Save the Pine Barrens Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Perhaps one of the worst examples of the mindless destruction of Nature for human greed and corruption is taking place in southeastern Massachusetts. Meg Sheehan, Katherine Harrelson & Annie Hayes of Save the Pine Barrens return to the show to update us on a massive climate crime taking place right here in the Commonwealth. [UPDATE: Interview HERE] As always, we will also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to see if we are Abidin' with Biden, as well as another check-in on our Biomass Baker Countdown Timer and more, but first it's time for........Revenge of the Critters! Bow hunter 0/Moose 1 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is none other than House Minority Leader Repugnican Kevin McCarthy. At the top of a letter to Repug lawmakers thanking them for their contributions to the long awaited “Commitment To America”, McCarthy included a quote attributed to Abe Lincoln: “Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.” There’s literally no evidence that Lincoln ever said that, however the phrase did appear in an ad for Lehman Brothers, the Wall Street giant that collapsed in 2008. Wait, there's more! House Repugs also unveiled their “Commitment to America” agenda for 2023 with an inspirational video full of scenes presented as exceptional imagery of America that were actually stock footage from Russia and Ukraine? [insert laugh track here] 

We're pretty sure climate chaos wasn't part of the Repugs “Commitment To America” but we'll never stop telling them "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!"  Like many coastal cities "Boston officials are stressing the urgent need to prepare the city’s waterfront for the reality of climate change, calling for a broad, holistic approach to defenses against rising sea levels", the Globe tells us. They say it will require a "Big Dig level solution" (hmm, maybe not?) And this: Al Gore called the head of the World Bank a "climate denier" and urged President Biden to replace him with someone who will do more to finance clean energy projects. David Malpass, the accused, denied the charge. Here's a world "Temperature Departure" graphic that caught our eye. Like they say: "One picture is worth a thousand words" 😏  How about a WMass perspective on climate change?  Finally, we came across a piece on Grist titled "Northeast drought endangers Massachusett's cranberry harvest" We'll talk with Meg about that, given all the clearcutting and sand mining in cranberry country is no doubt affecting the aquifer. 

OK, we celebrate Glen's return from the deep woods with another episode of our Charlie Baker Good Riddance Countdown Timer:

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we are replaying Extinction Rebellion Boston's "Week of Rebellion" series of climate actions throughout the city. They looked for all the world like high energy creative events to remind Bostonians to "Tell the Truth" and face the facts (see above!). Meanwhile, across the nation in the wake of California's 2035 ban the sale of gas powered vehicles the state has now called for a ban on gas heaters. Grist reports: "California regulators voted unanimously last week to develop new rules that would effectively ban the sale of natural gas-powered heating and hot water systems, a first-in-the-nation commitment." 

 

How about we go out with a Quote of the Week?

It's not unexpected that shooting massive amounts of water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure into the earth to shatter shale and release natural gas might shake things up. But earthquakes aren't the worst problem with fracking.

 -  David Suzuki

 Now it's time for the Bus Top Billboard:

Saturday Oct. 15 and Sunday Oct. 23, from 10 to 2 p.m. Stand Out to raise awareness about protecting our water & communities from illegal mining & solar gone wrong! Main Street, Route 58. Meet at the public library. King Richard’s Faire will be happening and there will be lots of traffic in Carver. Email for details environmentwatchsoutheasternma@gmail.com or Facebook @LandWaterPlymouthArea or Instagram @savepinebarrens 

Monday, October 17, 7pm.  Screening of the film "Elemental"  followed by Q&A with filmmaker Ralph Bloemers and other special guests. The film is 78 minutes, the Q&A will start after the screening. Advance Registration is Open Now (Space is limited, only register if you plan to attend):https://vimeo.com/webinars/events/587edead-95d8-462f-be0c-5a83206d7420  Visit the ELEMENTAL website here: https://www.elementalfilm.com

Tuesday October 18, 4 to 6pm/ Rain Date  10/19 same times. Standout at Eversource! 55 Russell St. (Rt. 9), Hadley, MA. Park in Hampton Inn Village Shops west of Eversource .  Eversource wants to double the width of the power corridor to 200 feet by clearcutting an additional 370 acres of forest in WMass!  We need to insist that the Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) conduct its usual full environmental impact report, as is required by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. Eversouce wants to waive the required environmental impact report, falsely claiming that there will be little impact.
Bring highly visible placards & banners with appropriate wording. Bring friends & relatives. 

