Greetings Earthlings. The Enviro Show has been on the Earth for 18 years this month which means it is now old enough to die for our country but not old enough to drink to that in Massachusetts or New York? Perhaps it's just as well but what about freedom! (no, not the freedom to tear the nation apart 😒) Mireille Beijani, Co-executive Officer at SlingshotAction joins us for the birthday celebration. [UPDATE: Interview HERE] As always we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and see if we are Abidin' with Biden, as well as a reminder to any newbee Repugs that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but first it's time for........Revenge of the Critters! When Anteaters attack.
We are, like so many others, Abidin' with Biden for signing off on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) especially in his efforts to get it through our divided Senate. That said, we can't help but view certain provisions (as we did last time) in the bill as Backslidin' with Biden. Most notably, and something overlooked by far too many enviros, is the act's dependence on carbon capture technology that frankly doesn't truly exist. "Currently there are only a dozen carbon capture and storage facilities in the U.S. and a couple of direct air capture facilities removing a small amount of carbon from the air", reports , Professor of Research in Environmental Policy, American University School of International Service. Why are we thinking "clean coal"? Then there's the flawed side deal that got Sen. Manchin to finally sign on to a climate bill. "While no one has seen the
official legislation yet, the one-page summary of the deal that was leaked guts
bedrock environmental protections (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act),
endangers public health, fast-tracks fossil fuels, and pushes approval for
Manchin’s pet project, the Mountain Valley Pipeline. It appears that the draft legislation
was drafted at least in part by the American Petroleum Institute", that from the Green Education and Legal Fund. By the way, Back in April, The Prez signed an executive order pledging to "restore and protect our nation's forests". Now the administration is asking for YOUR input on its plan to protect them. Stay tuned.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is none other than House Repug Leader Kevin McCarthy who, apparently in an effort to trigger the Dems, repeated a mangled famous Reagan quote on the House floor "“Is America better off today than they were two years ago?” Even taking into consideration how damaged so many Repugnicans are these days, surely some of them must have thought back two years when the country was being devastated by COVID-19 before vaccines were developed and tens of thousands of their constituents were dying miserable deaths? Also, the turmoil of protests across the nation over The Mad King's b.s. and the killing of George Floyd, the plunge on Wall Street and the economic disaster and the loss of ten million jobs? Of course, the answer to McCarthy's foolish question is Yes! We are much better off, you fool!
Folks like Kevin McCarthy seem to need a constant reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" We guess you won't be surprised to learn that some of the Takers are actually taking advantage of Greenland's climate ice melt as a mining opportunity where mineral deposits are being uncovered? Speaking of Takers taking advantage of sorry situations, let's talk about the MA Department of Cut & Run (DCR, formerly known as the Dept. of Conservation & Recreation). We may sound like a broken record regarding this lot, but their mishandling of our public lands here in the Commonwealth is an ongoing climate crime. Now, dear listeners, we have an opportunity to help DCR change its ways and join the civilized world. In a series of public meetings, you can join DCR to discuss the 2012 DCR Landscape Designations and Management Guidelines, and "provide feedback on the review assessment, incorporate feedback on evolving climate concerns, and discuss designations for properties acquired since 2012." That said, why only "properties acquired since 2012"?? Why not ask! The first session is Tuesday August 23, 6:30 to 8:30pm. Go HERE! In our previous segment we got into some climate related aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) but why just take our word for it? If you are feeling wonky go HERE and read it for yourself! The Guardian recently did a piece on how the Climate Crisis is affecting the Arctic tundra. We knew trees were....well, on the move but not this fast.
On the subject of "on the move", isn't it time the Gov did just that?
Let's ask Glen.
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we echo this week's guest, Mireille Beijani who mentioned a study done at Boston College about the health impacts of air pollution. There's a story in The Boston Globe on that and a handy interactive map you can play with if you like. Who knew pollution could be so.....entertaining? 😏 On the other hand, not much entertainment in learning we are now in Extreme Drought in much of the Northeast. Please conserve water!
OK, time for our Enviro Show 18th B-Day Quote of the Week:
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