The Down with King Coal Enviro Show, Part III

Greetings Earthlings. About had it with having some of the worst air quality in the region? How about the Mt. Tom coal-burning power plant? Do you think it's part of the problem....'ya think?? Claire B. W. Miller, Community Organizer for Toxics Action Center calls in to talk about that turkey by Mt. Tom and local activist, Jane Andresen joins us in the studio.. We'll also be giving some thanks in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber while our Fool-on-the-Hill gets the stuffing knocked out him. Tired of the seasonal puns yet? You may find some relief in our E-Valley-uation segment. First though, it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Turf war with Turkeys!

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber Grist finds a green Occupy Wall Street right down to the pedal power. Then we give thanks that at least some justice is being served down in coal country. We all look forward to the day Don Blankenship serves some time too! Here's an Enviro Show Blog Bonus Action Link to help stop one particularly ugly mountain top removal project. On the down side (you knew we'd go there, right?), it looks like New England forests will be shipped off to Europe in countless tiny pieces. Since we're talking trash on King Coal here, how about that coal ash spill in Lake Michigan earlier this month? Talk about dirt bags!

Our Fool-on-the-Hill would like to gut the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, you know the one that applies to all that bad air wafting into the Valley from Mid-west mega coal-burning power plants? Yes, and none other than arch Repugnican teabagger Senator Rand Paul, carving knife in hand, is poised to cut away. We're thinking he should be excused from the table.......sorry.....can't resist those T-Day puns.

In our E-Valley-uation segment we're asking you to take action against corporate welfare for biomass incinerators, OK? If you've been paying attention here to the show you know those biomonsters have their beady eyes set on Western Mass forests. Now, about that old coal-burning clunker by Mt. Tom: did you know about the Greening of Mt. Tom? Hmm......well, we wish it was reforestation, but.... Finally, it seems the FBI is all over Northampton looking for Daniel Andreas San Diego, the alleged "eco-terrorist" they put way up on top of their most wanted list. Of course, San Diego is only accused of property destruction but since it was corporate property he must be part of "the number one domestic terrorist threat" in the nation, right? OK, so he's not armed to the teeth like all those far-right militia freaks, and he didn't rip us all off for billions of dollars, throwing many of us into the streets, like the banksters & corporados, he's still a terrorist, right? right? no?...

Tom Neilson's "Corporations are Human" takes us to our interview with Claire Miller. Then we adjourn to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Monday, November 21, 11:00am. March & Rally on Wall Street Banks. Meet behind Dunkin Donuts on Corner of Morris & Central Sts., Springfield, Mass. THIS IS THE BIG ONE! Join hundreds of residents fighting back against banks who are foreclosing and evicting our families for the biggest action yet against the banksters! More information, press releases, flyers will be available at www.springfieldnooneleaves.org

Friday, November 25, All day is BUY NOTHING DAY! Go to: http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd

Tuesday, November 29th, 7:00 PM, Dr. Penny Gill - “Reclaiming Politics: Thinking About “Occupy Wall Street” Leverett Library, Montague Road, Leverett. “Occupy Wall Street” is a struggle to recreate an independent public space, and in so doing to invigorate local and national political life. Contact: Barbara Tiner - Barbara@wetlanded.com

Wednesday, November 30, 6:30 pm. Screening of "Gasland" at St. James Church, Greenfield. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a “Saudi Arabia of natural gas”, but is it safe? This film follows a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination.Call: 413-773-7004

Dec. 2-4. Non-violence Training for trainers. The people's campaign of nonviolent direct action to shut down Vermont Yankee on schedule - by March 21st, is looking for experienced nonviolence trainers as well as people who have experience in nonviolent direct action want to become trainers to help to prepare the people for this action. Contact VY-NVTraining@riseup.net

Tuesday, December 6, 6:30pm. LIFE AFTER VERMONT YANKEE. Forum with Panel discussion and Q&A to address what will happen when Vermont Yankee shutters in 2012. A three-person panel will talk about transition, clean-up, long-term waste storage and what role citizens can play in the process. Bangs Center Amherst. This event is co-sponsored by the Safe & Green Campaign, New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution and Nuclear Free Vermont by 2012. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Deb Katz 413.339.5781.

Saturday, December 10, 10:30am to 2pm. Second Saturday Children's Nature Series. Daily activities may include crafts, games, investigations, or outdoor adventures. Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A., Turners Falls, MA 01376, Ph 413.863.3221

That does it for us. Be thankful to your Mother....and listen to her!

That Fracking Enviro Show!

Greetings Earthlings. Recovered from the latest natural disaster yet? What makes you think it's natural? Do we need still more anecdotal evidence that humanity is hard at work destroying the ecosphere? No? How about some overwhelming scientific evidence?? We'll get to that and a call-in from fracking expert, Jessica Ennis of EarthJustice. Now is a critical moment in the anti-fracking movement here in the Northeast. Checkout this crucial demonstration set for November 21st. Also, if a snowbound Halloween wasn't scary enough for you, how about a visit to our Fool-on-the-Hill? No? The Enviro Show Horror....er...i mean Echo Chamber is always open for business. We'll lay the Quote of the week on you and maybe some other stuff but first it's time for...
Revenge of the Critters! Gator Gobbles Georgia Granny. Lawyers in hot pursuit!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber you'll find the NPR story that inspired this week's show. Almost everyone knows about fracking for gas and its associated pollution, but did you know about fracking for oil? How about a GIGANTIC fracking for oil BOOM? And, how about communities coming together and saying: No fracking way! Meanwhile, across the border in New York, citizens are jumping into the fray, as well. Since we're in NY State, check this out: Occupy Wall Street says What the Frack! (Their not stopping there however, it looks like every Sunday may be Environmentalist Solidarity Day at OWS). What? You don't believe fracking is perfectly safe? Well now, back in August this Haliburton CEO had his taster drink their new, improved fracking fluid on stage! No word yet on the underling's status. Here's that climate crisis science we were talking about at the top of the show. Finally this: Chomsky on the Occupation movement.

Guess who's back! "In 2005, at the urging of Vice President Dick Cheney, Congress created the so-called "Halliburton loophole" to clean water protections in federal law to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the fracking process, despite serious concerns that were raised about the chemicals used in the process and its demonstrated spoiling and contamination of drinking water. In 2001, Cheney's "energy task force" had touted the benefits of hydrofracking, while redacting references to human health hazards associated with hydrofracking. Halliburton, which was previously led by Cheney, reportedly earns $1.5 billion a year from its energy operations, which rely substantially on its hydrofracking business." That's from the Los Angeles Times, October 14, 2004.

"My Water's on Fire Tonight" by David Holmes takes us to our E-Valley-uation segment where YOUR favorite enviro radio show gets a nod on Grist (blush).

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) who is targeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s nonexistent farm dust regulations......yes, we said non-existent. Like our own MA Rep. Ed Markey said: "There is no plan to regulate farm dust, any more than there is to regulate fairy dust". Leave it to the Repugnicans to come up empty as the nation goes down the tubes.

The Enviro Show quote of the Week puts us once again into the Wayback Machine, and speaking of machines: "Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine" - Henry David Thoreau

Following our interview with Jessica Ennis of EarthJustice we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Occupy UMass. General Assembly Wednesdays from 1 to 3pm, and will begin a second meeting starting this week on Fridays starting at 5 PM. Wednesday meetings are held in front of the WEB Dubois library on the cement platform, and the Friday meetings are held on the steps in front of the Student Union. Email: shavahnbest@gmail.com Subscribe to list here: occupyumassamherst@googlegroups.com

Occupy Greenfield rallies on the Common on Saturdays 10am-Noon and Mondays 5-6pm.

Friday, November 11 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence. Author Christian Parenti will discuss the connection between climate change and increased social and political conflict. Join us as we discuss why climate change is fundamentally a political problem that requires political solutions in order to prevent climate-change driven violence and increased global disparity. Food for Thought Books, N. Pleasant Street, Amherst.

