A Good Earth Scouts Enviro Show

[The podcast for this show is HERE ]

Greetings Earthlings. Happy Earth Week! Back in the day, both Girl & Boy Scouts had the motto "Be Prepared" but today the Girl Scouts have apparently replaced that motto with The Girl Scout Law which includes "use resources wisely" & "make the world a better place". Our guests on the show this week have done that and way more, they saved a forest with mature & old-growth trees!Sounds like they were more than prepared, yes? Us elders would love to do that here in Massachusetts but our time is running short (can you hear us @MassDCR @MassGovernor & @MassEEA ? ) No? Better think twice, the scouts are watching! How about all those #ClimateGoals ??  More on that later. As always we will bring you along to meet this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and to see Those Whose Brains Were Small, as well as our constant reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! When Elephants tire of tourists. Watch it

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is MAGA Repugnican "Tim Walberg [who] became the latest Republican lawmaker to openly call for the genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza, saying at a town hall that instead of sending humanitarian aid to starving civilians there, the U.S. should "get it over quick" by dropping a nuclear bomb on the besieged enclave." Worse than a fool, yes but a fool none-the-less.

We know Tim Walberg doesn't give a damn but we'll still keep yelling, "It's the Climate Crisis,Stupid!" Sad to say, Big Oil & Gas doesn't give a damn either as this story states: "The science is clear: No new oil and gas fields, or the planet gets pushed past what it can handle," said one analyst.It goes on to point out: "A new report published Wednesday by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) suggests the U.S. in particular has abandoned any plans to adhere to warnings from climate scientists and the International Energy Agency (IEA)..."  And this, the NY Times reports: "Despite major progress in protecting vast tracts of rainforest, the world failed again last year to significantly slow the pace of global forest destruction, according to a report issued on Thursday. Record wildfires in Canada and expanding agriculture elsewhere offset big gains in forest protection in Brazil and Colombia, the report found. The annual survey by the World Resources Institute, a research organization, found that the world lost 9.1 million acres of primary tropical forest in 2023.." Any good news on climate, you ask? Nah!

We have soooo many options for our "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" segment because there are so many humans out there who seem thoughtless (even though they keep lumbering around, seemingly alive!)  Take these guys for example: "A report released by Carbon Majors.... says that 57 companies were responsible for 80% of the world's CO2 emissions from fossil fuel and cement production between 2016 to 2022."  Guess who is on top? "In terms of investor-owned companies, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and BP contributed the most to CO2 emissions. ExxonMobil alone was responsible for 3.6 gigatons of CO2 emissions over a seven-year period." Do we ever get tired of exposing these guys? We just want you to "Be Prepared".

OK, another week another edition of Abidin' with Biden. The Prez has FINALLY gotten the message that Bebe and the IDF need to clean up their act. In The Prez's call to Netanyahu last week, "He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action on these steps." according to Axios. Sadly, it took  outrage over the deadly attack on international aid workers and the ongoing starvation of Palestinians to initiate the call 😕.  On a more positive note, there's his ongoing support for a women's right to choose and another shot at student debt relief. The AP reported last week: "The Biden administration on Thursday restored rules to protect imperiled plants and animals that had been rolled back under former President [His Malignancy]. Among the changes announced, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reinstate a decades-old regulation that mandates blanket protections for species newly classified as threatened." Which brings us to this: There is more to do. Finally, another good move by Biden's EPA: "The US Environmental Protection Agency just finalized updated regulations for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles—enacting some of the most consequential US climate regulations. These new rules will cut global warming emissions in all new vehicles sold from model year 2027 through 2032, in sizes ranging from a hatchback to a tractor-trailer." Wait, why wait three years?? 

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we echo Conservation.org's piece of good news: "A recent deep-sea expedition off the coasts of Chile and Peru is revealing the secrets of a vast underwater mountain system — and making the strongest case yet for greater protections there. Using underwater robots capable of descending more than 4,500 meters (14,760 feet), researchers say they may have discovered more than 100 never-before-seen species living on the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges, which stretch across the southeastern Pacific."  And this: All you elder anti-nuke folks and others may recall the Solar Rollers here in WMass? They biked their way to many demos in the effort to rid of us the nuclear menace over the years and now......their baaaack! This time they rally on the Greenfield Common on Saturday April 20th starting at 9AM before peddling off along the CT River in defense of aquatic critters under assault by FirstLight's shad-o-matic fish blender in Northfield, MA. You can join them on bike or at any or all of he three rallies. Go HERE.  Also, don't forget all the other Earth Days events listed at the top link or in the Bus Stop Billboard, OK?

