The Don't Let Democracy Die Enviro Show

 

 [ Hear the entire show now HERE ]

Greetings Earthlings & Happy Halloween (or Samhain for you Pagan folk). So yes, there are monsters out there roaming about but we trust you'll hang with us....O wait, isn't that what Franklin said at the signing of the Declaration of Independence? Never mind, that's history but also when asked what we have at the close of the Continental Congress he said "A Republic, if you can keep it." So, how about we stay together, VOTE for the first woman president and rid the land of all the monsters trying to take over, OK? Wiccan priestess, Laura Wildman-Hanlon returns to the show to help us unearth the truth about Halloween. As always, we will also unmask our Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were Small and more but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters! SPIDERS ATTACK home wrecker.

This Halloween week our Fool-on-the-Hill is House Speaker Repugnican Mike Johnson who may seem nice to some but even Dracula was hospitable to victims before sinking his fangs into them.  Did you know Johnson was instrumental in the J6 Insurrection? Have you heard about his remarks concerning racist attacks by fellow Repugs in congress? Johnson is like a choirboy from Hell, all clean and shiny on the outside and dark & evil on the inside. Another very dangerous fool-on-the-Hill. 

We may as well stay with the monsters while we're at it. For our "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" segment we shine a spotlight on MAGA Freak Show operative Mike Davis. He's a legal activist dinosaur with a long record of doing all the wrong things (like helping pack the Supreme Court with Gorsuch & Kavanaugh) and unlike our Fool-on-the-Hill he looks the part.  "Referring to Trump’s illegal immigration policy that separated families, Davis declared, “We’re gonna put kids in cages. It’s gonna be glorious.” He routinely threatens to throw journalists into the 'gulag'....Davis has suggested that as “acting attorney general,” [in an imagined second reign of The Mad King] he will oversee a “three-week reign of terror” to indict Trump’s opponents and purge them from the federal government."  Guess who were the first victims in the Nazi concentration camps when Hitler took power? Political opponents. That said, most of those fascist dinosaurs are dead now. 

How about we stick the Doublespeak of the Week in here since we seem fixated on Nazis at the moment. His Malignancy is back with a whopper this time. He "called Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi each “an enemy from within,” even as the former president’s Republican allies attempt to argue that his previous comments labeling political opponents as such are being misinterpreted." Right, we agree because the REAL enemy from within is His Malignancy himself. OK?

In The Enviro Show Halloween Echo Chamber we repeat this from Common Dreams: "Facing tens of thousands of lawsuits after it acquired Monsanto, Bayer promised to remove cancer-linked glyphosate from its commercial Roundup weed killers by 2023. But an analysis published by Friends of the Earth ...reveals that the replacement is even more dangerous." Scary enough? We thought the FBI was busy tracking down J6 insurrectionists but look at this: "The FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Program Has a New Target: Animal Rights Activists. The agency urged meat industry groups to help the feds crack down on activists for potentially violating bioterrorism laws." Also this from the UMass Amherst torture chamber: "Monkeys Scared Awake on Your Dime: Take Action to Balance the Books" PETA reports: "University of Massachusetts–Amherst experimenter Agnès Lacreuse asked the National Institutes of Health for more than $400,000 in taxpayer money to conduct a pointless and cruel sleep deprivation experiment on tiny marmosets. She got it."  Tricks & Treats for torture? Take Action!  And finally this: "Watch: Visual Disgust After Trump Calls Violent January 6 Insurrection 'Day of Love' "If everyone in America watched this two-minute clip, Trump would go down in a landslide," said climate leader Bill McKIbben." It sounded like a Halloween Trick during a Harvard gig recently when our "Climate Chief" was asked about our forests. She said "some cultural changes needed to be made" but didn't really explain. FINALLY, Two Halloween Specials: Did you know Bats can sing?  And #2: Join the MA Sierra Club Forest Protection team as we submit public comments to the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Water Supply Protection (DCR-DWSP). For their fiscal year 2025, they have proposed cutting in 1,500 acres or more in state forests around the Quabbin, Ware, and Wachusett watersheds. In the face of linked climate and biodiversity crises, we believe public forests should be left standing for the greatest public good.  This link has all the information you need, including a link to the submission form. Comments are due October 31! HALLOWEEN 👻 

