The Seeing the Forest for the Trees Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Things are heating up in our neck of the woods and not just with the thermostat. The Massachusetts Department of Cut & Run......er...that is "Conservation" and Recreation is closing in on Wendell State Forest's 80 acres of 100+ year old Red Oak trees and forest protectors are gearing up for it while supporting tree friendly legislation like HR. 897 An Act Relative to Forest Protection. Groups like The Wendell State Forest Alliance continue to spread the message far and wide that Trees, forest soils and, we might add, regenerative farming are the only natural defense we have in our region to confront the Climate Crisis; some understand that, some don't. Susan A. Masino, co-author of "Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation MitigatesClimate Change and Serves the Greatest Good" calls in to explain. As usual, we'll also take you for a visit with this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to witness climate criminals like The Mad King and his enablers do everything in their undeserved power to trash the planet. All that and more but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters! Venomous Komodo dragon goes after editor at a Los Angeles Zoo. Is it Fake News??

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is also a fool when he's not on The Hill talking trash. "Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue cited weather patterns and said "it rained yesterday, it's a nice pretty day today" when asked about the cause of the global climate crisis in an interview with CNN. Perdue told CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich in the interview... that "we don't know" the cause of climate change, adding, "and obviously scientists -- many scientists believe that it's human caused, other scientists believe it's not," according to a recent CNN story.

On to His Malignancy The Mad King who has come up with a plan that would leave the
public with no role in more than 90 percent of the decisions made for our national forests. This is a clear violation of the public trust and of major laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, and it's designed to ramp up clearcutting and bulldozing of millions of acres in national forests.
Also His Malignancy has a replacement rule for a clean power plan tailored to please the fossil fuel industry. Inside Climate News reports, "The replacement, called the "Affordable Clean Energy Rule," would take the narrow approach of encouraging efficiency improvements in existing power plants, giving states leeway to implement the requirements based on only a few technologies. States would not be permitted to use the rule to force power plants to switch from coal to natural gas or renewable energy sources or to use carbon capture technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even though these are the only technologies that promise significant cuts in carbon. Nor could they use it to impose emissions trading." Of course, the flip side of giving ol' King Coal a free pass is proposing budget cuts for actual clean energy research. He's got a plan for that!   And this: The Mad King's NAFTA 2.0 (pdf) is a deregulatory gift to the fossil fools and bad news for any Green New Deal even after he's exiled! Wouldn't you love to read the emails and backroom minutes that lead up to that deal? Sorry! New language in the FOIA rule signed by EPA chief Andrew Wheeler  would allow him and his minions to review all materials that fit Freedom of Information request criteria, and decide whether to release or withhold any record, so in other words, no. And, moving on to the theme of this show, "The U.S Forest Service unveiled a new plan to skirt a major environmental law that requires extensive review for new logging, road building, and mining projects on its nearly 200 million acres of public land." That, courtesy of this week's Fool, another of His Malignancy's climate criminals.

OK everyone, did you get the memo? It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!  (not YOU of course). Apparently President Bolsonaro didn't get it, or perhaps used it for target practice 'cuz it's just been reported that 740 square kilometers of rain forest were clearcut in 30 days.  We don't have rainforests here in the northeast U.S. but we sure have a lot of forests that damaged humans like Bolsonaro would love to empty out while filling up their bank accounts. Meanwhile it was 84 degrees near the Arctic Ocean last month as CO2 hit the highest levels in human history and "Climate change is “eating” the glaciers of the Himalayas, posing a grave threat to hundreds of millions of people who live downstream, a study based on 40 years of satellite data has shown." In case you thought climate chaos was a thing in the distant future maybe you should check this out!  And kudo to presidential candidate Kamala Harris for calling it what it is in the Dem debates: the Climate Crisis. Finally, did you know "Logging is the Lead Driver in Carbon Emissions in U.S. Forests"? Now you do!

