Yet Another Climate Crisis Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. As much as far-right, flat-Earth Repugnicans would like you to believe otherwise, the science is in and human caused climate disruption is in our collective face. Glen interviews climate activist, Bill McKibben during his recent engagement at Amherst College. We also do the climate crisis in both our Enviro Show Echo Chamber and with this week's Fool-on-the-Hill. And, we Meet the New Boss signing off on oil drilling in the Arctic. What a world......but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters! Speaking of the Arctic: Stupid humans gets too close to Binky the Polar Bear.

 In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find that "parts of the Arctic have become like a giant slushie".  Now that's something Mayor Bloomberg should really ban! The Center for Biological Diversity has good page here on Arctic Oil Development.....or is that Duh....velopment?  Of course, Big Oil is all about the climate crisis. Here's a global analysis of why climate negotiations are locked in a stalemate. Could it have something to do with the U.S. and China? Well.......yeah! And this: did you think the meltdowns at Fukushima are over? Silly human, think again!

Our Fool-on-the-Hill this week has been much in the news lately. It's none other than Repugnican  Congressman Paul Ryan, the GOP's VP hopeful and consummate Enemy of the Planet.  Slate has the story here. We, quite frankly, would rather stick pins in our eyes than speak his name further.

Moving on to our E-Valley-uation segment, we'll do an update on the rescheduled Flotilla action at Vermont Yankee for next Saturday. The theme of that action? "Our River Runs Through It": Entergy's pollution of the Connecticut River.  Meanwhile, over at Entergy's Pilgrim nuke folks are focusing on that scary reactor's pollution in Cape Cod Bay. Also, we revisit that clunky old coal burner by Mt. Tom.  How about a coal-free Massachusetts? After Gov. Patrick's fiery speech at the Dem's National Convention maybe he's ready to fire up the Global Warming Solutions Act? Ask him!

It's growing harder to bash Obama given the alternatives, but it really is time we revisited our Meet the New Boss segment given that the Boss has signed off on Shell Oil drilling in the Arctic. However, he did at least give the climate crisis a plug at the DNC (talk about working at cross purposes!). Of course, The Boss could back off on nukes and dirty coal if he'd just put more emphasis on energy conservation & efficiency. Our Enviro Show Blog Bonus leans hard on Obama's Federal Housing Finance Authority that recently killed the national energy-efficient homes program. Add your voice here!

Our Enviro Show Quote of the week comes from an unlikely source: 

"Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge, it's common sense." 

- Ronald Reagan, State of the Union address, Jan. 25, 1984

After Glen's interview with Bill McKibben we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Saturday, September 15, 11:00am to 5:00pm. Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution on the Connecticut River. More info at: http://sagealliance.net/

Sunday, September 16, 3pm. Genetic Decontamination Event and Music Video Shoot - Downtown Northampton. Part of a Global Week of Action against Genetic Biohazards: #S17 Occupy Monsanto
Info: http://occupy-monsanto.com/    Contact: gcu_northampton@occupy-monsanto.com

Thurs. Sept 20 - Sat. Sept.22 Washington DC NUCLEAR FREE CONVERGENCE ON OUR NATION’S CAPITOL  Details:http://coalitionagainstnukes.org/no-nukes-rally-in-d-c/
 
Friday, September 21, 9am. Occupy Wall Street Environmental Solidarity, in cahoots with our friends at Shut Down Indian Point Now!, will be riding to Washington on Friday September 21 to Occupy the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Our message is simple, No Nukes, Renewable Energy for the 99% Now. Our bus will be departing from Union Square at 9am on Friday.  Please RSVP to this address: tomsiracuse@hotmail.com and please provide your phone #.

Saturday, September 22, 10 am to 4pm. Occupy Western Mass General Assembly. Arts Space, 15 Mill Street, Greenfield, MA. If you have any questions, or still want to make suggestions regarding stories, poems, and discussion topics, please contact/send these to Joshua Epstein at Joshepst@yahoo.com

Friday, September 28 - 30. Move to Amend  Workshops to End Corporate Personhood. First Churches of Northampton, 29 Main Street, Northampton, MA Go to: movetoamend.org/contact-us

Saturday, September 29, 10am. Protest Monsanto at the Big E. In order to convince America’s hardworking farmers that Monsanto’s patented genes & toxic chemicals are safe, Monsanto has created a mobile advertising “Unit” that will be spreading lies & pro-GMO propaganda around the United States this year. They will be at State Fairs all across the US, let's make sure we are there to greet them! 1305 Memorial Avenue • West Springfield, MA

Saturday, September 29, 10am.  Mt Holyoke Hike vs. Coal Power. We’ll go to the summit of Mt Holyoke to picnic and discuss the impacts of the Mt Tom coal plant. Meet at 10am at the entrance to the Mt Holyoke Range and Skinner State Park off Route 47 in Hadley. Call: (617) 302-6257 or email: drew.grande@sierraclub.org

That's it for this week. Remember this however: listen to your Mother!! 

That Rad River Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Last time around we talked about the Connecticut River below the Turners Falls dam and the endangered sturgeon who languish or die there. This time we take you up river to the next damn dam at the VT Yankee nuke where shad have reportedly decreased by 99%, most likely due to heated discharge from the scary old Entergy nuke. Did we mention radioactive leaks? Deb Katz returns to fill us in and invite YOU to take part in Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla and Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution  Saturday September 8th  on the Connecticut River. As always we give you latest enviro news in our Echo Chamber and in the E-Valley-uation segment. Also we visit The-Fool-on-the-Hill and hear the Quote of the Week, but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters!

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we rewind Beyond Nuclear's  telling piece, Nuclear evaporating “like dry ice on a hot day”. Soooo, nukes aren't the solution to the climate crisis after all. Surprise! Speaking of which, the Heart(less)land Institute, that far-right freak show that actually had an office in Northampton some years back, is back at it again in the business of climate change denial. By the way, the climate crisis has always put the lie to the promotion of biomass incineration. Now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is starting to come around to what we've been saying all along: biomass is NOT green energy.  Note: the operative word "starting"?  Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia has the caveat:  “Through this regulation and other initiatives, DOER believes there is a role for biomass energy in the Commonwealth focused on high efficiency use of the limited sustainable wood resource.” Yuh. Here's our Enviro Show Blog Bonus: this freak on some lame-ass "reality" TV show said shooting a wolf was "the funniest thing he's done in years". Let's see how funny he thinks it is being called out publicly.  Finally, do we think tar sands oil is the answer to the climate crisis? We don't think so! And yet, the construction on the southern end of the proposed Keystone pipeline has begun.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill hasn't gotten there yet, but we thought we should prepare you for a rightwing nut-job whose parents actually met while working for Big Oil and while in high school he was part of a group sponsored by the so-called Free Enterprise Institute. With a background like that you can bet soon-to-be Texas Senator, Ted Cruz has picked up some....um...interesting ideas about the planet?  

Our very long Enviro Show Quote of the Week is right on target for the show's theme: 

"Today, population and development pressures continue against a backdrop of climate change.  Rare species struggle in the face of ill-placed construction.  Nineteenth century sewage treatment remains the norm in some of our cities--chemicals and untreated human waste continue to pour into rivers.  Even in the twenty-first century companies are dumping unduly-warmed effluent and pollutants into the Connecticut to maximize profits; while others concoct schemes to sell off the basin’s precious, clean water for short-term gain.  Stored nuclear fuel at a riverside plant poses questions that as yet remain unanswered.  Non-point source pollution from farms and other operations degrades water quality.  Poorly-stabilized river and stream banks foul downstream habitats with silt.  Miles and miles of new pavement and parking lots rob groundwater “reservoirs” of their filtering and recharge capacities. Dams, big and small—many of them obsolete, remain impassable barriers to the Connecticut River’s migratory fish and a host of aquatic species that require both upstream and downstream habitat access to successfully complete complex life cycles.  Fish passage and migratory populations on the main stem river are again in decline.  Poor oversight and failing fish passage facilities are two controllable factors that need to be addressed."   -  Connecticut River Watershed Council


In our E-Valley-uation this week we take that call from Deb Katz of the Citizens Awareness Network in order to catch evceryone up on the upcoming  Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution on Saturday, September 8 at Noon. But first, let's checkout the Connecticut River Watershed Council's thoughts on the subject.

