[ Hear the entire podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/enviroshow/1751186/ ]
Greetings Earthlings. Is it "déjà vu all over again" like Yogi Berra once said? Or worse?? Strap-in, it's going to be a rough ride because! In terms of the Climate Crisis and the Sixth Great Extinction a LOT was riding on this election. Wait, did we forget to mention the future of our Nation? Speaking of, how about the lack of understanding and respect by far too many folks concerning our trees and forests. Michael Kellett, the co-founder and Executive Director of RESTORE: The North Woods returns to the show as we discuss what's wrong in this picture. As always we will also introduce you to our Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were small and more but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Here's one for all you tough guys out there: "A 'Prophet' Who Challenged A Pride Of Lions To A Fistfight"
We have the perfect candidate this week for "Their Brains Were Small and They Died". She reminds us of dinosaurs from long ago 'cuz nowadays folks really shouldn't talk like this: "Michele Morrow, a conservative activist who last week upset the incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction in North Carolina’s Republican primary, expressed support in 2020 for the televised execution of former President Barack Obama and suggested killing then-President-elect Joe Biden." Whoa! Superintendent of Public Instruction ?? Maybe not.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill could just as easily qualified for "Their Brains Were Small.." Rep. Clay Higgins, Repug of Louisiana is so much the classic hateful deep south redneck we wonder why we didn't nominate him long ago? Mother Jones notes, "His record includes allegedly putting a gun to the head of one of his ex-wives, voting for a neo-Nazi, and assaulting an unarmed Black man while working as a cop." If you click on the link you'll see Higgins even looks the part.
Bad players abound this week and even the hosts of the hopeless COP29 climate meeting, the government of Azerbaijan "...has locked up dozens of activists and journalists in what experts describe as the country’s most aggressive campaign of repression in years." Don't they know "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" ? Folks in Spain certainly know: "The flooding in eastern Spain, already the deadliest disaster in the country’s recent history, is a foretaste of the extreme storms that the region can expect to see more of as humans continue heating up the planet, scientists said this week." reports The New York Times. "In the town of Chiva, west of the city of Valencia, nearly 20 inches of rain fell in eight hours..., Spain’s meteorological agency said. That’s what the area normally receives in a year." Of course, the other side of the same coin is increasing drought in other areas. No word yet on how many toxins may have been released in the storm but that eventuality in this modern world of climate chaos is growing. Back to the bad players: "So far this year, the American Chemistry Council has spent almost $9.9 million lobbying on issues including the EPA’s attempt to further regulate toxic chemicals and protect communities from chemical accidents. The lobbying group also helped weaken bipartisan rail safety legislation following the East Palestine train derailment,.." Yes, bad players trying to game bad news like this from Counterpunch: "A casual reading of climate change literature reveals several mentions of ecosystem impairment or collapse of one sort or another occurring in various time frames this century. In that context, nothing quite compares to a Double Blue Ocean Event. This event, should it occur, changes everything. It has the potential to be the “holocaust of climate change” with uncontrollable self-propelled rapid global temperature rise damaging or completely destroying ecosystems supportive of life. Already, there’s palpable early-stage evidence this has started, for example, in the Amazon rainforest." Too many links to read?...then go out and do something! And don't forget direct action, OK?
Let's shift gears and go to something positive. What's your favorite animal? Send us your candidates (no, not your dog or cat). Which wildlife critter do you like best? Email us at enviroshow@valleyfreeradio.orgHorseshoe crabs have endured every single great mass extinction on this planet.
It is such a resilient species, and we can bring it back." We love survivors and as a kid, d.o. was fascinated with these critters. Nowadays Horseshoe Crabs need our help. They are victimized for bait, by stupid human mishandling, and for medical use. Please help this truly ancient species by going HERE.
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we echo our friends' petition asking us to “support Preserve October Mountain Forest’s goal to stop the logging and other forest management activities of 447 acres of woodlands as proposed in the “Ant Lot” project by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)". We call them the Dept. of Cut & Run here on this show because....well....that's what they do! And speaking of agency failure how about this? "EPA said Wednesday it has given preliminary approval to a pilot project that would use phosphate mining waste in roads....The move followed state legislation that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law.. allowing phosphogypsum use in roads if approved by the federal agency." The waste can be radioactive, but more commonly, it contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which contribute to red tide, toxic algae and fish kills. Think runoff. Protest HERE. We'll be doing an upcoming show focused solely on forest degradation but this new finding on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List requires mention now: "More than a third of the world’s tree species are threatened with extinction, according to the first comprehensive assessment of trees by the world’s leading scientific authority on the status of species....Around the world, the biggest threats to trees are agriculture and logging, followed by urbanization," Of course, climate chaos is another contributing factor but it's that direct human activity that seems to be the greatest threat of all.
On to our Doublespeak of the Week. This one comes from a report subtitled "Exposing the Fossil Fuel Industry's Deadly Spin" and given the real science on Climate it surely qualifies: "The American Petroleum Institute blusters that the United States is in “good shape” thanks to natural gas. “Let’s not get unreasonably concerned about [methane], because the industry has been addressing it,” reassures an API executive." We guess he means they packaged it up, addressed it to Life on Earth and sent it on its way?
And our Enviro Show Quote of the Week is:
"Trumpism triumphed, and the godhead of this cult has become both the first fascist and the first convicted felon to win an American presidential election."
