The Toxic Timebomb Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. There's a lot of talk about pesticide spraying out there lately, especially that planned by the state, but what about rodenticide?  Gary Menin, Sr. of We the People Oppose the Toxic Spraying of Pesticides joins us to get into the details and talk about Massachusetts House Bill HD.4206 An Act Relative to Pesticides. As always, we'll bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, do some Backsliden' with Biden?, checkout The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and remind anyone who hasn't been listening that....."It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Maybe we'll even dig up an Enviro Show Quote of the Week but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Another dumb-ass selfie incident from eight years ago should have taught two important lessons: 1) Stay away from Rhinos 2) Don't take advise from strangers.

Our Fool-on-the-Hill this time is yet another seditious Repugnican, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) who is claiming "There was no insurrection" on January 6.  During a House oversight committee hearing  discussing what went wrong in police preparation for the Jan. 6 riot, and what the Trump administration did not do to quell the violence, Clyde lied, “Let me clear: There was no insurrection, And to call it an insurrection, in my opinion, is a bold-faced lie.” Not content with that bit of historical denialism he went on to say, ""You know, if you didn't know the TV footage was a video from January 6, you would actually think it's a normal tourist visit."  😖

Sad to say, looks like some Backslidin' with Biden? The Sierra Club pointed out: "President Biden made a counteroffer to Republican lawmakers, taking a step backward on his original infrastructure plan and on critical funding needed to undertake transformational change that would foster cleaner air and water, higher wages, greater equity, healthier communities, and a more stable climate."  Say it ain't so, Joe! If you're on Facebook send him a message: https://www.facebook.com/POTUS 

We have an Enviro Show Quote of the Week for you:

“The animals of the planet are in desperate peril. Without free animal life, I believe we will lose the spiritual equivalent of oxygen.” – Alice Walker

Time to remind anyone concerned about....say the gas shortage? anyone filling up plastic bags or tubs with highly flammable petro 'cuz of a perceived gasoline crisis that actually "It's the Climate Crisis,  Stupid!"  And, part of that crisis lies to our north where "Canada's continent-spanning forest used to remove massive amounts of CO2 from the air each year. It was a hugely valuable "carbon sink", slowing the pace of climate change and benefiting our logging industry. But that carbon sink has steadily collapsed to the point where the forest now emits CO2. That adds fuel to our accelerating climate crisis, and spells trouble for Canadian logging."  Frankly, we don't give a damn about any trouble for Canadian logging given the industry is busily engaged in destroying life on the planet. Maybe they didn't get the memo?........Nah! There are better ways to make a living though, how about trying that? 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find the Scientific American confirming what we already knew.....but with science!  "Communities of color in the U.S. have long reported health problems from heavy exposure to polluted air. In recent decades a growing body of data have bolstered these reports by showing that Asian, Black and Hispanic people are exposed to relatively higher concentrations of potentially deadly air pollution on average, compared with white people."  Surprise! Click on the link to get your dose of bar graphs and data.

Looks like it's time for the Bus Stop Billboard: 

Sunday June 20, 11AM. “David and Goliath – Steven Donziger’s Three decades fight v.
Chevron/Big Oil”.  Chevron is going to extradary lengths of punish Steven Donziger for  defending the people of Equador against Chevron's crimes.  Hear the full story.  Click on the link to join CCB ZOOM programs:*Join the Zoom program here. Meeting  ID: 895 5257 5898  Password: 24649  https://communitychurchofboston.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=97f7dfeb0bfd338d2250fe8e5&id=cefa8a73f4&e=57994263fc

Tuesday June 22,  7:00pm. MA Pollinator Network Launch Event. We are looking forward to discussing the broader vision for the MA Pollinator Network and the role of the new Pollinator Network Coordinator in meeting the needs of participants! We will also hear from WesternMassBees on the benefits of participating in a statewide network and what's next for their organization. Additional details about the event will be available in the coming weeks at masspollinatornetwork.org. Register  HERE. 

