This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Kentucky Repugnican Thomas Massie. You may recall this Repug as one of the MAGA Cult's gun freaks who posed his whole family holding their arsenal for a Christmas card photo (after he saw Rep. Boebert do the same). Massie also introduced a one-sentence bill that would abolish the U.S. Department of Education, perhaps an indicator of the Repug's aversion to intelligence. And we read, "Massie has emerged as one of the G.O.P.’s most dedicated critics of liberal climate plans."[ Hold on, they are scientific climate plans, OK?] So, stupid is as stupid does and this fool surely fits that profile.
We are most assuredly not Abidin' with Biden these days given his recent betrayal on the climate killer Willow Project. You may recall on the campaign trail candidate Biden committed to end new oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters? Well, that was then and this is now: "Three environmental groups... filed a 30-day notice of their intent to sue the Biden administration for refusing to respond to a petition to wind down fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters." That said, we are pleased to report The Administration plans to restrict toxic PFAS chemicals "requir[ing] utilities to remove from drinking water two toxic chemicals found in everything from waterproof clothing to dental floss and even toilet paper". We guess that's a start but given how pervasive these "Forever Chemicals" are we can only wonder how effective any restrictions might be.
We know of 18 Republican attorneys’ general who need to be reminded that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" The Repugs hoped to "intervene in a... suit by youths claiming the U.S. government has breached its duty to protect their rights to a life-sustaining climate, a move advocates took as a signal the case could have new life....The suit was filed back in 2015 by Our Children's Trust,... Judge Aiken denied the federal government's bid to have the suit dismissed in October 2018, saying the plaintiffs had standing to sue." Longtime Enviro Show listeners may recall our coverage on this effort. And this: "Carbon emissions from wildfires in boreal forests, the earth’s largest land biome and a significant carbon sink, spiked higher in 2021 than in any of the last 20 years, according to new research." Sounds like another tipping point candidate from here! 😒 Finally this on the recent IPCC report: "The world now needs to cut emissions by 60 percent by 2035 — compared with 2019 levels — to avoid increasingly severe heat, flooding, drought and extreme weather that will make parts of the world unlivable. That's a key conclusion of the latest assessment from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is made up of the world’s leading climate scientists." Just sayin'
Our other new segment "Their Brains Were Small & They Died" is were fools who are not on The Hill go to enjoy the light of day being shined upon their appalling stupidity or moral deficiency. Yes, we do judge them and for the most part they are universally guilty as charged. Sorry, it just is what it is. You might agree when you learn about this week's candidate, State Rep. Paul Sherrell (Repug-Sparta) who wants to bring “HANGING BY A TREE” back to Tennessee as an amendment to....are you ready?...a firing squad bill! Like the state slogan says: "Tennessee - America at Its Best." 😉
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we come upon a news story in Grist that brings the Climate Crisis and the Sixth Great Extinction together: "Protecting existing [animal] populations and restoring others to their natural habitats often improves the natural capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide within ecosystems, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Climate Change." Sound like common sense? Of course, but it's also science. Read on. How about hearing from Glen on his fave moments during his loooong road trip out West? Finally, here's an update on Cop City and the clearcutting in progress in a section of the Weelaunee Forest near Atlanta, GA.
After our interview with Christine we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Thursday April 13, 6:30pm. Turning a Barren Lawn into Thriving Habitat, by naturalists Charley Eiseman and Julia Blyth – ZOOM talk. Email contact: info@greeninggreenfieldma.org
Thursday April 13, 7pm. MA Sierra Club The Forest Protection Team is dedicated to protecting and preserving forests and trees throughout Massachusetts through education, advocacy and community involvement. All are welcome to attend! Go HERE.
Saturday April 15, 9am to 4pm. Vernal Pool Workshop. We'll begin in the classroom at Berkshire Community College (BCC) with a lecture from Tom, then check out BCC's vernal pool. There will be a break for lunch, which BEAT will provide participants, and then we'll head over to Balance Rock State Park to learn about the vernal pool complex there and examine the species that inhabit them. There is a 24-person capacity limit for this workshop. There is a fee (plus the Eventbrite registration fee) to participate. Register HERE.
