[ Listen to our podcast of the show HERE ]
Greetings Earthlings. It's that time of year once again when we remind tyrants that all is not what it appears to be. The Fates move in strange and mysterious ways. Also, the Spring Equinox or Ostara a Pagan solar holiday honoring the spring’s warmth, light from the sun, and the awakening of the earth is upon us. Diana Reeves, Founder & Executive Director and Luan Van Le, Development & Communications Director of GMO/Toxin Free USA joins us to discuss "The Revolving Door" that allows corporados and other such dark side low-life go from one bad situation to another. We hope they get their comeuppance. As always, we will also bring you along to meet our Fool-on-the-Hill where we often ask ourselves "Who Left the Door Open" and "Those Whose Brains Were Small" as well as our "...of the Week" segments and way more but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! When Squirrels attack - Not the kind of activity seniors had in mind.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Repugnican Senator Tom Cotton once again. Poor Tom, he looks and acts like a fool. You'd think he might be aware of that but he keeps putting his foot in his mouth bringing more attention to his foolishness. In his recent March 5th appearance on Faux "News" he was asked about His Malignancy's unprovoked attack on Iran. Tom said: “Iran has been an imminent threat to the United States for 47 years. The President was right to act.” Really? Iran was busy having a Revolution 47 years ago. The only threat they posed was to our embassy and its people. Not exactly "an imminent threat" to the nation. As for the President going to war? Which one?? Stay tuned!
Last week Kristie Noem was our candidate for "Who left the door open?" This week she was booted upstairs and appointed to be in charge of.....are you ready? "The Shield of the Americas [that] will be guided in part by the president’s foreign policy initiatives dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine,” [insert eye rolling emoji here] fashioned after the Monroe Doctrine." Sounds like yet another cosplay op for Kristie. Does it come with a red, white & blue spandex bustier? What will Kristie do with her shield? "Since Trump returned to office last year, he directed the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” announced plans to “take back” the Panama Canal, and pushed efforts to acquire Greenland and make Canada the 51st state." We guess another door is open for Cosplay Kristie to do......what? Dare we ask?
Our Doublespeak of the Week is happily handed over to Stephen Colbert: "“Folks, I really didn’t want to start the monologue by talking about the war, but in honor of this administration, I went into this without a plan,” said Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, five days after the US military, in conjunction with Israel, bombed Iran and killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "I say ‘war’,” he continued, “because it sure looks like a war, and Trump keeps calling it a war, but Congress never declared it a war, and MAGA was promised no new wars, so the White House sent out a list of talking points to all the congressional Republicans telling them in no uncertain terms that if a reporter asked ‘Can you promise the American people this will not be a long-drawn out war?’, the answer to give is ‘These are targeted, major combat operations. “So … it’s worse than a war,” said Colbert. “It’s a war that got a thesaurus for Christmas.”
Actually, our Doublespeak of the Week could just as easily been bestowed upon His Malignancy for his so-called Board of Peace? That said, it might have to be a Double Doublespeak since, "An Intercept analysis finds that every single Board of Peace member state has been rebuked for human rights violations." But wait, there's more! At the first "meeting of his self-styled Board of Peace [His Malignancy] declared peace in the Middle East while simultaneously threatening to plunge the region into devastating conflict by again attacking Iran." It turns out The Mad King's (#NoKings) "unprovoked attack on Iran has sent oil prices surging, and it’s already hurting Americans at the gas pump." Soon it may affect your utility bills as well. His Malignancy "so far has not outlined any end game for the war he started, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday boasted that the Trump administration was “playing for keeps” by delivering “death and destruction from the sky all day” on Iran." That's an apt description given Hegseth's penchant for tough guy cosplay. According to Ro Khana "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to strong-arm Anthropic into opening its AI for unrestricted military use." Game on? Nah! According to a recent MSNOW headline regarding attack on Iran it is instead : "Mutually Assured Dysfunction" Stop the fucking war! O, and definitely DO NOT START ATOMIC BOMB TESTS! How about another blunder? "The administration is slowly dismantling the federal disaster management system that protects the nation from chemical catastrophes, such as fires and explosions at high-risk facilities." Mutually Assured Dysfunction, indeed! Did we forget efforts to mess with the Midterms?
