A Fungus Among Us Enviro Show

[ Listen to the entire show anytime HERE ]
Greetings Earthlings. We are bringing in the New Year with news of yet another invasive species; no it's not the present gold obsessed occupants of the White House but rather invasive golden oyster mushrooms or GOM. A new study finds it "is changing native fungal biodiversity as it invades. GOM has spread rapidly in North America and will continue expanding its range." (unlike MAGA that is losing its range by the day). Aishwarya Veerabahu, lead author of the study joins us to forage the facts. As always, we will also introduce you to our Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were small as well as the ever present reminder that ''It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid'' and more but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Biker vs. Griz

Let's start out the New Year with a herd mentality of elected officials for our "Their Brains Were small And They Died" segment (even though they've yet to die)? It's actually quite easy 'cuz The Center for American Progress has done all the work with "A new CAP analysis  finds that the federal government is rife with officials who deny climate change in leadership positions within the executive branch, presidential Cabinet, and Congress."  Surprise! "These elected officials have also received a total of $51,449,854 in lifetime contributions from the fossil fuel industry. The....administration has created a government built on policies to dismantle climate science and appointed, and the Senate has confirmed climate deniers and skeptics to the Presidential Cabinet.... Even as the total number of members of Congress who overtly deny climate science has declined slightly, this analysis finds that in the current 119th Congress, climate deniers hold 69 percent of leadership positions in Congress, the executive branch, and the Cabinet." We may as well remind them in 2026 that "It's STILL The Climate Crisis, Stupid!"

She's back! This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is repeat offender Congresswoman Lauren Boebert who, in the service of gun-happy ranchers out West, has introduced the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. If "Rep. Lauren Boebert's legislation passes the Senate and becomes law, thousands more wolves will be in the crosshairs. This will open the door to recreational wolf hunting across the Lower 48 -- especially in the Upper Midwest states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin." notes Environmental Action.  Only a fool would up the ante in The War Against Nature. Here's an Enviro Show Action Link.

Our Doublespeak of the Week comes from a podcaster who is on the case: "On September 22, 2025, [the] President signed an executive order “Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization.” A few days later, he issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7) entitled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence,” which alleged without evidence that Antifa was responsible for a wide range of unrelated acts of violence such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk and anti-ICE protests. But as the Brennan Center for Justice explains, both former FBI Director Chris Wray and the Congressional Research Service have determined that Antifa does not exist as a group or an organization..." Actually a vast majority of our fellow citizens are opposed to the rise of fascism......in the Republican Party! BTW, this mentality has spooked Networks like CBS into censoring critical shows like "60 Minutes" and their recent exposure of the CECOT prison camp in El Salvador where ICE has sent innocent people. Thankfully the full show has been leaked HERE. 

 

 

 

 

 Speaking of His Malignancy The Mad King (#NoKings) here's more of the same: "The  administration is about to embark on a massive crackdown on what it describes as a scourge of rampant left-wing “terrorism.” But the US Department of Justice (DOJ) memo ordering the crackdown has critics fearing it will go far beyond punishing those who plan criminal acts and will instead be used to criminalize anyone who expresses opposition to [the] President and his agenda."  The piece goes on to say: "As part of this effort, [AG] Bondi set ...a deadline for all law enforcement agencies to “coordinate delivery” of intelligence files related to “antifa” or “antifa-related activities” to the FBI. The memo identifies those who express “opposition to law and immigration enforcement; extreme views in favor of mass migration and open borders; adherence to radical gender ideology,” as well as “anti-Americanism,” “anti-capitalism,” and “anti-Christianity,” as potential targets for investigation."  Wait! Given the language in the U.S. Constitution isn't it Anti-American to write and act on such a memo?? Looking back on all the damage His Malignancy has done in terms of the Climate Crisis the New York Times and a friend of the show has given us THIS (it's not happy reading, but you can go HERE to push back). 

