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Greetings Earthlings. Once again it's time to remind certain despots to "Beware the Ideas of March". Their tendency to overstep can get them into deep trouble and others may act hastily in response. As a matter of fact, a LOT of others are already protesting about His Malignancy overstepping across the "empire". His fake DOGE department alone has created chaos across scores of government agencies. As a result lawsuits are being lodged and protests are increasing. DOGE fanboy, Elon Musk is watching sales of his Tesla cars and truck tank worldwide and more protests and sabotage at his dealerships & charging stations. At the same time, climate emergency protests continue, some initiated by scientists. Jamie McGonagill, Haley McHatton & Peter Watson of XR Boston join us to talk about their protest at Hanscom Airfield near Walden Pond. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Whose Brains Were small.." and more, but first it's time for....... Revenge of the Critters! Battle of the sexes, male blue-lined octopuses fake out females to avoid being......eaten!
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Rep. Darin LaHood, (R-Ill.) who was on the receiving end of Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) "going off" on Republican members of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee recently for blindly supporting so-called DOGE operatives who failed to show for a hearing. One Republican said DOGE’s work must go on as part of Trump’s attempt to “slay the bureaucratic beast.....Those efforts are epic, breaking more than a century of acquiescence to spending and government,” said Rep. LaHood “The Trump team is courageously confronting the problem head on. We have an obligation and responsibility to bring down our debt and get this country back on track economically, and the DOGE commission and what President Trump and his team are doing is putting us on that path.” Sorry Darin, you f'ing fool, that path is actually the Road to Ruin.
We opened up the show with lots of inspiring notes regarding the push back on His Malignancy The Mad King and his MAGA/DOGE Court of Crazy, now how about some of what's being push backed ? Let's start with our Public Lands and White House plans, but we say #EndLoggingOnPublicLands. We protest such mindless logging, does that make us "terrorists"? MAGA/DHS Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar seems to think so. "He claims that [student Mahmoud] Khalil is a "terrorist" but struggles to offer evidence beyond the fact he "protested." Wait, that's what this week's guests did. That's what Thoreau did, Civil Disobedience. That's not terrorism, OK? Next, we seldom link to op-eds or commentary here but when we saw this listener recommended header on "Closer to the Edge" how could we resist? "EPA’S ENVIRONMENTAL BLOODBATH: TRUMP AND ZELDIN GO TO WAR WITH THE PLANET" Yes, a new front has opened up in The War Against Nature. It opens with this: "In what can only be described as a state-sponsored arson of environmental policy, President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency, under the grim stewardship of Administrator Lee Zeldin, has unleashed an unprecedented assault on the planet. Zeldin announced the rollback of 31 environmental protections — a move he proudly declared as “the greatest day of deregulation in American history.” Great day for actual enemies of the Earth. Here's another quote from Zeldin: “We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age,’' Ofcourse, it's only golden for the billion dollar crowd and seemingly unbeknownst to them, that age promises to be very short. That said, former leaders of the Environmental Protection Agency who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents spoke Friday against the Trump administration's announcement this week that it will roll back dozens of major environmental rules. And this headline from the same listener: "Amazon forest felled to build road for climate summit". Which just about says it all.......except to push back HERE & HERE.
OK, we are sooo tired of telling these freaks that "It's The Climate Crisis, Stupid!" yet they persist. We're glad to say, sometimes the courts push back: "The Supreme Court [last] Monday rejected a lawsuit from Republican attorneys general in 19 states aimed at blocking climate change suits against the oil and gas industry from Democratic-led states.The justices acted on an unusual Republican effort to file suit in the Supreme Court over the Democratic states' use of their state courts to sue fossil fuel companies for deceiving the public about the risks of their products contributing to climate change.The Supreme Court typically hears only appeals, but the Constitution gives the court authority to hear original lawsuits states file against each other." Brace yourself for more good news from the courts? Maybe those judges have been listening to their neighbors? <click-on-the-link.