After our conversation with Susan we take you to the Bus Stop Billboard:

4PM – 5PM Every Thursday. Weekly climate action protest inspired by Greta Thunberg. Since the federal government is incapable of doing anything we’re pressuring the Commonwealth and the Legislature for a Massachusetts Green New Deal. THE ASK: A 40%-50% reduction in emissions by 2030, and completely carbon-neutral by 2050 to help limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
» Facebook Info and Location Details  #MassGreenNewDeal     #SitWithJohn     @johnflerner on Twitter


 Monday, July 8, 2019 at 6:30-8:30pm.  350 Central Mass Action Planning.  First Unitarian Church of Worcester, 90 Main St, Worcester, Massachusetts 01608. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/2277136405688917/


Thursday July 18, 7pm.  Extinction Rebellion (XR) meets at Herter Hall, UMass. The meetings are first Monday and third Thursday, at Herter Hall, for now. Go in the front door and look for people or signs.  Go to: https://xrmass.org/west/ 


Saturdays July 13,  20, and 27, 9am to Noon. Help stop pipelines in Hampden County by circulating this petition bit.ly/HGEpetition  to people who live in Holyoke & Southampton.  Read more from PLAN Northeast   


 Monday July 22, 7 to 9pm. Climate Action Now WMass Monthly Meeting. Unitarian Meetinghouse on N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org 


Sunday, July 28, 1 – 5pm.  WMass Extinction Rebellion  Potluck Picnic. Join us for an afternoon of regeneration and relationship building! All are welcome, even if you're new to the movement.  If you're able to bring picnic food to contribute, leave a comment below with what you're thinking of (fruit? side? dessert? chips?) so we can all plan. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/2312450552407006/  

That's all, folks! Remember to wear white when your out at night on your bike AND to listen to your Mother, OK?

A Cool Summer Solstice Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Another Summer Solstice draws near, are you ready? The Good Green Witch calls in to find out. Also, we guess you are cool with finding ways to combat the Climate crisis, yes? Kurt Shickman, Executive Director of Global Cool Cities gets in touch with us about other ways to cool it besides protecting and preserving forests. Got it?As always we'll also take you for a visit with this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to witness His Malignancy The Mad King and his enablers tear this nation apart, as well as to remind you.....wait, not YOU but those who have been focused on racking up selfies and shopping for the latest that....It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid! But first it's time for..............Revenge of the Critters! This Deer turned the tables on a French hunting party.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Repugnican congressman Doug LaMalfa of Redding, CA ranking member of the House Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee who cosponsored the euphemistically titled "Emergency Forest Restoration Act" to loosen environmental regulations on our national forests. LaMalfa also sits on the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where he does what he can to trash the planet. "I think there's a lot of bad science behind what people are calling global warming," LaMalfa said at a public meeting in 2017. What can we say?

Another national action calling for His Malignancy's impeachment is upon us so we may as well add this one to the growing list of reasons why: "Trump's War on Science Is Grounds to Impeach". The article in Common Dreams notes: "Trump and his administration are slashing common-sense regulations and censoring science to enrich their fossil fuel industry backers, exposing the country and the whole world to potentially catastrophic consequences. They are literally willing to endanger human lives and the very future of humanity for corporate profit." And,as part of The Mad King's War on Science his enablers barred a State Department intelligence agency from submitting written testimony to the House Intelligence Committee stating that human-caused climate change is “possibly catastrophic.” Wait, it doesn't take much intelligence to know that! Meanwhile, if you're planning any pipeline protests anytime soon you should know His Malignancy is proposing pipeline protesters to face up to 20 years in prison for disrupting the construction of fossil fool infrastructure. And this: The Mad King's court also proposed earlier this month to "exempt many new genetically engineered crops from regulation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under a broad overhaul of biotechnology rules". Finally, remember on the last show we passed some "Freedom Gas" your way? It seems some naysayers are claiming all that fracked fuel is actually "Failure Gas"! 

