The 2018 New Start Enviro Show

New Years Greetings Earthlings! Given how awful 2017 has been we look forward to new possibilities in the new year. Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Setti Warren joins us to talk about it in the days leading up to a candidates forum in Greenfield on January 6. As always, we will also take you to see The Mad King at The White House of Lies and our Fool-on-the-Hill as well as a trip to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber but first it's time for...........Revenge of the Critters! Usually docile Sea Lion seems to have had enough of human swimmers.

His Malignancy The Mad King and his court of crazed climate criminals closed out 2017 by opening up the Arctic Wildlife Refuge for their friends at Big Oil to trash. Yes, it was the sweetener in the recent Repugnican tax scam that got this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, Sen. Murkowski's vote to make the filthy rich richer and screw the rest of us. Speaking of wasteful energy, His Malignancy's Energy Department has decided to ignore the legal mandate to update energy efficiency of appliances. According to ThinkProgress "The standards have historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support and demonstrated clear results" but it's still the era of The Mad King, right? We are happy to report that the smug-ass filthy rich Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and his obnoxious wife received a beautifully wrapped box of horseshit for the Holidaze! And here's a list of His Malignancy's regulatory rollbacks from 2017, just in case you're counting. BUT, given who he is more rollbacks keep coming like on offshore safety drilling standards (think Deep Sea Horizon!) and for fracking standards and for migratory bird protection from industry. On the subject of 2017, surely you remember The Mad King's lie about the Repugnican tax scam being hard on the 1%? Turns out he said the exact opposite while hanging out with them at the Florida White House of Lies.

Our Quote of the Week seems fitting as a follow-up to The Mad King segment:

"The main problem in any democracy is that crowd-pleasers are generally brainless swine who can go out on a stage & whup their supporters into an orgiastic frenzy—then go back to the office and sell every one of the poor bastards down the tube for a nickel apiece."   

                                                                                                    - Hunter S Thompson

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill, as promised, is Repugnican Sen. Lisa Murkowski who sold out Alaska's wildlife for a few pieces of gold to her friends at Big Oil. An op-ed in The Hill makes the case many have already put forward: "Murkowski knows drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is unpopular. That’s why she slipped it into tax law, with the bogus promise that it will send $1 billion to U.S. Treasury, helping cover tax cut costs. It’s a preposterous claim, first because no one knows how much oil lies beneath the refuge, and second because $1 billion is only a sliver of the $1.5 trillion tax cut." We might add the tax SCAM is a cut mostly for the filthy rich. You commoners get to pay for it in the future with less entitlements and higher taxes thanks in part to this fool. 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we go to The Washington Post for that disturbing new study on how us humans have changed the planet that Glen talked about on the last show. May as well get sober for the New Year! And since we're getting all serious here, how about this from tech crunch.com: "The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a warning against the hazards of cellphone radiation this week. Yes, the thing we are all addicted to and can’t seem to put down is leaking electromagnetic radiation and now California has some guidance to safeguard the public." One point was do not keep the phone right next to your body. Finally some good news! This from 350.org: "After more than five years of inspiring and creative campaigning from the climate movement, the New York City and State pensions are moving forward to freeze new investments in fossil fuels and divest. This victory is huge. Combined, the city and state pension funds are worth a whopping $390 billion, making this the largest coal, oil and gas divestment in THE WORLD." Finally, Grist reports what we've known.....forever? Macho guys think Green is girly!  Listen up, Joeys, real men save the planet! 

After our conversation with Setti Warren we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Join the “if Trump fires Mueller” Rapid Response Team – Sign up to join our local MoveOn.org's "Mueller Firing Rapid Response" campaign. It's at 50 State St (Springfield MA U.S. District Court Building) in Springfield. This is one of 350 events planned nationwide if Trump fires Mueller. But, it's not just a reactive plan—our efforts are already making news, helping show that there will be an immediate backlash if Trump fires Mueller.  RSVP here to join. 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, NOON. STAND OUT!  CALL FOR THE SHUTDOWN OF THE CONNECTICUT EXPANSION PIPELINE! TENNESEE GAS HEADQUARTERS 

1615 Suffield St, Agawam, MA. Meet at the abandoned 2 Silos Mall on Rt. 57 in Agawam (just down the road from the Tennessee Gas Co headquarters) at 11:30 a.m. We will shuttle to the driveway due to snow.