Since we've uttered the name Pete Hegseth it's only fitting we include him and his ilk in our "Their Brains Were Small.." segment. These dinosaurs are apparently hoping to bring back .......The Crusades? "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has initiated monthly prayer services throughout the Pentagon and sponsors a weekly White House Bible study. He entered office with "deus vult," a crusader motto, tattooed on his body, which he describes as a symbol of a "modern-day American Christian crusade." He recently invited Douglas Wilson, a self-described Christian Nationalist who preaches that the United States should be governed as a Christian theocracy, to deliver a sermon in the Pentagon's auditorium. This is the culture being built at the top of our military." Reactionary reptiles anyone? (with apologies to actual Reptiles of course).
And, with that in mind, we now turn to our Critter of the Week: The Madagascar day gecko has a long, green body with orange accents on its head and along its back. Their petite facial features and mouth that almost come into a smile make them a great contender for the cutest lizards list. As their name indicates, these geckos are native to the island of Madagascar. They spend the majority of their time awake while the sun is out, which means they are diurnal animals. These adorable lizards are also omnivorous and enjoy a diet of insects, plants, and nectar. These geckos are among the largest geckos on their island. They can grow to be up to 8.7 inches long as adults. Also, while not reptiles, the Spotted Salamanders of Cushman in Amherst, MA may soon be on the move headed for their favorite vernal pool. Go to the link to learn more or Join the Facebook Group: Hitchcock’s Big Night Migrations Group.
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we note the passing of one of the most dedicated activists for peace & justice we have ever known. Paki Wieland, presente'. She will be missed. With that in mind, we have an Act-o-rama of action links on a variety of issues we cover on the show. You might want to pick & choose? Are you ready? Go! Urge Congress to Protect Our Waters From Oil and Gas Drilling. HERE. Tell Your Senators to Oppose the Fix Our Forests Act. HERE. Stop the FDA’s food dye bait-and-switch. HERE. Tell Your State Legislators to Investigate the Epstein Files. HERE. Tell the IEA: Ignore Chris Wright’s Threats, Follow the Science on Climate Change. HERE. Maintain protections for the forests of Western Oregon. HERE. Tell Your Secretary of State: No ICE at the Polls. HERE. Hold Corporations Accountable for ICE Violence. HERE. Tell Congress: No Additional Pentagon Funding for Trump’s Illegal War Against Iran. HERE. Save MA Forests to Avoid a Drinking Water Crisis. HERE. Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere. HERE. Had enough? Is it starting to look like your own mailbox? Sorry. We get it.
Our reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid" starts on a lighter note: "Jeffrey B. Clark [who] oversaw the dismantlement of government restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and water and air pollution [and] also faced a criminal probe in connection with the 2020 election" has left the White House (perhaps he was recalled to the Pit of Eternal Stench). The NY Times notes: "He also helped design the recent repeal of a determination known as the endangerment finding that since 2009 had underpinned the federal government’s ability to fight global warming. The repeal was a long-held goal of Mr. Clark, who has called climate rules a “Leninistic” plot to seize control of the economy." One of THE creepiest of all MAGA slimeballs, Clark was "a former official in the Justice Department during President Trump’s first term, had also faced a criminal investigation in connection with Mr. Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. The president preemptively pardoned Mr. Clark in November." Clark will get no such pardon from the likes of us. He is both a climate criminal and a traitor to this nation and the planet.
That said, the worst of the worst is His Malignancy himself who happens to be perfectly exposed in our Quote of the Week:
"...at this moment in history, the fate of virtually everyone on the planet is being impacted by the toxic cocktail of character flaws, insecurities, and pathologies that are shaping the actions of the President of the United States."
- David Rothkopf
After our conversation with our guests it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
First Here's Indivisible Northampton — Swing Left Western Mass's complete daily listing of all the pro-democracy events in WMass: https://in-slwm.org/wp-content/uploads/Calendar/cal.html. If you're looking for an easy weekday way to jump into the climate movement, you'll love the State House Stand Out! We gather at the Massachusetts State House in Boston between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers stand together for 2-hour "shifts," either outside or inside depending on weather, and talk with visitors and State House staff about the Climate Crisis. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 – 4pm.: Indivisible's What's the Plan with Leah and Ezra. Go HERE. Fridays, 1:30 to 3pm: De-ICE Hanscom Airfield Stand Outs, Hanscom Rotary, Lincoln, MA. Go HERE. Saturdays, 11am to 1pm: No Fear w/Street Theatre, Burlington ICE Facility, Burlington Mall Rd. @ District Ave., Burlington,MA Go HERE
Thursday March 19, 6:30pm. How to embrace Water in our Landscape and Support Biodiversity at 2nd Congregational Church, Church Square, Greenfield, MA.