Of course His Malignancy is so off the rails he doesn't even know "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but apparently the vast majority of young voters are aware. "..a poll published on Thursday in The Lancet Planetary Health,.. found that concerns about the climate crisis were impacting young people's decisions about their personal and public lives, with 52.3% saying they were "hesitant to have children" and 72.8% planning to vote for candidates who back ambitious climate policies." There goes the youth vote Your Malignancy. No treats for you. Back to the scary stuff with this headline from Common Dreams: " 'Terrifying': Leak Shows Industry Plot to Worsen Methane Emissions—If Trump Wins".  Of course, His Malignancy winning anything is terrifying in and of itself but the added ecological destruction of such a win? What a horror show. Better get out the vote! Here's a trick, the COP 29 follies. "COP29 Host's State Oil Company 'Aggressively' Ramping Up Fossil Fuel Production." Glen's screed on burning forests and loss of carbon reminds us about THIS :  "Delay of EU Deforestation Regulation may ‘be excuse to gut law,’ activists fear". We close with an Action Link for MA residents who oppose deforestation for corporate solar.  

Our Critter of the Week for Halloween is, of course, Black Cats. Truth be known, Black Cats are no different than most other in the Felis catus species but they have a long history when it comes to their relationship with us homo sapiens. "Beginning in the Middle Ages, black cats became associated with Satan, witches, and witchcraft; some people went so far as to believe that black cats were cohorts to witches or even witches who had taken on another form. This widespread superstition resulted in the horrific mass killing of black cats—and sometimes even their owners. Aside from continuing to represent all things eerie, the fear of black cats still has some influence today. Many animal shelters won’t place black cats in homes during the month of October for fear of them being used sacrificially." What does that tell us about how far we've come?

Time to lead up to our interview with the house witch with a special Quote of the Week:

“Samhain is considered by some to be the most important sabbat. This is because it represents the core experiences of the Craft: of traveling between the worlds, of experiencing death and rebirth, and of ultimately transcending both in the process; of not being afraid to face the darkness, or to think about that which we have lost; of not being afraid of the changes in our lives; of turning negative experiences into opportunities for learning.”

~ Jennifer Hunter in 21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch’s Guide to Living the Magical Life

 Following our interview it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Thursday November 7, 7 pm.  Hear from Dr. Matt Campen, who led a research team that found shockingly high levels of micro- and nanoplastics in the brain — especially in those of people who had died with dementia. The paper on their findings is currently in preprint.
A toxicologist and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico, Matt directs the New Mexico Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine. Feel free to share the event registration link (bit.ly/bpvg2024) with friends and advocates! 

Saturday, November 9, Noon - 2 pm.  Hear Dr. William R. Moomaw on why preservation of mature urban trees is so valuable in the face of climate change. Dr. Moomaw has devoted the last 20 years to helping develop better local, national and international understanding of the profoundly important role mature forests play in managing climate.  Some of you have heard Dr. Moomaw's excellent presentation on proforestry.  His focus on Saturday will be specifically on the role mature city trees play in helping mitigate the damaging effects of climate change, and why preservation of these stalwart urban climate defenders needs to be prioritized.   We would be delighted if you can join us at Trees for Watertown’s Annual Meeting at the Watertown Free Public Library,  123 Main St, .Watertown, MA 02472-4401 Link to Map.  This event is free and open to the public.  It can also be viewed on Zoom (preregistration required).  

Saturday November 9, 2pm. XR Boston will be participating in the Red Rebel International Day of Action in protest of COP 29's inevitable shortcomings, and to demand that our state government not wait for global leaders to set a better example of climate action. We'll meet at the Boston Public Garden entrance at the intersection of Arlington and Boylston streets, near the Arlington MBTA green line station. Together with the Red Rebel brigade, we will move through the Common as a funeral procession with die-ins along the way, to represent the lives lost because of the inaction of global leaders against the climate crisis. We invite you to wear funeral blacks. The rain date is Sunday November 10: RSVP for updates.

Sunday November 10, 7pm. Elizabeth Murray: JFK's Dream of Peace and its Lessons for Today.  Elizabeth Murray had a 27-year career in the U.S.government. She specialized in Middle Eastern political and media analysis. She has campaigned against the US wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria and worked for the release of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange, whom she visited personally while he was in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy. Elizabeth is a member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) and the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence. In 2018 and 2024, Elizabeth was a passenger aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla ships Al-Awda and Handala, respectively. She speaks Arabic, German, and Spanish. For seven years Elizabeth served as Member-in-Residence at the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action in Poulsbo, Washington, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to nonviolent resistance against the Trident nuclear submarine system and other nuclear weapons.  Register HERE.  

Tuesday November 12-14, All Day. Rich Earth Summit. The Rich Earth Summit, hosted by Rich Earth Institute, is a global event dedicated to advancing urine reclamation to create sustainable and just nutrient cycles. This gathering brings together researchers, practitioners, and advocates to share knowledge and foster collaboration. Join us at the 10th annual Summit,  a golden opportunity to explore the transformative power of peecycling. Together, we can pee the change! Go HERE. 

