krypton): "You see that pale, blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances... it's our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization. I believe this is a moral issue, it is your time to seize this issue, it is our time to rise again to secure our future."

What’s that sound, Glen? When and will we be saved from the Bush regime?? Never mind us, when will all the endangered species be safe from these guys? You’re gonna’ love this one: Cleanup funding inadequate for Bush-designated marine monument. Maybe it’s fitting to leave all that plastic crap floating around George’s "monument"!

So, who IS the man behind the curtain on the John McSame campaign campaign trail? Could it be the man from Big Oil?? You can bet yur’ sweet crude it is!! In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we have a look at Bob Herbert’s op-ed piece in the New York Times, "An empty promise". Our Enviro Show Blog Bonus is all about pain at the pump. Check it!

"It really isn’t garbage" by Pat Humphries takes us to our interview with Linda Hiesiger and Mike Fedora concerning the clever idea of putting a dump over one of Easthampton's water supplies. Talk about planning ahead!

On the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday August 20, 5:30-7:30pm, ARE "GREEN JOBS" UNION & COMMUNITY JOBS? Pioneer Valley CLC, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield. Everyone is talking Green Jobs as Union Jobs and Local Community Jobs, and the possibility of Scabby Green Jobs looms large here in Western Mass. A Green Economy Working Group is discussing the issue. Info: Jon Weissman, 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org, or Eduardo Suarez, 335-6224.

Thursday, Aug 21 & 28, 4:30 - 5:30 pm. Weekly Green Energy Vigil.
Wells Fountain, Junction of Linden and Main, Brattleboro, VT
We will be here every week until Vermont Yankee is closed. Come join US! Call 802-387-4060


Thursday, Sept 4, 5pm. Franklin County Parade No Nukes contingent.
Downtown, Greenfield, MA. Start off from the Greenfield Middle School parking lot. Join the Wrecked Honda Insight painted "Vermont Yankee an Accident Waiting to happen" Join the Solar Rollers on Bicycles! We can Replace Entergy's Vermont Yankee! Help hand out Literature! For info email cchang@nukebusters.org

Saturday, September 13th from 9 to 1 it’s Hazzardous Waste Day at the Montague Highway Garage, the Rt. 2. Park and Ride in Charlemont, and the Town of Orange Transfer Station. To participate at any of the sites, residents must pre-register by September 5th. Registration forms will be available in local newspapers, at local town offices, and at most town transfer stations. Online registration forms may be completed at: www.franklincountywastedistrict.org. Call: (413) 772-2438

That about does us for another show. Next time: Living Off the Grid. Be your own utility company! (no fleet of trucks necessary). Until then remember: listen to your Mother!

The Sick Planet Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. As you've probably guessed by now, it’s a sick planet. From the nefarious deeds of Darth Cheney, the boy emperor, and Repugnican presidential candidate, John McSame, to all their corporado buddies. Big Oil is acting out! Big Pharma is getting bold. And, the senator (and indicted felon and Big Oil lackey) from way up in Alaska, Ted Stevens is whining about the recent indictment against him. We’ll be taking a look at these usual suspects and their planet trashing and we’ll hearing from Stan Cox, author of "Sick Planet". The website says: "Sick Planet tells nine stories in which the global capitalist economy turns the well-intentioned efforts of humanity inside-out. By the tenth chapter, it will be clear that neither organic chicken soup nor full medical coverage can cure what ails this planet." Of course, we’ll have some news and views and maybe The Enviro Show Quote of the Week, but first it’s time for....Revenge of the Critters! Python attacks pet store owner!

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week:
"In Wildness is the preservation of the World. Every tree sends its fibres forth in search of the Wild. The cities import it at any price. Men plow and sail for it. From the forest and wilderness come the tonics and barks which brace mankind. Our ancestors were savages. The story of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf is not a meaningless fable. The founders of every State which has risen to eminence have drawn their nourishment and vigor from a similar wild source. It was because the children of the Empire were not suckled by the wolf that they were conquered and displaced by the children of the Northern forests who were." - H.D. Thoreau

Hear that sound, dear listeners? It's the Wicked Witch of the West, spokeswoman for Big Oil and Repugnican candidate for Prez, John McSame (same as it ever was!). And speaking of McSame, you absolutely MUST checkout the video clip we’ve linked to on our Enviro Show blog. Moveon.org has put the...um..sunlight? onto the McSame campaign’s cozy relationship with Big Oil. Why do you think he wants to open up our shorelines to oil drilling? Could it be the $1 million dollar campaign contribution Big Oil laid on McSame just days after he flip-flopped on offshore drilling? Ha! Yes, Big Oil not only wants to wreck our coastlines in their endless pursuit of profits, and wreck your pocketbook as well, they also have no compunction about destroying the biosphere while they’re at it! Say, did we mention BOYCOTT EXXON/MOBIL? ALSO, for our Enviro Show Blog Bonus go to NRDC to Take Action (so to speak) on coastal oil drilling. Don't be fooled by Bush's BS about coastal drilling somehow lowering gas prices. That oil won't come in for years, even if it did makes sense to drill there. Big Oil has unused drilling leases all over the map that it's just sitting on while they take YOU for a ride on the suckermobile!

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber arch enemy of the Earth, Sen. Ted Stevens gets nailed for lying about taking gifts from Big Oil. What? Corrupt politicians in Washington taking bribes from Big Oil?? Surprise! Also, from the Amherst Bulletin we learn that the Gov (in his infinite wisdom) has vetoed a bond that would have funded repairs to the Lake Wyola dam in Shutesbury. You know, the dam that's threatening to fail and send most of the lake into the Sawmill River along whose banks numerous houses sit.....like D.O.'s. ALSO, from Grist some 420,000 gallons of fuel oil spilled into the Mississippi River early Wednesday, after a 600-foot chemical tanker collided with a fuel barge. Nice driving guys!

There’s that chilling sound again! Glen, is there some way out of here? When will Darth, the boy emperor and their lackeys be banished? O, by the way, it seems someone high up in The Empire has been leaning on EPA staffers not to talk to....well, ANYONE! Was it just Stephen Johnson or was it more edicts from the Dark Lord? Only time will tell!! Meanwhile, Four Democratic senators last Tuesday called for Stephen Johnson to resign as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey to begin an investigation into whether he lied in testimony to a Senate committee. Mukasey investigate? We don’t think so!

"Heal the Earth", by Girl on Top takes us to our interview with Stan Cox. Then, as always, it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard (looks mighty thin this week):



Wednesday, Aug. 6-- 9:00 AM Walk for a Nuclear Free Future to Bennington from Rte 7 in Williamstown, Ma. Lunch in Bennington and then continue walk north. Call: 802-442-2449

Friday, August 15. Surround the Federal Bulding in Springfield! No war on Iran! For more info call AFSC 413-584-8975 / 413-320-1002 c

August 10 – 25; Solar Rollers back on the trail in Vermont!! Please contact us if you are interested in joining this ride! or would like to organize a potluck and discussion group in a town on the route or near! solarollers@gmail.com or call David 413-863-9296 or Peg 802-387-4845. Kick off rallyAugust 10, 2 pm. Marlboro Grad Center parking lot, Brattleboro, VT

Yup, that's all we could find. Got any enviro events you want posted? Add them to the comments on our blog. Until next time, remember: listen to yur' Mother!