Thursday March 19, 7 to 8pm. Virtual Climate Activist Launch: the Energy Bills Relief Act with Rep Sean Casten. Join hundreds of climate activists from around the country as we hear from Rep. Sean Casten about an exciting new plan to ramp up clean energy like wind and solar, fight climate change, and protect the public from data centers. Right now, big polluters and their allies in Congress are wreaking havoc on clean energy, leading to soaring electricity bills, more climate pollution, and more extreme weather. That’s why we’re fighting back with the Energy Bills Relief Act! Go HERE.
Thursday March 19, 7pm The Story of Stuff Project Virtual Webinar - Reuse Changemaker Bootcamp! See above.
Thursday March 19, 6:30 pm: "MA voters approved a legislative audit. What's holding it up?” Webinar with Jeanne Kempthorne. In 2024, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question that affirmed that the State Auditor has the right to audit the legislature. The ballot question won every town and city in Massachusetts, passing with 72% of the vote statewide. Since becoming Massachusetts state law, the question has instead become a conflict between political insiders. Legislative leaders continue to claim that the ballot question is unconstitutional. The State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has sought to bring the question to court to allow her office to proceed with the audit. Go HERE.
Thursday March 19, 8pm. No Kings 3 Kickoff Call! Join our Virtual March 19 Kickoff Call to learn more about the vision, urgency, and strategy behind this [mega] national day of action. Whether you’re brand new or a seasoned organizer, the time to act is now! You'll hear from movement leaders about the strategic and moral imperative behind the next No Kings mobilization. Go HERE
Friday March 20, 6:30 to 8pm. Theater of Ideas: First Annual “Gulf of Mexico” First Amendment-Free Speech Stand-up Fun Nite. As part of LAVA’s Theater of Ideas series, journalist Karl Meyer and poet/publisher Paul Richmond team up to invite all to a free-speech fest at 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA. Doors open for gallery viewing at 5 p.m. Sign-ups for your three minutes of free speech fame begin at 6:30 p.m. sharp, and the open mic fun show begins at 7 p.m. Meyer and Richmond lay out just two rules for performers: 1. You MUST, at some point in your mini-stand-up, utter the term “Gulf of Mexico” as part of your presentation in order to qualify for the Grand Prize. 2. You will be strictly held to the 3-minute time limit via cowbell. There is no required admission, though Meyer suggests, “a minimum donation of three free speech minutes for just $5 bucks! He adds, “Please give generously. All proceeds to benefit the LAVA Center.”
Saturday March 21 10am to 1pm. New Safety Monitor/Marshal Training. We need more safety monitors and marshals for No Kings Day 3. Invite trusted friends but please do not share on social media. Register here
Monday March 23, 7pm Climate Action Now monthly gathering via Zoom. Climate justice organizing while fighting fascism: From Minneapolis to Manila. What does it look like to build and amplify our global movement for climate justice in a time when our political and eco systems are under assault from fascist regimes and their endless wars at home and abroad? Our speakers from the Purge Palantir Campaign and Liyang Western Mass will explore these questions with us through presentations and small group discussion. Go HERE
Monday and Tuesday, March 23–24. All Day. BuildingEnergy Boston is a conference designed by and for practitioners in the fields of high-performance building and design, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. It brings more than 1,000 industry leaders and emerging professionals together to learn from and share ideas with each other. [ Beware of corporados] Go HERE
Wednesday March 25, 4 pm. Hummingbirds are a true wonder of the Americas – from their bright colors and speedy flight to their astonishing diversity (more than 360 species!) and incredible migrations. Join us for a FREE webinar to learn more about this beloved family of birds and the many ways American Bird Conservancy is working to conserve them, including protecting and restoring habitat, preventing collisions, and educating bird lovers like you on how to help ensure a future filled with these tiny wonders.
Wednesday March 25, 5pm. What do the yellow flags mean?: A Talk with Dr. Rosemary Malfi. Join us for a talk on everything you've ever wanted to know about commercial pesticide applications. Find out what are your rights pre- and post-application as a customer and neighbor. Dr. Malfi will present on enhancements to the application notification process that have been proposed by state Conservationist Pesticide Advisory Council (CPAC). Go HERE.