After our conversation with Michael it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
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
Friday November 15, 2-4pm. UMass Amherst Sunrise Green New Deal visioning session.UMass
needs a Green New Deal, let’s make one together. ☀️ Students, faculty,
staff, and community members are invited to our visioning session on
November 15 to help shape our GND demands. Go HERE.
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, Noon. Organize and mobilize to send a clear
message to the Healey-Driscoll Administration that western Mass welcomes
the state's continued focus on Northern Tier Passenger Rail iat Greenfield's Olver Transit Center, 12 Olive Street. We'll
gather with supporters to hear about project momentum, potential
impact, and to hear an announcement (embargoed until 11/18) regarding
rail advocacy stretching from Berkshire to Middlesex Counties. More on the study here: https://www.mass.gov/northern-
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.
Monday November 18, 7-8:30pm. We Are Worth Fighting For Post Election WMass Community Meeting. As part of a nation-wide movement to
do just that, Indivisible Northampton &-Swing Left WMass is hosting a community gathering for us to be
together and supported as we share our feelings about what just
happened, and to learn about the next steps we'll be taking together
to fight back. Because we - our democracy and our freedom - are worth
fighting for. Register here: https://mobilize.us/s/
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.
Monday November 19, 7pm. Native Histories: Recovering Understandings of the Indigenous Past. Pelham Library Ramsdell Room, Pelham, MA. Native American communities in Nonotuck (now Amherst, Pelham, Hadley, and Northampton), in the Kwinitekw (Connecticut River) Valley, were long supported by reciprocal trade and diplomacy with their Native neighbors, including Nipmuc to the east, and Abenaki to the north. Yet, the increase in colonial warfare during the late 1600s-1700s forced many Native families to relocate. This talk by Dr. Margaret M. Bruchac, Professor Emerita of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, offers insights into regional Native histories by critically revisiting colonial records, antiquarian histories, and Native memories. For more information contact Cynthia Weigel at 413-256-4606.
Thursday, November 21, 3-4 p.m. Join the Union of Concerned Scientists for a training webinar highlighting timely ways for scientists and science advocates to get involved in equitable, science-based advocacy after the 2024 election. We need you to stay engaged in the next weeks and months. UCS experts will share insights about federal policy opportunities during the lame duck period and the first 100 days of the new administration, as well as highlighting timely and strategic ways for UCS supporters to get involved. Register for the training webinar today.
Thursday November 21, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join MA Sen. Jo Comerford at People's Town Hall via Zoom. "My team and I will highlight the work we have been engaged in on behalf of the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district and look forward to what lies ahead. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and/or offer feedback". If you have any questions. Registration is required — sign up here.
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Monday November 25, 5:30pm. Rally prior to the 6:30 Meeting of the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel at 26 Court Street, Great Room at Plymouth Town Hall, Plymouth, MA 02360. The meeting is both inperson and virtual. . The presentation will delve into critical scientific research and data, illuminating the dangers posed by Holtec's planned surface water discharge [the DEP permit denial is under appeal by Holtec] and the ongoing illegal airborne discharge of Pilgrim's radioactive industrial wastewater through evaporation. This is not just an ordinary meeting; it's our community opportunity to engage with real science that must shape environmentally sound decommissioning decisions, protect the healthy future of our marine environments, and ensure public safety for generations to come.
Monday November 25, 6:30 p.m. – Wendell Free Library presents The Return of Old Growth Forests, Film Showing and Q&A with filmmaker. Today there is great interest in ancient, “old-growth” forests. New England, surprisingly, still has some small fragments of such old forests, although they represent less than 1% of its original, pre-settlement forest. A high percentage of central New England land is cloaked in second- growth forest that is recovering from the massive land clearing of former agricultural years. A significant amount of such second- growth, which is at most 150 or so years old, should be set aside to eventually become old-growth once again, allowing it to regain greater biodiversity, an improved gene pool, and therefore enhanced resilience and adaptability (not to mention natural beauty). In this one-hour film, we will learn how to recognize some of the visual characteristics of our remnant, northeastern old-growth forests, with scenes from several of our most beautiful examples. Wendell Depot Road, Wendell MA 01379 Call (978) 544-3559
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.
Tuesday December 3, 6:00pm. The Climate Fight Ahead. The fight for climate justice continues! Rally with movement leaders and leading members of Congress to learn how we can continue to push for climate, clean energy, and environmental justice during a Trump Administration. We’ll hear from leading climate champions on Capitol Hill about how to push back against Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agenda, as well as from movement leaders about how we can keep up the fight in our communities. Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University • 730 21st St NW, Washington, D.C. , DC 20037 US. Host Contact Info: sara@fossilfree.media
Wednesday December 4, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Join The Walden Woods Project and RESTORE: The North Woods for a virtual presentation from Michael Kellett about the campaign for new national parks, why it is important, and how we can build grassroots support to make this vision a reality. Henry David Thoreau had the far-sighted vision to declare, “Each town should have a park.” Yet, the people in most American towns still do not have ready access to a large public park. Go HERE.
Wednesday December 11, 6:30pm. CAN's Wildlands Campaign Meeting. Register HERE. Wildlands are tracts of any size and condition, permanently protected from development, in which management is explicitly intended to allow natural processes to prevail with “free will” and minimal human interference. Priority Wildlands for this campaign include land associated with water (headwaters, riparian zones of streams and rivers, wetlands, vernal pools, etc.), mature and old forests, wildlife corridors, areas with few or no invasive plants, and/or special species or habitats. Join Our Campaign to Protect Wildlands in Massachusetts
Stay strong folks, we'll get through this if you remember to listen to your Mother.
