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Greetings Earthlings. It's time to return to The River, our beloved Connecticut River still being subjected to all sorts of abuse by FirstLight corporados, even to the point of running her backwards while pumping out all the contents (live or otherwise) at the Northfield Pump Storage facility or, as we often call it here, the Shad-o-matic Fish Blender. Karl Meyer returns to the show to talk about that and the FirstLight 401 Water Quality Certification Application process hearing on Wednesday February 19 at the Cohn Family Dining Commons, Greenfield Community College, One College Drive, Greenfield, MA at 6pm with a Standout at 5pm we hope you'll join. As always, we will also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small, as well as checkout the latest b.s. from His Malignancy The Mad King and his minions and, of course, a reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters! Do Not Step on a Giant Python.
There's a backstory to week's Fool-on-the-Hill: "As the head of the [fake] Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk is exploring major cuts to the Department of Education and.. to shut down USAID.. His team has also been granted access to the Treasury Department’s payments system. But unlike much of the country, some Senate Republicans couldn’t be bothered...One major source of distress among experts is that Musk is rejecting appropriations laws passed by Congress -- in other words, taking authority over funding. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said these actions are indeed unconstitutional, but he is not concerned, saying: “Nobody should bellyache about that. That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense,” Tillis said. But “it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit on where they can spend and where they can stop spending.” How can they "Drain the Swamp" if they "Flood the Zone"??
Speaking of which, His Malignancy and his freak show MAGA minions, they better run for the life jackets 'cuz the "Swamp" is near full. That being the case, how about we take a deep dive into it! Not enough time? Try this short audio from Timothy Snyder, author of "On Tyranny". Who needs public education or ethics when you have full-blown fascism? We are in deep shit folks, but hey this is The Enviro Show, let's just stick to what His Malignancy is doing to the planet, OK? Of course, he'd love to control the weather but let's see what The Mad King is actually doing, like gutting the EPA and halting EV charging stations and Cutting NOAA grants ( on again/off again) dealing with climate and putting more than 160 EPA workers who tackle pollution in overburdened communities on leave or telling more than 1,000 they could be fired ‘immediately’. Also, [freezing] "federal grants for everything from battery factories to electric school buses and issued executive orders that have halted federal approvals for wind and solar projects." Wait, did we forget "Drill, Baby Drill"? Yes, there's more but this linkfest is getting out of hand. But wait, there's more! A "A video from a [Donald T, Jr.] ...hunting trip reportedly shows him posing with the lifeless body of the rare ruddy Shelduck bird, in violation of Italian and EU laws that criminally prohibit its killing. Yet Trump Jr., an avid trophy hunter, treated its death as nothing more than a spectacle". Spectacle indeed. This is what you get when a B level psycho game show host and convicted felon scams his way into high places. Enough.
Ready for our Doublespeak of the Week? "Reporting on the rally, Newsweek noted that "Trump has pushed back on the narrative that the popular [Social Security] benefits will be slashed, saying when asked if there are limits on what Musk can examine, 'Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened.'" We hope that's not doublespeak but......
Once again it's time to remind everyone "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" It seems like some leader types didn't get the memo: "Nearly 200 nations faced a Monday deadline to file what the United Nations’ climate chief calls 'among the most important policy documents governments will produce this century' — their plans on how they will cut emissions of heat-trapping gasses. Most will not make the deadline. The UN says that is OK as long as they are working on them." 😏 The NY Times reports: "The first full draft of the assessment, on the state of America’s land, water and wildlife, was weeks from completion....But [the] President ended the effort, started under the Biden administration, by executive order. So, on Jan. 30, the project’s director, an environmental scientist named Phil Levin, sent an email telling members of his team that their work had been discontinued. But it wasn’t the only email he sent that day. 'This work is too important to die,' Dr. Levin wrote in a separate email to the reports’ authors, this one from his personal account. “The country needs what we are producing.” Thankfully, some push back. Some more good news, "Major Victory: Procter & Gamble has CUT TIES with a palm oil supplier responsible for illegal land grabbing, deforestation, and human rights abuses....For years, P&G has manufactured consumer goods using palm oil sourced from Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) – an Indonesian company infamous for covering up its rampant land grabbing, environmental destruction, and human rights abuses." Friends of the Earth goes on to report, "This is a massive blow to AAL’s business model that will force them to reconsider their destructive actions – and it’s the DIRECT result of our Forest Defense Team and support from members like you."