Saturday, November 12th, 1:00pm. Occupy Wall Street Teach-In at Smith College, Stoddard Hall

Sunday, November 13 · 11:00am - 2:00pm, Occupy New England Solidarity March! Worcester, MA. Occupy Worcester, recognizing the need for solidarity between various Occupations, seeks to organize a march with any and all who would share our company. Worcester has a central location in relation to other major cities, we've got a good rapport with the police and city hall, so no major opposition is expected. Schedule: 11AM: Gather in the Commons behind city hall, open forum for inter- city cooperation and solidarity, shared DA's, and idle chit-chat.11:45: March begins! Go to: http://OccupyWorcester.com

Sunday November 13, 7pm. Screenimng of "Farmageddon; The Unseen War on American Family Farms" at the Academy of Music, Northampton. CONTACT: Grow Food Northampton, 413-584-0081,or email: info@growfoodnorthampton.com

Thursday, November 17, 9:30a.m. Meeting of Nuclear free Future in the AFSC office, 2 Conz Street, Suite 2B, Northampton. Call: (413) 584-8975

Friday, November 18, 7-9pm. "It's Our Future! Youth Speak Out to Save the Environment & the Earth". Northampton Center for the Arts, 17 New South Street--across from Academy of Music. Using poetry, prose, hip-hop rhyming, music, dance, art, video, sculpture, skits, and stand-up comedy, young people between the ages of 8 and 25 are invited to speak out about climate change and other environmental threats, and express their hope and vision for a sustainable valley, nation, and planet. Contact: johnpberk@gmail.com

Monday, November 21, 8am. No fracking in the Delaware River Basin! Demonstration before crucial vote by The Delaware River Basin Commission. Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive Trenton, N.J. Email: savethedelawareriver@gmail.com or go to: http://savethedelaware.wordpress.com/

November 30, 6:30 pm. Screening of "Gasland" at St. James Church, Greenfield. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a “Saudi Arabia of natural gas”, but is it safe? This film follows a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination.Call: 413-773-7004

There. Another Enviro Show come and gone. There's just one more thing: Listen to your Mother!

Another Very Scary Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Are we ready for All Hallows Eve, the Pagan Festival of Samhain? Our new house witch, Michelle returns to set the stage. Also, we get a scary call from our favorite Nukebuster, Deb Katz on that very spooky nuclear power plant looming just over the border in Vermont. O, and guess what? Speaking of frightening, there are now 7 BILLION PEOPLE on planet Earth! Where will we put them all?? In any case, we'll take you trick or treating into The Enviro Echo Chamber and drag you kicking and screaming to Meet the New Boss and the Fools-on-the-Hill, but first it's time for...Revenge of the Critters! Beware of Sharks....on the links? No, not those golfing politicians, REAL sharks!

Following our All Hallows Eve celebration the Fool-on-the-Hill goes plural once again: This time the U.S. House Repugnicans walk away with the prize. They have manufactured the most anti-environment congress.....EVER! Are we surprised? No?? This is what you get when the Enemies of the Earth are allowed to play with the adults.

On to the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, where you might want to get into the swing of things and Occupy some boardrooms. We also have a list of ways to support the Occupy movement from YES Magazine. Also this from PETA: the recent wholesale slaughter of escaped exotic (AND highly endangered) species in Ohio puts a spotlight on that state's lack of regulation. You can take action here. And, a Halloween trick from MassPirg on the Bottle Bill. Finally, a treat! Corporados frightened of scary protesters!

In our E-Valley-uation segment the BIG news is that old frightening coal-burning power plant by Mt. Tom may be headed for the dustbin of history......or at least retooled for a less noxious fuel source. The folks at Toxics Action Center tell us "the Holyoke City Council adopted a resolution to do a reuse study and engage the public in how to reuse the plant in an environmentally friendly way once it closes." OK, how about we install treadmills and put some of those criminal banksters in them? Good idea?

Then it's time to Meet the New Boss and his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton who seems to have some...umm...special relationship? with TransCanada and their bogus Keystone pipeline. Check the blog for all those treats! As for her boss: how about his old campaign promise to have genetically engineered food labeled? What? Campaign promises don't mean a thing? Who knew! More coming up.

After Deb scares the tar out of us we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Everyday: Occupy Northampton. General assembly Tuesday-Thursday 8pm, Friday-Monday 4pm. Protesting on Main Street EVERY DAY from 5pm-8pm. This Saturday's Occupation 11am to 1pm at Pulaski Park. Go to: http://www.occupynorthampton.com/ Email: sethn91184@yahoo.com

Wednesdays 5pm & Sundays 12pm: Occupy Amherst on the Town Common. See you all there! Email: occupyamherst@gmail.com. Go to: http://www.occupyamherst.com

Mondays: Occupy Greenfield: on the Greenfield Common every Monday 5-6pm. Info: Joe Kurland & Peggy Davis, yosl@ganeydn.com.

Wednesday, October 26, 7-9 p.m. STUDYING MOUNTAIN LIONS WITH MARK ELBROCH . Sliding scale fee. Location to be determined. Pre-registration at Hitchcock Center for the Environment required; please call 413-256-6006.

Friday, October 28, 7:30 pm. The Echo Lake Coffeehouse presents WOOL&GRANT with special guest, Arjuna Greist. Town Hall, 9 Montague Rd., Leverett, MA. Email: diacrowe@yahoo.com

SATURDAY October 29th , 12-6 pm. Occupy Springfield! Converge together once again on Court Square in Springfield. Rally from 12-5 (get there when you can; you certainly don't have to be there the whole time to participate) - and then General Assembly from 5-6. Please bring food.

Sunday, Oct 30, noon. Call to Action: Rally at the Gates of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. 546 Governor Hunt Rd. Vernon, VT. We will not allow this reactor to operate beyond its scheduled closure date. It is time to close up and clean up. Go to: http://safeandgreenenergyalliance.org/

Thursday, November 3, 7:00 PM: Talk and film clips on nuclear power in japan with award winning Japanese film maker, Hitomi Kamanka. Also a Fukushima Exhibit.
at Unitarian Society of Northampton, 220 Main Street — preceded by 6:00 PM potluck with Ms. Kamanaka at same location.

Sat, Nov 5, 8:30a-4:30p
m. Creating Greenfield's Future: Our Food, Economy, and Community. Greenfield Community College, Main Campus

. Greening Greenfield Energy Committee. Call: 413-773-7004

Saturday Nov. 5, 9 – 11 am. Occupy Amherst & others do Bank Transfer Day in front of Bank of America, Amherst. Go to: http://facebook.com/nov.fifth

Sunday, November 6, Noon. Occupy Amherst. Contact: Dylan, at 339 364 4154 or email at dylanrk22@gmail.com

Sunday, November 6. All day. Encircle the White House in opposition to the proposed Keystone Tar Sands Pipeline. Go to: www.350.org/occupy


Thursday, November 17, 9:30a.m. Meeting of Nuclear free Future in the AFSC office, 2 Conz Street, Suite 2B, Northampton. Call: (413) 584-8975

OK, time to turn out the lights, pull down the shades,and refuse to answer the door. This place is way too scary. O, one more thing: listen to your Mother!

The Occupy Everywhere Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. We are fresh back from the front in the non-violent struggle against the corporados. D.O. & Jean will report back on their trip to both the #OccupyWallStreet and #OccupyBoston. We're hoping they will add The Rights of Nature to their declarations. Also, our roving reporter, Tom Neilson will report back from the DC Occupation of Freedom Plaza, then we remind everyone that the rape of the forests and the fouling of the biosphere is all about Corporate America with Chris Matera of Mass Forest Watch who joins us once again to connect the dots. As always we venture into our E-Valley-uation segment, the Enviro Show Echo Chamber and visit the Fool-on-the-hill, but first it's time for...Revenge of the Critters! Human rights? How about bats rights!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we note The New York Times has discovered the importance of forests. How's that for hard-nosed reporting! Of course, we have to give them some credit for their front page, above the fold coverage of the Wall Street Occupation....but only some. And speaking of New York, how about YOU send Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly a note reminding them about the First Amendment? Did we say Occupy Wall Street? How about the State Department! And this from Grist: UK activist denied entry into The States due to super glue attack on Obama!

