Greetings Earthlings. Not long ago a fascinating video came our way titled "Old Growth Forests - Nature's Biotic Water Pump" that informed us in great detail yet another reason to protect, preserve and enable old-growth forests to flourish. One of the presenters, Anastassia Makarieva, theorist at the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute in Russia, joins us for the interview. As always our Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small join us as well.....briefly, thankfully, and more but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters! Please don't kiss the......lions?
We have another Fool-on-the-Hill showing by Repugnican Speaker of the House and known insurrectionist, Mike Johnson. Daily Kos notes: "Johnson, who boasts of having practiced “constitutional law” for two decades, had nowhere to run to when asked to explain Fourth Amendment protections if an [ ICE ] goon tries to enter someone’s home. “So when ICE goes to execute a warrant, it's an administrative warrant and it's issued by an immigration judge, and that is a sufficient, legal authority to go and apprehend someone,” he said. “They have violated the law. They crossed over our border illegally and they're here and without any right to be here. Okay, that's what's happening.” The piece goes on: "The ACLU has noted, the administrative warrant that Johnson is hiding behind does not actually grant ICE agents the authority to enter a person’s home. Continuing, Johnson attempted to portray Democrats’ insistence on judicial warrants as some novel legal invention." We call it the U.S. Constitution.
Our Doublespeak of the Week is....well, official? It's plainly written in whitewash nationalism on the White House website where truth goes to die: "We are Restoring Truth & Sanity to American History." Except for brainwashed MAGA, everyone knows neither truth nor sanity no longer exist anywhere near 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It's an Orwellian fever dream with that lot and our nation is threatened by it every day. Orwell would be pleased.
Here's yet another of His Malignancy's Agencies up for "Their Brains Were small and They Died" segment. It's fitting, given that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency partly concerns the protection of reptiles and have behaved themselves like dinosaurs ever since The Mad King (#NoKings) appointed Lee Zeldin to head this agency. The GMO/Toxin Free USA Team informed us recently: "The EPA was created by Congress with the mission to protect human health and the environment. But is the EPA really protecting you, or is it protecting chemical industry profits? A new deep-dive reveals that the "Revolving Door" has swung wide open in 2025. In an unprecedented move, all of the EPA’s top management positions were filled with former lobbyists and lawyers from the very industries they are supposed to regulate." Surprise! It's even worse than the EPA during the George W. Bush era. Here's a Sierra Club Action Link. Recall our recent post about the rule finalized by the EPA rescinds the endangerment finding that determined carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare? Another GIANT step backwards for MAGA, but wait, there's more. Remember Obama's "clean coal"? "The White House ordered the Pentagon to keep burning “Beautiful Clean Coal.” Yes, the White House official website calls it “Beautiful Clean Coal.”
Speaking of those corporate dinos, we never stop reminding them that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Recently they've been exposed in Climate Obstruction: A Global Assessment" a new book from Brown University’s global Climate Social Science Network, for which a team of more than 100 scholars explored who’s blocking action on climate change and how they’re doing it." Guess who! Glen's reading it as we speak so he's probably got a lot to say on this one. Stay tuned. Unfortunately, Project 2025 and assorted MAGA minions have trashed U.S. climate goals and programs with some success, according to the New York Times. More on that next time.
Yes, His Malignancy and his malignant narcissism are all about obstruction and not just regarding the climate emergency. Every day it becomes more clear how much he's trying to obstruct upcoming elections. His creepy minions in congress are already working it with the so-called SAVE Act, yet another piece of Orwellian doublespeak to allegedly “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility”. The reality is The Mad King and the Repugs just want to save their own ass from the inevitable, the vast majority of U.S. citizens despise them and will vote them out of office. Please push back HERE. Recently, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) outlined a plan to stop Trump in case he tries to follow through on his threat to “nationalize the vote” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections or if he tried to enact ally Steve Bannon’s proposal to “surround the polls” with ICE agents." Of course, during all this obstruction His Malignancy has been at work on corruption, too, enriching himself and others at the nation's expense. One recent report notes: Trump and his two elder sons sued the IRS and the Treasury Department for $10 billion in damages for the leak of his tax returns to The New York Times in 2020, which showed that in two recent years, he had paid just $750 in federal taxes. That's just one strange example. Here are way more.
