The Climate Minute

The mysterious case of Wayne’s emails: The Climate Minute Podcast

Through either malice or ignorance, the duly elected President of these proud United States continued his mindlessly destructive assault the environment. By approving the KXL pipeline, he has re-ignited a controversy that will simmer for years. His disappearing Secretary of State was shown to have used (and mysteriously deleted) his private email which used the romantic name “Wayne Tracker.” On the other hand, we see India declare the Ganges a person, and discuss whether “Lord of the Flies” or “Grapes of Wrath” capture the tenor of the times. Listen in.

Gorsuch is “void for vagueness” : The Climate Minute Podcast

From President Cheetoh’s approval of the KCL pipeline to his plans attacking climate programs, there is plenty to discuss. Also, the Senate heads for a showdown over the Gorsuch nomination, but you can still get bus tickets to the DC rally on 4/29. Hang in there!

Rachel Carson was right: The Climate Minute Podcast

Rachel Carson’s 110th birthday will be this May. Her book “Silent Spring” was landmark of environmental awareness. This spring will be a great moment to reflect on Carson’s life and impact. We check in with Ellie Goldberg, for whom Carson is a hero. In 1989 Ellie Goldberg founded www.healthy-kids.info, a consulting service promoting health security and educational equity for students with asthma and other chronic health conditions. Her goal was to help educators, health professionals, community officials, organizations, policy makers and parents work together to improve policies and practices so that schools are safe for children's healthy development. Listen in!

Budget guy on climate programs -“We consider that to be a waste of your money”: The Climate Minute Podcast

If a Federal budget is a vision of the future then the administration’s current proposal calls for a climate hellscape populated by hungry elders in a hollowed out democracy. We can push back by voting and demanding our Members of Congress reject this insulting document. Keep in mind that the green future is growing even now, with new technology allowing ever more local energy production and exchange. Listen in.

Think globally, resist locally: The Climate Minute Podcast

MCAN’s Local Environmental Action Conference was held on March 5th at Northeastern University. Kandi Mossett was the morning keynote speaker, and presented a powerful image of the destruction fracking has wreaked damage on Native American Communities. For her part, Lois Gibbs was living a normal life in upstate New York until “she discovered that her neighborhood sat atop a toxic dump containing 21,000 tons of buried chemical waste, the infamous Love Canal.” In one of the breakout sessions, Carol Oldham discussed MCAN’s offering to help activist begin the process of finding out where they can help their towns become greener. Listen in!

Scott Pruitt’s betrayal of the EPA, scientific integrity and the future: The Climate Minute Podcast

In a statement that can only be considered an insult to the very concept of truth and scientific integrity, Scott Pruitt, the new leader of the EPA, said the following about carbon dioxide “I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact, so no, I would not agree that it’s a primary contributor to the global warming that we see,” This denial of the scientific output of the EPA, based on his personal opinion and narrow ideology is an outrage. His extreme views may influence decisions on California’s right to pursue green initiatives.
Scott Pruitt will only be brought to heel by political pressure from Congress, who will themselves only respond to direct communication from their constituents. Check the reading list to find your Member of Congress. A short phone call is all it takes.

Stevie B and T-Rex butt heads over Paris: The Climate Minute Podcast

The Paris Agreement, flawed and fragile as it is, represents the world’s best hope of addressing global warming. While the COTUS (Cheeto of the US) railed against it on the campaign trail, there appears to be an ongoing discussion about whether the US should leave the agreement. It seems “Camp of the Saints Steve Bannon” and “Arctic Rex Tillerson” disagree on the wisdom of this. How much fun would that be to watch? Listen in!
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.
Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Somehow the subject of the Ukraine came up: The Climate Minute Podcast

Our new Attorney General’s admission that he spoke with the Russian ambassador became a climate issue once Ukraine economic sanctions ‘somehow came up’ in the conversation. Why? The Obama era sanctions were a punishment for invading Ukraine, and effectively blocked the development of Russian arctic oil by- wait for it- Rex Tillerson’s Exxon. Putin’s desire for the $500B deal was a clear possible motive for hacking our election. On the other hand, Darryl Issa’s new found enthusiasm for protecting the climate is a good example in how to pressure your Member of Congress. Listen in.

Stand together or fall alone: The Climate Minute Podcast

The wave of anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-climate sentiment, not to the mention raw racism that is being fed by our new administration, demands that we stand together. Climate Hawks need to fight the “Neo-Know-Nothing” policies of Trumpism on every front. One way to do that is right at home, by setting up a ‘green fuel’ standard to minimize the impact that burning fossil fuels for transport. Listen in as we discuss.

Can we build a seawall around Scott Pruitt? The Climate Minute Podcast

Adaptation and mitigation are common terms in climate discussions, but they come into sharp focus when a massive seawall is proposed for Boston Harbor. Is it wise? Can we make the Koch brothers pay for it? What about the folks on the other side of the seawall, be they in Provincetown or Bangladesh? Is it better to spend that money mitigating carbon pollution? You’ll have to come up with your own answer since Scott Pruitt, the new head of EPA, seems to have little concern for the environment he swears to protect. Listen in.