The Enviro Show on WXOJ-LP (103.3 fm) and streaming at www.ValleyFreeRadio.org from Florence, MA every other Tuesday, 6:00 to 7:00pm. Or anytime at: https://rss.com/podcasts/enviroshow/ . Also, we are on air at WMCB, (107.9fm) streaming at http://wmcb.net/Listen.html in Greenfield, Friday 8 to 9am. & Wednesday 7 to 8am. & Monday 8 to 9am, and at WMNB-LP 107.1fm Wednesdays at 6pm. Also Tune-in at https://tunein.com/radio/Valley-Free-Radio-WXOJ-LP-1033-s50205/.
Greetings Earthlings. Some good news from our friends at Kestral Trust: "2,000+ Acres of Forest in the West Quabbin Region [are now] Permanently Conserved...The land will be stewarded as “forever wild,” taking a passive
management approach to the forest to encourage old growth conditions to
develop." Presumably that means no destructive logging. Kristin DeBoer, Executive Director of Kestrel Land Trust joins us for the details. As usual we will also introduce you to the week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Whose Brains Were small" as well as the usual reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and more but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! An actual horror story about a certain spider and its victim.
It's always Halloween here on The Enviro Show so we happily load up our Brains Were Small segment with a listener suggested "Monster Slash" for your viewing pleasure. We think you'll appreciate the cosplay and the excellent wordplay too! We know a good many MAGA-type voters are now suffering from buyers remorse so this one's for you. O, and this one also. Happy Halloween!
Speaking of monsters, this week's Fool-on-the-Hill seems to qualify. U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, Repug from Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District and House Majority Whip described organizers of the recent #NoKings rallies as a “terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party and a “hate America” movement. Rose Thelen of Wright County Indivisible noted: "Emmer himself has previously urged restraint in political rhetoric.
“This is the same representative who called for toning it down after the
murders of Melissa Hortman and Charlie Kirk,” she said. “His hypocrisy
is stunning.” Indeed.
Our Doublespeak of the Week comes from His Malignancy himself, bullshitting the White House Press Corp about the second biggest demonstration in U.S. history <#NoKings> (eclipsed only by the 1st Earth Day) : "I think it's a joke. I looked at the people. They are not representative of this country," His Malignancy said. "And I looked at all the brand-new signs paid for—I guess, it was paid for by [George] Soros and other radical left lunatics. It looks like it was. We're checking it out. The demonstrations were very small, very ineffective." O......really?
Since we're on the subject, let's review some of The Mad King's (who is #NoKing) latest. Setting aside just lame-ass moves like pardoning bullshit artist extraordinaire, George Santos or trying to revive zombie nukes, how about "opening the entire coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing"? Why stop there? What about his "plans to rescind the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly known as the Public Lands Rule"? Go HERE for more on that. Then there's "The Interagency Weaponization Working Group" Reuters reported on last week: "A group of dozens of officials from across the federal
government, including U.S. intelligence officers, has been helping to
steer President Donald Trump's drive for retribution against his perceived enemies, according to government records and a source familiar with the effort." Sound familiar? But wait, there's more! "The New York Times reported on Wednesday that during a call in March with right-wing
activists, the woman, [Heather Honey] who has since been appointed to [the] President['s]...newly created “election integrity” position within the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had suggested that the president
could declare a “national emergency” to give his government new
authority to dictate election rules typically decided by state and local
governments." AND, when we protest against that it seems like we may be confronted by his "quick reaction force" made up from the National Guard from all 50 states. Sound sketchy? The National Guard is hardly SS material.
Like we said, it's always Halloween here on The Enviro Show so we want to share our Monster of the Year with you given what we just covered....
Look familiar? Actually we used the image last time this monster was lurking about. Now, it's escaped and is staggering around the countryside threatening near everyone. Time to PUSH BACK.
How can we move on from Halloween for now without acknowledging the Raven as our Critter of the Week? We can't ignore them, especially since we owe them. "Ravens were persecuted by early settlers in Massachusetts
and elsewhere, in part because they fed on grain, and were also
believed to feed on some livestock, such as baby lambs..... By the mid-1800s, ravens had pretty much disappeared from
the state.....As ravens began their recovery in Massachusetts in the 1970s and ’80s, they visited mainly in winter, especially in the western part of the state. For many years, the Quabbin Reservoir was raven central as part of their early efforts to restore bald eagles in the Commonwealth, regularly put deer carcasses on the ice for wintering eagles to feed on. This practice gave ravens a leg up as well. From 2007 to 2011, there were 100 confirmed nestings in the state and increasing. Corvids, the family of birds that includes ravens, crows,
jays, and magpies, in general, are as smart as parrots. Ravens are both predators and scavengers, and their
omnivorous diet includes insects, rodents, lizards, frogs, and even the
eggs and the young of other birds, according to National Audubon. They
regularly eat carrion as well, subjecting them to potential poisoning by rodenticides. Please take action to protect them HERE.
