Community – The Many Shades of Green https://themanyshadesofgreen.com Providing ideas to help make the world a better place for this and future generations Fri, 20 Dec 2024 22:27:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TMSOG-globe-5518b174v1_site_icon-32x32.png Community – The Many Shades of Green https://themanyshadesofgreen.com 32 32 Naughty or Nice: UK Gives Up Coal For Christmas + Legal Personhood for Nature, Dr. Strangelove, Naughty Santa by HOP and more with George Polisner https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/naughty-or-nice-uk-gives-up-coal-for-christmas-legal-personhood-for-nature-dr-strangelove-naughty-santa-by-hop-and-more-with-george-polisner/ https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/naughty-or-nice-uk-gives-up-coal-for-christmas-legal-personhood-for-nature-dr-strangelove-naughty-santa-by-hop-and-more-with-george-polisner/#respond Fri, 20 Dec 2024 22:27:19 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136874 Continue reading "Naughty or Nice: UK Gives Up Coal For Christmas + Legal Personhood for Nature, Dr. Strangelove, Naughty Santa by HOP and more with George Polisner"]]> It’s all fun and games ’til Santa checks the naughty list.”AND “Dear Santa, before I explain, how much do you know already?”- Unknown

In 2024, the line between naughty and nice has been blurred, and it has been hard to sift through the barrage of misinformation to separate the good from the bad, and the truth from the lies. There are days when we feel that we can get through things, and days when our emotions are at the bottom of the well. It’s been that type of year. So let’s look for what will raise our spirits in this holiday space. Is there anything good to give us hope? The answer is yes, even though democracy in the world is hanging by a thread, there have been some good policies and ideas put into place to revive my sense of well being.

On the environmental front, it turns out that in Ecuador, New Zealand, and Brazil; rivers, mountains, forests, waves, dolphins and whales have been given legal personhood. According to Jacqueline Gallant, who works for the Earth Rights Research and Action program at New York University School of Law, some countries are pushing the boundaries of legal imagination. Gallant stated that “Legal personhood provides the understanding that nature and living non-human beings should be understood as subjects [as opposed to objects] – with intrinsic value and interests and needs of their own.” We need to expand these actions to more countries so that nature can be truly represented. There is more positive environmental news which comes out of the UK. Coal has been polluting the atmosphere for decades and the UK has closed its last coal fired plant, which will reduce carbon emissions. The good eco-news keeps coming, as there are new ocean protections in the Azores, Amazon Deforestation reached a nine year low, and on El Hierro, the most westerly of the Canary Islands, energy generated via wind and water has enabled its 11,000 inhabitants to be completely self-sufficient in electricity for 10,000 hours since the project was established. Continuing in the victory column, the Supreme Court of the State of Montana upheld a landmark trial court decision from last August which decided in favor of 16 young people who said their health and futures were being jeopardized by climate change, which the state aggravates through its permitting of energy projects. So while gloom and doom seems pervasive in the US, as well as some democracies in the EU, Asia and other parts of the globe: innovators, scientists, engineers, lawyers, teachers and policy wonks are working to get the pendulum to swing in a more positive direction.

On this episode of TMSOG podcast, our resident environmentalist, political analyst and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works, gives us some insight into environmental, economic and political issues. We talk about positive green news, nature being given legal personhood, Dr. Strangelove, externalities and the impending rise of an oligarchy in the US. For more info go to civ.works/defend. Check out The Museum of Motherhood https://mommuseum.org/ founded by Joy Rose. Take personal action and be proactive and if you can, please donate to an environmental organization which fights for the planet. Earth Justice is a wonderful organization to check out, as the Earth needs a good lawyer, go to https://earthjustice.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.

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Climate Dads: Creating a Better Future with Ben Block and Jason Sandman https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/climate-dads-creating-a-better-future-with-ben-block-and-jason-sandman/ https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/climate-dads-creating-a-better-future-with-ben-block-and-jason-sandman/#respond Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:02:18 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136854 Continue reading "Climate Dads: Creating a Better Future with Ben Block and Jason Sandman"]]> If we collaborate, exchange ideas, share experiences and create new tools, I predict that more families will make small but important changes that help combat climate change,”  Climate Dads founder Ben Block.

