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

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

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

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

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are making historic investments in rail, which means fewer accidents and delays, faster travel times, and lower shipping costs for the American people.” “These projects will make American rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, delivering tangible benefits to dozens of communities where railroads are located, and strengthening supply chains for the entire country.” USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

As a kid I used to play with my brother’s Lionel train set, and I particularly liked the miniature animals and people which I could place in the station or on the caboose (the last car on the train). I grew up in Brooklyn, and my mom Ruthie the QOFE (Queen of F’ing Everything) would often take me on the BMT subway line to downtown Brooklyn to shop at A&S and go to the Automat for lunch. I loved train rides, and for years I commuted from the suburbs to NYC on the Metro North Railroad. I have taken Amtrak trains to Washington DC and Boston, and I have ridden the rails in Europe. Train travel started in 1830 on Christmas Day when the first mechanical passenger train in the US opened for service. On May 10th 1869 the infamous ceremonial 17.6 karat golden spike (also known as The Last Spike) was driven in by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha. Over the next century, both passenger and freight rail exploded, laying the tracks for westward expansion and an economic boom. During his 36 years as a senator, President Biden traveled back and forth from Wilmington DE to Washington DC daily. The president says he’s logged more than 1 million miles on Amtrak during his public service career. Biden has asked  “Why, in the United States of America, do we not have the best rail system in the world?” He noted that better train service in some of America’s busiest locales would help ease car traffic and potentially reduce fossil fuel use, he added, “There’s so much more we can do to better the environment and quality of life.” Passenger rail ridership has been on the decline, but people still like to take trains, and we need to improve the train system in the US, as Europe, Japan and China have more advanced rail systems, including high speed bullet trains. Polls do show that improved Amtrak services are important to Americans. It is a more sustainable way to travel and it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our transportation sector.  Our monthly guest commentator, eco-activist, artist and sexy astrologist Charlotte Ghiorse joins us to discuss the importance of trains in the fight against climate change, plus some Astrology updates.

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/

Quel ton de vert préférez-vous? (What’s your shade of green/ what shade of green do you prefer?)

She answered “Vert Caca d’oie”  (Goose poop green)

Charlotte was in France at the time of the taping, so we got slightly carried away with the what’s your shade of green question. Both Paris and Ithaca have been in the news of late, as both cities have put green initiatives into place to reduce their carbon emissions. In Ithaca, the city is focused on eliminating gas from buildings because as stated in eartheasy.com, homes in the United States are responsible for about 20% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions annually. These emissions come directly from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, fracked gas and gasoline. Shifting your home energy towards cleaner alternatives is a critical component to slashing emissions and creating a healthier future, as natural gas is mostly methane, a potent greenhouse gas with more climate-warming particles. The goal then is to switch buildings to electricity that’s generated mostly from renewable electricity. Heat pumps and geothermal energy are being used as alternatives to gas. Ithaca is working with their electric utility NYSEG, and using incentives to make the gas to electric switch happen. 

On the other side of the pond, Paris is working to make the city more resilient and has added more bike lanes and green space. The air quality is not great and the Seine is polluted, but Paris has a plan. The city is preparing for the 2024 Summer Olympics and is working hard to have the various sites be more sustainable. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has placed green policies at the forefront of her campaigns, and she has plans to plant four new ‘urban forests’ next to major landmarks including the Hôtel de Ville, the Gare de Lyon and the Opéra Garnier. Hidalgo told The New York Times that one of her major goals is to “build this city around the individual” using the “15 minute city” model proposed by Carlos Moreno, a professor at the city’s Sorbonne University. In this model of the city, residents would have access to all basic services (public transport, shops, schools) within a quarter-hour of their home. One simple way to do that, is to put nature back into urban life. I was in Paris at the Eiffel Tower last November and I saw the work being done on the new park surrounding the landmark, and it is going to be beautiful. As mentioned, an area of concern now is the pollution in the Seine. Many Olympic water events are going to take place on and in the river, so something needs to be done quite quickly to resolve this issue, as the controversy surrounding the quality of the water is in the forefront. With that aside, Paris is making headway to be cleaner and greener.  By 2030, the most famous street in Paris, the Champs-Élysées, will be turned into an ‘extraordinary garden’ as part of a massive €250 million makeover. The plans include reducing the number of car lanes from four to two, creating new pedestrian and green areas, and planting ‘tree tunnels’ that improve air quality along the 1.9km-long avenue. Joni Mitchell will be happy to hear that news, as her tune Free Man in Paris originally released in 1974, has her wandering down the Champs-Elysees, which will soon look quite different, and will be environmentally friendly.

Our resident artist, eco-activist and astrologist, Charlotte Ghiorse discusses what is happening in Ithaca and Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She also gives us some updated astrology (Uranus in conjunct with Jupiter in the 11h House), and much more. To get more info as to what Charlotte is up to go to https://www.houseofchoclet.com/ and visit Sexy Astrology on Facebook and YouTube. Check out eartheasy.com for sustainability info. For past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and Malcolmpresents.com. Follow The Many Shades of Green (TMSOG) on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @tmshadesofgreen. Listen to TMSOG podcast on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

TMSOG is proud to be on Feedspot’s list (at # 8) of the 50 Best Environmental Podcasts to follow in 2024 https://podcasts.feedspot.com/environmental_podcasts/

To file a noise complaint go to https://www.coalition-to-prevent-westchester-airport-expansion.org/noise-complaints

Please subscribe to The Many Shades of Green Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Spreaker.com, iHeart, Amazon and more. Check out past shows on HudsonRiverRadio.com and MalcolmPresents.com. Follow us on FaceBook and Instagram @tmshadesofgreen #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness

CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS IN YOUR APARTMENT
Easy steps to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions that
cause climate change.

FOOD HABITS:
 Shift your diet to eat more plant-based foods
 Reduce food waste and buy foods from local producers
 Compost organic waste; find local drop-off sites here-
https://www.grownyc.org/compost

ENERGY EFFICIENCY and RENEWABLE ELECTRIC SUPPLY
 NYC passed Local Law 97 and this mandates limits on greenhouse
gas emissions in large building like Lincoln Towers by 2030
 Stay informed how you and your building must comply with this
law. https://www.newyorkbuildingenergy.com/
 Use LED light bulbs, Energy Star efficient appliances
https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits
 Urge your board and management company to choose a “green”
energy supply company (ESCO) that generates electricity from
wind, solar or hydro; https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-
insight/features/get-to-know/nyc039s-most-eco-conscious-energy-
providers/25522

MANAGE YOUR REFRIGERATOR AND AIR CONDITIONERS
 Buy brands that use non-fluorinated gases (CFCs and HFCs) as
coolants. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases. See brands here;
 https://eia-global.org/reports/20200625-hfc-free-refrigerator-list
 Dispose of old appliances according to local Dept of Sanitation
regulations: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01792

Also visit thegreendivas.com and tweet us @TheGreenDivas, @tmshadesofgreen and @50ShadesofGDs

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Water is the source of all life, there is a world water crisis, and millions of people on the planet do not have potable, clean, drinking water. My guest this week, Paul Lazarus, director, writer and producer of film, television and theater has directed a wonderful documentary entitled, Slingshot. The film focuses on the the current global water crisis, and the path that inventor/engineer extraordinaire, Dean Kamen takes to bring his water purification system to the world market. The documentary has won film festival awards, and is a must see movie. For more information, go to www.slingshotdoc.com

Features Adam Friedman, Director of the Pratt Center for Community Development.

#1210: Adam Friedman of Pratt Center for Community Development