Blog Archive

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Bee with The Enviro Show


Greetings Earthlings. Do you think bees are just nasty little critters out to ruin your picnic? (What? that sweet critter pictured here by our friends at the Beehive Design Collective?) Suppose we told you there would bee no fruit in your bowl or few veggies on your plate without them? Dan Conlon of Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield gives us the latest buzz on the dreaded Colony Collapse Disorder and other issues facing our winged companions. As always, we visit the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, The Quote of the Week, Meet the New Boss and the week's Fool-on-the-Hill, but first it's time for....
Revenge of the Critters! Golfers beware! There's a fox guarding the links!



In our Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find Smokey the Bear getting a clue about carbon sequestering trees. And on the subject of trees: the EPA needs to hear from You about its decision not to regulate biomass carbon emissions. Also this: the WWF's greenwashing timber scheme! Did someone say scheme? We checkout Bobby Kennedy's piece on the Cape Wind rip-off as well as the trailer for a new film, "Cape Spin". And this: Tim Dechristopher gets two years for punking Big Oil! Finally, wonder what you can do at home to help stem the climate crisis besides changing light bulbs and your lifestyle? How about painting your roof white?



Our Fool-on-the-Hill, Republican Rep. Sandy Adams (Repugnican-Fla.) wants to limit funding for Department of Energy websites that educate kids about efficiency. Way to go smarty-pants Sandy. Maybe we can put those kids to work in the coal mines while we're at it.



Then it's time to Meet the New Boss, who still hasn't got it right on mileage standards for all that 19th century technology jamming our roads and highways out there. We think he needs to hear from Enviro Show listeners like You 'cuz he won't listen to us at all! It seems like he isn't listening to other enviros either. Maybe he's kicking the environment can down the road? ARRGHHHH!



Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week is attributed to both Mark Twain and Robert Heinlein. Take your pick.

"Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get."



We move into our interview with Dan Conlon with a clip from the film, "Queen of the Sun". Like the guy in the film says, without bees we'd all be eating oatmeal and a few nuts. Borrrrring! But hey, what's happening to the bees is no laughing matter. In China things are so bad that people have to hand pollinate fruit trees! And now we learn that even the bumblebees are dying off.



Finally, over at the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, August 3,7pm. Charlie King & Karen Brandow in concert with special guest Leon Rosselson. Unity Church, 6 Arch St., Greenfield. Call Charlie and Karen 413-625-8115 for advance tickets.

Thursday, August 4th, 3 pm, the Climate Reality Check coalition will hold the latest in our series of national conference calls to help strengthen community organizing on climate, entitled: The Labor Movement and Climate Change Organizing. If you have any questions please contact Rose Braz, Center for Biological Diversity:rbraz@biologicaldiveristy.org

Wednesday, August 10th,10:00AM to Noon. Sustainability workshops for families and kids. North Amherst Community Farm, home of Simple Gifts Farm, 1089 North Pleasant St. (across from Puffton Village) in North Amherst. In this workshop we will visit the Simple Gifts sheep and learn about their wool. Other workshops scheduled. Registration required. Email Michelle Parrish at programs@nacfonline.org or call 413-624-6223.

Wednesday, August 10, 11am. Demo asking Kerry and Brown to Support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011! Boston City Hall Plaza. Free superhero capes for all kids who attend (please RSVP to guarantee a cape for your kid(s) at cluppi@cleanwater.org)** Kids can participate in the fun and ask their Senators to be a hero by supporting The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. For more information, please contact: Cindy Luppi by email or phone: cluppi@cleanwater.org or call: 617/338-8131 x208.

Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. LATE SUMMER NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS (AGES 6-8). Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst. Pre-registration required; please call 256-6006.

August 20th – September 3rd. Protest tar sands mining and the proposed Keystone pipeline! With people power and time-tested tactics of civil disobedience - join thousands of people from across the continent in a wave of sustained sit-ins at the White House. Together we’ll amplify our voices and escalate the movement and stop the Keystone XL pipeline to the Canadian tar sands. Go to: http://www.tarsandsaction.org/ or Contact tarsandsaction@gmail.com

Saturday, August 27,1-4pm. Western Mass Green Consortium’s annual BBQ & Clambake: “Celebrate Sustainable Living” . Come have learn about projects, have fun, eat great food, dance to live music!! If you plan on attending, please register at www.westernmassgreenconsor​tium.org

