Air – The Many Shades of Green

Mother Nature to Earthlings “only you can prevent wildfires, so do something about it!” Planting Native trees and shrubs is a start…

FIRE by Bruce Springsteen

Romeo and Juliet

Samson and Delilah

You can bet

Their love they couldn’t deny

Your words say split

But your words they lie

When we kiss

Oh, fire, Fire

So to go back a bit before Romeo and Juliet, the discovery of fire dates back to prehistoric times, when Homo erectus inhabited the Earth. The earliest evidence of controlled fire use is at least one million years old. The oldest unequivocal evidence of fire use is from Qesem Cave in Israel, which dates back 300,000 to 400,000 years. Use of fire in prehistoric era Homo erectus likely used fire inspired by lightning strikes and forest fires.
Fast forward to 2025 and fire is more associated with disasters, as the prevalence of wildfires in the US and around the globe have reached levels not previously seen before. As global temperatures rise and winds increase in velocity, many forest areas have become a tinderbox. Climate change has brought us more extreme weather, and the latest fire tragedy in Los Angeles is more proof that many states in the US are not prepared for what’s coming, and that it is crucial for governments and citizens to adapt and be more resilient in dealing with this new abnormal. It is therefore so important to incorporate methods to help reduce the severity of wildfires, as well as droughts, floods and other climate related weather. California is a desert, and non-native plants can be a hazard. Palm trees are beautiful, but most are not native to the state, with the Desert Fan Palm being the exception. As a rule, no matter what state you live in, we have to make our yards more resilient and plant native. I will use LA as an example, but our ecosystems must be supported nationwide. L.A. must balance fire resilience with ecological preservation by gradually replacing flammable non-native plants like eucalyptus and palm trees with native and fire-resistant species while rethinking urban landscapes and land management practices. California native plants have remarkable characteristics that provide protective services to homes and structures during and after a fire. Los Angeles must adopt long-term strategies for sustainable rebuilding and land management.

Our resident wildlife and environmental expert Victoria Alzapiedi joins us on this episode of TMSOG to talk about the importance and benefits of planting native. We also delve into how toxins released by wildfires impact human health, as well as erosion control, the importance of adding solar panels to roofs, keeping our local and regional waterways clean and more. For more info go to New Castle Healthy Yards and The Nature of Westchester on Facebook.
mynativegardenoasis.com and California Native Plant Society https://www.cnps.org/ also have good information. Please donate to the NRDC.org and Earthjustice.org

To donate to those affected by the LA Wildfires go to: https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/california-wildfires/ and https://spcala.com/programs-services/dart/?bbFormId=178a1dfb-5482-4675-ba9e-4b315097f86f

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to https://hudsonriverradio.com/ and https://malcolmpresents.com Follow The Many Shades of Green on FB and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky @tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

A Special shout out to Neil Richter for all of his help and engineering wizardry in getting TMSOG up and running each week.

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts.

Manly Men, Climate Change and Spermageddon with Mark W. Sutton

The Oligarchy is already entrenched in the US, and the billionaire man boys are touting the man culture, because hey, men need help. Recently, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg who turned to the MAGA side said that more “masculine energy” is needed in the American workplace, because the current high levels of male dominance in the corporate world is not enough! There seems to be a tech-bros-know-how-to-be-macho movement which is being splashed across the news cycles as Bezos, Musk, and Zuckerberg et al, spread their testosterone far and wide, especially Musk, who is on a mission to populate the world almost by himself, as he has fathered 12 children by various women. In addition, misogyny and predatory behavior once a roadblock to being a government representative, is now being brushed aside, as the GOP turns the other cheek when a prospective cabinet member is accused of sexual assault or is a blackout drunk! Amazingly they stopped Matt Gaetz, but he will rise again, pun intended! Men have ruled the world for centuries, and look where it’s gotten us!! How are we going to reach regular good guys and the men who need help and need guidance to get through these tough times. Who is looking after them? Certainly not the Tech/MAGA bros.
So what do we do in this new year to protect the planet and protect ourselves from the incoming blitzkrieg? Are there men who will stand along side women to resist, and fight and take action to heal the earth? The world is topsy turvy now, and there is much work to be done to preserve the rights of Earthlings and resist the madmen!
On the climate side of things, we need to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for their role in causing global warming, which is leading to extreme weather events. On this week’s episode of TMSOG, Mark W. Sutton joins us and he gives us some insight into how best to reach out to men. We discuss how chemicals in the environment are harming children and lowering mens sperm counts (Spermageddon), plus we talk about the LA fires and the hell storm in the White House. Mark is the author of the very timely book How Democrats Can Win Back Men. He has produced radio content for NPR, Air America and The Mother Jones Radio Show. He appeared as a gender expert on MSNBC, CBS Radio and as a guest host for the TV show Men’s Net. He is passionate about social justice, economic justice, the environment and much more. For more info go to https://www.mark-sutton.com/