Tuesday November 12, 7pm.  Forests for our Future: The Role of Massachusetts Forests in Combating Climate Change (Part III). Recently, we added climate stabilization to the list. Massachusetts is now legislatively committed to reaching “Net Zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  Forests are expected to put the “Net” into this “Net Zero” goal.  According to the legislation, forest carbon sequestration (sometimes called "negative emissions”) can be counted to offset up to 15% of the emissions reduction goal. Is this a good idea? Is it even possible? How can we influence forest’s ability to sequester and store carbon? Attend this free event in person at First Parish in Lincoln, 4 Bedford Rd, Lincoln, Mass., or online. Go HERE. 

Thursday November 14, 9am. Join us for an engaging meeting where we spotlight case studies of buildings here in Massachusetts that have successfully incorporated embodied carbon in design and construction. Discover innovative strategies and inspiring successes in tackling embodied carbon emissions. We’ll include an interactive survey, with a chance to share developments in your town. Help us help you make best practices scalable and replicable. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect, learn, and move towards a greener future! Register HERE.  

Thursday November 14, 12 – 1:30pm.  Taking Action to Confront Authoritarianism. We’ll continue exploring what actions that we, as elders, can take to push back against extremist attacks in our first post-election meeting. 

 Friday November 15 at any time.   White House Call-In Day. Put pressure on the White House Climate Office to account for its Fair Share of historical emissions and responsibility in its NDC in advance of COP29. Sign Pledge for details HERE. Ask: Share this pledge to take action by using our Social Media Toolkit

Saturday November. 16, 1—3:30 p.m. Great Hall of the Discovery Center, Great Falls (Turners Falls, MA) - The Nolumbeka Project presents the annual Full Beaver Moon Gathering with guest speaker Angela Marcellino, author of The True Natives of Cape Cod Massachusetts and their Food Ways. Raffle drawing. Free admission and all ages are welcome. For more information about the event visit nolumbekaproject.org. Meet in the Great Hall.

Sunday November 17, 2-4pm. A Post-Election FCCPR General Assembly at Guiding Star Grange  401 Chapman St Greenfield, MA. What should we be working on after the Presidential election? Please join us for a discussion on what to do - which might change depending on who wins the Presidential election.

 

Monday November 18 at 6 pm - 7:30 pm. Join the Non-Violent Direct Action training to learn about the many support roles (arrestable and non-arrestable) needed in NVDA and XRBoston  demonstrations. 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. 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. You'll need to register to join the Zoom.  

Tuesday November 19,  4pm. Explore how we're conserving land for birds, from one acre to 10,000 — and how you can, too. You'll learn ways to minimize pesticide use in backyards and about how American Bird Conservancy is helping to do the same on agricultural land. Looking farther afield, you'll find out how ABC is improving critical bird habitat with landowners and public land managers in the Great Lakes, and our efforts to establish reserves with partners in Bolivia that benefit Endangered resident birds. RSVP Here 

Monday November 19, 5:30-7:30pm. Energy Fair. Cut your Heating costs! Get off fossil fuels! Learn about new programs and new incentives for all income levels! Finding the money to upgrade your home or car and get off of fossil fuels is very complex! Greening Greenfield offering an Energy Fair, to introduce the new programs and incentives for all income levels, and offer opportunities to meet people who can help and sign you up to get started. The Energy Fair will be held at the John Zon Community Center, 35 Pleasant Street, Greenfield, MA. Free Pizza will be served. To help organizers plan, pre-registration is encouraged by filling out this short Google Form: https://bit.ly/energyfair24 or by calling 413-774-5667.

Thursday November 28, 9am – 7pm.  Western Mass Goes to Plymouth for National Day of Mourning 2024. Bus leaves from 1 Roundhouse Plaza, Northampton, at 9 AM.  Plan to be on site from 12 PM to 4 PM. Arrive back in Northampton by 7 PM.  *N95 masks or equivalent are required while on the bus.* Masks will be available for those who do not have one. Bus fee is $57/seat. Reach out if you would like to join, but the bus fee is not feasible!   Since 1970, Indigenous people & their allies have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US Thanksgiving holiday. Many Native people do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims & other European settlers. Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands and the erasure of Native cultures. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Indigenous ancestors and Native resilience. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection, as well as a protest again. Sign up HERE. 

OK  folks,   have a  happy  Halloween and  remember to listen to your Mother.