Thursday, June 24,  4pm. From June 28-July 9, members of Congress will be back in their home districts for recess. You’re invited to a virtual training on how you can make the biggest difference during this important time . It’s crucial that we make sure Democrats in Congress know: NO CLIMATE, NO DEAL. Go HERE. 

Thursday, June 24, 7pm. Build Back Fossil Free full campaign call.  Together, we’ll chart our course for escalating pressure on President Biden to end the era of fossil fuel projects. We also want to get your feedback on the direction of this campaign and make sure we’re doing everything we can to build power together and ultimately, to win. Everyone is busy, so we’re going to keep this to an hour and make the call as efficient as possible. Please register here for this important call.

Monday June 28, All day.  Sunrise is planning a mobilization in DC for June 28! If you're already sure you're coming, fill out this registration form: smvmt.org/june28 

Monday June 28, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now monthly gathering. Cathy Kristofferson of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the North East   Gas utility companies, like Eversource and Berkshire Gas, see the writing on the wall with new climate goals in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In the “fight for their lives,” they plan on piping hydrogen, an expensive, explosive gas, most often generated by burning fossil fuels, into our homes and buildings for heating, cooking and hot water. We’ll explain what the gas utilities plan on doing and why it isn’t safe, affordable, equitable, clean, or green. Plus break-out groups, action updates, small group conversations, and more! Watch for meeting details soon. 

Thursday July 13, 7 to 8:30pm.  Biochar: What it is and What it is Not. Rachel Smolker is co-director of Biofuelwatch. Her work has spanned local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes, including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has researched, written, and organized on the impacts of biofuels, bioenergy and biochar on land use, forests, biodiversity, food, people, and the climate. She has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Michigan and worked previously as a field biologist. She lives in Vermont.  Register HERE for this talk

 

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! 

 

The Rock Dam Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Longtime listeners of the show may recall past coverage of the plight of the Shortnosed Sturgeon an ancient and highly endangered species in the Connecticut River whose spawning ground is at The Rock Dam near the Great Falls (some call it Turners Falls). Environmental journalist Karl Meyer has been joining us on the show for years to help raise awareness of the River and its inhabitants and he returns to us again to walk us through a recent event held at The Rock Dam and to help us understand our responsibility to protect a species that has been on the planet since the days of the dinosaurs. [UPDATE: Here is our Interview with Karl] Recently Karl wrote, "Another season, another sidestep for federal and state fish and environment agencies who fail to act again… and again. And, just one more year for a river without a single independent watchdog–on the four-state Silvio O. Conte Connecticut River National FISH & Wildlife Refuge." Let's change that, OK? As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to witness some Backsliden' with Biden?, as well as a reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Fish lands fisherman.  

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill apparently can't believe his own eyes. Congressman Ralph Norman's (Repugnican-SC) recently questioned whether the mob invading the U.S. Capitol was made of Trump supporters at all. "'A mob of Trump supporters breached the steps.' I don't know who did a poll that it's Trump supporters. You had the media saying the same thing ... I don't know who did the poll to say that they were Trump supporters." 

OK,  we've kind of decided to tag this segment Backslidin' with Biden? instead of "Abidin'.." but we're holding out hope that The Prez will prove us wrong. That said, even our own Rachel Maddow has some question: "President Biden repeatedly, persistently tries to broker bipartisan agreements on infrastructure or, frankly, anything else. But progressives who argue that now is the time for the United States to go big point out that if the president does what Republicans are asking, if he makes the infrastructure bill cost less, the end result is that the bill will do less." Yes, oil and gas pipelines are infrastructure and Inside Climate News' "Biden's Pipeline Dilemma" reminds us, the "Biden administration disappointed environmentalists in April when it announced it would not take immediate action to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline while the government conducts a court-ordered expanded review of its environmental impacts." That, on top of more recent Line 5 and Line 3 controversies. "So far, Biden has sought to walk a middle ground on pipelines, while pushing for the kind of transformative change that would make them obsolete." And, of course, there's THIS  😟