In our E-Valley-uation segment we send out kudos to the folks who Occupied Northampton and Occupied Amherst. Who knows, maybe we'll even consider OccupiedQuabbin!

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill goes plural. GOP members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee get to wear the Fool's cap for their opposition to a proposed regulation that would restrict the transportation and importation of nine types of snakes, including the Burmese Python, that are invasive and threatening to wildlife. Apparently, exotic invasives are job creators! Who knew! We thought all the snakes in the grass lying about job creation were Repugnican congressmen.

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week comes from Anonymous:

"We are legion. We are everywhere!" Well.....yeah!

After our interview with Chris we head over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, October 12, 2pm. Occupy UMass, Student Union steps. Go to: http://occupyamherst.com/

Wednesday, October 12, 5:30pm. Join Jobs with Justice, Occupy Boston, IBEW 2222, and CWA for a day of action for working people, against the wealthy 1% that holds our government and our country hostage. We are joining forces to march from OccupiedBoston at Dewey Square to Verizon and demand that the company accept the union's contract proposal. Verizon must not cut health care, pensions, wages, and security for the workers who keep Verizon running. Contact Jobs With Justice at 617-524-8778

Wednesday, October 12,7:00pm - 10:00pm. Free screening of "Inside Job" on the side of Bank of America, 144 Main Street, Northampton. The story of how Wall Street totally screwed us. Bring a sweater--Bring a seat--Bring a friend!

Saturday, October 15, 1:00 pm. March & Rally to Stop Wars Home & Abroad. Park Street Station at Boston Common (Park & Tremont), Boston. Call: 781-285-8622

Monday, October 17, 8:30am - 6:00pm. Occupy Springfield! Court Sq, Springfield. If your incensed about being economically marginalized and angry about the democratic process being usurped by big business and corporations -- meet at Court Sq. in Springfield on October 17th at 8:30 a.m. Bring your signs and defiance to this event. Let the world know that you aren't going to remain silent and complacent. Be angry -- it's all that you have left.

October 22, 3-9 p.m. Citizens Awareness Network's 20th anniversary party at Kiwanis Park in Bernardston, MA. Cover charge: sliding scale. B.Y.O.B. Now we are creating a sustainable energy future by replacing Vermont Yankee!
• Patty Carpenter and friends – Blues / Folk Rock / Jazz
• Wildcat O’Halloran – Blues / Classic Rock
• Brook Batteau and The New Cosmology - Rock / Dance Pop
• Rae C Wright’s tips on proper radiation hygiene
• Our favorite M.C., Will Nukem
• D.J. Emporer
No one turned away for lack of funds. For information and directions:
Citizens Awareness Network • 413-339-5781 • www.nukebusters.org

Wednesday, October 26, 7-9 p.m. STUDYING MOUNTAIN LIONS WITH MARK ELBROCH . Sliding scale fee. Location to be determined. Pre-registration at Hitchcock Center for the Environment required; please call 413-256-6006.

Sunday, Oct 30, noon. Call to Action: Rally at the Gates of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. 546 Governor Hunt Rd. Vernon, VT.
We will not allow this reactor to operate beyond its scheduled closure date. It is time to close up and clean up. Go to: http://safeandgreenenergyalliance.org/

There. We've occupied your time long enough....'til next time, that is. There is however one more thing we must add: LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!!

The Fall of Corporate America

There was the Arab Spring and there is the North American Autumn; the harvest time when the fruits of our labor are gathered up and stored. The Rites of Autumn concern a return to balance, darkness and light in sync. Following a long season of growing unrest, an economy out of balance and the social fabric torn and twisted, it's time for the fall of Corporate America. The 99% of North Americans who are not filthy rich want to harvest the promise of the United States of America and like the seed corn saved for the next growing season, they look forward to the democracy nurtured by our agrarian ancestors, by the founders.

No need to repeat what we already know here: the litany of inequality, the injustice of rule by oligarchs and their enablers, and the broken promise of the Pledge of Allegiance. You've read all that. You've lived it through unemployment or underemployment; through homelessness or dispossession; through the loss of liberty and the degradation of a democratic form of government. Now, at last, comes the turning. Now we take stock and prepare for the long hard winter.

Corporate America was genetically engineered by the filthy rich. It was always out of balance, a fabrication, a fake. The so-called Tea Party was a product of Corporate America. It was funded and promoted by the corporados and the banksters. They served the interests of Corporate America, disguised as patriots. The corporate media focused on the so-called Tea Party, misleading Americans to believe they spoke for the average citizen. They did not. Nor did Republican candidates who spoke in folksy ways or posed by tractors at county fairs. Republicans speak for the filthy rich, there is no daylight between them and the so-called Tea Party. That tea is tainted, poisoned.

Corporate America is not a person either. The myth of corporate personhood, like the myth of a patriotic Tea Party, was also a fabrication of the wealthy. Their minions on the Supreme Court began the process of corporate dominance long ago. The founders of the United States of America warned us about them. Now we begin to reverse that process, to return the power to the people, to their communities.

It is no accident that the Occupation of Wall Street grew out of the anti-corporate, anti-consumer society ranks, from operations like Ad Busters and the countless numbers of people fed up with money in politics, stolen elections, lobbyists in government, the destruction of democracy and the commodification of our society and the planet. We don't buy the concept of corporate personhood. We don't believe in Corporate America.

The Occupation of Wall Street and the growing occupations of other streets all across North America and around the world, tells us that we have finally reached a tipping point; a time when students, young couples, workers, the unemployed and underemployed, senior citizens of limited means, and untold numbers of other Americans have said to Corporate America and its enablers: enough! basta! We want an end to Corporate America. We want the return of the United States of America.

- d.o.

Composting the Corporados Enviro Show, Part II

Greetings Earthlings. Are corporations people? We don't think so! Are they busy at work destroying the planet? Well.....yah! Gail Darrell of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund calls in to discuss local home rule and the end of Corporate America (to which we say: YES!). As always, we'll also checkout our Fool-on-the-Hill, The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, our Quote of the Week, and the E-Vally-uation segment, but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! This one from our favorite hydrologist: cowboys choose the wrong bear!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we have this excellent piece on the Wall Street Occupation where the banksters & corporados get exposed to the light. For daily updates on the Occupation go here. Then, some "Sustainable Forestry Initiative" greenwashing corporados getting an earfull from Green Mountain State tree-huggers. Also, could this Scottish nuke that will never, ever be cleaned up just as easily happen up the river at Vermont Yankee? Better hope not! And, another Enviro Show Blog Bonus: this Rainforest Action Network graphic just might keep you from shopping at all!

Speaking of vile corporados, this week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Rep. Eric Cantor (again!) who is leading the charge to put corporate polluters ahead of public health & the planet......SURPRISE! Here's an action link for a League of Conservation Voters effort to counter Cantor.........counter Cantor.....we like that! O, and some droppings from the bottom of his fellow Repugnicans' cage: a House vote to fund FEMA assistance for those recent disasters? Not without cutting green jobs! Where do we get these people??

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week comes to you from our second favorite president, Thomas Jefferson and is in complete keeping with our theme here:

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."

In our E-Valley-uation segment anti-biomass incineration/pro-clean energy activists took it to Beacon Hill last week for a demo under the dome. Yo Gov, got the message? For a more in-depth report on the issue go here. And this coming Saturday, October 1 is the Irene edition of the annual Source to Sea Connecticut River watershed-wide cleanup! Sign-up for the river, OK? Finally, on the theme of signing-up, how about kicking in for Valley Free Radio during our E Pledge Drive? You'd be supporting our work here on the show and hopefully cutting down on Autumn Pledge Drive interruptions to your favorite programming. We are passing the virtual hat on to you here.

Once again we air "The American Dream" by George Carlin (we can't get enough of this, sorry......wait! We're not sorry at all! Listen up, will you!!). Then it's on to our interview with Gail Darrell of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund.

