Blog Archive

Friday, March 09, 2018

Another Ides of March Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. "Beware the Ides of March" warned some sage to Caesar as he sauntered into Rome back in the day and sure enough, things did not go well for the emperor thereafter. We're not exactly wishing a similar fate for His Malignancy The Mad King but we'll take what we can get; any sort of downfall is acceptable given it happens really soon. Our poet-in-residence will recite a few original pieces for this auspicious occasion and our traveling bard, Tom Neilson will call in concerning one or more of His Malignancy's many hangers-on. Also, The Good Green Witch joins us with an Spring Equinox reminder! As usual, we'll also take you to The Mad King's segment where you will be appraised of his latest sins and those of his court of climate criminals. Also, trips to see the Fool-on-the-Hill and to The Enviro show Echo Chamber will be in order but first it's time for........ Revenge of the Critters! More critter attacks on cars, an angry coyote this time. Wonder if they're partial to all electric ones?

We have blanket coverage for this week's Fool-on-the-Hill: Try the entire Repugnican leadership in congress, all of whom are flat-Earth climate science deniers! Grist and Mother jones tell us: "This year, the Republican-controlled Congress had plenty of opportunities to show where they stand. [The League of Conservation Voters] counted a total of 35 House votes and 19 Senate votes to overturn climate regulations, open up drilling on public lands, undermine the Endangered Species Act, and confirm a slew of Trump-appointed judicial and cabinet nominations." We're sorry but is that the U.S. Congress or some comic book invention like The Brotherhood of Evil??

And speaking of the Mad King's climate criminals guess who wins the Worst of the Worst Award from Gail Collins of the New York Times? Ecological saboteur Scott Pruitt! (see the last show for gruesome details). The runner-up was fellow sab, Ryan Zinke whose time is spent raising his flag at the Dept. of Interior every morning and spending the rest of the day trashing most everything inside the building and out in our....well, Interior. And speaking of the Interior, you probably won't be surprised to learn that oil was the deciding factor in shrinking the Bear Ears National Monument, right? Getting back to The Mad King's oily offshore drilling scheme it seems not all Repugnicans are marching along in goose...um...lock step. Also, it appears Zinke and the Mad King have just reversed the decision to ban import of elephant trophies: read all about it! OK, on to the Ides of March. You will find some of our poet's poetic screeds on His Malignancy on his Facebook page, Devolution Days but you'll have to wade through all The Mad King's sins to find those nuggets of.......wisdom? 

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week calls for a jaunt in the ol' Wayback Machine. Ready?

"If thou fillest thy brain with Boston & New York, with fashion & covetousness, and wilt stimulate thy jaded senses with wine & French coffee thou shalt find no radiance of Wisdom in the lonely waste by the pinewoods." 
                                                                               - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we want to help you with any questions you may have regarding the natural world but hey! why ask us, why not Ask Nature! We actually had a question ourselves for Nature about trees and forests capturing CO2 and we learned that wetlands are big time carbon capturers. Sadly though, Ask Nature programmers need to get busy with those trees and forests facts. The publication Inhabitat informed us recently that "Coca-Cola and Nestle are pushing to take ownership of the Guarani Aquifer in Brazil." O, did we mention that's the 2nd LARGEST aquifer on Earth??  Not to worry though, they will sell it back to you in one-way toxic plastic bottles! And this: "Emissions from Fracking 5 Times Higher than Reported" Here's The Enviro Show Blog Action link: Save Tongass National Forest Old-growth Trees! 

After our conversation with Tom and The Good Green Witch we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:


Thursday, March 22, 6pm. The Nuclear Decommissioning Citizen Advisory Panel meeting at Brattleboro Union High School's Multi Purpose Room. There will be presentations on the new deal to sell Yankee to NorthStar Group Services, and a presentation by Waste Control Services on a plan for all the radioactive waste that isn't hot enough to sit in a cask. There is time on the Agenda for Q&A from the public. Here's the link to the full agenda on the NDCAP home page. You can read more about the agreement with links to the documents and news articles on our website post last week. The Public Utility Commission will hold a public hearing on the sale April 12 at a location to be announced. 


