Opinion – Page 2 – The Many Shades of Green

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

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.

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.

Who’s The Boss with George Polisner Founder of Civ.Works

The “Boss” Bruce Springsteen has been in the news of late, as he bravely tells his audiences what’s going on in America right now. He is not adverse to speaking his mind, as he sees his country and democracy slipping away in plain sight. He tells it like it is, with no holes barred. During a White House press briefing on May 15, 2025, Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, responded to Bruce Springsteen’s criticisms of DJT by saying, “Bruce Springsteen, you mean he calls himself the boss? How about the employee, because the boss is the President .” Leavitt’s statement came after Springsteen publicly criticized the current administration during a concert in Manchester, England, calling them “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous”. DJT responded by calling Springsteen “highly overrated” and a “pushy, obnoxious jerk”. One of the Boss’ tunes “Born in the USA” has become an American Anthem, but it is actually a commentary on war and the desperation of returning veterans. The 1984 hit describes a Vietnam War veteran who returns home to desperate circumstances and few options. Listen only to its surging refrain, though, and you could mistake it for an uncomplicated celebration of patriotism. You wouldn’t be the only one. Bruce told radio host Terry Gross in 2005 “The pride was in the chorus, in my songs, the spiritual part, the hope part, is in the choruses. The blues and your daily realities are in the details of the verses.” Bruce started many shows with a really rousing, anthemic-type version of ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ With a bandanna on and a cutoff shirt and the fist-pumping, it felt like a celebration of being born in the USA — when really, it is a defiant song about ‘I was born in the USA, and I deserve better than what I’m getting.’ I think plenty of people didn’t get what it was about and it behooves us to pay attention to the lyrics of the verses of Bruce’s tunes. In current times, it is not hard to realize that we are in dystopian downward spiral and on the verge of authoritarian rule. People want to hide and wake up in 2028. So, there is much to talk about, and on this episode of TMSOG we are joined by our resident political analyst, environmentalist and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works, who gives us some insight and helps us break down what is happening in the US of A, and why we must get up and stand up for our rights and find ways to counter what is going on inside the current regime in the White House. We discuss the Big Beautiful Bill a/k/a the Reverse Robinhood Bill as they are robbing from the poor to give too the rich. Plus the Middle East Crypto and 747 grift tour, Judges on the front line, the need to be proactive, the need to take care of ourselves and much more. Go to https://civ.works/and Civ.works/defend for more info. Listen to and buy music from Bruce Springsteen.

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 https://www.brennancenter.org/ The Brennan Center helps protect voting rights.

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.

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.

Yes, The Sky is Falling, and We’re Not Gonna Take It w/George Polisner

“We’re Not Gonna Take It”… The song by Twisted Sister reflects the current mood in America. Something’s got to give somewhere. We need to resist and we must fight, rebuild and do everything in our power to stop the dismantling of our democratic principles and the Constitution.

The U.S. legal system is founded on the principle that no individual, including the President, is above the law. When SCOTUS declared that a President is immune from prosecution when exercising the ‘core powers’ of the presidency, that opened up the path for the the current administration to dismantle democracy. My question is what are the core powers? While in the past, there have been tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary, an outright defiance of a court order by a president is unprecedented in modern American history.

A president’s defiance of court orders challenges the foundational principle of checks and balances in the U.S. government. Upholding the rule of law necessitates that all branches of government adhere to judicial rulings, ensuring a balanced and functional democracy. On this episode of TMSOG, we have our resident political analyst, environmentalist and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works, who gives us some insight into Project 2025, and the free fall of America into an authoritarian regime. We also explore instances where the administration has defied court orders on immigration which raises concerns about the balance of power in our government. What have we become and how will this all end? For more information go to civ.works. If you can donate to help lawyers defend our constitution go to https://www.aclu.org/ 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 and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen and on Blue Sky @tmshadesofgreen.bsky.social. Listen to TMSOG podcasts on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness #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

Is it Safe? Democracy is Free Falling! With George Polisner founder of Civ.works

“The rich run a global system that allows them to accumulate more wealth while leaving the majority struggling to survive.” – Naomi Klein

The government as we know it is dangling by a thread. The broligarchy has taken over and anointed a self proclaimed king. Here is a quote from the current occupant of the White House, and the dialog that ensued with MAGA MAN and the Governor of NY.