Then we visit the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday September 28, 12:30-2pm, GREENWORK: THE WESTERN MASS GREEN ECONOMY WORKING GROUP Brown Bag Lunch at Noon, Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield. Call: (413)732-7970.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1 to 3:30 p.m. HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT/HEALTHY AGING. What do clean air, water, and soil have to do with aging? Why should be concerned about our environment as we get older? What does the recent tornado clean-up have to do with our health? A community discussion. Springfield Hobby Club, 309 Chestnut St. (off Franklin St., behind YMCA). Contact: Mass. Senior Action, 543-2334

Wednesday, September 28, 6:30pm. Meeting at the Holyoke Public Library about a coordinated effort to start moving the gears faster towards retirement and redevelopment of the Mt. Tom coal plant.Please feel free to invite any die-hard coal activists in the area who have time on their hands. Contact: Claire B. W. Miller Community Organizer, Toxics Action Center at 617.747.4408/Cell 781.775.1429. Email:
claire@toxicsaction.org

Thursday, September 29, 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Internationally acclaimed author, anti-hunger activist and food policy reformer Francis Moore Lappé, best known for her 1970s book, “Diet for a Small Planet,” will be the keynote speaker at the Franklin Permaculture Garden at UMass Amherst. Students and administrators will dedicate the campus’s permaculture garden and celebrate the UMass Amherst Permaculture Initiative’s first harvest. Contact: (978)314-1176 or email: rharb@mail.aux.umass.edu

Friday September 30, 2pm. TAKE BACK OUR CITIES! HISTORIC MARCH & RALLY. Boston Common Band Stand. 11am: Bus from Springfield Plaza, 1225 Liberty St. Big banks are destroying our communities! Big businesses are killing our jobs and our environment! Reserve your seat on the bus, call 413-342-1804 or 347-385-8049.

Friday, September 30, 7pm. Screening of "Gashole". Corporate interests work behind the scenes to keep America dependent on oil. 7:00 p.m., Frances Crowe Community Room, 60 Masonic Street in Northampton. Enter via Woodstar Cafe, at the front of the building. The venue is accessible. Contact: info@northamptoncommittee.org

Sat, Oct 1,7 pm. "Windfall" A film documenting the experiences of Meredith, NY residents as industrial wind turbines are debated as an option to help counter economic challenges. Cost: $5 Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, MA,
(413) 625-3052

Sunday, October 2, 10am to 2:30pm. 26th Anniversary of the New England Peace Pagoda. Keynote speaker: Dr. Vincent Harding, speech writer for Martin Luther King, including King's famous anti-Vietnam War speech, "A Time to Break Silence". 100 Cave Hill Road, Leverett, MA. Call: (413)367- 2202

October 2, Jones Library, Amherst 2-4 PM; October 3, Art Space, Greenfield, 7-9 PM; October 4, Jones Library, Amherst, 7-9 PM. Auditions for RADIUM GIRLS, a play that takes an unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsession with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science as one lone woman battles a corporation, her own family, and friends to seek justice in the story of a landmark case in occupational safety and the environment. Large cast, multiple roles. Men and women, 17-70. Actresses 17-30 a necessity. Details: Robert Freedman, director, 413-586-6095, rpaulfre@gis.net.

Thursday, Oct. 6 - We call on people of conscience and courage—all who seek peace, economic justice, human rights and a healthy environment to join together in Washington, D.C., beginning on Oct. 6, 2011, in nonviolent resistance similar to the Arab Spring and the Midwest awakening. A concert, rally and protest will kick off a powerful and sustained nonviolent resistance to the corporate criminals that dominate our government. "Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. Some people from the Valley are planning to go by the Megabus which leaves from the Ingleside Mall in Holyoke at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, getting in DC at 10:00 PM. Contact cjmoos@crocker.com for further info. Also go to: http://october2011.org.

Wednesday, October 26, 7-9 p.m. STUDYING MOUNTAIN LIONS WITH MARK ELBROCH . Sliding scale fee. Location to be determined. Pre-registration at Hitchcock Center for the Environment required; please call 413-256-6006.

Sunday, November 6, 2-4 p.m. DEEP-ENERGY-RETROFITTING YOUR HOME with Bick Corsa, Energy Efficient Builder (35 years' experience in residential renovation & construction with a focus on energy efficiency & passive solar design). Free. Pre-registration required at Hitchcock Center for the Environment; please call 413-256-6006.

We go out with "Corporations are People, Too" by Dave Rovics who always listens to his Mother. And you?

The Shut it Down NOW! Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Continuing our monitoring of that radioactive ticking time bomb just over the border in Vermont we welcome Deb Katz of the Citizens Awareness Network back on the show to talk about all the recent events up there as well as the resurgence of the Clamshell Alliance and other protest activities. Like always we entertain you with our Fool-on-the-Hill and have you Meet the New Boss, as well as a trip to the E-Valley-uation segment and more, but first it's time for....Revenge of the Critters! Fox in the UK is feeling at home!

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill goes easily to Repugnican Rep. Eric Cantor who called for no funding for recent disaster relief unless funds are cut for.....are you ready?....first responders! Sounds like this guy is smokin' waayyyy too much tea! For what it's worth you can add your name to a petition for this fool.

Time to Meet the New Boss (have you noticed some similarity to the old boss lately?). Take a deep breath now: Obama caves on better air quality. And here's another take on this move by the Prez written by Massachusetts anti-corporado crusader, Jeff Clements. And yet another! You can take him to the woodshed here.

In the E-Valley-uation segment six of the usual Massachusetts suspects were arrested on August 30th after citing Vermont Yankee for polluting. No word on Entergy's response to the citation, but kudos to MA State Senator Stan Rosenberg for requesting that the MA Emergency Management Agency fill the position for its Nuclear Safety Engineer that's been vacant for.....are you ready? two years! And this Enviro Show Blog Bonus: GCC gets down and goes geothermal! Also, the Gov needs to hear from YOU one more time to stop the Biomonster. Watch this video! Finally, what's with the AFL-CIO hooking up with the so-called Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) for the worthy idea of a labor/enviro alliance? ELM is not just elitist and corporate friendly, they also recommend you see "a tremendously useful PowerPoint presentation by Frank Luntz's nationally-respected polling firm". Frank Luntz?? Just for the record, our friends at Mass Forest Watch note that in 2009, ELM supported a 400% increase in logging, 76% of it even aged, clearcut type logging, on Massachusetts State Parks and Forests. Did someone say "environmentalists"?

And, in our Enviro Show Echo Chamber we learn that the Japanese nuke industry dropped about 168 atomic bombs on their own country (OK, so the equivalent of 168 A-bombs). And this on the biomess from The Boston Phoenix: The Gov's Green Blues. You can send your protestations here: and here: . Also, from our friends at Climate Connections: Hurricane Irene worse cuz' of climate change. Did we say climate? How about this final wrap on "part one" of the Tar Sands Pipeline protest at the White House. If you want to take part in Part Two go here. Tar sands? How about dirty coal? Isn't it time we put put Massey Coal out of business? Go here to do it!

After our interview with Deb we swing over to a well-stocked Bus Stop Billboard:


Tuesday September 20, 11am-12:30pm, NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: DON’T X OUT PUBLIC TRANSIT. Meet on the corner of Liberty St. and Main St. on the side of the Springfield Republican, across from the bus terminal (which is 1776 Main St), Springfield. Rally for increased – not decreased – investment in public transportation. Please visit www.supporttransit.org. Info: Richard Gardner, (413) 732-8041,
rgardner@atulocal448.com.

