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.
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??
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 August 30, 10am. YES on 6 Rally w/ Governor Healey. Hammond Pond Trailhead, Chestnut
Hill, the Hammond Pond Trailhead is located off Hammond Pond Parkway in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts, near the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center and The Street. Question
6 will dedicate as much as $100 million each year from existing
sporting goods sales taxes directly to water and land conservation—without
raising taxes. When you attend, you'll be among the very first supporters to get your official
YES on 6 lawn signs, buttons, palm cards, and swag
to take home. Plus, everyone is invited to join us after the speaking
program for food and drinks to celebrate with fellow partners
(location TBD)! Contact HERE.
Tuesday September 1: State Primary Election Day!
All polls open from 7am-8pm (Please note, all mail-in ballots must be received by 8pm on Election Day)
Tuesday, September 1, 1-2 pm. Data Centers and Energy Usage 101: Impacts on the Electric Grid. This Clean Energy Group (CEG) webinar is
a primer for the data center industry and will provide important information on data center energy usage estimates.
Alli
Finn,
Director of
Community
Partnerships at
AI Now Institute, will provide an overview of
the data center
landscape
underlying this
load growth,
including
operational
dynamics,
incentive
structures, and
other key
concepts. This
will be followed
by a presentation
from
Sarah
Smith,
a research
scientist in
Lawrence Berkeley
National Lab’s
Energy Analysis
Division. Dr.
Smith will present
on factors
impacting data
center electricity
usage modelling
and considerations
for policymakers,
regulators, and
local authorities
when assessing
data center load
growth, as
detailed in the
US Data Center Energy Usage Report 2025 Update.
Wednesday September 2, 12:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Saving the Mother Trees with Jim Laurie Free Webinar. Go HERE.
Wednesday September 2, 6 pm. Grassroots Action Hour. We need just that - action. We'll set aside a dedicated hour once a month to work together, and strategize on local issues. We have greater impact when we work together to support each other. Come to the Carver, MA library to help design a campaign to make a difference in your town or neighborhood.
Sit
down with us to write a letter, call your rep, prepare for an upcoming
meeting, or help us design the next phase of action on sand mining,
solar, and reckless development. Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84553439155?pwd=PQuic7FGSnxCmtmahYfd42zvhaKdVT.1. Meeting chat link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/jc/84553439155
Wednesday September 2, 8 – 9pm. General
Election Kickoff Call. Join Indivisibles and activists across the
country to learn about Indivisible National’s General Election program!
We’ll kick things off with Indivisible’s Ezra Levin as we celebrate all
that we accomplished together during the primaries, discuss the stakes
of the midterms and share opportunities for helping candidates in our
target races across the country WIN this November. Go HERE.
Tuesday September 8, 7pm-8pm. Nuclear expansion in Massachusetts? Our governor says we need it. But who will really benefit? And who pays the price? Linda Pentz Gunter discusses her new book, "NO TO NUCLEAR: Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War", along with Sharon Tracy of the Clamshell
Alliance at the Clapp Library, Belchertown, MA. Admission free in-person.
Wednesday September 9, 12- 1pm. Clean Energy Siting & Permitting Series
Pt. 6 - Battery Storage Siting & Permitting webinar. MACC Lunch & Learns are FREE and open to all - members and non-members alike! This
webinar is the 6th and final part of our Clean Energy Siting &
Permitting Lunch & Learn Series. Speakers from the Executive Office
of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA), Department of Energy
Resources (DOER), and Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) will share
information on the new siting and permitting process for battery storage
energy infrastructure projects in the Commonwealth. This is a very important webinar for conservation commissioners to attend.
Go
HERE
Wednesday September 9, 7-8:30. THREE MILE ISLAND: LEGACY & RESISTANCE TO REOPENING - A PUBLIC FORUM. The announced restart of Three Mile Island Unit-1 nuke is aimed to serve just one client: Microsoft, and has been met with unabashed enthusiasm by Governor Shapiro and the PA legislature. This deal was cooked up in dark in board rooms and political parlors with the backing of Microsoft founder, Bill Gates. Registration available after 8/11. Save the date.
Contact: info@clamshellalliance.com
Wednesday, September 9, 8 – 9pm. Organizing to Protect Democracy: September SessionVirtual Community Event · Hosted by American Civil Liberties Union. The
ACLU's Organizing to Protect Democracy training series is built to help
volunteers develop real organizing skills, strengthen leadership, and
take part in community-based defense of civil liberties. You'll learn
how to take action and organize in a moment when our communities are
facing threats to their safety and their rights. Go HERE.
Thursday, September 10 - 5pm (Arrive early for Nuke Buster's contingent) They are returning with the mock nuclear waste cask. The parade starts from the area of Greenfield MA Middle School and Blessed
Sacrament Church. It travels south down Federal Street and turns right
onto Main Street, then on to Franklin County Fairgrounds,
85 Wisdom Way, Greenfield, MA.
They
will also be at the heart of the action at
the Franklin County Fair, tabling on Friday (from 3-6 pm), Saturday
(from 10 am - 5 pm), and Sunday (from 10 am - 4 pm). Also looking for
people who can help us handing out flyers during the tabling hours at
the Fair: Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13. Come see us by our cask at the start of the parade if you'd like to help or call/email in advance: Tel: (413) 834-3280 Email: info@nukebusters.org
Saturday September 12, 11am to 1pm — “Forest Fires in Massachusetts: Myths and Reality.” Presentations and panel discussion. In person and on zoom.
1:30 to 2:30 pm.
Walking Tour of the Montague Plains Wildlife Management. In
Massachusetts, public agencies are increasingly using controlled burning
in state forests and wildlife management areas, such as the Montague
Plains and Muddy Brook wildlife management areas, and Myles Standish
State Forest. Our speakers are experts on these issues and will discuss
important questions. The National Spiritual Alliance, 2 Montague Avenue,
Lake Pleasant, MA. Please park near the intersection of Old Northfield
Road and Lake Pleasant Road if possible. Some light snacks and beverages
provided. Please
RSVP
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.
Saturday September 19, 1:30 - 4:00 pm. "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, Northfield. Boating, Food, Sharing…“Celebrate the
Rights of the River“ with the Connecticut River
Defenders! Contact 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.
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.
OK for now BUT don't forget to listen to your Mother!
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