Time for our Enviro Show Quote of the Week now, and one that takes us to our inspiring guest interview:

“You are never too young to lead, nor too old to act.” – Kofi Annan

On to the Bus stop Billboard:

Thursday April 18, 7pm.  Webinar. Utility companies are complicit in the climate crisis by making us reliant on fossil fuels to heat and cool our homes, and they are actively trying to stop a just transition. This is why we are going hard on utility companies this year. And we need your help. Go HERE.  

Friday April 19, 4:00 – 5:00pm. Join us to hear from UCS experts about the true reliability of gas power plants, the hidden downsides of technologies and fuels to cut gas plant carbon emissions, and what it means for a just transition to clean energy. The Risks of Over-Reliance on Gas Power Plants    Go  HERE.

Saturday April 20 All Day (Rain Date April 21)  Solar Rollers Earth Day River Ride. Bicycle ride from Greenfield, MA to Northfield, MA with stops along the way and a Rally at the Riverview Picnic area in Northfield to Shutdown Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. 9-10 am—rally & cyclists depart from Greenfield Common;11 am-12 noon—rally & cyclists arrive/depart from Unity Park, Montague; 12 noon—1.7 mile walk begins from Cabot Camp (186 Mineral Rd., Millers Falls); 1 pm— rally at Riverview Picnic Area, NorthfieldContact: ctriverdefenders@gmail.com  

Saturday April 20, 10am to 2pm. Join us at the Unitarian Society of Northampton, MA and  Surrounding Areas for an Earth Day Arts and Climate Fair as we name the changes we see in the world around us and celebrate the solutions at hand in our community if we are able to act together. The Fair will include an Art Pulse for the Rights of Nature Parade, a Mothers* Rebellion Circle, a Climate Chorus Sing-a-Long, the 3.5% art installation, and the chance to talk to many local climate groups about action and solutions! More details to come. Sponsored by Extinction Rebellion Western Massachusetts, the Enviro Show, Western Massachusetts Rights of Nature, and the Trees as a Public Good Network.Want to table, sponsor, cover this event in the press, or get involved in some other way? Email xr_western_mass@protonmail.com

Saturday, April 20, 11:00am – 1:00pm. Protect Our Beaches - Craigville Beach, Centerville, MA. Protecting our land, waters, and local control. Speakers from across New England. Grassroots citizen groups UNITED. Bring your lawn signs! Refreshments, media & drone footage. Go HERE. 

 

Saturday April 20, 2pm.  The Boston Red Rebel chapter will be participating in the Red Rebel International Day of Action on Saturday April 20. We invite you to meet us at the Park Street MBTA station at 2pm on Saturday April 20. Together we will process throughout downtown Boston, MA as a funeral procession with die-ins. The Red Rebel International Day of Action is focusing on the death of life on earth. Go HERE. 

Sunday April 21, 7:00 pm – 8:30pm.  Trees as a Public Good Network (founded by ORMA and its allies) will host a forum on this timely and critically important topic. The webinar (via Zoom) will discuss how to make development truly climate friendly and “green” by preserving the crucial climate services provided by trees in urban areas and in wild forests. To ensure a livable future for all of us, we need trees and the watersheds they sustain alongside development of solar energy, denser and more affordable housing, and other necessary infrastructure. Register here to be kept informed and receive the Zoom link.

Monday April 22, 4pm.  This Earth Day, join XR Boston’s Rebels and others to throw a party in honor of our planet in downtown Boston. This is an event for everyone, and will be celebratory in nature, featuring art, music, chanting, and a short walk through the district to share our love of the planet — and the need for greater action to protect it — with fellow Bostonians. We will gather on the Greenway (exact location TBA) at 4pm on Monday, April 22. Join us in celebration, love, and rage for the planet! RSVP Here   

Monday April 22, 6:30pm.  HEALTHY SOILS AT HOME. Rachel Lindsay will share new ways of looking at soil along with ideas for what we can do to improve soil management and increase carbon sequestration.  Healthy soils capture and store tremendous amounts of carbon and water while supporting more vibrant and productive landscapes. 2nd Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield, MA 

Wednesday April 24, 7:30 pm. Another Amherst Conservation Commission meeting regarding Cowls' scheme to deforest their land for solar which would clear cut 41 acres of forested land (equivalent to 31 football fields)  much of it on steep grade. See agenda from last meeting HERE.      More info HERE.  

