Blog Archive

Thursday, February 01, 2024

A Climate Defiance Enviro Show

 UPDATE: Entire Enviro Show Podcast - Listen Anytime! 

Greetings Earthlings. As you may know, The Enviro Show was founded by two Earth First! malcontents long ago and now and then you may have heard us go on about the importance of direct action in the struggle to literally save the planet. Sometimes we may even grumble about the need for such actions now at this critical time in the Earth's history. Enter Climate Defiance, a kickass group of younger activists whose motto is "We are young. We are livid. We are no longer willing to be disposable." Martin Gioannetti of Climate Defiance joins us to bring it all home. As always, we will also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains are Small, as well as some potential Abidin' with Biden and more, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Octopus remembers bothersome human


This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Repugnican Timothy Lee Walberg serving as the U.S. Representative from Michigan's 5th congressional district since 2023. Last Fall Walberg gave a keynote speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in Uganda, at the invitation of Ugandan legislator David Bahati. Walberg's trip to Uganda was paid for by The Fellowship, a sketchy far-right Christian operation. "During his speech, Walberg urged Uganda to "stand firm" against international pressure to "change you", apparently referencing sanctions by the United States government against Uganda over the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, which prescribes lengthy prison sentences and in certain instances the death penalty for homosexual activities." So much for "blessed are the peacemakers"


We were Abidin' with Biden on the economy and last week when we read there will be "a temporary pause on pending decisions of Liquefied Natural Gas exports – with the exception of unanticipated and immediate national security emergencies".  Grist dug deeper and noted "The Department of Energy announced on Friday that it would pause approvals for new LNG exports for several months while it reviews how it regulates them. The administration will develop a new approach over the coming year that will foreground the potential climate impacts of exporting natural gas, suspending approvals in the meantime. The decision doesn’t affect active export terminals." If you go to THIS LINK you can see what some high profile enviros have said about this action. Not sure anyone said anything about firing up the base in an election year. 😏   We'll reserve judgement given there's been some Backslidin' by Biden in the past.


As for "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" it appears the corporados at Monsanto took a massive hit in court: "Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit was ordered by a Pennsylvania jury to pay more than $2.2 billion to a former Roundup user who blamed his cancer on the weedkiller in the largest verdict so far in five years of litigation over the herbicide." We'll see what happens in the inevitable appeal but those evil dinos deserve the worst.


Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week is most appropriate for the time:

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  

- Dr. Martin Luther King


Before we move on to our interview with Martin let's remind anyone listening who didn't know that......."It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!"  Here's an excerpt from a recent post on Inside Climate News: "Groundwater has long acted as a climate buffer, providing a source of freshwater for communities with unreliable rainfall. But human activity has unleashed a feedback loop that is placing this crucial resource at risk: decades of uncontrolled combustion of fossil fuels has caused more frequent and severe droughts, which in turn has led to increased reliance on groundwater." The article references a recent study in Nature that states, in part: "Critically, we also show that groundwater-level declines have accelerated over the past four decades in 30% of the world’s regional aquifers. This widespread acceleration in groundwater-level deepening highlights an urgent need for more effective measures to address groundwater depletion."  And here's a headline that should garner some attention: "Climate change has killed 4 million people since 2000 — and that’s an underestimate". Obviously it also overlooks all the critters that have died. That's called The Sixth Mass Extinction and it's worse than predicted when Elizabeth Kolbert first appeared on this show back in 2014.  


Enough bad news, let's go to our interview with Martin and the good news from The Resistance. After that, it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:


Friday, February 16,  2:00 pm (In person).  AD Makepeace Co is trying to get state and local approvals for ANOTHER solar array along Tihonet Road in Wareham. This array alone will cut down 54 acres of forest, in addition to the 176 acres of Pine Barrens the company wants to cut down at its other 3 proposed solar projects in the area. Makepeace will cut down 230 acres of Pine Barrens forest in this part of Wareham if all of these projects go through! This site visit is a chance for the public to get involved in the early stages of permitting for this project. Please attend and voice your concerns to state officials.  REMOTE MEETING. Please RSVP to Eva.Vaughan@mass.gov at least one hour but preferably one day before the meeting for instructions on joining the video conference or calling in by phone. A site visit will also be held in the afternoon. SITE VISIT. Meet at the Makepeace Farms store parking lot (146 Tihonet Road, Wareham); we will then proceed to the site, which has no formal address. 



Saturday February 17, 10am to 1 pm. Reusable Bag Making Workshop.Greenfield MA Library's Makers Space during the Winter Farmers Market.   Convert grain or seed bags into fun reusable shopping bags for yourself and others using our free materials.  This is a drop-in event; no registration needed. Masks encouraged.


Saturday February  17, 4:30 to 9:30pm.  Wendell  Meeting House, 1 Morse Village Road, Wendell, MA 01379  No Assault & Battery Community Potluck. No Assault & Batteries (NAB) and the Wendell Meetinghouse present a community pot luck dinner event at the Meetinghouse. Before dinner, enjoy the Wendell Post exhibition, drinks and hors d’oeuvres with music by The Leftovers jazz trio (Doug Tanner on his incredible chromatic harmonica, Mark Ricker and Tom Randell on guitars). After dinner, we’ll have speakers (Delta Carney on lithium battery fires, Dan Leahy on “What We Have to Lose”, and Anna Gyorgy on NAB organizing efforts) and more music  



Tuesday February 20, 7pm.  New York State Attorney General Letitia James sued PepsiCo over its plastic pollution - both for misleading the public about its goals to eliminate single-use plastic, and for endangering the environment. As its basis of proof, the office cited the enormous volume of single use plastic trash in and along the Buffalo River, a survey of which demonstrated that more than 17% originated from PepsiCo.  Please join us via Zoom  for a conversation with Lemuel Srolovic, Chief of the Environmental Bureau of the New York Attorney General’s Office, about the details and significance of the suit.