On to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday, August 31, 7pm. Friday Night Free Films presents Controlling Interest: the World of the Multinational Corporation . A 1978 look at multinational corporations and the effects of the flow of capital and jobs across borders. 34 years later it's business-as-usual! Screening at the Frances Crowe Community Room, 60 Masonic Street in Northampton. Enter via Woodstar Cafe, at the front of the building. The venue is accessible.

Wednesday September 5, 7pm. A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Norwottuck Rail Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Path project in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton, MA.  Hadley Elementary School Cafeteria, 21 River Drive, Hadley. 

Friday, September 7 at 7pm Bill McKibben on “Jail Notes: The Fight for the Planet Starts to Quicken” at the Johnson Chapel, Amherst college, Amherst, MA. Contact: margaretbj[at]aol.com

Saturday, September 8, 11:00am to 5:00pm. Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution on the Connecticut River. More info at: http://sagealliance.net/actions/river-9-8-12

Sunday, September 9, 1 to 5pm. Climate Action Now Conference. First Congregational Church, , Main Street, Amherst, MA  Co-sponsored by Valley groups including The Enviro Show. Open Space format. Go to: http://climateactionnowma.org/

Thurs. Sept 20 - Sat. Sept.22 Washington DC NUCLEAR FREE CONVERGENCE ON OUR NATION’S CAPITOL  Details:http://coalitionagainstnukes.org/no-nukes-rally-in-d-c/
 

That's about it. Remember now........listen to your Mother!

Like Water for Dinosaurs Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. First off: where's our birthday cake??  We're are 7 years old. We must have cake! Speaking of old, did you know that endangered sturgeon that live in the Connecticut River are as old as the dinosaurs? Suppose we told you that these ancient fish are being ground up like hamburger in the turbines of Holyoke Gas and Electric, and the smaller turbines in operation on the Holyoke Canal system, what would you do? Karl Meyer returns to these microphones with the story. Also there's big news in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and in our E-Valley-uation segment. We visit another Fool-on-the-Hill as well as chckout the Quote of the Week, but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters!  Sturgeon fight back in Florida!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber the big news comes from General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt who had a rare moment of clarity recently, admitting that: "It's just hard to justify nuclear [power], really hard." Well, yeah! That's what we've been saying.......for 40 years! And this: U.S. Freezes All Nuclear Power Plant Licensing Decisions! Soooooo, how does this effect the ongoing struggle with Entergy at that creepy old nuke up river? Read this. More big news, and this not-so-good from climate guru James Hansen: "Climate change is here and worse than we thought". Sorry, please don't shot the messenger! And this: Warren vs. Brown on the environment. Yes, it even includes Elizabeth Warren's support for Cape Wind: The Right Project in the WRONG PLACE! Brown is opposed to the Big Wind boondoggle, but as far as the rest of the planet goes he's pretty much a threat to life on Earth. The League of Conservation Voters gives him a whopping 22% voting record on the environment compared to Elizabeth Warren's 66% (which isn't all that great either!). Finally, another Enviro Show Blog Bonus: Big Oil set to kill the highly endangered Right Whale? With the blessings of the Department of Interior?? Not if we can help it! The Department of the Interior is proposing seismic testing along the Middle and South Atlantic. Tens of thousands of dolphins and whales will be affected, including endangered right whales, whose only known calving grounds are at the edge of the testing zone. Tell the Secretary of the Interior that we need to protect dolphins and whales in the Atlantic, not drive them away.

In our E-Valley-uation segment there's a bit of good news about Mount Tom: the rock quarry is history.  Speaking of Mt. Tom we have a Blog Bonus Special for you here. Tell the Gov we've had it with old coal burners! Also, the Shut it Down Affinity group does it again! For there 20th No Nukes action they sort of dropped dead in front of VT Yankee (applause!). And since we're talking VT Yankee, how about we all get onboard the upcoming Flotilla? Following up on a previous show: just who killed the Bottle Bill? They have names here and addresses on Google! Drop them a note saying something like "we're not happy!"

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Senator Sessions, Repugnican from Alabama. A recent session with Sessions found this remark: "I said the data shows it is not warming to the degree that a lot of people predicted, not close to that much".  Jeez! Wonder where THAT data came from?  We have a video special featuring this Fool.....actually, several of them!

Our Quote of the Week calls for a long trip in the Wayback Machine:

"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of human beings." --Leonardo Da Vinci

During our interview with Karl we learned about the just released "New WSCS Special Publication on the life history and behaviour of Sturgeons". You can find it by scrolling down at this page at the World Sturgeon Conservation Society. Then it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:
 

Wednesday August 15 (Every Wednesday), Noon-1:00pm, JAIL THE BANKSTERS! in front of Bank of America in downtown Amherst. Each week, an ad hoc band of protesters, often with “Fee-Free” lemonade, are saying “Bank of America, Bad for America” and whatever your own clever sign says. If you like public support honking, you’ll hear it here. Info: 413-253-7934 

Thursdays, August 16 & 23, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. Junior Refuge Explorers. Great Falls Discovery Center, Avenue A, Turners Falls.  Each week, there will be hands-on explorations, games, and activities that will allow children to actively learn about the Connecticut River and the many critters that live in its watershed. There is a maximum of 10 children so pre-register early at (413) 863-3221.

Friday, August 17, 6 to 7pm. Come learn about the natural wonders in the Connecticut River Watershed and the poets who have loved them. Hear from poets Emily Dickinson, Wallace Stevens, Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, and more! Great Falls Discovery Center. For more information call (413) 863-3221.

 Sunday August 19, 11am.   Marlboro Tech Graduate Center, Brattleboro, VT. SAGE Alliance Spokes Council meeting will include discussion of: a)Flotilla, b) Banner Drop, c) Committee Reports d)Endorsements, e) Other events. There will be Flotilla posters to distribute at the meeting, make sure you get them for your area. Contact: sagealliance.net/contact 

Friday, August 31, 7pm. Friday Night Free Films presents Controlling Interest: the World of the Multinational Corporation . A 1978 look at multinational corporations and the effects of the flow of capital and jobs across borders. 34 years later it's business-as-usual! Screening at the Frances Crowe Community Room, 60 Masonic Street in Northampton. Enter via Woodstar Cafe, at the front of the building. The venue is accessible.

Wednesday September 5, 7pm. A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Norwottuck Rail Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Path project in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton, MA.  Hadley Elementary School Cafeteria, 21 River Drive, Hadley. 

Friday, September 7 at 7pm Bill McKibben on “Jail Notes: The Fight for the Planet Starts to Quicken” at the Johnson Chapel, Amherst college, Amherst, MA. Contact: margaretbj[at]aol.com

Saturday, September 8, 11:00am to 5:00pm. Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution on the Connecticut River. More info at: http://sagealliance.net/actions/river-9-8-12

Thurs. Sept 20 - Sat. Sept.22 Washington DC NUCLEAR FREE CONVERGENCE ON OUR NATION’S CAPITOL  Details:http://coalitionagainstnukes.org/no-nukes-rally-in-d-c/

OK, that is all. Over and out.......err....except remember to.....listen to your Mother!

The Devil's Tango Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Time to return to those days of yesteryear. You think the multiple nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, Japan is old news?  Cecile Pineda, author of "Devil's Tango: How I learned the Fukushima Step by Step" calls in to remind us otherwise. Cecile will be speaking here in the Valley next week (see the Bus Stop Billboard). Like always we'll also checkout the situation with our own hopeless old nuke just up river during our E-Valley-uation segment. Also, the Enviro Show Echo Chamber catches up with the climate crisis and another upcoming visit, this time with Bill McKibben. We'll see who this week's Fool-on-the-Hill is and send along The Enviro Show Quote of the Week, but first it's time for.........Revenge of the Critters! Murdered cows strike back!