Wednesday, September 14 at 8:00pm - September 15 at 9:00pm. 24 Hours of Reality is a worldwide event that will share the reality of the climate crisis. From Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Alaska, Jakarta to London, people living with the impacts of climate change every day will tell their story. The event features a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore and delivered once per hour for 24 hours, in every time zone around the globe. Go to: http://climaterealityproje​ct.org/the-event/

Saturday, September 17 at 6:00am. Occupy Wall Street! On September 17, we want to see 20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices. It's time for DEMOCRACY NOT CORPORATOCRACY!
Go to: http://www.adbusters.org/b​logs/adbusters-blog/occupy​wallstreet.html



That is all and remember.....listen to your Mother!

Monday, July 11, 2011

The Revenge of the Critters Enviro Show


Greetings Earthlings. In the wake of the UN's World Population Day we've turned our favorite segment into an entire show. Guess what happens to the critters and their habitats when the human population hits 7 billion. Jason Hribal, author of Fear of the Animal Planet - The Hidden History of Animal Resistance" calls in to share tales of four legged revenge. We'll see who this week's Fool-on-the-Hill might be, checkout The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and our E-Valley-uation segment, but first it's time for... Revenge of the Critters - The Segment! It's News of the Weird's Least Competent Do-it-yourself exterminators. Don't try this at home!




The Fool-on-the-Hill meets the Revenge of The Critters! Not sure if algae blooms qualify as critters but they sure took a piece out of this arch enemy of the Earth! Speaking of enemies of the Earth, the anti-environment climate crisis deniers over at Faux "News" are in a bit of trouble. Tooooo bad! There are plenty of actual critters out there that could use your help. Be good to them, maybe they'll reciprocate!



In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber: We have some fishy Blog Bonus Take Action links. And, Common Dreams discovers direct action, but Anonymous is already there. Of course, as always, Earth First! is all over direct action. Sounds like Great White Sharks are looking for some direct action out by the Cape! It's said they're looking for Grey Seals for lunch, but hey, look at all those slow swimmers! About those seals? They sure could use your help. You know what other critters need your help? Bats! Finally, it looks like BP's trying to back out of its commitments in the Gulf. Did someone say slimy corporados?



In our E-Valley-uation segment we ask the disturbing question: Is toxic Giant Hogweed invading this Valley.......yet? So, the EPA issued tougher rules for power plants but not in Massachusetts? What's that about?? Power plants like those proposed biomass incinerators? We don't think so! Notify the Gov here not to cave in to biomass boosters.



Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week here: "For 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




After our interview with Jason Hribal, author of Fear of the Animal Planet" we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Clamshell Alliance reunion & resurgence:For rooms, tenting and dining, the World Fellowship can accommodate up to 150 overnight, so reserve soon (www.worldfellowship.org) if you plan to stay over. For information, connection and conversation, join clamshellalliance@yahoo.com, visit the www.clamshellalliance.org website and Facebook at http://facebook.com/ClamshellAlliance.

Saturday, July 23, 10am-6pm. The Worcester Green Jobs Coalition and the Making a Green Solidarity Economy Planning Committee invites Organizers, Activists, Academics, Media, and Community Members to participate in workshops, discussions, music and fun. Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St., Worcester. Contact: Lazri DiSalvoPhone: (860) 309-5690

Wednesday, August 3,7pm. Charlie King & Karen Brandow in concert with special guest Leon Rosselson. Unity Church, 6 Arch St., Greenfield. Call Charlie and Karen 413-625-8115 for advance tickets.

Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. LATE SUMMER NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS (AGES 6-8). Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst. Pre-registration required; please call 256-6006.

August 20th – September 3rd. Protest tar sands mining and the proposed Keystone pipeline! With people power and time-tested tactics of civil disobedience - join thousands of people from across the continent in a wave of sustained sit-ins at the White House. Together we’ll amplify our voices and escalate the movement and stop the Keystone XL pipeline to the Canadian tar sands. Go to: http://www.tarsandsaction.org/ or Contact tarsandsaction@gmail.com



We are out of here! Until next time remember: Listen to your Mother!

