Education – The Many Shades of Green

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/

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.#RaiseYourSocialConsciousness

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

Bee Smart-Skip the Spring Pesticides with Victoria Alzapiedi Co-Founder of New Castle Healthy Yards

On this episode of TMSOG we dive into sustainable living, eco-friendly habits, and practical solutions for a healthier planet, and we tackle an important topic: reducing pesticide use on lawns. For many homeowners, a lush green lawn is a point of pride, but maintaining that perfect lawn often comes at a cost—both to our health and the environment. Chemical pesticides and herbicides, commonly used to control weeds and pests, can contaminate water sources, harm beneficial insects, and pose health risks to humans and pets. We must be aware of the dangers to chemical exposure specifically 2,4-D, or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a widley used herbicide and plant growth regulator that controls broadleaf weeds by disrupting their growth processes, often used in products for lawns, farms, and other areas. Studies have linked occupational exposure to 2,4-D and other chlorophenoxy herbicides to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease. So, what can we do to maintain beautiful lawns while reducing pesticide reliance? Victoria Alzapiedi, our resident garden, wildlife and healthy yards guru joins us to discuss how we can coexist with nature and wildlife by reducing pesticide use on our properties and what the alternatives are to spraying pesticides. We encourage you to grow meadows in lieu of lawns and to plant native trees and shrubs to protect pollinators. 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 Westchester Climate Smart Communities Task Force. She is also a member of Friends of Buttonhook, which is working to save a 20.3 acre forrest in the Town of New Castle. In addition, she is the co-founder of the New Castle Pollinator Pathways Coalition, and started the Facebook group “The Nature of Westchester” an active community of nature lovers which has grwon to almost 5000 members. Victoria is also a Native plant gardening consultant and coach providing eco-friendly planting recommendations. For more info go to New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook, check out mynativegardenoasis.com. If you want to help protect the environment please donate to https://earthjustice.org/ https://www.beyondplastics.org/ If you can donate to help lawyers defend our constitution go to https://www.aclu.org/

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.#RaiseYourSocialConsciousness

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.

National Parks, eBird, Big Nights (Vernal Pools) and other things with Victoria Alzapiedi

Teddy Roosevelt was a very active president who established many public lands, including national parks, national forests, and national monuments. He was known as “The Conservation President”. He said the following:

“All life in the wilderness is so pleasant that the temptation is to consider each particular variety, while one is enjoying it, as better than any other. A canoe trip through the great forests, a trip with a pack-train among the mountains, a trip on snow-shoes through the silent, mysterious fairy-land of the woods in winter–each has its peculiar charm.”

“it is also vandalism wantonly to destroy or to permit the destruction of what is beautiful in nature, whether it be a cliff, a forest, or a species of mammal or bird. Here in the United States we turn our rivers and streams into sewers and dumping-grounds, we pollute the air, we destroy forests, and exterminate fishes, birds and mammals — not to speak of vulgarizing charming landscapes with hideous advertisements. But at last it looks as if our people were awakening.”

So how awake are we, as our national parks are in jeopardy, and they need a life line to be saved from indiscriminate cuts by the current regime in the Whitehouse. Let’s go into a little bit of history as to how our national park system came into being. It started with the the Act of March 1, 1872, when Congress established Yellowstone National Park in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” and placed it “under exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior.” The founding of Yellowstone National Park began a worldwide national park movement. Today more than 100 nations contain some 1,200 national parks or equivalent preserves. Congress declared in the General Authorities Act of 1970 “that the National Park System, which began with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, has since grown to include superlative natural, historic, and recreation areas in every region…and that it is the purpose of this Act to include all such areas in the System….” nps.gov The crowning jewel of the US, its National Park System, has been tarnished and put on the chopping block. It saddens me to say, but our national parks as we know them are about to be dirtier, less safe, and less accessible due to the purge and shredding by DOGE and the Orange King. Over 1000 park service employees have been fired, and the gem of the US has been targeted in a land grab to privatize public lands for the fossil fuel and lumber industries to decimate, as greed now rules the land. Victoria Alzapiedi co-founder of New Castle Healthy Yards and chair of the New Castle Conservation Boards joins us and gives us great information about National Parks, Birds (eBird), Big Nights (Vernal Pools), planting Native trees and plants in the Spring, and much more. For more info go to NewCastle Healthy Yards and
The Nature of Westchester on Facebook.
Check out mynativegardenoasis.com and the apps for birding Merlin and eBird. If you can donate, please go to http://civ.works/defend/ https://www.aclu.org/ and https://earthjustice.org/

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.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ebird-it-s-spring-big-nights-other-things-w-victoria-alzapiedi–64613009

Shift Happens in Communities with Dayna Reggero of The Climate Listening Project and Paula Swepson-Avery Executive Director of The West Marion Community Forum

“You Got the Power, I’ve seen you use it, they say you don’t have it, that’s how you lose it!” Mitch Margo from his song California Reggae Debate (You Got the Power)

We do have the power, and there are amazing people doing great work to make things better. The Climate Listening Project is a healing listening effort from award-winning documentarian Dayna Reggero to create safe spaces to connect and share hopeful conversations on climate change impacts and move forward towards community solutions. Dayna works within communities to listen and partner with nonprofit organizations and groups to help share the stories that need to be heard. She is working with Paula Swepson-Avery, Executive Director of The West Marion Community Forum. Paula’s quote on the Forum website states: “The best thing about the Forum is that it allows you to dream.”The mission of the Forum is to enhance the quality of life of its residents in McDowell County, North Carolina. This is done by showing compassion, advocating for policy and systems change, promoting economic development, sharing resources, empowering youth, and creating equitable outcomes for all.