We trust in light of the waning COVID crisis (here in The States at least) people will still recall that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" A big part of that existential threat is directly related to the "grow or die" mentality of the corporados and capitalism in general. The New Republic (of all people) picks up on what many of us terraists have been saying for decades "Giving Up on Economic Growth Could Make Us Cooler and Happier".  Read it and weep, shoppers. The system is the problem. And this, they say it's not related to global warming but "The World’s Largest Iceberg Just Broke Off Of Antarctica" How large is it? Try nearly six times the size of New York City!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we are finally offering another Action Link  like we used to do back in the day. Sorry about that, we guess it just got lost in the COVIDaze. It's a classic, it's about plastic. There's just waaaaay too much of it, OK?

How about an Enviro Show Quote of the Week? Let's go, speaking of classic, on a very short ride in the Wayback Machine:

“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.”   -  Ernest Hemingway

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

 Tuesday July 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  Biochar - What it is and What it Isn't. Rachel Smolker is co-director of Biofuelwatch. Her work has spanned local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes, including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has researched, written and organized on the impacts of biofuels, bioenergy and biochar on land use, forests, biodiversity, food, people and the climate. She has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Michigan and worked previously as a field biologist. She lives in Vermont. Forest Speakers Series, a collaboration of Climate Action Now and Save Massachusetts Forests. More info soon. 

Tuesday June 15, 7 to 8:30pm.  Protecting Massachusetts Forests in a Time of Climate Emergency. Rich Holschuh is a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro, VT) and an independent historic and cultural researcher. He has served on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and is a public liaison and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Elnu Abenaki, members of the contemporary Indigenous community. Rich is founder and director of the Atowi Project, an Elnu community initiative to affirm Native relationships to the Land and its inhabitants, raise Indigenous voices, and foster inclusion with understanding. His work draws upon indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place. Register HERE for this talk  

Tuesday June 22,  7:00pm. MA Pollinator Network Launch Event. We are looking forward to discussing the broader vision for the MA Pollinator Network and the role of the new Pollinator Network Coordinator in meeting the needs of participants! We will also hear from WesternMassBees on the benefits of participating in a statewide network and what's next for their organization. Additional details about the event will be available in the coming weeks at masspollinatornetwork.org. Register  HERE.  

Monday June 28, All day.  Sunrise is planning a mobilization in DC for June 28! If you're already sure you're coming, fill out this registration form: smvmt.org/june28 

Monday June 28, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now monthly gathering. Cathy Kristofferson of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the North East   Gas utility companies, like Eversource and Berkshire Gas, see the writing on the wall with new climate goals in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In the “fight for their lives,” they plan on piping hydrogen, an expensive, explosive gas, most often generated by burning fossil fuels, into our homes and buildings for heating, cooking and hot water. We’ll explain what the gas utilities plan on doing and why it isn’t safe, affordable, equitable, clean, or green. Plus break-out groups, action updates, small group conversations, and more! Watch for meeting details soon. 

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! 

The Hurtling Toward Global Suicide Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Author and journalist Ben Ehrenreich has melded into one tight and amazingly well crafted package all the things we've been talking about on this show since the get-go and before.  "We’re Hurtling Toward Global Suicide - Why we must do everything differently to ensure the planet's survival" will be the dominant feature of this week's show and well it should. The madness of eternal growth embodied in colonialism, capitalism, racism and the War Against Nature will be our collective undoing. In the new Biden Era we may have the opportunity to rethink and act on all of that, but not without bringing others along with us. Please pass it on. As always, we will also invite you to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, do some Abidin' with Biden? and remind anyone who hasn't been listening that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but first it's time for..........Revenge of the Critters! Siberian Tiger attacks car, then knocks down pedestrian in territorial dispute.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is none other than the Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi who was "making concessions in a bid to revive her effort for a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the Capitol" in late April. CNN reported "Pelosi's move to give Republicans some of what they've asked for in the independent panel -- an even number of Democrats and Republicans and equal subpoena power -- places new emphasis on the biggest reason the talks remain stalled: Republicans say the commission must also investigate violence from far left groups surrounding last year's protests of police brutality.."  Say what?  The entire world saw for their own eyes who invaded the Capitol and who in Congress aided and abetted them. Pelosi and the Dems need to WTFU and start the investigation with or without the perps and the Repugs!  

