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Greetings Earthlings. You may have heard stories about mysterious rock formations people come upon in the woods with seemingly no explanation as to their origin? Some appear to be actual shelters, others like intentional platforms or markers. There are a lot of theories about their origin but not much science. Mike Luoma author of "Ancient Stone Mysteries of New England" joins us to explore the unknown. As for the known, we invite you also to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains Were small as well as our "...of the Week" contributions and more but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! Stop trying to make friends with Bambi!
This week's Fool-on-the-Hill has been nominated multiple times in the past. She's still a fool but we guess fools have been known on some occasions to see the light of day. ABC News reports: "Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia posted, in part, "If U.S. military action and regime change in Venezuela was really about saving American lives from deadly drugs then why hasn’t the Trump admin taken action against Mexican cartels?" She added, "And if prosecuting narco terrorists is a high priority then why did President Trump pardon the former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez who was convicted and sentenced for 45 years for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into America? Greene continued, "Americans disgust with our own government’s never ending military aggression and support of foreign wars is justified because we are forced to pay for it and both parties.. always keep the Washington military machine funded and going. This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong." 😏 How about passing a War Powers Resolution, Marge? Go HERE.
Our Doublespeak of the Week goes to which ever MAGA lackey or group of lackeys hatched it up on line as reported by The Hill: "The White House launched a website Tuesday [January 6] praising President Trump for his handling of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, simultaneously blaming Democrats for having “masterfully reversed reality” and saying Trump “corrected a historic wrong” in pardoning those charged with crimes related to the storming of the building....At the time, the mob that stormed the Capitol threatened to hang then-Vice President Mike Pence after Trump criticized his running mate for not seeking to block former President Biden’s win in the 2020 race. Trump, who did not respond to the violence at the Capitol for hours... still falsely maintains that he won the 2020 election. The new website blames Democrats for “certifying a fraud-ridden election” and fumes over the work of the House Jan. 6 committee. It also accuses U.S. Capitol Police of escalating tensions." OK, who has "reversed reality" and not at all "masterfully"? That would be the fascists in the White House. Surprise! How about some truthing?
This takes us to "Those Whose Brains Were small and they Died" as the fascist dinosaurs in the Administration revisit the gunboat diplomacy imperialism of the past by invading Venezuela and removing President Maduro and his wife. Why stop there! His Malignancy's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, no doubt with the assistance of creepy Stephen Miller, posted this on Administration websites: "This Is Our Hemisphere — and President Trump Will Not Allow Our Security to be Threatened." Threatened?? Sound familiar? Remember the Monroe Doctrine? Miller went further at the same time and in true wannabe--nazi mode "reiterated claims that the United States should take control of Greenland, questioning Denmark's authority..". Sadly, it doesn't stop there. Make Canada the 51st State?? As it happens, the MAGA murder of Renee Nicole Good, 37, by ICE agents in Minneapolis last Wednesday has shocked the nation. The tragic and utterly murderous incident is further proof (as if we needed it) of just how barbaric and uncivilized His Malignancy's Administration really is, their masks have been torn off and their lying fascist mindset fully revealed for all the world to see. Renee Nicole Good, Presente'. Please go HERE and urge your MA reps & senator to act AND go HERE to tell Congress to pushback on His Malignancy's threats.