Back to the horrors being foisted upon us by the real "enemy within", those who promote and maintain The War Against Nature. Yes, "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and the stupidity knows no bounds when it comes to the forces behind AI. Our last show focused on much of that but this report from Inside Climate News goes a step further: "Data center energy demand “is threatening to sabotage the country’s
already faltering climate goals,” wrote John Fleming and Jean Su, with
the Center for Biological Diversity, in a report
published Wednesday. Fleming and Su found that, if AI data centers
powered by fossil fuels grow as forecasted, all other sectors of the
U.S. economy would need to cut emissions by 60 percent in order for the
U.S. to meet its emissions targets." Yes, that's a lot and not likely to be reached. And speaking of faltering climate goals, the NY Times informs us: "The world is not moving quickly enough to achieve global goals to reduce methane emissions by the end of the decade, a United Nations report found." That at the same time "A U.S. diplomatic broadside personally led by [the[ President...derailed a historic effort to tax climate pollution from shipping." And "An enormous solar power project in the Nevada desert that would have been one of the world’s largest has been canceled under.." [you know who]. Of course there's more but let's move on in the name of mental health.
Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week is a hybrid that came to us from Vote Common Good:
"The
ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the
convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact
and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist." - Hannah Arendt
AND: "This
week, Pope Leo quoted that very warning when he told international news
agencies they must stand firm against "the ancient art of lying" and
the "quicksand of approximation and post-truth."
After our conversation with Kristin it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Weekly. Here's what appears to be 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 And This: Western Mass General Strike is hosting drop-in sessions on Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hadley Public Library for conversation and networking around general strikes and other forms of economic resistance. The next one is on Oct. 22! We also invite you to our general meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7-8:30, online. If you would like to get involved in organizing prior to that, contact us at wmgeneralstrike@proton.me. And This: Every Wednesday, 11am-1pm | Bearing Witness to ICE, Burlington, MA. Stand
in solidarity outside the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations
Office. Together, we can show love and support for immigrants, express
our shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional
actions of our government. Info/Sign Up
Sunday November 2, 2 to 4pm. Greening Greenfield invites people to sign up for its first of several
invasive shrub-clipping parties in Highland Park, Greenfield, MA. Participants will learn about these shrubs and more. No experience
needed. Some tools, such as hand clippers will be provided. Pease wear
gloves, and bring any clippers you may have. To sign up for Nov 2, 2-4pm
party and future announcements of additional Sunday afternoon parties
send an email to info@GreeningGreenfieldMA.org or call 413-774-5667.
Monday November 3, 5:30 to 7:30pm. Greening Greenfield with co-sponsors, Franklin Regional Council Of Governments (FRCOG) and
Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee (SGIC) will host an
Energy Fair presenting a number of local vendors who will share the
latest information on home energy technologies for your home heating and
cooling. Register HERE.
Monday, November 3,
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. - EFSB and DPU Climate Act Proposed Regulations public comment hearing, One South Station, Boston, MA 02110, 3rd floor, Large Hearing Room (remote attendees can access the hearings at this link).The full notice for these hearings can be accessed at this link.
Tuesday November 4, 12 – 12:45pm. Mothers Out Front Climate Action Call with Senator Michael Barrett [who] has been a driving force in the Massachusetts Legislature to
pass legislation that addresses climate change, and was a primary
architect of the omnibus climate bills that passed the last several
sessions. Don't miss this chance to hear directly from him about
climate legislation this session and how you can help pass the best
bill possible. RSVP here
Thursday November 6, 10am to 12pm. "Understanding Watershed Forestry-Managing for Climate Change" [Be prepared for DCR propaganda] Approximately 1 mile- Easy hike but over uneven ground. Join a DCR- DWSP forester to explore a
recent harvest focused around a chestnut oak heath ( an uncommon forest
type in Massachusetts ) and management in the surrounding forest. We
will discuss why DWSP manages the forests surrounding
the drinking water supply of 2.7 million Massachusetts residents, and
how DWSP managers consider climate change with every decision. Meet at Gate 8 and carpool to site
Thursday November 6, 2 p.m.The MA Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) and Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) have released
draft proposed regulations and
draft guidance
on the application of Cumulative Impact Analysis to the new
Consolidated Permit process for discussion purposes ahead of the
upcoming Cumulative Impact Analysis Webinar at
2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6. The webinar will provide an
overview of the proposed draft guidance and regulations for Cumulative
Impact Analysis and opportunity for public input. The guidance drafted by the OEJE is
meant to inform the proposed regulations, which are drafted by EFSB
staff. The webinar precedes a formal rulemaking process that will
include further opportunities for comment. The
EFSB will provide information on that rulemaking process after the
webinar. Please register here for the webinar. We will also accept written comments on the draft guidance submitted to
ej.inquiries@mass.gov, and on the draft proposed regulations submitted to sitingboard.filing@mass.gov through November 17, 2025.
Thursday November 6, 5:30pm. Wild Lands: What They Are, and Present and Future Opportunities for Protection and Restoration. In-person at the Hanover, NH, Howe Library, and on zoom. Join
National Geographic photographer Ronan Donovan, Adirondack Council
Rewilding Advocate John Davis, and Northeast Wilderness Trust CEO John
Leibowitz for a free discussion of wildlands and rewilding, with a
particular focus on the lack of wildlands in New England, and
opportunities to re-introduce carnivores and establish “wildways” of
interconnected land. More information and Zoom RSVP here.