Our Critter of the Week is just right for this time and space. We could use a little magic these days and the ABC of Birds tells us: "Considered sacred by several Mesoamerican civilizations, the Resplendent Quetzal remains culturally significant to this day. The Resplendent Quetzal likely inspired Quetzalcoatl, the “plumed serpent” god of Mesoamerica. Legend has it that Quetzalcoatl helped create Earth. Rulers and nobility wore headdresses made from this quetzal’s shining green feathers, which symbolically connected them to the god. In some Mesoamerican cultures, it was considered a crime to kill a quetzal, so the plumes were procured by capturing the bird, plucking its long tail feathers, and setting it free. In several Mesoamerican languages, the term for quetzal can also mean “precious” or 'sacred'." The post goes on: "This spectacular species belongs to the trogon family, a group of colorful, fruit-eating birds found in the Americas, Asia, and Africa....The male Resplendent Quetzal is an unforgettable sight, shimmering with metallic greens and blues above and bright red below, and sporting a bristly-looking crest of golden-green feathers. During the breeding season, the male’s upper tail feathers grow into a flowing green train that can reach up to 3 feet long."  You can hear clips of the Quetzal's song HERE.  

 

How about we continue moving into 2026 with more good news?  First off is this study just out showing "Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a major driver of climate change. At the same time, higher CO₂ concentrations can encourage plants to grow faster, which in turn can help slow warming by drawing more carbon out of the air." Too sciencey?  How about   “Billionaires Are Actually Good” - Stephen Colbert feat. Alan Cumming"?  No? Maybe you need this Pep Talk?  Or, we can just stick with good old panel cartoons like THIS or THIS. You know what they say about laughter, right? It is found in our.....

Quote of the Week......

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” 

― Mark Twain  

 

After our conversation with Aishwarya it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Weekly. 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 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. And This: Western Mass General Strike is hosting drop-in sessions on Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hadley Public Library for conversation and networking around general strikes and other forms of economic resistance.  If you would like to get involved in organizing prior to that, contact us at wmgeneralstrike@proton.me. And This: Every Wednesday, 11am-1pm | Bearing Witness to ICE, Burlington, MA. Stand in solidarity outside the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Office. Together, we can show love and support for immigrants, express our shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional actions of our government. Info/Sign Up.  Fridays , 11:30 AM – 1 PM thru Nov 21: Stop Citizens Bank From Financing Private ICE Prison Standouts. At Public sidewalks on King Street in Northampton, in front of Stop and Shop Plaza (Citizens Bank has a branch inside Stop and Shop). Register HERE.  Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Overpasses for Democracy Coordinated Visibility Standout, Wisdom Way Overpass on I-91, Greenfield. Join us for a coordinated event where Indivisible chapters across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut stage a massive bridge overpass banner event.  Register here on Mobilize.us.  ALSO: De-ICE Hanscom is excited to announce weekly afternoon standouts will take place every Friday from 1:30pm to 3:00pm at the Hanscom Rotary. The Hanscom Rotary is at the intersection of Hanscom Dr. and Old Bedford Rd. in Lincoln, MA. Please park along Old Bedford Road or Hanscom Drive without impeding traffic or blocking bike lanes. Folks can sign up for De-ICE Hanscom's contact list at this link.  Every Monday, 11:30am. -12:30pm.  Join us each Monday at the VA Medical Center to show your support for our veterans and federal workers. All the cars honking will brighten your day, too! Bring flags, signs, and friends! VA Medical Ctr, 421 N Main St, Route 9, Leeds, MA. Park in the VA Visitor lot or, if you have a sticker or are a Veteran, park in Look Park.  Register here.  Saturdays: Noon to 2pm. Weekly Standout at Pride for Migrant Workers, Sidewalk in front of Pride gas station, intersection of Routes 9 and Bay Road in Hadley, 25 Russell St. Hadley, MA 01035. & 2 to 4pm Peaceful Protest, Granby, MA Town Green, U.S. 202 & Connecticut 20, Granby. Go HERE. ALSO No Fear Street Theater stands out on Burlington Mall Road, Burlington, MA every Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm. with signs, costumes, and flags to show support for our immigrant neighbors &  Let them know it's New Years at ICE! Caroling & Yuletide readings - English & Spanish,  Sign Up HERE. 

Wednesday January 7, 7 - 9 pm. Melissa Brown, a key advocate for passing the Newton Tree Protection Ordinance, will review the seventeen (17) tree bills filed this year in MA. She will tell us which remain, what they do, and how to help get them passed into law. Beacon Hill is infamously slow to pass bills. You can make a difference because it's the start of the election year for your State Representatives and Senators. In-person at Harvey St Co-housing Common Room, 175 Harvey St, North Cambridge, MA. (if bad weather, this will be Zoom only) Contact <info@cambridge4trees.org>

 

Thursday, January 8—Cut The Fuel, Strike The Pump

Starting this week, there will be wildcat consumer gas strikes against the pump, until the U.S. commits to not occupying Venezuela. Cut the Fuel commences on Thursday January 8th. Do not buy gas of any kind on January 8th. We will show these gas and oil companies our collective power. Then there will be “wildcat” dates releaed at random: to not buy gas, picket, and do local creative actions of your choice.