Thursday, April 25, 4 - 5pm. WEBINAR: They’re Back! How to Help Migratory Birds this Spring. Spring has arrived in North America, and with it, billions of migratory birds that will breed and nest in the region. Unfortunately, these birds face a gauntlet of threats as they make their journey north, and many perish along the way. Their chicks are also at risk — less than half will make it to the end of summer. Go HERE.  

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THURSDAY APRIL 25, 6 pm. Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals meets partly to discuss deforestation for solar. The PureSky Shutesbury Road Solar Project [in Amherst,MA], which would clear cut 41 acres of forested land (equivalent to 31 football fields) is scheduled to come before the Conservation Commission (ConCom) and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) this month. No virtual link yet.  Since the application was accepted by the Zoning Board of Appeals last August, it has been a waiting game for PURESKY to receive a new ORAD (Order of Resource Area Delineation) from the Conservation Commission.  Go HERE.

Monday April 29, Noon to 4pm. The People’s Science Fair, at The UMass Amherst Fine Arts Plaza is organized by Western Mass Science for the People, will showcase diverse efforts by Western Massachusetts residents to harness STEM for social, economic, racial, environmental, climate, and cultural justice. Participants will include campus-based researchers with justice-oriented projects, grassroots organizers whose work involves STEM knowledge, and student activists committed to building a just future. Go HERE.  

Monday April 29, 7 to 8:30pm.  Climate Action Now virtual monthly gathering. Why Our Brains Need Wildlands with Dr. Susan Masino . Growing evidence for the brain health benefits of nature span across all age groups and levels of ability, and include improved cognition and emotional regulation, and decreased depression and anxiety. These benefits do not require a wilderness trip – they can happen here in our communities. Go HERE.  

April 30,  7:30pm-8:30pm.   Worried about toxic PFAS pollution? So are we. But we can turn that worry into action! Join us for a screening of the documentary “The Poison In Us All” and stay for a brief discussion on what YOU can do to support a ban on toxic PFAS in Massachusetts!  Go HERE.

Tuesday April 30 , All Day.  Join us at Massachusetts’ annual Lobby Day for Animals.   During this event, you can expect to: learn about current animal protection bills and skills for effective advocacy;   participate in meetings in your legislators’ offices to discuss animal protection; and meet legislators, make friends, and make a difference for animals. Massachusetts State House, Great Hall 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133  Registration will close April 22 — be sure to register today!  

Friday, May 3, 7:00-9:00pm {doors open 6:30}.  Voices of Working People’s History.  Free program of dramatic readings and lots of songs, with emphasis on Western Mass. voices, telling the origin story of May Day as International Workers’ Day in Chicago with an inspiring introduction to US labor history up to present-day voices of workers rising up ~ inspired by Howard Zinn. Holyoke Media , 1 Court Plaza (Suffolk St), Holyoke, MA.  Parking lot across the street.

Monday  May 6, 3:30 to 5pm. Rally for Clean Air Justice. In front of Dudley Café, 15 Warren St, Boston, 02119. This free community event will feature public health experts, members of local grassroots organizations, public officials, and residents of Environmental Justice communities willing to share their personal experiences. Attendants will learn more about air quality in Massachusetts and how to act in honor of World Asthma Day! Please join us in fighting for Clean Air for Everyone!   

That's all, folks......except to remember to listen to your Mother!

 

 

Another Green Mtn. National Forest Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings. With April Fools in mind we, once again, bring news of the National Forest Service's (NFS) duplicity with regard to our public lands, especially their ill-conceived plans to log tens of thousands of acres in the Green Mountain National Forest just over the Massachusetts border in Vermont. Zack Porter, Executive Director of Standing Trees returns to the show  for an update. As always, we will also introduce you to this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and Those Whose Brains are Small, as well as some Abidin' with Biden and yet another reminder that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but first it's time for......Revenge of the Critters! Another critter with a long memory and another one-less foolish human.