On to "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" where the Fossil Fools have a distinct advantage: "The Senate confirmed Chris Wright to lead the U.S. Department of Energy on Monday, putting the former oil executive in a key position to help shape [the] President's energy policies. Mr. Wright [is] the founder and chief executive of Liberty Energy, a fracking firm..At his confirmation hearing, Mr. Wright said his top priority was to “unleash” domestic energy production, including liquefied natural gas and nuclear power... Mr. Wright said he would “work tirelessly” to support Mr. Trump’s “bold” energy agenda." Another dinosaur advocating for extinction!
Our Critter of the Week finds bunnies back from the brink in Mexico: "If we're being honest, the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus insonus)
is not much to look at. It's a fairly conventional bunny: long ears,
strong hind legs, short tail, a little chubby. Except that this
particular rabbit had not been seen by scientists for more than 120
years – until now.
A five-year-long expedition led by José Alberto Almazán-Catalán... turned up conclusive camera-trap evidence that
the elusive lagomorphs are still hiding out in the conifer forests of
Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sur mountains."
Our Enviro Show Echo Chamber replays much of what our guest, Karl Meyer will be talking about, FirstLight 401 Water Quality Certification Application process hearing on Wednesday February 19 at the Cohn Family Dining Commons, Greenfield Community College, One College Drive, Greenfield, MA at 6pm with a special Standout at 5pm. We'll be there. You? And this, some of the best writing out there about the present Moral Panic comes from Jessica Wildfire. Finally this: "As Congress moves to “fast track” large-scale budget proposals, they are looking to take food assistance and health care from millions via cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in order to fund Trump’s tax cuts for the rich as well as his mass deportation program." Stand Up/Fight Back!
Let's close with an apt Enviro Show Quote of the Week:
"Right now, the current administration is operating in outright defiance of our federal courts and declaring them powerless. By all marks, we’ve entered the early stages of full-blown fascism. And if there’s one thing we know about fascism, it’s that wars on the vulnerable keep them fired up. You’re already seeing so many pundits and opinion columnists scratching their heads, wondering how we got here. When you look at the history of this country, there’s not much of a difference between 17th-century puritanical America and fascism. We didn’t “get” anywhere. We were always like this."
- Jessica Wildfire
After our talk with Karl 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@
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.
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!
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, 10am. Care, Not Cuts Rally. Massachusetts State House Steps•24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133 US. Join patients, families, and workers at the State House to tell elected officials that you: OPPOSE closing Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. OPPOSE closing Pocasset Mental Health Center. OPPOSE reducing DMH Case Managers by 50%. OPPOSE raising healthcare costs for state workers and retirees. Following the rally, we will head into the State House to meet with legislators. Go HERE.
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. The forests going under the chainsaw include: Ashmere Lake State Park; Balance Rock State Park; Bates Memorial State Park; Bryant Mountain State Forest; Gilbert A. Bliss State Forest; Middlefield State Forest; October Mountain State Forest; Peru State Forest; Pittsfield State Forest (including South Mountain/West Region HQ); Richmond State Forest; Wahconah Falls State Park; and Worthington State Forest.
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.
Wednesday February 26, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy will host a public
lecture, “UMass to Sunrise: Building the Youth-Led Movement for Climate
Justice,” with its 2025 activist-in-residence, Varshini Prakash in the Old Chapel at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. As part of her residency, Prakash will be on campus February 24-28, and
will visit with departments and classes, hold office hours, and lead a
workshop for student activists. Her public lecture will offer insights
on building the climate justice movement and responding to the current
political moment.
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. Email:
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
Monday March 3, Noon. MBTA & Climate. In September 2024, the MBTA released its Climate Assessment, taking stock of its climate commitments and work undertaken to date and articulating a vision for sustainability and resilience at the MBTA. The report identifies next steps for the Authority as it prepares the regional transit system to be sustainable and resilient in the face of escalating climate change while also playing a critical role in helping local municipalities and the Commonwealth in meeting climate goals by providing reliable low-carbon public transportation. The MBTA, like other transit authorities across the state, is also working to balance climate, safety, accessibility and other goals within significant funding constraints. 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.
Tuesday March 11, 6pm. You are invited to join ESC for a collaborative art workshop with eco-artist Xavier Cortada on March 11th, 2025. This free, interactive virtual art session is part of ESC’s Collaborating for Biodiversity
project, a call to youth artists grades K-12 to submit collaboratively
created artworks featuring US wildlife and plants protected by the
Endangered Species Act.
Go HERE.
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.
Sunday March 16, 2pm. Make Polluters Pay. MA. Coming soon…save the date! #makepolluterspay
OK, Enviro Show listeners we'll see you tomorrow at GCC & remember to listen to your Mother!
