Return of the Shopocalypse Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Here we go again: people shopping 'til they're dropping. Sooooo many toys, so little time? Are you suffering from Returnaholism? How about putting that wasted money to good use? Rev. Billy calls-in once again to preach about the coming Shopocalypse. Then we get calls from Kristin DeBoer of Kestrel Trust and Lily Lombard of Grow Food Northampton; places where your gift donations will be money well spent. As usual, we'll also checkout our E-Valley-uation segment, The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, our Enviro Show Quote of the Week,and the shortest Meet the New Boss segment ever, but first it's time for...Revenge of the Critters! Reindeer attack....again and again!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber it's time to revisit Frosty The Snowman Melted By Global Warming; it's sad but true. Also, some good things come in threes at the New York Times to counteract that Frosty meltdown: 1) Obama administration rescindeds its decision to expand offshore oil exploration into the eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast; 2) Solar installation spreein progress, and 3) Midwest emerges as center for clean power. Who says we're all gloom & doom! Our Enviro Show Blog Bonus asks YOU to take action to protect Bluefin Tuna.

Our Meet the New Boss segment is short but not so sweet. This on Obama from the New York Times: "Privately, Mr. Obama has described himself, at times, as essentially a Blue Dog Democrat". Surprise!

In our E-Valley-uation segment the good news is that State energy and environment secretary Ian Bowles will leave the Patrick administration at the end of the month and "pursue private sector opportunities". Hey, maybe we scared him on our last show! The not-so-good news is that former Westfield mayor, Rick Sullivan is taking Bowles place. The last time we saw Sullivan he was solidly on the fence on the Biomess. Also this: Peter Vickery kicks off a new Mt. Tom campaign. He's talking conversion to natural gas instead of all that coal from blown-off mountain tops down south.

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week is a variation on a theme: "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed". ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

The choir sings of the "Shopocalypse", segwaying nicely to our call with Rev. Billy and our other guests.

Then it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

December, all month; A two person exhibit of the photographs of Lynn Grabowski and the oil paintings of Gillian Haven at the Burnett Gallery in Amherst. Titled As We See It, the exhibit presents the vision of each artist observing her surroundings.Lynn Grabowski’s Amherst Beaver Project, studies a colony of beavers residing along the Norwottuck Rail Trail. Call (413)538-5695

Wednesday, December 8, 7:00-8:30pm. Second Decommissioning Forum on VT Yankee. Greenfield Community College, Downtown Building, Main Street, Greenfield, MA Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Deb Katz 413-339-5781

Friday Dec. 10, 7pm. "Bhopali" showing corporate malice and denial of human rights of people --at the Media Education Foundation community room, 60 Masonic Street, Northampton (entrance behind Woodstar Cafe). Event cosponsored by the Northampton Human Rights Commission & Northampton Committee to Stop War in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of a regular Friday Night film series.

Friday Dec. 10th and Saturday the 11th at 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, Dec. 12th at 2 p.m. "Welcome Yule: A Midwinter Celebration"; Shea Theater, Avenue A, Turners Falls, Music, dance, songs and stories celebrating the return of the light. Reserve tickets at (413) 863-2281 or purchase in advance at Jones Library in Amherst, Broadside Books in Northampton, the World Eye Bookstore in Greenfield, For information, call 413-665-3206 or check www.WelcomeYule.org

Saturday, December 11, 1 - 2pm. "Finding you way in the woods". Have you ever found yourself lost in the woods? Join us for an hour long exploration of compasses as well as the basics of the sport of orienteering. Great Falls Discovery Center. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls. Call 413-863-3221

Monday, December 13, 6:30 – 8:30p.m. (Snow Date: Thursday, December 16). DCR Forest Futures Implementation [or who gets clearcut!]- Public Workshops. Greenfield Community College, Downtown Center, 270- Main St, Greenfield. There will also be an opportunity to provide written comments. For more information on these workshops or the landscape
designation process, please feel free to contact Jessica Rowcroft at either jessica.rowcroft@state.ma.us or at 617-626-1380.

Attention shoppers! Time to stay home and enjoy the holidays or take a walk in the woods. Next time it's our Winter Solstice Music Show. Stay tuned and remember: listen to your Mother!