Thursday, January 11. Tell the Governor we want Pilgrim nuke closed now.  We will gather at 1:00 in Rep. Peake's office and then at the Governor's Office at 2:00.  Come with a 2 minute statement to express your concerns.  For carpooling and more information, contact me at 508.776.3132/Elaine 508.246.4563/Susan 774.268.1695/Mary 508.237.4147

January 16, 7 pm. Screening of “Chasing Coral”. Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, 

 121 North Pleasant St., Amherst. Chasing Coral is a beautiful and informative film about climate change. Coral reefs are an integral part of the ocean's ecosystem, and are dying at an unprecedented rate due to warming oceans. The filming includes gorgeous underwater photography and stories of scientists gathering real data in the ocean. A discussion will follow the film.

Saturday January 20, 2018 11am to 1pm. Northampton Women’s March - Year One. We will march to reaffirm our commitment to building a positive and just future for all, and to celebrate the spirit of resistance efforts over the past year. The march will once again begin at Sheldon Fields and culminate at Northampton City Hall, where we will rally with a inspiring speakers and performers. This is a peaceful, family-friendly event. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/200256233873115

Monday January 22, 7 to 9pm. Climate Action Now! Western MA monthly meeting at the Unitarian Meetinghouse on North Pleasant St. downtown Amherst. Go to: climateactionnowma.org

Wednesday January 27, 2018, 1:30pm - Workshop, Pollinator Habitat Design for All Seasons, W. Mass Poll. Networks at Hadley Garden Center, Rt. 9, Hadley, MA.


Saturday, January 27, All Day. 350MA  Summit.  Looking to carry the momentum into 2018 by developing new and emerging leaders in the movement. That's why we are hosting a statewide summit in MetroWest. The day will be spent on learning new organizing techniques and building new action plans for 2018. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Andy Gordon.  

That's it for now. Remember, when you're out there be sure to listen to your Mother, OK?

The 2017 Winter Solstice Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Once again it's that time of year when we welcome back the Light and celebrate what the Earth provides. We have a question to ask our guest, The Good Green Witch when she calls in; If "The War on Christmas" is pretty much over where's all the peace?? As always, we will also take you to visit the Fool-on-the-Hill and his Malignancy The Mad King so you can wish them a Happy Holidaze. Also a trip to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber may be in order since we took the time to deck the hall for the season. However, first it's time for............Revenge of the Critters! You might want to send the kids out of the room for this one 'cus yes, we can't help but rerun that video of Santa's reindeer attacking him  (even if it's rumored to be a reenactment).

We're wondering if His Malignancy The Mad King might consider doing an appearance as Ebenezer Scrooge for the Holidaze since that mean old miser hated kids and His Malignancy's lawyers are presently hard at work dissing Our Children's Trust who are suing the U.S. government for willfully infringing on their constitutional right to a stable climate. According to Grist: "Trump administration lawyers are trying to get the case thrown out on a technicality, alleging that the act of sifting through decades of documents in preparation for trial would cause the government “irreparable harm.” Given the historic irreparable harm of climate chaos enabled by the likes of His Malignancy and his minions we've got a hunch there's some confusion going on there. We imagine The Mad King is wondering why these pesky kids are cluttering up the courtrooms. "If they are to die, then let them die, and reduce the surplus population!". We guess His Malignancy isn't much into older grad students either 'cuz the tax scam he and his Repugnican friends are trying to ram through congress before Christmas taxes them (not to mention most of us) mightily. See more of the Mad King's nefarious dealings below as he and his court of crazies attempt to sell off some of our national treasures to the corporate climate criminals.  Also  His Malignancy is threatening the Mueller investigation and the FBI which are one of the few hopes we have to rid the world of The Mad King. Be prepared!  And THIS JUST IN! His Malignancy will reportedly announce today that the Climate Crisis  is no longer a global security risk. Aren't you relieved??