We guess no one needs to tell Massachusetts Senator Liz Warren that It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid! Her campaign for Prez "released its most comprehensive climate plan yet, a $2 trillion package that commits the federal government to spend $150 billion a year over the next decade on low-carbon technology, increases energy research funding tenfold, and funds a $100 billion Green Marshall Plan to aid the poorer countries projected to suffer the worst as global temperatures rise". So, the heat is on and the folks at Grist tell us: "One of the deadliest threats posed by the climate crisis is extreme heat. It kills more Americans every year than any other weather-related event. When your body can no longer regulate its core temperature, the result can be heat exhaustion, stroke, heart attack, or a range of other health problems that have the potential to bring about an untimely end." The piece points toward a new study that points out "a clear need to strengthen mitigation ambition to stabilize the climate at the Paris Agreement goal of warming of less than 2°C."  Of course, the opposite of possible solutions to climate chaos is contributions to it and that's what Brazil's Mad King is doing. It seems President Bolsonaro is intent on decriminalizing Amazon deforestation, ending fines for illegal logging, straitjacketing law enforcement, and gutting environmental agencies with mass firings. Sound familiar?

Time for The Enviro Show Quote of the Week:   "There's really good research showing that allergy seasons are getting more severe, and more people are developing allergies, because of climate change," said Dr. John Costa, Medical director of the Allergy Clinic at Brigham and Women's  Hospital.  

 


  
 

That's it for now. Please remember to listen to you Mother!
 

The Extinction Rebellion Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Have you heard about the Extinction Rebellion?  They've been storming the UK & the EU for awhile and now that storm is crossing the Atlantic. Tagged as XR it is taking root right here in the Commonwealth and closer to home right in the WMass. Our man At XR, Peter joins us in the studio for the conversation and John Burkhardt calls in from Boston about XR in MA & the USA. As usual we will also take you to poke fun of this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and, naturally, His Malignancy The Mad King and his creepy enablers. And, if time allows, we'll remind anyone not paying attention that it's the Climate Crisis, Stupid! (we hope Faux "News" fans are listening!). All that and more, but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Last summer in New Hampshire a Black Bear stopped by this woman's house for a snack.

We have another twofer for the week's Fool-on-the-Hill. They are bi-partisan fools who, like many here on Beacon Hill, think they can pass off wood biomass as "clean renewable" energy. Here's the drill from the TV machine: "Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday they said would allow the use of biomass from certain federal lands needing ecological restoration in the making of renewable fuels to promote healthier forests, more carbon sequestration, cleaner transportation fuels and strong protections for old-growth forests." [insert hysterical laughter here]

On to His Malignancy The Mad King who apparently is on to something we thought went out with Darth Cheney and that tired old "Tea Party". Remember Freedom Fries in the Congressional dinning hall? Now we have "Freedom Gas". It seems His Malignancy's Secretary of Energy, the slow-on-the-uptake Rick Perry, the next critical export from the U.S. is made from “molecules of U.S. Freedom.” We guess they're referring to their freedom to destroy the climate and the lives of future generations? O right, and their perceived freedom to "Harden [their] Attack on Climate Science"? According to the New York Times: "..parts of the federal government will no longer fulfill what scientists say is one of the most urgent jobs of climate science studies: reporting on the future effects of a rapidly warming planet and presenting a picture of what the earth could look like by the end of the century if the global economy continues to emit heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution from burning fossil fuels."  Sadly, it's not just the present occupants in the White House muzzling scientists, it's also the policy here in the Commonwealth at the Governor's Mansion! Here's a headline that says it all, we'll even use The Mad King's chosen surname: "Impeachment Will Succeed If It Demonstrates Very PubliclyThat Trump Is a Tyrant Unfit for Office and GOP Lawmakers Are His Enablers".  

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Did we mention It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!? Even if we did we are happy to report "As Millions March to Demand Climate Action, Research Reveals Protests Make People More Optimistic About Effecting Change".  Experts agree dear listeners, let's get out in the streets, say with the Extinction Rebellion! Did you get the recent memo yet on the Climate Crisis? We hit CO2 levels at 415ppm. Grist tells us: "leaked internal documents from Exxon Mobil reveal that the oil and gas giant has seen this emissions landmark coming since 1982".  Funny, we don't recall those corporados saying anything about THAT?  