Before you run off screaming, pulling your hair and gnashing your teeth, we have more good Breaking News! "America’s forests are storing more carbon than they have in decades" For the past two decades, U.S. forests have been soaking up carbon at a rate rarely seen in modern history. That surge has quietly turned forests into one of the country’s most important climate allies. A new analysis shows the increase isn’t driven by a single cause. Instead, it reflects a blend of shifting climate conditions and human decisions about how forests are managed, harvested, or left alone. By digging into national forest inventory data, researchers at Ohio State University worked to distinguish carbon gains that likely occurred naturally from those more directly tied to land-use and management choices. “Identifying and separating these influences hasn’t really been done before,” said co-author Brent Sohngen. “With this data, the U.S. can be much more explicit about its carbon accounting.” Click on the link to learn more.
Our Critter of the Week is actually Critters of the Week and news about the challenges they face during very cold winters like the one we're experiencing this year in the Northeast. That old expression "You learn something new everyday" isn't all that true but d.o. actually did learn something from a social media post that put him into research mode and sure enough it was true. Do Not feed bunnies (and other such critters) old veggie scraps in winter because their digestive systems are set for survival where they can only digest bark, grasses, twigs, buds and other such woodland materials. All those veggie peelings and spoiled carrots can actually kill them. Presumably, this applies to other woodland critters like raccoons, possum & porcupine as well. With this in mind, it's best to have secure compost containers if you compost food scraps at your home.
We have a brand new sometimes segment this week on The Enviro Show we call "Who left the door open". This is where we find some of the worst of the worst who don't fit elsewhere on the page. It doesn't have to be a life form either in order to qualify. For instance this week's candidate is AI. Whomever came up with this needs to #StopBrainPollution and get a life. Recently d.o. encountered two examples of videos on YouTube with high-profile political commentators rattling on about "breaking news scandals". At first, he was rattled but then noticed something was off. It was AI "slop". Reality is under siege. YouTube needs to clean up its act. 😠BTW, "ChatGPT is said to be His Malignancy's "number one donor"?
OK, enough is enough, it's about time for our Quote of the Week:
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength
that will endure as long as life lasts ...There is something infinitely
healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn
comes after night, and spring after winter.”
—Rachel Carson
After our conversation with Anastassia we head to the Bus Stop Billboard:
First Here's Indivisible Northampton — Swing Left Western Mass's complete daily listing of all the pro-democracy events in WMass: https://in-slwm.org/wp-content/uploads/Calendar/cal.html. If you're looking for an easy weekday way to jump into the climate movement, you'll love the State House Stand Out! We gather at the Massachusetts State House in Boston between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers stand together for 2-hour "shifts," either outside or inside depending on weather, and talk with visitors and State House staff about the Climate Crisis.
Saturday February 14, 11:30am. This Valentine’s Day, in Boston in the name of all we love, we are breaking up with the toxic banks who have set our world on a course of destruction, telling them to Stop Melting the Wrong ICE! Citizens Bank is the major funder of I.C.E. private prisons. JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America are the two major investors in fossil fuels and both broke their climate commitments just before Trump’s second inauguration. We will be holding two events simultaneously, one in Harvard Square and one in Jamaica Plain. In Harvard Square we will meet at Bank of America then march to Chase and Citizens Banks, where we will read breakup letters, pass out flyers, and blast breakup songs. Please RSVP and invite your friends, neighbors and family to join.
Thursday February 19, 6:30pm
Greening Greenfield presents “What Can We Learn from Beavers?” A talk
by Professor Christine Hatch at 2nd Congregational Church, Court Square,
Greenfield, MA
Wednesday February 25, 6:30 to 8:30pm.
STEADY IN THE STORM - Invitation to a workshop on Affinity Groups
(AGs). Create structures and relationships to build the future and fend
off fascism! Come for a discussion among experienced AG members, those
who are curious about them, and those who want to form one. Co-sponsored
by Indivisible
West Quabbin and the Rabbit Run Responders affinity
group of New Salem. Several brief readings will be provided before the
event. Pre-Registration Link HERE.
Saturday February 28, 2:30pm.
Heading for Extinction Talk (Robbins Library, 700 Massachusetts Ave.,
Arlington, MA): This is an Emergency. Scientists say we have entered a
period of abrupt climate and ecological breakdown. We have very little
time to avoid societal collapse. In our Heading for Extinction Talk,
members of XR will share the science, explore how governments and
corporations are lying to us, and invite you to join the movement and
help turn the tide. Humanity needs you! The talk will begin at 2:30 pm
and lasts approximately 1 hour. It's interactive! There will be time for
questions and discussion.
February 5 – March 26, 2026.
How Trees & Forests Shape Our Climate, an eight-week, science-based
course that explores how intact forests regulate climate through water
cycles, biodiversity, and living ecosystem processes, while challenging
the persistent myths driving unnecessary forest destruction. Entry fee.
Go HERE.
Thursday February 5, Noon.