Thursday March 26, 9am. No New Nukes Lobby Day in MA. We begin at 9:00 with a press conference in front of the Governor's office. Press release will go out before. Then lobby hours 9:30-1015, 10:30-11:15, 11:30-12:15, etc. to accomodate how many people are going to lobby. At least 2 per visit. How is nuclear affordable? Would you want a nuclear reactor and high level waste in your community? We know this is a national effort by the nuclear industry to repeal the state laws on nuclear. Contact: Diane TURCO tturco@comcast.net
Thursday March 26: 5 -7p.m. Attleboro Pocket Forest Reception & Info Session.
Attleboro Area Industrial Museum, 42 Union Street, Attleboro, MA. We’ll be joined by community members, activists, and Attleboro High School as we learn about the city’s first steps toward reducing flood and stormwater damage and increasing drought resilience by creating a “pocket forest” with a great diversity of tree species that will collaborate to deepen soils that absorb and hold water, many times that of a stand of a single tree species. Go HERE.
Thursday, March 26th, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Learn about and support the critical work of the LUCE immigrant justice hotline and rapid response network by attending this virtual event (1) Register to attend HERE. (2) Forward THIS FLYER to your contacts with a personal note about why you support LUCE! (3) Sign up to be a co-host or co-sponsor HERE. (Co-hosts invite family, friends, and colleagues to attend and donate to this event; co-sponsors do so on behalf of their organizations.)
Friday March 27, 2:30 - 4:30 pm. The UMass Energy Transition Institute, School of Earth and Sustainability, and Clean Energy Extension invites you to the Campus Decarbonization Forum. At this event we will explore the challenges and look at what a few Universities have done, or plan to do, to transition their campus to clean energy. We're expecting a strong turnout, so please RSVP here to ensure we have adequate space for you! Gunness Student Center, Marcus Hall (subject to change if we need a larger space - we will contact those on the RSVP list if there is a location change).
Saturday March 28, All Day.
No Kings Day 3 History is on our side. On June 14, 2025, five million
people rose up to say “No Kings.” On October 18, 2025, seven million
more made it unmistakable: America does not do dictators. On March 28,
we rise again — stronger, broader, and more united than ever. Every No Kings event is rooted in nonviolent action. We de-escalate conflict, act
lawfully, and never bring weapons. When People Power United says
“fight,” we mean fierce advocacy — never violence. Our work is grounded
in peaceful protest, free speech, voting, and collective action to
defend our rights, freedoms, and democracy. Go HERE.
NO KINGS... NO NUKES! The partial core meltdown at Three Mile Island on March 28, 1979 shattered the myth that American nuclear plants were safe.
The Clamshell Alliance is calling a national action this March 28!
March 28 is the next No Kings Day.
Let’s bring
this message
to millions of
people:
Remember Three
Mile Island.
Deadly
radiation and
mass
evacuations
from the March
28, 1979,
nuclear power
meltdown in
Pennsylvania
alerted the US
and the world
to just some
of the lethal
consequences
of nuclear
energy. Now
federal and
state
governments
(from Massachusetts to Kansas) and the oligarchs and
authoritarians
we resist are
forcing new
nuclear power
on the
American
public. For more
information: https://clamshellalliance.com/
Sunday March 29, 2-4pm. The Reproductive Justice Task Force of FCCPR & Amherst Feminist Generation are pleased to host a book event, including a discussion with the authors, a brief Q & A and book signing with noted reproductive justice activists and scholars, Marlene Gerber Fried and Loretta Ross, educators, authors and feminist social justice activists. Their new book is Abortion and Reproductive Justice: An Essential Guide for Resistance. Mt. Toby Friends Meetinghouse, 194 Long Plain Rd. (Rt. 63), Leverett, MA.
Thursday April 9, 3:30 to 7pm.* Join us for a conversation with journalist Abby Martin, host of The
Empire Files and director of EARTH'S GREATEST ENEMY. The discussion will
begin promptly at 4pm in Science Center
E212 at Amherst College, Amherst, MA. Enter through the main entrance on the west
side of the building, and head up the staircase to your right. Head
right, and the room is at the end of the hallway. Street parking is available in town. The
second documentary from journalist Abby Martin uncovers a shocking
blind spot in the climate conversation: the U.S. military. Go HERE. *Other venues:
That is all but do remember to listen to your Mother, OK?