Saturday November 8, 10am. The 1,185-acre Mount Sunapee Reservation contains majestic old
forest that has been undisturbed for at least 350 years, but lacks any
status that would protect it from ski area expansion and other threats.
Join the Hanover Conservation Commission and local advocates for a
relatively steep, 4-mile out and back hike. Meet at the lower parking
lot on the Mt. Sunapee Access Road. More information and RSVP here.
Saturday November 8, 2:00 - 4:00pm: Fifth Annual Rally and Banner Drop "Democracy is Still Alive," Amherst Town Common. Hosted by Amherst Feminist Generation and Amherst League of Women Rain date is November 15th at the same time.
Saturday November 8, 4pm — Standing Trees Annual Gathering at the Dartmouth College Church of Christ in Hanover, NH. Join us
for a catered meal and an excellent opportunity to connect with the
whole Standing Trees community. The Standing Trees Board will lead us in
a brief discussion of organizational business and a celebration of
everything we have been up to over the last year. RSVP here to help us estimate dinner needs.
Tuesday November 11, 3 – 5pm. Stand
with Veterans as we march, rally, and refuse to allow growing fascism
to be normalized. Together we say NO this Veterans Day - no to ICE, no
to occupation, no to fascism, and no to cuts stripping away life saving
services our communities need. Veteran's Memorial Park - World War II
Memorial, 100 Park Dr. Boston, MA 02215 Go HERE.
Wednesday November 12, 10am to Noon. You
think nuclear is the answer to Climate Change? Think Again. Dr. Edwin
Lyman, Union of Concerned Scientists, Director of Nuclear Safety
presents: The Risk of Small Nuclear Reactors: Separating Fact from Fiction. Senate Room 222, MA State House, Boston, MA.
OK for now but please remember to listen to your Mother, OK?
Greetings Earthlings. We keep running across vague references to all the energy Artificial Intelligence (AI) uses and how bad it is for the climate but not much data. With that in mind we thought we'd share this short video investigative report from Business Insider for real world details. It seems AI may not be so intelligent after all and starting to look like a bubble! As always, we will bring on this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Whose Brains Were small" along with the ongoing reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" and our disturbing collection "....of the Week" entries, but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters! A little bit of pre-Halloween fear here folks "A recent CDC report shows an alarming rise in drug-resistant "nightmare bacteria" in the U.S. Between 2019 and 2023"
Our Doublespeak of the Week belongs to one of the worst of the worst when it comes to being two-faced. Yes, it's none other than Repugnican Rep Josh Hawley, he of the infamous J6 raised fist in support of the insurrection that later found him running for his life in the riot. Here it is: "I call on the House to quickly pass this legislation [the Big B.S.Bill] and send it to [the] President's desk,” said Hawley via his news release. “But let me
be clear, I will continue to do everything in my power to reverse future
cuts to Medicaid. If Republicans want to be the party of the working
class, we cannot cut health insurance for working people.” Yes, the bill in question is all about cuts to Medicaid and beyond.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is another repeat offender, His-not-so-holiness, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson who was challenged by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey for not swearing in newly elected member Adelita Grijalva: “Speaker Johnson: Stop delaying her swearing in. Stop hiding the Epstein files. And start doing your job..” Grijalva is on record in "support for forcing a vote on a measure
requiring the US Department of Justice to release its files on deceased
sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was friends with [the] Republican President" Yes, the ever so sanctimonious Mike Johnson makes a fool of himself almost daily on The Hill by kicking the Ten Commandments under the bus but we can't seem to get enough of his sins. You? Pushback HERE.
Time for our "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" segment and about time we bunched the entire MAGA horde of dinosaurs into one vile pile. Let's start with this“We took the freedom of speech away,” [the] President boasted in his opening remarks at his “antifa roundtable” recently. Of course, there is no real group called "Antifa" though most of your grandparents were anti-fascists and for good reason; if it wasn't for them you'd be speaking German right now. That said, if you haven't figured it out yet most of the rabble in the White House actually are fascists and knowing that, feel compelled to try and repress and punish anyone who speaks truth to power. We have a pushback Action Link HERE for that lot. The worst of the worst is a dino who even looks the part. Read "Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule" in The New Republic if you have the stomach. It should be no surprise that "Miller appears to want Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act", in his twisted little mind it's like the Reichstag is burning. The good news is such schemes might not work and, of course, some day they'll all be gone. Here's another Action Link for good measure.
Speaking of good news, How about our Critter of the Week? What with Halloween just around the corner how about we honor the often maligned Black Cat? Cats.com tells us:"One cat breed only comes in black—the pantheresque Bombay Cat. Many
other popular Cat breeds that come in a variety of colors come in black,
whether solid or black with white markings. There are more than 20
different.. Cat breeds.." and some of them may be all black or not. Furthermore, "One study examined this so-called “black cat bias” and found that
people think Cats with black coloring are less friendly and more
aggressive than Cats of other colors. The study also found that people
are simply superstitious—black Cats have a long history of being
associated with bad luck, bad omens, and witchcraft. Black Cat lovers
will tell you that all this is, of course, absolutely untrue." That said, more than a few witches still have black Feline friends.
