A Climatic Summer Solstice 2024 Enviro Show

[ Hear the whole show HERE anytime]

Greetings and Happy Summer Solstice Earthlings. As we mark Litha: Celebrating the Height of Sun’s Power, we will also question the actions of certain parties on Beacon Hill who abuse their power in this time of Climate Crisis. Michael Kellett of Restore the North Woods and Janet Sinclair of Save Mass Forests return to the show to speak truth to power. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Who Brains are Small", as well as checkout our Critter of the Week, remind you that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! Poachers beware: What goes around comes around. 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is living proof that the MAGA Death Cult will accept anyone  with a pulse. "Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., is introducing a bill to rename the immediate waters surrounding the U.S., called the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as the "Donald John Trump Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States." notes Faux "news".  Like so many Repugnican bills in the present Congress it will die a well deserved death in the Senate. That said, we are reminded of efforts to remove His Malignancy's name elsewhere.

Let's stick to the bad players here in "Their Brains Were Small & They Died" segment. These guys are said to be "manosphere influencers". One of them, Jordan Peterson was dubbed “custodian of the patriarchy” by the New York Times.  Sound old school? Exactly. Old as the small brained dinosaurs. His right-wing “think tank,” Alliance for Responsible Citizenship,(sic) "served as a collective mouthpiece for the views this infamous right-wing influencer. Peterson’s views can be summarized by the 'climate hysteria' iceberg meme—environmentalism is merely a Trojan horse for Marxism." The rap sheet for him and his knuckle-dragging cohort is long, tedious and truly as dated as any dusty pile of Tyrannosaurus rex bones in a museum storeroom.  Look out for the asteroid, boys!

Contrary to what manosphere influencers would have you believe, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" You may recall during our past shows we often note that methane is even worse that CO2  in terms of global warming. Recently, Grist has reported : "As food waste and other organic matter decompose, they generate methane and other noxious gases. As a result, landfills are responsible for nearly a fifth of the country’s methane emissions, but almost half of U.S. landfills have not installed gas-capture systems, nor are they required to. In fact, emissions from many smaller landfills are not regulated by the EPA at all." What's wrong in THAT picture? The article goes on, "There are more than 2,600 landfills across the country, and they leak the equivalent of 287 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year into the air — a volume comparable to that which would result from operating 74 coal plants. A recent study by Carbon Mapper, a nonprofit that operates methane-detecting satellites, found methane emissions from landfills are 40 percent higher than previously estimated by the EPA." While cleaning up our collective mess is critical to pushing back on climate chaos so is bringing up our energy transmission systems so they can carry all the clean energy going on line. Another Grist piece states: "America’s energy system has a problem: Solar and wind developers want to build renewable energy at a breakneck pace — and historic climate legislation has fueled their charge with financial incentives worth billions of dollars. But too often the power that these projects can produce has nowhere to go. That’s because the high-voltage lines that move energy across the country don’t have the capacity to handle what these panels and turbines generate." Here's a thought, instead of clearcutting mature carbon capturing forests for industrial solar how about upgrading the distribution system ??

Sadly we have some Backslidin' with Biden to report. Our friends at the John Muir Project have just pointed out the release of The Prez's  Old-growth  report has a logging truck size hole in it for.......guess what? increased old-growth logging! Perhaps Joe doesn't know enemies of the earth like Thom Vilsack or Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen are pulling a fast one on him? We'll give him the benefit of doubt for the time being. The Muir response notes: "Over 200 U.S. scientists recently sent a letter to the Administration urging complete protection from logging for all mature and old-growth forests on public lands, which the Administration ignored."

Our Critter of the Week is THE world's most trafficked animal on the planet. Saving Pangolins from Extinction due to human stupidity is a serious challenge. Don't just take our word for it, Sir David Attenborough said it all. Pangolins don't survive in zoos or as pets. They belong in the Wild, undisturbed. It's as simple as that. 