If you need a laugh, and I think we all do, check out Spermageddon, a Norwegian Animated film of that name — here is the trailer.

A Special shout out to Neil Richter for all of his help and engineering wizardry in getting TMSOG up and running each week.

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts.

Oligarchs Fanning the Flames of Climate Change with George Polisner founder of Civ.works

“The thing about climate change is that it really doesn’t care if you believe in it or not.” unknown

“In the decades to come, we will look back and wonder what biblical levels of greed prevented us from taking the necessary actions to prevent climate change.” Finneas, songwriter, actor, and musician who is the brother of Billie Eilish

Outgoing US President Joe Biden warned of the dangers of an oligarchy gaining power as he delivered his farewell address and brought a decades-long career in politics to an end. He said “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that really threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom,” He also used his final speech from the White House to issue warnings about climate change and social media disinformation. On climate change, he said “powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we’ve taken to tackle the climate crisis to serve their own interests for power and profit.”As the oligarchs push their oil and gas agenda, the “drill, baby drill” mantra gives the CEOs of the fossil fuel industry and the tech barons a giant boner. AI and bitcoins use massive amounts of energy, and there is little consideration as to what the after effects will be. Has any one tech oligarch pledged any money to the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County? If Musk is Iron Man, how is he helping the communities engulfed by multiple wildfires, which has led to unprecedented destruction and loss? He seems to add more flames to the fire with his rhetoric and conspiracy theories about water, and DEI practices of the LA Fire Department. While he sent some Tesla Cybertrucks to set-up Starlinks in some locations to help with internet connections, as the world’s richest man, he should be doing much more. The damage and destruction of the most significant blazes—the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, and the Hurst Fire—have collectively scorched close to 40,000 acres, and it is on track to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. On this TMSOG podcast episode, we talk about the LA fires and how climate change is exacerbating their severity, as well as how the US is teetering on the verge of a kleptocracy as the oligarchs have infiltrated our government. We delve into political and environmental topics with our monthly contributor, commentator, curmudgeon and founder of Civ.works, George Polisner. For the latest official updates and resources, please visit the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website at https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents. Check out Civ.works, and please donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make a donation and to World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/california-fires-jan25

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts.

LA Fires and the Plastic Within, with monthly commentator Charlotte Ghiorse

“It Looks Like Hell! “It’s like you’re on a different planet.” quotes from LA residents in reaction to the fires.

“What we saw here in the last 24 hours is unprecedented,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

On January 8th, 2025 roughly 2,500 firefighters assigned to the Eaton and Palisades blazes in Los Angeles, faced unprecedented/historic fires which they continue to endure daily. The fires fueled by extreme winds, bone-dry brush and low humidity have turned thousands of homes into ashes. As the large fires rage, plumes of smoke dot the sky, as embers get pushed by strong Santa Ana winds, engulfing homes seemingly at random. A stretch of New York Drive, a main thoroughfare in Pasadena, was left untouched while homes burned less than two blocks away. There is not enough fire personnel in L.A. County between all the departments to handle the fires. It has been a climate whiplash, as evidence continues to point to climate change as making wildfires more destructive, larger and more severe. Fifteen of the state’s 20 most destructive fires on record have occurred in the past 10 years, according to CAL Fire. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, said on NASA‘s Earth Observatory website that “California’s fires have become more deadly because of warming temperatures.” Heat essentially turns the atmosphere into a giant sponge that draws moisture from plants and makes it possible for fires to burn hotter and longer. It must also be noted that there is so much plastic in homes, offices, and other areas that when it burns it emits toxins into the air. We also have to be concerned about pets and wildlife in the fire zones. Shelters are full and many animals have burns and they need medical attention. It is hard to determine the impact on the thousands of species living in trees and forest areas, it’s not just humans which are affected. So on this episode of TMSOG we talk about fires, as well as plastics within our environment, as tiny bits of plastic are now being found in humans. You should think twice before buying that single plastic bottle of water as it is hazardous to your health and the environment. We will uncover some facts about microplastics and why we must reduce consumption of products made of plastic and wrapped in plastic. We rundown those topics as well as January Astrology with our monthly resident commentator Charlotte Ghiorse, who is an artist, eco-activist and Sexy Astrologer. For more info go to https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ To donate to help those affected by the fires in LA go to World Central Kitchen https://donate.wck.org/give/499865/#!/donation/checkout and The Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts.

