[ Listen to the show HERE ]
Greetings
Earthlings. You've probably heard some of our past shows concerning the
ongoing destruction of the Connecticut River by the corporados who pump
vast amounts of water and all the aquatic life within it through
turbins up into the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage pool. Juxtapose that with Connecticut River Defenders who have been pushing back against such madness for awhile now and are now thinking amphibiously. Priscilla Lynch and Terisa Turner join us for that. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, Those Whose Brains Were small, Who Left the Door Open and way more but first it's time for........Revenge of the Critters! Tables turned on a fisherman Down Under.
First we have Breaking News! #NoKings 4 has been called for Saturday October 17. See calendar post below for more but mark your calendar today, OK? Go HERE.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is a high profile Dem in the House who recently stepped in it: "...it was reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met secretly in recent weeks with Jared Kushner, the far-right son-in-law of [the] President, who has also served as a top White House advisor and envoy. The New York Times reported
Sunday that the two men “met privately in recent weeks” in order to
discuss “potential areas of common ground” if the Democrats regain
control of one or both chambers of Congress in the midterms." Common ground??
Our Doublespeak of the Week may set the record for Great Moments in Irony: "The spring of 2025 brought a rush of Trump-themed currency bills.
Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican of South Carolina, proposed
creating a new $250 bill bearing Trump's portrait, calling it a tribute
to his "transformational leadership." Transformational indeed, Joe but not at all as you meant.
Last time we awarded the entire MAGA b.s. show in DC with our "Who Left the Door Open" segment and this week we'll do it again as they "Flood the Zone" with their never ending septic spew. Exhibit #1 ICE Abducts 5-Year-Old on Way to Soccer Match: "US Congressman Greg Casar on Thursday repeated his call for the.. administration to close the immigration detention center in southern Texas where it’s held thousands of children
over the past 18 months—children, the progressive Democrat said, who
“should be playing soccer, going to school, living their lives, not
being arrested on the streets,” as one of the center’s newest detainees,
5-year-old Liam Tadeo, was earlier this week." Then we have this: "A
coalition of two dozen Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit on
Wednesday challenging [the Administration's] attempt to use the US Postal Service as a vehicle for [its] assault on mail-in voting, which [it] has targeted incessantly during both.. White House terms." And the Sierra Club informed us last week: "Our
undeveloped national forests are the heart of our public land. But now
one of the most important -- and most underappreciated -- conservation
policies is on the verge of being cut by [the White House]. If the Roadless Area
Conservation Rule is repealed, 45 million acres of pristine national
forests across the country would be opened up for the first time in over
20 years to road building and the logging, mining, and extractive
industries that come with that." Pushback!
His Malignancy's budget director Russell Vought and his boss get "Their Brains Were small and They Died" this week for having "cancelled billions of dollars for hundreds of clean energy grants, "based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient's state." Not based on merit. Not the public good. Just politics, targeting states that voted for Democrats in 2024.....now, with his own Project 2025 as a guide, Vought is
using federal grantmaking to punish Americans for how their neighbors
voted, while similar projects in Republican-led states moved forward. Send
a message to your U.S. Representative: Impeach Russell Vought. These dinos need to evolve away from lower brain stem bullshit and get a life.
Speaking of reptilian brains, we note how obsessed The Mad King (#NoKings) is with plastering his name and likeness over most everything. It's embarrassing (though not to him) what a fool he makes of himself. Case in point: He "has been trying for months to slap his name on the Kennedy Center. But a federal judge stopped him. So now his people are trying something even crazier -- threatening to demolish the Kennedy Center if his plans are not approved." Nah! Or this: "...administration sycophants are reportedly stripping [African-American] Pearl Harbor hero
Doris “Dorie” Miller’s name from an upcoming aircraft carrier -- and naming it after His Malignancy instead. Yes, they are trying to name an aircraft carrier for the man
who just left an aircraft carrier (The Lincoln) in a war zone, dangerously
short of essential supplies, and then mocked its exhausted sailors by
suggesting they should remain at sea even longer." Last winter "A banner featuring a photo of [His Malignancy] and the words “Make America Safe Again” was hung from the Justice Department’s
headquarters in Washington... in one of the most public signs
of the president’s influence over a department that once brought
criminal charges against him...The Justice Department has traditionally operated with a degree of independence from the White House." George Orwell should have lived to see it. Of course, there's always more pathetic vanity with this guy.
We have Breaking News! This just in on Saturday morning: "The Trump administration looks to give a piece of Yosemite National Park to a developer." There go more of the family jewels. Reading on: The "administration has proposed trading away a small parcel of land in
Yosemite National Park in California so a private developer can gain
access to the park, according to federal officials and documents
reviewed by The New York Times. The
potential deal has alarmed conservationists and former National Park
Service officials, who say that Yosemite, the crown jewel of the
nation’s park system, should be off limits to development.' " Ya' think?? At the same time these fools steal the jewels they are also busy undermining the agency that's supposed to protect them.