Just received a fund raising pitch from The Center for Food Safety which began "70% of genetically engineered (GMO) food in the supermarket is not labeled".  Seems like an Enviro Show Echo Chamber moment, no? Yes, so I went to their webpage (buried beneath far too many useless monetized posts on Yahoo Search) and found a Shoppers Guide to Avoiding GE Food. You can download it to your device (if you have one) HERE.  Also, given last week's heatwave (or heat dome, if you prefer) it's time once again to Shave the Peak. There are ways to beat the heat without adding to the problem.....as much. 😒  Finally, for those of you who thought No Nukes in the Commonwealth is soooo '70s (or '80s) guess who wants a redo in the 2020s? That would be certain parties on Beacon Hill, maybe even the Gov. who want to call it "Clean Energy". Go HERE. O wait, time for a comedic break! 

Time for our Enviro Show Quote of the Week:

“Forests are the world’s air-conditioning system – the lungs of the planet – and we are on the verge of switching it off.”

- King Charles 

After our interview with Michael & Janet it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Happy Plastic Free July!  Learn more here or here  It all began when Rebecca Prince-Ruiz visited her local recycling sorting center in Perth, Australia, in 2011. She had always thought of herself as being eco-conscious, but after looking around at the heavy machinery sorting an endless stream of bottles, tubs, jars, cans and boxes, she had an aha moment. And this from Boston XR: "Sign up to join the State House Stand-Out for a weekday shift between 11 am and 3 pm, by emailing fossilfuels.standout.ma@proton.me! Watch this short documentary by Boston University student Linus Brier for an inside look into the Stand-Out. 

 Monday July 8,  9:30am to 12pm. The Summer of Heat is well underway, for both heat waves and our movement “turning up the heat” on Wall Street big banks. During the first few weeks of Summer of Heat in New York City, Citi, Chubb insurance, and other targets have heard loud and clear from hundreds of people marching, rallying, and practicing nonviolent protest that financiers must stop funding fossil fuels and accelerate investments in clean energy. Third Act is part of this summer-long effort to disrupt business as usual on Wall Street. Next up is another Elders Day in New York City on July 8 with climate luminaries like Bill McKibben, Gus Speth, faith leaders Rev. Jim Antal and Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas.... and YOU! Please join us:  Go HERE. 

 

Tuesday July 9, 10am. Join us to tell Bank of America to Stop Funding Fossil Fuels – SUMMER OF HEAT event.  157 Great Road, Bedford, MA. Bring a sign, or grab a sign we will provide.  Bring a friend, or come by yourself as we stand across from Bank of America with a strong message that it’s time to switch to renewable energy.  Come for 30 minutes or stay for the whole two hours.  All are welcome! For more info about our Rocking Chair rebellion, click HERE 

Tuesday  July 9, 12 p.m.  NRDC Webinar: Debriefing the Chevron Decision.Don't miss this opportunity to hear from NRDC President and CEO Manish Bapna, along with me and members of our litigation team, about this historic and troubling ruling. You'll also have a chance to ask questions of the panelists and learn more about how NRDC will continue to take on the fossil fuel industry and others threatening communities across the United States no matter how the court system operates following this new precedent. Go HERE.       

Wednesday July 10, 1-3pm.  DOER will host a webinar with a presentation of the SMART Straw Proposal where stakeholders can learn about proposed policy changes and submit questions for clarification. The Straw Proposal will be posted to the DOER website after the webinar for review, along with a recording of the webinar. Interested attendees can register for the webinar here.

 

 

Thursday July 11, 6:30pm. Learn how to take part in XR actions at this non-violent direct action training! This training is for people who are interested in potentially doing civil disobedience as well as people who want to play support roles for our actions. You will learn how to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. We will cover some theory behind direct actions, discuss the logistics of arrest and potential legal implications, and talk about the many different roles (beyond risking arrest) that are crucial to successful actions. You will get to talk to a few people who have gone through the arrest process and ask questions you might have.  Location: Zoom, you'll need to register to join  

 

 

Saturday July 13, 1 pm. Climate Rally on the Boston Common. We'll gather to demonstrate our support for vital climate legislation and demand that our legislators prioritize a sustainable future for all. Together, we can show our elected officials the strength of our commitment and the urgency of this issue. Your presence is crucial in demonstrating widespread community support for bold climate action.  Please RSVP to confirm your attendance and spread the word among your networks. Join the MA Youth Climate Coalition and Mass Power Forward coalitions as we push for our planet and justice! 