 

Thursday January 8, 3 to 4pm. Indivisible What's New for the New Year.  Want to know? Go HERE. 

 

Thursday January 8, 7 - 8pm.  Wildlife Crossings and Barriers Talk with Professor Scott Jackson.   Wildlife mortality caused by vehicle collisions is an important factor affecting the persistence of wildlife populations, but the impact of transportation infrastructure includes other elements that negatively affect wildlife populations. These include habitat loss and degradation, as well as the barrier effects of roads, highways, and railroads. To protect biodiversity for future generations, we must assess the connections among our natural areas, design strategies to protect existing connectivity, and mitigate barriers to species movement. Go HERE.  

 

Thursday January 15, 6:30pm - 7:30pm.  Policy & Power: New Nuclear in Massachusetts? A Sierra Club conversation with the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs. Join Massachusetts Sierra Club leaders in conversation with Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director of the Office of Energy Transformation, and Weezie Nuara, Deputy Secretary for Federal & Regional Energy Affairs. Dialogue will focus on Gov. Healey’s proposed legislation to expand nuclear power’s contribution to the Commonwealth’s energy supply portfolio while eliminating the requirement for a statewide referendum on any new nuclear plant sited in Massachusetts. RSVP

 

Thursday January 15, 7pm. Effective Advocate: Protecting Our Neighbors in the Face of ICE.  Join the Center for Common Ground and Workers Circle for the first effective advocate training of 2026. This month, we will dive into the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants and the inhumane ICE operations that are abducting, detaining, and deporting our neighbors, family members, and friends. We will look at how the undermining of immigrants' rights harms all of us and what you can do about it. Go HERE.

 

Tuesday January 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m. “On January 20 at 2 PM local time, we will walk out of work, school, and commerce because a Free America begins the moment we stop cooperating with fascism. Wherever you are.  Host an action at freeameri.ca.  Check out the website.

 

Thursday January 22, 4pm.  A free webinar about ongoing efforts to advance bird-friendly legislation in the United States. You'll discover how American Bird Conservancy's strategic shift to state-level advocacy delivered major wins for birds in 2025 — and learn how we can build on that momentum together to drive bold, effective conservation action in 2026 and beyond.  Go HERE.

 

Thursday January 22, 7pm.  “Holding ICE Accountable” The first of FCCPR's Action Forums on Zoom.  Our speaker will be John Bonifaz, a constitutional attorney and the president of Free Speech For People, a national non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to defending our democracy and our Constitution. Here is the registration link for the John Bonifaz Action Forum:  https://tinyurl.com/BonifazRegistration  Also, please go HERE to give Big Tech a piece of your mind for supporting ICE.

 

January 27,  7:00 pm. via Zoom.  We’re facing multiple crises, from an unstable economy to climate crisis to attacks on immigrants and others. How can we defend ourselves and neighbors and fight back, and still build power for transformative change? How can we move beyond our current polarization and develop a vision and strategy for an alternative that works for the majority? Can we build a world grounded in solidarity, community and sustainability rather than competition, individualism and waste? Stephanie Luce will share lessons from her co-authored book Practical Radicals, plus inspiring stories of resistance from around the country.

 

 Wednesday January 28, 7-8pm.  The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves & Our Planet Before It’s Too Late. Join the authors to discuss this eye-opening and inspiring new book published by the New Press. The plastic pollution crisis is massive, systemic, and urgent. But “The Problem with Plastic” offers hope: We, collectively, have the power and influence to effectively slow the production of plastic. Plastic pollution is not inevitable; it’s the result of choices made by businesses, governments, and, to a lesser extent, everyday people. By equipping people with knowledge, hope, and an arsenal of solutions, we can put people and the planet before plastic, and save ourselves while there’s still time. Go HERE.

