Community – Page 2 – The Many Shades of Green

Raindrops, Redford and Resistance with George Polisner, Founder of Civ.works and special guests Yolanda Nava and Tina Flores

We open this episode of TMSOG with the song Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head sung by B.T. Thomas which was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

Redford and Newman both epitomized the human spirit and stressed the importance of giving back by taking action to make things better. We recently lost Robert Redford. He was an amazing actor, director, conservationist and family man. He starred in such films as All The Presidents Men, The Candidate, The Way We Were, and he won an Oscar for directing Ordinary People. Robert Redford was an environmentalist, and he worked in concert with the NRDC to fight for the land. He also started the Sundance Film Festival which helped keep Independent film alive. He was greatly loved and admired and he will be missed.
We are losing our freedoms on a daily basis. So where do we go and what do we do? Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head uses the metaphor of raindrops to represent life’s challenges and struggles, but it also emphasizes that one needs to remain positive and believe that happiness is on its way. The lyrics go on to suggest a realization that complaining won’t stop the rain, and instead, one must “take action” or “take the initiative” to move life in the desired direction. The song can also be interpreted as promoting freedom and the idea that as long as one is free, everything is okay. In today’s world we are facing very difficult times and the rain drops seem more like Oobleck, as in the children’s book Bartholomew and the Oobleck written by Dr. Theodor Geisel, a/k/a Dr. Seuss. In that book the king is bored with normal weather, (is there such a thing as normal weather today?) and orders his magicians to create a new kind of precipitation. They conjure up Oobleck, a sticky, green goo (similar to Nickelodeon’s Green Slime) that falls and quickly wreaks havoc, causing the entire kingdom to become covered and immobilized. Young Bartholomew is the king’s page, and he is the only one not stuck in the green muck. He has to get the king to apologize to break the magicians spell. Bartholomew eventually convinces the king to apologize for his greedy desire for a new type of precipitation, and the king’s apology causes the Oobleck to melt away, and he learns to appreciate the simple, natural weather. Right now we are dealing with a wannabe king who has no capacity for apologies or being a leader for ALL the people of the USA. He believes climate change is a hoax and has reduced staff at the NOAA, FEMA, the EPA and other agencies that do research and follow weather patterns, hurricanes and other extreme weather. In these challenging times we need to resist, take action and work to save the Republic for which we stand! We are joined on this episode by our resident political analyst, environmentalist and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works, to give us some insight into the free fall of democracy in the US and the globe. We also welcome Yolanda Nava and Tina Flores, as they will be doing a new TMSOG monthly program with a focus on activism, community organizing and climate, and the historic importance of diversity. So let’s walk between the raindrops, stay away from the Oobleck and activate our eco and social consciousness. Go to Civ.works for more info.

To help defend democracy please donate if you can to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ https://www.brennancenter.org/ and

https://www.democracydocket.com/ If you want to take more effective civic action visit https://civ.works/ If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org and https://www.nrdc.org/

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

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

Our Kids Climate: Teach Your Children Well with Harriet Shugarman, Executive Director of ClimateMama

It cannot be denied that we are in a difficult period of time in the US and globally. How do we talk to children about what is going on without scaring the living daylights out of them? How do we talk to them about the state of our nation and about climate change? We need to start listening to them in order to understand their feelings, so that we can better connect with them on topics that might be difficult to explain. With respect to the environment, a good starting point can be to find ways to relate climate change to their daily lives and explore the basic facts together. Try to expose your child to nature as much as possible, and nurture their enjoyment while being outside. Focus on positive action, exploring solutions as a family and pointing out the ways people and communities are working to make a difference. We have to empower children by showing them how they can contribute, emphasizing that it’s not their fault, and fostering a connection to nature and their community. We need to focus on actions and solutions and site examples of people who are working on ways to address climate change. For every problem you discuss, try to show a solution. Discuss positive and inspiring stories you see on the news or in your own community.

Climate education is key and (CRETF work) New York State, outlines the elements that educators believe are required for a successful statewide climate education program. It is based on research and analysis of best practices in other states, as well as the expertise from members, many of whom are educators, scholars, policymakers, and students. It lays out a shared vision which is aligned to ensuring the successful realization of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) New York State’s climate law, which is one of the most ambitious in the country.