We came upon a horn-of-Plenty when it comes to our Doublespeak of the Week segment. These are short but not all that sweet. Ready? Regarding His Malignancy "one presidential order titled ‘Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government’ calls for weaponizing the federal government against itself." There it is.
In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we replay a Inside Climate News story about oil drilling in the Permian Basin of West Texas gone terribly wrong: "A sinkhole around an old oil well is growing at an alarming rate on the Kelton Ranch in West Texas....By mid-March, the sinkhole was roughly 200 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep, big enough to fit a four-story building...At some point the Radford Grocery well’s plug failed, creating a
connection between the water table and the oil reservoir underground....The sinkhole is the latest in a string of catastrophic incidents with
old oil wells in the Permian Basin of West Texas, some plugged and
others not. From sinkholes to blowouts to persistent leaks, more than a
century of oil drilling in the region has left a daunting array of
environmental hazards." We guess "Fill Baby, Fill" might be the latest rallying cry? And this: You know we've been covering the animal torture going on at UMass Amherst but did you know "Countless animals are being used to test pesticides, household cleaners, industrial chemicals and other products every year. Dogs
are enduring daily force-feedings of potentially toxic substances,
chemical substances are applied to guinea pigs’ skin and ingredients
used in household cleaners are being dripped into rabbits’ eyes."? Please go HERE and demand this ends. Finally, from a website called "Reasons to be Cheerful" this: "From Europe to North America, an energy revolution is breathing new
life into empty, long-forgotten coal mine shafts — by repurposing them
into places to store renewable energy. Using “gravity batteries,” these
underground facilities aim to tackle one of renewable energy’s greatest
challenges: storage. The method is simple: Excess renewable energy is
used to power winches that lift heavy weights — such as containers
filled with sand or rock — up the mine shaft. When additional energy is
needed, these weights are released, generating power as they descend." If you think "That sounds remarkably like pumped storage on the CT River" we'd have to agree. The article fails to inform how much "renewable energy" is used to "power winches". Also The Nature Conservancy is all gaga over the project.....as they are about so many bad ideas. Speaking of bad ideas, deforestation + sand mining on the rare Southeastern MA Coastal Pine Barrens? Go HERE.
Time for our Critter of the Week. Given we just did a piece on animal torture and that the iconic Spring critter, the Rabbit is about to make its annual debut, let's pay homage. Yes, we all know bunnies are cute and cuddly (unless they are eating the lettuce in your garden) but BBC Earth tells us: "One particularly quirky behaviour is that they eat their own poo. This helps them digest nutrients which were undigested the first time around. The scientific word for this yucky practice is ‘caecotrophy’.They produce two types of poo; hard and soft pellets. Hard pellets are always excreted outside of their burrows, while soft ones are excreted inside and eaten over the course of the day." Wait, does the Easter Bunny do that?
Another "of the Week" moment is our longtime Enviro Show Quote of the Week and this one is spot on with regard to our guests this week:
Fridays 4:30pm Stop the Coup Standouts on Rt. 2 Gill side of Gill-Turners Falls bridge in WMass grow weekly. Bring your own signs & friends! AND: The Good Trouble Democracy Brigade is holding protests every Friday from 3 to 4 p.m. at the intersection of Route 116 and Sugarloaf Street in South Deerfield.