Time for The Enviro Show Quote of the Week:

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“Change or be changed, right? And what we mean by that is that climate change, if we don't change course, if we don't change our political and economic system, is going to change everything about our physical world.”

                                                                                                            - Naomi Klein

After our talk with Peter and John we take you to our Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday June 14, 4 to 8pm. Personal Change Through Climate Change. An evening of presentations and discussion on personal impacts of climate change and motivations for environmental activism, with host and moderator Kathy Campbell of the Amherst League of Women Voters. Tabling by local environmental groups, green energy providers and agencies. Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut St Ste 1, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/427015168091979/ 


Saturday June 15, 2pm. Impeachment Day of Action! Donald The Mad King's abuses of our communities and country demand action from Congress, which has the responsibility and authority to hold Trump accountable. It's time for the House to begin impeachment so we can have the full, public inquiry that we deserve. Go to: https://act.moveon.org/event/impeachment-day-of-action-events/124925/attend/

Saturday, June 15, 7pm. Screening & Panel for "Power Struggle". 118 Elliot,118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT. Power Struggle is a feature-length documentary chronicling a successful grassroots citizens’ effort to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor in Vermont, directed by long-time Pioneer Valley filmmaker Robbie Leppzer.  A timely, inspiring story of democracy in action; about whether citizens’ voices will be heard against big moneyed interests, and what people are doing locally right now to make a difference for a sustainable energy future. 


Saturday, June 15, 7:30 – 8:30pm. Passion for the Planet performance.  “A Passion for the Planet,” is a major work for chorus, children's chorus, soloists and chamber orchestra by noted local composer Geoffrey Hudson. This powerful and moving composition draws its texts from religion, poetry, science and philosophy to express the emotions inspired by climate change. Under the baton of Tony Thornton, Illuminati Vocal Arts will be joined by singers from other local choirs and the Young People’s Chorus, and even by the audience, which will be invited to join in singing the final chorale. These collaborations are intended to mirror our common love for the earth and our concern for preserving the life it supports.  Smith Sage HallSmith College, Music Department, Sage Hall 144 Green Street Northampton, MA.  Go to: http://illuminatiensemble.org/


 Thursday June 20, 5 to 9pm. Greening Greenfield and Friends of Reusable Bags (formerly Rights of Nature) are having a benefit at the People's Pint on Federal St. in Greenfield, MA




Monday June 24, 7 to 9pm. Climate action Now! MA monthly meeting. First Churches, 129 Main St.  (enter side door), Northampton, MA. Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org/  

We are heading out now. Please remember to listen to your Mother, OK?

Nature's Dangerous Decline Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. The news last week concerning the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Global Assessment was grim but nothing all that surprising to Enviro Show listeners. It was back in 2014 when we had Elizabeth Kolbert on the show talking about her book "The Sixth Extinction". Of course, the news hasn't improved 5 years on. The IPBES informs us “The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever. We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.” Kierán Suckling, Executive Director and co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity returns to the show to delve into that disaster and more. As always, we will bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to witness the latest outrages from His Malignancy The Mad King and his creepy enablers, but first it's time for...........Revenge of the Critters! Gustave the very hungry.....Croc!

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill was one of last March's Fools too. Yes, it's Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) who said at a news conference held with other GOP House members in Washington: “For many people who live in the West, but also in rural and urban areas, the ideas behind the Green New Deal are tantamount to genocide......That may be an overstatement, but not by a whole lot.” Given all the genocide that went down at the hands of the cowboys' ancestors out West, we guess their offspring are a bit confused about oppression? 