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we direct you to a new climate crisis alert by Bill McKibben in Rolling Stone. There's a "CALL FOR ACTION CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE" to be held on the morning of Saturday, September 8th, in Amherst. McKibben will be speaking at the Johnson Chapel at Amherst College the evening before the conference. His piece has generated some constructive criticism from activists in our region, including us! In addition, ocean acidification is worse than previously thought (don't let the headline fool you however, it's all part of the climate crisis). Our Blog Bonus Special this week: it seems the most important fish in the sea need your help here. And this: Plutonium from Fukushima made it all the way around the planet. Way to go, Plutonium! Also some good news: Free Larry!

Time for a little E-Valley-uation on that really old Vermont Yankee nuke (did we mention that it's the same old type of boiling water reactor as the ones melting down in Fukushima?.....maybe so). In any case, it seems that scary fuel pool sprang another leak due to human error. Those humans, always making errors! And speaking of errors, there's one on your calendar:  the SAGE Alliance has changed the date for that Flotilla Action in the Connecticut River.  Folks better get shipshape for the new date, of September 8. More info here.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill recently topped the inmates-running-the-asylum list with his crazed remarks about the Colorado shooting and his defense of nut-job Michelle Bachmann's anti-Muslim McCarthyism, but here on The Enviro Show we're drilling down on Repugnican Louie Gohmert's 96% voting record in support of Big Oil and dirty energy. Hey, the guys from Texas!

Our Quote of the Week comes from this week's guest:
"To say that corporate enterprise has abrogated your right to ask questions, to raise objections, or to expose malfeasance tells only half the story," she writes. "Corporations are not people. We are people, and until we learn to protest en masse, until we make it impossible for corporations to continue stripping the planet, they will hijack our earth, and make all living things expendable. That means you. That means us." - Cecile Pineda

After our conversation with Cecile we'll move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Thursday, August 2, 7 to 9pm. Join local events on August 4 to stop Mt. Tom Coal Plant, and end huge tax subsidies to  the fossil fuel industry.  The local Beyond Coal campaign (part of the Sierra Club) will host an activist training at Holyoke Rows, Jones Ferry Road, Holyoke. Contact: drew_grande@sierraclub.org 

Thursday August 2, at 7pm in the Edwards Public Library Community Room. To help ensure success at Town Meeting and beyond, we believe it’s imperative to “jump-start” the Friends of the Southampton Greenway.  We hope you will join us at an organizational meeting. Contact: Karen Adamski at kaarbb@hotmail.com or Michael Buehler (413) 527-4023

August 4-9. Walk for a Nuclear Free Future. A six day walk in the Connecticut River Valley. Hartford, Connecticut to the New England Peace Pagoda, in Leverett, MA. Call: Tim Bullock (413) 485-8469

Sunday, August 5, 5:30pm to 9:00pm. Cecile Pineda, Fukushima: The Nuclear Industry’s Gift to our Planet. Lyman Hall, First Churches, Northampton. At 7:45 proceed to Smith's Paradise Pond. At 8 PM for Hiroshima Day commemoration and floating candle ceremony.

Monday, August 6, 1:30pm to 3:00pm. Cecile Pineda at 142 High Street, Amherst.  Information: Hattie at 978.790.3074   or   hattieshalom@verizon.net

August 9-12, Climate Justice Direct Action Camp. Wheelock Mountain Farm. Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. Go here: www.theflashbulb.org/direct-action-camp.html or call: 802-338-1613.

Friday, September 7 at 7pm Bill McKibben on “Jail Notes: The Fight for the Planet Starts to Quicken” at the Johnson Chapel, Amherst college, Amherst, MA. Contact: margaretbj[at]aol.com

Saturday, September 8, 11:00am to 5:00pm. Our River Runs Through It: Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution. Flotilla & Rally to Stop VT Yankee Pollution on the Connecticut River. More info at: http://sagealliance.net/actions/river-9-8-12

Thurs. Sept 20 - Sat. Sept.22 Washington DC NUCLEAR FREE CONVERGENCE ON OUR NATION’S CAPITOL  Details: http://coalitionagainstnukes.org/no-nukes-rally-in-d-c/ 

OK for now. We'll be back! AND don't forget to.....listen to your Mother!

The Big Wind Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We've changed our broadcast time on VFR back to 6pm and it's high time to do the rounds on Big Wind once again. We'll checkout their latest spin with Audra Parker,  President/CEO of Save our Sound.  Speaking of spin, we'll look into the latest from those flat-Earth climate crisis deniers we'd love to ship off-planet. Also joining us to have a look at the previously  proposed Shelburne wind operation is our friend, Janet Sinclair. As usual we visit the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, do the Quote of the Week and do some E-Valley-uation, but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! You want to build windmills in Nantucket Sound? Watch out for angry seagulls!


In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we rewind Tim Egan's excellent op-ed in the New York Times, "The Fire This Time". It's climate change in biblical proportions folks (wonder why all those far-right bible bangers aren't listening?). The word from NOAA is that "The past 12 months have been the warmest on record for the mainland United States." That from State of the Climate - National Overview report. Of course, that's just science. Our Fool-on-the-Hill knows that's a lot of hooey.


This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is a perennial favorite. Yes, Senator James Inhofe, Repugnican of Oklahoma and arch foe of science and all us alarmist enviros has stood once again in the air conditioned gallery of the Senate and spoke the gospel (such as it is) of denial. [Warning: the link takes you to far-right La-La Land. Be prepaired for half-truths and obfuscations!]


Our Quote of the Week comes directly from Michael Cyrus, of SteelRiver Infrastructure Partners (great name, huh?) who have an interest in a proposed Hawaiian wind project actually named Big Wind!  “You have to go through this process of noise, where you let people feel that they had a platform to speak,” Cyrus said. “But you can’t let the noise distract you because time is a nemesis." Thanks for the feeling Big Wind!

Time to Meet the New Boss. Looks like Obama's Department of Justice has its priorities screwed up. The DOJ has been widely criticized for failing to bring to fruition investigations of Wall Street traders' crimes. However, in one instance, its investigators have been relentless: in January, indicting marine biologist Nancy Black, who faces 20 years in prison for allegedly lying to investigators about whether her crew might have illegally fed whales to attract their attention for a boatload of whale-watchers. What would the boss say??

Our E-Valley-uation segment gets pretty much taken up by one of our guests: Janet Sinclair joins us in the studio to talk about Big Wind in WMass, but first, here's an Enviro Show Blog Bonus on that scary nuke up river: Danger Zone: Aging nuclear reactors!