 

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

That's all for now. Let's talk next year and remember......Listen to Your Mother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Winter Solstice of Our Discontent Enviro Show

 

[ Listen to our podcast of the show HERE]

Winter Solstice Greetings Earthlings. The Return of the Light starts on December 21st at 4.02am here in the eastern U.S. You may not be up at that hour but we see there are celebrations at other times. Wiccan priestess, Laura Wildman-Hanlon returns to the show to share with us. Also, Cecelia Doucette, Director, Massachusetts for Safe Technology  returns to discuss electromagnetic pollution and what that means to us and all the critters out there. Also, you can take action HERE in support of a bill on Beacon Hill to opt out on this in your home and/or go HERE to act on Fed takeover of cell towers. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were small" along with our "...of the Week" segments, but first it's time for...... Revenge of the Critters! Maybe don't let the kids see this? Santa attacked by reindeer?? Nah! Fake news.

 

This week's Fool-on-the- Hill is yet another repeat offender. MAGA walking freakshow Rep. Paul Gosar is at it again in The War Against Nature. Our friends at The Center for Biological Diversity told us: "The most extreme, anti-conservation Republicans in Congress just launched a sham investigation into the Center for Biological Diversity. Why? Because we’ve been an outspoken — and successful — force against a massive foreign-owned mine that threatens the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness...This “investigation” by Reps. Pete Stauber and Paul Gosar is an alarming abuse of power..The representatives claim to be seeking evidence of “collusion” between us and the Biden administration to reintroduce a ban on mining within the same watershed as the Boundary Waters." Actually, Gosar may be blowing smoke trying to cover for yet another Repugnican scandal. Check it out HERE. 

Our Doublespeak of the Week is given to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's remark during an absurd suck-up session at a Cabinet meeting last week: "As the president appeared to be frequently closing his eyes, his secretaries showered him with compliments on everything from his "sacrifices" for the American people to his apparent influence on the weather. "Sir, you made it through hurricane season without a hurricane," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, "Even you kept the hurricanes away. We appreciate that," she continued. 😏 We, on the other hand, would like to see him impeached....again. You? 

 

Their Brains Were small and They Died segment this week goes to former Maine governor Paul LePage and anyone who still supports him. Why, you may ask? How about this from the Progressive Reform Network: "LePage called for gruesome public executions by guillotine, gleefully encouraging guesses on “which hole” severed heads would fall in. LePage told a state lawmaker, “I wish it were 1825 … and we would have a duel,” threatening to put a gun “right between his eyes.” LePage said he wanted to “find the Press Herald building and blow it up”, and that he wanted to “shoot” a cartoonist for the Bangor Daily News."  Those with long memories know such comments from LePage are nothing new, what is surprising is that dinos like him are still among us. Also, "Paul LePage — the man who bragged he was “Trump before Trump” — is trying to march straight into Congress through ME-02. And if we let him, we are inviting four-alarm, hellfire-level chaos into the House."  Go HERE.

 

We're willing to bet Paul LePage refuses to believe "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" That said, are we to believe everyone at the U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency believes it, even though the Administration "has removed all references to human-caused climate change from Environmental Protection Agency webpages, as well as large amounts of data showing the dramatic warming of the climate over recent decades and the resulting risks." Dropping science down His Malignancy's memory hole doesn't make it disappear. In fact, the very act of doing that is a red flag to wave for some in the growing opposition to His Malignancy. He's even losing support in Congress these days. Additionally, the Administration's embrace of AI would be a BIG problem if the bubble bursts. Actually, it would be a problem for most everyone as "More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US data centers". The groups "urged members of Congress halt the proliferation of energy-hungry data centers, accusing them of causing planet-heating emissions, sucking up vast amounts of water and for exacerbating electricity bill increases that have hit Americans this year." Stay tuned.

 

Enough monsters. Let's spread some Solstice joy with our Critter of the Week, Doves. Chirp informs us: "Doves, like pigeons, are a member of the Columbidae bird family, which includes over 300 species. We have at least 15 types of doves in North America, including the rock pigeon and the mourning dove. Typically, doves as a whole are docile creatures with incredible intelligence."  You may be seeing a lot of White Doves this Holiday session and for good reason: "Doves are mentioned many times in the [Bible], from the baptism of Jesus to after the flood, when Noah sent out a dove and it returned with an olive branch (a sign of dry land nearby). As such, a dove came to represent peace....But the Christians weren’t the only ones that assign meaning to doves. Many Native American stories feature the delicate white bird in their folklore. The Blackfoot tribe assigned the dove as protector of their warriors, ensuring that they would return unharmed after a battle. And the Aztec and Mexican Indian tribes would use doves in their wedding rituals, seeing doves as symbols of love. In Greek mythology, the dove symbolizes Aphrodite, the goddess of love. This coincides with Mesopotamian myth, which touts doves as conduits of carnal love, sexuality, and war. In the Islam religion, doves hold a special significance, as they were said to have assisted the prophet Muhammed." Presumably Doves don't know or care anything about all that but we do know they care about where they are or getting back to where they were and most of us humans can pretty much relate to that.