Here’s the reality: Climate change is not some distant problem. It’s already impacting our lives, from hotter summers to extreme storms, to warmer oceans and to rising food costs. Parents have a dual responsibility—not just to protect their kids but also to empower them to be part of the solution. Parenting and climate action go hand in hand. Today we have two eco-conscious parents, Ben Block and Jason Sandman. Ben and Jason started the group Climate Dads out of concern for their children and the planet. Ben is a founder of Climate Dads, a group of male caregivers who give a damn about protecting future generations from the climate crisis. He is the father of two young boys, Corey and Noah. Ben and his wife live in Philly where he can be seen riding with his kids on their cargo bike, hiking the trails in their urban oasis, and eating lots of vegan cheesesteak. Jason Sandman is a Founding Partner of Climate Dads and resides in Philadelphia, PA with his wife and children. Originally from Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!), he is often comparing weather forecasts between the two cities and is reminded he made the right choice. He also has formed an enduring relationship with hoagies. Which is the best cheesesteaks in Philly-Gino’s or Pat’s?  What is in a Vegan Hoagie? Follow @climatedads on social media to get more info. Also check out Dear Tomorrow (deartomorrrow.org) to collect first-person accounts from dads, describing their thoughts/emotions about climate change, sharing a message to future generations about what the future will hold/what they’re doing to try and create a better future.

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 and beyond!

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Got Wood? Lab Grown Wood! Plus what is “Plogging” and new innovations to reduce the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with Charlotte Ghiorse https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/got-wood-lab-grown-wood-plus-what-is-plogging-and-new-innovations-to-reduce-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-with-charlotte-ghiorse/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:03:03 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136834 Continue reading "Got Wood? Lab Grown Wood! Plus what is “Plogging” and new innovations to reduce the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with Charlotte Ghiorse"]]> The climate agenda was barely mentioned by either campaign in the 2024 election cycle, and it is virtually non-existent within the incoming administration, as after all, they say it is a hoax. Up is down and down is up! How do we make sense of this?

     It will be up to individuals and environmental organizations to stop the red line from destroying our precious lands. What we do as individuals is more important than ever. I was looking to find something that was fun and helpful in the context of being stewards of the planet. I came across an article about plogging, which piqued my interest. Yes, plogging! The term comes from Sweden and combines the Swedish word “plocka upp,” which means “to pick up,” with the English word “jogging.” Essentially, it’s jogging while picking up trash along the way. Plogging has become a global movement, combining fitness and environmental activism in a unique way. Picture it: you’re on a run, you spot some litter, you bend down to pick it up, and toss it into a bag you’re carrying. The environmental impact is very positive.  A single plogging session can result in bags of trash being removed from natural spaces, keeping plastic and other pollutants out of our oceans and helping wildlife. Plogging not only keeps the environment cleaner but also raises awareness. When people see others picking up trash while running, it’s a reminder of our shared responsibility to keep our spaces clean. Another topic that we discuss which recently got my attention is Lab Grown Wood. Charlotte Ghiorse, who is on this podcast episode, is our resident artist, eco-activist and astrologer. She sent me some info about Lab Wood and it is a very innovative idea. We also talk a tiny bit about the election, as well as an innovation the will help clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch a/k/a the Gyre. While many of us are shell shocked about what has happened in the US, we must try as the Brits say to “Keep Calm and Carry On”. There are many wonderful people doing amazing things to keep the environment safe and make the world a better place. For more info about Charlotte go to https://www.houseofchoclet.com and visit @Sexy Astrology on YouTube and Facebook. For info on plogging go to https://www.plogging.org/what-is-plogging

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

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Liberty and Justice for Some (The Rocky Horror Election Show) with Mark W. Sutton, Charlotte Ghiorse and George Polisner https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/liberty-and-justice-for-some-the-rocky-horror-election-show-with-mark-w-sutton-charlotte-ghiorse-and-george-polisner/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:53:32 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136820 Continue reading "Liberty and Justice for Some (The Rocky Horror Election Show) with Mark W. Sutton, Charlotte Ghiorse and George Polisner"]]> “How can I trust a man, who doesn’t seem to understand, that there is something inherently dumb about Liberty and Justice for Some!” (Mitch M.)