After a call-in from Audra Parker of Save our Sound we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, July 18, Noon to 1pm. Progressive Heat Wave at Rep. Richie Neal's Office. Tax Carbon to Stop Climate Change! Brown Bag Lunch Vigil. 300 State Street, Springfield. Email: field@pdamerica.or

July 20 - 22. Occupy Nuclear Power. Annual Clamshell Alliance Reunion & Anti-Entergy strategy session. World Fellowship Camp and Conference Center, Conway, NH. A day-long Anti-Entergy strategy session will be held on Saturday, half-day on Sunday, to develop a unified opposition campaign targeting Entergy,  Please spread the word, check out the website, and make reservations. worldfellowship.org; reservations@worldfellowship.org

Beginning on July 25, Radical Action for Mountain People’s Survival (RAMPS) will be convening the Mountain Mobilization to shut down a strip mine and build momentum that will finish off mountaintop removal once and for all. Join the West Virginia Mountain Mobilization. Go to: http://rampscampaign.org/mountain-mobilization/register/ 

Saturday, July 28. The first national fracking action. Stop the Frack Attack is a coalition of more than 80 groups, including Public Citizen, that are coming together for four days of action, trainings, networking and lobbying, all culminating with a rally and march at the Capitol.  Go to: www.stopthefrackattack.org/


Saturday, July 28, 1-2 p.m. Tracks Along The River is a hands-on nature program for families about wildlife native to our rivers and wetlands. Join along with naturalist Dawn Marvin Ward for this nature exploration which will include stories, puppets and hands-on activities designed for children with an adult companion. Northfield Public Library. For further info, call Northfield Public Library 498-2455

This July 29th-31 the political and economic elite of the Northeast are meeting in Burlington, VT for the 36th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. In closed door meetings at the golf course and dinner table, greenwashed resolutions for trade, energy, climate change, transportation and infrastructure policies for the region will be developed.  The People are organizing too! JULY 29,12pm Welcoming March and Rally, City Hall Park. Go to: www.btvconvergence.net/wordpress/

Sunday, August 5 Cecile Pineda will be on a New England book tour August 5th -13th. She will talk about and autograph her new book "Devil’s Tango (how I learned the Fukushima step by step)"

First Churches, 129 Main Street, Northampton • Potluck at 5:30pm talk and book signing • 7:00 pm

Paradise Pond at Smith College for Hiroshima Day Ceremony and candle float • 8:00 pm

Monday, August 6. Meet with Cecile Pineda • 1:30 pm. for refreshments and book signing

Hosted by Dade Singapuri, 142 High Street, Amherst. 

August 9-12, Climate Justice Direct Action Camp. Wheelock Mountain Farm. Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. Go here: www.theflashbulb.org/direct-action-camp.html or call: 802-338-1613.

That's all folks!......except don't forget........listen to your Mother. 

The Last Minute Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We were down to the wire with this show given that our annual Pilgrimage to the Sea fell during production time and SOME people didn't do their homework. Be that as it may, we managed to get Amy Donovan, Program Director of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District calling in for an update on....well, solid waste! Also we'll find time for a visit with the Fool-on-the-Hill as well as The Enviro Show Echo Chamber. We can do some E-Valley-uation and maybe Meet the New Boss as well, but first it's time for...Revenge of the Critters! Roo stalks Aussie Woman (Disclaimer: this comes from Faux "News")

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill goes once again to former car thief, Rep. Darrell Issa who continues the Repugnican safe energy witch hunt in his capacity as head of the House Inquisition...er...Oversight Committee.

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber this AP headline certainly caught our attention while zoning out by the sea on the Cape: "Sea level rising fastest on East Coast". And....sadly...this: Earth summit bombs...again. It gets worse: fishermen who spoke out at the summit were murdered! Meanwhile, closer to home, it looks like it's the Roseate Tern's turn to try and shutdown the Pilgrim nuke in Plymouth. On June 28, 2012, "Pilgrim Watch and the Jones River Watershed Association challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, saying their approvals for Entergy's relicensing are arbitrary and capricious and not based on credible data". Also, an Enviro Show Blog Bonus Action Link: the Massachusetts House will vote on a bill to expand the state's most successful solar program this week. Add your voice here.

In our E-Valley-uation segment we take a look at Sunday's "Declare Independence from Entergy" action at the gates of that dangerous dilapidated old nuke in Vernon, VT. 40 protesters were arrested. All were released on personal recognizance ('cuz Vermont knows they are the good citizens as opposed to the corporados at Entergy). And, from the June 28 issue of The Montague Reporter we learn "Shad Rebound in Annual River Count", a fascinating article with quotes from Karl Meyer and others on the problems with the Turners Falls fish ladder. You'll have to pick-up a copy at your news stand 'cuz The Reporter is traditional, it doesn't do digital.

Our Quote of the Week: "Licensing a nuclear power plant is in my view, licensing random premeditated murder. First of all, when you license a plant, you know what you're doing--so it's premeditated. You can't say, "I didn't know." Second, the evidence on radiation-producing cancer is beyond doubt. I've worked fifteen years on it [as of 1982], and so have many others. It is not a question any more: radiation produces cancer, and the evidence is good all the way down to the lowest doses." -- John Gofman

Finally, it's time to scope out the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, July 4,9am by the Brattleboro high school gather to be part of the No Nukes contingent in the parade! If you need inspiration, here's a few ideas: "Clean it up and mooooove it out!" is a message that fits the float. Our message from the July 1st action "Declare Independence from Entergy!" has a patriotic ring to it! And the 4th is always a good time to "Defend Democracy!" Contact Ed at ema@svcable.net

Wednesday July 4, 4 - 8 pm. July 4th Pitch-in Picnic. Rain or Shine. 3 McClelland Farm Rd, Deerfield. A wonderful place for the picnic and a great variety of ways to enjoy it. Can you come? Can you bring your own utensils? folding chairs? Can you volunteer for a task? RSVP to joanjon@gogtt.net or call 413-467-3944

Wednesday,July 10,11 a.m., Rally at the Courthouse on Obery St. in Plymouth to support the Plymouth14 protesters. For details contact Cape Downwinders, David Agnew, dagnew@gmail.com

Thursday, July 11, 6pm there will be a Public Hearing on Easthampton Bicycle Ordinances 50 Payson Ave., Second Floor Meeting Room, Easthampton. Call Eli Damon at 413-530-3861

Tuesday,July 17,7pm. A Public Lecture by Michael Klare based on his new book,"The Race for What's Left". Will provide a global overview of the corporate drive to exploit what's left of the world's oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, rare minerals, food, water, and land. Bring your questions about hydro-fracking, rare earths, the new oil boom, etc. - and what can be done to address these issues. SMITH COLLEGE, 103 McConnell Hall, Northampton.

July 20 - 22. Occupy Nuclear Power. Annual Clamshell Alliance Reunion & Anti-Entergy strategy session. World Fellowship Camp and Conference Center, Conway, NH. A day-long Anti-Entergy strategy session will be held on Saturday, half-day on Sunday, to develop a unified opposition campaign targeting Entergy, (which also owns many GE BWRs including VY). We invite activists organizing against Entergy-owned nukes Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim, Indian Point, and Fitzpatrick (NY), (and also activists from New Orleans, site of Entergy HQ, and the Entergy-owned Palisades nuke in Michigan). Additional discussion led by Linda and Paul Gunter of Beyond Nuclear on national and international resistance to nuclear power, the aim to shut the 23 US GE Boiling Water Reactors that are twins to at Fukushima, Japan, and lessons learned from Germany, Italy, India, and elsewhere. World Fellowship is an affordable, child friendly location in the White Mountains, founded and run by progressives. Camping and rooms are available, and rates include three excellent meals served family style each day. Please spread the word, check out the website, and make reservations. worldfellowship.org; reservations@worldfellowship.org

Beginning on July 25, Radical Action for Mountain People’s Survival (RAMPS) will be convening the Mountain Mobilization to shut down a strip mine and build momentum that will finish off mountaintop removal once and for all. Join the West Virginia Mountain Mobilization. Go to: http://rampscampaign.org/mountain-mobilization/register/

That's it. We are so out of here. Did you remember to listen to your Mother?

July 1st Declare Independence from Entergy!

The Enviro Show Goes Extinct

Greetings Earthlings. Will the show become extinct? Let us know below if you'd miss us if we vanished from the face of the Earth. Les Knight of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement phones in to talk about "the hopeful alternative to the extinction of millions of species of plants and animals [being] the voluntary extinction of one species: Homo sapiens... us." Besides the disappearing act, we'll also be celebrating (while we still can!) the upcoming Summer Solstice with our favorite house witch, Michelle. And, like always, we'll checkout The Fool-on-the-Hill, The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and do some E-Valley-uation, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Hyenas Wreak Havoc in Karatu!

In our E-Valley-uation segment The Shut It Down Affinity Group Brings Health Information to Entergy Headquarters (just in case they weren't aware of the health and safety issues relating to their old crumbling nuke!). Then we set Michelle lose on you for the Summer Solstice!