In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we bring back an exceptional video "Old Growth Forests - Nature's Biotic Water Pump" with Two atmospheric physicists, Millán Millán, and Anastassia Makarieva, [who] explain how forests control our climate, and "pump" water across continents. This is a REAL eye-opener we all should watch and share far & wide. And this: "What a win! Your efforts to end Avelo Air's deportation flights SUCCEEDED! Indivisibles and partners around the country spent months dialing up the heat on Avelo Airlines for trafficking people grabbed by ICE to wherever the Trump regime saw fit. And last week, Avelo announced that their role in Trump’s deportation machine would cease, because the flights "did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue to overcome its operational complexity and costs" -- in other words: Serving as ICE Air just wasn't worth the trouble!" Like we always say: "Action is the antidote to despair"
It's tempting to turn away completely from the endless news of His Malignancy The Mad King (#NoKings) as the evidence of MAGA's anti-American assaults against our Constitution and common decency mount daily but this is, after all, The Enviro Show and we are obliged to cover the Administration's War on Nature, something that too often goes unreported in the news. Usually it goes unreported because these kleptocratic nazi monsters purposely "flood the zone" with their endless shit in the failed attempt to knock us off center. No such luck. We are watching and recording. Here's one such example of the truly serious situation we face with these low-lives in the White House: "President [last] Wednesday withdrew the United States from dozens of international treaties and organizations aimed at promoting cooperation on the world’s most pressing issues, including human rights and the worsening climate emergency." And further: "Among the treaties Trump ditched via a legally dubious executive order was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, making the US—the world’s largest historical emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases—the first country to abandon the landmark agreement. Jean Su, energy justice director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement that “.. cutting ties with the world’s oldest climate treaty is another despicable effort to let corporate fossil fuel interests run our government.” Of course, the filthy rich billionaires and corporations are the driving force behind this travesty. Push back HERE for what that's worth but better yet get organized, get active and remember "Action is the antidote to despair."
Time to move from the above and meet, instead, our Critter of the Week. "The oldest known bird in the world, "Wisdom", is a Laysan albatross. She is at least 68 years old, and is still laying eggs with her partner, Akeakamai!" Now that's impressive. New Hampshire PBS tells us: "The Laysan albatross is a little more than two feet in length and has a wingspan of over six feet. It has black wings and tail, a white head and body, pink legs, and webbed feet." and "The Laysan albatross lives on open ocean waters and breeds on islands. [The] albatross breeds on islands in the mid-Pacific, especially islands in the Hawaiian chain. Occasionally it can be seen in the waters of the North Pacific and the Gulf of Alaska." Getting back to "Wisdom", our friends at the Center for Biological Diversity point out: "Wisdom's remarkable life has spanned decades of environmental change, yet her survival and the survival of her species remain under constant threat. Every year, seabirds like "Wisdom" endure threats from invasive species, rising sea levels and climate change, and ocean plastics. Wisdom herself has beaten the odds, living several years longer than the usual lifespan of Laysan albatrosses, and raising over 30 chicks in her lifetime. But she cannot do it alone." Call on U.S. Fish & Wildlife HERE to "take immediate and proactive steps to ensure Wisdom's safety, as well as that of her mate and offspring, in the face of growing dangers like habitat loss, pollution, and climate change."
And speaking of wisdom, our Quote of the Week is...
"When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity."
Following our conversation with Mike it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
Weekly. 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 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. 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. 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. Fridays , 11:30 AM – 1 PM thru Nov 21: Stop Citizens Bank From Financing Private ICE Prison Standouts. At Public sidewalks on King Street in Northampton, in front of Stop and Shop Plaza (Citizens Bank has a branch inside Stop and Shop). Register HERE. Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Overpasses for Democracy Coordinated Visibility Standout, Wisdom Way Overpass on I-91, Greenfield. Join us for a coordinated event where Indivisible chapters across Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut stage a massive bridge overpass banner event. Register here on Mobilize.us. ALSO: De-ICE Hanscom is excited to announce weekly afternoon standouts will take place every Friday from 1:30pm to 3:00pm at the Hanscom Rotary. The Hanscom Rotary is at the intersection of Hanscom Dr. and Old Bedford Rd. in Lincoln, MA. Please park along Old Bedford Road or Hanscom Drive without impeding traffic or blocking bike lanes. Folks can sign up for De-ICE Hanscom's contact list at this link. Every Monday, 11:30am. -12:30pm. Join us each Monday at the VA Medical Center to show your support for our veterans and federal workers. All the cars honking will brighten your day, too! Bring flags, signs, and friends! VA Medical Ctr, 421 N Main St, Route 9, Leeds, MA. Park in the VA Visitor lot or, if you have a sticker or are a Veteran, park in Look Park. Register here. Saturdays: Noon to 2pm. Weekly Standout at Pride for Migrant Workers, Sidewalk in front of Pride gas station, intersection of Routes 9 and Bay Road in Hadley, 25 Russell St. Hadley, MA 01035. & 2 to 4pm Peaceful Protest, Granby, MA Town Green, U.S. 202 & Connecticut 20, Granby. Go HERE. ALSO No Fear Street Theater stands out on Burlington Mall Road, Burlington, MA every Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm. with signs, costumes, and flags to show support for our immigrant neighbors. Sign Up HERE.