"Tree Committees & Urban Forestry – Making Collaboration Work".
Tree committees are a common platform for volunteers and professionals
to share expertise and guidance on local urban forest management. Join
Connecticut’s Urban Forestry Coordinator, Dr. Danica Doroski, as she
draws from research and practice to inform these important
collaborations. To attend live on 2/05/26 @ Noon (Eastern) and receive
an ISA/0.5 MCA CEU at no cost, click here or visit www.joinwebinar.com
& enter 719-727-803 (Space will be limited – all attendees should
be prepared to join the live broadcast promptly)
Saturday February 7, 2 to 4pm.
In Person Indivisigather! Come together with like-minded others to
learn more about IN-SLWM - what we've been up to , what our plans are
for this crucial upcoming year, and how YOU can get (even more?)
involved! We'll have yummy refreshments, time to schmooze, time to take
action and maybe even some swag and games! And, help grow the
resistance by bringing a friend - or two! Go HERE.
Monday February 9, 7pm.
Growing Climate Resilience: The Charles River Regional Tree Planting
& Protection Plan Virtual via Zoom. Join our webinar to learn about
CRWA's 2025 Regional Tree Planting & Protection Plan for the Charles
River watershed, highlighting the recommendations for communities to
protect, maintain, and grow our tree canopy.
Tuesday February 17, All Day.
National Day of Direct Action. FLARE and Citizens’ Impeachment are
teaming up for a national day of action. Where Your representative’s
office. “On February 17th, 2026, we will hold organized meetings with
congressional offices in their home districts. This is an opportunity to
show directly to their face that their constituents demand better. We
will not be satisfied with empty promises. We want leaders who will
honor their oath and do their job: Defending the Constitution by
impeaching Donald Trump.” Website: citizensimpeachment.com
Wednesday, February 18, 6 to 7 pm. Please save the date for a Zoom meeting to discuss updates related to this last round of MA solar and regulations and guidelines, and how things are going in our towns. Also there are bills in the legislature that would help us a lot and you can support them. As we have done in the past, we will compile a list of ideas for your written comments, and will send that out to you before the March 13th deadline.
Sunday February 22, 2pm:
In Conversation with Chuck Collins about his new book: Burned by
Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Are Ruining Our Lives
and Planet (published Oct 2025) & implications for the fight to stop
the proposed private jet expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere. Interview by
Diane Proctor, Concord-Carlisle League of Women Voters. At Concord
Public Library, in person & remote. Collins will discuss his book
and how its focus intersects with the proposed private jet expansion at
Hanscom. More details and RSVP form to come soon!
Register for the Feb. 24 session
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 6 – 8 p.m. MA Public Information Sessions (Virtual) The MA Clean Energy Siting & Permitting team will hold two virtual information sessions to review the draft guidelines and answer questions.
Register for the Feb. 25 session
Wednesday March 4, 7pm: SPJE Webinar with Dr. William Moomaw on how trees are critical to biodiversity and carbon sequestration & implications for the proposed private jet expansion at Hanscom and its 20 acres of threatened trees. More details and RSVP form to come soon!
Friday, March 6, 12 - 1 p.m. Massachusetts Advanced Nuclear and Fusion Energy Roadmap is entering
its next phase. [See. Above ] Preliminary Findings Webinar #2 Register HERE.
Sunday March 8, 12 to 3pm. Tesla Takedown Boston. Massachusetts State House • 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133. On March 8th, we're coming together to celebrate 1 year of #TeslaTakedown and to let the world's greediest man know that we're here to hold him accountable for the harm he has caused. Elon Musk is destroying democracy around the world, and he's using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it. Tesla shareholders just approved a trillion dollar package for Elon. But whether he gets it is up to all of us. Elon's trillion depends on hitting huge benchmarks. We're coming together at Tesla facilities to make sure he never reaches them. Go HERE.
Monday March 23, 7pm Climate Action Now monthly gathering via Zoom. Climate justice organizing while fighting fascism: From Minneapolis to Manila. Go HERE
Saturday March 28, All Day.
No Kings Day 3 History is on our side. On June 14, 2025, five million
people rose up to say “No Kings.” On October 18, 2025, seven million
more made it unmistakable: America does not do dictators. On March 28,
we rise again — stronger, broader, and more united than ever. Every No
Kings event is rooted in nonviolent action. We de-escalate conflict, act
lawfully, and never bring weapons. When People Power United says
“fight,” we mean fierce advocacy — never violence. Our work is grounded
in peaceful protest, free speech, voting, and collective action to
defend our rights, freedoms, and democracy. Go HERE.
Will you remember to listen to your Mother?
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