It is my honor to have Harriet Shugarman join us on the Season 14 opening episode of TMSOG. Harriet is involved with the Climate & Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) and is one of the leading voices in the global parent climate movement. She is the founder of and Executive Director of ClimateMama, and the award-winning author of “How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Turning Angst into Action.” She is the chair of the Advisory Council for Our Kids Climate, an anchor organization connecting national and grassroots groups from more than 50 countries working on intergenerational organizing and engagement strategies. Harriet is a core team member with Climate Junction/The Ecopsychepedia Project, as well as a Leadership Council member with Dear Tomorrow and a professor of World Sustainability and Climate Change Policy and Society. She is an economist and policy analyst and worked for 13 years with the International Monetary Fund including 10 as an IMF representative at the United Nations. Harriet is a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project and the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring. So it is important to teach our children well, and Harriet is leading the way in educating children and adults about the need to protect Mother Earth.

New York Climate Week 2025 runs from September 21st to September 28th. For more info on Climate Week NYC go to: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/ Event Calendar from The Climate Group

Additional links of interest are below:

NEST Climate Campus at the Javits Center

Dear Tomorrow Pop Up at The Creative Climate Forum, Pier 57 on 9/25 (no ticket needed to drop in)

https://www.wecaninternational.org/climate-week

https://www.wecaninternational.org/event-details/climate-week-women-in-action-for-climate-justice-and-a-just-transition-path-to-cop30-and-beyond

WECAN EVENT UN Church Center 9/24

Climate Education In Action 9/26 SunDay 9/21 with GreenFaith and other organizations. Check out EcoPsychepedia via Climate Junction

Dear Tomorrow

Our Kids Climate

CRETF Climate Education in NYC

To help defend democracy please donate if you can to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ https://www.brennancenter.org/ and https://civ.works/ If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org

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

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

People Have the Power with Reverend Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith

We started this episode of TMSOG with the song “People Have the Power” by Patti Smith, which is a song about collective empowerment and the potential for positive change through unified action. It emphasizes the idea that ordinary people, when acting together, possess the ability to shape their world and achieve their dreams. The song was written by Patti Smith and her late husband Fred “Sonic” Smith as a call to action, inspired by the spirit of the 1960s protest movements and aiming to inspire a similar sense of agency in the late 1980s and beyond. It is an anthem about the collective power of individuals to create change. It encourages listeners to recognize their own agency and work together to realize their dreams and address societal issues. The song emphasizes that meaningful transformation comes from the unified efforts of people rather than relying on external forces or authority.

People have the power to do great things, but at times it seems that humans have a propensity to mess things up, especially when it comes to the environment. There are those who are working to make things better and to help reduce the pollution of the land, air and water. We need to build community to protect the Earth. So on this week’s podcast we talk about a powerful ally in the climate movement: religious institutions. From churches to mosques, synagogues to temples, faith communities are stepping up and making a tremendous effort to protect the planet. According to our guest Reverend Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith, the United States stands at a crossroads, as within months, decades of climate progress have been undone. So what can we do to get the pendulum to swing back and get us on a path to creating a healthier planet for current and future generations?

For centuries, faith traditions have urged people to care for the Earth. People more likely trust their spiritual leaders more than politicians or corporations. When a pastor, rabbi, imam, or monk speaks about climate change, it can resonate in a deeply personal way. The climate crisis is causing real harm right now and Faith based groups are helping to fill a gap in climate activism by connecting the global crisis to local needs—providing disaster relief, protecting vulnerable communities, and ensuring that climate justice includes racial and economic equity. The message is clear: caring for the planet isn’t just environmental—it’s spiritual and moral. Our guest Rev. Fletcher Harper gives us his thoughts, as well as important information on how GreenFaith is working to inform faith based communities on ways to be proactive on environmental issues. Reverend Fletcher is a pioneer of the global religious environmental movement, and he helped spearhead the faith-based fossil fuel divestment movement. He organizes faith turnouts at major climate mobilizations, and a mobilization is coming up next month as the Faiths 4 Climate Justice Sun Day will take place from September 19th though the 21st, please go to greenfaith.org for more info. Rev Harper is also the founder of Shine, an international campaign that supports women and community-led renewable energy access initiatives in Africa and India. He is the author of GreenFaith: Mobilizing God’s People to Protect the Earth. You can email Rev. Amy Brooks at amy@greenfaith.org for more info on the Sun Day events.