Sunday, July 03, 2011

The Troubled Atmosphere Enviro Show


Greetings Earthlings. Noticed how hard it is to breath easy here in the Valley, especially in the summer? And how about those fireworks? We have Sylvia Brandt, Associate Professor at UMass in the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics joining us to talk air quality, asthma, biomass incineration, maybe we'll even get to her work on the effects of climate change on Mid-Atlantic fisheries (or is that another show?). We'll do the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, Meet the New Boss, the Enviro Show Quote of the Week, and our E-Valley-uation thingy, but first it's time for...Revenge of the Critters! Macho "sports" fisherman gets caught! Sorry, you'll have to see it to believe it.



In our E-Valley-uation segment guess who got busted again at the Vermont Yankee nuke? That would be our own Jean (she's the shifty looking one in the back row with the shades on). Hey, they're just a bit concerned about nuclear safety, aren't you too? And, in keeping with the show's theme: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Rejection...err...that's Protection issues a new air pollution permit! Timing is everything! And, time for some good news (albeit a bit dated): 335 acres saved from McMansions in B-town!



Speaking of getting busted, in the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we note that Bill McKibben (of all people!) is inviting YOU to get busted in DC in a protest against tar sands and the proposed Keystone Pipeline. Protest....in DC....in August! Eeeww! Go ahead, you can tell your grandchildren between backstrokes that you actually tried to save the planet. Also this: New Mass. Bottle Bill coming to a vote. Take action!



Then it's time to Meet the New boss again! Looks like one of the old bosses (Al Gore in this case) has taken a piece out of the New Boss on confronting, or NOT, the climate crisis. So what do you think, has O lost your vote?

In case you missed it the first time around, our Quote of the Week is an instant replay (above) from the winner of the 2000 Presidential election:

"Here is the core of it: we are destroying the climate balance that is essential to the survival of our civilization. This is not a distant or abstract threat; it is happening now. The United States is the only nation that can rally a global effort to save our future." - Al Gore



"Fable" by Medollic takes us to our interview with Sylvia Brandt. Then it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday July 8, 2011, deadline for submissions to The Healthy Environment/Healthy Springfield CARE Project. HEHS calls on Springfield’s organizations, churches and groups to submit ideas for an environmental education event that they would be willing to host. The proposed event may be a forum, community dialogue or specific educational presentation. Call 413-794-1803 for application for and guidance.

July 9-10, TRAINING for TRANSITION. The Transition movement in the U.K. ignited a global conversation and sharing about positive, creative actions to build community resilience in the face of economic instability, energy cost increases, worsening social inequity, and environmental crisis. Hefty fee. Info: www.TransitionUS.org or TinaClarke@TransitionNetwork.org, 413-658-8165

Sunday, July 10, 11am to 7pm, the first-ever Common Good Festival. Amherst Common. Award-winning activist songwriters Tom Neilson, Emma’s Revolution and Appleseed recording artists Kim and Reggie Harris headline a star-studded lineup. In addition, the festival will feature local sustainability and social justice activist groups and businesses, craft vendors, cooperative games, children's activities, a magician and more. For more information call (413) 628-3336 (9 AM to 7:30 PM)

Sunday, July 10, 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Pioneer Valley Green-Rainbow Local Monthly Meeting. Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. Contact mlikins@hotmail.com

Saturday, July 16, 2011, 2-5pm. Festival for a Nuclear Free Future. Copley Square, Boston. The "nuclear age" began on this date 66 years ago – July 16, 1945 – with the Trinity atomic bomb test in the New Mexico desert. After a string of nuclear disaters, it’s time for the nuclear age to end. Let’s begin to end it in Copley Square on July 16, 2011! Co-sponsored by the Sierra Club. Go to: nukefreefest.org or Call 617-354-2169

Monday, July 18 to August 6. Walk for a Nuclear Free World. Starting at the Leverett Peace Pagoda, the walk goes to both Vermont Yankee and the Pilgrim nuke in Plymouth, MA ending at the Grafton, NY pagoda. Call: (413)485-8469.

Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Clamshell Alliance reunion & resurgence:For rooms, tenting and dining, the World Fellowship can accommodate up to 150 overnight, so reserve soon (www.worldfellowship.org) if you plan to stay over. For information, connection and conversation, join clamshellalliance@yahoo.com, visit the www.clamshellalliance.org website and Facebook at http://facebook.com/ClamshellAlliance.

Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. LATE SUMMER NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS (AGES 6-8). Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst. Pre-registration required; please call 256-6006.



Done. Next time: the Revenge of the Critters Enviro Show. Author Jason Hribal joins us to talk about one of our favorite subjects! Until then remember.....listen to your Mother.