A Climatic Summer Solstice 2024 Enviro Show

[ Hear the whole show HERE anytime]

Greetings and Happy Summer Solstice Earthlings. As we mark Litha: Celebrating the Height of Sun’s Power, we will also question the actions of certain parties on Beacon Hill who abuse their power in this time of Climate Crisis. Michael Kellett of Restore the North Woods and Janet Sinclair of Save Mass Forests return to the show to speak truth to power. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Who Brains are Small", as well as checkout our Critter of the Week, remind you that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! Poachers beware: What goes around comes around. 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is living proof that the MAGA Death Cult will accept anyone  with a pulse. "Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., is introducing a bill to rename the immediate waters surrounding the U.S., called the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as the "Donald John Trump Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States." notes Faux "news".  Like so many Repugnican bills in the present Congress it will die a well deserved death in the Senate. That said, we are reminded of efforts to remove His Malignancy's name elsewhere.

Let's stick to the bad players here in "Their Brains Were Small & They Died" segment. These guys are said to be "manosphere influencers". One of them, Jordan Peterson was dubbed “custodian of the patriarchy” by the New York Times.  Sound old school? Exactly. Old as the small brained dinosaurs. His right-wing “think tank,” Alliance for Responsible Citizenship,(sic) "served as a collective mouthpiece for the views this infamous right-wing influencer. Peterson’s views can be summarized by the 'climate hysteria' iceberg meme—environmentalism is merely a Trojan horse for Marxism." The rap sheet for him and his knuckle-dragging cohort is long, tedious and truly as dated as any dusty pile of Tyrannosaurus rex bones in a museum storeroom.  Look out for the asteroid, boys!

Contrary to what manosphere influencers would have you believe, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" You may recall during our past shows we often note that methane is even worse that CO2  in terms of global warming. Recently, Grist has reported : "As food waste and other organic matter decompose, they generate methane and other noxious gases. As a result, landfills are responsible for nearly a fifth of the country’s methane emissions, but almost half of U.S. landfills have not installed gas-capture systems, nor are they required to. In fact, emissions from many smaller landfills are not regulated by the EPA at all." What's wrong in THAT picture? The article goes on, "There are more than 2,600 landfills across the country, and they leak the equivalent of 287 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year into the air — a volume comparable to that which would result from operating 74 coal plants. A recent study by Carbon Mapper, a nonprofit that operates methane-detecting satellites, found methane emissions from landfills are 40 percent higher than previously estimated by the EPA." While cleaning up our collective mess is critical to pushing back on climate chaos so is bringing up our energy transmission systems so they can carry all the clean energy going on line. Another Grist piece states: "America’s energy system has a problem: Solar and wind developers want to build renewable energy at a breakneck pace — and historic climate legislation has fueled their charge with financial incentives worth billions of dollars. But too often the power that these projects can produce has nowhere to go. That’s because the high-voltage lines that move energy across the country don’t have the capacity to handle what these panels and turbines generate." Here's a thought, instead of clearcutting mature carbon capturing forests for industrial solar how about upgrading the distribution system ??

Sadly we have some Backslidin' with Biden to report. Our friends at the John Muir Project have just pointed out the release of The Prez's  Old-growth  report has a logging truck size hole in it for.......guess what? increased old-growth logging! Perhaps Joe doesn't know enemies of the earth like Thom Vilsack or Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen are pulling a fast one on him? We'll give him the benefit of doubt for the time being. The Muir response notes: "Over 200 U.S. scientists recently sent a letter to the Administration urging complete protection from logging for all mature and old-growth forests on public lands, which the Administration ignored."

Our Critter of the Week is THE world's most trafficked animal on the planet. Saving Pangolins from Extinction due to human stupidity is a serious challenge. Don't just take our word for it, Sir David Attenborough said it all. Pangolins don't survive in zoos or as pets. They belong in the Wild, undisturbed. It's as simple as that. 