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill concerns the return of Ted Cruz, one of the biggest fools ever to haunt the U.S. House of Reps. This one almost got away from us 'cuz it happened months ago. Ted says the Barbie movie is brainwashing young girls with Chinese propaganda. OK, let's look into that HERE. Vanity Fair reports: "Cruz is siding with the Vietnamese government, which has banned the release of Barbie thanks to the map, shown briefly in the film, that they say depicts a disputed dash-line used by China to claim the South China Sea. Cruz calls it “Chinese communist propaganda,” which he seems gravely concerned will brainwash the young girls who go see Barbie this weekend. The film’s distributor Warner Bros. has emphasized that the line was intended to “depict Barbie’s make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the real world." Maybe Ted should checkout the map again. It shows the way to the real world! 

Let's stick with the bad players once again. This time "Those Whose Brains Were Small and They Died" reminds us where fossil fuels originated and who is at the top of the corporate food chain foisting those fuels on us. Darren Woods, the CEO of Exxon Mobil would have you believe that YOU are the cause of climate chaos. “The people who are generating the emissions need to be aware of and pay the price for generating those emissions,” he told Fortune’s Leadership Next podcast. “That’s ultimately how you solve the problem.” We guess he said that with a straight face? 

Perhaps Darren knows "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" but just thinks it's your fault??  Here's a headline that caught us unawares: "Scientists at Tufts University state that soil, which contains 80 percent of the Earth’s carbon, emits more greenhouse gases as droughts cause soils to crack due to drying." The photo above that header is a simple close-up of cracked open soil you've probably seen countless times. We guess if CO2 were visible it would be rising out of those cracks. It's as simple as that. The piece goes on to state: "In a study published in Environmental Research Letters, notes that...with increasing cycles and severity of droughts in several regions, that crucial reservoir is cracking and breaking down, releasing even more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In fact, it may be creating an amplified feedback loop that could accelerate climate change well beyond current predictions." We wish Darren and his fellow CEOs read this in the New York Times: "Oil and gas producers in major oil fields across the United States may be emitting three times as much planet-warming methane gas as official estimates, according to new research published Wednesday, the latest study to suggest that emissions from the fossil fuel sector may be grossly undercounted." And finally this from Inside Climate News: "While the forest biomass industry maneuvers to try to take advantage of new federal climate policy, environmental advocates are pushing back and trying to protect trees." Like we always say: Biomass is a BIOMESS!

We are glad to report some Abidin' with Biden this week beyond reports of being caught on a hot mic saying that he needed to have a “come to Jesus” meeting with the leader of the Jewish state. It's an interesting comment from a Catholic concerning a Jewish guy around Easter. Far more interesting is this: "The Biden administration announced $6 billion in funding Monday for projects that will slash emissions from the industrial sector — the largest-ever U.S. investment to decarbonize domestic industry to fight climate change." Then there's this: “Unlike previous administrations, I don’t think the federal government should give handouts to big oil,” Mr. Biden said after his inauguration. His new budget proposal calls for the elimination of $35 billion in tax breaks that would otherwise be provided to the industry over the next decade." Also, the Biden State Department appears to be taking a serious look into AI: "A report released on Monday that was commissioned by the U.S. State Department warns that artificial intelligence could pose an "extinction-level threat." And, The Prez's EPA made a bit of history: "EPA unveiled significant protections against worst-case hazardous chemical discharges, following years of advocacy and litigation by environmental justice groups and frontline communities. This regulation, which is more than thirty years overdue, fills critical gaps in the nation's environmental safety net, requiring facilities to develop comprehensive plans to prepare for and respond to worst-case chemical discharges near waterways" reports Clean Water Action. Finally check it out: "The Biden administration greenlit the seventh largest offshore wind project in the United States Tuesday. Danish wind energy developer Ørsted and the utility Eversource plan to build a 924-megawatt project, Sunrise Wind, 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Montauk, New York. They say the wind farm will power about 600,000 New York homes when it opens in 2026."

In The Enviro Show Echo Chamber the BBC reports, "While the world's attention has been focused on the total solar eclipse that will occur later this spring, the distant Corona Borealis binary system – which contains one dead white dwarf star and one ageing red giant star – has been busy gearing up for its own moment of glory: a spectacular nova explosion." While located 3,000 light years from Earth, the Corona Borealis is home to a white dwarf star named T Coronae Borealis that is reportedly ready to put on a show we haven't seen since 1946. Here on Earth most of the attention then was the defeat of fascism, which in itself was its own moment of glory. Let's do THAT again!

