Public Lands in Wrong Hands Enviro Show

[ Hear entire show on our podcast HERE ]

 Greetings Earthlings. Has it occurred to you lately that the present managers of our Public Lands are not protecting or preserving them? Longtime listeners to this show know we have. Zack Porter, Executive Director of Standing Trees returns to the show to explain why and offer solutions. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small as well as the latest outrages from His Malignancy The Mad King and more but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! Surfer's Deja vu.

This week's Fool-on-the Hill is Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) who proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow His Malignancy to serve a third term in the White House so that the country “can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs.” Bold?  Seems like reckless fascism from here, Andy, you old fool. 

Speaking of, it's time to hold our collective nose and dive into The Swamp as His Malignancy and assorted MAGA Swamp dwellers pour in the sewage. FIRST go HERE and register your outrage, OK? As one of his first acts as president, His Malignancy signed an executive order pulling the United States out from the Paris Climate Agreement. Of course, he did that last time around but this time "After declaring a national energy emergency on his first day in office, [the certifiably psycho] President said that coal could be a fuel source for new electric generating plants." The Mad King as Old King Coal? Nah! A "merry old soul" wouldn't pull the rug out from under victims of the worst climate related firestorm in LA history by eliminating FEMA. Getting back to energy, Sunrise notes: "A recent report revealed that fossil fuel interests poured nearly $450 million into the 2024 election cycle in support of [His Malignancy] Additionally, [his] cabinet picks have deep ties to the fossil fuel industry. Doug Burgum and Lee Zeldin have both received hundreds of thousands of contributions from the oil and gas industry while fracking CEO Chris Wright donated $450,000 to [his] campaign." And from the malicious to the ridiculous The Mad King actually signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”. Swamp Queen Marjorie Taylor Greene is drafting legislation to rename it in all federal documents. Then His Malignancy was flooding The Swamp with an illegal funding freeze last week but, thankfully the pushback was so intense that The Mad King balked and started back stepping. It was a welcomed defeat. Pushback in the courts also: 22 state attorneys general sued Trump over birthright order or ACLU suing fast-track deportation policy or Quakers suing to stop ICE out of worship services. Stay tuned. Guess who helped planes fall out of the sky lately? We can't move on here without giving you this link to Bill McKibben's recent think piece on MAGA madness and give you an Action Link to let Congress know what you think.

Our Doublespeak of the Week is, appropriately, the Fix Our Forests bill pushed out of the U.S. House and now in the Senate. Earth Justice noted this from a recent protest letter: "This legislation purports to be about sound forest management and fire, but it could actually make fires worse, and is really about stifling citizen voices, removing science from land management decisions, and legislating a large-scale rollback of the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act on millions of acres of federal lands. Its sweeping provisions remove scientific review and accountability to benefit the short-term interests of extractive industries." In other words it's doublespeak bullshit.

Pull out of the World’s Main Climate Pact, bring back coal, Log Tongass old-growth, "Drill baby, drill", trash Public Lands, end climate funding, WTF, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Do you think the far-right Climate Deniers at Prager U got the memo? "PragerU, the prominent right-wing advocacy group that promotes climate change denialism, was forced to evacuate its West Coast headquarters by the Los Angeles wildfires, which experts and scientists have said were exacerbated by climate change, the Daily Beast revealed." 😏 And this from the real world: "The Climate Backtracker, a project of Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, is keeping tabs on all the things the new U.S. administration is doing to “scale back or wholly eliminate federal climate mitigation and adaptation measures.” Things like this perhaps? "As climate change supercharges disease, Trump pulls US from World Health Organization". Getting back to the LA firestorms and all the other climate related disasters on Earth some people are finally starting to realize "There's no place that's safe."  That said, Inside Climate News reports: "The new head of the U.S. Department of Transportation issued sweeping memos this week, directing the department to “identify and eliminate” nearly all initiatives relating to climate change, racial equity, gender identity, DEI or environmental justice implemented during the Biden administration. " More MAGA sewage to flood the zone!  Here's a climate issue disguised as a disability access issue.  During the pandemic, MA state and local government allowed for hybrid meetings which included both remote and in-person public participation. Unfortunately the current rules allow - but do not require - municipalities to offer hybrid or remote access to meetings. Some municipalities are reverting back to pre-pandemic practice of in-person meetings only. The current rules are set to expire on March 31, 2025 which is just two months away. In-person only meetings often require driving long distances and enlarging our carbon footprints. Enshrining a guarantee to hybrid participation options is very popular. Sign this Petition today to tell the MA legislature to support permanent hybrid access! 