Just received a fund raising pitch from The Center for Food Safety which began "70% of genetically engineered (GMO) food in the supermarket is not labeled".  Seems like an Enviro Show Echo Chamber moment, no? Yes, so I went to their webpage (buried beneath far too many useless monetized posts on Yahoo Search) and found a Shoppers Guide to Avoiding GE Food. You can download it to your device (if you have one) HERE.  Also, given last week's heatwave (or heat dome, if you prefer) it's time once again to Shave the Peak. There are ways to beat the heat without adding to the problem.....as much. 😒  Finally, for those of you who thought No Nukes in the Commonwealth is soooo '70s (or '80s) guess who wants a redo in the 2020s? That would be certain parties on Beacon Hill, maybe even the Gov. who want to call it "Clean Energy". Go HERE. O wait, time for a comedic break! 

Time for our Enviro Show Quote of the Week:

“Forests are the world’s air-conditioning system – the lungs of the planet – and we are on the verge of switching it off.”

- King Charles 

After our interview with Michael & Janet it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Happy Plastic Free July!  Learn more here or here  It all began when Rebecca Prince-Ruiz visited her local recycling sorting center in Perth, Australia, in 2011. She had always thought of herself as being eco-conscious, but after looking around at the heavy machinery sorting an endless stream of bottles, tubs, jars, cans and boxes, she had an aha moment. And this from Boston XR: "Sign up to join the State House Stand-Out for a weekday shift between 11 am and 3 pm, by emailing fossilfuels.standout.ma@proton.me! Watch this short documentary by Boston University student Linus Brier for an inside look into the Stand-Out. 

 Monday July 8,  9:30am to 12pm. The Summer of Heat is well underway, for both heat waves and our movement “turning up the heat” on Wall Street big banks. During the first few weeks of Summer of Heat in New York City, Citi, Chubb insurance, and other targets have heard loud and clear from hundreds of people marching, rallying, and practicing nonviolent protest that financiers must stop funding fossil fuels and accelerate investments in clean energy. Third Act is part of this summer-long effort to disrupt business as usual on Wall Street. Next up is another Elders Day in New York City on July 8 with climate luminaries like Bill McKibben, Gus Speth, faith leaders Rev. Jim Antal and Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas.... and YOU! Please join us:  Go HERE. 

 

Tuesday July 9, 10am. Join us to tell Bank of America to Stop Funding Fossil Fuels – SUMMER OF HEAT event.  157 Great Road, Bedford, MA. Bring a sign, or grab a sign we will provide.  Bring a friend, or come by yourself as we stand across from Bank of America with a strong message that it’s time to switch to renewable energy.  Come for 30 minutes or stay for the whole two hours.  All are welcome! For more info about our Rocking Chair rebellion, click HERE 

Tuesday  July 9, 12 p.m.  NRDC Webinar: Debriefing the Chevron Decision.Don't miss this opportunity to hear from NRDC President and CEO Manish Bapna, along with me and members of our litigation team, about this historic and troubling ruling. You'll also have a chance to ask questions of the panelists and learn more about how NRDC will continue to take on the fossil fuel industry and others threatening communities across the United States no matter how the court system operates following this new precedent. Go HERE.       

Wednesday July 10, 1-3pm.  DOER will host a webinar with a presentation of the SMART Straw Proposal where stakeholders can learn about proposed policy changes and submit questions for clarification. The Straw Proposal will be posted to the DOER website after the webinar for review, along with a recording of the webinar. Interested attendees can register for the webinar here.

 

 

Thursday July 11, 6:30pm. Learn how to take part in XR actions at this non-violent direct action training! This training is for people who are interested in potentially doing civil disobedience as well as people who want to play support roles for our actions. You will learn how to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. We will cover some theory behind direct actions, discuss the logistics of arrest and potential legal implications, and talk about the many different roles (beyond risking arrest) that are crucial to successful actions. You will get to talk to a few people who have gone through the arrest process and ask questions you might have.  Location: Zoom, you'll need to register to join  

 

 

Saturday July 13, 1 pm. Climate Rally on the Boston Common. We'll gather to demonstrate our support for vital climate legislation and demand that our legislators prioritize a sustainable future for all. Together, we can show our elected officials the strength of our commitment and the urgency of this issue. Your presence is crucial in demonstrating widespread community support for bold climate action.  Please RSVP to confirm your attendance and spread the word among your networks. Join the MA Youth Climate Coalition and Mass Power Forward coalitions as we push for our planet and justice! 