Tuesday October, 18, 7pm.  Please note this up-coming program from the Wendell Energy Committee,  relevant to hopes and questions around solar energy in our town. Wendell Free Library, 7 Wendell Depot Rd, Wendell, MA 01379 

 

Wednesday October 19,  6 to 8pm. 350MA Berkshire Node Zoom meeting. Go HERE.  All are welcome! Use the password: 350ma 

Thursday, October 20, 8pm.  The "Jogging In Georgia” ZOOM show with Tom Neilson, Episode 5 of his  concert series, “Can’t Make This Stuff Up,” This program, as the title suggests, addresses the basic human right to live our lives without fear based on our pigmentation, gender, orientation, nationality….Remember that these concerts are an excellent time to meet people across the time zones who are all part of our global community, doing work similar to yours. It is an opportunity for networking and gathering information. You may purchase a $12.00 ticket for this show here up until 7:00pm ET on the date of the concert. 

Tuesday, October 25, 8:00pm.  Elders Climate Action October National Call
Climate Change and the Farm Bill with Jonathan Coppess.  Every five years, Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the myriad programs in the Farm Bill. The current statute, the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, is scheduled to expire in 2023 and the next Congress is expected to attempt reauthorization but much remains uncertain. Addressing climate change in agriculture – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving resiliency, and practices that can help capture and sequester greenhouse gases – is increasingly a priority for many Members of Congress and interests. Go HERE.  

Thursday October 27, 11:00am.  Dual Use Solar Webinar.  In 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MA DOER) established the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. This program carries special incentives for solar systems that allow “dual-use,” defined as solar on farmland where the land continues to be used for agricultural purposes. These facilities are also referred to as “agrivoltaic” systems.

This presentation will offer an overview of the guidelines for dual-use, provide a close look at the economics of a dual-use system, and outline the process for planning and installing such a system.  Here is the link: Dual-Use: Agriculture and Solar Photovoltaics Webinar  

And that's all for now folks except for...........Listen to your Mother!

Another Autumnal Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. It's officially Autumn now and for some of us that means it's a good time to increase our "dose of Nature". Glen has taken off to the North Woods with the family and d.o. is left to pickup the pieces and send them off to you. We recycle some excellent interviews this time with Standing Trees' Zack Porter followed by the Northeast Wilderness Trust show interview with Sophi Veltrop. Autumn festivities won't keep us from bringing you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill or to visit the Charlie Baker Good Riddance Countdown Timer and to announce that d.o. FINALLY fixed our emailbox after years of neglect but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! 

If you are a longtime listener you may be asking yourself if animal attacks on humans have been increasing over the years? Like we always remind you, human incursion into animal habitat is often the source of such attacks but often it is that incursion that forces wild critters into the ever increasing human habitats. So, the answer is yes. Revenge is on the increase. There is science to back it up. 

We have a new Fool-on-the-Hill this time, it's ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (Repug,Texas) who is falling all over himself to make excuses for His Malignancy's espionage exploits. Recently in an interview McCaul said, "I have lived in the classified world most of my professional career, I personally wouldn’t do that. But I’m not the president of the United States. But he has a different set of rules that apply to him. The president can declassify a document on a moment’s notice. [but]…There is a process for declassification. But again, the president’s in a very different position then most of us in the national security space." We guess!  😏

We've been trying for nearly two decades to help the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) see the error of its ways when it comes to our public forests. They seem oblivious to the fact that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and continue to promote massive logging on our state lands through their Management Forestry Program. Now that DCR has a new commissioner it's time to try yet again. read this letter to Commissioner Doug Rice and if you agree please sign-on to the letter HERE. Since we are on the subject of trees and climate we should add this report from The Guardian, "Scientists have issued an urgent “warning to humanity” about the global impact of tree extinctions. A new paper predicts severe consequences for people, wildlife and the planet’s ecosystems if the widespread loss of trees continues." Wake up, DCR! And, across The Pond ancient forests are also taking a beating

OK, it's time once again for the Good Riddance Gov. Baker Countdown Timer but this time we don't have Glen to kick around Charlie Baker anymore so, dear readers, just use your imagination: 

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we pass on the news that PETA has "filed a lawsuit with Suffolk County Superior Court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts against the University of Massachusetts–Amherst (UMass) to compel the school to produce video recordings and other records relating to experimenter Agnès Lacreuse’s taxpayer-funded menopause experiments on marmosets."  Come on UMass, let's see what's happening behind those closed doors. Elswhere in WMass we echo The Greenfield Recorder's recent piece on the toxic Lunt Silver site we covered this summer. We're sure Glen will have something else to say about it upon his return.  😉  

Time for our Enviro Show Quote of the Week but readers be aware, you've got to take a long trip in the Wayback Machine:

We are not to throw away those things which can benefit our neighbor. Goods are called good because they can be used for good: they are instruments for good, in the hands of those who use them properly. 