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Utah Repugnican Chris Stewart and others in the House Natural Resources Committee who recently defamed our friends at Patagonia claiming their attempts to save Bear's Ears and Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument was just  “hijacking the public lands debate” in an attempt to sell more products."  Of course, hijacking the public lands themselves is just what fools like Stewart are up to in congress. They just can't resist incriminating themselves! Who does THAT remind you of?

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week is all sorts of seasonal: “The Christians stole the winter solstice from the pagans, and capitalism stole it from the Christians.”

                                                                                                  - George Monbiot

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find this headline in the Guardian: "EU must not burn the world's forests for 'renewable' energy"  There it is! And speaking of burning, recall all those forest fires out West? Grist passes on info from a science study noting 1/3 of those forests aren't regenerating. Renewable takes another hit from climate chaos. And this: A new study published in Nature finds the warming in the Arctic could put a dent in wind energy. Finally, here's our Enviro Show Blog Action Link Stop felling Canada’s centuries-old forest giants for lumber!

After we hang out with the Good Green Witch and listen to some Solstice Holiday tunes we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Join the “if Trump fires Mueller” Rapid Response Team – Sign up to join our local MoveOn.org's "Mueller Firing Rapid Response" campaign. It's at 50 State St (Springfield MA U.S. District Court Building) in Springfield. This is one of 350 events planned nationwide if Trump fires Mueller. But, it's not just a reactive plan—our efforts are already making news, helping show that there will be an immediate backlash if Trump fires Mueller.  RSVP here to join. 

Saturday January 6, 10 am to 3:30 pm. Arrive 9:30 to start on time. Connecting Ages, Changing Ageism Conference. What do you want to share with someone of a different age engaged in progressive work? Northampton Quaker Meetinghouse, 43 Center Street, second floor, near bus stops on Route 9, center of town.  We encourage everyone attending to register in advance, and people walking in last minute are also welcome. If the event needs to be postponed due to a snow storm, we will contact people who have registered.  Email Larkin Christie at larkmc@comcast.net or phone Sarah Pirtle at (413) 625-2355. 

Monday, January 22, 7 to 9pm. Climate Action Now! Western MA monthly meeting at the Unitarian Meetinghouse on North Pleasant St. downtown Amherst. Go to: climateactionnowma.org

January 27, 2018, 1:30pm - Workshop, Pollinator Habitat Design for All Seasons, W. Mass Poll. Networks at Hadley Garden Center, Rt. 9, Hadley, MA.

Have a Happy Winter Solstice and remember to listen to your Mother, OK?

Another Not Really Renewable Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Just in case you are thinking us crazed tree huggers are the only ones going on and on about the critical need to protect and preserve as many trees as possible in these times of climate chaos and that wood pellet and chip produced energy is not really renewable, we have invited Sasha Stashwick , Senior Advocate for Energy, Transportation and Food and Agriculture Programs at  the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to join us this week. [UPDATE: INTERVIEW HERE] Given that NRDC "combines the power of more than three million members and activists with the expertise of some 500 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild" maybe you'll give us dirt worshipping tree huggers a bit more cred on this issue? We hope so. As always, we'll also take you to visit this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to see His Malignancy The Mad King, as well as a trip to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, but first it's time for...........Revenge of the Critters! It's deer hunting season once again here in WMass so it seems a good time to once again run a piece about the hunted turning the tables on the hunter.

Our Fool-on-the-Hill this time is none other than the Senate Majority leader who garnered this recent headline: "Mitch McConnell says his top goal as Senate leader is to remake the judiciary, a higher priority even than tax reform." Of course his idea of "remake" is what we used to call packing the court, in this case with unqualified reactionary far-right ideologues. It's party over country with these guys and, if they have their way, you can kiss the biosphere and your constitutional rights goodbye.