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we recycle this Action Alert  from Climate Hawks Vote calling for NO offshore drilling ANYWHERE! That's right, Keep it in the Ground, OK? While we're at it, how about THIS ONE, demanding Congress pass the War Powers Resolution & Investigate Hegseth's "War Department" activity? And once again, No Nukes in MA.....OK?

 

Let's end on that note and our Quote of the Week:

“...This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past  lets go and becomes the future." 

- Margaret Atwood 

 

After our guests have spoken it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

 

Weekly. Here's what appears to be 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 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. And This: Western Mass General Strike is hosting drop-in sessions on Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hadley Public Library for conversation and networking around general strikes and other forms of economic resistance.  If you would like to get involved in organizing prior to that, contact us at wmgeneralstrike@proton.me. And This: Every Wednesday, 11am-1pm | Bearing Witness to ICE, Burlington, MA. Stand in solidarity outside the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Office. Together, we can show love and support for immigrants, express our shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional actions of our government. Info/Sign Up.  Fridays , 11:30 AM – 1 PM thru Nov 21: Stop Citizens Bank From Financing Private ICE Prison Standouts. At Public sidewalks on King Street in Northampton, in front of Stop and Shop Plaza (Citizens Bank has a branch inside Stop and Shop). Register HERE.  Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Overpasses for Democracy Coordinated Visibility Standout, Wisdom Way Overpass on I-91, Greenfield. Join us for a coordinated event where Indivisible chapters across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut stage a massive bridge overpass banner event.  Register here on Mobilize.us.  ALSO: De-ICE Hanscom is excited to announce weekly afternoon standouts will take place every Friday from 1:30pm to 3:00pm at the Hanscom Rotary. The Hanscom Rotary is at the intersection of Hanscom Dr. and Old Bedford Rd. in Lincoln, MA. Please park along Old Bedford Road or Hanscom Drive without impeding traffic or blocking bike lanes. Folks can sign up for De-ICE Hanscom's contact list at this link.  Every Monday, 11:30am. -12:30pm.  Join us each Monday at the VA Medical Center to show your support for our veterans and federal workers. All the cars honking will brighten your day, too! Bring flags, signs, and friends! VA Medical Ctr, 421 N Main St, Route 9, Leeds, MA. Park in the VA Visitor lot or, if you have a sticker or are a Veteran, park in Look Park.  Register here.  Saturdays: Noon to 2pm. Weekly Standout at Pride for Migrant Workers, Sidewalk in front of Pride gas station, intersection of Routes 9 and Bay Road in Hadley, 25 Russell St. Hadley, MA 01035. & 2 to 4pm Peaceful Protest, Granby, MA Town Green, U.S. 202 & Connecticut 20, Granby. Go HERE. ALSO No Fear Street Theater stands out on Burlington Mall Road, Burlington, MA every Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm with signs, costumes, and flags to show support for our immigrant neighbors &  Let them know it's Chirstmas time at ICE! Caroling & Yuletide readings - English & Spanish, Dec. 22-24th!  Sign Up HERE. 

Tuesday January 6, 12pm-12:45pm.  Real Solutions for Energy Affordability. Want to be able to speak with confidence about what policies will actually make energy affordable? The House energy bill is expected to reemerge in January. It is a disastrous combination of proposals that would take us back years on climate policy in Massachusetts, mixed with a few real solutions. We know the utilities are lobbying hard to roll back progress under the guise of energy affordability in this bill. Our voices are needed now more than ever to give our legislators succinct counterpoints to the utilities' arguments. We will be joined by Kyle Murray of the Acadia Center, who will present solutions backed up by expert analysis. Not sure you’ll be able to make it? Sign up anyway and receive the materials after the call. RSVP here

  

Thursday January 8, 3 to 4pm. Indivisible What's New for the New Year.  Want to know? Go HERE. 

 

Sunday January 11, 1 to 3pm.  Share the Light of Community. Warm soup. Good Company  & Songs of Solidarity.  Wendell lMeeting House, Wendell, MA.  1-2pm:  Share warm soup & bread (byo bowl & utensils),  schmooze with friends & learn about Indivisible West Quabbin activity and get involved. 2-3pm: Sing-a-long songs of hope & unity led by Helen Fortier & friends.  RSVP Here.  

