The Toxic Timebomb Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. There's a lot of talk about pesticide spraying out there lately, especially that planned by the state, but what about rodenticide?  Gary Menin, Sr. of We the People Oppose the Toxic Spraying of Pesticides joins us to get into the details and talk about Massachusetts House Bill HD.4206 An Act Relative to Pesticides. As always, we'll bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, do some Backsliden' with Biden?, checkout The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and remind anyone who hasn't been listening that....."It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Maybe we'll even dig up an Enviro Show Quote of the Week but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Another dumb-ass selfie incident from eight years ago should have taught two important lessons: 1) Stay away from Rhinos 2) Don't take advise from strangers.

Our Fool-on-the-Hill this time is yet another seditious Repugnican, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) who is claiming "There was no insurrection" on January 6.  During a House oversight committee hearing  discussing what went wrong in police preparation for the Jan. 6 riot, and what the Trump administration did not do to quell the violence, Clyde lied, “Let me clear: There was no insurrection, And to call it an insurrection, in my opinion, is a bold-faced lie.” Not content with that bit of historical denialism he went on to say, ""You know, if you didn't know the TV footage was a video from January 6, you would actually think it's a normal tourist visit."  😖

Sad to say, looks like some Backslidin' with Biden? The Sierra Club pointed out: "President Biden made a counteroffer to Republican lawmakers, taking a step backward on his original infrastructure plan and on critical funding needed to undertake transformational change that would foster cleaner air and water, higher wages, greater equity, healthier communities, and a more stable climate."  Say it ain't so, Joe! If you're on Facebook send him a message: https://www.facebook.com/POTUS 

We have an Enviro Show Quote of the Week for you:

“The animals of the planet are in desperate peril. Without free animal life, I believe we will lose the spiritual equivalent of oxygen.” – Alice Walker

Time to remind anyone concerned about....say the gas shortage? anyone filling up plastic bags or tubs with highly flammable petro 'cuz of a perceived gasoline crisis that actually "It's the Climate Crisis,  Stupid!"  And, part of that crisis lies to our north where "Canada's continent-spanning forest used to remove massive amounts of CO2 from the air each year. It was a hugely valuable "carbon sink", slowing the pace of climate change and benefiting our logging industry. But that carbon sink has steadily collapsed to the point where the forest now emits CO2. That adds fuel to our accelerating climate crisis, and spells trouble for Canadian logging."  Frankly, we don't give a damn about any trouble for Canadian logging given the industry is busily engaged in destroying life on the planet. Maybe they didn't get the memo?........Nah! There are better ways to make a living though, how about trying that? 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find the Scientific American confirming what we already knew.....but with science!  "Communities of color in the U.S. have long reported health problems from heavy exposure to polluted air. In recent decades a growing body of data have bolstered these reports by showing that Asian, Black and Hispanic people are exposed to relatively higher concentrations of potentially deadly air pollution on average, compared with white people."  Surprise! Click on the link to get your dose of bar graphs and data.

Looks like it's time for the Bus Stop Billboard:

Monday June 28, All day.  Sunrise is planning a mobilization in DC for June 28! If you're already sure you're coming, fill out this registration form: smvmt.org/june28 

Monday June 28, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now monthly gathering. Cathy Kristofferson of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the North East   Gas utility companies, like Eversource and Berkshire Gas, see the writing on the wall with new climate goals in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In the “fight for their lives,” they plan on piping hydrogen, an expensive, explosive gas, most often generated by burning fossil fuels, into our homes and buildings for heating, cooking and hot water. We’ll explain what the gas utilities plan on doing and why it isn’t safe, affordable, equitable, clean, or green. Plus break-out groups, action updates, small group conversations, and more! Watch for meeting details soon. 

Friday July 2, 4;30 to  6pm.  PUT PEAKERS in the PAST STAND-OUT PROTEST. Corner of Dalton & Thorndyke Ave., Pittsfield (near Zucco’s, across from Plastics Ave.)
Speak out for Clean Air! Come join our Put Peakers in the Past Coalition for this stand-out protest to let folks know about Pittsfield Generating’s peaker power plant, now filing for renewal of its Air Quality Permit. We’re standing out in the streets of Pittsfield to let everyone know that this aging fossil fuel plant is polluting our air and needs to convert to zero emissions. The Mass Department of Environmental Protection needs to deny the Air Quality Permit, and we need folks in our community to demand this when the time for the permit hearing comes. Do you plan to come to the stand out? Let us know by RSVP.

Thursday July 13, 7 to 8:30pm.  Biochar: What it is and What it is Not. Rachel Smolker is co-director of Biofuelwatch. Her work has spanned local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes, including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has researched, written, and organized on the impacts of biofuels, bioenergy and biochar on land use, forests, biodiversity, food, people, and the climate. She has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Michigan and worked previously as a field biologist. She lives in Vermont.  Register HERE for this talk

 

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! 