Monday  July 15, 4pm. Chuck Willer will Present on "Industrial Forestry and the Water You Drink”. In his discussion for the Forest Protection Forum, Chuck will examine the transformation of the U.S. economy over the past three decades and its impact on corporate forest ownership and management. He will link Wall Street finance to landscape forest conditions and explain how such conditions harm watersheds and aquatic life.  Please register here.  

Tuesday July 16, 6 - 7:45 pm.  Open Forum: Protecting Our Land and Waters, Part II. Fehlow Meeting Room,  Plymouth MA Public Library, Main Branch.  Join us to discuss challenges and opportunities in land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts. Opportunity for networking and collaboration. Free and open to the public.  

Wednesday July 17, 5pm.  "Unmasking Biomass: The Hidden Truths and Real" Solutions.""Our expert panelists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, providing insights into the environmental, health, and economic impacts of biomass. They will discuss the implications of biomass as a supposed “green” energy solution, examining whether it truly benefits our communities and the planet. Registration: Register Here  

Wednesday July 17, 6:30 – 7:30pm.  John Lewis National Day of Commemoration and Action.  Democracy is under attack, friends. Join IndivisibleCT for a rally highlighting the urgency of this moment in our history. We intend to educate, motivate, and activate our community to work towards the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, the Native American Voting Rights Act, and DC Statehood. And there's an election in November. Time to energize! 50 S Main Street , West Hartford, CT 06107

Thursday July 18, 7pm.  MCAN Presents:  Leaders Speak Out: Paths to Climate Justice, a Speaker Series.  What is a vision of a more equitable future, and do we have the tools to drive meaningful change? In 2024, the energy landscape of Massachusetts is undergoing significant transformations at Mass-Save, at the DPU, and at the utilities. While these tie to climate goals, there is little discussion about energy ownership and governance changes. Register HERE.  

Sunday July 21, 1-4pm.   Join Patti Smith and Skip Lisle for the upcoming presentation on beaver ecology and co-existence - and for the mini-field trip to the 4H trail beaver habitat which will follow. The event is free, but your contributions would be welcomed.  Rain or shine with exceptions for severe weather. Naturalist Patti Smith will captivate you with her stories and insight, and biologist Skip Lisle will advise on best management practices. Leverett, MA Town Hall, 9 Montague Road Leverett, MA 01054  

Monday & Tuesday July 22 & 23, 9:30 am to 4pm. DOER will host in-person technical sessions at the Connolly Center in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210, to collect stakeholder feedback on the SMART Straw Proposal. The sessions will be divided into topic areas, and attendees may register for individual sessions. Interested attendees can register for the in-person technical sessions here. The deadline to register will be July 17th. DOER requests that each organization only send one representative per session. Lunch will not be provided by DOER, but there will be a break from 12:00-1:00 PM and there is a cafe in the Federal Reserve building as well as various lunch options in the surrounding area.

Thursday July 25, 4 -  5pm.  Beyond the Horizon: Going the Distance for Seabirds Webinar. Seabirds are one of the most endangered groups of birds. Their populations have dropped a staggering 70 percent globally over the past 60 years due to factors such as invasive species, unsustainable fisheries, and marine trash. American Bird Conservancy's Marine Program is working tirelessly with partners to safeguard the most vulnerable species both while at sea, and on land where they nest. Go HERE.   

Friday July 26 - Sunday July 28, beginning 7:30pm.  Clamshell Alliance Reunion Gathering at World Fellowship Center in Albany, NH. If you haven't reserved your room, you can reserve at https://worldfellowship.org/book-now/, email reservations@worldfellowship.org, or call (603) 447-2280 

Monday July 29, 9:30am.  DOER will host a virtual technical session for stakeholders who are unable to attend the in-person sessions. The same content will be covered at both the in-person and virtual sessions, so attendance is only necessary at one. Interested attendees can register for the virtual technical session here. The deadline to register will be July 24th.