How about His Malignancy The Mad King? Is he a piece of work or what?? Checkout this: “[The Mad King's] not just a problem because of his policies in Washington. He’s a problem because his buildings are among the biggest polluters in New York City,” said NYC Mayor de Blasio, who has confronted the president time and again over issues ranging from global warming to immigration. We love New York. Grist goes on to point out His Malignancy "has often undermined the science of global warming, including reports issued by his own administration. He’s also said he intends to take the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement — a promise House Democrats symbolically attempted to block by passing a doomed pro-climate bill earlier this month." And now this from The Center for Biological Diversity: "The Center filed four lawsuits against multiple federal agencies for failing to release a trove of documents on regulating dangerous pesticides, especially as they relate to endangered species.'While the Trump appointees running these agencies scurry to do the bidding of the pesticide industry, endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox are heading toward extinction,' said the Center's Lori Ann Burd. 'You can bet that when we finally get these documents, they'll reveal exactly why Team Trump worked so feverishly to hide them from public view' ." Don't forget His Malignancy's not-so hidden plan to remove gray wolves in the Lower 48 states from federal Endangered Species Act protections. And The only jaguar thought to exist in the U.S. lives right where The  Mad King's administration just approved a new copper mine. Truth be told, His Malignancy is working "to dismantle the most powerful legal tool we have for protecting imperiled wildlife in the United States: the Endangered Species Act. The rollbacks, first proposed by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt last summer, would weaken protections that shield the biodiversity the report warns is critical to the survival of all life on earth"

Finally, how about a Quote of the week in keeping with te theme of this show: 

"No matter what we call it, poison is still poison, death is still death, and industrial civilization is still causing the greatest mass extinction in the history of the planet."   - Derrick Jensen


O wait, did we mention It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid?  And yet some lawmakers in the Lone Star State seem to think protesting fossil fuel pipelines is "...on par with Attempted Murder"? Whoa! We thought building more fossil fuel infrastructure was on par with attempted murder.  Get it right, Texas!  How about this for another way to confront the Climate Crisis: float a whole lot of non-toxic reflectors in the Beaufort Gyre. That got us thinking about the Cool Roof projects from years back; some of that is still happening.

After we speak with Kieran we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday June 5 , 6:30 to 8:30pm. DOER Hearing on  Biomass Rule Changing. URGENT! Many of us in the clean energy advocacy community are concerned that the proposed changes to these Massachusetts regulations amount to loosening of the definitions for qualifying biomass, and other weakening of restrictions, that will be environmentally detrimental. John J. Duggan Academy Auditorium, 1015 Wilbraham Road,
Springfield, MA 01109 



Saturday, June 1, 9:30am to 12:30pm. Langstroth Bee Fest. A fun and educational community event-it is all about the bees! How to attract them, keep them healthy and give you honey. Activities for kids and adults. New this year-installation of 6 large fiberglass bees in downtown! Second Congo Church, Franklin and Church Streets, Greenfield, MA. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/285311642187149/ 


Wednesday June 12, 6:30 to 8pm. Gardening for Pollinators. 1st Congregational Church, 43 Silver St, Greenfield, MA    Refreshments will be served. This talk is the third in Greening Greenfield’s campaign called, Planting for Pollinators! Let’s build biodiversity and beauty in Greenfield. To find out more about their campaign go to their web site at www.GreeningGreenfieldMA.org or call 774-5667. 


Friday June 14, 4 to 8pm. Personal Change Through Climate Change. An evening of presentations and discussion on personal impacts of climate change and motivations for environmental activism, with host and moderator Kathy Campbell of the Amherst League of Women Voters. Tabling by local environmental groups, green energy providers and agencies. Amherst Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut St Ste 1, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/427015168091979/

That's it for now folks. Remember when you're out there to listen to your Mother!