 

Thursday January 15, 6:30pm - 7:30pm.  Policy & Power: New Nuclear in Massachusetts? A Sierra Club conversation with the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs. Join Massachusetts Sierra Club leaders in conversation with Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director of the Office of Energy Transformation, and Weezie Nuara, Deputy Secretary for Federal & Regional Energy Affairs. Dialogue will focus on Gov. Healey’s proposed legislation to expand nuclear power’s contribution to the Commonwealth’s energy supply portfolio while eliminating the requirement for a statewide referendum on any new nuclear plant sited in Massachusetts. RSVP

 

That's all for another Winter Solstice except to remember to listen to your Mother.

 

 

 

  

A Return of the Native Enviro Show

[ Listen to the show on our podcast HERE ]
Greetings Earthlings. It's said that everyone loves a comeback story and we couldn't agree more when it comes to the American Chestnut Tree. Once a mainstay of life in New England forests and beyond it sadly fell victim to human ignorance and greed. Now, we are happy to report, after decades of failed attempts to overcome the blight, this amazing native tree has returned. Anne Petermann of the Global Justice Ecology Project returns to the show with the good news. As always, we will also delve into the bad news from our Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small segments, along with the Doublespeak of the Week and more but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters! Fisherfolk in China Beware! 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill was probably last year's Fool and the year before that and the years before that. Texas Senator Ted Cruz is even looked upon as a fool by his fellow MAGA low-lives but he just keeps filling up our inbox. This time Common Dreams reports: "Doubling down on efforts by Republicans to smear the peaceful “No Kings” protest movement as “terrorism,” Sen. Ted Cruz called for the passage of legislation he introduced earlier this year to “prosecute” those funding the protests." Do you think that includes the 5 bucks you sent in to your local Indivisible? Apparently, this fool is unfamiliar with the U.S. Constitution? 

As luck would have it, Cruz also came up with our Doublespeak of the Week in the Texas Tribune in the wake of his public condemnation of J6 insurrectionists. Attempting to defend himself using the term "terrorists" to describe the mob: "Cruz said he asked to come on [Tucker] Carlson’s show so he could better explain himself. Cruz said he understood why people were angry at his use of the word “terrorist” but insisted that he would never use the same word that “Democrats and the corporate media have so politicized” to describe the “patriots” that were at the Capitol that day to protest the results of the presidential election."  😏

Now it's time for "Their Brains Were small and They Died" and what better an example than the U.S. Soldiers who took part in the 1890 massacre of hundreds of Lakota men, women and children at Wounded Knee as well as white nationalist MAGA fascists like Dept. of "War" Secretary Pete Hegseth who want to whitewash that sorrowful event. Previous officials in the Pentagon withdrew the medals given to the cavalry for their butchery but Hegseth announced a reversal in "the latest move to sanitize the nation’s history taken by the Trump administration since [His Malignancy] signed an executive order in March titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History”.  What, more Doublespeak?  Those rogue soldiers are dead and gone now but we'll have to wait a bit before we can bring actual truth to power regarding the likes of Hegseth and any other dinosaurs with a similar lack of decency and Intelligence.

We give thanks to Nature for all Her gifts but we say "No thanks" to the likes of His Malignancy and the MAGA freak show who seem obsessed with trashing Nature and wildlife at every opportunity. What is wrong with these people?? You know something is terribly wrong when you read His Malignancy's "anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds." The Guardian piece goes on: "Increasing temperatures are already killing enormous numbers of people. A ProPublica and Guardian analysis that draws on sophisticated modeling by independent researchers found that [the]“America First” agenda of expanding fossil fuels and decimating efforts to reduce emissions will add substantially to that toll, with the vast majority of deaths occurring outside the US. Most of the people expected to die from soaring temperatures in the coming decades live in poor, hot countries in Africa and south Asia, according to recent research."  Surprise! Sadly, we must also note this headline: "6 Democratic Governors Have Linked Arms With the GOP to Push Fossil Fuels" and our Gov. Maura Healey is among them. 😒 From anti-climate to anti-American, last week His Malignancy accused "Democrats of ‘seditious behavior, punishable by death’"?  In a "video...six Democratic lawmakers who have previously served in the military or in intelligence roles said to Vets...“Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and right now, the threats to our constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders,... you must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution.”  Reaction to His Malignancy's death threat continues on many fronts. Stay tuned for more.