Thursday January 15, 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Policy & Power: New Nuclear in Massachusetts? A Sierra Club conversation with the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs. Join Massachusetts Sierra Club leaders in conversation with Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director of the Office of Energy Transformation, and Weezie Nuara, Deputy Secretary for Federal & Regional Energy Affairs. Dialogue will focus on Gov. Healey’s proposed legislation to expand nuclear power’s contribution to the Commonwealth’s energy supply portfolio while eliminating the requirement for a statewide referendum on any new nuclear plant sited in Massachusetts. RSVP
Thursday January 15, 7pm. Effective Advocate: Protecting Our Neighbors in the Face of ICE. Join the Center for Common Ground and Workers Circle for the first effective advocate training of 2026. This month, we will dive into the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants and the inhumane ICE operations that are abducting, detaining, and deporting our neighbors, family members, and friends. We will look at how the undermining of immigrants' rights harms all of us and what you can do about it. Go HERE.
Thursday January 15, 7 pm. Are you interested in protecting public lands across America? Join us virtually Thursday, January 15, 7:00 pm to watch this webinar, hosted by the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, “The History and Future of America’s Public Lands.” REGISTER HERE.
Tuesday January 20, 2026, 2:00 p.m. “On January 20 at 2 PM local time, we will walk out of work, school, and commerce because a Free America begins the moment we stop cooperating with fascism. Wherever you are. Host an action at freeameri.ca. Check out the website.
Thursday January 22, 4pm. A free webinar about ongoing efforts to advance bird-friendly legislation in the United States. You'll discover how American Bird Conservancy's strategic shift to state-level advocacy delivered major wins for birds in 2025 — and learn how we can build on that momentum together to drive bold, effective conservation action in 2026 and beyond. Go HERE.
Thursday January 22, 7pm. “Holding
ICE Accountable” The first of FCCPR's Action Forums on Zoom. Our
speaker will be John
Bonifaz, a constitutional attorney and the president of Free Speech For
People, a national non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to
defending our democracy and our Constitution. Here is the registration
link for the John Bonifaz Action Forum: https://tinyurl.com/
Monday January 26, 7 to 8:30pm. Climate Action Now gathering via Zoom. As we engage with our hearts and souls in building a massive, inclusive, non-violent movement to defeat fascism, we know that our work for climate/environmental justice must continue. Many of us are also exploring pathways that will lead us closer to the just and life sustaining future we all long for. Register here
The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves & Our Planet Before It’s Too Late. Join the authors to discuss this eye-opening and inspiring new book published by the New Press. The plastic pollution crisis is massive, systemic, and urgent. But “The Problem with Plastic” offers hope: We, collectively, have the power and influence to effectively slow the production of plastic. Plastic pollution is not inevitable; it’s the result of choices made by businesses, governments, and, to a lesser extent, everyday people. By equipping people with knowledge, hope, and an arsenal of solutions, we can put people and the planet before plastic, and save ourselves while there’s still time. Go HERE.
Wednesday, Feb 4, 6 pm - 8 pm: LUCE Bystander Training, Fundraiser, and Performance: First Congregational Church in Amherst, MA. Led by organizers from the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network, this evening will be part bystander training, and part LUCE Hotline fundraiser. It will feature traditional Latin American dance performances by Grupo Folklorico Tradiciones and community singing with Show Up Sing Out!
February 5 – March 26, 2026. How Trees & Forests Shape Our Climate, an eight-week, science-based course that explores how intact forests regulate climate through water cycles, biodiversity, and living ecosystem processes, while challenging the persistent myths driving unnecessary forest destruction. Entry fee. Go HERE.
Tuesday February 17, All Day. National Day of Direct Action. FLARE and Citizens’ Impeachment are teaming up for a national day of action. Where Your representative’s office. “On February 17th, 2026, we will hold organized meetings with congressional offices in their home districts. This is an opportunity to show directly to their face that their constituents demand better. We will not be satisfied with empty promises. We want leaders who will honor their oath and do their job: Defending the Constitution by impeaching Donald Trump.” Website: citizensimpeachment.com
OK friends, off we go but do remember to listen your Mother!