                                                                  - Clement of Alexandria 

Now it's time for the Bus Stop Billboard: 

Monday, September 26, 6:30pm.  Speak Out Against Holtec!  Plymouth Town Hall. Join Save Our Bay on Monday, September 26 at the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel meeting at Plymouth Town Hall. Holtec plans to dump waste from the closed Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into the Cape Cod Bay and we can't let them! Also join a rally before the meeting, starting at 5:00pm on the front lawn.  Go HERE. 

Tuesday September 27, 11am.  Join us at the Danversport bridge to call for a halt to the Peabody power plant construction.  The Peabody Peaker represents the failure of our utilities and our grid operator to recognize the climate crisis that we are facing, and our desperate need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy future. Join MCAN, 350 Mass, Breathe Clean North Shore, and Slingshot on September 13th to demand: no more pollution, no more harming our neighbors, and no more investments in dirty and outdated energy infrastructure. This is our line in the sand. RSVP using this link: bit.ly/peabody-diein.  

Wednesday September 28, 6:00pm. Climate Forests on the Chopping Block.  Join Rachel Smolker of Biofuelwatch and Zack Porter of Standing Trees for a special presentation and discussion about the importance of forests for climate, clean water, and biodiversity, and the looming threat of the proposed timber harvesting project in the Telephone Gap area of the Green Mountain National Forest near Rutland. This is a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event. You can register for the virtual event HERE or you can attend in person at the Rutland Free Library (10 Court St., Rutland, VT - no registration needed for the in-person event).  

Monday, October 3,  7pm.  Climate Action Now Gathering on Zoom. For details email climateactionnowmass@gmail.com 

OK, we are out of here but remember this: Listen to YOUR Mother, OK?

A Rather Mature Enviro Show?

Greetings Earthlings. Now that the show is over 18 years old we may as well start acting our age and get serious about protecting our public lands. With that in mind, we thought we should share this recent news item with all of you as well as one titled "Why mature and old forests are so important for climate mitigation and adaptation". Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala, Chief Scientist, Wild Heritage, a Project of Earth Island Institute joins us to discuss the issue which seems lost on many pro-logging participants in the ongoing DCR Landscape Designations and Management Guidelines "Listening Sessions" ?  As always, we will also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to remind any other fools out there that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Also, in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we check in on the "Severe Drought" here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and elsewhere in the nation, among other disturbing things, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Another listener pick. "Killer whales are 'attacking' sailboats near Europe's coast. Scientists don't know why"?

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill isn't on The Hill and hopefully never will be. Georgia Republican U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker obviously hasn't done his climate homework. He recently said the Biden administration’s sweeping new climate law represents unnecessary spending because it sets aside money to plant and protect trees. “They try to fool you and make you think they are helping you out — they’re not. You know that some of this money is going into trees? We got enough trees — don’t we have enough trees around here?” Walker said according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Well, since you asked 😏

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we replay this in-your-face action moment that took place at the UMass Amherst's Faculty Orientation last Wednesday to demand UMass stop torturing  marmosets in experiments. You may recall our show last year on this outrage.  And this, dry enough for ya'? Yes, we here in Massachusetts are officially in a "Severe Drought" and so is a better part of the entire nation.  With this in mind, be careful about your water usage and water those newly planted trees!  While some parts of North America are besieged by torrential rains and floods others are quite to opposite. The same holds for the entire planet. It's called climate chaos and it is no longer in the future and with that, lets move on to...


Reminding anyone not paying attention that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid! Like we've said:The fossil fuel-driven Climate Crisis already locked in so much ice melt in Greenland that sea levels will rise by a foot in the coming decades. Recent peer-reviewed research warns us:"This is a result of increasing mass turnover from precipitation, ice flow discharge and meltwater run-off." On top of that (depending on where you are) "The vast East Antarctica Ice Sheet, which is about the size of the United States, used to be considered less vulnerable to climate change than the Greenland and West Antarctica ice sheets — where several glaciers have been losing ice rapidly as they are undercut by warm ocean water. Over recent years, however, research has started to emerge challenging that view. The latest study is published in the journal Nature.

Meanwhile, here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, how is our Gov doing? 😉

 

Dirty Biomass Baker seems to have no problem with his rogue Department of Conservation & Recreation (or is that WreckCreation?) We'll get into that in our interview but you can bet Glen has a lot to say on that.

 

Time for some actual Abidin' with Biden given his most excellent speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia regarding the MAGA Repugnican insurrection and its ongoing threat to our nation. We notice he didn't use the phrase "semi-fascism" to describe His Malignancy and the cult this time. Perhaps because he was criticized for not using the phrase "total fascism"? Also, the Prez's Environmental Protection Agency announced that it proposes to label certain "forever chemicals" (or PFAS) found in hundreds of household items and pollute drinking water systems across the country as hazardous substances. That works, though what's "certain" leaving out? 

 

Finally, how about an Enviro Show Quote of the Week?

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beechtree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.