 

The Rock Dam Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Longtime listeners of the show may recall past coverage of the plight of the Shortnosed Sturgeon an ancient and highly endangered species in the Connecticut River whose spawning ground is at The Rock Dam near the Great Falls (some call it Turners Falls). Environmental journalist Karl Meyer has been joining us on the show for years to help raise awareness of the River and its inhabitants and he returns to us again to walk us through a recent event held at The Rock Dam and to help us understand our responsibility to protect a species that has been on the planet since the days of the dinosaurs. [UPDATE: Here is our Interview with Karl] Recently Karl wrote, "Another season, another sidestep for federal and state fish and environment agencies who fail to act again… and again. And, just one more year for a river without a single independent watchdog–on the four-state Silvio O. Conte Connecticut River National FISH & Wildlife Refuge." Let's change that, OK? As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to witness some Backsliden' with Biden?, as well as a reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Fish lands fisherman.  

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill apparently can't believe his own eyes. Congressman Ralph Norman's (Repugnican-SC) recently questioned whether the mob invading the U.S. Capitol was made of Trump supporters at all. "'A mob of Trump supporters breached the steps.' I don't know who did a poll that it's Trump supporters. You had the media saying the same thing ... I don't know who did the poll to say that they were Trump supporters." 

OK,  we've kind of decided to tag this segment Backslidin' with Biden? instead of "Abidin'.." but we're holding out hope that The Prez will prove us wrong. That said, even our own Rachel Maddow has some question: "President Biden repeatedly, persistently tries to broker bipartisan agreements on infrastructure or, frankly, anything else. But progressives who argue that now is the time for the United States to go big point out that if the president does what Republicans are asking, if he makes the infrastructure bill cost less, the end result is that the bill will do less." Yes, oil and gas pipelines are infrastructure and Inside Climate News' "Biden's Pipeline Dilemma" reminds us, the "Biden administration disappointed environmentalists in April when it announced it would not take immediate action to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline while the government conducts a court-ordered expanded review of its environmental impacts." That, on top of more recent Line 5 and Line 3 controversies. "So far, Biden has sought to walk a middle ground on pipelines, while pushing for the kind of transformative change that would make them obsolete." And, of course, there's THIS  😟

We trust in light of the waning COVID crisis (here in The States at least) people will still recall that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" A big part of that existential threat is directly related to the "grow or die" mentality of the corporados and capitalism in general. The New Republic (of all people) picks up on what many of us terraists have been saying for decades "Giving Up on Economic Growth Could Make Us Cooler and Happier".  Read it and weep, shoppers. The system is the problem. And this, they say it's not related to global warming but "The World’s Largest Iceberg Just Broke Off Of Antarctica" How large is it? Try nearly six times the size of New York City!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we are finally offering another Action Link  like we used to do back in the day. Sorry about that, we guess it just got lost in the COVIDaze. It's a classic, it's about plastic. There's just waaaaay too much of it, OK?

How about an Enviro Show Quote of the Week? Let's go, speaking of classic, on a very short ride in the Wayback Machine:

“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.”   -  Ernest Hemingway

After our conversation with Karl it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

 Tuesday July 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  Biochar - What it is and What it Isn't. Rachel Smolker is co-director of Biofuelwatch. Her work has spanned local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes, including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has researched, written and organized on the impacts of biofuels, bioenergy and biochar on land use, forests, biodiversity, food, people and the climate. She has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Michigan and worked previously as a field biologist. She lives in Vermont. Forest Speakers Series, a collaboration of Climate Action Now and Save Massachusetts Forests. More info soon. 

Tuesday June 15, 7 to 8:30pm.  Protecting Massachusetts Forests in a Time of Climate Emergency. Rich Holschuh is a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro, VT) and an independent historic and cultural researcher. He has served on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and is a public liaison and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Elnu Abenaki, members of the contemporary Indigenous community. Rich is founder and director of the Atowi Project, an Elnu community initiative to affirm Native relationships to the Land and its inhabitants, raise Indigenous voices, and foster inclusion with understanding. His work draws upon indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place. Register HERE for this talk  

Tuesday June 22,  7:00pm. MA Pollinator Network Launch Event. We are looking forward to discussing the broader vision for the MA Pollinator Network and the role of the new Pollinator Network Coordinator in meeting the needs of participants! We will also hear from WesternMassBees on the benefits of participating in a statewide network and what's next for their organization. Additional details about the event will be available in the coming weeks at masspollinatornetwork.org. Register  HERE.  

Monday June 28, All day.  Sunrise is planning a mobilization in DC for June 28! If you're already sure you're coming, fill out this registration form: smvmt.org/june28 

Monday June 28, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now monthly gathering. Cathy Kristofferson of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the North East   Gas utility companies, like Eversource and Berkshire Gas, see the writing on the wall with new climate goals in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In the “fight for their lives,” they plan on piping hydrogen, an expensive, explosive gas, most often generated by burning fossil fuels, into our homes and buildings for heating, cooking and hot water. We’ll explain what the gas utilities plan on doing and why it isn’t safe, affordable, equitable, clean, or green. Plus break-out groups, action updates, small group conversations, and more! Watch for meeting details soon. 