Tuesday, September 20, 7pm. Dr. Kinari Webb is speaking at the Northampton Friends Meeting about working with rainforest communities in Indonesia to save the environment and human health. She does this by providing quality medical care. She helps loggers become organic farmers. Go to: www.healthinharmony.org

Saturday, September 24. It's the Moving Planet Big Freeze and Fossil Fuel Funeral in Northampton. 11:30 Spread out around town. 12:00 noon - Strike a pose and freeze for five minutes! Be creative! Do not block people or traffic. Northampton sidewalks have a band of pink brick which is fine to use. FOSSIL FUEL FUNERAL - Wear a costume, improvise, dress in black, bring an umbrella, dance, sing, skateboard, bike! 12:05 Join the parade which starts on Main Street adjacent to Pulaski Park. We will march down Main Street, take a right on Pleasant St, right on Armory St., and congregate behind Thorne's Market where the Tuesday Farmer's Market is. Contact Director Jill Turner. jillturnerbigfreeze@gmail. com or 413 306 4813

Saturday, September 24, 10am Bikers will assemble at Mt Tom Power Plant on Rte 5 in Holyoke at 10 a.m. and move "en masse" up Rte 5, across the bridge, along Rte 9 in Hadley to the center of Amherst. Another group of walkers, skateboarders, dancers, stroller-pushers etc will assemble (10 a.m.) at the proposed solar array location at the old Amherst landfill on Rte 9 and head toward the center of Amherst. The two groups will converge for a rally calling for a move from dirty to clean energy. Contact: morrisfri@aol.com

Saturday, September 24,3-6PM. Run by trainers affiliated with The Public Interest Network, the Activist Workshops will cover the best techniques for citizens to take action. They will cover how to plan a campaign and develop your campaign’s goals, strategies and tactics - and how to recruit volunteers and get people plugged into the thing you are passionate about. It’s a chance to learn, share ideas and connect with other environmentally active citizens as well as activists from other causes. Click the link below for more details and to RSVP:
https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Donation2?idb=385250126&df_id=6221&6221.donation=form1
If you have any questions, email Jessie Miller atjmiller@publicinterestnetwork.org or call her at (978)621-7367.

Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-5pm. Chill-Out the Climate Rally! 1pm: Gather at Bridge Street School park next to Route 9 in Northampton, 1/2 mile east of downtown. Come by bike, skateboard, skates, feet, bus, car, carpool.Parking on side streets nearby. 2pm: Cross the bridge to a safe climate/clean energy future. March one mile east on Rt. 9 sidewalk to Coolidge Bridge. Cross over using walkway on north side. With hundreds on bridge walkway, 20 people in the middle hold big block letter signs saying: CHILL THE CLIMATE! 350.org. Photo will be taken for local media, and for 350.org to share online worldwide. Parade then connects with Bike Path/Rail Trail in Hadley, goes back across river, and back to Bridge St. School. 3:30-5pm: Rally. Contact: 413-625-6374 Johnpberk@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 28, 11am. Green Economy Principles meeting at the Central Labor Council Hall, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield. This meeting will be followed by the return of our regular public “roundtable” discussions, brown bag lunch at noon, roundtable 12:30-2pm.

Friday September 30, 2pm. TAKE BACK OUR CITIES! HISTORIC MARCH & RALLY. Boston Common Band Stand. 11am: Bus from Springfield Plaza, 1225 Liberty St. Big banks are destroying our communities! Big businesses are killing our jobs and our environment! Springfield No One Leaves will mobilize a brigade of buses from Western Mass. to join with thousands from the national organization Right to the City (RTTC). We need you to come and join us. Reserve your seat on the bus by email: nooneleavesspringfield@gmail.com or call 413-342-1804 or 347-385-8049. Info: 413-342-1804, nooneleavessspringfield@gmail.com, www.springfieldnooneleaves.org.

October 2, Jones Library, Amherst 2-4 PM; October 3, Art Space, Greenfield, 7-9 PM; October 4, Jones Library, Amherst, 7-9 PM. Auditions for RADIUM GIRLS, a play that takes an unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsession with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science as one lone woman battles a corporation, her own family, and friends to seek justice in the story of a landmark case in occupational safety and the environment. Large cast, multiple roles. Men and women, 17-70. Actresses 17-30 a necessity. Details: Robert Freedman, director, 413-586-6095, rpaulfre@gis.net.

Thursday, Oct. 6 - We call on people of conscience and courage—all who seek peace, economic justice, human rights and a healthy environment to join together in Washington, D.C., beginning on Oct. 6, 2011, in nonviolent resistance similar to the Arab Spring and the Midwest awakening. A concert, rally and protest will kick off a powerful and sustained nonviolent resistance to the corporate criminals that dominate our government. "Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. Go to: http://october2011.org. Regional contact: peterawhite@excite.com

Whoa! Lots going on, yes? That's it for us but remember: listen to your Mother!

The Think LocaGlobo Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Time to talk local energy and sustainability as Chris Mason, Energy and Sustainability Officer for the City of Northampton returns to these microphones. You may recall Chris was on the show when he first started that position a few years back. We'll find out what he's been up to and look into some other related issues in our E-Valley-uation segment. We'll also visit The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and our Fool-on-the-Hill as well as give you the Quote of the week, but first it's time for.....Revenge of the Critters! Jaws comes home!

Since 2011 is the International Year of Forests we thought we'd check out some forests in our neck of the woods for the E-Valley-uation segment. Maybe you caught Chris Matera's recent letter in the Valley Advocate on the alleged biomass windfall(!) in the Brimfield State Forest. Chris points out that "even if 100 percent of the trees on all 1,200 acres of blown down Brimfield forest were chipped and burned it would only fuel a single biomass plant like the one in Russell for less than two months or all of the proposed Pioneer Valley biomass plants for only three weeks. Then what?" Hmm, let's take a stab at this...........clearcut the entire state?!

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is U.S. Repugnican Rep. Rich Nugent. This from Grist: "Florida Tea Party members believe that federal efforts to protect manatees from extinction are part of a United Nations conspiracy to place manatee over man. Freshman Rep. Nugent is standing up for the Tea Partiers against the feared manatee overlords, offering an amendment to the FY 2012 Interior and Environment appropriations bill (HR 2584) that would block the creation of a manatee refuge in Citrus County" Did we mention manatees are listed as an Endangered Species? We're thinking if anything should become extinct the so-called Tea Party is the perfect candidate.

Our Quote of the Week goes out to all the corporados out there.

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." -- Thomas Jefferson

Dave Rovics' "Corporations are People, Too" seems like a good follow-up for Tom Jefferson. Then it's on to The Enviro Show Echo Chamber where the Tar Sands Action across from the White House has led to hundreds of arrests. Even union guys are coming out against the proposed Keystone pipeline. You can send YOUR protest to Obama here!

After our interview with Chris we move over to the Bus Stop Billboard:

August 30 to September 27 - Court appearances for the Shut it Down Affinity Group members following their most recent arrest at Vermont Yankee. Go here for specific dates.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 5:30pm. Shutdown VT. Yankee contingent in the Franklin County Parade. Line up in Parking Lot, behind Greenfield Middle School, Federal St, Greenfield, MA . Join us for the parade through downtown Greenfield and then party at the Fair! Get free entrance passes into the fair after the parade!

Saturday, Sept 10, 1:00-2:30. Rally to Support Vermont in its decision to shutter Vermont Yankee and replace it with sustainable energy solutions. Wells Fountain, Court House, Brattleboro, VT. Monday, September 12, Entergy's lawsuit against the state will be heard in Federal court in Brattleboro. It is important that people express their support for Vermont's courageous act to support the will of the people. Join us for good music and speeches!! Call: (413)339-5781

Wednesday, September 14 at 8:00pm - September 15 at 9:00pm. 24 Hours of Reality is a worldwide event that will share the reality of the climate crisis. From Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Alaska, Jakarta to London, people living with the impacts of climate change every day will tell their story. The event features a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore and delivered once per hour for 24 hours, in every time zone around the globe. Go to: http://climaterealityproje​ct.org/the-event/

Saturday, September 17 at 6:00am. Occupy Wall Street! On September 17, we want to see 20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices. It's time for DEMOCRACY NOT CORPORATOCRACY! Go to: http://www.adbusters.org/b​logs/adbusters-blog/occupy​wallstreet.html

Saturday, September 24, 11:40 Gather at Pulaski Park for this year's 350.org parade in Northampton. It's the Moving Planet Big Freeze and Fossil Fuel Funeral. Go to: http://www.moving-planet.org/events/us/downtown-northampton/613

October 2, Jones Library, Amherst 2-4 PM; October 3, Art Space, Greenfield, 7-9 PM; October 4, Jones Library, Amherst, 7-9 PM. Auditions for RADIUM GIRLS, a play that takes an unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsession with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science as one lone woman battles a corporation, her own family, and friends to seek justice in the story of a landmark case in occupational safety and the environment. Large cast, multiple roles. Men and women, 17-70. Actresses 17-30 a necessity. Details: Robert Freedman, director, 413-586-6095, rpaulfre@gis.net.