Tuesdays, 4-6pm Hold banners, signs and flags, on I-91 overpass to show people that they are not alone -
and help give them the courage to join us and take a stand against the Coup & DOGE. Please make signs with very few words and very big and bold letters. Come even if you don't have a sign, we'll have plenty! Here's the link for more info and to register:https://mobilize.us/s/4Gq1hs We've added this coming Sunday and Thursday, from 4-6 pm, at the
same location: the I-91 overpass at Mountain Park Rd, Holyoke.You can sign up for Sunday or Thursday on Mobilize: Sunday 3/23, 3:30pm. - https://www.mobilize.us/
ALSO: Tuesdays 4-5pm. No Kings Weekly Vigil, Park Square, Elm and Main Streets (Route 20) Westfield, MA 01085
Weekly on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The MA State House Stand Out is back in a new incarnation! This historic climate action lasted for 14 months and engaged hundreds of volunteers from across the climate movement. Volunteers are needed!The new version, lovingly referred to as Stand Out Two, happens at the Massachusetts State House between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This is a great way to participate in the climate movement with no risk
of arrest! Volunteers normally sign up for a 2 hour “shift." If you have questions about the Stand Out or would like to get a link to the sign-up sheet please contact organizers at fossilfuels.standout.ma@
Thursday March 27, 7 to 8 p.m. Public Citizen Nationwide Call. Unlike most Republicans in Congress, Public Citizen is eager to meet with our supporters. We’ll update you on the various lawsuits we’ve filed — eight so far — against the Trump regime. We’ll highlight some of the other ways we’re throwing sand in the gears of autocracy. We’ll talk about how we work together to nurture hope and score
victories even in the face of the Trump/Musk/DOGE/MAGA onslaught. And we’ll answer questions from Public Citizen supporters all across the country. Sign up now.
Friday March 28, 6 - 9pm. Wildlife Rehabilitator, JoAnn Byrnes' goal is to return injured or abandoned wildlife to the wild. Come meet Coco a Red-Tailed Hawk Rescue! 158 Center Hill Road Plymouth, MA 02360. Join JoAnn and Coco for a talk on her work, and the role of raptors in our ecosystem, after which there will be drinks, goodies, and conversation. Register HERE.
Saturday, March 29, 11-12pm, COMMUNITY STANDOUT FOR DEMOCRACY at the corners of East/West Housatonic and South Streets, Pittsfield, MA. Organized by Indivisible Pittsfield's, Brian Whitman. Spread the word! Bring your own signs.
Saturday March 29, Noon to 2pm. Tesla Takedown Picket. Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he's using the
fortune he built at Tesla to do it. We are taking nonviolent action at
Tesla to stop Musk's illegal coup. ⚡Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. ⚡ We're tanking Tesla's stock price to stop Musk. ⚡Stopping Musk will help save lives and protect our democracy. The stakes couldn’t be higher. No one is coming to save us. Not politicians, not the media, not the courts. Tesla Supercharger, 25 Russel Street , Hadley, MA 01301 US. Host Contact Info: handsoff.ma@proton.me
Saturday March 29, 5 to 7pm. Join the Amherst Young Feminist Party, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, and the Amherst College Women’s & Gender Center for a free community screening of Preconceived, a film on the harms of crisis pregnancy centers.
Wednesday April 2, 6pm. Join the MBTA for a virtual public meeting about the Red Line Hi-Rail Access Tunnel Project, " building a new access tunnel for hi-rail vehicles that will enable shorter and less frequent Red Line shutdowns, faster commutes, and bring the MBTA closer to a state of good repair." -MBTA. Opponents say: "Move the Project. Added to the MBTA’s removal of our tree canopy are plans to excavate hundreds of truckloads of Asbestos contaminated soil from the former WR Grace site about 50’ upwind of Russell Field, our city-wide youth athletic complex for everything from high school football to pee-wee soccer. This site should have been immediately disqualified. Register here to get Zoom link emailed to you. MBTA meeting webpage here with another registration button.
Wednesday April 2, 7pm to 8:15pm. DC Attacks/ MA Fights Back! Defending Science & our Health on Zoom. As part of the Vocational Education Justice Coalition (VEJC), PDM has long advocated for a fairer admissions process at MA vocational/technical schools, which have annual waiting lists of more than 8000 applicants. This month’s virtual forum will focus on who is chosen to attend these schools that launch hundreds of careers in well-paying jobs for their graduates. Register HERE.