To find out how to take actions to heighten your civic duty go to https://civ.works/

You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ https://www.brennancenter.org/

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

Crazy Train, Censorship, Cancel Culture and Good Lawyers

Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne

Crazy, but that’s how it goes, millions of people living as foes

Maybe it’s not too late

To learn how to love and forget how to hate

Mental wounds not healing, life’s a bitter shame

I’m going off the rails on a crazy train

I’ve listened to preachers, I’ve listened to fools

I’ve watched all the dropouts, who make their own rules

One person conditioned to rule and control,

the media sells it and you live the role

The lyrics of Crazy Train are quite apropos as to what is going on in this truly mad world. Ozzy was spot on, as society at large and more specifically, the US of A, is going off the rails. In a recent article in the Mens Journal, Ozzy Osbourne stated that this world scares the sh*t out of me. We’re all living on the tinderbox.” He continued, stating that “there’s some maniac somewhere trying to devise a new means of destruction. It always amazes me that mankind always goes to find the biggest, powerful-est means of destruction before they find anything good. It’s always the negative things they find first.” Osbourne also said that since he had children, he wondered what is being left for them and “what a future we’ve got for mankind.“ Rest in power Ozzy!

The question arises, what are we leaving our kids and their kids, when the current regime in Washington is taking us back a hundred years, and we are on the eve of destroying the environment, as rules and regulations to reduce climate change and fossil fuel pollution are being removed. The Environmental Protection Agency—or EPA— which was founded in 1970 at the behest of President Nixon, was made a department to safeguard our air, water, and land. But today, the very agency created to protect us is rolling back the rules designed to do exactly that. What happens when protections for clean air, clean water, and public lands are weakened? And who really benefits?

Clearly big oil and the coal industry are the benefactors and are dancing in the streets, as the black soot and dangerous particulate matter infuses the air with pollutants. Can people NOT SEE what’s going on? Are we in our bubble so deep that we continue to NOT SEE that our health will be affected for generations, as the regulations in place to protect us are stripped away? On this episode of TMSOG, Malcolm and Neil chime in on cancel culture and how comedians on the front line are standing up and telling it like it is (Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, South Park writers and producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone). We also talk about small law firms and solo practitioners banding together to give their time to help immigrants and government workers get the proper legal help they need at these difficult times. So, what is it going to take for citizens to take action? In the words of my brother Mitch, “you got the power, I’ve seen you use it, they say you don’t have it, that’s how you lose it.” Take back your power and do something!

Please go to the following organizations to get info and if you can, donate to https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists which helps scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ World Wildlife Fund: WWF You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ https://www.brennancenter.org/ https://www.democracydefendersfund.org/ and https://civ.works

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

Consider the Octopus-Engaging Youth with Gae Polisner and George Polisner

Walk on the ocean, Step on the stones, Flesh becomes water, Wood becomes bone (Chorus of the song Walk on the Ocean by Toad the Wet Sprocket)

So let’s talk about the ocean which covers approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface. We really can’t walk on it, unless there is some divine intervention. We can revel in it, and walk beside it. I grew up near the ocean and I enjoyed a wonderful childhood on the beach. But I am vexed these days, as the actions of humans are polluting the ocean and large garbage patches called gyres are swirling around harming sea life. If you mention the gyre to the average person, no one knows what you are talking about. The fact that we are literally turning into plastic beings, as nano and microplastics are in our blood, doesn’t seem to connect with a majority of humans on Mother Earth. We need to educate the populace, as time is running out. So let’s have a quick lesson on gyres. A gyre is a massive system of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and the Earth’s rotation. There are five major oceanic gyres: the North and South Pacific, the North and South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean gyre. These currents move slowly, continuously—shaping climate, distributing nutrients, and unfortunately, collecting our plastic waste. As plastics break down, they enter the food web. In essence, the plastic pollution concentrated in the gyres creates a toxic and dangerous environment for many marine species, while simultaneously enabling the establishment of unexpected ecosystems of species far from their usual habitats. Many species, such as Octopuses eat crustaceans and small fish that may have already ingested these pollutants. Over time, toxins can build up in their bodies, threatening their health—and ours, if we eat them. Many animals mistake plastic debris for food, filling their stomachs with indigestible material, leading to starvation or internal injuries. Loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their preferred prey. Albatrosses mistake plastic pellets for fish eggs and feed them to their chicks, resulting in starvation or organ rupture. The Houdinis of the sea, Octopuses are highly adaptable, and can slip through tiny crevices, change color, mimic other animals, and use tools. But bad things happen when their watery homes are impacted by gyres as they become garbage traps. Octopuses as well as thousands of other sea creatures need to be protected, and us humans need to work harder to preserve the oceans for all sea life.