Welcome to the Plastic Generation with resident eco-activist, artist and astrologer Charlotte Ghiorse

Yup, we are the plastic generation! Plastic is in our bloodstream and is a geological entity inside rocks. At present, the world creates over 350 million metric tons of plastic waste a year. According to a recent article in Anthropocene Magazine, researchers at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) have shown that there are policies that could eliminate 91 percent of the world’s plastic waste and almost a third of the related carbon emissions by 2050. It’s hard to fathom that 68 million metric tons of plastic waste ends up in our soils, waters, and air, and around 10 million tons of the waste finds its way into the oceans, where it can harm marine life in many ways. UCSB researchers outline four policies in their paper published in the journal Science that could help reduce plastic pollution. These policies include: capping plastic production at 2020 levels; requiring that new products be made with 40 percent post consumer recycled plastic; implementing a small fee on plastic packaging; and investing significantly in waste management, especially in lower-income parts of the world. Without any policies in place, researchers have calculated the mismanaged plastic waste will be out of control. In 2021 alone, humankind mismanaged 68 million metric tons of plastic waste, or the equivalent of 380,000 747 airplanes. By continuing with a business-as-usual approach, the world would generate enough litter by 2050 to cover Manhattan in a pile of plastic 10 times the height of the Empire State Building. It is hard to get treaties signed and to get polluting corporations to cooperate. An example of this is that Coca-Cola quietly dropped its commitment to deliver 25% of its products in reusable packaging by 2030. It has abandoned its critical plastic reduction pledge even though its refillable glass project in El Paso Texas is reducing waste and saving money. It is a hit with customers and businesses, yet things don’t seem to go better with Coke, as the company is downplaying its success. WHY? Can we all shout CORPORATE GREED! Doing the right thing seems to be looked down upon while being a douche is rewarded.

Individuals need to see the light and take action to reduce plastic use. Craig Leeson, award-winning journalist and director of A Plastic Ocean said “I realized that plastic had become such a part of my life that it had become invisible to me. I just did not see it until it was pointed out to me, and I was told it was causing specific problems. And then I saw it everywhere. I saw it between my toes when I was on the beach. I saw it in the seaweed. I saw it floating between my legs while I was surfing. Once you see it, when you start to look at the problems it causes; when you investigate the human health consequences, you cannot unsee it.“ We discuss the plastic conundrum and more with our resident eco-activist, artist and sexy astrologer Charlotte Ghiorse. We talk about plastic pollution, social and environmental innovations via Enactus Canada and Erthos, December astrology, Charlotte’s latest art show and more. For more info go to https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ and visit Sexy Astrology on Facebook. Also check out https://enactus.org/ https://www.planeterthos.com/ https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/the-story-of-plastic-documentary-film/ The Coca Cola video on the refillable bottles pilot program in El Paso TX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_E5dKcVFw and https://www.beyondplastics.org/

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky @tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024 and beyond!

“Climate Change: it’s not too late!” With Dr. Astrid Caldas, Senior Climate Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (ucsusa.org)

“The Earth is not a platform for human life. It’s a living being. We’re not on it, but part of it. Its health is our health.” Thomas Moore

“We need states and cities and business and organizations to step up just as we did in 2017,” said Gina McCarthy, who oversaw the Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama and is now the co-chair of the climate coalition America is All In. “We cannot and will not let anyone stand in the way of giving our kids and grandkids the freedom to grow up in safer and healthier communities.”