Time for an Enviro Show Quote of the Week which is spot on for this show:

“But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.”

- Alan Watts

After our conversation with Zack it's off to the Bus Stop Billboard: 

Saturday, April 13 (rain date April 14): 10 am-12 noon. Thanks to Bill Czerwonka, we’ll walk from the Montague Rd side of Carver Road on his land that abuts the proposed Montague-Carver 140-acre Industrial Solar Power Plant. Come see the forest that is threatened by this project. Email Elizabeth Fernanob@gmail.com by April 10th to register and if you want to bring your dog. Possibly, a couple of dogs can be accommodated. Park on one side only on Carver and onto Montague if needed.  We will also have a quiet time to appreciate the living forest for about an hour for those who wish to participate. 

Thursday April 18, 7pm.  Utility companies are complicit in the climate crisis by making us reliant on fossil fuels to heat and cool our homes, and they are actively trying to stop a just transition. This is why we are going hard on utility companies this year. And we need your help.  WWe are hosting a webinar to share how we can take back our power from utility companies. Will you join us? 

Saturday April 20 All Day (Rain Date April 21)  Solar Rollers Earth Day River Ride. Bicycle ride from Greenfield, MA to Northfield, MA with stops along the way and a Rally at the Riverview Picnic area in Northfield to Shutdown Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. 9-10 am—rally & cyclists depart from Greenfield Common;11 am-12 noon—rally & cyclists arrive/depart from Unity Park, Montague; 12 noon—1.7 mile walk begins from Cabot Camp (186 Mineral Rd., Millers Falls); 1 pm— rally at Riverview Picnic Area, NorthfieldContact: ctriverdefenders@gmail.com  

Saturday April 20, 10am to 2pm. Join us at the Unitarian Society of Northampton, MA and  Surrounding Areas for an Earth Day Arts and Climate Fair as we name the changes we see in the world around us and celebrate the solutions at hand in our community if we are able to act together. The Fair will include an Art Pulse for the Rights of Nature Parade, a Mothers* Rebellion Circle, a Climate Chorus Sing-a-Long, the 3.5% art installation, and the chance to talk to many local climate groups about action and solutions! More details to come. Sponsored by Extinction Rebellion Western Massachusetts, the Enviro Show, Western Massachusetts Rights of Nature, and the Trees as a Public Good Network.Want to table, sponsor, cover this event in the press, or get involved in some other way? Email xr_western_mass@protonmail.com

Saturday April 20, 2pm.  The Boston Red Rebel chapter will be participating in the Red Rebel International Day of Action on Saturday April 20. We invite you to meet us at the Park Street MBTA station at 2pm on Saturday April 20. Together we will process throughout downtown Boston, MA as a funeral procession with die-ins. The Red Rebel International Day of Action is focusing on the death of life on earth. Go HERE. 

Sunday April 21, 7:00 pm – 8:30pm.  Trees as a Public Good Network (founded by ORMA and its allies) will host a forum on this timely and critically important topic. The webinar (via Zoom) will discuss how to make development truly climate friendly and “green” by preserving the crucial climate services provided by trees in urban areas and in wild forests. To ensure a livable future for all of us, we need trees and the watersheds they sustain alongside development of solar energy, denser and more affordable housing, and other necessary infrastructure. Register here to be kept informed and receive the Zoom link.

Monday April 22, 4pm.  This Earth Day, join XR Boston’s Rebels and others to throw a party in honor of our planet in downtown Boston. This is an event for everyone, and will be celebratory in nature, featuring art, music, chanting, and a short walk through the district to share our love of the planet — and the need for greater action to protect it — with fellow Bostonians. We will gather on the Greenway (exact location TBA) at 4pm on Monday, April 22. Join us in celebration, love, and rage for the planet! RSVP Here   

THURSDAY APRIL 25, 6 pm. Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals meets partly to discuss deforestation for solar. The PureSky Shutesbury Road Solar Project [in Amherst,MA], which would clear cut 41 acres of forested land (equivalent to 31 football fields) is scheduled to come before the Conservation Commission (ConCom) and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) this month. No virtual link yet.  Since the application was accepted by the Zoning Board of Appeals last August, it has been a waiting game for PURESKY to receive a new ORAD (Order of Resource Area Delineation) from the Conservation Commission.  Go HERE.

