The Climate Minute

Carol Oldham on the Local Environmental Conference: The Climate Hawk's Companion Podcast

In this episode, we talk to Carol Oldham, the Executive Director of MCAN, about the upcoming  Local Environmental Action Conference. She tells us about some of the interesting workshops planned for the day and who the keynote speaker will be.  Whether you are new to the fight or a seasoned Climate Hawk, you will find this conference interesting and informative. Best of all the conference is a great opportunity to meet other good people working to stop climate change.

Northeastern is accessible by subway via the Green Line (the Northeastern stop on the E line) or the Orange Line (Ruggles Station stop). Commuter rail lines connect with the Orange Line at Back Bay Station, Ruggles Station, and North Station. You can find detailed directions here.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog,https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/carol-oldham-on-the-local-environmental-action-conference-the-climate-hawks-companion-podcast/

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

Should you pay for the Governor's new pipeline? The Climate Minute Podcast

Between the veto of the KXL bill and efforts to make people pay for pipelines (instead of solar panels or wind turbines) there is a lot to discuss.
This past week, the President vetoed the KXL bill, but don’t worry- its not dead. As oil trains proliferate, we could see ten explosions per year. Over in Europe, they have big energy plans. Here in Boston, the new Governor is considering asking electrical ratepayers to foot the bill for a new gas pipeline. Really? What about paying for clean energy?
Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog,https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/should-you-pay-for-the-governors-new-pipeline-the-climate-minute-podcast/
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

TPP and CITI, good or bad? - The Climate Minute Podcast

First, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Treaty is being negotiated with little public scrutiny. We aim the change that! Second, what should a Climate Hawk think about CitiGroup’s plan to spend $100B on clean energy?  

Here are the links:
•    Carla Smith lays out a Labor position.
•    Public Citizen explains the TPP
•    Wiki Leaks provides the text of the proposed environmental chapter.
•    Robert Reich explains it all for you. He even gives a video.
•    The Whitehouse provides it’s own explanation.
•    John Oliver makes it real by examining Big Tobacco's antics. (Watch this!!!)
•    Read about CitiGroup’s plan here or here. Then consider  British Petroleum's new statements.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/22/tpp-and-citi-good-or-bad-the-climate-minute-podcast/
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

Snow, thundersnow, trains and earthquakes-The Climate Minute Podcast

Our heavy snows are entirely consistent with global warming and its effect on the jet stream. Jim Cantore  got all worked up about  “ thundersnow “ falling in Plymouth MA. But, is thundersnow a new thing? Cable networks favorite ‘climate guy’ Bill Nye asks the media and us all to talk about climate.

The big train accident in West Virginia was analyzed by Hayes and Maddow.
There are earthquakes in Oklahoma, but does this City Manager suffer from
Stockholm Syndrome? Over at the BradBlog they discuss the train and the RCMP's surveillance of KXL activists.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/snow-thundersnow-trains-and-earthquakes-the-climate-minute-podcast/

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

Divestment Day-The Climate Minute Podcast

This weekend Divestment Day will be celebrated. We discuss the what and why, consider geo-engineering and speculate about the FBI’s now found interest in Climate Hawks.

Bill McKibben himself tells you why you should join an action. (If you have never read McKibben’s “Do the Math” article in Rolling Stone, click here and read it RIGHT NOW! ) There will be actions all over the world as well as here in Massachusetts. In fact over at Harvard there are  protests underway now.

As proof that the divestment movement has strength, consider that Big Oil is pushing back, trying to equate modern life with hydrocarbons. There is even a Valentine’s Day theme that seems to be coordinated, or at least very popular among those attacking divestment. For example, it is not clear if it’s tongue in cheek, self-parody, parody or simply a horribly lame way to reach people, but watch this video
 to see for yourself the demonization of Bill McKibben and the equation of coal to modern life.  When you are done wiping tears of laughter from you eyes, go read this  Op-Ed piece published under the name of Jeff Jacoby, but clearly derivative of the Big Oil meme.

Geo-engineering probably really is a 'wildly, utterly, howlingly barking mad' idea, but should we talk about it anyway?

The ghost of J. Edgar Hoover is probably smiling, now that FBI is monitoring Keystone activists.

Finally, and most importantly, clear your calendar on March 15 for the Local Environmental Action Conference in the Curry Center of Northeastern University, on the Green Line in Boston. It is cheap, fun and a great way to connect to other Climate Hawks.

See the live links at https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/divestment-day-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Check out more  links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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

Why the EPA's Clean Energy Plan will stand up in court- Climate Hawk's Companion

Last summer, the President announced his Clean Power Plan to reduce emissions from coal powered electricity plants. The Plan consists of regulations that are sure to be challenged in court. Dave Roberts at Grist recently posted an explanation of the legal basis for the CPP. We take a moment to discuss the issues with our own legal expert.

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/why-the-epas-clean-energy-plan-will-stand-up-in-court-climate-hawks-companion/

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

EPA weighs in on KXL- The Climate Minute Podcast

The Keystone pipeline is heading for a showdown, and the EPA rides to the rescue.

Here are some links:
•    The pipeline goes through Nebraska, not Nevada (my bad!) Visit our friends at Bold Nebraka
•    The EPA sent Mr Obama a nice note telling him that the Keystone XL pipeline will lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s hope the President reads it before making his decisions.
•    Pope Francis will address a Joint Session of Congress in September. It will be interesting to hear what he says about climate change.
•    Up in Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott (of “Ax the tax” fame) seems to be in deep trouble.
•    The Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty is coming closer, but most of the media ignore it, except for Ed.

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/epa-weighs-in-on-kxl-the-climate-minute-podcast/

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

Is there a vaccine for cabin fever? The Climate Minute Podcast

Can you be vaccinated against snow? Between the record snow recently and the national kerfuffle about vaccines, there is a lot to discuss.

The Boston Globe tried to explain how you get heavy snow and global warming, but in an overly complicated way. Keith Olbermann got it right back in 2010 ( at the 3:16 mark) but also sounds funny, heartbreaking and prophetic all at once.

There were delays on the MBTA. Meanwhile, the IMF (not the World Bank, sorry!) will provide loans after extreme weather events. Over at MIT, they have an idea to make “carbon capture and sequestration”  cheaper.

The whole vaccine question is perplexing. Over at Fox News, Megyn Kelley admits we might need a  big brother once in a while. On the other hand, does  ideological rejection of science,  conspiracy theorizing and hyper-individualism mix in the same way for anti-vaxxers and climate deniers?

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/is-there-a-vaccine-for-cabin-fever-the-climate-minute-podcast/

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

Pipelines explode, Cable News doesn’t- The Climate Minute Podcast

We discuss media treatment of recent pipeline explosions, the Koch’s explosion of campaign money, and the curious story of  Willie Soon.

Here are some links:
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/01/28/study-how-broadcast-networks-covered-climate-ch/202232

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/27/3615930/koch-brothers-climate-delay-889-million-2016-election/

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/01/26/harvard-smithsonian-climate-change-skeptic-accused-violating-academic-disclosure-agreement/Y1uMQ8yuLpYCjOHGckRArO/story.html


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

Just win, baby -The Climate Notes Podcast

Charles and David Koch may be very, very rich...but they're also very, very desperate.

https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/just-win-baby-the-climate-notes-podcast/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/us/politics/most-americans-support-government-action-on-climate-change-poll-finds.html?_r=0

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/27/3615930/koch-brothers-climate-delay-889-million-2016-election/

D.R.