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! 

The Hurtling Toward Global Suicide Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Author and journalist Ben Ehrenreich has melded into one tight and amazingly well crafted package all the things we've been talking about on this show since the get-go and before.  "We’re Hurtling Toward Global Suicide - Why we must do everything differently to ensure the planet's survival" will be the dominant feature of this week's show and well it should. The madness of eternal growth embodied in colonialism, capitalism, racism and the War Against Nature will be our collective undoing. In the new Biden Era we may have the opportunity to rethink and act on all of that, but not without bringing others along with us. Please pass it on. As always, we will also invite you to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, do some Abidin' with Biden? and remind anyone who hasn't been listening that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Siberian Tiger attacks car, then knocks down pedestrian in territorial dispute.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is none other than the Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi who was "making concessions in a bid to revive her effort for a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the Capitol" in late April. CNN reported "Pelosi's move to give Republicans some of what they've asked for in the independent panel -- an even number of Democrats and Republicans and equal subpoena power -- places new emphasis on the biggest reason the talks remain stalled: Republicans say the commission must also investigate violence from far left groups surrounding last year's protests of police brutality.."  Say what?  The entire world saw for their own eyes who invaded the Capitol and who in Congress aided and abetted them. Pelosi and the Dems need to WTFU and start the investigation with or without the perps and the Repugs!  

We are now on the cusp of moving from Abidin' with Biden onto Back Sliddin' with Biden, sad to say. After you've heard the piece from Ben Ehrenreich featured on this show you will understand why. While the Prez's first address to Congress last week was refreshing to hear (especially after years of The Mad King's blathering), it was on reflection........not enough. Why? Because, surely you remember, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" And we leave it to Ben Ehrenreich and the past 15 years of The Enviro Show to make that very point. 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we want to share this important Action Alert about our National Forests. Please sign and share with you friends and family. Do it for the Forests!

After you've had your mind blown by Ben we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday May 26, 6:30 to 8pm.  "The Seeds of Vandana Shiva" and film discussion.The Seeds of Vandana Shiva, a feature-length documentary, presents the remarkable life story of the Gandhian eco-activist and agro-ecologist, Vandana Shiva. A classic David versus Goliath tale, the film shows how Vandana, a brilliant scientist, became Monsanto’s worst nightmare and a rock star of the international organic food movement. Many in our Western Mass. region are familiar with this activist who has many friends here and has made many speaking visits to our area.  Go to:  https://forbeslibrary.libcal.com/event/6420896

Wednesday May 26, 7pm.   Climate Emergency Webinar.  Why and how can people of faith become politically engaged in order to push for systemic solutions to the climate crisis on local, state, and national levels? What is it like to move from the sidelines and get involved in public advocacy? Speakers: Sue Swanson (CCJN; Green Team Coordinator, St. Paul's Church, Bedford; State Legislative Team, Mothers Out Front), Lucy Chatfield (Sunrise Movement), the Rev. Fred Small (Faith in Action, Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light), Marty Nathan (Springfield Climate Justice Coalition)  You can register here. 

Thursday May 27, Noon to 1pm. Forests vs. Solar - A False Choice. The Climate Collaborative presents a virtual meeting entitled Forests vs. Solar – A False Choice: Protecting Forests & Making Smart Solar Decisions in Your Community. The presentation will explore the value of forests, tensions associated with large-scale solar installations, and tools for town officials and citizens to make wise planning decisions for their communities.  Register HERE.

Wednesday June 2, 6:30pm-9:00pm. Climate Adaptation & Resiliency in Your Community. Forestland has significant carbon sequestration and storage capabilities, which can be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions. As forests face increasing threats, forestry professionals are working to identify community needs and explore how evolving scientific knowledge could support  climate-informed community forest management. Please join us for an
introduction to the role of carbon in our forests and forest management options, as well as a case study on the Tri-City Carbon Project. For details go to this unreliable source: <https://www.mass.gov/service-details/service-forestry> 

June 5-8, All Day. Hundreds will gather in northern Minnesota for a series of nonviolent direct actions to make a clear statement to the world that the days of tar sands pipelines and other fossil fuel projects are over. Only a major uprising will raise the fight against this pipeline to the top of the nation’s consciousness and force President Joe Biden to stop Line 3 — which is only proceeding with construction thanks to Trump-issued permits. For more background information on the fight against Line 3 and current needs, visit StopLine3.org!

 Tuesday July 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  Biochar - What it is and What it Isn't. Rachel Smolker is co-director of Biofuelwatch. Her work has spanned local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes, including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has researched, written and organized on the impacts of biofuels, bioenergy and biochar on land use, forests, biodiversity, food, people and the climate. She has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Michigan and worked previously as a field biologist. She lives in Vermont. Forest Speakers Series, a collaboration of Climate Action Now and Save Massachusetts Forests. More info soon. 

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!