Greetings Earthlings. As the Walk for a New Dawn makes its way across Massachusetts we update you on their progress HERE. Some Walkers will join us to discuss how it goes. As usual, we will introduce you to our Fool-on-the-Hill and ask "Who Left the Door Open" and "Those Whose Brains Were Small.." as well as come up with some Doublespeak of the Week, the reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for ......Revenge of the Critters! Young Beaver lives to bite another day in Lake George according to Talking Heads.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Representative Max Miller, a second-term Repugnican and friend of His Malignancy who apparently isn't content with just abusing the U.S. Constitution and most of the country. The New York Times informs us he, "has been accused by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, of domestic abuse against her and their 2-year-old daughter. Ms. Moreno, the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, also an Ohio Republican, has said that Mr. Miller scalded her chest and stomach by throwing hot water from a skillet at her body; held a gun to her head; pushed her against a wall and hit her head; and fractured their daughter’s collarbone and bruised her shoulder." It's reported that he has a history of abusing women going all the way back to high school? Another old school fool.....and not in a good way.
Our Friends at The Dogwood Alliance came up with a report titled "Fueling Destruction" (PDF) in which we learn of the perfect candidates for "Their Brains Were small and They Died". Yes, some dinos came up with one giant step backwards for humankind: "A rapid build-out of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is underway. The rise of data centers is pushing our energy grids to the brink and raising electricity costs. Some elected leaders, utilities, and industry insiders are posing a familiar “solution”. They suggest burning biomass to fuel these massive facilities. But burning forests to power artificial intelligence is foolish." Ya' think?? Checkout the report for names of the usual suspects, then go HERE to tell them exactly what you think about it.
We offer up His Malignancy's Department of Energy for this Doublespeak of the Week entry: "[The] Department has itself conceded that it plans to spend carbon capture funding on projects that do not include carbon capture, and... after months of correspondence with the Department, it has failed to provide any acceptable legal justification." reads a post from the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. "Congress provided funding to cut pollution and lower energy costs, which DOE is now diverting to instead subsidize big coal’s uneconomic power plants, raising costs for families,...The Department’s plan to repurpose $350 million in dedicated carbon capture funding to restart and recommission coal-fired power plants is a misuse of public funds and a violation of Federal law.” In addition, DOE deleted more than 1,600 pages from the Energy Saver section of its site, gutting a resource for people looking to conserve energy and lower bills.
We can't help but ask "Who Left the Door Open" for this hair brained scheme: "The Federal Emergency Management Agency, often criticized for its inadequate response to natural disasters like wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, has been assigned a new mission: “domestic terrorism.” Now FEMA is shelling out grant money to state and local authorities to build up capacity to carry out pre-crime operations against “organized political violence,” as one FEMA information bulletin....says." Maybe they use some AI "precrime" policing with Ted Cruise instead of Tom?? "The bulletin, dated July 9, instructs local authorities to prioritize “domestic terrorism” in their grant applications. Titled “Implementation of National Security Presidential Memorandum-7…,” the document echoes President Trump’s emphasis on rooting out suspected domestic terrorists before an attack takes place." 👀 Isn't it time we demand Congress investigate His Malignancy's Justice Department for criminalizing dissent?
Had enough? We never tire of documenting as much of the sewage as possible spewing out of MAGA's "flood the zone" outfall pipe, especially when it comes from The White House itself. Hence, The Mad King's (#NoKings) fever dreams of immunity for all his crimes we talked about last time. We know you can take it, dear Enviro Show listeners. That's why we are also referencing Politico's leaked White House document on nuke waste. "The administration is seeking changes to federal law to allow the Department of Energy to partner with states willing to store waste generated at the nation’s nuclear reactors, according to the document laying out “legislative principles.” It has been circulating on Capitol Hill and among nuclear industry leaders." It's classic kick-the-can-down-the-road keeping highly radioactive waste in sketchy storage at a nuke near you. Given His Malignancy's lame-ass War Against Wind is taking out safe and clean energy they have to make up for it somewhere else. At the same time The Mad King (#NoKings) has demanded an investigation of the National Academies that could cut off government funding 'cuz, you know, the Climate Crisis "is a fraud", right? Nah! we know who the real fraud is and we continue to pass along the pushbacks for you. Let's close with what someday will be considered a classic headline for His Malignancy: "Trump Admin Argues Even Terminally Ill Patients Shouldn't Be Exempt From Medicaid Work Requirements"
Meanwhile, back in the real world The Enviro Show Echo Chamber replays The Walk for a New Dawn which continues across the Commonwealth. You can join the Walk HERE. Given all the crazy grim news above, isn't it this a good opportunity to accentuate the positive? We have some more good news here from Instagram regarding an impressive rewilding effort. And this, some of our listeners have recently reminded us about The Rights of Nature, something we seldom come across in this day and age. Finally, if you have some reservations about AI you might be relieved to learn "New York Governor Kathy Hochul has paused data center development in the state for one year, signing an executive order... that prevents the state from approving permits for new large-scale computing facilities. The order targets what Hochul called “hyperscale data centers,” which she defined as those that can consume 50 megawatts of electricity or more."
