Greetings Earthlings. We know it sounds wonky but a state Executive Order (EO) like THIS can encourage state agencies and departments to give preference to vendors that avoid deforestation and intact forest degradation. Jennifer Skene, Natural Climate Solutions Policy Manager, International Program at NRDC joins us to cut through the jargon and find if this is something we can apply to the Commonwealth. [UPDATE: Interview HERE] As always we will introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and those Whose Brains Were Small, as well as pass on our perennial reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Are you ready for one of the best?
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Rep. Ralph Norman (Repug-SC) who, as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee discussing disapproval resolutions that would curtail the Biden administration’s protections for two species stated: "I see the bald eagle; that makes sense. I see the bears; that makes sense. But long-eared bats? I hope the white-nose syndrome wipes all of them out." Hmmm, we guess he missed the memo......or he's just another fool.
Would we surprised if Ralph is also just another climate denier? Nah! Anyway, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" Some of the news coverage on the horrific fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui is pointing toward the unusual drought-like conditions that were present before that conflagration. Interestingly, there's also talk of how Lahaina, where some of the worst damage occurred, was once mostly wetland. “Lahaina wasn’t always a dry, fire-prone region. It was very wet and lush, historically. Boats would circle the famous Waiola Church. Lahaina was also the breeding place of aquaculture. It had some of the world's first and most innovative systems of fish ponds. But at the dawn of the 18th century, sugar barons arrived and illicitly diverted the water to irrigate the lands they had stolen" Native resident Kaniela Ing noted. Too make matters worse "In the wake of the devastating Hawaii wildfires, experts fear a broader environmental catastrophe is only just starting to unfold." Add to that the recent corporate welfare subsidy for illusive industrial carbon capture reminds us of "clean coal". If you REALLY want carbon capture #EndLoggingOnPublicLand and stop trashing oceans, wetlands, prairies, and farmland, OK?? Finally, some good news on the climate front: "‘Game-changer’: judge rules in favor of young activists in US climate trial."
Our newest segment, "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" has us thinking the U.S. Forest Service has always behaved like the reptiles of long ago, browsing about without any awareness of....well...much of anything? USFS latest...um..thinking? Is sadly, the same as it ever was. "The Forest Service faces criticism for projecting that forests could become carbon emitters by 2070 instead of continuing as carbon sinks." Now, why on Earth would they think that? 😏
Are you ready for an Enviro Show Quote of the Week? You'll have to climb into the Wayback Machine for this one:
"Love every leaf… Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you have perceived it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day, and you will come at last to love the world with an all-embracing love. " - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
It looks like we're Abidin' with Biden this week after he protected one million acres around the Grand Canyon National Park. "Based on a proposal led by Tribal Nations, this move will conserve a key source of clean drinking water in the region. The
National Monument designation will protect the Grand Canyon and its
unique ecosystems from uranium mining and other destructive projects", that from the League of Conservation Voters. That said, 57 percent of U.S. folks disapprove of Biden’s handling of climate change, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. But how many of them are MAGA Death Cult types or people who just don't follow the news? Then there's the climate activists noted above who don't buy the Prez's claim that he "practically" declared a Climate Emergency. Count us among them, so are we really abidin'? Nah! Worse, check this out: "The White House argues that a court order it opposes and is appealing
requires federal officials to lease more than 78 million acres of the
Gulf of Mexico for fossil fuel exploration. Environmental groups,
however, assert that federal law gives the administration broad
discretion over whether or not to hold such sales. In
fact, Biden’s officials have instead used that power to officially
declare that the warnings in the recent Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) report “does not present sufficient cause" to reevaluate the drilling plan and that "there is no constitutional right to a stable climate system,” according to court records Whoa! Given Biden's campaign pledge we guess that's some serious backslidin'.
After our conversation with Jennifer it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Beginning Wednesday, September 6 through October 18, we'll Zoom meet from 7:00-9:00 PM ET to delve into almost every aspect of plastic pollution and what we can do, as both individuals and a society, to address it head on. You can learn more about the class and register here.
Tuesday September 5, 12 – 3pm. Western Massachusetts Solar Forum, Session 1: Solar in Massachusetts – Past, Present, and Future. Introduction; Solar Energy Basics; The Solar Market in 2023; State Climate Goals; Current State Laws, Regulations, and Planning; Future Needs for Electricity, Solar, Energy Storage, and the Grid. Register and learn about other sessions HERE.
Tuesday, September 12th from 12-2 pm. Join NDN Collective, Amnesty and many more for a rally to Free Leonard Peltier RSVP here! We will meet at the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW) on the Lafayette Square side) Go HERE.
Tuesday September 12, 6 to 8:30pm. Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines - Public Input Session. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs invites you to join a public meeting about a comprehensive effort to conserve and manage forest land in the Commonwealth known as the Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative. This meeting is intended to obtain general input on the approach and content of the Guidelines. A second public meeting will be held in November to seek feedback on specific issues related to draft Guidelines. An Agenda, meeting link, and other information will follow.Written feedback is also welcome. Please send suggestions and ideas to: guidelines@mass.gov
Wednesday September 13, 3pm. Join our webinar to find out how to bring Direct Pay to YOUR community.What if every city hall had solar panels and every school used electric vehicle charging stations to charge their school buses? What if all public housing was weatherized and energy efficient? What if we could create good jobs in your community? Go HERE.
Thursday September 14, 11 a.m. Join the Center for Biological Diversity Population and Sustainability Campaigner Kelley Dennings and other population advocates on for a webinar hosted by Population Connection. We’ll discuss the Population Institute’s recent report on how climate change affects the most vulnerable communities worldwide. Register today to join the webinar.
Sunday September 17, Noon to 1:30pm. Event-Farming in the Climate Crisis: Panel and Action Plan with Local farmers and State Rep Natalie Blais. The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, 8 Church Street, Greenfield, MA.
Sunday September 17, 1pm. March to End Fossil Fuels.The march will start at 1pm at the intersection of 5th Ave and W 59th St, near the southeast corner of Central Park.
Please keep in mind that thousands of people (let alone dozens of
buses) can not all meet at the same intersection. We will provide more
detailed instructions for buses and group meeting locations closer to
the date of the march. The exact route and end point of the march are still being determined. We will update this website HERE If you are organizing a bus, please email griffin@climateorganizinghub.org so we can keep you updated. WMass buses HERE.
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