Closer to home in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find His Malignancy's Memory Hole Mobiles we reported about in July may be headed to the Big E, September 18 – October 4, right here in the CT River Valley? Yup, unless we do something about it, that is. Indivisible Northampton posted this in their recent newsletter:
Stop "The Freedom 250 Truck" From Coming to The Big E!
This
Trumpian project promotes Christian Nationalist American history and
it's coming to The Big E. It's a big truck exhibit promoting false
history and ideas.
Activist pushback canceled it elsewhere, including Westfield - Let's do it again!
Previously we asked people to express their opposition by calling The Big E at 413 737-2443 or emailing info@TheBigE.com.
Now
we're working to cancel the truck visit by asking folks to contact The
Big E sponsors and tell them why it's problematic and to have it
canceled.
The Big E sponsors' contacts are below as well as scripts for email and phone calls (personalizable). Please contact them soon, before The Big E starts.
Meanwhile, over in Northampton: "As neighboring city and town governments weigh whether to ban artificial
intelligence (AI) data centers, the Northampton City Council is
considering creating a committee to study the issue and draft a
municipal policy on the controversial facilities." Truth be known, AI is taking heat for any number of reasons, its drain on energy and water supplies being foremost. Stay tuned.
And speaking of energy and water, did someone say "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" ? As for water, the New York Times came out with a feature recently exposing our disregard for one of the very critical elements that sustain us. Meanwhile, Axios has come up with a deep dive into heat and the grid. They highlight: "The big picture: Climate
change is extending periods of extreme heat just as electrification and
data centers add new loads, leaving parts of the grid working harder
for longer." There's AI again, maybe not so intelligent after all. As for extreme heat how about this for a header: "Why
one highway exploded this summer — and why many more are at risk." Reading further we find: "The
stretch of U.S. Highway 69 kept expanding in the extreme heat
until it exploded, creating a sharp, two-foot-tall ramp where it
broke at the pavement joint. Most of the traffic in this
Dallas exurb drove around it. But
then a black pickup hit the ramp... sending the
truck airborne, “Dukes of Hazzard”-style, flying several feet in
the air and slamming down on its front tires."
This seems like just the right opportunity to introduce our Critter of the Week, the Greater Roadrunner or Geococcyx californianus. Audubon informs us: "The most famous bird in the southwest, featured in folklore and
cartoons, known by its long tail and expressive crest. The Roadrunner
walks and runs on the ground, flying only when necessary. It can run 15
miles per hour, probably with much faster spurts when chasing a
fast-running lizard or other prey. Its prowess as a rattlesnake fighter
has been much exaggerated, but it does eat a remarkable variety of
smaller creatures." Presumably the Greater Roadrunner has enough sense to stay away from exploding roads and hungry Coyotes.
Time for a Quote of the Week to lead us into this week's interview:
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.”
―
Edward Abbey
After our conversation with Priscilla and Terisa it's 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, 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
Sunday September 13, 2 – 4pm. Get Ready for Constitution Day Create a "We the People" banner together - Explore the cornerstones of Democracy - Sing about Democracy - Enjoy a fun and creative event with our community. Prizes for young folks who have memorized the Preamble. There will be two sessions, one from 2:00pm - 2:45pm and one at 3:00pm - 3:45pm. Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376. Sponsored by Indivisible Montague.
Wednesday September 16, 8am to 9am. SPJE’s Billionaire Standout. A casual opportunity to greet your fellow billionaires as they drive into Hanscom and drive up carbon emissions with their private jets! Fake champagne & caviar (and real refreshments) will be provided for your pleasure. Kindly RSVP here.
Wednesday September 16, 12p.m. Virtual Town Hall: Turning Out Environmental Voters in 2026. Join NRDC Action Fund staff for a special virtual town hall about how we
will work to flip the U.S. House of Representatives to a
pro-environment majority and shift power in Congress in the upcoming
midterm elections, and how you can help. Be sure to come with your
questions.
Go HERE.
Wednesday, September 16, 6:30pm.
- Doors open at 6pm. Attend Training in Person - People Power Drives
Effective Government. Bombyx, 130 Pine Street, Florence, MA. State
Senator Jo Comerford offers a legislative advocacy 101 talk/training
for engaging with state government about issues that matter. She will
share examples of strategic advocacy on issues such as arts, education,
and civil liberties, and will discuss organizing for regional equity.
There will be time for questions, discussion, and feedback. Free Tickets
HERE.
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Wednesday, September 16, 7 - 8 pm. How to Stop a Data Center in Your Backyard & Beyond. Join us to hear from our Food & Water Watch Research and Organizing teams
about the work we’re doing to stop data centers across the country and
what you can do to prevent them from being built in your community and
beyond. At the event, we’ll share practical resources and toolkits we’ve successfully used in the field.