We are now on the cusp of moving from Abidin' with Biden onto Back Sliddin' with Biden, sad to say. After you've heard the piece from Ben Ehrenreich featured on this show you will understand why. While the Prez's first address to Congress last week was refreshing to hear (especially after years of The Mad King's blathering), it was on reflection........not enough. Why? Because, surely you remember, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" And we leave it to Ben Ehrenreich and the past 15 years of The Enviro Show to make that very point. 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we want to share this important Action Alert about our National Forests. Please sign and share with you friends and family. Do it for the Forests!

After you've had your mind blown by Ben we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday May 26, 6:30 to 8pm.  "The Seeds of Vandana Shiva" and film discussion.The Seeds of Vandana Shiva, a feature-length documentary, presents the remarkable life story of the Gandhian eco-activist and agro-ecologist, Vandana Shiva. A classic David versus Goliath tale, the film shows how Vandana, a brilliant scientist, became Monsanto’s worst nightmare and a rock star of the international organic food movement. Many in our Western Mass. region are familiar with this activist who has many friends here and has made many speaking visits to our area.  Go to:  https://forbeslibrary.libcal.com/event/6420896

Wednesday May 26, 7pm.   Climate Emergency Webinar.  Why and how can people of faith become politically engaged in order to push for systemic solutions to the climate crisis on local, state, and national levels? What is it like to move from the sidelines and get involved in public advocacy? Speakers: Sue Swanson (CCJN; Green Team Coordinator, St. Paul's Church, Bedford; State Legislative Team, Mothers Out Front), Lucy Chatfield (Sunrise Movement), the Rev. Fred Small (Faith in Action, Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light), Marty Nathan (Springfield Climate Justice Coalition)  You can register here. 

Thursday May 27, Noon to 1pm. Forests vs. Solar - A False Choice. The Climate Collaborative presents a virtual meeting entitled Forests vs. Solar – A False Choice: Protecting Forests & Making Smart Solar Decisions in Your Community. The presentation will explore the value of forests, tensions associated with large-scale solar installations, and tools for town officials and citizens to make wise planning decisions for their communities.  Register HERE.

Wednesday June 2, 6:30pm-9:00pm. Climate Adaptation & Resiliency in Your Community. Forestland has significant carbon sequestration and storage capabilities, which can be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions. As forests face increasing threats, forestry professionals are working to identify community needs and explore how evolving scientific knowledge could support  climate-informed community forest management. Please join us for an
introduction to the role of carbon in our forests and forest management options, as well as a case study on the Tri-City Carbon Project. For details go to this unreliable source: <https://www.mass.gov/service-details/service-forestry> 

June 5-8, All Day. Hundreds will gather in northern Minnesota for a series of nonviolent direct actions to make a clear statement to the world that the days of tar sands pipelines and other fossil fuel projects are over. Only a major uprising will raise the fight against this pipeline to the top of the nation’s consciousness and force President Joe Biden to stop Line 3 — which is only proceeding with construction thanks to Trump-issued permits. For more background information on the fight against Line 3 and current needs, visit StopLine3.org!