“The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democracy.” – John Lewis

The song played at the top of the podcast is titled Liberty and Justice for Some and was written by my Token Bro Mitch. He wrote it in the year 2000 in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Bush v Gore, which reversed an order by the Florida Supreme Court for a selective manual recount which effectively awarded Florida’s 25 Electoral College votes to George W. Bush, ensuring victory over Al Gore. So here we are in 2024 and the court is even more politicized. My election stress is through the roof as are millions of other Americans at this moment in time. If DJT gets in, he will pack the Supreme Court, which already has issued major rulings which reflect the extreme right agenda, especially the overturning of Roe v. Wade and granting presidential immunity giving the president unchecked power. Mel Brooks got it right when he released the film High Anxiety, because we are all in the crippling mental condition of “high anxiety” which is election stress. This episode of TMSOG is a roundtable discussion about the 2024 Presidential election with George Polisner, Founder of Civ.Works, Charlotte Ghiorse, Artist, Eco-Activist and Sexy Astrologist, and Mark W. Sutton, author of the insightful and important book How Democrats Can Win Back Men. George, Charlotte and Mark give us their insight and opinions on the state of the current election cycle. There is a lot at stake, and the only way to stop the madness is to VOTE, and VOTE as if your life depends on it, because it does! My shade of green is evergreen, as we need everlasting greenery, beauty, hope and togetherness. If all else fails, have a slice of apple or pumpkin pie a la mode and a shot of Skrewball whiskey! For more info go to George’s website: https://civ.works/ Charlotte’s website: https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ and Mark’s website: https://www.mark-sutton.com/ and for voter information: https://www.vote.org/ Mark’s book How Democrats Can Win Back Men is available on Amazon.

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

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Hurricanes, Plastic Pollution, Microplastics and Composting- plus Charlotte Ghiorse’s new art show “American Things”! https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/hurricanes-plastic-pollution-microplastics-and-composting-plus-charlotte-ghiorses-new-art-show-american-things/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:20:35 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136797 Continue reading "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/

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Mothers Out Front, Reduce Plastic, The “Upon Request” Law and more with Emily MacKenzie https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/mothers-out-front-reduce-plastic-the-upon-request-law-and-more-with-emily-mackenzie/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:58:06 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136790 Continue reading "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.

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/

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Men, Mustaches, Climate Change Makers and the 2024 Election with Mark W. Sutton https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/men-mustaches-climate-change-makers-and-the-2024-election-with-mark-w-sutton/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:32:22 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136784 Continue reading "Men, Mustaches, Climate Change Makers and the 2024 Election with Mark W. Sutton"]]> “What the hell are you waiting for? “Because if it’s the women thing, it’s time to get over that. It’s time to be a man and vote for a woman.” 

That quote  is from a recent ad put out by the Lincoln Project, founded and run by former republican political consultants which is narrated by actor Sam Elliot. Mr. Elliot played the infamous role as “The Stranger” who was the narrator of the film The Big Lebowski. The Stranger posed as a cowboy, who had this amazing mustache, and sat at the bar in the bowling alley and offered insight and advice to Lebowski. The film also starred Jeff Bridges as “The Dude” who is now part of the White Dudes for Harris group. The point is that the Dems must reach out to men in this election, as their numbers are critical in getting VP Harris to the magic number of 270. On the other side, women must also step up in numbers to get the job done. Jane Fonda is helping to lead the charge and has been quoted as saying “the climate fight is what I’m going to do till I die.” The actress and activist has stated that “we are in a do-or-die situation when it comes to the November election, the threat of fossil fuels and climate change.” She went on to say in an article in Rolling Stone last June that “November’s election is an existential election, because who becomes president is going to be a big determining factor on whether there’s a livable future.” Fonda continued by saying that “nearly two-thirds of Americans say they are “worried” about the climate, but they don’t always bring that concern to the ballot box”. She further stated that “I’m trying to encourage people to vote with climate in mind and there are enough of us that if we band together, we can win.” During the recent debate between VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, climate change was practically a throw away question. It is an issue that the youth vote is very concerned about and more American citizens should heed their call. 