The 2019 Spring Fund Drive Enviro Show

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Greetings Earthlings. It's that time of year again when the flowers bloom, the critters move about, the pollinators start their work and the trees leaf out. It's also when we hope Enviro Show listeners will help us by shelling out what they can afford to keep us on the air and in The Mad King's hair.....O no, sorry...we meant that metaphorically, of course. We'll take a brief call from Laura Haight again, U.S. Policy Director for the Partnership for Policy Integrity (PPI), to update us on the Gov and his enablers at DOER's "upcoming hearings on prioritizing biomass plants for subsides under the new Clean Peak Energy Standard the state is developing to provide incentives for clean energy supplies during seasonal peak demand periods. In addition, the state offers generous incentives for installing residential and commercial wood heating systems through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. ["Clean biomass??] The forestry industry is vigorously lobbying to extend the program for another ten years" says Dr. Mary Booth of PPI. "We need the public to weigh in on these programs NOW – because bottom line, we all know it’s never been more urgent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect forests, even if the Baker administration doesn’t. Their rule changes will increase forest harvesting, increase CO₂ emissions, and trample on the hard-won science-based agreement that was made in 2012." And, in the studio with us during fund drive week will be Kirstin Beatty, Last Tree Laws Director to talk about electronic pollution and the 5G Crisis. They'll be in Northampton at City Hall at Noon on May 15. Naturally, we'll also find time to ask you to support The Enviro Show and community radio (and please note  you're pledging your support for the show) even as we take you meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to discover the latest sins of His Malignancy The Mad King and his court of creepy climate criminals, but first it's time for...........Revenge of the Critters! Food fight! 

Our latest Fool-on-the-Hill attacked the Green New Deal resolution as an elitist plan he claimed had been created by out-of-touch “rich liberals from New York or California.” Grist goes on to quote: “I think we should not focus on the rich, wealthy elites who will look at this and go ‘I love it, cause I’ve got big money in the bank. Everyone should do this!’” Rep. Sean Duffy (R- Wisconsin) said. “It’s kind of like saying ‘I’ll sign onto the Green New Deal but I’ll take a private jet from D.C. to California — a private jet — or I’ll take my Uber SUV, I won’t take the train, or I’ll go to Davos and fly my private jet,’” he continued.  Fascinating talk coming from the party of the filthy rich, huh? Rep.Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez denounced the overall Republican strategy to portray climate change concerns as an issue of privilege.  “This is not an elitist issue, this is a quality of life issue,” AOC responded, her voice rising in exasperation. “You want to tell people that their concern and their desire for clean air and clean water is elitist? Tell that to the kids in the south Bronx which are suffering from the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country. Tell that to the families in Flint.”

On to His Malignancy The Mad King who appears to be right on the Repugnican playbook's page for trashing the Endangered Species Act. You can bet our guest will have a few things to say about THAT!  His Malignancy also appears to be unleashing a "Fracking Frenzy" on our public lands. Surprise! Not content with destroying public property His Malignancy is working at blowing up parts of your home town by allowing liquid fracked gas by rail. Here comes the Bomb Train, all aboard! We guess Dylan was right when he wrote: "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" and The Mad King's choice to run NOAA, the federal agency in charge of weather forecasting, former CEO of Accuweather Barry Meyers, is the perfect candidate given he "waged a decades-long war on the National Weather Service, often arguing that weather forecasts should mostly be left up to the private sector", according to the Tampa Bay Times. Maybe Barry will privatize the weather! Here's a classic move for His Malignancy: it was announced he planned to visit Crosby, Texas (where a deadly explosion took place last week at an oil industry chemical plant) in order to sign an executive order that would restrict protections against the hazards of fossil fuel infrastructure. Sound about right to you?

Or, does it sound stupid because..........It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid! But don't take our word for it, James Anderson, a Harvard University professor of atmospheric chemistry best known for establishing that chlorofluorocarbons were damaging the Ozone Layer, reported recently the level of carbon now in the atmosphere hasn't been seen in 12 million year and this pollution is rapidly pushing the climate back to its state in the Eocene Epoch, more than 33 million years ago, when there was no ice on either pole. "The chance that there will be any permanent ice left in the Arctic after 2022 is essentially zero.....can we lose 75-80 percent of permanent ice and recover? The answer is no." 


 Time for an Enviro Show Quote of the Week?  Sure thing:

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“There is little in the architecture of a city that is more beautifully designed than a tree.”