On this weeks podcast, in addition to George Polisner our resident political analyst, eco-activist, curmudgeon and founder of Civ.works we have Gae Polisner, author of young adult and adult adult novels. She is also a practicing family law attorney and mediator. She has co-authored a book with Nora Raleigh Baskin titled Consider the Octopus, which is a heartfelt story about friendship and an empowering call to environmental protection, especially to young people who are already stepping up to help save our oceans and our Earth. For more info go to https://www.gaepolisner.com/copy-of-seven-clues-to-home and @gaepol on instagram. Also go to https://civ.works/ and find out how to take actions to heighten your civic duty .

Also please go to the following organizations to get info and if you can, donate to https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists which helps scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ https://www.brennancenter.org/ and World Wildlife Fund: WWF

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

Takin’ It To the Streets with George Polisner of Civ.Works

We are taking it to the streets, as millions of people protested in every state in the US on “NoKings Day”. Citizens are fed up with the current regime in Washington DC. We are witnessing the dismantling of democracy, as the rule of law is slip sliding away. We have the Marines and National Guard stationed, yes, stationed in Los Angeles, and it seems that many positive court rulings get overturned by the higher courts, thus diminishing the gains. SCOTUS which is supposed to protect the rule of law, is instead bending to a would be king of their making. The “NoKings” protests have given me a slight bit of hope, but this administration is bent on taking rights away, and using henchmen to disappear people off the streets. What are we going to do? What is the end game? We have to continue to push back, sue, and take to the streets. When they go low, we go high, but unless you are living in an alternate universe, there is not much lower we can go, and the only high we have left is the premier kush at the local cannabis dispensary. We must protect the environment, protect due process, and we truly have to defend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. George Polisner, founder of Civ.works and our resident political analyst, eco-activist and curmudgeon gives us some important info on the UN Ocean Conference, the targeting by ICE of immigrants, judges, politicians, and the sane washing of the news by the mainstream media. For more info go to https://civ.works/

Please go to the following organizations to get info and if you can, donate. Check out https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists which helps scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ and the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/

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

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

Astrology of LA, Biodegradable Plastic, and an Homage to Brian Wilson and Sly Stone w/Charlotte Ghiorse

We lost a great one this week Brian Wilson, actually two great ones, as Sly Stone also passed away this week. Brian Wilson was a musical genius! His work is unparalleled and his song God Only Knows is one of the most beautifully crafted love songs ever written. I could have played Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Good Vibrations, God Only Knows, and so many others, but Surfin USA is light, it’s fun, it’s a feel good song, and we need to feel good in these uncertain times, as quite frankly, it’s hard to feel good in today’s America. I actually chose Surfin’ USA because of the chorus, which is “inside, outside, USA” It is hard to be inside America at this moment, as we are witnessing a breakdown of democracy. Those in other nations, are looking at us from the outside, and are wondering WTF is going on. Many of the Beach Boys songs of the early 60s were about surfing and getting the girls. You can say that the California boys loved their California Girls and lived to catch the waves and the get the gals. California has always been a place where folks could see the stars, drive on Highway 1 along the Pacific Ocean, and put the top down to enjoy the beautiful weather, but California, especially Los Angeles, City of Angels, has been dealing with some very difficult problems. In early January of this year fires destroyed the Pacific Palisades and Altadina, and lit up parts of Hollywood, the Valley and other areas. LA is still reeling from those fires, and its aftermath. But now things have gone completely mad, as peaceful protests have risen in response to the tactics of ICE being used to arrest and make immigrants disappear. LA is not a DMZ, and there is no insurrection taking place. The majority of protests are peaceful! Yes, agitators infiltrated the protests, and criminal activities have taken place in South LA, but many were caught and arrested. It is our right under the First Amendment as citizens of the US to protest, but it is not a right for masked individuals without proper IDs and warrants to take people away from their place of work, their homes, schools, or places of worship without DUE PROCESS! ICE is going into courthouses where hearings are taking place on the status of many immigrants, and they are arresting them when they leave the courtroom while trying to exit the building. Marines are on their way to LA in direct violation to the Posse Comitatus Act enacted in 1878, which prohibits the use of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, for domestic law purposes. This is not about quelling a conflict, it’s about control!