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, who (for some reason) leads the energy and mineral resources subcommittee under the House Committee on Natural Resources. Lamborn censored a photo that was going to be displayed at a hearing about the effects of mountaintop removal coal mining. The picture showed a kid bathing in the murky water that results from mountain top removal. Even though Lamborn never saw the photo he called it "child porn", presumably because he abhors photos that don't support his world view. We thought photos of destroyed mountains were porn! Did we mention Lamborn got in trouble last year for comparing President Barack Obama to a "tar baby" on a radio show. No? Did we mention that people actually voted this man into office....into the U.S. House of Representatives??

Our Quote of the Week from George Carlin is right on theme: "The planet will be here for a long, long, LONG time after we’re gone, and it will heal itself, it will cleanse itself, ’cause that’s what it does. It’s a self-correcting system. The air and the water will recover, the earth will be renewed. And if it’s true that plastic is not degradable, well, the planet will simply incorporate plastic into a new paradigm: the earth plus plastic. The earth doesn’t share our prejudice toward plastic. Plastic came out of the earth. The earth probably sees plastic as just another one of its children. Could be the only reason the earth allowed us to be spawned from it in the first place. It wanted plastic for itself. Didn’t know how to make it. Needed us. Could be the answer to our age-old egocentric philosophical question, “Why are we here?.....Plastic.”

There's enough going on out there to fill several Enviro Show Echo Chambers but we'll keep it to a dull roar. First off, the BIG news from the journal Nature: are we at a planetary-scale 'tipping point'? Well, have you been listening for say, the past few decades?? May as well stick an Enviro Show Blog Action Bonus in here: help protect the majestic Blue Fin Tuna, OK? And, speaking of Bluefins, their Pacific cousins have shown up on the Other Coast radiated from Fukushima. The BIG news on the nuclear front comes from the New York Times: Court Forces a Rethinking of Nuclear Fuel Storage (not that the NRC pays much attention to such things).

Bob Dylan's "When the Deal Goes Down", from his Modern Times album takes us to our interview with Les Knight of Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. Then it's on to the Bus stop Billboard:

Wednesday, June 20, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Seeds of Resistance Gathering. Join us to Occupy/Resist the BIO Int'l Convention! NO to Monsanto! NO to GMOs! Join us to build community power, resistance, justice, and autonomy! COUNTER CONFERENCE Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth Street, Jamaica Plain. Contact: ashley@ciclovida.org, 774-460-1274

Thursday, June 21, 11am. Day of Action Against Biodevastation. Dewey Square (near South Station & the Boston Convention Center). Join the Ciclovida team in working to build power in resistance to BIO International, an annual gathering of some of the biggest behemoths in industrial agriculture and the big pharma industry. Contact ashley@ciclovida.org, 774-460-1274

Thursday, June 21, 7pm. Habitat Restoration & the Montague Sand Plain with Tim Simmons. Pre-lecture walk at 5:30 (call first). Great Falls Discovery Center, Avenue A, Turners Falls. Call (413)863-3221.

Monday, June 25, 8:30 am—12:00 pm. Massachusetts Regional WasteWise Forum, EcoBuilding Bargains, 83 Warwick Street, Springfield. Who Should Attend: Businesses, Institutions, Non-profits, Recycling Professionals, Colleges & Universities, Municipalities, and Other Organizations. RSVP: June 18, (413) 586-7350 x 289.

Wed June 27 10:30 – 12:30. Frogs 'N Friends for the Family. Join naturalist Dawn Marvin Ward for a two hour hands-on science program about some special wetland creatures at the Leverett Library. All ages of children are welcome (accompanied by an adult) however the program is geared for 3rd grade and under. This program will start inside with an introduction slide show then head outside (weather permitting) for a walk to a stream. Call: 367-9562

Thursdaqy, June 28th Regional Occupy gathering at Occupy New Haven perhaps with a true All New England March that evening, then the next day Occupy Caravan goes to Occupy Wall Street en route to final overnight in Newark June 29th before reaching Philly for the 5-day National Gathering on June 30th (the big day there will be the final day, July 4th). Go to: occupycaravan.webs.com/

Thursday June 28: COMMUNITY FORUM ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Thursday June 28 6:45 – 9:00 p.m. Greenfield Middle School Auditorium, Greenfield MA. Come hear what the emergency preparedness plans are and bring your questions about potential nuclear meltdown, etc. Emergency response personnel present will be: Mayor William Martin; Bob Strahan, Director of Emergency Response; Bob Berry, MEMA; Nicole Zabko, Dir of Gfld Dept. Public Health; Tracy Rogers, FRCOG Medic vet expert in radiation emergency Contact : Sandra Boston 413-774-5952, Dorothy McIver 413-772-3747 Sponsored by Citizens for Emergency Preparedness http://sagealliance.net/event/greenfield-6-28-12

Thursday, June 28 at 7:00pm Pioneer Valley Green Rainbow Party Meeting in the Frances Crowe Community Room, 60 Masonic Street, Northampton

Sunday July 1, 10am. Independence from Entergy! Brattleboro Common. After a 45 minute Rally, school buses will be leaving the Common for the gates of the Vermont Yankee nuke. A small donation will be asked for before boarding the bus. Alternatively, we encourage people to join a bicycle procession from the Common to Vermont Yankee in Vernon. This is a relatively flat 8 mile ride. All riders should be able to keep pace with a large group of Adult riders. Once assembled at Vermont Yankee we will engage in non-violent civil disobedience action involving blocking the reactor’s main gates. People engaging in the CD will need to have had nonviolence training, and be in affinity groups. Buses will return to Brattleboro from VY at the conclusion of the action. Email: safeandgreencampaign@gmail.com

Wednesday July 4, 4 - 8 pm. July 4th Pitch-in Picnic. Rain or Shine. 3 McClelland Farm Rd, Deerfield. A wonderful place for the picnic and a great variety of ways to enjoy it. Can you come? Can you bring your own utensils? folding chairs? Can you volunteer for a task? RSVP to joanjon@gogtt.net or call 413-467-3944

Wednesday,July 11th, 8 AM - Rally at Plymouth District Courthouse in support of the Pilgrim 14. Email: gogreens@comcast.net

That about does it for us. Shall we continue on or go extinct? Your call! Drop us an email at enviroshow@valleyfreeradio.org or leave a comment below, and remember: listen to your Mother!

The Entergy Endtimes Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. This time around, as we dwell once again on that scary Vermont Yankee nuke and get a call from Deb Katz of Citizens Awareness Network, we'll focus on the nuclear reactor's owner/operator, Entergy. These corporados aren't just threatening the health and well-being of you and your loved ones here in the Valley, they are all over the map with their crap. We will hip you to regional campaigns getting in Entergy's corporate face as well as turn you on to The-Fool-on-the-Hill and some E-Valley-uation, amongst other things but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Little critters shutdown devilish nuke.....again!

We're going plural again with Fools-on-the-Hill. This time it's unnamed Repugnican teabaggers in the House trying to strip bike path funding from the Transportation Bill. Sorry kids, you'll just have to take your chances out there in the traffic. It's the Repugnican way!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we first ask you to take action on the global consequences if that unstable reactor #4 nuclear fuel pool at Fukushima collapses. Then we rewind Rachel Maddow's recent blog post on old King Coal's recent astroturf effort. Check it out: they really are "job creators". Finally, something good comes from Kentucky: to protect batsthe USDA Forest Service renewed an order that closes all caves and abandoned mines on national forest lands in the Southern Region. Also, this good news (we hope) for the beleaguered Brown Bat. And, a powerful actionby women of Appalachia meeting at the West Virginia state capitol wearing white and shaving their heads to represent the stripping of the land. They stood in solidarity with the mountains that have been stripped of their trees, plants and top soil.

We have an E-Valley-uation segment here on our blog (we'll get into the issue on the show at a later date) concerning wind turbines on Mt. Tom. Who wins? Who loses?......Well, sounds like the endangered rattlesnakes lose for sure. What do YOU think?