Sign up now and submit your questions!
Thursday September 17, 11am. – 12pm. Climate Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness for Private Wells. This
free, one-hour webinar is intended for private well owners, water
professionals, public health officials, and other stakeholders
interested in protecting private water systems. As climate change
increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, it's
essential to understand how these changes can impact private wells and
groundwater quality. Go HERE.
September 17, 12 to 1:30pm. MA DPU siting and permitting webinar: The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) invites you to join a Siting & Permitting 101: Large Clean Energy
Infrastructure Projects webinar. This
virtual webinar is intended for municipal officials, regional planning
agencies and community-based organizations interested in learning about
the Energy Facilities Siting Board’s (EFSB) new consolidated permit
process for large clean energy infrastructure projects. Please register in advance to receive the Zoom link for the webinar.
Thursday September 17, 2pm. Join We Build Progress and the Deliver My Vote Education Fund/Voter ProtectionAdvocate Network to learn about tools you can use right now at our free, virtual briefing “Protect Your Vote, Protect Your Neighbors: Tools for Organizers.” We’ll
share two critical tools that organizers, advocates, and everyday
citizens can use right now to help protect the rights of themselves and
their neighbors. Register at bit.ly/4cPZ9NC
Thursday September 17, 6:30 - 8pm. Join us for a screening of a brand-new 30-minute film about the
importance of the Forest Service's 2001 Roadless Rule, and a virtual
public hearing on the future of New England's National Forest Roadless
Areas! We'll explore the special landscapes protected by the Roadless
Rule, the current threat posed by the Trump Administration, and provide
an opportunity for you to submit comments to the Forest Service before
the comment deadline on September 21. Online - we'll send a
zoom link after you register!
Saturday September 19, 1:30 - 4:00 pm. (rain date: Sunday 9/20) "Get a Jump on 'Dump the Pump' - An Event on Land & Water." CT River Defenders action calling you & yours. Flotilla! on the river –. at the Riverview Picnic
Area, 144 Pine Meadow Rd., Northfield, MA. The site of FirstLight Energy’s Ecocide
and brutal Desecration of the Connecticut River. The event welcomes
paddlers and land enthusiasts to join in solidarity on the land and on
the water. In addition there will be a free picnic, music and arts.
Boating, Food, Sharing…“Celebrate the
Rights of the River“ with the Connecticut River
Defenders! Contact HERE.
Saturday September 19, 10am. RiverFest
is an annual fall community event in partnership with several arts,
culture, historical, and environmental groups that takes place along the
Westfield River in Cummington. The Westfield River is the Cummington
Cultural District’s backyard, flowing behind the buildings and houses
that line Main Street, our celebrated rural arts destination. Go HERE.
Saturday September 19, 2pm. Extinction Rebellion U.S. (XRUS) All-Chapter Gathering. As we head into September and ever more extreme weather, it's a good
time to be finalizing plans for Fall Rebellion. Why not do it in the
company of other rebels from around the country? If you haven't already
done so, please register for the September All-Chapter Gathering at the
link HERE.
Saturday September 19 to October 4. The Women's Walk for Water. The Constitution Pipeline’s planned route in 2016 was approximately 124
miles from Susquehanna County, PA, to Schoharie County, NY, crossing 250
waterways. The pipeline would impact
water quality from dredging, erosion, sedimentation, and changes in
turbidity, among other impacts, also endangering sensitive streams,
trout, and other habitats. Go HERE.
Monday September 21, 5pm. Public Comment Opportunity: Constitution PipelineComment deadline! Gas entering the interstate system at Wright would move east through
existing infrastructure toward Massachusetts, including the Tennessee
Gas Pipeline system that crosses Berkshire County. The project was
proposed alongside other pipeline expansions intended to increase gas
capacity into New England. How do I comment? Use BEAT's Comment Guide. More BEAT Gas Pipelines & Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Campaign.
Monday September 21. Public Comment deadline on overturning the Roadless Rule. One of our partner organizations, Environment America, has set up this
website that will quickly take you through the steps to sign on to an
existing comment letter that will be submitted to USDA/USFS and to your
congressional representatives: https://saveroadlessforests.com/
Tuesday September 22, 6pm. Somerville Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville, MA. Join us for a lively evening of theater to celebrate the Autumnal
Equinox and find possibility in a time of climate crisis. The Climate
Crisis Cabaret (CCC) will premiere several new short works, including: Battle for the Future of the Earth. The Fossil Fuel Gang v Earth Warriors! Mayhem! Music! And a vision of possibility. Cacophony / Harmony
A theatrical mosaic of provocative climate change speeches—facing reality and inspiring hope. Free! Family-friendly! Visit the CCC website!