Monday April 29, Noon to 4pm. The People’s Science Fair, at The UMass Amherst Fine Arts Plaza is organized by Western Mass Science for the People, will showcase diverse efforts by Western Massachusetts residents to harness STEM for social, economic, racial, environmental, climate, and cultural justice. Participants will include campus-based researchers with justice-oriented projects, grassroots organizers whose work involves STEM knowledge, and student activists committed to building a just future. Go HERE. 

Tuesday April 30 , All Day.  Join us at Massachusetts’ annual Lobby Day for Animals.   During this event, you can expect to: learn about current animal protection bills and skills for effective advocacy;   participate in meetings in your legislators’ offices to discuss animal protection; and meet legislators, make friends, and make a difference for animals. Massachusetts State House, Great Hall 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133  Registration will close April 22 — be sure to register today!  

April 30,  7:30pm-8:30pm.   Worried about toxic PFAS pollution? So are we. But we can turn that worry into action! Join us for a screening of the documentary “The Poison In Us All” and stay for a brief discussion on what YOU can do to support a ban on toxic PFAS in Massachusetts!  Go HERE.  

That's all, folks......except to remember to listen to your Mother!

 

 

A "Timber Targets" Enviro Show

Greetings Earthlings & Happy Spring Equinox which takes place between March 19-22 in the Northern Hemisphere. Ostara will not be pleased that the U.S. Forest Service's ‘timber target’ decisions (their words not ours) is putting the climate at risk, undermining Biden's critical climate goals, and violating federal law. Surprise! That according to the Southern Environmental Law Center (and why would we doubt it given USFS' sorry history). Patrick Hunter, Managing Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center joins us to talk about SELC's new, first-of-its-kind lawsuit. If you'd like to comment on the proposed logging in the Green Mountain National Forest just over the MA border go HERE. As always, we will also bring you this week's Fool-on-the-Hill and "Those Whose Brains Were Small.." as well as The Enviro Show Echo Chamber and more, but first it's time for.......Revenge of the Critters! Do Not mistreat Camels, OK? 

This week's Fool-on-the-Hill is Tennessee Repugnican Rep. Mark Green who, while still a fool for MAGA b.s., no longer can handle all the other Fools-on-the-Hill. Daily Kos quotes Green: "There's also just the frustration of trying to get something done here.This place is so broken, and making a difference here is just, you know, just it feels like a lot of something for nothing." Green is a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, which has played a central role in fomenting dysfunction on Capitol Hill."  A Fool-on-the-Hill who can't stand the Fools-on-the-Hill. 

Since we're going on about bad actors here how about going directly to our "Their Brains Were Small and They Died" segment? Did we do private jet owners here yet?  If so, let's do it again! A Guardian report from November revealed that "200 private jet owners released over 415,000 metric tons of climate-heating carbon dioxide between January 2022 and September 22, 2023, which is the equivalent of what would be released by nearly 40,000 British residents from all of their activities. The richest 1% of the world's population currently generate as much carbon emissions as two-thirds of the planet." Sooooo, if you are among the 99% go HERE to protest the proposed Hanscom airfield expansion here in Massachusetts.

So much negativity. How about we begin our Climate Crisis segment with some good news instead of screaming at everyone that "It's the Climate Crisis, Stupid!" ? If you live in, or visit Medell'in Colombia you may have noticed "New plant-filled curb strips, squares, parks, vertical gardens and sidewalks have led to dramatic drop of two degrees Celsius across the  city.... And as the city expands its green corridors program, officials expect a further decrease of four to five degrees over the next few decades, even taking into account climate change."  OK, stick a pin in that one city dwellers, on to the bad news: "S.E.C. Approves New Climate Rules Far Weaker Than Originally Proposed - The rules, designed to inform investors of business risks from climate change, were rolled back amid opposition from the G.O.P., fossil fuel producers, farmers and others" reports the New York Times.  Also from the Times: "Rains Are Scarce in the Amazon. Instead, Megafires Are Raging."  Their rainy season never came. Sound familiar?  It's called climate chaos. Again, the Times: "Winter was weirdly warm for half the world’s population, driven in many places by the burning of fossil fuels, according to an analysis of temperature data from hundreds of locations worldwide." And from The Daily Mail in the UK (not exactly the New York Times) this: "The Arctic could be mostly ice-free in just 10 years - and it means intense heatwaves will plague Earth".  Lots of visuals and links there for actual science. In closing we have an Action Link: Here's the link for the letter to Gov. Healey opposing the plan to strip local control over energy siting - solar, battery, infrastructure and deforestation for corporate solar. 