Saturday, March 24, Join millions of people around the world—along with businesses, cities, and landmarks such as the Empire State Building—to turn off my lights from 8:30 to 9:30 local time in celebration of Earth Hour. Can we count on you to stand with us? 


Sunday March 25, 2 to 4pm. “Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees”. In this spectacular film by Jeff McKay,. visionary Scientist and acclaimed author, Diana Beresford-Kroeger opens our eyes to the rich, verdant and intricately woven world of the global forest community. Meeting our giant, carbon-rich relatives for the first time, we are awakened to the necessity to protect and increase their number. Soil biologist Glen Ayers will lead a discussion about possible responses at the close of the film. Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA.


Monday, March 26, Noon. "LET MY PEOPLE GO! Exodus from Fossil Fuels: An Interfaith Witness for Climate Action." People from all faith traditions will gather at the State House in downtown Boston to witness to climate injustice in our state and to speak truth to Governor Baker.  After an interfaith ceremony at the State House, we will then move in procession to the Back Bay, where a new pipeline project is slated to power luxury high rises with fracked gas.  Supported by prayer, a smaller group will carry out an act of peaceful civil disobedience to keep fossil fuels in the ground. RSVP at the link on the Facebook page.


Wednesday March 28, 7pm. Old Growth Guru Bob Leverett presentation addresses the role of larger, older trees, and late successional forests in effectively sequestering carbon. Hitchcock Center for the Environment 845 West St, Amherst, MA. Call: 413) 256-6006


Wednesday, March 28, 7pm. Join co-editors Sigrid Schmalzer and Dan Chard at the book launch of their new volume, "Science for the People: Documents from America's Movement of Radical Scientists." Broadside Books, (247 Main St.Northampton) and will include a talk by Dan Chard and Sigrid Schmalzer, followed by a book signing.



April 5, 6-8pm. Mass Ave Listening Session. University of Massachusetts Center,1500 Main Street, Springfield, MA The Mass Dept. of Energy Resources (DOER) has scheduled a series of listening sessions, offering the public a chance to comment on the Mass Save program. This is a great time for the public to give input on ideas as well as concerns they have with the program such as long wait times for energy assessments, inconsistencies in implementation of weatherization measures and commercial utilities being administrators of the program, and so on. Email: matt.rusteika@state.ma.us



Starting Saturday April 7 leading up to The Berkshire Earth Expo on SATURDAY, APRIL 21 :: 10AM – 5pm. A MONTH OF EARTH EVENTS! Come to learn from experts, talk to your neighbors about what they’re doing, enjoy performances, shop, and get inspired. Click here for all the info.


Saturday, April 7, 10am to 4pm. Valley Vegfest 2018, featuring passionate speakers, vegan food vendors, veg-friendly products and services, and non-profit organizations dedicated to animal welfare, healthy living, and environmental advocacy.  Admission is free! Details at http://www.valleyveg.org/vegfest.


Friday April 13, 12:15 p.m. Michael E. Mann of Penn State University will be speaking on "The Madhouse Effect: A Post-Election Climate Change Update"  in room H402 of Hawthorne Hall on the campus of Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA. The event is free and open to the public. For further information, visit:



Saturday, April 14, 1pm to 3pm (time subject to change). 2018 March for Science Boston: Science Strikes Back! Last year, some 50,000 people came together in Boston to defend science. This year, we're not just marching—we're striking back! We’ve got a three-part plan to champion evidence-based climate and energy policy. We'll rally in Christopher Columbus Park (by the Aquarium T stop). RSVP for the rally here and nominate speakers for the event!


Sunday, April 15, 2-4pm. “Massachusetts Forests in The Era of Climate Change” With Michael Kellett, Executive Director of RESTORE: The North Woods. The protection of Massachusetts forests is vital in: storing carbon to help mitigate and reverse climate change; providing critical habitat for native plants and wildlife; saving historic and sacred sites; and offering opportunities for nature-based tourism. Yet, almost all our forests are currently open to resource extraction, thereby undermining these values. With more than 30 years of experience working to protect forests, wildlife, and parks and wilderness, Mr. Kellett will retrace steps leading to our current dilemma and suggest possible remedies. Q&A will follow. Suggested Donation: $10 – Register at: www.hitchcockcenter.org   


OK now, remember: Beware the Ides of March......AND Listen to Your Mother!




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