So much for the often maligned, let's move on to the justlymaligned, His Malignancy The Mad King.....but wait, we have #NoKings here in the USA! Yes, it's true but this guy in the Oval Office needs some convincing he and his ilk can't pull stunts like this we talked about in our last show. You may recall His Malignancy "released National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7),
titled “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence.” NSPM-7 contains broad and vague language that
could allow government agencies to monitor or penalize individuals and
groups based on their beliefs rather than their actions." By the time you read this the #NoKings 2.0 actions will have captured headlines around the world and served to pump up the movement so much that some may believe it will soon be over for MAGA. Nah! Fascists don't fold so easily and it takes ALL OF US and the courts to put them in their place. For instance, His Malignancy is leaning on our institutions of higher learning to sign loyalty oaths; sadly some of them have caved to it, others? Not so much. Also , Project 2025 author, Russell Vought is circumventing the law and the role of Congress as a coequal branch of the federal government. He's His Malignancy's dark brain and must be forced out. The Prez and his evil clown show continue occupying our cities and threatening more of the same. On October 1, the MAGA freakshow "started a government
shutdown. They refused to negotiate with Democrats to write a funding
package that protects Americans' health and the climate and holds the...administration accountable for illegally blocking federal funds
for our communities", all in Blue States of course. As expected, these so-call authoritarians (Fascists to be more accurate) are now talking about "HeritageAmericans" out loud. Sounds like Nazi Volksgenosse from here! "Papers, please"? Not if we can help it: Stand Up/Fight Back!
All that AND we still must remind the Takers that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!". Really?? Yes, and just now this report on forest destruction drops in time to note: " 'Efforts to protect forests don’t stand a chance as long as our economic
system keeps rewarding quick profits from forest destruction,' said....a partner at Climate Focus. “To truly tackle
deforestation, leaders must work collectively to implement bold, binding
reforms that will transform the system that still generously rewards
forest loss.” If only the powers that be here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would realize it. The Guardian news story goes on: "A separate report released by Global Witness found that banks have made
$26bn from financing deforesting companies since the Paris agreement was
signed in 2015 – averaging around $7m every day." It goes without saying His Malignancy is 100% onboard with trashing forests: “We are freeing up our forests so we are allowed to take down trees and
make a lot of money. We have massive forests. We just
aren’t allowed to use them because of the environmental lunatics who
stopped us.” Please feel free to give the prototypical greed freak a piece of your mind via the U.S. Congress HERE. We guess The Mad King et al missed the recent memo: "Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere jumped by the
highest amount on record last year, soaring to a level not seen in human
civilization and “turbo-charging” the Earth’s climate and causing more
extreme weather, the United Nations weather agency said."
In the Enviro Show Echo chamber we go from "Good Old Intelligence" to a total lack of intelligence. How about micro radioactive nukes replacing old-school generators literally spread across the map by the Pentagon. What could possibly go wrong! We referenced Halloween at the top of the show, so HERE's a special Action Link on that. And this: Speaking of nukes, how about Gov. Healey's nuclear dream of new nukes here in Massachusetts?? Go to Nukebusters site, watch the video, then Take Action. No Nukes!
Our Quote of the Week comes from one of the founders of AI:
The
research question is: how do you prevent them from ever wanting to take
control? And nobody knows the answer [...] The alarm bell I’m ringing
has to do with the existential threat of them taking control [...] If
you take the existential risk seriously, as I now do, it might be quite sensible to just stop developing these things any further [...] it’s as if aliens had landed and people haven’t realized because they speak very good English.
Geoffrey Hinton
1st/3rd most cited scientist ever, Godfather of modern AI, Turing Award Recipient, resigned from Google due to ethical concerns.
On to our Bus Stop Billboard:
Weekly. Here's what appears to be 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 And This: Western Mass General Strike is hosting drop-in sessions on Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hadley Public Library for conversation and networking around general strikes and other forms of economic resistance. The next one is on Oct. 22! We also invite you to our general meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 7-8:30, online. If you would like to get involved in organizing prior to that, contact us at wmgeneralstrike@proton.me. And This: Every Wednesday, 11am-1pm | Bearing Witness to ICE, Burlington, MA. Stand
in solidarity outside the ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations
Office. Together, we can show love and support for immigrants, express
our shame at ICE, and bear witness to the cruel and unconstitutional
actions of our government. Info/Sign Up
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 9:30am to 4pm. Non-violent Direct Action training, Leyden, MA. Leyden Town Hall, 16 West Brattleboro Road, Leyden (
please note, the training is not at the Town Office! Google will
insist! You want to go to the top of the hill to a traditional New
England Town Hall). Registration required: https://forms.gle/TwQXAjd2xQdF2KPx8 Coffee/tea/cider/pastry/fru. it provided/ Potluck lunch.