Monday  July 15, 4pm. Chuck Willer will Present on "Industrial Forestry and the Water You Drink”. In his discussion for the Forest Protection Forum, Chuck will examine the transformation of the U.S. economy over the past three decades and its impact on corporate forest ownership and management. He will link Wall Street finance to landscape forest conditions and explain how such conditions harm watersheds and aquatic life.  Please register here.  

Tuesday July 16, 6 - 7:45 pm.  Open Forum: Protecting Our Land and Waters, Part II. Fehlow Meeting Room,  Plymouth MA Public Library, Main Branch.  Join us to discuss challenges and opportunities in land conservation in Southeastern Massachusetts. Opportunity for networking and collaboration. Free and open to the public.  

Wednesday July 17, 5pm.  "Unmasking Biomass: The Hidden Truths and Real" Solutions.""Our expert panelists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, providing insights into the environmental, health, and economic impacts of biomass. They will discuss the implications of biomass as a supposed “green” energy solution, examining whether it truly benefits our communities and the planet. Registration: Register Here  

Wednesday July 17, 6:30 – 7:30pm.  John Lewis National Day of Commemoration and Action.  Democracy is under attack, friends. Join IndivisibleCT for a rally highlighting the urgency of this moment in our history. We intend to educate, motivate, and activate our community to work towards the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, the Native American Voting Rights Act, and DC Statehood. And there's an election in November. Time to energize! 50 S Main Street , West Hartford, CT 06107

Thursday July 18, 7pm.  MCAN Presents:  Leaders Speak Out: Paths to Climate Justice, a Speaker Series.  What is a vision of a more equitable future, and do we have the tools to drive meaningful change? In 2024, the energy landscape of Massachusetts is undergoing significant transformations at Mass-Save, at the DPU, and at the utilities. While these tie to climate goals, there is little discussion about energy ownership and governance changes. Register HERE.  

Sunday July 21, 1-4pm.   Join Patti Smith and Skip Lisle for the upcoming presentation on beaver ecology and co-existence - and for the mini-field trip to the 4H trail beaver habitat which will follow. The event is free, but your contributions would be welcomed.  Rain or shine with exceptions for severe weather. Naturalist Patti Smith will captivate you with her stories and insight, and biologist Skip Lisle will advise on best management practices. Leverett, MA Town Hall, 9 Montague Road Leverett, MA 01054  

Monday & Tuesday July 22 & 23, 9:30 am to 4pm. DOER will host in-person technical sessions at the Connolly Center in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210, to collect stakeholder feedback on the SMART Straw Proposal. The sessions will be divided into topic areas, and attendees may register for individual sessions. Interested attendees can register for the in-person technical sessions here. The deadline to register will be July 17th. DOER requests that each organization only send one representative per session. Lunch will not be provided by DOER, but there will be a break from 12:00-1:00 PM and there is a cafe in the Federal Reserve building as well as various lunch options in the surrounding area.

Thursday July 25, 4 -  5pm.  Beyond the Horizon: Going the Distance for Seabirds Webinar. Seabirds are one of the most endangered groups of birds. Their populations have dropped a staggering 70 percent globally over the past 60 years due to factors such as invasive species, unsustainable fisheries, and marine trash. American Bird Conservancy's Marine Program is working tirelessly with partners to safeguard the most vulnerable species both while at sea, and on land where they nest. Go HERE.   

Friday July 26 - Sunday July 28, beginning 7:30pm.  Clamshell Alliance Reunion Gathering at World Fellowship Center in Albany, NH. If you haven't reserved your room, you can reserve at https://worldfellowship.org/book-now/, email reservations@worldfellowship.org, or call (603) 447-2280 

Monday July 29, 9:30am.  DOER will host a virtual technical session for stakeholders who are unable to attend the in-person sessions. The same content will be covered at both the in-person and virtual sessions, so attendance is only necessary at one. Interested attendees can register for the virtual technical session here. The deadline to register will be July 24th.

We are out of here for now but PLEASE remember to listen to your Mother!