      There are many environmental groups taking steps to get more people to take action. One group that we briefly touch on is Climate Changemakers, founded by Elizer Nemser, which is taking political action in the name of climate change. We talk to Mark Sutton, who is the author of the insightful and important book How Democrats Can Win Back Men.  We delve into why the upcoming 2024 election is the most crucial election of our lifetime, and Mark gives us some insight into how the dems can best reach out to men, as well as where the presidential candidates stand on the environment. Mark has produced radio content for NPR, Air America (where I first met him) 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 economic justice, the environment and much more. For more information go to mark-sutton.com, check out How Democrats Can Win Back Men which is available on Amazon. To take action on climate change please visit www.climatechangemakers.org. Go to Vote.org to make sure you are registered to vote!

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/

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Climate Urgency, Pet Insurgency, The Great Debate: Kamala Rattles Trump https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/climate-urgency-pet-insurgency-the-great-debate-kamala-rattles-trump/ Sat, 14 Sep 2024 19:20:56 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136774 Continue reading "Climate Urgency, Pet Insurgency, The Great Debate: Kamala Rattles Trump"]]> Everything is affected by politics. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the ground we walk on, the gas we put in our cars, the oil or hopefully the solar or geothermal energy that heats our homes, the food we eat, and the medical care we receive are all in the hands of our elected officials and the policies that they create on local, state, national and global levels. It is therefore so important that we all pay attention to the election set for November 5th which will affect the state of democracy in the United States of America. At the top of the ticket we have Kamala Harris, who as result of the decision of President Joe Biden to leave the presidential race, is the nominee for the Democrats along with her VP choice Tim Walz. The GOP has nominated Donald Trump, who is running for a second term. MAGA is still rearing its head, our country greatly divided, and the world is watching. This election is the most crucial election in my lifetime and millions of citizens feel the same way. We had a debate this week which gave us a view of two candidates who are on two very different levels. One seems angry all the time, faces jail time and encourages chaos. The other tries to bring civility, empathy, joy, diplomacy, policy and comfort to the masses. It seems quite clear that Kamala Harris won the debate as she rattled the former president and got under his skin. On this episode of TMSOG podcast our resident environmentalist, political analyst and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works, gives us insight into environmental and political issues. We discuss the recent debate, the upcoming Presidential elections, and what we need to do between now and November 5th to save democracy. We hail Taylor and her Swifties and we believe the Mayor of Springfield OH when he assures us that pets in town are safe. Please do your civic duty and VOTE! For more info go to Civ.works and Vote.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. 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/

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Native Plants, Pesticides NO! Pollinators, Keystone Species, Spotted Lantern Flies and Alien Ladybugs with Victoria Alzapiedi Co-founder of New Castle Healthy Yards https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/native-plants-pesticides-no-pollinators-keystone-species-spotted-lantern-flies-and-alien-ladybugs-with-victoria-alzapiedi-co-founder-of-new-castle-healthy-yards/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:11:19 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136759 Continue reading "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

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/

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The Greening of the Paris Olympics, Media Shame, and is Weird to Blame? with George Polisner https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/the-greening-of-the-paris-olympics-media-shame-and-is-weird-to-blame-with-george-polisner/ Fri, 16 Aug 2024 02:11:51 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136753 Continue reading "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

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/

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Pollution, Politics and Positive Astrology of the Harris/Walz ticket #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/pollution-politics-and-positive-astrology-of-the-harris-walz-ticket-raiseyourecoconsciousness/ Fri, 09 Aug 2024 18:31:15 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136745 Continue reading "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.

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/

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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 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/its-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/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:21:32 +0000 https://themanyshadesofgreen.com/?p=136728 Continue reading "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

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/

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