Our Critter of the Week this time is the Winter Wren. "Once lumped with a group of similar-looking wrens, the Winter Wren was part of a three-species split in 2010 based on updated genetic evidence. The other two species created from that split were the Pacific Wren of western North America and the Eurasian Wren, the only wren species found in the Eastern Hemisphere" according to the American Bird Conservancy and yet the Carolina Wren is listed on ABC's same page? Go figure. "One of the smallest wrens in North America, the inconspicuous Winter Wren is easy to mistake for a mouse as it creeps about its favored forest and riparian habitats. Patient observers will eventually catch sight of a tiny brown ball of a bird with barred flanks, a pale “eyebrow,” and a stubby, erect tail. This wren always seems to be in motion, flicking its wings and bouncing up down even while standing still. Its short, rounded wings make it a weak flyer, and it prefers to scamper about on foot."  Of course the Wren is always in motion out there in the cold, it so small it has to keep from freezing to death! 

We think you might agree that Elon Musk qualifies for "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" segment. His recent nazi salute during His Malignancy's inauguration nonsense obviously replays mid-20th century fascism. Elon is a dinosaur in so many ways, for instance his wish to gut Social Security, Medicaid & Medicare.  As it turns out, many billionaires are stuck with the curse of ‘affluenza’. They should probably seek help or, better yet, go the way of the dinosaurs. 

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we are replaying Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting's take on the mainstream media's coverage of MAGA. Needless to say "you might want to look to a media outlet not owned by a toadying oligarch." We've always had issues with the New York Times, the Washington Post, the big three Networks and the like with their both-sides status quo news coverage but since the recent election those so-called legacy media operations have decided to normalize the rise of fascism here in the U.S.A.  That is very disturbing and does not bode well for our nation.  You may have noticed we don't normalize here on The Enviro Show. And this from our friends at the Center for Biological Diversity: "

The country should also do more to protect marine mammals off its own coasts. Tell NOAA Fisheries to promote whale-safe fishing gear." Also, how about protecting those humans who have the least amount of protection? Go HERE.  

OK, how about our Quote of the Week?

What an extraordinary gift trees are and how many things we can learn from them, if only we know how to watch, to see, to give them the love and attention that we give to friends! 

               - Susanna Tamaro

After our interview with Zack it's on to the bus stop billboard:

Weekly on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The MA State House Stand Out is back in a new incarnation! This historic climate action lasted for 14 months and engaged hundreds of volunteers from across the climate movement. Volunteers are needed!The new version, lovingly referred to as Stand Out Two, happens at the Massachusetts State House between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a great way to participate in the climate movement with no risk of arrest! Volunteers normally sign up for a 2 hour “shift." If you have questions about the Stand Out or would like to get a link to the sign-up sheet please contact organizers at fossilfuels.standout.ma@proton.me     

Community Land & Water is doing standouts every Saturday in February at the Shaw's in Cedarville, MA from 10 - 12. They are also speaking out about destructive projects every Tuesday from around 6 - 8 pm at the Plymouth Select Board, which has a remote zoom option.

Friday February 14, Noon 12pm. Stop the Coup - Our Love is Resistance! We are showing up together to Stop the Coup. We aim to demonstrate our resistance, root our movement in love for justice, and be visible and inspiring. Location: Bandstand, Boston Common. RSVP, INFO CLICK HERE. Invite your congregation/local groups to Co-Sponsor the event: Fill out this form

Saturday February 15, 9:30am-10:30am. Coffee With Your Congressman Jim McGovern. First Churches of Northampton, 129 Main Street, Northampton, MA.  Democracy isn't a spectator sport—in fact, it's vital that all of us participate in the hard work of self-government. Let's have a good discussion, talk about the resources my team can provide, and meet each other as friends and neighbors in community. 