 Tuesday July 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  Biochar - What it is and What it Isn't. Rachel Smolker is co-director of Biofuelwatch. Her work has spanned local grassroots organizing to participation in international processes, including the United Nations conventions on climate and biodiversity. She has researched, written and organized on the impacts of biofuels, bioenergy and biochar on land use, forests, biodiversity, food, people and the climate. She has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Michigan and worked previously as a field biologist. She lives in Vermont. Forest Speakers Series, a collaboration of Climate Action Now and Save Massachusetts Forests. More info soon. 

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! 

A Dirty Zombie Biomass Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. As you may have discovered, the dirty zombie biomass plant proposed for the Asthma Capitol of the Nation (better known as Springfield, MA) may finally be history. Susan Theberge of Climate Action Now joins us along with Mireille Bejjani of Community Action Works, and Springfield resident and activist Elizabeth Pereira returns to the show to do the hopeful postmortem. As usual we'll also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and try Abidin' with Biden for an abbreviated version of the show, but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters!  South African Baboons move in on the Colonials.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Repugnican domestic terrorist Rep. Paul A. Gosar of Arizona, you know, the guy who spoke at a white nationalist conference and allegedly helped plan the rally ahead of the Capitol riot?  The fool whose nine siblings want him removed from office for his anti-American activity. We're thinking besides being a terrorist and a total fascist he's a real fool for staying on, yes?

We're going to continue Abidin' with Biden given his International Climate Summit on Earth Week was pretty much of a success, albeit a qualified one. One of our unanswered questions concerns Gina McCarthy,  White House National Climate Advisor, tasked with coordinating the Biden administration’s domestic climate agenda. Our brief search found McCarthy promoting dirty biomass back in 2015. We aren't finding any recent reference, you? 

We have a lengthy interview segment for this show which we will post above ASAP as well,as this LINK on dirty biomass. For now, it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Saturday, May 15, 1:00 – 3:30pm. The Nolumbeka Project will host a gathering at Peskeompskut Park in Turners Falls, MA, to commemorate the 345th anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre on May 19, 1676. This event is considered the major turning point of King Philip’s War when 300 non-combatant women, children and elders perished at the falls during a surprise pre-dawn attack by Captain William Turner and colonial militia. Bring chairs and blankets for seating. Go here for more: https://www.facebook.com/events/4055328877879282/ 

Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 -8:30pm.  The Climate Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture, Carbon Farming, and Silvopasture.  Presented by Connor Stedman, a farm business planner, climate educator, and Principle and Lead Designer at Appleseed, a Regenerative Design and Holistic Farm Planning firm based in western Massachusetts and the Hudson Valley. Silvopasture unites animal grazing with a forested landscape, to sequester more carbon, reduce carbon emissions, increase crop yields, and improve livestock health. Connor supports farms at all scales to successfully adopt industry-leading carbon farming systems. Connor speaks and consults widely and serves as affiliate instructor with the University of Vermont's innovative Leadership for Sustainability graduate program. Register HERE. 

Saturday May 22, 10:30am to 12:30pm.   CT River Survival Walk II. Walk-the-Walk for endangered shortnose sturgeon.  Join Karl Meyer on a walk to the Rock Dam—the critically endangered habitat and only documented natural spawning site for the federally-endangered Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon. Meyer intervened with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to stop the grim, eroding conditions created by the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project and Turners Falls Dam. He’s written about sturgeon for years and authored the reknowned “Shortnose Stout” beer brand in 2013. Rock Dam is a 200 million year-old natural gem that’s helped keep the thread for this 100 million year old sturgeon species alive on the Connecticut for centuries. Learn about the shortnose’s life cycle and the industrial and natural history of this abused and undefended site going back to pre-dam times. Come, learn, protect.   Directions: Meet at the parking lot at the south end of G Street in Turners Falls for this 3/4 mile walk (1-1/2 mile round trip). Take Avenue A in Turners Falls to 11th Street. Cross the 11^th St. Bridge over the canal and make the first left onto G Street. Follow G to parking lot just before the USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center sign. Program runs rain or shine. ACCESS NOTE: this walk is mostly flat, but access to Rock Dam is on short steep terrain. For further information phone: 413-773-0006

Monday May 24, 7pm.  Climate Action Now MA monthly meeting via Zoom. Registration info and updates: https://www.facebook.com/ClimateActionNowMA/  

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!  