Like we always say to those who should know better, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and you can tell the fossil fools yourself  right HERE.  Also, last week "was the week from hell for environmental policy in the United States,” said Pat Parenteau, a professor emeritus and senior fellow for climate policy at Vermont Law and Graduate School. “Unless stopped by the courts, each of these proposed rollbacks will do irreparable harm to the nation’s water quality, endangered species and marine ecosystems.” In one rollback, the Interior Department moved to allow new oil and gas drilling across nearly 1.3 billion acres of U.S. coastal waters, including a remote region in the high Arctic where drilling has never before taken place." Also this, "The [MAGA captured] Environmental Protection Agency is promising to erase a scientific finding that underpins climate regulations nationwide."  And, as the billionaire Takers toast to Mammon, "The United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, concluded....in Belém, Brazil with a deal that does not even include the words “fossil fuels”—the burning of which scientists agree is the primary cause of the climate crisis."  That said, it appears a bit of good news surfaced regarding forests: "With the announcement of two major forest finance initiatives at the climate talks...there is renewed hope that the Congo Basin, home to the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest, could finally secure the sustained, equitable climate funding it has long been promised. The first was the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, unveiled by Brazil, which is backed by $6.7 billion in commitments. The second was the official launch of the Canopy Trust on Nov. 17." Stay tuned for more on that.

As I write this a Red Shouldered Hawk is perched less than twenty feet from me waiting for some field mouse, chipmunk or songbird to make a foolish move. The hawk's presence is a gift from Nature and as such is hereby our Critter of the Week. Audubon tells us: "The Red-shouldered Hawk is a bird of lowland forest and swampy areas. The ideal habitat seems to be associated with Beaver ponds and adjacent streams, with mature hardwoods nearby to provide nesting sites. Seclusion from human disturbance is usually a requisite for successful breeding. Sections of southern Berkshire County and Quabbin have an abundance of this type of habitat." And this: "The [Red Shouldered Hawk] family stays together well into August, but the birds rarely are seen, and little is known about their habits during this period. Some groups become vocal again by late summer. By September, they have gone their separate ways. Fall migration peaks in late October. The birds winter mainly in the southern states, but an occasional straggler will remain in Massachusetts." Greetings straggler, welcome to our nest this day after Thanksgiving. 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we replay Citizens Awareness Network Action Alert : "MA Rep. Cusack’s justification for H.4744 is "fiscal responsibility." While he raises real issues, he wants to take a wrecking ball to MassSave and other important energy saving programs that benefit all families, support lower energy use, and cut carbon use. This bill rolls back many gains made to address climate disruption & reduce carbon emissions. It also continues to support the resurrection of nuclear power, while undermining the peoples’ voice to choose their energy future under section 80. We are facing real problems regarding high energy bills and escalating costs of living. But H.4744 isn’t the answer. This appears to be an industry backed bill to keep failing polluting industries alive. This is unacceptable! This legislation must be fought, and fought hard." Go HERE.  

  

Our Quote of the Week is quite on target for this show...

“In some Native languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us.”

-Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass 

 

After our conversation with Anne it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

 

Weekly. Here's what appears to be 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 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. And This: Western Mass General Strike is hosting drop-in sessions on Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hadley Public Library for conversation and networking around general strikes and other forms of economic resistance.  If you would like to get involved in organizing prior to that, contact us at wmgeneralstrike@proton.me. And This: Every Wednesday, 11am-1pm | Bearing Witness to ICE, Burlington, MA. Stand in solidarity outside the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Office. Together, we can show love and support for immigrants, express our shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional actions of our government. Info/Sign Up.  Fridays , 11:30 AM – 1 PM thru Nov 21: Stop Citizens Bank From Financing Private ICE Prison Standouts. At Public sidewalks on King Street in Northampton, in front of Stop and Shop Plaza (Citizens Bank has a branch inside Stop and Shop). Register HERE.  Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Overpasses for Democracy Coordinated Visibility Standout, Wisdom Way Overpass on I-91, Greenfield. Join us for a coordinated event where Indivisible chapters across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut stage a massive bridge overpass banner event.  Register here on Mobilize.us.  ALSO: De-ICE Hanscom is excited to announce weekly afternoon standouts will take place every Friday from 1:30pm to 3:00pm at the Hanscom Rotary. The Hanscom Rotary is at the intersection of Hanscom Dr. and Old Bedford Rd. in Lincoln, MA. Please park along Old Bedford Road or Hanscom Drive without impeding traffic or blocking bike lanes. Folks can sign up for De-ICE Hanscom's contact list at this link.  Every Monday, 11:30am. -12:30pm.  Join us each Monday at the VA Medical Center to show your support for our veterans and federal workers. All the cars honking will brighten your day, too! Bring flags, signs, and friends! VA Medical Ctr, 421 N Main St, Route 9, Leeds, MA. Park in the VA Visitor lot or, if you have a sticker or are a Veteran, park in Look Park.  Register here.  Saturdays: Noon to 2pm. Weekly Standout at Pride for Migrant Workers, Sidewalk in front of Pride gas station, intersection of Routes 9 and Bay Road in Hadley, 25 Russell St. Hadley, MA 01035. & 2 to 4pm Peaceful Protest, Granby, MA Town Green, U.S. 202 & Connecticut 20, Granby. Go HERE   