His Majesty The Mad King is next in line for our.......admonitions? We may not be big on buying in to the term "consumers" but unlike some of His Malignancy's recent picks for agencies meant to protect folks who might call themselves by that dehumanizing moniker we're not trying to shaft them.   The most prominant of these is longtime Repugnican operative, Mick Mulvaney who is trying to upend the Consumer Finance Protection Agency our senator Liz Warren created to go after Wall Street. Another protector of so-called consumers is the Consumer Product Safety Commission that The Mad King wants pro-corporate litigator Dana Baiocco to drive off the cliff.  Over at what we used to call the Environmental Protection Agency [inset hysterical laughter here] His Malignancy's troll continues to hack away at the branch. We have a Blog Action Link HERE calling for an investigation. O, and the Repugs in the Senate confirmed The Mad King's pick for head of the Mine Health and Safety Administration, of course he slithered out from under one of those violation prone mining corps. How about having a lawyer who was "most recently at the Hunton & Williams law firm, whose client list includes the American Petroleum Institute, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, the American Chemistry Council and the National Association of Manufacturers" head the EPA Office of Air and Radiation?  What could go wrong! Finally, the White House Council on Environmental Quality garners this headline: "More Than 300 Scientists Pen Letter Opposing Trump's Pick for Top Climate Post, but Senate Committee Confirms Her Anyway" That would be Kathleen Harnett White, she of little knowledge.

How about a video Quote of the Week this time? Checkout our "Silent Friends" 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we rerun The Guardian's report on how our recent hurricanes have influenced people's thinking about the Climate Crisis. "About 54% said that climate change worsened the extreme heat waves, wildfires, and hurricanes that pummeled the country in 2017." Maybe 46% weren't watching TV or are Flat-Earth enthusiasts? And this from HuffPo: Leonard Higgins found guilty of shutting down tar sands pipeline after being barred from mentioning climate chaos in court!  The Berkshire Eagle, that's been doing excellent coverage of the Otis State Forest vs. Kinder Morgan issue all this time, has an eye-opener concerning the toxic water KM/TGP has created in our state forest. Read all about it!


After our conversation with Sasha we head on over to the Bus Stop Billboard:



Tuesday December 19th at 11am 350MA will be traveling with great cheer around the Massachusetts State House to deliver  actual holiday wish lists to their offices. PLEASE SIGN your name onto the list headed to your legislators by filling out this form. If you are available, come help us deliver them!


Wednesday December 20, 6 to 7:30pm. Celebrate the Winter Solstice! Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, Hadley, MA. RSVP: Required online  The Winter Solstice, and the longest night of the year, is fast approaching. Solstice means “sun stands still,” giving us a moment to pay homage to the stillness of this seasonal turning point, the stillness of the natural world, and our own inner stillness through the practice of mindfulness.

Join the “if Trump fires Mueller” Rapid Response Team – Sign up to join our local MoveOn.org's "Mueller Firing Rapid Response" campaign. It's at 50 State St (Springfield MA U.S. District Court Building) in Springfield. This is one of 350 events planned nationwide if Trump fires Mueller. But, it's not just a reactive plan—our efforts are already making news, helping show that there will be an immediate backlash if Trump fires Mueller.  RSVP here to join.     

That's all  folks! Until next time remember: Listen to your Mother, OK?

Another All Consuming Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. It's another year and another Stop Shopping Day is upon us but we're not going to simply go on and on about all that conspicious consumption at the mall or on so-called Cyber Monday.  No, this time we're going big picture and talking about humans consuming the entire planet! Bob Massie, candidate for governor of the Commonwealth calls in to discuss his environmental platform and his concerns about Big Biomass. [UPDATE: Here's the audio link from this show] Bob wrote this to us recently: "Charlie Baker's labeling of large-scale biomass, as a form or renewable energy, is misleading at best.  Using combustion to wood products to generate heat and power is not much different from burning coal.  Both add to the already damaging high level of green house gases in our atmosphere that are affecting climate today.  In fact, burning wood pellets creates slightly more (3% more) greenhouse gases than a cogeneration plant."  We couldn't agree more.  As always we'll also take you for a holiday season visit with His Malignancy The Mad King and this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, as well as a stop off to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, but first it's time for............Revenge of the Critters! Nobody likes going to the dentist, right? Maybe this turkey was one of those disgruntled patients in another life? Turkeys and life at Thanksgiving time? Try this!