If all that is too much good news we are still obliged to remind you that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" (sorry) and the “Frontlines of a Burning World”: Climate Change-Fueled “Megafires” Sweep Europe & North America" are upon us, just like scientists warned us about decades ago. Add to that, "The Strongest El Niño in History Is Coming. Get Ready" warns this piece in Prospect. "Climate change is not going to wait for America or any other country to sort out its political dysfunctions. We can confront climate reality or be run over by it.....The El Niño phenomenon is a change in the normal trade wind and sea currents in the Pacific Ocean. The science behind it is immensely complicated, but a key upshot is that the normal pattern of ocean circulation that brings up cold, nutrient-rich water off the west coast of South America is changed, resulting in an enormous increase in ocean surface temperatures across the central Pacific. The stronger the El Niño, the larger the hot spot, and the more ocean heat gets dumped into the atmosphere. Scientists expect the upcoming one to be the strongest ever measured by a “mind-blowing margin.” There it is.
This seems like a good time to bring out our Quote of the Week...
“Adults keep saying we owe it to the young people, to give them hope, but I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.
-Greta Thunberg
After our conversation with the Walkers we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
First Here's Indivisible Northampton — Swing Left Western Mass's complete daily listing of all the pro-democracy events in WMass: https://in-slwm.org/wp-content/uploads/Calendar/cal.html. If you're looking for an easy weekday way to jump into the climate movement, you'll love the State House Stand Out! We gather at the Massachusetts State House in Boston between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers stand together for 2-hour "shifts," either outside or inside depending on weather, and talk with visitors and State House staff about the Climate Crisis. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 – 4pm.: Indivisible's What's the Plan with Leah and Ezra. Go HERE. Fridays, 1:30 to 3pm: De-ICE Hanscom Airfield Stand Outs, Hanscom Rotary, Lincoln, MA. Go HERE. ALSO:
Friday July 24, 4 to 5pm. Indivisible West Quabbin's Wisdom Way Bridge Visibility Brigade Rte I-91 every 4th Friday. Overpass standout located on Wisdom Way in Greenfield, MA. For more information or to sign up go to Mobilize or contact westquabbinindivisible@gmail.com . Saturdays, 11am to 1pm: No Fear w/Street Theatre, Burlington ICE Facility, Burlington Mall Rd. @ District Ave., Burlington, MA Go HERE .
The Walk for a New Dawn will step off at 9am Friday, July 24 from the Route 2 border crossing between Petersburg, New York and Williamstown, Massachusetts. The community, walkers, supporters and media are invited to gather for the opening of the Walk, and accompany the walkers for a mile or more on the side of Route 2, heading north to the center of Williamstown. Support vehicles can assist in transporting walkers back to their parked vehicles. The walk will stop to rally and then rest on the green of the Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown from 1:30-3 pm. This walk also aims to raise awareness in solidarity with Community Land and Water Coalition’s ongoing campaign to halt sand mining operations in the fragile ecosystem of the sand barrens around Carver/Plymouth sacred to the Herring Pond Wampanoag – – will be shared soon. Use the contact button on the homepage of changethemassflag.com to communicate with organizers about the upcoming walk.
Thursday August 13, 6pm. Curious about how nonviolent disruptive activism drives real climate action? Want to know more about the bold movements we support and how we’re acting and what we're funding amid the growing, organic movement around AI data centers as the nexus of Big Oil, Big Tech, and tiny-handed authoritarianism? Join alongside activist group Troublemakers, for a special webinar where we’ll explore: How Climate Emergency Fund supports brave activists shaking the status quo; The strategies behind disruptive, nonviolent action & How Troublemakers are fighting AI data centers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Go HERE.