Thursday, Oct. 6 - We call on people of conscience and courage—all who seek peace, economic justice, human rights and a healthy environment to join together in Washington, D.C., beginning on Oct. 6, 2011, in nonviolent resistance similar to the Arab Spring and the Midwest awakening. A concert, rally and protest will kick off a powerful and sustained nonviolent resistance to the corporate criminals that dominate our government. "Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. Go to: http://october2011.org. Regional contact: deross2@yahoo.com, tel: 802-922-4029

OK, we are soooo out of here. Until next time, remember, listen to your Mother!

The Enviro Justice Show

Greetings Earthlings. Guess who suffers more than most from pollution and environmental degradation? OK, probably the critters, but next in line are low-income communities and people of color. Surprise! Some of this may become obvious as class warfare makes itself at home in the UK. The poor get dumped on amidst the plenty. Aron Goldman of The Springfield Institute's Environmental Justice Bike Tour joins us for the virtual tour. As always we take YOU for a tour in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber, our E-Valley-uation segment, a visit with the Fool-on-the-Hill among other familiar stops, but first it's time for.... Revenge of the Critters! Raccoon battles woman over turf!

In our E-Valley-uation segment we find radioactive Strontium in fish taken from the Connecticut River. The Union of Concerned Scientists wants the NRC to investigate Entergy Nuclear officials for lying to the public. What? Entergy lying? Can't be! And btw, why are fish being taken from their river anyway??

We have a two for the price of one BIG Fool-on-the-Hill. It's none other than Repugnican Rep. Bachman "solving" the energy problem and vowing to shut down the EPA!

In the Enviro Show Echo Chamber you can join Public Citizen and Friends of the Earth in calling on President Obama to reject the proposed tar sands pipeline and focus on clean, safe energy alternatives OR you can go right down to the White House on August 20th with a bunch of well-dressed protesters and make your voice heard! Speaking of protests, indigenous people are not pleased with plans for uranium mining in the Grand Canyon. And this: Anonymous hacks corporados here. Also: Friends of the Earth on what the debt deal means to the planet and the poor.

Then it's time to Meet the New Boss again and it's a sad state of affairs. We meld in our Quote of the Week from a New York Times op-ed by Drew Weston with the New Boss's latest cave-in to the Repugs:

"The president is fond of referring to “the arc of history,” paraphrasing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous statement that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” But with his deep-seated aversion to conflict and his profound failure to understand bully dynamics — in which conciliation is always the wrong course of action, because bullies perceive it as weakness and just punch harder the next time — he has broken that arc and has likely bent it backward for at least a generation."

On the up side you can always sign on to the Contract for the American Dream, but we'd be negligent in our duty here if we didn't point out that much of that "dream" is a nightmare for the planet. After all, so much of prosperity involves over-consumption and waste. Hey, how about a NEW American Dream (this time we could include all of America!).

The Joshua Marcus song "Invisible City" takes us to our interview with Aron Goldman we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:


Friday/Satruday August 19-20. Boston Greenfest. See: http://bostongreenfest.org/

Saturday, August 20th – September 3rd. Protest tar sands mining and the proposed Keystone pipeline! With people power and time-tested tactics of civil disobedience - join thousands of people from across the continent in a wave of sustained sit-ins at the White House. Together we’ll amplify our voices and escalate the movement and stop the Keystone XL pipeline to the Canadian tar sands. Go to:
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/ or Contact tarsandsaction@gmail.com

Saturday, August 27,1-4pm. Western Mass Green Consortium’s annual BBQ & Clambake: “Celebrate Sustainable Living” . Come have learn about projects, have fun, eat great food, dance to live music!! If you plan on attending, please register at www.westernmassgreenconsor​tium.org

Sunday, August 28, 11:30 am – 5:30 pm. JOIN THE ORGANIZING OF A REGIONAL CAMPAIGN OF NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION TO SHUT DOWN VERMONT YANKEE at the Norwich Congregational Church, 15 Church St, Norwich, VT. Informational sessions about Vermont Yankee and nonviolence training workshops will be scheduled for later dates, including a VT Yankee Action Camp at Wheelock Mountain Farm, in Wheelock, VT, on Friday evening Sept 9th – Saturday evening, Sept 10th – for info call Robin at 802-533-2296.

August 30 to September 27 - Court appearances for the Shut it Down Affinity Group members following their most recent arrest at Vermont Yankee. Go here for specific dates.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 5:30pm. Shutdown VT. Yankee contingent in the Franklin County Parade. Line up in Parking Lot, behind Greenfield Middle School, Federal St, Greenfield, MA . Join us for the parade through downtown Greenfield and then party at the Fair! Get free entrance passes into the fair after the parade!

Saturday, Sept 10, 1:00-2:30. Rally to Support Vermont in its decision to shutter Vermont Yankee and replace it with sustainable energy solutions. Wells Fountain, Court House, Brattleboro, VT. Monday, September 12, Entergy's lawsuit against the state will be heard in Federal court in Brattleboro. It is important that people express their support for Vermont's courageous act to support the will of the people.
Join us for good music and speeches!! Call: (413)339-5781

Wednesday, September 14 at 8:00pm - September 15 at 9:00pm. 24 Hours of Reality is a worldwide event that will share the reality of the climate crisis. From Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Alaska, Jakarta to London, people living with the impacts of climate change every day will tell their story. The event features a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore and delivered once per hour for 24 hours, in every time zone around the globe. Go to: http://climaterealityproje​ct.org/the-event/

Saturday, September 17 at 6:00am. Occupy Wall Street! On September 17, we want to see 20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices. It's time for DEMOCRACY NOT CORPORATOCRACY! Go to: http://www.adbusters.org/b​logs/adbusters-blog/occupy​wallstreet.html

Saturday, September 24, 11:40 Gather at Pulaski Park for this year's 350.org parade in Northampton. It's the Moving Planet Big Freeze and Fossil Fuel Funeral. Go to: http://www.moving-planet.org/events/us/downtown-northampton/613

Thursday, Oct. 6 - We call on people of conscience and courage—all who seek peace, economic justice, human rights and a healthy environment to join together in Washington, D.C., beginning on Oct. 6, 2011, in nonviolent resistance similar to the Arab Spring and the Midwest awakening. A concert, rally and protest will kick off a powerful and sustained nonviolent resistance to the corporate criminals that dominate our government. "Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. Go to: http://october2011.org. Regional contact: deross2@yahoo.com, tel: 802-922-4029

There. You are rid of us 'til next time, but remember: listen to your Mother!

Michael Perlman, presenta!

I just had the disturbing experience of finding one of the early voices on the climate crisis slipping down the cyber memory hole. Dr. Michael Perlman, author of "The Power of Trees - A reforesting of the soul" and other works lived here in the Valley in the '90s. He helped greatly to raise awareness of what he insisted we call "climate chaos" or "climate disruption" (instead of the less cogent phrase "global warming"). Below I've reposted Bob Leverett's heart felt tribute to Perlman. It is vital that we honor those who have sounded the alarm about what is the gravest threat to life on planet Earth. This, even more so since it is believed that Michael Perlman took his own life out of despair over humanity's lack of or concern or action regarding climate disruption.

- d.o.