The earth is currently heating approximately 10 times faster than the average rate of ice-age-recovery warming. The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that it is extremely likely that more than 50% of the observed warming since 1951 is anthropogenic, which means that the emissions causing pollution and environmental change is originating in human activity.
Climate change is real and we need to make a concerted effort to take action to reduce our carbon footprint. There are many people and organizations fighting to keep Mother Earth well. It’s clear that extreme weather isn’t just a scientific challenge—it’s a human one. Climate scientists are trying to inform a public that needs factual information despite the blowback they get from those who don’t believe that climate change is happening, and wreaking havoc on the planet. We need to wake up and smell the coffee, because if climate change continues at this rapid pace, the coffee beans that are used to make that much needed cup of java will disappear. On this podcast episode we have Dr. Astrid Caldas, Senior Climate Scientist for Community Resilience with the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Her work focuses on community resilience, science communication, environmental justice, and equitable climate-related policies with practical implications for nature and society. Dr. Caldas was a Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a climate change and wildlife science fellow at the nonprofit conservation group Defenders of Wildlife, and a research scientist at the University of Maryland. Dr. Caldas has advised or consulted on projects with organizations including the Smithsonian Institution and the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center. She has a lifelong passion for butterflies and moths, which she has studied for many years and likes to use as models to raise awareness of climate and land use changes. The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. For more info go to ucsusa.org

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky at tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024!

Hurricanes, Plastic Pollution, Microplastics and Composting- plus Charlotte Ghiorse’s new art show “American Things”!

John Morales a meteorologist for NBC News in Miami said this on the air about Hurricane Milton: “It is gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, where you can imagine the seas are just so incredibly, incredibly hot, record hot, as you might imagine. You know what’s driving that. I don’t need to tell you — global warming, climate change leading to this. Fossil-fuel-driven climate change is causing the world’s oceans to rapidly warm. Warm water acts as jet fuel for tropical storms, allowing them to quickly gain strength.” Morales further said “It’s just an incredible, incredible, incredible hurricane,” and he started choking up, getting teary eyed, as he described the storm’s catastrophic drop in pressure over a 10-hour period. “I apologize. This is just — horrific.”

A recent NYT Opinion piece by Margaret Renki stated that there is no such thing as a climate haven anymore. We all live in Florida now. Americans who still dismiss climate change outright must surely know this. They simply choose to parrot the talking points of the right-wing media figures who are paid by Big Oil — or Big Construction — to lie to vulnerable Americans and leave them ever more vulnerable. There’s no denying that we would be in much better shape today if utility companies and the fossil-fuel industry had not launched a new disinformation campaign to cover up the truth of climate change decades ago. One needs to question why GOP officials vote against measures that increase climate resilience and tell outrageous lies about the federal governments disaster response. Just keep on drillin’.

Drilling, fracking, plastic and chemical production are all adding to global warming and GHG emissions. Fossil fuel emissions are wreaking havoc on the climate, which in large part is being sponsored by big oil and gas. So where does this all lead us and how can we take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Here’s an answer, educate yourself, be part of the solution not the problem. Believe in facts and science, and become involved in your community. Take your local, state and national representatives to task about climate change and environmental issues. Join an environmental group, and work to create policies that can put adaptation and resiliency into place. Lobby for less development, more open space, protect pollinators, stop using pesticides, and single use plastic. Become a steward of Mother Earth! Our resident eco-activist, artist and sexy astrologist Charlotte Ghiorse chimes in on what we can do about reducing plastic pollution and microplastics, as well as reducing food waste by composting. We also talk about fabricating wood and October Astrology. For more info go to houseofchoclet.com, bigreuse.org and NOAAClimate.gov. To help those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton go to:https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/hurricane-relief.html, https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-helene/ and World Central Kitchen https://donate.wck.org/give/628338/

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

Mothers Out Front, Reduce Plastic, The “Upon Request” Law and more with Emily MacKenzie

The website Beyond Plastics (beyondplastics.org) put out the statistic that half of all plastic in Earth’s history was produced in the last 20 years — the plastic we’re seeing now in our air, water, food, and bodies didn’t even exist before the year 2000. Plastic is being measured everywhere, and microplastics are entering our soil, food, water, and air. Scientists estimate people consume, on average, hundreds of thousands of microplastics per year, and these particles have been found in human placenta, heart, arteries, breast mik, blood, lungs, and testicles.

