We have three weeks to let folks in the Valley and beyond know about The Quabbin Walk. Starting Monday, May 17 and going until Sunday, May 23 beginning in North Orange going eastward toward Petersham and ending in New Salem, the Walk hopes to raise awareness that future survival of life on Earth for all species is being threatened by deforestation all over the planet. Here in Massachusetts forests had at long last begun to return to their lush and varied pre-Colonial state. Now they are once again threatened. We abhor the careless and thoughtless practice of so-called "even-age" management, a euphemism for clear-cutting, particularly on our public lands and especially without public input and transparency. These trees are part of our defense against the coming climate crisis. Their destruction adds to that crisis. In light of the recent promotion of biomass incineration by corporations and the state, the clear-cutting of public lands adds to the growing concern that our forests will be degraded and destroyed in the name of hyped “green” energy. Biomass incineration is NOT a “renewable”, it is NOT “green”.

The Quabbin watershed, once a showcase for eco-forestry, is now under siege. Clear-cuts are devastating various sites throughout the reservoir lands. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, who administer the area, must be held responsible for this destruction, but only raised public awareness will bring a stop to such practices. It is for that reason we ask you to join us on the Quabbin Walk and to help spread the word about this event.

In the coming days we will be posting information and updates here, letting you know about the issue and what you can do to save the forests. Please tell your friends, family and neighbors about this effort. More info here.
Contact The Quabbin Walk here: maforestwalk@gmail.com

The Spring VFR On-air Fund Drive Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. It's time to pay the piper once again. Valley Free Radio runs on YOUR donations, not on corporate largess that dictates content. VFR is independent community radio and The Enviro Show is just one of many locally produced shows that VFR makes possible. Now we are asking you to help keep the show on the air. To help us during the fund drive our roving reporter and legendary troubadour, Tom Neilson joins us for the hour. We'll engage in a bit of Echo Chamber reverb and do The Quote of the Week and our E- Valley-uation segment, but first it's time for........Revenge of the Critters! Jellyfish turn the tables on the fishers.

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we revisit a recent alert from the Stop Spewing Carbon campaign. Here's your link to take action and end the bullshit about biomass incineration being "renewable" or "green". And this: Stephanie Kraft digs deeper into the Massey Energy corporados and their deadly deeds in Aprill 22 Valley Advocate. Also some negative feedback on positive methane feedback. OK, that sounds confusing but it really stinks!

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week is a post-Earth Day special:

"What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?"

- Henry David Thoreau

Meanwhile, back here in The Valley we're all worked up over the clear-cutting going on by the Quabbin. What? You thought it was an eco-forestry showcase over there? Sorry, take a look for yourself here. Then tell the Gov. to STOP IT!. Also, The Quabbin Walk takes place May 17 through the 23rd. No more clear-cuts at the Quabbin! Call (413)522-7505. BTW, did you know you can get Free air-sealing in you home from Mass Save? That's 20-40% in energy savings Earthling! Call Jenn Cranshaw at the Center for Ecological Technology at (413)320-8374 for more info. Free, that's a good deal right?

Did we mention that Valley Free Radio runs on YOUR donations? We did? Wellllllll.....how about it?? You can go HERE right now and add your name to the list of those who support The Enviro Show and community radio!

On The Bus Top Billboard we find these:

Thursday, April 29, 7:00pm. Public Hearing on Vermont Yankee. SHUT THAT SUCKER DOWN!! Gymnasium, Vernon Elementary School, 381 Governor Hunt Road, Vernon, VT (just over the border!)

Sunday, May 2, 10 a.m. to noon: Fort River Festival. Guided Canoe Trip; noon to 2 p.m.: Join a variety of naturalists and community organizations in celebrating the Fort River, the longest free flowing tributary of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts! Learn about unique fish species. There will be speakers, music, family activities and a Rubber Ducky Derby! For more information, go to www.fortriverfestival.com. Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.

Any 24-hour period during May 14-16 or May 21-23. BIOTHON 2010. You've heard of marathons, walk-a-thons, and dance-a-thons! Well, here's our version: the Biothon!! Help the Hitchcock Center and have fun being outdoors at the same time. The idea is that you and/or a team of other nature enthusiasts go outside and look for as many species as you can during any 24-hour period over the weekends of May 14-16 or May 21-23. You pick how long you want to go out, your location, and your focus: plants, birds, amphibians, mammals or everything! For every species you count, you collect pledges of money from colleagues, friends and family. It’s really that easy… and fun. Just call (413) 256-6006 for information on how you can get started, and we’ll supply you with everything you need.

May 15, 11am - 2pm. Migration Celebration. Great Falls Discovery Center, Avenue A, Turners Falls. It's migration season, the perfect time for the whole family to learn about the birds we see in our skies and neighborhoods. Where do they stay in winter? How do they know how to get back here? If they are endangered, what can we do to help them? We'll have games and challenges to help you find out. Build a birdhouse (we'll have all the materials you'll need), play games, make a craft item to take home with you, have fun! Food and drink will help make this a true celebration. Call 413.863.3221 for info.