Tuesday Sept 22, 7:30pm. (Doors Open at 6:30pm) "Defending Democracy and Defeating Toxic Tribalism" with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger— six-term House of Representative Congressman, Air Force Veteran, and New York Times best-selling author. Springfield Symphony Hall, Springfield, MA. Go HERE.
Wednesday, September 23, 6 to 9pm. 101
course’ in siting and permitting: each will provide a basic
introduction
to 225 CMR 29.00 - regulations for the siting and permitting of small
clean energy infrastructure facilities – and other essential information
that they will need to know as the regulations come into full force on
October 1. In person at the Belchertown Town Hall, 1 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA 01007 (See above)
Thursday September 24, 6 - 8 p.m. Climate Week NYC Documentary Screening:
River Restoration & Climate Resilience. The Bronx, New York. The Henry L. & Grace Doherty Institute for Climate & Resilience
at Save the Sound invites you to celebrate Climate Week NYC by joining
us for a documentary screening with our partners at the Bronx River
Alliance! We will start with a tour of their LEED certified building,
River House, followed by a screening of Save the Sound’s documentary, Reconnected,
on river restoration and dam removal. After the screening, we will have
a panel Q&A with expert practitioners to discuss the intersection
of river restoration and climate resilience. Learn more.
Saturday, September 26, All Day. Standing Trees Annual Gathering on National Public Lands Day. ***Please note: This event is free of charge, but an RSVP is required to help us with planning for hikes and meals.*** Each fall, the Standing Trees community gathers to celebrate our
volunteers, supporters, partners, and the hard work that goes into
keeping our public lands wild! On National
Public Lands Day, Saturday Sept 26th, we'll gather in the shadow of the
lofty Sandwich Range in beautiful Wonalancet, New Hampshire, for a day
of hiking, trail work, presentations, awards, food, and...most
importantly...great company among friends of wild places. Go HERE.
Sunday September 27, 1:30-3:30. Casting Away Fear; Building Shelter for All: A New Year's Gathering for Immigration Justice at the Groff Park Pavilion in Amherst. The event is open to all who share our concerns about how our immigrant neighbors' lives are being torn apart. As
in past gatherings, we will include ritual, stories and songs that
focus on immigration justice. The event will include a short walk to the
Mill River for a Tashlich ceremony where we will cast away fear and
commit ourselves to justice and building a welcoming community. Registration is encouraged so we can get a sense of numbers, but not required. Register at tinyurl.com/tashlich-sukkot-gathering.
Tuesday September 29, 5:30—potluck. 6-7:30: Interactive Program. Climate Action Now Fall Gathering. "Nurturing biodiversity in a time of ecological chaos" at the Arcadia Center in Easthampton. Go HERE.
Wednesday September 30, TBA. Mark your calendars for a potential protest!
Governor Healey is hosting a NE governors conference to promote new
nuclear as "affordable" yet, those efficiencies have yet to be
demonstrated at the scale necessary to establish a competitive
commercial industry. She is still calling for
the repeal Chapter 503. The governors gathering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy is focused on “safeguarding our collective energy future through advancement of a
diverse energy strategy that includes nuclear power.” "UMass Lowell also
worked with the Healey administration, starting last fall to develop advanced nuclear and fusion energy roadmaps to guide the state’s consideration of the technologies." STAY TUNED.
Wednesday September 30, 6 to 9pm. 101
course’ in siting and permitting: each will provide a basic
introduction
to 225 CMR 29.00 - regulations for the siting and permitting of small
clean energy infrastructure facilities – and other essential information
that they will need to know as the regulations come into full force on
October 1. In person at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, 12 Olive St, Bill Allen Meeting Room, Greenfield, MA 01301 (See above for details)
Saturday October 10 & Sunday October 11, Noon: HONK Festival & 11:30 HONK Parade with Boston XR. (See links)
Saturday October 17, 11am. Pulaski Park, Main Street, Northampton, MA. Go HERE No Kings: Vote Early is the next step of reclaiming our power after a year of mass mobilizations. It's not a protest. It's a day of nonpartisan voter participation, being in community with each other, and making sure every eligible voter has a plan, knows their options, and is ready to make their voice count. Get ready! Mark Your Calendar! National Page: Go HERE.
Monday October 26, 12:30pm. The Healey-Driscoll Administration will be hosting a public listening session on energy facility siting in Shutesbury. Shutesbury Public Library, located at 66 Leverett Road, Shutesbury, MA 01072. This
will be an opportunity for community members to share their
perspectives with administration leaders, ask questions, and learn more
about the new energy facility siting law. Please save the date. We hope
to see you there! For additional information, please contact the Climate Office, climate.office@mass.gov.
OK for now BUT don't forget to listen to your Mother!
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