These statistics are horrifying, and mothers are rightly worried that the continued production of plastic will greatly affect the health and well being of their children. Mothers are the key protectors of their off spring and have become a growing force in the climate movement. They have taken on a big role in forming groups and organizations to tackle the hazards of climate change. Many groups have popped up over the last decade to highlight the need to protect their children and humanity at large from the dangers of pollution from fossil fuels, which is in good part responsible for a warming climate which is causing extreme storms, fires, destruction of forests, increased air and water pollution and much more. Plastic pollution is a major concern and the organization Mothers Out Front (MOF) is working on getting bills passed to reduce plastic packaging and phase out harmful chemicals in their production. Other organizations with moms at the helm are Clean Air Moms which has over 1.5 million members who are on a mission to protect kids from air pollution and climate change. Another group, Science Moms is composed of Climate Scientists who are moms who create tip sheets about climate and resources to take action. Climate Mama which was founded by my friend Harriet Shugarman, wrote the book How To Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action which gives parents tips about what to say to your kids about Global Warming. Emily MacKensie, a member of Mothers Out Front gives us info about the group, which is a national organization that focuses on climate positive grassroots efforts spearheaded by moms. She has two children, lives in the Hudson Valley and became involved with the organization after running into the local chapter leader on a walk and striking up a conversation that turned into a discussion about local air quality, which is being negatively impacted by the incineration of plastic waste. Emily gives us some good insight and information on the initiatives and outreach being worked on by Mothers Out Front to educate the public about plastics and other environmental issues of importance. Please note that as per Emily one does not have to be a mother to be a part of the effort, as the earth is a mother to us all! For more info go to mothersoutfront.org, beyondplastics.org and not to be left out go to @climatedads for their perspective.

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

Native Plants, Pesticides NO! Pollinators, Keystone Species, Spotted Lantern Flies and Alien Ladybugs with Victoria Alzapiedi Co-founder of New Castle Healthy Yards

As humans, we need to raise our awareness of nature and the beauty which surrounds us, but alas, we always seem to look for ways to shorten our time to think about or take care of nature. We use leaf blowers to rapidly get leaves off our properties, and we apply pesticides to kill off the insects which might or might not cause us harm. Yes, ticks can carry Lyme’s disease and mosquitos can carry the West Nile virus, and I understand that we want to keep our families safe, but we need to understand that there are beneficial insects that are being destroyed and there are other ways to maintain our properties. Pesticides harm insects, wildlife and humans. As Fall approaches and mowers and blowers take over the landscape, we should educate ourselves about the practice of leaving leaves alone and planting native trees, shrubs and plants to protect pollinators. Pollinators are responsible not only for the reproduction of countless plants, but they are also instrumental in creating the seeds and fruits that feed wildlife – from songbirds to grizzly bears. When bees disappear, the ecological impacts are catastrophic. Pollinators need our help. Worldwide pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss and pesticides. Native plants support pollinators and have evolved together as they need each other to survive. Victoria Alzapiedi, co-founder of New Castle Healthy Yards gives us important info on native plants and keystone species. We discuss how to plant a native garden, the importance of pollinators, alien ladybugs, what to do about Spotted Lantern Flies and why it is important to reduce pesticide use to have a healthy yard. For more info go to New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook, The Nature Conservancy, https://www.nature.org/en-us/ Doug Tallamy’s Home Grown National Park https://homegrownnationalpark.org/ The Xerces Society https://www.xerces.org/
mynativegardenoasis.com and https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

The Greening of the Paris Olympics, Media Shame, and is Weird to Blame? with George Polisner

What makes someone weird, and why are they labeled as such? There is good weird and bad weird. The good weird might include someone doing things on the edge or being more creative and just a bit kookie, the bad weird tends to focus on a person who is a labeled a weirdo, as they drift far from the norm. One can be considered weird if you are bizarre, crazy, erratic, screwy, off the wall, outlandish, wacky, spaced out, off-kilter and way out. We can refer to many things as weird, for instance the weather over the last few years has been really weird because it has been extreme, with heat domes, derechos, CAT 5 cyclones and hail the size of softballs pounding our roofs, car hoods and lining our front lawns. So using the phrase “the weather has been really weird” is common of late as it’s not the usual. It’s raining cats and dogs is now passé, as it is more likely raining King Kong and Godzilla sized raindrops. Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz used the “weird” label when he addressed the Republican candidates in July. He said about the party: “These guys are just weird. They’re running for He-Man women-haters’ club or something. That’s what they go at..” So now, weird is in the spotlight and on the front of a tee shirt that your Blue voting neighbor might be wearing. The question arises, are you good weird or bad weird? Therein lies the conundrum. Joining us on this episode of TMOSG is our resident environmentalist, political analyst, curmudgeon, and difference maker, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works. He gives us some insight into his take on weird, as well as on environmental and political issues. We talk about the greening of the Paris Olympics, the need for the media to do their jobs and call out lies when they are blatantly spoken. We also touch on the 2024 elections and where the weird folks are, as well as the phrase “the exhausted majority.” For more info go to Civ.works, brennancenter.org and vote.gov

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

Pollution, Politics and Positive Astrology of the Harris/Walz ticket #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

“If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.” – from the song Garbage by Pete Seeger, late American singer and social activist.