Meanwhile, over in The Enviro Show Echo Chamber we remind everyone that March 21 is International Day of Forests. Hopefully enviro groups won't just use it as a fundraiser? How about some real action to mark the day? And, we replay a Must See video on biomass from the UK to North America, it was recommended by our friends at the Partnership for Policy  Integrity. Sadly, we have to report the sighting of a Biomass Zombie here in the Commonwealth. If you visit the site above there are action links for you to pushback the Zombie. Individuals can contact their own MA legislators with this message: "Massachusetts ratepayers should not fund burning trees for energy. Please ask the TUE committee not to include sections 8 or 22 of H.3216 in any legislation going forward.  Instead, please incorporate the policies of S.2136 /H.3210 and S.2137/H.3211 into the Committee’s climate legislation." If your Rep or State Senator doesn't know about the issue just tell them "Biomass is a Biomess! Also this from the Wisconsin Examiner regarding what may be illegal logging in an old-growth area on public land recently brought to our attention by Environment America. This appears to be in defiance of an Executive Order from the White House.  And finally this, with another anniversary of the meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuke in PA coming up on March 28 the Clamshell Alliance says "Nukes are STILL the wrong answer" 

With that in mind let's go to our Enviro Show Quote of the Week:

“We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish and trees.”

— Qwatsinas (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation

After our visit with Patrick Hunter we go to the Bus Stop Billboard:

Wednesday March 27, 4-6 pm. Protecting Our Land & Water. Fehlow Meeting Room Plymouth Public Library, Live on Zoom. Are you interested in learning more about where our drinking water comes from, and the role of forests and open space in protecting it? Open Space Stewardship; Surface and Groundwater; Enforcement of Bylaws & Opportunities for Collaboration and Partnerships. Optional RSVP Here 

Wednesday,March 27, 630-800pm. A virtual USFS Public Meeting to answer questions regarding the Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project preliminary environmental assessment (EA) and clarify the public commenting process.  The meeting agenda will include a short introduction presentation followed by a question and answer period.  The intent for this virtual meeting is to help those interested to have the best understanding of the preliminary EA to base their comments.  We will not have all Forest Service specialists available for this meeting but if we cannot answer any questions that may arise, we will plan to follow up with you as soon as possible.  Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Click here to join the meeting 

Wednesday March 27, 6:30 to 8pm. Large Battery Storage Systems & Solar Fields - What Are the Issues. Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol, MA. Speakers + Q&A. 

Thursday March 28, 4pm.  A free, one hour online webinar that will give you the tools to navigate digital misinformation and help protect our democracy. This session is designed for anyone who cares about accurate information and a fair, democratic process. Please click here to RSVP for the event.  Questions? Email mcampbell@retiredamericans.org 

Thursday, March 28th, 7pm: "The importance of wildland forests for climate resilience and human health." Attend in person at Middlebury College Hillcrest Orchard (Room 103) or online by registering for the zoom link using this form. Mark your calendars for the final event in our "Forests for Climate, Forests for Life" speaker series with the Middlebury College Sunday Night Environmental Group! Two of New England's leading forest scientists, Dr. Susan Masino, Vernon D. Roosa Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College, and Dr. Ed Faison, Senior Ecologist, Highstead Foundation, will present on their joint and respective research into the many benefits of wildland forest management for climate resilience, biodiversity, human health, and more. Over the past five years, their collective research has vastly improved the understanding of forest values and functions in the Northeastern US and beyond, helping to catalyze important conversations about the future of forest management. Don't miss out on this exciting finale to our spring speaker series!

Thursday March 28, 7:30-9pm.  Mass Action Call for Nonviolent Direct Action Against Fossil Finance.  On April 24th and 25th, we’re going to take massive, creative, disruptive nonviolent direct action to demand an end to Wall Street’s financing of the climate crisis. Will you join us?  Zoom. RSVP here. 