 

 Saturday February 15, 11am. Informational Tree meeting at the Cummington Community House (Snow date: Saturday February 22nd at 11:00 AM). Attendance is not required to receive a tree.  However, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the initiative, choose your tree, and submit an application. Our first workshop and planting demonstration will take place in the spring - date to be announced. All are welcome to attend! Important: The deadline to submit your request is March 1st. If you’re interested in receiving an application to have a tree planted on your property, attending a workshop, or volunteering, please contact us at cummingtontrees@gmail.com We’d love to hear from you and will respond right away.

Sunday February 16, 7 to 8 p.m. Three mining projects largest sand mine operators that will level some of the last remaining hills in the Town!   Activist and attorney Meg Sheehan will provide an in-person update at the  Center Hill Preserve, 158 Center Hill Road,  Plymouth, MA 02360. on the latest developments in the efforts to stop three sand mines. Learn about opportunities to take action and get involved in stopping destructive sand mining. Open discussion and Q and A. All welcome!   

Thursday February 17, 6pm:  How do our food habits affect the environment?  View this film, presented by Greening Greenfield with the Support of Local Access to Valley Arts (LAVA), 324 Main Street, Greenfield. Go HERE.  

Monday February 17, 7pm.  Virtual Town Hall with Rep. Jim McGovern
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vdmG82tQQPayGCfsZNqX3w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Wednesday February 19, 6pm. Please join the Connecticut River Defenders standout beginning at 5pm 2/19 at the GCC building entrance prior to this event. END RIVER ECOCIDE!  On January 24, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) published a DRAFT Water Quality Certification (WQC) decision for FirstLight Power’s Turners Falls Dam and Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage facilities. This triggers MassDEP’s third and final public engagement event in the relicensing process: an hybrid public hearing and a written public comment period on the DRAFT WQC decision. The hybrid public hearing will occur on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Cohn Family Dining Commons, Greenfield Community College, One College Drive, Greenfield, MA. Registration is required for remote participation in the hearing: Click here for the Zoom Registration Form. Written comments on the Draft WQC are currently being accepted. The comment period began on January 24, 2025 and submissions will be accepted through February 24, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. [The spineless] MassDEP encourages electronic submission of comments by email to dep.hydro@mass.gov which must include “FirstLight 401 WQC” in the subject line. 

Wednesday, February 19 through Wednesday, April 2, we'll meet from 7:00-9:00 PM ET via Zoom to delve into almost every aspect of the plastic pollution crisis and, most importantly, what we can do to help fix it.  Beyond Plastic Pollution, my seven-week, very popular, virtual class taught via Zoom that's offered through Bennington College.  Click here to learn more and register now.

Sunday February 23, 2 to 4pm. FCCPR General Assembly, Guiding Star Grange, 401 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA.  Planning our resistance to the attacks on democracy and to unleashed corporate power. What kind of actions do we want to do?  All are welcome.

Monday February 24, 6:30, at 2nd Congo Church Hall, Court Street, Greenfield, MA. Greening Greenfield will present a talk by Pat Serrentino on Sharing Your Yard with Birds. Pat Serrentino will focus on the various actions that residents / homeowners can take to not only attract birds to their backyards, but keep them safe and healthy too. These actions will range from the simple to more time-consuming; from providing water, bird houses, preventing birds from striking windows, and decreasing the use of pesticides. The talk will emphasize that small actions can result in big outcomes! 

Tuesday February 25, 1pm.  Carbon Dioxide Removal and Communities: Creating Accountability for Carbon Removal Through Responsible Measurement.  Accurately measuring carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is crucial to responsibly reaching net-negative emissions. Even though there are currently no standardized ways of calculating carbon dioxide removals, governments and private companies have been making voluntary purchases of CDR project credits and using a range of methods for measuring them. Go HERE.  