We are out of here for now but PLEASE remember to listen to your Mother! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Poisonous Enviro Show

Greetings Earthings. You may recall our previous shows on rodenticide poisoning leading to tragic deaths of key predators. This time Laura Kiesel of  Save Arlington Wildlife joins us to discuss a petition to "the Pesticide Board Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to immediately suspend the registrations of all anticoagulant rodenticide products and conduct an individual review of their active ingredients".  Let's end the slaughter, OK? As always we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Are Small as well as checking in on our Critter of the Week and more but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! News Flash! Orcas are just .......bored teenagers! 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill works right across the street from The U.S. House of Fools at the so-called Supreme Court. It is, after all, on The Hill, right? Yes, and "Justice" Samual Alito has proved himself to be such a fool! It seems "political flags flown at Alito’s homes — an upside-down American flag in the days after Jan. 6, 2021, and an “Appeal to Heaven” flag in the summer of 2023 — have pushed Alito’s behavior into an entirely different realm, one that raises serious questions about Alito’s partisanship, his ethics and the integrity of the court."  Questions?? There is no doubt about this guy's fascist MAGA cult leanings, much less his opposition to women's right to choose. Alito's credos have no place in the nation's highest court. Full stop.

Alito and his MAGA flag waving wife can crank up the AC or flee to their beach house in Jersey but folks in Pakistan and India are sweltering at 127 degrees because "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" That's barely survivable weather and as summer approaches it could well be headed our way. Closer to home in Mexico City "some say it could be unable to provide water by June 26, known as “Day Zero” in the metropolitan area of 22 million." Without water how does one survive? Here in the States it was recently revealed "..in the first months of 2024, there has been a strange and devastating uptick in twister occurrences. April witnessed more than 100 tornadoes in the US in just one week, and, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, a total of 384 were reported throughout the month. That is more than double the year-on-year average and the second-highest on record." What's THAT about? "Research published in the journal Environmental Research Letters has shown that as El Niño decays, atmospheric ‘waves’ which promote vertical wind shear become wavier, which in turn produces conditions ripe for tornado formation." Climate Chaos? What do you think?

This "Brains were Small and They Died" segment brings us to model Nazi SS freak sent from Central Casting, Stephen Miller who lately has been beating the fascist drum by calling mainstream Dems "Communists".  Is this creepy old-school or what? Him and his ilk have their Schutzstaffel panties all up in a knot over His Malignancy's felony trial, falsely claiming it was rigged (just as they said about the election The Mad King lost). Losers who refuse to admit to reality remind us of the dinosaurs. What ever happened to them? Here's a Stand Up/Fight Back LINK calling for His Malignancy's other trials to go forward. And  FINALLY, fascist schemer and worst of the worst,  Steve Bannon learns "If you can't do the time don't do the crime" on July 1st.....unless his SCOTUS overlords give him a pass. 😒

Still on the subject of Nazi SS freaks here in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we quote this New York Times piece on The Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits on the use of N-Methylpyrrolidone, a solvent in many products used by both consumers and workers. NMP "has been found to cause miscarriages, reduced male fertility and damage to the liver, kidneys and immune and nervous systems." Such corrective actions are far too rare at the EPA but when they were taken back in the Obama days guess who went out of his way to resend them in the next administration? That would be His Malignancy The Mad King who, along with his MAGA cult followers, remains even more toxic today than they was back then. They did that many, many times. We bring this up in case you were thinking the only danger with those fascists was the end of a centuries long constitutional democracy. There, we said it and we're glad, now it's time for a poetry break.

Our Critter of the Week this time around are the humble Fireflies. June is their time to shine and one of our listeners has sent us a slew of links about Lampyridae and about their struggle to survive the Insect Apocalypse. How can we help them? Turn the damn lights out!

The Enviro Show Quote of the Week is spot on for this show:

“We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that the animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves.”

— Cesar Chavez

After our conversation with Rachel it's on to the billboard:

ence/ . You can also find out more about the Summit and view the full agenda here. 