Speaking of conspicuous consumption let's see what The Mad King is up to these days. We guess His Malignancy wants us to burn more coal and build more nukes 'cuz that was about it for U.S. participation in the 23rd United Nations climate change conference where reps from those industries held one event and then hid in a tiny little office, maybe under their desks? A Mother Jones reporter noted: "When I visited again on Monday, a US representative stepped out of the office, noticed a group of journalists (me included), and ducked back inside." Yes, the optics are like comedy but hey, isn't it a.....CLIMATE CRISIS!!  But, on the subject of dark comedy, did you witness the cringe worthy confirmation hearing for Kathleen Hartnett White, His Malignancy’s nominee to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality? We already reported on Kathleen's climate crisis denial but as Grist reports: "Senator Sheldon Whitehouse....quizzed Hartnett White over how much excess heat in the atmosphere is absorbed by oceans. “I believe there are differences of opinions on that,” she said, “that there’s not one right answer.” For the record, the number is about 90 percent." BTW, that coal and nuke panel The Mad King's creepy clown car riders setup at the UN climate conference was totally disrupted by the Valley's own Dineen O'Rourke and others from the group SustainUS. Finally, articles of impeachment were introduced in the House of Reps on Wednesday. 

Ready to meet our Fool-on-the-Hill? We have a surprise for you! Grist tells us:  "In a joint subcommittee hearing held on Wednesday, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chair Lamar Smith said the technology “could have positive effects on the Earth’s atmosphere” and “reduce global temperatures or pull excess greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.” What?? We thought this fool didn't believe in those things?

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we rerun multiple reports of a We-told-you-so! 200,000+ tar sands oil leak in the infamous TransCanada Keystone pipeline. So.........WE TOLD YOU SO! Common Dreams just reported out on this nightmare and Bill McKibben has put out a call to Promise and Protect!  Here's a video story from the BBC on Facebook regarding Garbage Island down in the Caribbean (book your stay early and avoid the rush!). Our Enviro Show Blog Action Link concerns the Mad King's nominee for head of Council on Environmental Frivolity (above). Go HERE to register your protest. 

We have Breaking News! Longtime Enviro Show listeners may be familiar with this. We read excerpts from the original World Scientists Warning to Humanity on our very first show and again on the 20th anniversary of the Warning. Now it is 25 years and counting so we all get a second notice. 

A bit of E-valley-uation here. In case you wonder why we tend to refer to our regional utility as Evilsource, get a load of this headline from the Berkshire Edge: "Utilities manipulated natural gas supplies, causing artificial shortages, soaring energy prices, study finds" . Class Action lawsuit anyone?

After our conversation with Bob Massie we take you over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Saturday November 18, 10:30am -  12:00pm. Uphold Paris, Uphold MA's Climate Legacy

Boston Common (directly behind the Robert Gould Shaw & the 54th Regiment Memorial, across from the Massachusetts State House) Map.  Join us on November 18th to make history -- literally. During this interactive, inspiring, and family-friendly event, we'll record in a Time Capsule what Bay Staters love and are fighting to protect from climate change. We'll hold up the people and places most at risk from climate change and we'll ask Governor Baker to leave a climate legacy we can all be proud of by banning new fossil fuel infrastructure and committing us to a 100% renewable energy future! 