Saturday, Nov 1, 11 am - 12:30 pm: Disappeared In America Day of Action, Town Common, Amherst.WMILAN,
JAIJ and Indivisible Northampton are organizing this event as part of a
national day of action to call attention to our community members who
have been disappeared by ICE. Registration for the event is at this
link: Register here on Mobilize.us.
Sunday November 2, 2 to 4pm. Greening Greenfield invites people to sign up for its first of several
invasive shrub-clipping parties in Highland Park, Greenfield, MA. Participants will learn about these shrubs and more. No experience
needed. Some tools, such as hand clippers will be provided. Pease wear
gloves, and bring any clippers you may have. To sign up for Nov 2, 2-4pm
party and future announcements of additional Sunday afternoon parties
send an email to info@GreeningGreenfieldMA.org or call 413-774-5667.
Monday November 3, 5:30 to 7:30pm. Greening Greenfield with co-sponsors, Franklin Regional Council Of Governments (FRCOG) and
Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee (SGIC) will host an
Energy Fair presenting a number of local vendors who will share the
latest information on home energy technologies for your home heating and
cooling. Register HERE.
Tuesday November 4, 12 – 12:45pm. Mothers Out Front Climate Action Call with Senator Michael Barrett [who] has been a driving force in the Massachusetts Legislature to
pass legislation that addresses climate change, and was a primary
architect of the omnibus climate bills that passed the last several
sessions. Don't miss this chance to hear directly from him about
climate legislation this session and how you can help pass the best
bill possible. RSVP here
Thursday November 6, 10am to 12pm. "Understanding Watershed Forestry-Managing for Climate Change" [Be prepared for DCR propaganda] Approximately 1 mile- Easy hike but over uneven ground. Join a DCR- DWSP forester to explore a
recent harvest focused around a chestnut oak heath ( an uncommon forest
type in Massachusetts ) and management in the surrounding forest. We
will discuss why DWSP manages the forests surrounding
the drinking water supply of 2.7 million Massachusetts residents, and
how DWSP managers consider climate change with every decision. Meet at Gate 8 and carpool to site
Thursday November 6, 5:30pm. Wild Lands: What They Are, and Present and Future Opportunities for Protection and Restoration. In-person at the Hanover, NH, Howe Library, and on zoom. Join
National Geographic photographer Ronan Donovan, Adirondack Council
Rewilding Advocate John Davis, and Northeast Wilderness Trust CEO John
Leibowitz for a free discussion of wildlands and rewilding, with a
particular focus on the lack of wildlands in New England, and
opportunities to re-introduce carnivores and establish “wildways” of
interconnected land. More information and Zoom RSVP here.
Saturday November 8, 10am. The 1,185-acre Mount Sunapee Reservation contains majestic old
forest that has been undisturbed for at least 350 years, but lacks any
status that would protect it from ski area expansion and other threats.
Join the Hanover Conservation Commission and local advocates for a
relatively steep, 4-mile out and back hike. Meet at the lower parking
lot on the Mt. Sunapee Access Road. More information and RSVP here.
Saturday November 8, 4pm — Standing Trees Annual Gathering at the Dartmouth College Church of Christ in Hanover, NH. Join us
for a catered meal and an excellent opportunity to connect with the
whole Standing Trees community. The Standing Trees Board will lead us in
a brief discussion of organizational business and a celebration of
everything we have been up to over the last year. RSVP here to help us estimate dinner needs.
Tuesday November 11, 3 – 5pm. Stand with Veterans as we march, rally, and refuse to allow growing fascism to be normalized. Together we say NO this Veterans Day - no to ICE, no to occupation, no to fascism, and no to cuts stripping away life saving services our communities need. Veteran's Memorial Park - World War II Memorial, 100 Park Dr. Boston, MA 02215 Go HERE.
Wednesday November 12, 10am to Noon. You think nuclear is the answer to Climate Change? Think Again. Dr. Edwin Lyman, Union of Concerned Scientists, Director of Nuclear Safety presents: The Risk of Small Nuclear Reactors: Separating Fact from Fiction. Senate Room 222, MA State House, Boston, MA.
That's all folks except please remember to listen to your Mother, OK?
Greetings Earthlings. There's another kind of Environmental Justice and it happens in courtrooms. Meg Sheehan, co-founder of Community Land & Water Coalition returns to the show as we discuss a recent court victory regarding AD Makepeace's sand mines on Federal Road in Carver, MA. She will also talk about legislation H918 & H948 on Beacon Hill. As usual we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were small as well as our "....or the Week" offerings and more, but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters! Caught on Camera: Pod of Orcas Ram Boats again; that sinking feeling.
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is another return loser, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. who authored a resolution to strip
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of her committee assignments after she
criticized Charlie Kirk’s past “words and actions” immediately after his shooting.In addition to retaliating against Omar, Mace has been tweeting nonstop
about the Kirk assassination, specifically calling for the firings of
individual educators at universities and other schools who have
criticized Kirk on social media. Mace has also offered a resolution to have Kirk lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. Really? This Fool never passes up an opportunity to draw attention to herself......even negative attention.