We have crossed the red line where the rule of law and checks and balances are failing, and we are losing our rights and freedoms! In this moment, I feel that I am floating though the vortex of the “upside down world”, a world where things are not as they should be, and where the established order is disrupted. We are living in a reality show, and the Mad Hatter is directing his minions to paint the roses red. Those in charge of the US are taking us backwards, which is dangerous path to go down. Citizens are taking a stand and are protesting authoritarian rule. We are living in a world where chaos reigns!

We have to take care of ourselves and take time in this scary moment to enjoy nature, look up at the blue skies, oooh ahhh at the ocean sunsets, hike on the majestic mountain ranges and listen to the birdies sing. I just don’t know what to make of the human species right now, and where we land is up to us. Are we inside or outside of the USA? Will we get through these difficult times? Can we overcome the quagmire that we are in? In the words of the Beach Boys, Wouldn’t It be Nice and God Only Knows. Surfs up, but we don’t know where the tide will take us. Our roving artist, eco activist, astrologist Charlotte Ghiorse gives us some of her thoughts on the current state of the union, environmental issues, some LA astrology and more. For more info go to https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ and Sexy Astrology on FB and YouTube.

Also please go to the following organizations to get info and if you can, donate to https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists which helps scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ and the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/ and https://civ.works/

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

Less Lawn More Life with June Boyle

Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi is a commentary on the way humans are treating Mother Earth. The song critiques the destructive practices of consumerism and industrialization, such as the use of DDT and deforestation and its core message is a warning against the destruction of the natural world and the consequences of unchecked development. The lyrics “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot” encapsulate this theme, highlighting the replacement of natural beauty with concrete and infrastructure. We are in the 25th year of the 21st century and we are not heeding the warnings of climate change as we continue destroying the land, the air and the water with little care and indifference. We over fertilize and spray pesticides on our property without any forethought as to how it affects wildlife and pollinators, as well as the health of our children, our pets and ourselves. How we treat our lawns is parallel to how we treat the planet.

So let’s rethink the idea of a “perfect lawn.” What if the perfect lawn isn’t green, mowed, and sterile, but buzzing with life, color, and purpose? That big stretch of turf grass isn’t as green, environmentally speaking, as it looks. Rethinking our lawns isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about restoring balance. When we trade a bit of turf for native plants, we create space for life to thrive again, and we become stewards, not just homeowners. Today, we’re talking about why it’s time to rethink our lawns, and how replacing just a portion of that grass with native plants can lead to big benefits for you and the planet. The U.S. is home to over 40 million acres of lawn, more than we devote to any irrigated crop. That’s a lot of mowing, watering, and fertilizing. Lawns might look neat, but they’re ecological deserts. They don’t provide food or shelter for wildlife. They guzzle water, especially in places where water is already scarce, and they often need chemical fertilizers and pesticides that run off into our waterways. The amount of mowing is astronomical! Gas-powered lawn equipment is a big source of carbon emissions and air pollution. We want people to join the Less Lawn More Life Challenge which is free, and on this episode we talk to June Boyle, who is the Project Lead for the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge. We delve into the LLML movement, discuss the WildR score, touch on Doug Tallamy’s Home Grown National Park, Plan It Wild and more. June’s journey into native plant advocacy began as a participant in the first Less Lawn More Life challenge three years ago. What started as a desire to learn evolved into deep involvement with the campaign’s growth from a small Westchester County competition to a national movement. June strives to help everyday rewilders make meaningful changes in their own backyards. June is a member of New Castle’s Conservation Board and lives on a former horse farm dating back to 1770, where she continues to transform her landscape one native plant at a time – battling 255 years of non-native plantings in the process. In addition to her work with LLML, June is the President of Cerco Consulting, where she specializes in strategic communications and organizational effectiveness.

For more information go to https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ and check out Plan It Wild https://www.planitwild.com/ also check out https://homegrownnationalpark.org/

Please go to the following organizations to get info and if you can, donate to https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists which helps scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org and https://www.brennancenter.org/ The Brennan Center helps protect voting rights. Also check out civ.works/defend

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

Rising Revolution: The Extremes are Too Extreme: Plastic Eating Enzymes and More with Eco Activist, Artist and Sexy Astrologer Charlotte Ghiorse