                                                              -  Jaime Lerner

There is little in the architecture of a city that is more beautifully designed than a tree. Jaime Lerner
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/jaime_lerner_560358?src=t_tre 

There is little in the architecture of a city that is more beautifully designed than a tree. Jaime Lerner
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/jaime_lerner_560358?src=t_tree

Let's move on to the Bus Stop Billboard where you can find out what to do about it:

Saturday May 25, 1-4pm. No-till, Yes Life! intensive for gardeners and small farmers. Spaces are still available-- contact us soon to sign up! You will leave inspired with can-do skills for several methods that result in rich soil, abundant crops, and low maintenance gardens that mitigate the impact of climate change. That same morning we hold a tour of our site at 10am and all are welcome.


Monday May 27, 7 to 9pm. Monthly Climate Action Now! Gathering. Amherst gatherings take place at the Unitarian Meetinghouse on N. Pleasant St (downtown). Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org/ 

Wednesday May 29, 6:30 to 8:30pm. DOER Hearing on  Biomass Rule Changing. URGENT! Many of us in the clean energy advocacy community are concerned that the proposed changes to these Massachusetts regulations amount to loosening of the definitions for qualifying biomass, and other weakening of restrictions, that will be environmentally detrimental. UMass Center at Springfield, Classroom 14, 1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01115

That's about it EXCEPT for YOUR much appreciated pledge to keep The Enviro Show going and supporting community radio.....O, and remember to listen to your Mother.

 

The Back to the Biomess Enviro Show

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Greetings Earthlings. Perhaps you recall back in those days of yesteryear we used to refer to large-scale wood biomass as the Biomess, yes? That's 'cuz it truly is a mess and this week we are going to focus on it like a solar-powered laser with Laura Haight, U.S. Policy Director for the Partnership for Policy Integrity.  Regular Enviro Show listeners already know how the Gov and his Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) are busy promoting dirty biomass as "renewable energy" but guess what? There's more! We'll get into all that presently, as well as take you to visit this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to poke fun at His Malignancy The Mad King and his enablers. All that and more, but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Another poacher discovers jungle justice.....the hard way. 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL 6th District) who apparently is on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis for some reason. During a recent hearing the fool pointed out, “The fundamental principle in addressing these issues is that you have to fundamentally define the problem,” Palmer said. “If you don’t properly define the problem, then the solutions you come up with are generally going to be off the mark.” We thought the problem was pretty well defined but he went on to disparaged climate science's  “emphasis on anthropomorphic impact.” You know, like Polar Bears constantly talking about needing more ice......right? 

On to the reactionary MAGA zombies and their perceived King! It's official, the Repugnican Senate confirmed David Bernhardt, a former oil lobbyist, as The Mad King's Interior Secretary in a 56-41 vote. Three Democrats — West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, New Mexico’s Martin Heinrich, and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema, (all coal states btw), crossed party lines to vote in Bernhardt’s favor, along with Angus King, an Independent from Maine who may suffer from those long Maine winters; maybe he has coal shipped in from Arizona? Wait, did we mention Bernhardt is already being investigated by his own department's watchdog group? Stay tuned for Bernhardt's first damage reports as Secretary of the Interior. Opps!, our bad, he's already doing damage! Bernhardt pushed a December 2017 legal opinion declaring the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act applies only when companies kill birds intentionally. O, like a Purdue songbird processing plant? Wait......what? Earlier this month His Malignancy signed two executive orders that would put oil pipelines on the fast track to success. These royal decrees are not to be confused with his presidential permit we reported on last time that was aimed at allowing TransCanada to sidestep the courts. And this: Ol' Aesop said “A man is known by the company he keeps” and that truly applies to The Mad King; witness his bromance with the fascist Bolsonaro of Brazil, a presidential climate criminal presently engaged with destroying the Amazon Rainforest. Not-so-great minds think alike! Finally this from The Trust for Public Lands: "Just last month, [His Malignancy] signed legislation to permanently reauthorize America’s best conservation program—the Land and Water Conservation Fund. However, just one day before, the Administration quietly proposed to virtually eliminate the Fund in next year’s federal budget".  Get it?