Tuesday, November 21, Noon to 1pm.  Weekly TD Bank Vigil to pressure TD to divest from Dakota Access Pipeline. 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA. Contact Hattie at 978-790-3074

Monday November 27, 7:00pm -  9:00pm. Climate Action Now Monthly Gathering. Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, 121 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA.  Coming together once a month to meet each other, plan, and imagine how to contribute, in our corner of the world, to the urgent fight against climate change . They love to meet newcomers, whether you are brand new to activism or have been doing this a long time. Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org

Saturday December 2, 1:00pm -  3:00pm. Sustainability Social, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton, MA  01027 Map. Join Northeast Solar, Center for EcoTechnology, HeatSmart Northampton, and Mass Audubon for a Sustainability Social at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. We will have electric cars on view, heating and cooling efficiency experts, solar power representatives and home energy savings pros on hand to discuss many aspect of sustainable living.

Saturday, December 2, 10am - 12:30pm. Action Workshop - Eliminating Nuclear Weapons. With Trump's finger on the nuclear button, now is the time to take action before it is too late. This workshop will explore how residents, students and others in the Northampton-Amherst area can start right now implementing the new Treaty - on college campuses, at town meetings and in many other places. Northampton Friends Meeting, 43 Center St., Suite 202, Northampton

Tuesday, December 5, 4pm - 6:30pm. Action Workshop - Eliminating Nuclear Weapons, 145 Integrated Science Building, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA. [see above]

Wednesday, December 6, 7- 8:30pm. Air Source Heat Pumps – The Latest in Efficient Heating & Cooling. Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street | Amherst MA.
FREE, Registration appreciated. An air source heat pump is a system which transfers heat from outside to inside a building, or vice versa. Air at any temperature above absolute zero contains some energy. An air-source heat pump transfers (‘pumps’) some of this energy as heat from one place to another, for example between the outside and inside of a building. This can provide space heating or cooling. A single system can be designed to transfer heat in either direction, to heat or cool the interior of the building in winter and summer respectively.

That's all  folks! Until next time remember: Listen to your Mother, OK?

We go out with Tom Neilson's "Biomess" about the biomass scheme we drove out of Greenfield, Massachusetts not all that long ago. The song could use a bit of updating but certainly applies to the struggle we still face today in protecting our forests from the Biomess! 

An Enviro Show Special: It's the Trees, Stupid!

Greetings Earthlings. We know, we know: "When will they ever stop talking about the trees", right? How about never? Does never work for you? The fact of the matter is, without protecting and preserving the trees and forest soil climate chaos will be even worse than your worse nightmare. But don't just take our word for it (even though Glen is a soil scientist) listen to William R. Moomaw, Professor Emeritus of International Environmental Policy at the Fletcher School, Tufts University. We'll be devoting the entire hour to Bill's presentation last month at GCTV in Greenfield. Of course, here on the blog we'll still engage in the usual fracas with the Fool-on-the-Hill and the Mad King, as well as a raucous trip to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, but first it's time for.............Revenge of the Critters! Another listener suggested winner: Rhino takes down poacher!!

On to His Malignancy The Mad King who is trying to reverse 52 environmental rules during his brief rein; yes, one for each week of the year. We'll call it The Year of Our Discontent. Apparently, His Malignancy's  "budget proposal would slash the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by 16 percent, including 6 percent from the National Weather Service" according to our friends at Grist. Meanwhile, The Mad King's fellow climate criminal over at the EPA has now blocked expert scientists from the agency's advisory boards even as the government's own Climate Assessment refutes all the administration's climate denial!  We guess Pruitt and the flat-Earth crowd only wants advice from their friends in Big Oil. And this:"Trump recently nominated coal industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to fill the number two spot at  the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), doubling down on his anti-climate agenda and his dangerous campaign promise to prop up the failing dirty coal industry." There's an action link here. Finally, it looks like The Mad King's pick for Secretary of Health comes straight out of Big Pharma. At least His Malignancy is consistent in placing corporados in high places, no? 