Our reporting for "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" finds political right wing dinosaurs dying but also, in true dino fashion, fighting amongst themselves for a place in the jungle. Some of the strangest behavior spilled into the rally-like memorial held for the assassinated white nationalist, Charlie Kirk last week. We appreciate nasty battle scenes amongst the dinosaurs as well as moments like this: The President "used his speech at the memorial service for conservative activist Kirk... to continue obscuring Kirk’s long record of hateful and bigoted comments and views. Other speakers were also a part of the process of using what was billed as a memorial service instead as a political rally for the right. “He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them,” His Malignancy said. “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie, I hate my opponent.” Wait, I thought "the haters" were on the Left?
Then comes our Doublespeak of the Week slithering out in time to be captured by the folks on Pod Save America: First the Mad King's FCC chair leans on ABC & Disney to sanction Jimmy Kimmel for
his remarks on-air regarding MAGA trash talk while AG Pam Bondi says she
will prosecute "Hate Speech" (while her DOJ skates on thin ice). Then Pod Save ran the tape of His
Malignancy's Inauguration speech in which he stated “After years and
years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts
to restrict free expression, I also will sign an executive order to
immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to
America.” Remember "Cancel Culture"? That was
MAGA's fake accusation about The Left censoring rightwing speech and
beliefs. Always playing the victim, they ran the free speech flag up the pole at every opportunity.
Post-Kirk assasination time finds MAGA throwing constitutional guaranteed
free speech under the bus. Last week was Doublespeak Week, enough bullshit for everyone! Push back HERE.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 9/25/25 — Today, President Trump signed a new presidential
memorandum targeting left-leaning organizations and their donors. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, issued the following statement in response to the news:
“The Trump-announced presidential memo is an “all of government” witch hunt against [his] political adversaries. While the details
remain to be disclosed, it threatens criminal and civil investigations
against nonprofits based on their point of view. What is really happening is this: The administration is conjuring
vast, imaginary conspiracies as a thinly veiled ruse to crack down on
its political opponents, based on their viewpoints. The... project is dangerous, utterly askew from constitutional values and profoundly unAmerican. [It] aims to intimidate and silence his political opponents. But
the majority of Americans oppose Trump’s authoritarianism and we will
not be intimidated.” Stay tuned......and Push Back HERE.
Speaking of free speech, guess who had an #EpicFail at the UN during Climate Week? That would be His Malignancy The Mad King who apparently put his madness on full display for all the world to see. It wasn't the usual ominous threats he reserves for anyone who opposes his fascist fantasies, but according to Bill McKibben, ".. it was definitely the dumbest speech that delegates have ever had to
listen to—as the shots of them looking on in stony disbelief as Trump
vented about broken escalators, MAGA hats, and his general greatness for
nearly an hour (ignoring the 15 minute time limit respected by the mere
mortals that rule other nations). “Everyone says I should get the Nobel
Peace Prize,” he explained helpfully. Just to give you a flavor of his
address, he devoted a considerable section to describing the floor
treatments he would have provided for the UN if he’d won some contract
long ago." But wait, would you like a side of corruption to go with that self-parody? "Enter the Trump Gold Card—not a credit card but a new pathway to
immigration, offering wealthy foreigners a fast track to permanent
residency in the United States. Launched on Friday by executive order
alongside a restrictive new update to the H-1B program, the Trump Gold Card offers potential immigrants[possibly just white ones]a
trade: In exchange for $1 million plus processing fees, the government
will give you an EB-1 or EB-2 visa. The administration is hoping to add
an even more exclusive tier in the form of the $5 million Trump Platinum
Card, which would give recipients 270 days’ residency in the U.S. with
no tax on non-U.S. income." America.....on SALE TODAY!! Getting back to the ominous: "Immigrant advocacy organizations and activists are bracing for a
crackdown from the federal government following threats from the.....administration to root out and criminally prosecute non-profit groups it
believes are sympathetic to...ready? 'leftwing' politics." The Guardian piece continues, "Over the last week, JD Vance described civil rights groups
as a “domestic terror movement”, while Stephen Miller, suspected vampire and the architect of the US president’s mass deportation agenda, vowed
that the administration would hold nonprofits, including
immigrant-rights and police-reform organizations, “criminally liable” for what he baselessly described as “coordinated attacks” on Ice agents." In closing, did you know over 1 million of your fellow citizens have signed a petition to have His Malignancy impeached?