Did we mention It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!? Sorry, but it is and "What will you say to your grandchildren?" That's a screed we all should read calling for "Deep Transformation". Last time we talked about a natural solution to climate disaster, you know like protecting and preserving forests, right? Here's another piece by George Monbiot that goes into more detail about Rewilding. Time to go to a show! This is your Must See for April.   Now this: Bill H. 853 - amends Massachusetts’ Alternative Portfolio Standard (APS) by removing subsidies for wood-burning heating systems. The APS provides incentives for a wide range of renewable heating technologies, including solar hot water, air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. Wood boilers generate more greenhouse gas emissions, fine particulates (PM 2.5) and other dangerous air pollutants than oil or gas furnaces, yet they are currently eligible for generous clean energy subsidies through the APS and other rate-payer funded programs. H.853 will protect our forests, our climate, and our health by removing subsidies for wood-burning and directing them instead toward truly clean renewable heating options that don’t pollute our environment.  Sponsored by Representative Denise Provost 617-722-2263.  Call giving your support and call your State Rep as well! 

After our discussion with Laura we move over to the Bus Stop Billboard:


 Friday May 3,  10:30 to 11:30am. Massachusetts Youth Climate Strike! Franklin: Greenfield Town Hall, Hampden: Springfield District Court, Hampshire: Northampton City Hall. As part of the global movement, youth from across Massachusetts will be striking on May 3rd to fight for our futures & demand that our lawmakers put an end to climate change. If you care about our future, please consider joining us! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/328996181137698/ 

Saturday May 4, 2 to 3:30pm. Sunrise Amherst Green New Deal Town Hall. Amherst Regional High School (Amherst, Massachusetts),21 Mattoon St, Amherst, MA. We will elevate the stories of people who stand to benefit from the Green New Deal and help everyone understand that the GND isn't about taking away cows or cars; it's about building things up and investing in the American people. We will begin by talking about the impacts of climate change and economic inequality, discuss who is responsible for the crisis, then discuss the Green New Deal -- what’s in it and what it means for our lives and our society, and close out with discussing what it will take to see the Green New Deal into law. This event will be led by young people from Amherst College and Amherst High School

Monday May 6, 6:45 to 8:15pm. Worcester Green New Deal Town Hall. YWCA Board Room• 1 Salem St, Worcester, MA 01608. Join us at this Town Hall to hear leaders in our community share about how the Green New Deal is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime to invest in the American people, and what that looks like for us. Contact Info: Cloude (cloudegazer@gmail.com) or Richard Schultz (schultz.ri@gmail.com)


 Monday May 6, 7 to 9pm.  Vandana Shiva : Northeast Earth Journey. First Churches, 129 Main Street, Northampton, MA. Free admittance to anyone 18 years old or younger. Go to: https://www.nofamass.org/events/vandana-shiva-northeast-earth-journey 


Thursday, May 9, 8:00am-12:00pm.  Pioneer Valley Smart Growth Summit –Gateway City Arts, 92 Race Street, Holyoke. Join us for a summit about how cities and towns in the Pioneer Valley can build stronger communities today in the face of the challenges posed by climate change and inequality. We’ll look at the built (and unbuilt) environment, including land-use and housing, climate adaptation, transportation, public health, and economic development. How can we break down silos to tackle complexity? How can we create a more nurturing and resilient community at the local and regional scale? Use this link to register for the event. View more about the event on Facebook here.


Thursday May 16, 1:00 – 3:00 pm. DOER Hearing on  Biomass Rule Changing. URGENT! Many of us in the clean energy advocacy community are concerned that the proposed changes to these Massachusetts regulations amount to loosening of the definitions for qualifying biomass, and other weakening of restrictions, that will be environmentally detrimental. UMass Amherst Olver Design Building, Room 162, 551 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01003 


 Saturday May 18, 1 to 3:30pm. Day of Remembrance. Join a circle of friends to commemorate the 343rd anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre on May 19, 1676. Native and non-Native people are invited to share. Rain or shine. Good weather, it will take place outdoors in the back of the center. Otherwise, in the Great Hall.  Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/2278596382363478/  

That's all folks! Remember to listen to your Mother, OK?