We have Breaking News! The air is..........too clean?? 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill would also fit nicely above in The Mad King's segment.....except he's already been there recently As His Malignancy's pick to head NASA (in spite of the fact this guy has zero experience in science or engineering). Yes, it's another Oklahoma enemy of the Earth, Rep. Jim Bridenstine, a Repugnican climate criminal who just got trashed for his flat-Earth mentality and inexperience for the job at a nomination hearing. Watch the accompanying video on the link for some of the fool's previous remarks. We recommend you bring along a hot air sickness bag, just in case.

Our Quote of the Week fits nicely into the theme of this show on trees. It's from Jim McCaffrey formerly of  MA Sierra Club: 

"Many of you may remember fighting for strong biomass regulations for electricity production. Thanks to grassroots action, we won battles to shut down biomass plants in Greenfield and Russell, and to adopt the strictest standards in the nation for Massachusetts’ Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

Now the MA Department of Energy Resources is trying to push through even weaker biomass regulations for heat generation that will encourage more dirty biomass boilers to be built in communities across the state."

If Enviro Show listeners want to do something to stop this madness please go HERE. 

On to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and this post-Halloween scare from Grist. Speaking of frightful things we read recently that the MA Department of Cut & Run .......err, sorry, Conservation? and Wreckreation? whatever, has considered actually poisoning beech trees in some of our state forests! 

On to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Saturday, November 4, 10 AM – 1 PM. It’s easy to take trees for granted if you see them everyday, but our region still holds some historic forests. Come walk among one of the Valley’s examples of old growth forest, guided by old growth forest expert and educator, Bob Leverett. You’ll learn what the mature forests on Mount Tom reservation contribute ecologically, historically, culturally, aesthetically, and even from a human health perspective. Space is limited and registration is required. Rain date: November 5.  Fee: Free (Donations appreciated) RSVP: Required online  

Sunday, November 5, 5:30pm. A climate march with candles and banners from Northampton High School on Elm Street to City Hall. This is a replay of our hopeful march 2 years ago when we demanded that President Obama stand up for the future of the world in Paris at the 2015 UN Climate Conference. We will rally with people young and old, elected officials and religious leaders and demand that that hopeful future be reclaimed. Contact: <martygjf@comcast.net> 

Monday, November 6, 12:15 to 12:45pm. A  stand out in front of Charlie Baker’s Office at Dwight Street in Springfield. We will demand that he Stand Up to Reclaiming Our Future. We will deliver a list of demands to make Massachusetts a fossil fuel-free model for the country and ask him to meet with us. Contact: <martygjf@comcast.net> 

Thursday, Nov 16, 12:15-12:45. Reclaiming Our Future event #3.  Protest Rally in Springfield  in front of State Office Building 436 Dwight St. Springfield. We'll be showing up outside Gov Baker's Springfield office at lunchtime. We have an executive order which we think Governor Baker should sign. This day marks the start of this year's international climate conference. Reclaiming Our Future March & Protest Rally in Northampton on the Eve of the Bonn Climate Talks.  We are protesting the policies even in our own state of Massachusetts that keep us on the path toward climate breakdown. The Trump administration withdrew USA from the 2015 Paris Climate agreement, making us one of only 2 countries in the entire world who have not agreed to work together to reduce emissions. Contact: <martygjf@comcast.net> 

That's  all for now. Remember to do what? Listen to your Mother, of course!

Another Scary Halloween Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. What could be more scary this Halloween than the sociopathic narcissist in the White House? Maybe all the freaks that gather around him? The Good Green Witch calls in to commiserate and dig down into the season. Would you care to join us for some trick or treating in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber? How about we mercilessly taunt this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and play some tricks on The Mad King? However, before we get into all that it's time for...........Revenge of the Critters!  Horrific spider attack.....at 20,000 feet?