February 21, 6:30pm. Feeling starved for discourse about climate philosophy? You're in good company! Starting on January 10th, members of XR Boston are leading a Climate Philosophy seminar every-other-Wednesday at the Democracy Center (45 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA). RSVP at this calendar link for more information and to ensure that we order enough pizza for you!


Thursday, February 22, 7pm until 10pm (Doors open at 6pm). 50th Anniversary Celebration of Lovejoy's Nuclear War.  50 years of No Nukes on the Montague Plains. On February 22nd, 1974, Sam Lovejoy, on a dark and frosty night, brought down the 500 foot meteorological tower erected by Northeast Utilities on the Montague Plains and ignited a national movement against the construction of nuclear reactors and the use of atomic power. For Tickets & further info go HERE.


Friday February 23, 7pm.  The Kwinitekw/Quonektikut: Rights of Nature for the Long River. Presented by Hartman Deetz, Mashpee Wampanoag citizen, activist, and artist.will give a presentation about the Rights of Nature work and successes he has been a part of.  Greenfield Community College Dining Commons, College Drive, Greenfield, MA. Go HERE


Sunday February 25, 2-3 pm.  The MA Division of Water Supply Protection will hold a event called Understanding Watershed Forestry Management. This will be a hybrid event, with an in-person event held at the Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center, broadcast virtually on Zoom. Have you ever wondered why trees are harvested on protected watershed land and why recently harvested areas look the way they do? [WE SURE HAVE!] Curious how active management of a forest can increase diversity and maintain forest health? Join DCR Quabbin-Ware Region Chief Forester Ken Canfield to learn about the benefits of a managed forest and the objectives and conditions that dictate when, where, and how trees are harvested. The event is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Click here for the registration form, and make sure to indicate if you plan to attend in person or remotely.   


Monday February 26–March 3.   Insure Our Future Week of Action - Fight to End Fossil Fuels and hold insurance companies accountable for climate harms caused by their underwriting of fossil fuel expansion. Please note: the Insure our Future Week of Action is a "decentralized campaign," meaning the Union of Concerned Scientists and our partners are not planning events ourselves. Instead, we are empowering and supporting local activists and organizers like you to plan a variety of activities that have different tactics and risk levels—from rallies to art builds to nonviolent civil disobedience. Go HERE. 


Monday February 26,  7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now Virtual Monthly Meeting.  Contact for more info: climateactionnowmass@gmail.com 


Tuesday February 27, 7:30pm. MA Climate Policy Update.Join our advocates as they provide updates on legislation and regulatory decisions that could greatly reduce carbon emissions in the Bay State. We’ll cover transportation, buildings, and emissions. Larry Chretien will host presenters Anna Vanderspek and Carrie Katan. Remember, advocacy is not a spectator sport. Come to this webinar to learn how you can help make positive change in 2024.  Go HERE.


Wednesday February 28, 7pmMassachusetts Sierra Club hosts a Zoom screening of "Burned", followed by Q & A.  About film: BURNED: Protecting The Protectors   Register for virtual screening HERE.  


 Wednesday February 28, 7 to 8pm.  How Science Can Strengthen Elections. The most substantial way to combat attacks on voter rights is to bolster and support election science through fair representation and increasing voter protections. That’s why our friends at the Union of Concerned Scientists are hosting a virtual conversation on the science of elections as a tool for justice and democracy in the United States. Go HERE.  


Thursday February 29, 12pm. MA Climate Policy Update. Join our advocates as they provide updates on legislation and regulatory decisions that could greatly reduce carbon emissions in the Bay State. We’ll cover transportation, buildings, and emissions. Larry Chretien will host presenters Anna Vanderspek and Carrie Katan. Remember, advocacy is not a spectator sport. Come to this webinar to learn how you can help make positive change in 2024. Go HERE.   


Thursday February 29, 6pm. State Wildlife Biologist (and Cummington Resident) Nathan Buckhout will give a presentation about Living with Black Bears. He will talk about the life history and status of black bears in Massachusetts and how to coexist with them. This event is cosponsored by the Cummington Tree Alliance, Cummington Cultural Council and Berkshire Voters for Animals.  Light Refreshments will be served.  Cummington Community House, 33 Main Street, Cummington, MA 


Wednesday March 6, 7pm.  Webinar: Hear the latest updates on Hanscom private jet expansion. The private jet hangar expansion plans what the developers are saying now;  Climate impacts of the proposed expansion & why it’s a statewide issue; Next steps in MEPA state environmental review, including public comments  &  What you can do to help stop the largest private jet hangar expansion in New England, and possibly the nation. Go HERE.  


Saturday March 23, All Day.  Fix the Grid Community Summit. Please register now for our summit on Saturday, March 23rd in Southern NH. If you already registered for November, your ticket is still valid. I’ll be reaching out separately to ask you to confirm or withdraw your registration. 


 OK, let's keep up The Resistance AND also remember to listen to your Mother! 




 

 


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