A Solar Steamroller Enviro Show Part II

Greetings Earthlings. Taking out acres upon acres of intact carbon capturing forests to erect industrial solar? What's wrong in this picture? Shutesbury resident Leslie Cerier joins us to follow-up on our last show with news of a proposed 190 acres of forested land, owned by W.D. Cowls going under the axe to make way for industrial solar. [ UPDATE: Interview HERE] As always we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to remind everyone that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!".  Of course, we'll still be Abidin' with Biden and listening for The Enviro Show Echo Chamber but first it's time for........Revenge of the Critters! Giant reptile goes on a shopping spree trashing displays on the way. 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill took issue with a Democratic proposal to expand the Supreme Court from 9 seats to 13 in what should be seen as Great Moments in Hypocrisy. Yes, it's domestic terrorist-in-training Sen. Josh Hawley who opined this concerning the Dem's plan, "It's a terrible idea," Hawley told the Senate press pool. "It is a deliberate attempt to fundamentally change a core institution of American government and effectively to overturn the results of past elections." Wait.......what? Wasn't that what he and his fellow Repugs were doing on January 6?? This is the senator who tried to overturn election results and raising his fist in a salute to the oncoming horde of domestic terrorists marching on the Capitol. He's worse than a fool, of course.

Time to move from the democracy crisis to remind Repugs that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Recently we read that the concentration of atmospheric CO2 surged past 420 parts per million for the first time in recorded history according to a measurement taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii. At the same time it was reported in another study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters that over a third of the area of all Antarctic ice shelves could be at risk of collapsing if global temperatures soar to 4°C above pre-industrial levels. Is it a crisis yet?  

OK, it's a bit hard to be Abiden' with Biden when "Indigenous leaders and climate campaigners... blasted President Joe Biden's refusal to shut down the Dakota Access pipeline during a court-ordered environmental review, which critics framed as a betrayal of his campaign promises to improve tribal relations and transition the country to clean energy." as Common Dreams reported. And, sad to say, when reporters Tweet: "Biden’s Pentagon is going to keep the Trump Pentagon’s policy of embracing landmines. 'A vital tool in conventional warfare,' they call an indiscriminate weapon that kills and maims civilian."  So, we guess the honeymoon is over but at least he's not.......that other guy!  

Speaking of Common Dreams here in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber they reported recently "scientists at the University of Cambridge in England found that 97% of the planet's land area no longer qualifies as ecologically intact" and that "The amount of ecologically intact land 'was much lower than we were expecting,' Dr. Andrew Plumptre, head of the Key Biodiversity Areas Secretariat at Cambridge and lead author of the study, told Science News."  The good news is people and groups are pushing back on all fronts. Join them. Do not despair!

After our interview with Leslie we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard: 

Wednesday, April 29, 7pm.  "Warheads to Windmills" How we can pay for a Green New Deal - A webinar featuring Timmon Wallis, PhD, of NuclearBan.US, and U.S. Representative Jim McGovern.  “Pandemics, inequality, climate, nuclear weapons: of the four great problems threatening our existence, one is very easy to solve and this might just be the moment to cross it off the list.” – Timmon Wallis.  Register for this webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_PwFdPYogQrWKQgjS2UlNMw    

Monday May 3, 7-8:30 pm.  Who's Delaying Climate Action in MA? Go HERE.

Tuesday, May 4, 1:00–2:00pm. Environmental advocates, business leaders, and lawmakers will gather virtually to kick off their campaign to pass the 100% Clean Act (H.3288, S.2136) during the 2021–2022 legislative session. This bill will transition Massachusetts to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and 100 percent clean heating and transportation by 2045.  RSVP here. You will receive an email with a link to join the Zoom event. 