Thursday March 28, 8pm.  "RADIOACTIVE: The Women of Three Mile Island, Gender, Environmental Justice, and the Future of Nuclear Power" On the evening of the 45th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in US history, join us for this historical webinar as we explore the impact of the Three Mile Island disaster on women, discuss gender and environmental justice, and examine the future of nuclear power.This webinar promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking discussion, and we would be honored to have you join us in supporting the discussion for a safe energy future. Please mark your calendars and RSVP to secure your spot.

Friday March 29, 9am.  Forum with Rep. Natalie Blais (Franklin 1st) and Rep. Jeffrey Roy (Norfolk 10th), Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. The event will be a conversation, and there will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to ask questions. Aaron Falbel and the Sunderland Energy committee are hosting Natalie Blais and Rep Roy for an event in the Sunderland Library.  Rep Roy is a key player in this sessions’s climate bill as the Chair of the House TUE (Barrett chairs the senate side)…and the author of several controversial [ deforestation for solar! ] bills that may or may not be included in the ‘omnibus’ bill this session. 

Sunday April 7,  10:30am to Noon. Prof. William Moomaw one of the Earth's major forest  scientists,  a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Storage of Carbon by Forest Trees  speaking at the Greenfield All SOULS Unitarian Meeting House, 99 Main Street, across from the Post Office & New Library, at intersection of Main and Hope Streets.  Free parking on Street, PO, Library on Sundays.   

Thursday April 11,(TBA)  Join Washington Post Live for a compelling and high-powered summit with policymakers, innovators and civic leaders examining the tipping points at this critical moment. Watch Live: wapo.st/climateapril11 . Humanity is entering a new climate era. The peril and promise of record-breaking temperatures, unprecedented investments in clean energy and a growing public recognition of the effects of global warming are shaping the future of the planet. Register HERE.     

Saturday April 20 All Day (Rain Date April 21)  Solar Rollers Earth Day River Ride. Bicycle ride from Greenfield, MA to Northfield, MA with stops along the way and a Rally at the Riverview Picnic area in Northfield to Shutdown Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station. Contact: ctriverdefenders@gmail.com  

Saturday April 20, 10am to 2pm. Join us at the Unitarian Society of Northampton, MA and  Surrounding Areas for an Earth Day Arts and Climate Fair as we name the changes we see in the world around us and celebrate the solutions at hand in our community if we are able to act together. The Fair will include an Art Pulse for the Rights of Nature Parade, a Mothers* Rebellion Circle, a Climate Chorus Sing-a-Long, the 3.5% art installation, and the chance to talk to many local climate groups about action and solutions! More details to come. Sponsored by Extinction Rebellion Western Massachusetts, the Enviro Show, Western Massachusetts Rights of Nature, and the Trees as a Public Good Network.Want to table, sponsor, cover this event in the press, or get involved in some other way? Email xr_western_mass@protonmail.com

Saturday April 20, 2pm.  The Boston Red Rebel chapter will be participating in the Red Rebel International Day of Action on Saturday April 20. We invite you to meet us at the Park Street MBTA station at 2pm on Saturday April 20. Together we will process throughout downtown Boston, MA as a funeral procession with die-ins. The Red Rebel International Day of Action is focusing on the death of life on earth.

Monday April 22, 4pm.  This Earth Day, join XR Boston’s Rebels and others to throw a party in honor of our planet in downtown Boston. This is an event for everyone, and will be celebratory in nature, featuring art, music, chanting, and a short walk through the district to share our love of the planet — and the need for greater action to protect it — with fellow Bostonians. We will gather on the Greenway (exact location TBA) at 4pm on Monday, April 22. Join us in celebration, love, and rage for the planet! RSVP Here   

Tuesday April 30 , All Day.  Join us at Massachusetts’ annual Lobby Day for Animals.   During this event, you can expect to: learn about current animal protection bills and skills for effective advocacy;   participate in meetings in your legislators’ offices to discuss animal protection; and meet legislators, make friends, and make a difference for animals. Massachusetts State House, Great Hall 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133  Registration will close April 22 — be sure to register today! 

That's all, folks......except to remember to listen to your Mother!