So, last week was Climate Week at the UN and around the planet. You could almost hear the cry: "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" bounce off the the Three MAGA Monkeys who see, hear & speak no evil (too busy performing it, we guess). Also, Sun Day took place...well, on Sunday and that was also celebrated around the world. While His Malignancy and his MAGA minions continue trashing the Earth at every opportunity people who actually care about life on the planet came together once again to try and do something about it. The Mad King sent no one but showed up to make a fool of himself (see above). And some good news from the AP: "A federal judge ruled Monday that a nearly completed Revolution Wind offshore project halted by the administration can resume, dealing President
Donald Trump a setback in his ongoing effort to restrict the fledgling
industry." Take that, Your Malignancy! And this, "There is stronger evidence than ever that greenhouse gases are bad for us, the nation’s leading scientific advisory body said yesterday. Yet [the] President has proposed to cancel the government’s 16-year-old finding that carbon dioxide emissions endanger public health. Doing so would mean the Environmental Protection Agency could no longer limit emissions from cars or power plants." 😠 Finally, Grist tells us: "In a new report,
scientists warn that we’ve crossed yet another “planetary boundary,” a
threshold that keeps Earth’s systems hospitable to life — a sort of
global resilience that allows the planet to absorb shocks. This time,
it’s the relentless acidification of the seas that’s crossed into
dangerous territory, threatening all manner of marine life, including
the organisms at the base of the food web. Of the nine total planetary
boundaries, this is the seventh that’s been breached." Sorry guys, it gives us no pleasure to remind you we've been warning everyone on the show about this for over 20 years. 😟
Time for our Critter of the Week mental health break. This one about a favorite at costume parties or on Halloween, the Bumble Bee. The Xerces Society is all about Invertebrates and they tell us, "Bumble bees, key pollinators of crops and wildflowers across the country
and essential for a healthy environment, are declining at an alarming
rate. Bee biologists discovered that several previously common species
are now absent from much of their former territory. Creating,
protecting and restoring habitat is a very important way to conserve the
populations of bees that remain. The causes of these declines are not fully understood, but likely
playing a role are: loss or fragmentation of habitat, pesticide use,
overgrazing, competition with honey bees, climate change, low genetic
diversity, and perhaps most significant of all, the introduction of
nonnative pathogens. Regardless of the ultimate cause of bumble bee declines, surviving
populations need high quality habitat to persist. Protecting, restoring,
enhancing, and creating new bumble bee habitat is the best way to
conserve populations of these indispensable animals and hopefully
reverse population trends." What we need to know is HERE.
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we are wondering if it's just a fluke that a study on forests failing in the Climate Crisis was conducted byWake Forest University?? "The destruction of the
forests is a threat to our entire global ecosystem. The forests in the
Amazon and Andes help reduce carbon pollution and are also the home of
many diverse plants and animals. Unfortunately,
this is not the only news that suggests there are reasons to be
concerned about the health of our forests. A UN biodiversity summit
declared 38% of the world's trees are at risk of extinction. Another
report suggested that trees are losing their natural ability to store
carbon because of their disrupted ecosystems." This is the last thing us in the forest & tree protection community need to hear. The Takers (most of whom deny the climate emergency even exists) will obviously use the study as yet another reason to clearcut the planet. How about a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions, guys? Wake up! Hello??
After our interview with Meg it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Thursdays to Saturdays in October 10/18, 10/23, 10/24, and 10/25 at 7:30 pm, Sundays 10/19
and 10/26 at 2 pm.Please join us for Swamped,
a new play written and directed by Court Dorsey, and performed
at the newly-equipped theatrical venue at the Wendell
Meetinghouse (1 Morse
Village Rd., Wendell MA 01379). "Captain’s lost his wife. He's
marooned in assisted living with his red state values — and his
non-binary caretaker, Clove. The Captain's almost-son Stephen
loves Kat, a woman at a crossroads who doesn’t want a firm hand
anywhere near her. Everyone is swamped, and knowing each other
may be their only hope." Tickets $15-25, advance
tickets: https://wendellmeetinghouse.ludus.com
Saturday October 18, All Day. #NoKings 2.0 Another national #NoKings actions. Mark your calendars.Trump is ramping up his attacks on our rights and democracy, but
we’re not backing down. On October 18, we’re taking to the streets in
more cities and in larger numbers to remind Trump, his cronies, and
those on the sidelines looking for hope: America has no kings.
Saturday, October 18, 10am – 12pm. No Thrones, No crowns, No Kings! rally.
Belchertown Town Common, 2 Jabish St on the corners of Jabish and Main St.
Saturday, October 18, 11am – 12:30pm. No Kings Orange, MA. Memorial Park, South Main Street & Water Street, Orange, MA 01364. A
core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent
action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential
confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act
lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally
permitted, should not be brought to events. Go HERE.
Saturday, October 18, 2 to 4 pm. No Crowns/No Thrones/No Kings! Meet at the Energy Park & march to the Greenfield Town Common, Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 Our
peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is
more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon.
Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it
echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across
this country to fight dictatorship together. Go HERE.
Saturday, October 18, 11am – 12pm. No Kings Westfield. Park Square, Main Street & Elm Street, Westfield, MA 01085. The
president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have
kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.
Grow our movement and join us. Go HERE.
Saturday October 18, 11:30am – 1:30pm. #NoKings Rally in Northampton. Pulaski Park, 240 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060. The
president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have
kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.
Grow our movement and join us. Go HERE. Option: Join the Corporate Accountability crew at the No Kings rally in Northampton by going HERE.
Saturday October 18, 12 – 2pm. Springfield,
MA #NoKings Standout. Intersection of Boston Road & Parker Street,
Springfield, MA 01129. Power belongs to The People. Join the Movement.