Wednesday, May 19, 7:30 -8:30pm.  The Climate Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture, Carbon Farming, and Silvopasture.  Presented by Connor Stedman, a farm business planner, climate educator, and Principle and Lead Designer at Appleseed, a Regenerative Design and Holistic Farm Planning firm based in western Massachusetts and the Hudson Valley. Silvopasture unites animal grazing with a forested landscape, to sequester more carbon, reduce carbon emissions, increase crop yields, and improve livestock health. Connor supports farms at all scales to successfully adopt industry-leading carbon farming systems. Connor speaks and consults widely and serves as affiliate instructor with the University of Vermont's innovative Leadership for Sustainability graduate program. Register HERE.  

Until next time please remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!  

 

A Solar Steamroller Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. As you might imagine, we support solar power on this show but we are, at the same time, forest protectors and hopeless tree huggers. The current fad of clear cutting intact carbon capturing forests for the placement of industrial solar arrays is, as we speak, being challenged within the climate activist community. Heidi Ricci, Director of Policy at Mass Audubon joins us to shed light on the issue. [UPDATE: Interview HERE]  As always, we'll also take you to learn about this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and about our Abbin' with Biden, as well as a reminder "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for........Revenge of the Critters! Killer Whales are killing it off the coast of Spain & Portugal.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is overgrown fratboy Rep. Matt Gaetz (Repug- FLA), top low life in Congress who can't even find many friends among his fellow Repugnican scum, and given their seditious record that's saying something. Gaetz was under investigation for possible sex trafficking by the DOJ when that arch toady, AG Barr was in charge and now, with a real Attorney General at the helm, the investigation is expanding to include a rogues gallery of other odious fascists. As probes deepen into the morally repugnant behavior of Gaetz and his cohorts (Roger Stone and Rep. Jim Jordan among them) it appears these Repugs did little to cover their heinous acts, making them utter fools besides being disgusting low-life and seditious traitors.  There. We said it and we're glad. 

We are still Abbidin' with Biden this week as he introduces his historic Infrastructure Plan, officially titled The American Jobs Plan. Delving into the plan however, we find some curious items such as the creation of a "Civilian Climate Corps" which seems undefined in its mission. Will the Corps just plant or replant trees without protecting and preserving existing forests? What does this mean: "Every dollar spent on rebuilding our infrastructure during the Biden administration will be used to prevent, reduce, and withstand the impacts of the climate crisis." Does that include natural carbon capture? When it says "President Biden’s plan will protect and, where necessary, restore nature-based infrastructure – our lands, forests, wetlands, watersheds, and coastal and ocean resources."  Does that mean our National Forests will become off limits to commercial logging so they can continue to capture and store CO2 emissions undisturbed? Here's a thought: How about WE ASK! (Chances are you'll just get a polite non-committal automated response. Think of that as an inducement to keep at it. 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find this headline and sub-head in The Guardian: "Disease outbreaks more likely in deforestation areas, study finds - Tree-planting can also increase health risks if it focuses too narrowly on small number of species, paper says".  The fore we've been talking about on this show since COVID-19 first raised its spiky little head, the latter is....um...interesting? The piece goes on to point out: "Even tree-planting can increase health risks to local human populations if it focuses too narrowly on a small number of species, as is often the case in commercial forests, the research found." Here's the LINK to the study in question.  And here's some  good  news from MassLive: The Zombie Dirty Biomass plant in Springfield had it's permit revoked by the MA State DEP! 