Thursday April 3, 8pm. Strengthening the Fight Against Animal Cruelty: Why the ACE Act Matters. Psychologists have documented the link between animal cruelty and human
violence, noting that the first violent acts of serial killers often
involve animals.Join us for an urgent, enlightening, and
action-oriented discussion on the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act, a
pivotal legislation designed to enhance federal efforts to combat
animal cruelty and exploitation on all scales. This free webinar is part
of the Claudia Miller Ignite Series and is a must-attend for anyone
committed to animal welfare. Go HERE.
Saturday,
April 5, national and local organizations are coming together across the
country to mobilize for Hands Off!, a national mass activation in
defiance of
the Trump-Musk coup and Republican assault on our democracy and our
communities. Hands Off! is an all-in moment for the pro-democracy
movement—a demand, a warning, and a rallying cry that responds to the
primary reasons for our mobilization. We are aiming to secure anchor events in 3-6 major cities ahead of launch, with more cities confirmed and registered
after public launch. Priority cities include: Boston; Washington, D.C. (confirmed); Los Angeles; New York City; Chicago; Philadelphia & Phoenix. If you
are able to host a mobilization in a major metro or want to be plugged
into a confirmed event, please reach out to Lizzy Price (lizzy@fightbacktable.com)
to coordinate.
Saturday, April 5th at NOON. Massachusetts State House
(24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133) Send a resounding message: HANDS OFF! Sign up here for more information: https://www.mobilize.us/
Monday, April 7, 8pm. Online rally, Break Big Biomass: A National Call to Action! If you’ve been taking action with us in recent years, you know that the biomass industry is burning trees for electricity and falsely calling it a clean energy solution. We’ve joined with organizations in the U.S. to bring you a 1.5 hour rally with powerful speakers, interactive discussion, and actions to join the fight against big biomass! Register HERE.
Tuesday April
8, 11am. (via Zoom) What
is Ecological
Forestry? Why is it
important now more
than ever? How is it
practiced? To explore
these questions, we
asked Dr. Tony
D’Amato—Director of
the Forestry Program
at the University of
Vermont—to assemble a
group of practitioners
to share their
perspectives.
Join us for this
live event where Tony
and others who
contributed to our
Spring 2025 Exploring
Ecological Forestry
Series will gather to
discuss this important
and timely topic. A 40-minute panel
discussion followed by
a 20-minute audience
Q&A. Via Zoom. Register HERE.
Thursday, April 10, 6:30pm at the LAVA Center, 325 Main Street, Greenfield. Showing of Deep Rising, a
documentary by Matthieu Ritz. The fate of the planet’s last untouched
wilderness, the deep ocean, is at stake as a secretive international
organization moves to allow corporations to strip mine the seabed for
metals crucial to powering a carbon-free future. Doors open at 6pm / Seating is limited. Light supper/snack foods will be provided.
Saturday, April 26, 2025 Free day long Grassroots Environmental Organizing Summit hosted by community leaders and grassroots organizations, experts, and student leaders. It will be centered around Oceans, Toxics and the harms of Data Centers and Crypto-mines at University of Massachusetts Boston. Go HERE.
Sunday April 27, 1-4PM, live at Seeds of Solidarity Farm: No-till Gardens and Farms: Healthy Soil, Heal Climate. An experiential
learning packed afternoon suitable to farmers or enthusiastic gardeners
seeking to learn and use no-till methods that use simple tools, build
healthy soil, reduce labor and cost inputs, and promote climate
resilience. Sliding scale: Email deb@
Wednesday April 30th, 8am to 4pm. Community Climate Leaders Conference, Bentley University, Waltham, MA. Are you involved in addressing climate change and supporting your
community to take action? MassEnergize invites you to our annual
Community Climate Leaders Conference where we will be inspired, learn
from each other's experiences, and support best practices for engaging
our communities in climate action. Go HERE.
The Ides of March is upon us but remember to listen to your Mother, OK?