Saturday June 22, 4-6:30pm.  Serious Play Presents: Climate Change Community.  Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street , Northampton, MA. Serious Play feels strongly about the existential threat of climate change and the power of theatre to motivate audiences to ask questions, to think critically & to take action now.  The FORUM, held before the June 22 performance of Moving Water, offers 3 group conversations around 3 aspects of the climate crisis, moving participants toward action on 3 specific climate projects. Registration for free Climate Change Forum here

Sunday June 23 at 12 noon. BIGGER THAN DOBBS: THE WAR ON WOMEN AND DEMOCRACY RALLY  on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court Dobbs decision which took away women's right to abortion and threatens the future of our democracy. Change of Location due to weather: Sanctuary of the Second Congregational church, 16 Court Square by the Greenfield Common

Monday June 24th is the second anniversary of the disastrous Dobbs decision. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it opened the doors for a dystopian future for women across the United States. Feminists are taking action — striking, marching, getting out the vote — across the country. Join us to send an unmistakable message to anti-abortion extremists that our movement is not backing down. Host or join a local action near you!

Monday  June 24, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now Gathering via Zoom. Climate Reparations: What Does the North Owe the Global South? Presentation by John Feffer, Director of the Global Just Transition program Institute for Policy Studies  How will the nations most responsible for the climate crisis respond to the escalating needs of those that have contributed least and are most impacted? Climate reparations will be a hot topic at the next two UN Climate Conferences. Register HERE. 

Monday June 24, 7 p.m. World EHS Day.  We are so grateful to colleagues in France who seven years ago established June 16 as the World Day of Intolerance to Electromagnetic Pollution! That falls on Father's Day this year in the U.S. so Courtney Gilardi and Cece Doucette will be hosting a U.S.-based Zoom event.  Go HERE.  

Thursday June 27, 4 to 5pm. A Pivotal Partnership for Imperiled Shorebirds and Living Fossils. ABC is advocating for solutions to conserve both the horseshoe crab and the Red Knot, as part of the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition (HCRC), a partnership of more than 50 organizations. Zoom webinar about these efforts and the incredible animals at the center of this story. Register HERE.  

Friday June 28, All Day. Summer of Heat on Wall Street. For reservations go HERE. 

Over 100 community organizers and frontline leaders from the Gulf South ― home to the world’s largest buildout of new fossil fuel projects ― will be in New York for the march and action. They hail from communities, such as Lake Charles and Sulphur in Louisiana, where people are fighting tooth and nail to stop the buildout of LNG and oil export terminals. Now, they’re taking their demands to the front doors of Wall Street. The march will be a family-friendly, celebratory and joyous second-line march led by a brass band. We will start at the head of Wall Street, and will end at the global headquarters of Citibank. For transportation from Boston text 847-830-2016 ASAP or by June 24th with your full name if you are available on 6/28 and ready to board a bus! 

 Saturday June 29, 10am - 2pm.  Boston Urban Forest Friends Symposium 2024 – Still Growing Together: Preserving For Our Future.  In addition to our incredible speakers, we will host an engaging panel discussion, where experts, community members, and advocates will come together to address pressing topics related to Boston's urban forest. We will be joined by the Director of Urban Forestry, Todd Mistor, who will join us to talk about the Urban Forest Plan (UFP) for the City of Boston and more.Lunch will be provided by Fresh Food Generation. Please confirm your participation by registering at the link HERE.  Location is at   The Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, 1350 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120

The June 29th Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington D.C. & to the Polls will launch outreach to 15 million poor and low-wage infrequent voters ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections and beyond. The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is calling on people of moral conscience to join us on June 29th in the nation’s capital to uplift and center the needs of the over 135 million poor and low-wage people and workers across the country. Go HERE.  

Tuesday July 9, 10am. Join us to tell Bank of America to Stop Funding Fossil Fuels – SUMMER OF HEAT event.  157 Great Road, Bedford, MA. Bring a sign, or grab a sign we will provide.  Bring a friend, or come by yourself as we stand across from Bank of America with a strong message that it’s time to switch to renewable energy.  Come for 30 minutes or stay for the whole two hours.  All are welcome!  

We are out of here for now but PLEASE remember to listen to your Mother!