In these times of uncertainty, I think we all find ourselves feeling helpless as to what we can do to make a difference. It is therefore more important than ever that we communicate, and truly listen to one another within our communities so that we can work together to be agents of change. Environmental justice and social justice must be supported and given priority in the conversations of those in government, organizations and with the citizenry. On this episode of TMSOG podcast, we talk to two amazing women who work to bring these important issues to the forefront. Dayna Reggero who is a friend of TMSOG, is an award-winning filmmaker and founding director of the Climate Listening Project. Her work has been recognized for amplifying voices that often go unheard in the mainstream climate conversation. We also speak with Paula Swepson-Avery who is the Executive Director of The West Marion Community Forum. The Forum helps engage residents to help them become leaders to create change through new businesses, empowered youth, affordable housing, teaching gardens, and a community center that creates opportunities for the future. We need to be proactive and be better listeners as we have the power, and we need to use it. For more information go to climatelisteningproject.org and westmarion.org
West Marion was donated a Community building that used to be a Black school that will be used as a local resilience hub: https://mcdowellnews.com/news/local/government-politics/marion-city-council-west-marion-inc-community-center-epa-grant-hudgins-high-mountain-view/article_00ee8a70-5fd9-11ef-9850-c3b3f4657839.html

Shift Happens in Communities: https://www.shifthappenstoolkit.org/

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.

Discussion with Jenny Milchman author of the the psychological thriller “The Usual Silence”

In this world gone mad, we need to take time to escape, and a good book can take you to a place that allows your imagination to run free. Psychological thrillers are quite popular, as they keep you immersed in stories that connect characters with plot lines that create suspense. According to an online article in Psychology Today by Yoo Jung Kim MD and Yoo Eun Kim, psychological thrillers explore their characters’ innermost thoughts and motivations, allowing us to examine how their decisions propel the plot forward into the extremes of human ethics and morality. The author, Jean Hanff Korelitz who wrote the title You Should Have Known states that the reason that psychological thrillers are so engaging is the ongoing tension between what the audience knows (or thinks that they know) and what the characters know (or what they don’t know) and the sort of “smugness” the readers feel in relation to the characters. She states, “and while we’re busy yelling at them (in our heads, at least) not to make such stupid decisions, we’re also telling ourselves that we would never fall for such a suspicious character or obvious ruse.” Our guest on this episode of TMSOG is Jenny Milchman, the Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning and USA Today bestselling author known for her gripping psychological thrillers. In her latest novel, The Usual Silence, Jenny introduces us to psychologist Arles Shepherd, a character haunted by her own past while striving to help others, and she brings true crime podcast characters into the plot, which reflects the growing influence of true-crime media in real-life investigations. True crime podcasts are very popular and some have contributed to solving cases. There is even a TV show, Only Murders in the Building, where the characters have a shared interest in true crime podcasts, and wind up producing their own podcast about the murders which took place in their upscale apartment building in NYC. In The Usual Silence, Jenny highlights how modern technology, podcasts and social media can intersect with traditional investigative methods.

Beyond her writing, Jenny Milchman is the founder of “Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day,” an initiative celebrated annually across all fifty states and on five continents, encouraging young readers to explore the joys of bookstores, and she is also known for her extensive book tours, having embarked on journeys that span over 400 bookstores across the United States, reflecting her dedication to connecting with readers nationwide. For our listeners eager to dive into Jenny’s newest compelling psychological thriller, The Usual Silence, it is available at bookstores, libraries and online at amazon.com. To stay updated on Jenny’s future projects, visit her website at https://jennymilchman.com/

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.

2024 Roundtable Wrap Up

“It is time for the people to run the government, not the other way around.” Jimmy Carter— Acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in 1976. (Carter Presidential Library)

The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.” — Carter’s closing remarks during his Nobel Peace Prize address.

The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter passed into the heavens at the age of 100. In a word, he was a mensch, and he was a shining example of the good that can be done for society if one takes action to do so.

So here we are at the end of 2024, a year that has been tough in many ways, but as there is always a ying and a yang, there were some good things to balance out the bad. On this episode of TMSOG we reflect on the highs, lows, and everything in between from the past year. I truly cannot believe that we’re already wrapping up 2024. The year has flown by, and I would like to take a moment to thank our listeners for sticking with us through another crazy year. My favorite monthly resident commentators take part in a roundtable discussion of various topics that have been touched on throughout the year. George Polisner (founder of Civ.works) Charlotte Ghiorse ( Eco-activist, and Sexy Astrologer), Mark W. Sutton (author of How Democrats Can Win Back Men: Why Understanding Male Voters and Their Issues is Vital for Democratic Victory) and Victoria Alzapiedi (Founder of New Castle Healthy Yards and Chair of New Castle Conservation Board) inspire and inform us with some great information. Also chiming in we have my fellow Tush Twin Rusti Wolintz (Realtor and cannabis expert) plus my co-host Malcolm Burman and Neil Richter, our engineer extraordinaire and rock and roll aficionado. So tune in to our annual year end wrap up as we say adieu to 2024. We recap important events on the global and national levels, discuss the environment, social justice and other topics, and highlight some stories big and small. We also share some of our favorite moments from the year and talk about what’s coming in 2025. Check out these links for more info: https://www.oregonkelp.com/projects/sunflower-sea-star-recovery/ https://civ.works/ https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ https://earthjustice.org/ https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/appalachians/ https://www.mark-sutton.com/ Please visit New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook.

To listen to past TMSOG shows go to https://hudsonriverradio.com/ and https://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 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 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!

“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/

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/