Go HERE.
Saturday, October 18, 12 – 2pm. Power belongs to the People. Join the Movement.
Saturday October 18, 1:30 – 3pm. #NoKings standout in Amherst, MA. Corners of Main, Amity, North Pleasant, and South Pleasant Streets. Amherst, MA 01002. Our
peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is
more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon.
Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it
echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across
this country to fight dictatorship together. Go HERE.
Sunday October 19, 1-3 pm.Dump the Pump Rally. Riverview Picnic area, Ferry Road, Northfield MA. THE CONNECTICUT RIVER IS IN TROUBLE. FirstLight’s Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station is the deadliest machine on the Connecticut River. It KILLS year-round. Northfield
suctions the Connecticut River backward and uphill at a rate of 15,000
cubic feet per second. That is the equivalent of the aquatic life in
eight three bedroom homes-sucked in, every second, for hours on end. From
eggs, to larvae, to juvenile and adult fish, there is no expectation of
survival for anything pulled through Northfield's massive turbines. Go HERE.
Tuesday October 21, 10am Rally, 11am Make Polluters Pay Petition Delivery.Bring your T-shirts, your signs, and get ready to show our power. We will have members from across our coalition. If you represent a new group who wants to get in on the action, please reach out!For a year, we have been collecting petition signatures [in Massachusetts] from all over our movement. Now, with thousands of signatures--and more coming in every day!--we are ready to drop this fat stack of paper off with our legislators to show them the support for Make Polluters Pay. Go HERE.
Tuesday, October 21, 1pm. MA Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources hearing on Animals, Hunting, Fishing & Wildlife legislation. Go HERE. Please support H.1048 An Act relative to increased protection of wildlife management areas. It would update century-old public land policies written before recognition of global climate change and biodiversity loss. The bill directs the designation of at least 30% of state-owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) under Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) control as reserves by 2030, consistent with the latest climate and biological science. More info HERE.
Wednesday October 22, 7 to 8:30pm. Nancy Folbre, Professor Emerita of Economics at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst, will speak on the impact of President Trump’s
recent social policies on individuals, families, and our community at
public forum in the Ramsdel Room of the Pelham Town Library, Amherst Rd., Pelham, MA. Parking is available nearby. This timely forum is sponsored by the
Pelham Democratic Town Committee and is open to all people regardless of
political outlook or party affiliation. For additional information about the forum, contact Jane Porter, Janepor@comcast.net, Anne Nugent, nugeae@comcast.net, Alisa Pearson, alisa4alivableclimate@gmail.com or Bruce Laurie, bruceglaurie@gmail.com
Thursday October 23, 7pm.Climate Action Now October Gathering. Protecting and defending immigrants & refugees in our community. An Interactive event led by local immigration justice leaders. Zoom link here.
Oct. 23-26,The Center for Biological Diversity will feature four award-winning documentaries
and special interviews with filmmakers, farmers, organizers, and
activists. Sign up today.
Saturday October 25, 2-5pm. Climate, Democracy and our Future Ecology, Economy and Energy, in Franklin County and Beyond. How are key areas of our community --
local agriculture, forestry, water issues, economy and energy
-- related to the twin crises of climate change and attacks on
democracy? How can we work towards a healthy, productive and just local
economy and ecology? A Student-Community
Forum at Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA. www.climate-democracy.net/. email: cdp@crocker.com
(conference planning)
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 9:30am to 4pm. Non-violent Direct Action training, Leyden, MA. Leyden Town Hall, 16 West Brattleboro Road, Leyden (
please note, the training is not at the Town Office! Google will
insist! You want to go to the top of the hill to a traditional New
England Town Hall). Registration required: https://forms.gle/TwQXAjd2xQdF2KPx8 Coffee/tea/cider/pastry/fru. it provided/ Potluck lunch.
Saturday & Sunday November 1 & 2. Disappeared in America actions. Host a Disappeared in America event during the weekend of action, November 1st-November 2nd! Every local action—big or small—helps build the collective power we need to protect immigrant communities and defend democracy itself. Your leadership truly makes a difference. See our toolkits to host one of three types of actions in our community — each an important way to make your voice heard and build local power as part of a national movement. Go HERE.
Monday November 3, 5:30 to 7:30pm. Greening Greenfield with co-sponsors, Franklin Regional Council Of Governments (FRCOG) and
Sustainable Greenfield Implementation Committee (SGIC) will host an
Energy Fair presenting a number of local vendors who will share the
latest information on home energy technologies for your home heating and
cooling. Register HERE.
Thursday November 6, 5:30pm. Wild Lands: What They Are, and Present and Future Opportunities for Protection and Restoration. In-person at the Hanover, NH, Howe Library, and on zoom. Join
National Geographic photographer Ronan Donovan, Adirondack Council
Rewilding Advocate John Davis, and Northeast Wilderness Trust CEO John
Leibowitz for a free discussion of wildlands and rewilding, with a
particular focus on the lack of wildlands in New England, and
opportunities to re-introduce carnivores and establish “wildways” of
interconnected land. More information and Zoom RSVP here.