Saturday April 15, 12pm. Save the Forest and Build the Voke. 1 Church Street Wakefield MA - Lake Quannapowitt. A demonstration aimed at saving our beloved forest, Saturday, April 15 at 12pm at 1 Church Street Wakefield, MA Lake Quannapowitt at the Gazebo. As you may be aware, the forest is threatened to be cut down as early as mid-April. Last week, 75 folks came out to the march. Let's make the next two even bigger! Watch the video here! Please spread the word and invite your friends and family to join us.
Tuesday April 18, 5:30pm. Great Trees and Forests of the Northeast, Past and Present. Bob
Leverett, and his wife Monica Jakuc Leverett, will take us on a virtual
tour of treasured trees and forests in New England and New York. We’ll
learn about the many values of old-growth forests, from both a
scientific and spiritual perspective. This online program will include a
Q&A session after the presentation. Go HERE.
Wednesday April 19, 5pm. Biomass Logging: Bad for Communities, Climate & Forests. An in-depth discussion of biomass logging & biomass logging in the Southeast United States, the impacts it has on local communities, the main corporations benefiting from these practices and how biomass logging is harming forests and our climate. Go HERE.
Wednesday April 19, 6:00pm. Join us to discuss H.3150/S.2117 An Act advancing clean energy, equity, and innovation within municipal utilities. This is an exciting opportunity to learn from a fantastic panel of experts and legislative partners about why this legislation is an important part of the Commonwealth’s effort to combat the climate crisis and advance climate justice. Take action and join us by RSVPing here.
Thursday, April 20, 7 p.m We celebrate both Earth Day and the Act’s stunning record of success. You’ll hear from Center for Biological Diversity staff who’ll share stories of protecting some of the most iconic species and their journeys toward recovery. The event is free, but registration is required, so sign up and check your email for a link.
Monday April 24, 7pm. Climate Action Now Gathering with Melissa Hoffer - First ever Climate Chief in the Commonwealth. Go HERE.
Tuesday April 25, 7pm. Elders Climate Action Monthly National Call. What You Need to Know About Permitting Reform with Dana Nuccitelli. Permitting
reform has become the key climate policy of 2023. Citizens’ Climate
Lobby Research Coordinator and climate journalist Dana Nuccitelli will
discuss what permitting reform is, why it’s so important for America’s
climate targets, what the Biden Administration and Congress can do to
achieve it, and why some climate justice organizations are concerned
about it. Go HERE.
Thursday May 4, 10am. The legislative sponsors of the Municipal Reforestation bill
(Senator Cynthia Creem, Rep. Steven Owens and Rep. Jennifer Armini) are
hosting a legislative briefing for legislators on May 4 at 10 a.m. in
Room 428 of the State House, to describe the purpose of the bill and to
encourage their colleagues to co-sponsor the bill. Organizations devoted to planting more trees in urban areas and
maintaining and preserving the ones we have are invited to attend. This
will give you an opportunity to learn more about the Municipal
Reforestation bill, as well as the Public Shade tree bill, and also to
meet legislators and their staff who attend. More info soon. Contact HERE.
..
Thursday May 25, 7 pm Balancing Sustainability, Growth & Development in Plymouth, MA. Plymouth Great Hall, 26 Court Street. Zoom and In Person. Community Land and Water Coalition will be a featured speaker on the panel for this discussion about development in Plymouth. Please join us! Contact sustainableplymouth@gmail.com with questions.
Wednesday, April 26, 7 – 8 p.m. ACLU Virtual Advocates Academy: Preparing Written and Oral Testimony. One of the best ways to appeal to our elected officials is by giving testimony at public meetings in cities, towns, and the State House. But if you've ever been to one of these meetings, you know that it's not always easy for speakers to get their point across effectively. Go HERE.
Saturday May 6, 11am to 1pm. Conway Woods Walk. Conway residents and the public are
invited to join a woods walk to tour Town Farm Forest. Forester Mary
Wigmore, Mass Audubon ecologists, and Indigenous leaders will run the
walk to discuss the property's current forest stewardship climate plan
and options for future forest stewardship. Town Farm Forest, Meet at Cricket Hill Rd in Conway, MA Park by the cemetery about half a mile up Cricket Hill Rd on the left. Go HERE.
That's all for now folks but please do remember to listen to your Mother, OK?
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