Time for the Quote of the week: "Eight years involved with the nuclear industry have taught me that when nothing can possible go wrong and every avenue has been covered, then is the time to buy a house on the next continent." - Terry Prachett

Now for our Enviro Show blog tour of Entergy operations around the region. You know, your friendly local radioactive threat? Actually, it's a tour of citizen campaigns AGAINST the friendly local radioactive threats. Let's start right here in the Bay State with the folks hoping to shutdown Entergy's Pilgrim nuke in Plymouth (yes, it's another scary old BWR reactor, just like the one at VT Yankee......and just like the ones melting down in Fukushima!). The folks at The Pilgrim Coalition just got the bad news from the NRC that the nuclear lap-dog.....err...watch dog? has extended Pilgrim's license to radiate...opps, sorry...that's operate. We had the distinct pleasure of demonstrating to a captive audience on the Sagamore Bridge with the folks from the Coalition recently during the usual weekend traffic jam. As you may know, there's only two bridges going off the Cape and if an evacuation was ever necessary due to a Pilgrim nuke meltdown, well....don't think about that. Look over here! It's Entergy's Indian Point nuke (talk about evacuation problems). Indian Point Energy Center is a three-unit nuclear power plant located in Buchanan, New York just south of Peekskill. It sits on a small earthquake fault on the east bank of the Hudson River, 38 short miles north of New York City. Unit 1 is already decommissioned due to safety issues. Unit 2and Unit 3 are operational right now. There are several anti-nuke/pro-safe energy groups trying to shut this sucker down but in the city Shut Down Indian Point Now is our favorite. These guys are connected to Occupy Wall Street's Enviro Solidarity working group. Speaking of New York, up in Scriba the Alliance for a Green Economy is working to shutdown Entergy's Fitzpatrick reactor, the only one of its kind in the nation that did not install a hardened vent system that could reduce the severity of a nuclear accident. And that brings us back to Western Mass & Southern Vermont where Entergy's VT Yankee nuke radiates away on the shore of the Connecticut River just upstream from us. Of course, the SAGE Alliance, consisting of some 40 affinity groups, is flat-out in Entergy's & the NRC's face looking to put an end to the dangerous BWR with all that hot nuke waste sitting in a swimming pool seven stories above ground. We've covered that extensively here on The Enviro Show, but did you know that Entergy is part of the far-right corporate American Legislative Exchange Council? How much worse can it get??

After our interview with Deb it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

* As we speak, the Solar rollers are spreading the anti-nuke/pro-safe energy gospel throughout Vermont. You can follow their progress on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/SolarRollersRideAgain

We call for a global mobilization on 5 June (World Environment day), on June 18 against the G20 (which this time will focus on “green growth”) and the progress of the People’s Summit on 20 June in Rio de Janeiro and in the world, social and environmental justice, against the “green economy”, the commodification of life and nature and the defense of the commons and rights of peoples. Go to: occupytheearth.net/

Thursday June 7, 9:15am. The NRC's licensing board is having a hearing in Boston at the McCormack Building, 5 Post Office Square. The hearing concerns NRC orders meant to enhance the safety of U.S. nuclear reactors using lessons learned from the disaster at Fukushima, Japan in March 2011. We feel the NRC's proposals are "band-aids" and inadequate for the Pilgrim nuke. Go to: www.pilgrimcoalition.org/contact/

Friday, June 8, 7pm. Screening of "Just Do It", a year in the secretive world of nonviolent environmental direct action. Frances Crowe Community Room, 60 Masonic Street in Northampton. Enter via Woodstar Cafe, at the front of the building. The venue is accessible. Email: info@northamptoncommittee.org

Saturday, June 9, 10:30 am - 11:30 pm. Renewable Energy. The Great Falls Discovery Center staff will be holding activities exploring water wind and solar power. Join us for a craft afterwards. 2 Avenue A., Turners Falls, Call: 413.863.3221.

Monday, June 11, 2012. In keeping with the SAGE Alliance request for civil resistance at Entergy HQ in Brattleboro, the Shut It Down Affinity Group plans to risk arrest during a presence at Entergy headquarters at 1:30 pm . Shut It Down invites other affinity groups to join us in this civil resistance in accordance with the Shut It Down plans for the day or to attend the action as legal witnesses. Shut It Down trusts that SAGE Alliance members and affinity groups will not betray this plan to any members of the law enforcement community nor to any Entergy employees or officials. This invitation is tendered to the SAGE Alliance on behalf of the Shut It Down Affinity Group. If you want to join the June 11 presence, please contact Hattie Nestel at hattieshalom@verizon.net or haley.antique@verizon.net. Shut It Down does not expect participating affinity groups to adopt our pro se, no bail, no fines guidelines. Shut It Down does expect participating affinity groups and individuals to honor nonviolence.

Tuesday June 12, Noon. STATE-WIDE DAY OF ACTION FOR TRANSIT JUSTICE. MA State House, Boston. Current proposed fare hikes and cuts in both of the MBTA and Pioneer Valley region (PVTA) are disproportionately impacting the elderly, disabled and young. If implemented on July 1st, an adult bus rider taking a trip requiring one transfer will see a fare increase of 20% on the MBTA and 67% in the Pioneer Valley. Seniors taking the same trip will see an increase of 66% in Boston and 79% in Springfield, while disabled clients relying on paratransit will see increases of at least 200%. Call (617) 723-2639

Tuesday, June 12, 7:30pm, 9:00pm. Shutdown Indian Point demo. Tompkins Sq. Park (Avenue A and 7th Street, NYC). 30 years ago on June 12th, over a million people gathered in Central Park to protest against nuclear energy and weaponry. To commemorate the beautiful memories and break through of the anti-nuclear movement, we are going to walk again! Come march/dance/shout with live n.o.n.u.k.e.s. DJs via WBAI NY, 99.5FM! Bring your own radio or boombox to the march and tune to 99.5FM at 8PM. If you are not in NY, listen live on WBAI.org and join the demo wherever you are.

Thursday, June 14, 7 - 8:30pm. A public meeting that DCR will be holding at the Notch Visitoe Center, 1500 West St. (Rt.116) in Amherst relative on the preparation of a Resource Management Plan for the Mount Holyoke Range Planning Unit, including Holyoke Heritage State Park, Joseph A. Skinner State Park, Mount Holyoke Range State Park, and Mount Tom Reservation. Call: (413) 626-4974

Saturday, June 16 9:00am to 12:00 Citizens Awareness Network 21st Anniversary and Annual Membership Meeting. Elections, Year in Review, and the Road to Close VT Yankee. First Congregational Church in Greenfield, 43 Silver St , Greenfield. Breakfast, prepared by Chef Brian Knox, will be served by from 9:00-10:30 am to the first 100 people who RSVP by June 6th. Reply to nukebusters27@gmail.com

Monday, June 18th, at 8am until 10am. Occupy Monsanto, Millions Against Monsanto, & food democracy activists. A Sidewalk Session – An open mic for activists to share & expose the dangers of the biotech industry. The biotechnology industry is conspiring to unleash more GMOs into the environment along with more toxic pesticides. WHERE: Sidewalk in front of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston. Go to: occupy-monsanto.com/occupy-the-bio-international-conference/

Monday, June 25, 8:30 am—12:00 pm. Massachusetts Regional WasteWise Forum, EcoBuilding Bargains, 83 Warwick Street, Springfield. Who Should Attend: Businesses, Institutions, Non-profits, Recycling Professionals, Colleges & Universities, Municipalities, and Other Organizations. RSVP: June 18, (413) 586-7350 x 289.

