The Deforestation or Reforestation Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. The recent use of overwhelming force by Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and the NPD (with State Police back-up) to cut down and destroy a perfectly healthy row of Cherry Trees on the aptly named Warfield Place reminds us about the kind of mindset far too many arrogant bureaucrats embrace when it comes to trees and those who value them. Katie Young joins us with the gruesome details. Thankfully, on the sunny side, MA Senator Cynthia Creem talks to us about S. 504/ H. 905 An Act establishing the municipal reforestation program. Doesn't reforestation sound so much friendlier than deforestation? As usual, we will also bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to see if we are Backslidin' with Biden who may have forgotten "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!". That and our Quote of the Week but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters! Slight young men probably shouldn't taunt big old elephants.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is back for a repeat performance. Yes, it's addled Repugnican RonJon back at it again. This time at a Repugnican Women's Luncheon he said, "I don't know about you guys, but I think climate change is -- as Lord Monckton said -- bullsh*t," Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson said, without uttering the word but mouthing it, and referring to British conservative climate change denier Lord Christopher Monckton. "By the way, it is", he added. Sounds a bit like transference from here. 

I guess we are Backslidin' with Biden when we find tweets like this from the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute: "Biden's #InfrastructureBill needs to get bolder for the sake of the planet. Agreeing to roll back environmental laws, while increasing subsidies for fossil fuels and harmful extractive logging is a #DirtyDeal". Read their entire "Statement on the Infrastructure Bill" HERE (pdf). Granted, many of the anti-forest and pro-fossil fuel and biomass provisions to the bill may have been added in Congress but The Prez has publicly endorsed the bill and it's on him to see to it that it's not business-as-usual. And this from Common Dreams: "The Biden White House announced Thursday that it will not extend an eviction moratorium that's set to expire...claiming a recent Supreme Court ruling rendered the administration powerless to act on its own. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Congress must act "without delay" to "extend the eviction moratorium to protect such vulnerable renters and their families." Does that sound like passing the buck to the Congressional black hole? 

Time now to remind folks that it's "The Climate Crisis, Stupid!" (an obvious take off on the old Clinton-era myopic meme on the economy). Once again, The West is burning and in some places it may burn into the Fall (no pun intended but hey!). "In the remainder of the year, fire conditions will likely get worse before they get any better. According to a fire outlook report released by National Interagency Fire Center, the months of August and September are expected to have above average fire activity before conditions improve in October." Here's a totally anthropocentric headline for you: "Eliminating Carbon Emissions by 2050 Would Save 74 Million Lives This Century". Is no one counting the other species on the planet? 

Time for The Enviro Show Quote of the Week: 

“The trees encountered on a country stroll/ Reveal a lot about that country’s soul / A culture is no better than its woods.”

― W.H.Auden

After our conversations with Katie and Senator Creem we go to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday August 20, 4:30 to 5:30pm and Every Friday.  Speak out for Clean Air! Come join our 'Put Peakers in the Past Coalition' for this stand-out protest to let folks know about Pittsfield Generating’s peaker power plant. They are filing for renewal of their Air Quality Permit, which would give them permission to keep polluting our air - we must stop it! At the corner of Thorndyke and Dalton Ave. in Pittsfield, MA.   Contact Info: rose@thebeatnews.org

Read all about it at No Frack Gas in Mass

Monday August, 23, 7 to 9pm.  Climate Action Now monthly Zoom gathering. We’ve been have 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.  

Wednesday August 25, 6 to 7:30pm. Climate Activist Tool kit Part 2.  Elders Climate Action proudly presents The Climate Activist Toolkit, a 3-part summer workshop series designed to build our strengths as climate advocates. These facilitated workshops will cover a range of topics including Tools for Meeting with Elected Officials, The Power of Personal Stories, and Communicating for Climate Action. We’ll dive into helpful skills, tools and strategies relevant to our members working at local, state, and federal levels. Participants will engage in small-group work (via Zoom breakout rooms) to discuss personal strategies and ideas, practice skills through role play, and plan how to engage in actions. Register HERE

Wednesday September. 8, 7:30pm. .Join WMass Extinction Rebellion to hear about recent actions and plan for our next steps toward regenerative culture and action against fossil fuel infrastructure. Place TBA. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/2984852311835948 

Friday September 17, All Day.  The radical change we need will only come from lots of ordinary people taking action. We must find the means to enter the public discourse where the truth and the extent of climate action required to avert climate catastrophe, biodiversity loss, and minimize the risk of social and ecological collapse can emerge. Treat this year like it’s Do or Die for the planet by standing with us. New York City (specifics coming soon). Go HERE.

 

That is all except for one thing........remember to listen to your Mother