In the 1990s I had a great friend named Dr. Michael Perlman, one of the co-founders of ENTS. He died in April 1998. Michael was absolutely brilliant. He had many credits. He wrote The Power of Trees - A reforesting of the soul . He was an adjunct professor at Vermont College, a Jungian psychologist, and an ecologist. He was editing the Einstein papers for Princeton University at the time of his death - a testament to his immense intellect. He was also working on a paper that explored the basis of mathematics as an expression of inherent universal structure and properties. He had previously thought of mathematics as a product of abstract human thinking divorced from any natural roots - an artificially developed discipline carried on within the confines of classrooms, private studies, and lecture halls, but not outdoors - conceptually perhaps, but seldom in practice. I don't know precisely what was in Mike's mind, but his new hypothesis may have been that true mathematics is in encoded in our DNA as an expression of the universal physical laws - and of course the architecture of trees. When mathematics is observed to ooze out of the brain of some precocious genius, Mike would likely maintain that that expression isn't a consequence of some sternly developed human talent, but the song of the spheres, so to speak, manifesting itself through genetic pathways formed from several million years of trial and error.

Mike and I used to walk the forest together and he would unabashedly hug trees. Feeling uncomfortable, I would always look around first to make sure nobody was watching. But, Mike? No hesitation. He talked freely of going to meet a tree. He saw trees as life forms with psychological structures as surely as he accepted the obvious physical ones. He didn't see the psychological structures of trees as human. He wasn't projecting his own traits into their outstretched branches. He was far too intelligent for that. His thinking occurred on many levels, and that left those of us trying to understand him groping. Language is not always a sufficient tool to convey understanding, so Mike's explanations as transmitted through his words were seldom sufficient to enable the rest of us to understand how he came to his conclusions. I finally gave up, but not before many conversations had taken place both in the forest and over a beer or two in the comfort of my living room.

Mike probably influenced me more than I can fully comprehend, and I can also say with humility that I influenced him. When in his presence, he coaxed me to think more deeply about the role of forests and tree and our interaction with them. Were he with us today, I can well imagine him struggling hard with the Forest Futures process, currently underway. He had little tolerance for corporatized thinking. He certainly would not have seen most of the TSC members as visionaries. By contrast, I am more tolerant and pragmatic. He sometimes envied that in me, and I sometimes disliked it in myself. We often served as a balance for each other - idealism and pragmatism. I suppose he could be pragmatic, but I don't think I ever fully witnessed it.

I have to smile when I think of Michael returning from a convention with his fellow and lady psychologists. He would come back fuming and complaining that none could climb out of the deep well of anthropocentric values and priorities. He would explain that everything of value to them had to be a byproduct of human emotions and personality traits, a self-absorbed examination of how one felt instant by instant. Such a preoccupation with a moment by moment fretting over what what is inside of one's head left no room for thinking more broadly, about what is good for plants and animals. I often wondered what had lead him to Jungian Psychology. Of course I always had the answer. It was his great compassion. He saved many from taking their own lives. He could save them, but not himself.

Mike has a tree named for him in Mohawk Trail State Forest. Mike's tree is perfectly straight and is located right on the Mahican- Mohawk Recreational Trail. His tree was not chosen out of impulse. It is the site of two friends coming together, Mike and John Knuerr. Mike's tree is on the docket to reach 150 feet in height at the end of next season's growth, an accomplishment that Mike would not have concerned himself from his own inner priorities, but would have indulged on my account.

I often think of Mike and visit his tree when in the Algonquin Grove. If I think of Mike, I must also think separately of his tree. To think only of Mike and not of his tree as a separate being would be to miss the whole point of Mike's life and what was important to him.

Bob

Bee with The Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Do you think bees are just nasty little critters out to ruin your picnic? (What? that sweet critter pictured here by our friends at the Beehive Design Collective?) Suppose we told you there would bee no fruit in your bowl or few veggies on your plate without them? Dan Conlon of Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield gives us the latest buzz on the dreaded Colony Collapse Disorder and other issues facing our winged companions. As always, we visit the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, The Quote of the Week, Meet the New Boss and the week's Fool-on-the-Hill, but first it's time for....
Revenge of the Critters! Golfers beware! There's a fox guarding the links!

In our Enviro Show Echo Chamber we find Smokey the Bear getting a clue about carbon sequestering trees. And on the subject of trees: the EPA needs to hear from You about its decision not to regulate biomass carbon emissions. Also this: the WWF's greenwashing timber scheme! Did someone say scheme? We checkout Bobby Kennedy's piece on the Cape Wind rip-off as well as the trailer for a new film, "Cape Spin". And this: Tim Dechristopher gets two years for punking Big Oil! Finally, wonder what you can do at home to help stem the climate crisis besides changing light bulbs and your lifestyle? How about painting your roof white?

Our Fool-on-the-Hill, Republican Rep. Sandy Adams (Repugnican-Fla.) wants to limit funding for Department of Energy websites that educate kids about efficiency. Way to go smarty-pants Sandy. Maybe we can put those kids to work in the coal mines while we're at it.

Then it's time to Meet the New Boss, who still hasn't got it right on mileage standards for all that 19th century technology jamming our roads and highways out there. We think he needs to hear from Enviro Show listeners like You 'cuz he won't listen to us at all! It seems like he isn't listening to other enviros either. Maybe he's kicking the environment can down the road? ARRGHHHH!

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week is attributed to both Mark Twain and Robert Heinlein. Take your pick.

"Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get."

We move into our interview with Dan Conlon with a clip from the film, "Queen of the Sun". Like the guy in the film says, without bees we'd all be eating oatmeal and a few nuts. Borrrrring! But hey, what's happening to the bees is no laughing matter. In China things are so bad that people have to hand pollinate fruit trees! And now we learn that even the bumblebees are dying off.

Finally, over at the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday, August 3,7pm. Charlie King & Karen Brandow in concert with special guest Leon Rosselson. Unity Church, 6 Arch St., Greenfield. Call Charlie and Karen 413-625-8115 for advance tickets.

Thursday, August 4th, 3 pm, the Climate Reality Check coalition will hold the latest in our series of national conference calls to help strengthen community organizing on climate, entitled: The Labor Movement and Climate Change Organizing. If you have any questions please contact Rose Braz, Center for Biological Diversity:rbraz@biologicaldiveristy.org

Wednesday, August 10th,10:00AM to Noon. Sustainability workshops for families and kids. North Amherst Community Farm, home of Simple Gifts Farm, 1089 North Pleasant St. (across from Puffton Village) in North Amherst. In this workshop we will visit the Simple Gifts sheep and learn about their wool. Other workshops scheduled. Registration required. Email Michelle Parrish at programs@nacfonline.org or call 413-624-6223.

Wednesday, August 10, 11am. Demo asking Kerry and Brown to Support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011! Boston City Hall Plaza. Free superhero capes for all kids who attend (please RSVP to guarantee a cape for your kid(s) at cluppi@cleanwater.org)** Kids can participate in the fun and ask their Senators to be a hero by supporting The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. For more information, please contact: Cindy Luppi by email or phone: cluppi@cleanwater.org or call: 617/338-8131 x208.

Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. LATE SUMMER NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS (AGES 6-8). Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst. Pre-registration required; please call 256-6006.

August 20th – September 3rd. Protest tar sands mining and the proposed Keystone pipeline! With people power and time-tested tactics of civil disobedience - join thousands of people from across the continent in a wave of sustained sit-ins at the White House. Together we’ll amplify our voices and escalate the movement and stop the Keystone XL pipeline to the Canadian tar sands. Go to: http://www.tarsandsaction.org/ or Contact tarsandsaction@gmail.com

Saturday, August 27,1-4pm. Western Mass Green Consortium’s annual BBQ & Clambake: “Celebrate Sustainable Living” . Come have learn about projects, have fun, eat great food, dance to live music!! If you plan on attending, please register at www.westernmassgreenconsor​tium.org

Wednesday, September 14 at 8:00pm - September 15 at 9:00pm. 24 Hours of Reality is a worldwide event that will share the reality of the climate crisis. From Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Alaska, Jakarta to London, people living with the impacts of climate change every day will tell their story. The event features a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore and delivered once per hour for 24 hours, in every time zone around the globe. Go to: http://climaterealityproje​ct.org/the-event/

Saturday, September 17 at 6:00am. Occupy Wall Street! On September 17, we want to see 20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices. It's time for DEMOCRACY NOT CORPORATOCRACY!
Go to: http://www.adbusters.org/b​logs/adbusters-blog/occupy​wallstreet.html

That is all and remember.....listen to your Mother!