Time to remind all those Spring Break party goers out there that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!"  Rather than dump all the usual doom and gloom on you today how about we reference this upbeat piece, also from The Guardian about "using our imagination" and turn the deserts green!  This is intriguing: "Within a couple of decades, the Weather Makers believe, the Sinai could be transformed from a hot, dry, barren desert into a green haven teeming with life: forests, wetlands, farming land, wild flora and fauna. A regreened Sinai would alter local weather patterns and even change the direction of the winds, bringing more rain, the Weather Makers believe – hence their name."  Sounds like a plan, yes?     OK, enough feel good, let's get back to the grim: "Despite all the dire warnings, corporate pledges, and tree-planting promises, forests keep falling at an alarming pace. In a report out Wednesday morning, experts tallied up all the acres of the most important forests lost in 2020 and found that it amounts to an area the size of the Netherlands." That from Grist. Are we walking in balance now?

How about an Enviro Show Quote of the Week? 

“Incrementalism and those little steps are not enough. Not right now. Not on climate change…We have a global crisis  We have got to move urgently - urgently and boldly.”     - Bernie Sanders

 After our conversation with Heidi we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Monday April 19, 12 to 1:30pm.  Fireside Chat with Gina McCarthy. As a leading advocate for strategies to protect public health and the environment for more than 30 years, new White House National Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy is well positioned to take charge of President Biden’s massive climate agenda. In this Op-Talk, Boston Globe editorial page editor Bina Venkataraman will talk with the top domestic climate official about her new role in creating a sustainable world.  RSVP 

Saturday, April 24, 10:30 – 12:30pm. THE GREAT EARTH WEEK WALK FOR RIVER JUSTICE .Honor Earth Week on an “unnatural” history walk via the Franklin County Bikeway through the magnificent French King Gorge to the giant tunnels of the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. The Connecticut is sucked backward here daily, killing tens of millions of fish and aquatic animals annually. Northfield is a VT Yankee nuclear vestige that’s killed here for 49 years. Its Canadian owners want a new 50 year federal license. Join this river revival walk for future generations. Community leaders, energy experts and stakeholder/journalist Karl Meyer will speak along the way. Kids and bicycles welcome. Bring water, a snack, and your mask. Please leave pets at home. Directions: Meet for this 1-1/2 mile walk (3-mile round trip) at Dorsey Rd., Erving, beneath the French King Bridge. Via Rt. 2 E, go across the French King Bridge. Dorsey is 1/3 of a mile on the right. Traveling 2 W, continue past the bowling alley. Dorsey is the left turn immediately after the MA Highway Garage sign on the right. Head down Dorsey to the bridge.** NOTE: This walk is on level terrain, and turns around at Ferry Rd./Pine Meadow Rd. in Northfield. Route is both paved and dirt, and may not be suitably wheelchair accessible. For further information contact: anna.gyorgy@crocker.com Or phone: 413-773-0006 

Sunday April 25, 1pm. Climate Emergency Rally & Parade. Boston XR event will begin at the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston with a couple of speakers and some climate disco (a choreographed dance party in the name of the earth). We will then parade around the City of Boston to express gratitude for our planet and its biodiversity while also pushing the state and city for immediate action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency. This event will be "Emergency" themed filled with climate firefighters, dancing, and lively music. Climate can't wait; 2050 is too late. We demand that the City of Boston and State of Massachusetts declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency and act on it!   Go to: https://xrmass.org/action/earth-day-celebration-2021/   

Monday April 26, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now MA has been having wonderful virtual gatherings via ZOOM during the time of COVID closure. Look out for zoom registration details before the next meeting in our newsletter or on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/ClimateActionNowMA  

Wednesday, April 29, 7pm.  "Warheads to Windmills" How we can pay for a Green New Deal - A webinar featuring Timmon Wallis, PhD, of NuclearBan.US, and U.S. Representative Jim McGovern.  “Pandemics, inequality, climate, nuclear weapons: of the four great problems threatening our existence, one is very easy to solve and this might just be the moment to cross it off the list.” – Timmon Wallis.  Register for this webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_PwFdPYogQrWKQgjS2UlNMw 

OK folks!  Do remember to........LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!