The song Revolution had 3 versions and was written by John Lennon as a reflection of his feelings about the Vietnam War and other civil unrest taking place around the world. The lyrics expressed sympathy for social change but expressed doubt about the violence espoused by the New Left. He wanted change without the violence. Now enter Bruce Springsteen, the “Boss” who has thrown down the gauntlet and is outspoken about the dismantling of democracy in the U.S. He is using his music and status to make some noise. He said at a recent concert in Manchester England that “The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times!” So a question that keeps arising is are we on the cusp of a Revolution? The United States is currently facing intense political polarization, and there are legitimate concerns about the erosion of democratic norms, trust in institutions, and the rule of law. However, a full-scale revolution in the traditional sense remains highly unlikely in the near term due to various factors including resilience, protest, and institutions like the judiciary, the press (which to me is questionable) and civil society which are still in place to maintain checks and balances. While mistrust in government is high, most Americans still seek change through elections, protest, and civic engagement rather than violent uprising. Political scientists and democracy experts have been identifying warning signs that suggest democratic backsliding and potential systemic instability in the United States. These signs don’t mean a revolution is inevitable, but they indicate that the foundations of democratic governance are being strained. Political scientists like Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (How Democracies Die) argue that democracies don’t usually collapse through coups anymore—they decay slowly when norms are eroded and institutions are co-opted from within. The United States is not “doomed,” but these warning signs show that vigilance and civic action are essential to preserving democratic stability. On this episode of TMSOG we talk to our resident artist, eco-activist and astrologer Charlotte Ghiorse about the problem of dealing with the narrow politics of the far left and the extreme right. We also touch on innovations that are breaking down plastics. Scientists are discovering enzymes that literally eat plastic. Dr. Antoine Roy, Lead Scientist at Carbios said:“Our enzyme breaks PET down into its original molecules, allowing true recycling. It’s like giving plastic a second life—again and again.” We also touch on what role mushrooms could play in the plastic fight, as companies like Ecovative are growing packaging from mycelium, the root structure of fungi. Charlotte also gives us her latest astrology reading. For more info go to https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ and Sexy Astrology on FB and YouTube.

Also please go to the following organizations to get info and if you can, donate to https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists which helps scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ and the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/ and https://civ.works/

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

The Invasion of Microplastics and How We Can Reduce Plastic Use and Packaging with Alexis Goldsmith, Organizing Director of Beyond Plastics

Plastic production is warming the planet and is expected to double in the next 20 years. Plastic is made from fossil fuels and contains 16,000 chemicals, many of them known to be harmful to humans and even more untested for their safety. Most plastics are made out of ethane, a byproduct of fracking. In 2020, plastic’s climate impacts amounted to the equivalent of nearly 49 million cars on the road, according to a conservative estimate by Material Research L3C. And that’s not including the carbon footprint associated with disposing of plastic. Our oceans have become a plastic dumping site with plastic pollution impacting whales, turtles, fish, dolphins and countless other marine species and habitats. It is on beaches, coastlines, and in lakes, rivers, as well as on land and in the air. Plastic has melded into rocks which is now called Plastistones, a newly recognized type of sedimentary rock that incorporates plastic within their structure. They are essentially “rocks” formed from plastic waste, often found in coastal areas or places where there’s a high concentration of plastic debris. There are micro plastics in the human body and in wildlife. While we all love the Prince tune Purple Rain, we need to find out what’s in ‘Plastic Rain’. Our lives are inundated with plastic, from shampoo bottles to shower curtains. There are micro plastics in toothpaste, plastic utensils, tea bags, bottled water and gum to name a few. How do we stop the proliferation of plastics in manufacturing and what can we do to take action to reduce plastic use? Joining us on this episode of TMSOG is Alexis Goldsmith, National Organizing Director of Beyond Plastics. We talk about how plastic affects climate and health, and we discuss legislation in New York (the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act) which is being worked on to reduce plastic packaging and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill which will increase the beverage container deposit fee from 5 cents to 10 cents.

We must take actions on an individual level to stop using single plastic bottles and other items, especially when it comes to using plastic pouches of baby food to feed our infants and toddlers. Those items used to be in glass containers, and the companies producing baby food should go back to that method of packaging. Please support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act in New York State. In the words of Alexis Goldsmith “Imagine the world you want to see, connect to an organization or community group to take action. The act of trying is empowering.” For more information go to https://www.beyondplastics.org/

Also go to the following organizations to get info and donate https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists help scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ and the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/

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

Tarri-fied of the Constitutional Crisis in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave (or is it?) With George Polisner Founder of Civ.works

In the words of Billie Joe Armstrong of the music group Green Day, “The American Dream is Killing Me”

It’s truly impossible to keep up with my daily newsfeed which highlights the dereliction of duty coming out of the executive branch of the US Government. Each day brings new misery, new bombshells, bringing down the American way of life which is hanging by a thumbnail. At this moment in time, the American dream seems DOA. The concept of the American Dream is rooted in the idea that anyone—regardless of where they come from or what social class they were born into—can achieve success and upward mobility through hard work, determination, and initiative.