“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” DJ Trump

New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded by saying that President Trump’s gambit to kill congestion pricing is a direct federal “attack on New York sovereignty” by a self-proclaimed “king.” She further stated that “I’m here to say, New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years, and we sure as hell are not going to start now. The streets of the city where battles were fought, we stood up to a king, and we won then. In case you don’t know New Yorkers, when we’re in a fight, we do not back down — not now, not ever.” “I’m governing the great state of New York. I don’t need to be play-wack-a-mole every time something crazy comes out of Washington,” she said. “But you came after New Yorkers, and now I have to step up on this issue.We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington,” she added. All I can say is bravo to Hochul for having the chutzpah to call out the liar in chief. While congestion pricing has its pros and cons, the fact that Governor Hochul had the balls to stand up to Trump was impressive. We need to shout from the rafters, that the US is not a Kingdom, and democracy is still alive!

We need to start dredging up the tea leaves from Boston Harbor and kick start our brains into taking action to stop the self proclaimed king and his henchmen from destroying our country. I would always think to myself, how did the people of Germany and the world let the atrocities of the Third Reich happen? It’s not quite 100 years later, yet here we are, in the US of A, experiencing a takeover of democracy in front of our eyes. Is it a coup, is it a Constitutional Crisis, will it take a Revolution or Civil War to stop it? The spineless GOP and mainstream media are in with it, after all, the golden calf needs to be milked, and power and greed are the end game. We are all in the Gulf of Despair, paddling with half a paddle. The only ones who will save us are ourselves! On this episode of TMSOG, we have our resident environmentalist, political analyst and curmudgeon, George Polisner, founder of Civ.works. on the program. George gives us some insight into the state of the world and the quick sand we find ourselves in. Where is the opposition, the media, the union soldiers? It’s time to get out of our collective funk and take action. For more info go to http://civ.works/defend/ Please donate to 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/is-it-safe-democracy-is-free-falling-w-george-polisner-founder-of-civ-works–64484514

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.

Plastics, Politics and Pinky and the Brain with Charlotte Ghiorse, Founder of House of ChoClet

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” – Benjamin Franklin“

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” – Elie Wiesel

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” – Robert Kennedy

On this episode of TMSOG we went off book and started the podcast with the theme song of the animated series Pinky and The Brain. The lyric of the tune is as follows:

They’re Pinky & the Brain.
Yes, Pinky & the Brain.
One is a genius, the other’s other insane.
They’re labratory mice.
Their genes have been spliced.
They’re Pinky, they’re Pinky & the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain

Before each night is done
Their plan will be unfurled
By the dawning of the sun
They’ll take over the world.

They’re Pinky & the Brain.
Yes, Pinky & the Brain.
Their twilight campaign is easy to explain.
To prove their mousey worth
they’ll overthrow the earth.
They’re Dinky, they’re Pinky & the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain, NARF!

So who is the genius and who is insane? Not sure what the answer is, but we are not in normal times. I feel that we are back in Germany in the 1930s, and if we don’t fight back, if we don’t resist, we are doomed. Our monthly resident artist, eco-activist and Sexy Astrologist gives her take on what’s happening in Washington DC, and co-host Malcolm Burman chimes in with some of his thoughts. Democracy is hanging by a thread, which begs us to ask; where is the opposition, where is the main stream media, and why are more people not jamming the streets and screaming? Where are the lawyers and the hackers who are on the side of the Constitution? We have a shadow president running and simultaneously ruining the country. Who is going to take a stand and stop the madness?? Since Charlotte is the Sexy Astrologist (@soulfulsexyastrology) she gives us some information on President 45/47’s astrology chart. We also talk about the danger of microplastics in our bodies, as well some innovative companies helping solve the plastic problem. For more info on Charlotte go to Sexy Astrology on Facebook and visit https://www.houseofchoclet.com/

To donate and take action go to https://www.aclu.org/ and EarthJustice https://act.earthjustice.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.

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