Greetings Earthlings. Those sketchy old nukes in Japan, the same kind as the Vermont Yankee reactor just up river from us, continue melting down. But, let's practice some of that good old fashioned all-American media denial for a spell and focus on the Connecticut River as it exists before Entergy utterly destroys it. Karl Meyer of "Shad for a Brighter Future" finally joins us to talk about our finned relations and the Connecticut. We visit our E-Valley-uation and Meet the New Boss segments, The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and ,who knows, maybe even our Fool-on-the-Hill offering, but first it's time for.... Revenge of the Critters! Don't pee in this river. The fish do not like it, guys.
In our E-Valley-uation segment we find that the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, which sits on the banks of the Connecticut River, has been operating under the terms of a zombie discharge permit that expired five years ago. The Connecticut River Watershed Council petitioned Vermont to conduct a review in order to protect the Connecticut River from the thermal discharge from the plant. BTW, here's an Enviro Show Blog Bonus about Vermont Yankee as well as a story about some of their non-submersible electrical cables discovered underwater! Gosh, electricity & water.....together! Also this: American Rivers is partnering with the Town of Greenfield, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Deerfield Watershed Association on a Green River Ecosystem Restoration Project. They're talking dam removal here, folks, once considered a radical idea only promoted by the likes of your friends...(ahem!) at Earth First! Meanwhile over in Amherst, the Fort River is in the news for having no dams! O, and this: Cowls goes for big solar in the woods?
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber let's repeat Environmental Action's call to action for Congress to defund nukes! AND Beyond Nuclear.org's petition to Obama to build a nuclear-free future for our children NOW! Maybe your thinking we don't need a nuke-free future 'cuz TEPCO, the NRC & the nuclear industry are leading you to believe everything is under control at Fukushima? Silly human. Speaking of under control? Remember THE worst oil spill disaster in history? Our own Rachell Maddow does too! Finally, we don't know what to think about this. Do you?
Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week comes from inside the French nuclear industry where an unnamed executive VP stated with regard to the Fukushima multiple meltdowns: "Clearly we are witnessing one of the greatest disasters in modern times". Hmmm, where's the media on that?
On that note, it's time to Meet the New Boss......again. Obama's recent energy speech finds him continuing to keep the bed warm for the nuclear industry and Big Oil. However, given the ongoing multiple meltdowns at Fukushima his nuke boosts are really scary and...um...tone deaf? Do you think this is no laughing matter?
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Michigan Dem Debbie Stabenow who seems to have hitched a ride on the Repugnican crazy train going off the rails on the climate crisis. Jump Deb!
"Head of the River"by Elliot Bronson from '101 Subtle Ways' takes us to our interview with Karl Meyer. Then it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Wednesday, April 13, 4:30 p.m. Northampton Cheers to Clean Air. The Sierra Club and the Western Mass Green Consortium invite you to raise a glass for clean air at the Northampton Brewery, 11 Brewster Ct, Northampton. Contact: peter@petervickery.com
Sunday, April 17, 2 to 4 p.m., Organizing meeting for "Bike Week 2011" at Studio Helix, on the 3rd floor of Thornes Marketplace in downtown Northampton.
April 18, 1pm at the End of Powershift Rally (scheduled from 10am-1pm) Rising Tide North America invites all residents, students and youth to join the Reclaim Power.
Reclaim Power March & Creative Direct Actions, Lafayette Square (H St NW & Jackson Pl NW); Washington D.C. CONTACT: extraction@risingtidenorthamerica.org
Thursday April 21st,11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (2nd floor), The State House, Boston. Earth Day celebration, environmental fair, and lobby day, The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is teaming up with environmental groups in Massachusetts this Earth Day. Every person that comes to Earth Day 2011 will be asked to visit their legislators and urge them to support funding in the state budget for environmental programs and the pro-environment bill(s) of their choice. Please come and ask your legislators to support the Safer Alternatives Bill (H-1136 & S-397) to protect our health from toxic chemicals in our workplaces, consumer products, homes and communities. Call 617-338-8131
Thursday 4/21, 7:30, Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall, Smith College Barry Sanders speaks on The Environmental Costs of Militarism.
Friday, April 22, 6:30 - 9:30pm. "Earth Day '11: Facing our Present and Future through Eco-poetry, Prose, and Song". Unitarian Universalist Society, 220 Main St., Northampton in the wheelchair-accessible Social Hall downstairs (b.y.o. pillows for plastic chairs. Donation requested to cover costs). D.O. will be reading. Contact: 413-625-6374 johnpberk@gmail.com
Saturday, April 23, 10a.m.-4:00pm Northampton's Earth Day celebration in Pulaski Park. Look for the giant Earth Ball made by students out of single use plastic bags. Also, an Earth Day film festival next door at the Academy of Music with special episodes of "Martha Speaks" at 11:30 am, "Nova-Power Surge", Now’s David Brancaccio’s fiim, ?Fixing The Future", and a special screening of "Carbon Nation" at 7:30 pm. Call: 413 584 3237
Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 2nd Annual Amherst Sustainability Festival. Held on the Amherst Town Common and around town. The festival combines The Renewable Energy Fair, Amherst Grows Green, and Arbor Day. There will be tree pruning and tree climbing demonstrations. Sustainable product suppliers, local artisans, consumer information regarding energy efficiency, and renewable energy providers will be on hand on the Town Common.
Monday, April 25, 7pm. "Voices of Chernobyl" Reading performance. Grace Church Parish Hall, Spring Street, Amherst. Call: (978)249-9400
Tuesday, April 26, 7pm. Same event at the Unitarian Society, 220 Main Street, Northampton. Call: (978)249-9400
Thursday 4/28, 6:30, YMCA Community Room, Main Street, Greenfield. Follow-up panel discussion with co-sponsoring groups to share ideas on how we can all be involved in moving Greenfield and our region toward more sustainable energy use and food security. Part of Spring Film Series of Greening Greenfield and Friends.
Saturday, April 30th, from 9:00a.m. to noon the Northampton Tree Committee in recognition of Arbor Day, will distribute approximately 120 street trees to Northampton residents at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, located at 80 Locust Street. The goal of the program is to have the trees planted near the public way or within public view. It is essential that trees not be planted under utility wires. Twelve different species—all on the NTC’s pre-approved species list—will be available. The trees will be in large seven to ten gallon containers. To receive a free tree, individuals and families must register by April 20 at www.ntcfreetree.eventbrite.com. Questions about the program can be e-mailed to nohotrees@gmail.com
Monday, May 2, 7-9:30pm. "Earth Day '11: Facing our Present and Future through Eco-poetry, Prose, and Song". Second Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield. Donation requested to cover costs. Contact: 413-625-6374 johnpberk@gmail.com
Time to flow on out of here 'til next time. Until then remember: listen to your Mother, OK?
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