When it comes to monsters you have to go a ways to top His Malignancy The Mad King. We're not sure if he ever drowned any innocent children or strangled some random villager, but he sure has done his share of monstrous things. We're guessing threatening nuclear holocaust should be somewhere on top of the list but denying the reality of climate chaos and doing everything in his power to reverse climate policy as historic hurricanes ravage the planet and polar ice slips away is a holocaust as well. His Malignancy's callous comments regarding hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico, to grieving widows of murdered U.S. service men, or about women in general are The Mad King's stock and trade. Of course, his sorry-ass minions are busy carrying out horror shows as well. While some were caught trying to spin the failed hurricane relief in PR others had been plotting for months to ditch the Clean Power Plan. Add to that, His Malignancy's pick of  to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality (or lack thereof) is yet another Climate Crisis denier. Meanwhile, over at the alleged Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt is planning on purging scientists who aren't fossil fools.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Repugnican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah who says the Antiquities Act that protects thousands of acres of scenic and historic sites in the nation is "a menace to constitutional government". Trick or treat? It's that old far-right bait 'n switch trick by the actual menaces to constitutional government! Don't be fooled by this guy's costume, folks. There's another monster inside that thousand dollar suit.

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week requires another trip in the Wayback Machine to get you all the way back to............HERE.

Step this way into the Echo Chamber, please. There's nothing much to be afraid of unless losing 75% of the insects in Germany (and who knows where else) is disturbing to you. What? you don't like insects anyway? OK, but you "need insects to pollinate many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that we eat daily". Here's a scary Halloween story from The Guardian for you: Global pollution kills 9 million people a year and threatens the survival of human societies.  And here's our Enviro Show Blog Action link. Finally some good news: The Roadless Rule victories won by Earth Justice.

After our conversation with the Good Green Witch we sneak over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Thursday, October 26, 10am. Pipeline tax hearing. At the Massachusetts State House hearing room A-2. As we prepare for the hearing, we need you to call your rep! Our champions in the legislature, Representatives Stephen Kulik and Kenneth Gordon, have drafted joint testimony about the pipeline tax and Department of Public Utilities (DPU) reform bills. They need as many of their fellow House representatives as possible to sign on. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/1462686040466237/ 

Sunday October 29, 1-5pm. “Mending the Web of Life - A workshop of inspirational exploration to move toward action” at Temple Israel, Greenfield. Sarah Pirtle and Emily Koester are facilitators of the Work That Reconnects. What do you want to do in service to life on earth? How are you called -- and what stops you? A sliding scale of $10 - $40 is suggested. Snacks and tea will be provided. Contact Sarah Pirtle  (pirtle22@hotmail.com)

Sunday October 29,  5 - 7:30pm. Benefit Concert: Protecting Indigenous Sacred Stone Sites, Shea Theatre arts Centre 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA. A benefit concert will be held to raise funds for the protection of Indigenous sacred stone landscapes. Joe Graveline, musician and long-time Indigenous activist, has gathered fellow musicians to perform. Tickets:  $15 online at Sheatheater.org; $18 at the door. For more information or to make online contributions, go to tinyurl.com/protectsacredstones. 

Wednesday November 1, 8:00 - 9:30pm Eastern. You are invited to NIRS’s next national telebriefing, Trump’s Nuclear and Coal Revival Plan: What It Means for our Energy Future, featuring world-renowned energy expert Amory Lovins, Last month, the Trump administration unveiled a radical plan to promote nuclear power and coal with a massive national bailout. The plan has far-reaching implications for energy and the environment. And it will cost the public over $100 billion in higher energy bills! The telebriefing is free, but registration is required.

Sunday, November 5, 5:30pm. A climate march with candles and banners from Northampton High School on Elm Street to City Hall. This is a replay of our hopeful march 2 years ago when we demanded that President Obama stand up for the future of the world in Paris at the 2015 UN Climate Conference. We will rally with people young and old, elected officials and religious leaders and demand that that hopeful future be reclaimed. Contact: <martygjf@comcast.net> 

Monday, November 6, 12:15 to 12:45pm. A  stand out in front of Charlie Baker’s Office at Dwight Street in Springfield. We will demand that he Stand Up to Reclaiming Our Future. We will deliver a list of demands to make Massachusetts a fossil fuel-free model for the country and ask him to meet with us. Contact: <martygjf@comcast.net> 

That's it for now. Have a Happy Halloween and remember to listen to your Mother, OK?