Tuesday February 25, 6-7:30pm. You're Invited to DCR’s Pittsfield Complex Resource Management Plan Public Meeting. The public can register for this meeting by following this link. If there are any questions or concern, please email mass.parks@mass.gov.   

Monday February 24, 7pm via Zoom. Climate Action Now Monthly Gathering.  Register here  Let’s come together in this time of political chaos and the assault on our democracy to prepare for strategic, collective action. Panel with powerful speakers. Time for conversation & Connection with local and national groups.  Resources for individual and collective action 

Tuesday  February  25, 6pm.  Safer Tech Possibilities in Schools: Free Public Education Webinar!  Massachusetts for Safe Technology is honored to collaborate with Colorado's Doe Kelly of Longmont for Safe Tech! Join us to learn about today’s wireless radiation health risks in general, and in particular the harmful exposures in our schools. Go HERE. 

Tuesday February 25, 7-8:15pm. Municipal Reforestation Bill webinar.  Members from the Massachusetts Community Trees Coalition (Marilyn Ray Smith, David Meshoulam, Steven Nutter, and Renée Scott) will talk about what it is, why it's important, and how you can help get it funded! Please register to receive the zoom link. 

Thursday February 27, 7pm. A virtual meeting for the Plastic Turf Group. Please RSVP and complete the questionnaire by February 15th to help streamline the agenda drafting process. As always, agenda items are welcome. For those who have attended our community meetings in the past - An agenda request will require some follow-up and submission of information for the slides we prepare for the meeting. This meeting will cover bills filed for the 194th Massachusetts Legislative Session, as well as Massachusetts community updates. 

Friday February 28, All Day.  National Economic Blackout! Buy only Local. No corporados s, No Amazon, No Target, No Walmart, Nada!  Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non essential spending. Only buy essentials of absolutely necessary (Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies). If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses. Go HERE. 

Sunday March 2, 2-3pm - Quabbin Reservoir and Watershed Protection. Engineering, forestry, wildlife and aquatic biology, carpentry, mowing and snowplowing… how do all of these things combine to protect the water supply of over 3 million people in Massachusetts?    How do they benefit the region around the reservoir?  This presentation from the Visitor Center staff explores how the many different goals of DCR staff all support one goal, Quabbin watershed protection.  Register here: Sunday January 12, 2025 2pm-3pmQuabbin Reservoir and Watershed Protection

Wednesday March 5, 8 – 9pm.  Join us for "Rapid Response for Our Freedoms: Stop Project 2025", a powerful virtual event where we stand united to protect our rights, freedoms, rule of law, and democracy. Are you concerned about the direction our country is headed and the far-right agenda threatening our future? Now is the time to stand up and take action! Your voice and participation are critical in this fight. Go HERE. 

Saturday March 8, 10 am to 4 pm.  Climate Communications Workshop. Do you need support processing your emotions and anxiety about the future of our planet? Are you interested in using social media as a tool for social change? This is a free workshop for everyone who wants to learn how to better speak, write, and/or post about the climate crisis and about the climate activism movement! We invite participants from all backgrounds and walks of life. In this daylong workshop, we will explore our own understanding of the situation in which we find ourselves - as a planet, species, and community. No prior preparation is necessary. A vegan lunch will be provided! We encourage participants to bring a notebook, pen, water bottle, and a mug for tea. Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston St., Boston, MA. 

Wednesday March 12, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.   Wildlands Campaign meeting. We’ll be focusing on the recently filed bills to protect state-owned land as wildlands/reserves. Michael Kellett of Restore: The North Woods and Janet Sinclair of Save Massachusetts Forests, the authors, will explain the bills and offer guidance on how to support their passage. This will be followed by a Q&A.  If you haven’t already, sign up for the Climate Action Now Western Mass newsletter HERE, and the Regenerative Farming, Forests and Food System group (RF3) google group HERE, to stay in the loop on upcoming events, actions, and campaign information. 

That's all folks, except for the reminder to Listen to Your Mother!