Thursday December 11, 5:45pm.  Screening of "The Social Dilemma" at LAVA, 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA. What is the dilemma?  First, this part-documentary, part docu-drama digs into the world of algorithms – the ones quietly deciding what you see online, how long you stay there, and who benefits from your scrolling.  And then, it nails the urgency of the conversation, regulation, digital literacy, mental health awareness. These simply aren’t optional anymore. 

 

Thursday December 11, 7:30pm.  Endangered Species Act Proposed Rules -- Call to Action Webinar.  Join the Endangered Species Coalition and partners as we come together to talk about the Trump administration's wide-reaching set of proposed rules that would severely undermine implementation of Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed ESA rule changes are now open for public comment until December 22, 2025. In this webinar we'll explain ways you and your community can mobilize to express opposition to these proposed changes, as well as ensure bedrock environmental protections are upheld. Go HERE.

 

Friday December 12, 9am to 4pm. The MA Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) is hosting its second in-person event to convene municipal stakeholders and community leaders who are interested in or taking steps to decarbonize and electrify their city or town. Attendees will hear from a panel of speakers from the GMAC and electric distribution companies (EDCs) to learn about the actions Massachusetts is taking to modernize and proactively plan our electric grid. [Expect the status quo] More info and registration here.

 

Saturday December 13, 9:30 to 11am. Carbon Countdown 2025: State Support for Local Climate Initiatives. Online, and In-person at Follen Church, Lexington, MA. Senator Mike Barrett will update us on the State Legislature's efforts regarding Climate Change. Join us to learn how State programs can provide crucial support for local climate initiatives. Learn from experts in the field, and network with like-minded individuals who are passionate about combating climate change. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the solution! Reservations HERE.

 

Saturday December 13, Noon to 1pm.  Standout at Hadley Home Depot, Rt. 9 protesting ICE. We're looking for signs specific to boycotting Home Depot.  AND...we have another idea for after the holidays, especially for those with chutzpah!  Stay tuned. Warmer, nothing illegal, should be fun. Go HERE.

 

Monday, December 15, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Via Zoom MA State Senator Jo Comerford will offer timely updates, and there will be ample time to hear your feedback and answer questions. Registration is required — sign up here.  A reminder to keep hold of the registration confirmation email — it contains your unique link to join the Zoom on December 15.  Since we last connected in a Town Hall a little over a year ago, much has changed — in our communities, our Commonwealth, and our nation. 

 

Tuesday, December 16, 7-8:30pm. Winning on Climate in a System Stacked Against Us: Organizers’ Tales of State House Adventures. Climate Action Now and Local Energy Advocates invite climate organizers and activists statewide to join us for an evening of reflection and conversation with special guest speaker Jess Nahigian. Jess has many tales to tell about life as a climate organizer focused on moving meaningful climate legislation through the Mass State House. Together we will reflect on the historic shift in policy we just experienced and how we can build on this win moving forward. Register HERE.

 

Sunday December 21, 3pm.   New Moon in the Valley Winter Solstice Celebration  Common Hall, 34 Main Street, Montague, MA 01351-8928.  Come join with community in celebration of the longest night and the return of the sun! 12/21/25 at the Montague Common Hall, Montague, MA 3:00 PM. Sponsored by New Moon in the Valley. Bring snacks (ingredients clearly marked) to share after the ritual. Also, in the spirit of Community, we are collecting non-perishable goods for the local food bank.   

 

That's all for now except to remember to listen to your Mother.