The Revenge of the Critters Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. In the wake of the UN's World Population Day we've turned our favorite segment into an entire show. Guess what happens to the critters and their habitats when the human population hits 7 billion. Jason Hribal, author of Fear of the Animal Planet - The Hidden History of Animal Resistance" calls in to share tales of four legged revenge. We'll see who this week's Fool-on-the-Hill might be, checkout The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and our E-Valley-uation segment, but first it's time for... Revenge of the Critters - The Segment! It's News of the Weird's Least Competent Do-it-yourself exterminators. Don't try this at home!

The Fool-on-the-Hill meets the Revenge of The Critters! Not sure if algae blooms qualify as critters but they sure took a piece out of this arch enemy of the Earth! Speaking of enemies of the Earth, the anti-environment climate crisis deniers over at Faux "News" are in a bit of trouble. Tooooo bad! There are plenty of actual critters out there that could use your help. Be good to them, maybe they'll reciprocate!

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber: We have some fishy Blog Bonus Take Action links. And, Common Dreams discovers direct action, but Anonymous is already there. Of course, as always, Earth First! is all over direct action. Sounds like Great White Sharks are looking for some direct action out by the Cape! It's said they're looking for Grey Seals for lunch, but hey, look at all those slow swimmers! About those seals? They sure could use your help. You know what other critters need your help? Bats! Finally, it looks like BP's trying to back out of its commitments in the Gulf. Did someone say slimy corporados?

In our E-Valley-uation segment we ask the disturbing question: Is toxic Giant Hogweed invading this Valley.......yet? So, the EPA issued tougher rules for power plants but not in Massachusetts? What's that about?? Power plants like those proposed biomass incinerators? We don't think so! Notify the Gov here not to cave in to biomass boosters.

Our Enviro Show Quote of the Week here: "For the animal shall not be measured by man.In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not bretheren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the Earth" -- Henry Beston

After our interview with Jason Hribal, author of Fear of the Animal Planet" we move on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Clamshell Alliance reunion & resurgence:For rooms, tenting and dining, the World Fellowship can accommodate up to 150 overnight, so reserve soon (www.worldfellowship.org) if you plan to stay over. For information, connection and conversation, join clamshellalliance@yahoo.com, visit the www.clamshellalliance.org website and Facebook at http://facebook.com/ClamshellAlliance.

Saturday, July 23, 10am-6pm. The Worcester Green Jobs Coalition and the Making a Green Solidarity Economy Planning Committee invites Organizers, Activists, Academics, Media, and Community Members to participate in workshops, discussions, music and fun. Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St., Worcester. Contact: Lazri DiSalvoPhone: (860) 309-5690

Wednesday, August 3,7pm. Charlie King & Karen Brandow in concert with special guest Leon Rosselson. Unity Church, 6 Arch St., Greenfield. Call Charlie and Karen 413-625-8115 for advance tickets.

Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. LATE SUMMER NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS (AGES 6-8). Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst. Pre-registration required; please call 256-6006.

August 20th – September 3rd. Protest tar sands mining and the proposed Keystone pipeline! With people power and time-tested tactics of civil disobedience - join thousands of people from across the continent in a wave of sustained sit-ins at the White House. Together we’ll amplify our voices and escalate the movement and stop the Keystone XL pipeline to the Canadian tar sands. Go to: http://www.tarsandsaction.org/ or Contact tarsandsaction@gmail.com

We are out of here! Until next time remember: Listen to your Mother!

The Troubled Atmosphere Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. Noticed how hard it is to breath easy here in the Valley, especially in the summer? And how about those fireworks? We have Sylvia Brandt, Associate Professor at UMass in the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics joining us to talk air quality, asthma, biomass incineration, maybe we'll even get to her work on the effects of climate change on Mid-Atlantic fisheries (or is that another show?). We'll do the Enviro Show Echo Chamber, Meet the New Boss, the Enviro Show Quote of the Week, and our E-Valley-uation thingy, but first it's time for...Revenge of the Critters! Macho "sports" fisherman gets caught! Sorry, you'll have to see it to believe it.

In our E-Valley-uation segment guess who got busted again at the Vermont Yankee nuke? That would be our own Jean (she's the shifty looking one in the back row with the shades on). Hey, they're just a bit concerned about nuclear safety, aren't you too? And, in keeping with the show's theme: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Rejection...err...that's Protection issues a new air pollution permit! Timing is everything! And, time for some good news (albeit a bit dated): 335 acres saved from McMansions in B-town!

Speaking of getting busted, in the Enviro Show Echo Chamber we note that Bill McKibben (of all people!) is inviting YOU to get busted in DC in a protest against tar sands and the proposed Keystone Pipeline. Protest....in DC....in August! Eeeww! Go ahead, you can tell your grandchildren between backstrokes that you actually tried to save the planet. Also this: New Mass. Bottle Bill coming to a vote. Take action!

Then it's time to Meet the New boss again! Looks like one of the old bosses (Al Gore in this case) has taken a piece out of the New Boss on confronting, or NOT, the climate crisis. So what do you think, has O lost your vote?

In case you missed it the first time around, our Quote of the Week is an instant replay (above) from the winner of the 2000 Presidential election:

"Here is the core of it: we are destroying the climate balance that is essential to the survival of our civilization. This is not a distant or abstract threat; it is happening now. The United States is the only nation that can rally a global effort to save our future." - Al Gore

"Fable" by Medollic takes us to our interview with Sylvia Brandt. Then it's on to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Friday July 8, 2011, deadline for submissions to The Healthy Environment/Healthy Springfield CARE Project. HEHS calls on Springfield’s organizations, churches and groups to submit ideas for an environmental education event that they would be willing to host. The proposed event may be a forum, community dialogue or specific educational presentation. Call 413-794-1803 for application for and guidance.

July 9-10, TRAINING for TRANSITION. The Transition movement in the U.K. ignited a global conversation and sharing about positive, creative actions to build community resilience in the face of economic instability, energy cost increases, worsening social inequity, and environmental crisis. Hefty fee. Info: www.TransitionUS.org or TinaClarke@TransitionNetwork.org, 413-658-8165

Sunday, July 10, 11am to 7pm, the first-ever Common Good Festival. Amherst Common. Award-winning activist songwriters Tom Neilson, Emma’s Revolution and Appleseed recording artists Kim and Reggie Harris headline a star-studded lineup. In addition, the festival will feature local sustainability and social justice activist groups and businesses, craft vendors, cooperative games, children's activities, a magician and more. For more information call (413) 628-3336 (9 AM to 7:30 PM)

Sunday, July 10, 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Pioneer Valley Green-Rainbow Local Monthly Meeting. Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. Contact mlikins@hotmail.com

Saturday, July 16, 2011, 2-5pm. Festival for a Nuclear Free Future. Copley Square, Boston. The "nuclear age" began on this date 66 years ago – July 16, 1945 – with the Trinity atomic bomb test in the New Mexico desert. After a string of nuclear disaters, it’s time for the nuclear age to end. Let’s begin to end it in Copley Square on July 16, 2011! Co-sponsored by the Sierra Club. Go to: nukefreefest.org or Call 617-354-2169

Monday, July 18 to August 6. Walk for a Nuclear Free World. Starting at the Leverett Peace Pagoda, the walk goes to both Vermont Yankee and the Pilgrim nuke in Plymouth, MA ending at the Grafton, NY pagoda. Call: (413)485-8469.

Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Clamshell Alliance reunion & resurgence:For rooms, tenting and dining, the World Fellowship can accommodate up to 150 overnight, so reserve soon (www.worldfellowship.org) if you plan to stay over. For information, connection and conversation, join clamshellalliance@yahoo.com, visit the www.clamshellalliance.org website and Facebook at http://facebook.com/ClamshellAlliance.

Monday-Friday, August 15-19, 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. LATE SUMMER NATURE DISCOVERY DAYS (AGES 6-8). Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst. Pre-registration required; please call 256-6006.

Done. Next time: the Revenge of the Critters Enviro Show. Author Jason Hribal joins us to talk about one of our favorite subjects! Until then remember.....listen to your Mother.