June 28th Regional Occupy gathering at Occupy New Haven perhaps with a true All New England March that evening, then the next day Occupy Caravan goes to Occupy Wall Street en route to final overnight in Newark June 29th before reaching Philly for the 5-day National Gathering on June 30th (the big day there will be the final day, July 4th). Go to: occupycaravan.webs.com/

Thursday, June 28 at 7:00pm Pioneer Valley Green Rainbow Party Meeting in the Frances Crowe Community Room, 60 Masonic Street, Northampton

That's it for Entergy....so to speak. Next time it really is the end of the world as we know it, so remember: listen to your Mother!

The Hidden Risk Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We knew mercury makes us stupid, didn't we? I can't remember. In any case, "mercury accumulation, previously considered a risk for aquatic ecosystems, is also found in many wildlife species living on the land", that according to the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) and the Nature Conservancy. Allyson Jackson, Mercury in Forest Songbirds Project Leader and Associate Wildlife Research Biologist for BRI's Migratory Bird Program calls in with the details and our co-host, Glen calls in on another line as well, maybe from poolside at some fancy conference center. You know how Glen gets all mercurial on us when the subject of heavy metals comes up. BTW, Robin from Farm to Fork will join us on the board. As always, we'll checkout The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, visit the Fool-on-the-Hill and some E-Valley-uation, but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Bengal tigers attack busload of tourists!

In our E-Valley-uation segment we think you might want to checkout the fledgling falcons and their parents nesting on top of the UMass library. We've been watching since the three chicks were eggs. Very cool (though you might not care for feeding time). Meanwhile, up in Maine, the Biodiversity Research Institute have their own eagle cam here. BRI has a Raptor Program as well. Since we're straying from the Valley here, checkout where Garrett and Maure from our anti-nuke SAGE Alliance strayed to: one of Entergy's other radioactive horror shows out at Plymouth, MA.

Speaking of cool, in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we pass on this excellent story from Grist. Also, eco-warrior Capt. Paul Watson finds himself in another legal dust-up, this time in Germany facing extradition to Costa Rica on trumped-up charges after monkeywrenching some shark fining operation. Treehugger has the update. And, Treehugger also gives us an update on that North Sea mega-gas drilling leak we covered on an earlier Enviro Show. It looks like the leak has finally been plugged. But guess what: oil & gas drilling leaks and blowouts happen all the time, it goes with the territory (and everything in the territory suffers). Finally, an Enviro Show Blog Bonus Action Link: bats are victims of a hidden risk as well. Please help them out!

Our Fool-on-the-Hill has once again morphed into a plural Fools-on-the-Hill. Remember last year (or was it the year before?) when we reported on the record of the worst Repugnican Congress ever? Well guess what, they've out done themselves and beat their own record!

One of our favorites, "Nature Hatin' Blues" by The Lone Tones takes us to our interview with Allyson Jackson and our experiment with the phones. Then it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, May 23, 12:30 - 1:30; Brown Bag lunch - Noon. GreenWork. Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield. GreenWork (the Western Mass Green Economy Working Group) consists of advocates for a Green Economy which serves local communities; guarantees workers' rights to organize; and promotes community-owned sustainable projects. Call: 413-565-2381

Wednesday May 23 5:30 - 8:30pm NRC Open House on VY Yankee Multipurpose room, Brattleboro Union High School Brattleboro VT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be in Brattleboro on Wednesday, May 23, to discuss the 2011 performance assessment for Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. An open house will kick off the meeting, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a public meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The 2011 assessment was issued on March 5. NRC staff will be available to answer questions on its role in ensuring safe plant operation. In addition, the NRC will host a question and answer session, during which members of the public will be able to ask questions or make statements in a public meeting. There will not be a formal NRC presentation during the public meeting. There are plans underway for street theater and other actions. More info: info@safeandgreencampaign.org or http://www.safeandgreencampaign.org/ai1ec_event/nrc-open-house-on-vy-yankee?instance_id=307

Friday June 1. Wade Rathke | The Battle for Lower Ninth: ACORN and the Rebuilding of New Orleans. 11:30am, lunch & discussion on the anniversary of the Springfield area tornado, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield. We need a head count – RSVP to (413) 827-0301 or wmjwj@wmjwj.org. 7pm, discussion & book signing, Odyssey Bookshop, 9 College St (Routes 116 & 47), in the Village Commons, South Hadley; 534-7307 or 800-540-7307; odysseybks@aol.com; www.odysseybks.com

Friday May 25 to Thursday Jun 14 Solar Rollers Ride Again Brattleboro, VT and throughout the 14 counties of Vermont. The Solar Rollers are an anti-nuclear bicycling group formed to ride to Seabrook in 1978. Their first stop was the Vermont Yankee nuke – and they’ve been working to shut it down ever since.Beginning May 25th at 9:00am , the Solar Rollers will ride again, for their 34th anniversary tour. They will travel through all 14 counties of Vermont, talking to citizens along the way at potluck gatherings, through local media, and handing out informational fliers about the campaign to close VY. The Solar Rollers pedal what they preach – Turn on the Sun; Turn off the Nuke. They’ll bring that message to every corner of Vermont this spring.We need the informed citizens of the entire state behind us when we shut Vermont Yankee down – and the Solar Rollers need your help to reach ‘em. So get on a bike and join the Solar Rollers, or make a donation to their outreach tour; contact: 413-863-9296 for more information. Support events in different locations are being planned. Complete itinerary at: http://sagealliance.net/actions/vermont-solar-rollers-5-25-12

SATURDAY JUNE 9, 9 AM – 6 PM NEW ENGLAND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SUMMIT. Clark University, Higgins University Center, 950 Main Street, Worcester. At this daylong event, community residents and activists, EJ advocates, citizens, lawyers, and policymakers will meet to discuss environmental issues in New England and their impacts on low-income people and people of color. Summit workshops will cover toxics and women’s health, energy justice, urban and rural issues, food justice, and a workshop on Title VI geared to lawyers interested in assisting environmental justice groups. Free breakfast/lunch/child care. Free admission. Go to: http://newenglandejsummit.eventbrite.com

That's it. We are out of here. Please be sure to listen to your Mother.....OK?

Calling all Enviro Show fans!

Do you remember almost six years ago when everyone was so enthusiastic about having our own low-power community radio station in the Valley? We really need that kind of enthusiasm again in these troubled times. WXOJ-LP Valley Free Radio is struggling to survive, but we won’t let the Great Recession, the corporate media and endless distractions throw this community radio station under the bus. Together, we can not only keep VFR on the air broadcasting The Enviro Show and other excellent programs like the new Farm to Fork, but work to build a NEW Valley Free Radio! We’re just putting the finishing touches on our new website and putting out the call for new shows. We REALLY need you to help create the momentum going forward.

Only with your support can VFR broadcast shows like ours that go way beyond mainstream environmentalism. Only with your help can new programmers from community start their own shows on WXOJ-LP. On May 6 through 12th Valley Free Radio will be hosting our annual Spring On-air Fund Drive. We’ll have all sorts of premiums and incentives for listeners who pledge to keep VFR up & running. The Enviro Show will have the usual premiums like Tom Neilson CDs and those zany endangered species condoms, but this year we'll have a few extra surprises as well.

Please tune-in to 103.3fm Tuesday evening at 6:30 or catch our webcast at http://www.valleyfreeradio.org/ and help support progressive community radio. You can call in your pledge during the drive at (413)584-1160. But there’s no need to wait until next week. You can donate right now!

Go to http://www.valleyfreeradio.org/ and click on the “Donate” button to make your pledge. Help progressive programming on VFR by pledging your support now or by calling in during your favorite show.

OK, here's an Enviro Show Spring Pledge Drive Special Premium. There's only one of these on the face of the planet. It's the original art work for the Mass Earth First! logo done by Wendell artist Bob Ellis. The graphic is 15x20" posterboard suitable for framing. If you make a $250 pledge tonight on the show it's yours:

Pledge Drive or no, we still want to take a peek at the Bus Stop Billboard.