We need to raise our awareness of what is going on around us. What we need to do is take a moment out of each day to do something proactive to reduce our carbon footprint. The tag line of The Many Shades of Green is Raise Your Eco Consciousness, but how do we do that, and what is eco-consciousness? There is actually a definition. Eco-consciousness, also known as ecological consciousness, is the practice of living sustainably to minimize or harmlessly impact the environment. It involves being aware of how your actions and decisions affect the environment, and making conscious choices to reduce your environmental footprint. Ecological conscience is the awareness of the human impact on the environment and other living organisms and the need for humans to adjust their behaviors and thinking to ensure that the environment and its resources are not destroyed. So what can we do to elevate our actions to be more in tune with nature and reduce our impact? Here are some examples of some actions you can take to be more sustainable: Use LED lights, which use 90% less energy than other lights for the same amount of light. You can also encourage the use of electric leaf blowers, mowers, and weed trimmers. Use water conservation techniques, such as reducing water usage, shorter showers, and using rain barrels. In terms of transportation take the train, bike, walk and think about purchasing an EV. Use compostable containers, source from local and sustainable farms, plant native plants and recycle. There are many issues that must be addressed including Air and Water Pollution, Food Waste, Plastic pollution and more. We need to do more as individuals to become part of the solution and not the problem. Joining us on this podcast episode is our monthly guest commentator, eco-activist, eco-artist and sexy astrologist Charlotte Ghiorse. We touch on topics regarding Air, Water, Plastic Pollution and Food Waste, as well as what Canada is doing to reduce their carbon footprint. In addition Charlotte gives us a rundown of Harris Walz ticket from an Astrology point of view. The new Dem nominees, Harris and Walz are very conscious about environmental issues and they promise to direct legislation to promote clean air, water and more. Climate and environmental advocacy groups are calling the Harris-Walz Democratic ticket a strong pairing on climate policy, citing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s record of pushing for policies to mitigate climate change in his state. Go to houseofchoclet.com and Sexy Astrology (@SexyAstrology) on YouTube for more info. Check out kamalaharris.com and follow their environmental policies.

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

It’s too Damn Hot! Recent World Temperatures Broke Records; Take Action and Join the Less Lawn More Life Movement; Victoria Alzapiedi Co-founder of New Castle Healthy Yards gives great info on how to take care of your garden and wildlife in these hotter times

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” Audrey Hepburn

Summertime and the living is easy… well not as easy as we would like it to be. The climate is changing and it’s getting hotter with many more dry spells, which makes it harder to keep our plants from wilting. We are also having more extreme storms which makes it more difficult to maintain our lawns and gardens. We have to be resilient and adjust to the changing climate, as the weather, in a word, is weird. We have to bring back habitats and improve our ecological practices in our yards. There is a Less Lawn More Life movement which is about to take hold with an 8 week guided challenge to unleash the potential of your lawn. It is a joint project with Plan It Wild and Bedford 2030 and you can visit lesslawnmorelife.com to get info and to join the challenge. Adaptation and resilience are important in helping fight global warming and climate change. Victoria Alzapiedi, our resident garden, wildlife and healthy yards guru joins us to discuss how we can coexistence with nature and wildlife by starting in our own backyards. We talk about how we can grow meadows in lieu of lawns and protect wildlife, especially in these hotter times. Victoria is a co-founder of New Castle Healthy Yards, and is a member of the Town of New Castle Conservation Board, as well as the Climate Smart Communities Task Force. She started the Facebook group “The Nature of Westchester” an active community of nature lovers which now has more than 4800 members. Victoria is also a native plant gardening consultant and coach providing eco-friendly planting recommendations. Please visit mynativegardenoasis.com for more info. Follow New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook, check out birds.cornell.edu and the National Wildlife Federation at nwf.org

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/