Everyone should have the chance to pursue their goals and improve their life which includes personal and economic freedom (like free speech, owning property, starting a business), success through merit: Not based on background or privilege, but on talent and effort. Everyone wants stability and prosperity which is often symbolized by owning a home, having a stable job, and supporting a family. It also about financial independence, creative freedom, or just a fair shot in a system that often feels stacked. I now question whether the American Dream is still accessible as there is rising inequality, student debt, excessive healthcare costs, and systemic barriers which are in place to reduce access to programs that help Americans. The current administration via DOGE has taken out the chainsaw to slash government workers, scientists, educators, immigration, climate policy and more. The Executive branch is defying Supreme Court and Federal Court orders. The US Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the Trump administration must try to release a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to a mega-jail in El Salvador. The government has conceded Mr Ábrego García was deported due to an “administrative error”. No one is safe, as the red shirts and ICE, are using the tactics of the brown shirts, and they are scooping up citizens regardless of their legal status, which means not even US citizens are safe from being stopped, questioned and even taken away for looking different or disagreeing with the current administration. The American Dream is hanging by a thread, for the sake of future generations, this cannot stand!

On this episode of TMSOG we are joined by resident political analyst, environmentalist and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works, who gives us some insight into tariffs, taxes, and the free fall of America into fascism. We examine the current constitutional crisis as the SCOTUS 9-0 ruling regarding the illegal deportation of Kilmar Garcia to El Salvador is being ignored by the current administration. We touch on Harvard taking a stand against authoritarian rule, as Trump and his Broligarch advisors, Miller, Musk and others continue to dismantle democracy, key federal agencies and much more. We are in the many shades of authoritarian rule and chaos is ensuing! For more info go to http://civ.works/defend/ Also go to the following organizations to get info and donate https://www.ucs.org/ (Union of Concerned Scientists help scientists continue their valuable work). If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ https://www.beyondplastics.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ and the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/

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

Penguins, Politics, Plastic and Protest with Charlotte Ghiorse

“You got the power, I’ve seen you use it, they say you don’t have it, that’s how you lose it.” Lyric by Mitch Margo from his song California Reggae Debate (What Can I Do?)

We must act, speak out, protest, and do everything in our power to stop the dismantling of democracy. It’s up to us!!! The current administration is banning words from research documents and reports. An online article from InvestigateMidwest.org stated that: On the day of his inauguration, DJT claimed his administration would end the “censorship of protected speech.” But actions speak louder than words. Thanks to a leaked email memo, we now know the Trump administration has drawn up a list of 110 words and phrases that have now been banned from use in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ARS is the division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tasked with providing the agricultural research, education and economic analysis that protects the health of the nation’s farmland, ensures the safety of the food we eat and develops solutions for diseases, disasters and other threats to the food supply. Here are the climate related terms that have been removed:

climate, climate change, climate-change, changing climate, climate consulting, climate models, climate model, climate accountability, climate risk, climate resilience, climate smart agriculture, climate smart forestry, climatesmart, climate science, climate variability, global warming, carbon sequestration, GHG emission, GHG monitoring, GHG modeling, carbon emissions mitigation, greenhouse gas emission, methane emissions, green infrastructure, sustainable construction, carbon pricing, carbon markets. Other topics with banned words are Pollution Remediation, Water Infrastructure, Clean Energy, Clean Transportation, Affordable Housing, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion).

I am convinced we are in an alternate universe or a hologram, as we are living in a reality show which has no basis in REALITY! On this episode of TMSOG Charlotte Ghiorse, our art guru, eco-activist and sexy astrologist joins us to discuss banned words, the microplastic problem, the tariff on Penguins, protests, the current state of our nation, what astrology has got to do with it and more. For more info go to houseofchoclet.com, Sexy Astrology on FB and YouTube.

Go to https://www.ucs.org/ and donate to help scientists continue their valuable work. If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ https://www.beyondplastics.org/ You can also donate to help lawyers defend our constitution by going to https://www.aclu.org/ and the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/

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