* Wednesday May 9, 16, 23, & 30 4-5pm CLOSE VERMONT YANKEE AS PLANNED Weekly Rallies In front of the Vermont State House, Montpelier, VT The Vermont legislature gets it, the PSB gets it and we get it: Entergy is a rogue corporation manipulating Vermont's democratic process Bring your banners and signs! Bring your chants and songs! Bring your friends! Call: (802) 476-3154

* Thursday, May 10, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Western Mass. Affinity Group Cluster Meeting Location: Equity Trust, 177 Avenue A. Turners Falls. More info: tracy.sharon@gmail.com

* Sunday May 13 Noon No Escape from the Cape Demonstration Rt. 6 Cape Cod side of the Sagamore Bridge Mobilize to call attention to the serious dangers of the continued operation of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Reactor in Plymouth and the fact that the Cape Cod bridges will be closed in the event of a radiological accident. More info: Paul Rifkin

* Tuesday May 15, 7pm, Northampton UU Meetinghouse. Why ending Corporate Personhood at the local level is the right place to do the work. 150 communities in seven states are doing just that, banning harmful corporate activities in their own back yards. Paul Cienfuegos , known for his advocacy of "rights-based organizing," will speak, sponsored by the Occupy Affinity group of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

* Wednesday May 16, 7am-10am, Bay State Bike Week is quickly approaching, and the Northampton Bike Week on the courthouse lawn kicks it off. Email: jmontgom@smith.edu

* Sunday May 20 1pm Shut Down Pilgrim NOW! Plymouth, MA, near the main gate of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. Park at 1 Elliot Lane, Plymouth, Ma and walk to Pilgrim gate. Groups of concerned citizens from across New England will gather in Plymouth to demand that the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Reactor's 40-year operations expire with it's present license: by June 8, 2012. The General Electric Mark 1 Boiling Water Reactor is the same design that failed at four reactors in Japan. For more information, contact David Agnew or Diane Turco

* Wednesday May 23 5:30 - 8:30pm NRC Open House on VY Yankee Multipurpose room, Brattleboro Union High School Brattleboro VT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be in Brattleboro to discuss the 2011 performance assessment for Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. There are plans underway for street theater and other actions. More info: info@safeandgreencampaign.org or http://www.safeandgreencampaign.org/ai1ec_event/nrc-open-house-on-vy-yankee?instance_id=307

* Friday May 25 to Thursday Jun 14 Solar Rollers Ride Again Brattleboro, VT and throughout the 14 counties of Vermont. We need the informed citizens of the entire state behind us when we shut Vermont Yankee down – and the Solar Rollers need your help to reach ‘em. So get on a bike and join the Solar Rollers, or make a donation to their outreach tour; contact: 413-863-9296 for more information.

OK, that's it for now. Please support the show and.....listen to your Mother!

The Root for the Trees Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Watershed advisory councils giving bad advice, our trees being clearcut and hauled away to Canada, junk science run amok in the forests, who isn't seeing the forest for the trees in the Commonwealth? Chris Matera of Mass Forest Watch returns to help us clear the air. Did we say air? In the E-Valley-uatiuon segment we note that all those trees being cut down used to be busy cleaning the air! We'll also be checking in with this week's Fool-on-the-Hill, as well as a trip to the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Zoo enthusiast and lame Repugnican presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich attacked by penguin!


Let's start off with some serious E-Valley-uation, shall we? The Enviro Show was proud to be one of the sponsors of that SAGE Alliance anti-nuke rally in Brattleboro last Saturday. We were also glad to be there to here Bernie Sanders read the riot act to the corporados at Entergy. Here's his speech. Checkout WHMP's "VT Yankee: Power Struggle debate here. And this op-ed from the NY Times reminds us that all those trees being clearcut from the Quabbin watershed are actually better left standing! Who knew!!



Another past fool returns to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill. Once again Darrell Issa, House Oversight Committee Chairman, and former car thief turned congressman, mounts the Hill to proclaim that the federal loan guarantee program that helps fund solar energy development discourages solar energy development. Actually the solar energy sector grew enormously in 2011 compared to 2010, more than doubling in the U.S. Two major factors drove this surge in U.S. investment. One was the 1603 grant program, which replaced tax credits, thus making it easier and cheaper to finance projects. The other was the loan guarantee program. Maybe that was an oversight on Darrell's part.


In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber this just in: Greg Palast blows the cover off BP's OTHER disastrous blowout! And this: the Prez makes the point that Wall Street speculators are one of the big reasons you're paying so much at the pump for gas. Of course we've been saying that for months, even as high-profile enviro reporters like Elizabeth Kolbert and others seem oblivious. And this: biomass blaze in the UK sheds light on what one might call the Kalfka clause! Remember the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Well, if you order now you can get it free with Japanese radiation!


Speaking of radiation, while on one hand we applaud the New Boss for his slamming greedy speculators on inflated gas prices, on the other hand the Boss seems to think nukes are renewables!


Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week is spot on for the show's theme. It was Massachusetts' favorite son, Henry David Thoreau said:

"I come home to my solitary woodland walk as the homesick go home. I thus dispose of the superfluous and see things as they are, grand and beautiful."

O, by the way, last week's Guess the Quote? That was President Bill Clinton.



After hanging out with Chris we'll wander over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday April 25, Noon to 1:30pm. GREENWORK ROUNDTABLE. Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield. GreenWork (the Western Mass Green Economy Working Group) consists of advocates for a Green Economy which serves local communities; guarantees workers' rights to organize; and promotes community-owned sustainable projects. Contact: Mary Vogel, 413-565-2381

Friday, April 27, 10:30 am. Greenfield Middle School, 195 Federal Street..Arbor Day will be celebrated by planting a disease-resistant elm tree at the Greenfield Middle School, 195 Federal Street. Superintendent Dr. Susan Hollins, Greenfield Middle School students and teachers will participate – all are invited. “It is hard to imagine our town without our beloved trees,” says Cindy Pomeroy, Greenfield Tree Committee member and organizer of Arbor Day. “We are healthier in body and spirit because of them.” For more information call 774-5667.

Saturday, April 28, 10am & 2pm. Unwanted Drug Collection. Ensure that unused drugs are disposed of safely by bringing them to a Saturday collection at Wildwood Elementary School, 813 N Pleasant St (enter off Strong Street) in Amherst. Antibiotics, Vitamins, prescription, non-prescription & veterinary meds are welcome. No liquids will be accepted.

Tuesday, May 1 A Day Without the 99%: May Day 2012. On May 1st we will take the streets to reclaim our jobs, our communities, our lives. Occupy Wall Street stands in solidarity with the calls for a General Strike, a Day Without the 99%, and more! There will be actions throughout the day, including a 4 p.m. rally at Union Square that culminates with a march to Wall Street at 5:30 p.m. Contact: mayday@nycga.net

April 30-May 5, 2012. Climate Impacts Action Week: We need volunteers! Action on the Coolidge Bridge. Rush-hour (8 to 9am & 5 to 6pm) groups of 10 or more people will stand on the sidewalk of the Coolidge Bridge between Hadley and Northampton. Main Event: Saturday, May 5, 8-9:00am, 5-6pm. Show your support for a world without fossil fuels. Sign up now:
 johnpberk@gmail.com, or 413-625-6374

Tuesday, May 8. 6p.m. Organic Lawn Care” lecture at Better Life Whole Foods, 1492 Allen St, Springfield. Registration call: (413)783-9424

Tuesday May 15, 7pm, Northampton UU Meetinghouse. Why ending Corporate Personhood at the local level is the right place to do the work. 150 communities in seven states are doing just that, banning harmful corporate activities in their own back yards. Paul Cienfuegos , known for his advocacy of "rights-based organizing," will speak, sponsored by the Occupy Affinity group of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.


So much for that. Next time it's the Valley Free Radio on-air fund drive. That's the part where YOU come in. We can't do this without your support. It's as simple as that. How about sending your donation right now? Just go here and click on the blue "donate" button near the top of the page. Thanks for that and remember, listen to your Mother!