May 17 - 23. Quabbin Walk. No more clear-cuts at the Quabbin! Cease commercial logging on public lands. Stop shipping Mass. trees across state borders. The trees and the climate need YOUR help! Contact: (413) 522-7505 Email: maforestwalk@gmail.com

May 27 - June 6. Mountain Justice Summer Camp. As the campaign to stop all forms of surface mining gains national awareness, we have more and more opportunities for folks to devote a summer of work to stopping mountaintop removal. Go to: http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/

OK, you've caught the show, you've made your pledge to Valley Free Radio......right? Now, all that's left to do is.....listen to your Mother!

The Down with King Coal Enviro Show, Part II

Greetings Earthlings. Looks like King Coal's in the news once again and as usual it's bad news. James Guin McGuinness from Climate Ground Zero calls in with news from coal country. We'll checkout the situation down south with mountain-top removal and our arch nemesis Don Blankenship. As always we'll visit The Enviro Show Echo Chamber as well as devote some time to Meet the New Boss and hear The Enviro Show Quote of the week, but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Turkey shakes up the cops!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we think you might agree with Rainforest Action Network that coal is sooooo over. While you're at it, Take the Pledge to stop mountain-top removal. Also, checkout some excellent reporting on Darth Blankenship and Massey Coal on Democracy Now!. Between the coal mine explosion at Massey's Montcoal operation in West Virginia and the coal ship run aground on the Great Barrier Reef, Ol' King Coal hasn't been such a merry old soul lately. But finally, some good news from the EPA: are you ready? It's being called a crack down on mountain top removal! (tell us, why do we have our doubts?).

That's the Good Obama....we hope, now on to the Bad Obama in our Meet the New Boss segment. It's old news now, but it's so disturbing we can't help but repeat it: Obama will open large swaths of the Atlantic, Gulf, and Alaskan coasts to offshore oil and natural gas drilling. This move was rather nuanced, some areas in the Alaskan wilderness were taken off the table, and some may never be drilled,baby,drilled but frankly we here at The Enviro Show are not pleased. Sorry, that's about as nuanced as we get, but Defenders of Wildlife is asking you to call the White House and tell them: No you can't!

We never got to The Quote of the Week last time so here it is again (too good to simply delete): "The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not bretheren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the Earth" -- Henry Beston

The Lone Tones' "Canaries" from the album of the same name, takes us to our interview with Peter Vickery. Then it's on to.....you guessed it, the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, April 14th, 10am. The Mad HATERS Tea Party comes to the Commonwealth. Yup, the Tea Party Terrorist Express is coming to The Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand near Park & Boylston to subvert the REAL Boston Tea Party. Won't you help "greet" them?

Thursday, April 15, 7pm. League of Women Voters forum on energy in the Pioneer Valley. Amherst Regional High School Library. Mary Booth, MA Environmental Energy Alliance will be speaking among others.

Friday, April 16, 7pm – Earth Day in Greenfield. Family Concert with Sarah Pirtle and Jim Scott at the All Souls UU Church. This concert will appeal to all ages. The evening will begin with a light supper in the All Souls Parish Hall at 5:30 PM, with the concert following at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. (413) 773-5018

Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Field Trip: Geology of Franklin County. Come spend a day seeing and understanding the geology of the northern Valley.
Massachusetts Geologic Survey geologist Joe Kopera will guide us in learning how to "read the rocks" for evidence of events that shaped our
Valley, and how they continue to affect our lives today. Pre-registration is required; please call Hitchcock Center for the Environment at (413) 256-6006

Sunday, April 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Earth Day Festival -- Springfield. Admission charge. Also it's "Honor the Earth" school vacation week at the Springfield Museum.Information: 413-263-6800 or visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.

Monday, April 19, 10am. Walk for a Nuclear Free Future walks from Amherst to Northampton along Rt. 9. Meet on the Amherst Town Common at 10am. April 19th, Patriot's Day, is a good day for a walk! All who dream of a world without weapons and war - stopping current wars, abolishing nuclear weapons and preventing future wars - please join us. The Enviro Show is a co-sponsor of this event. Call AFSC: (413)584-8975

April 19-22 the Bolivian government is convening the 'World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. Go to: http://pwccc.wordpress.com/

Saturday, April 24, 10am-4pm – The First Annual Amherst Sustainability Festival, held on the Town Common and around town. The festival combines The Renewable Energy Fair, Amherst Grows Green and Arbor Day event. There will be tree pruning and tree climbing demonstrations held at Kendrick Park. Sustainable product suppliers, local artisans, consumer information regarding energy efficiency and renewable energy providers will be on hand on the Town Common. A diverse group of entertainers performing on stage on the Common.

Saturday, April 24, 1-2pm. Earth Day at the Great Falls Discovery Center, Avenue A, Turners Falls. Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with an Open Mic Day for Children-Poetry with a Wildlife Theme.

May 27 - June 6. Mountain Justice Summer Camp. As the campaign to stop all forms of surface mining gains national awareness, we have more and more opportunities for folks to devote a summer of work to stopping mountaintop removal. Go to: http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/

We'll go out with "Coal Miner's Grave" by Hazel Dickens as a memorial to those who died in West Virginia. Tune in next time and help support community radio. O, and remember: listen to your Mother!