                                                                                       - Henry David Thoreau

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

Wednesday September, 14, 1 to 2:30pm. Electrify Everything. Join Elders for Regenerative Living (ERL) by attending Electrify Everything, a two session program to provide up-to-date information to help you reduce your fossil fuel footprint and learn how you can electrify your home, business, and personal vehicles. Go HERE.

Wednesday, September 14, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Climate Change: What Would Thoreau Say? Henry David Thoreau was an astute observer of the natural world and kept careful records in his journal. Scientist Bill Moomaw, a lead author of five Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports, will share current insights and proposals for addressing and adapting to a changing climate and speculate about how Thoreau might react were he here today. Would his commitment to simplicity prevent him from endorsing or adopting climate friendly technologies like solar panels? What would his reaction be to the changes taking place in Nature? What are some of Thoreau's words of wisdom that might inspire us to more effective action? This event is brought to you by The Walden Woods Project and RESTORE: The North Woods.   Register HERE. 

Saturday September 17, 3pm.  Dinosaur Die-in. We’re starting the Boston Week of Rebellion with a Dinosaur Die-In! Bring your best dinosaur costume and join XR Youth Boston as we remind people that burning fossil fuels and destroying ecosystems is leading to the same mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs. We are calling on the Massachusetts and federal government to ban all new fossil infrastructure and make a rapid transition away from existing fossil fuel infrastructure and onto renewable sources of energy. Please sign-up for events in advance!  Free public event. Hosted by Extinction Rebellion Boston.  

Wednesday September 21, 2:30pm. (Eastern).  SETTING THE STAGE: Distinguishing Science from Falsehoods - The Truth abour Carbon, Wildfire & Biodiversity.  Join panelists Drs. Bev Law, Chad Hanson, and Monica Bond for presentations on carbon capture and storage, the role of forests, and the real steps needed to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030; the importance of wildfire and how best to protect communities; and an overview of post-fire habitat and biodiversity. Webinar Registration Required 

Thursday September 22, 10am.  Protecting the Northern Forest: Why the Boreal is Critical to Saving the Planet.  Participants will learn about Indigenous-led work addressing climate change in the boreal forest of Canada, one of the world’s most carbon-rich places, and how Indigenous Peoples are pioneering ways of adapting to a changing world.  Location: Hybrid event with virtual attendance on Zoom or in person at The Loft at the Bryant Park Hotel, 40 W 40th St, Fl 25, New York, NY 10018.  Please indicate if you plan to attend in person, as venue capacity will be limited at around 30 individuals. Register HERE.

Thursday September 22, 4:30 to 6:30pm.  Attrack Native Pollinators to Your Land.  A Free Workshop for Farmers. Just Roots Farm, 34 Glenbrook Drive, Greenfield, MA. Go to: www.justroots.org click on "Events" 

Friday, September 23, 4-6pm.  A “Welcome to the Movement” rally to kick off the start of the school year, focused on future climate action goals and a celebration of our wins.  Outside of the Massachusetts State House. The Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition is looking for youth that are interested in speaking at our September 23rd “Welcome to the Movement” rally. Acknowledging the disproportionate effects of the climate crisis and climate policy,  we are looking to highlight the voices of youth living in environmental justice and frontline communities for this speaking role. For more information on this rally, see below.  If you are interested in telling your story and speaking at this rally, or if you would like to learn more about this opportunity, email Nidhi at nidhiinamdar06@gmail.com. Thank you!  

Sunday, September 25, 12noon at TBA - Climate Justice Means Justice for All  Join members of Extinction Rebellion in a protest centering & expressing the intersectionality of the Climate Emergency. We'll rally with speakers & representatives from social, climate, racial, or economic justice movements, as well as groups of a political nature, interested in coming together to protest government inaction on the climate crisis. See link above.  

Monday, September 26, 6:30pm.  Speak Out Against Holtec!  Plymouth Town Hall. Join Save Our Bay on Monday, September 26 at the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel meeting at Plymouth Town Hall. Holtec plans to dump waste from the closed Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station into the Cape Cod Bay and we can't let them! Also join a rally before the meeting, starting at 5:00pm on the front lawn.  Go HERE. 

Tuesday September 27, 11am.  Join us at the Danversport bridge to call for a halt to the Peabody power plant construction.  The Peabody Peaker represents the failure of our utilities and our grid operator to recognize the climate crisis that we are facing, and our desperate need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and towards a clean energy future. Join MCAN, 350 Mass, Breathe Clean North Shore, and Slingshot on September 13th to demand: no more pollution, no more harming our neighbors, and no more investments in dirty and outdated energy infrastructure. This is our line in the sand. RSVP using this link: bit.ly/peabody-die-in.

 

Thanks for stopping by and remember this: Listen to YOUR Mother, OK?