How much is $38T? Yes, T = trillion. That's a big number and we talk about it in this episode of Making Sense of Climate (audio)

FM #1195 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1195 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate by working through a listing of article links accumulated since we had last talked. The links are included in one PDF shared below.

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 44 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1195-making-sense-of-climate-43-04-30-24

--------------

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

Links for our discussion in one PDF doc -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GNwjgXLcm3N3nmkjgApehEq0nITcRvz-/view?usp=drive_link

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

How much is $38T? Yes, T = trillion. That's a big number and we talk about it in this episode of Making Sense of Climate (audio)

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this week, Thursday, May 2, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.  

 

Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

 

OPTION:     

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

As usual, we will share information about 350 Mass, and discuss and plan for local and state activities. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024

Attendees at our Node meeting will share developments in their cities and towns.

IMPORTANT Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. Please take these actions this week and next week.

For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website. 

 

We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.

 

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, May 16. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

FM #1176 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1176 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. Starting with highlights from Ted’s experience of the eclipse, and with my highlights from the Citizen Legislative Seminar where I spent 2 days in State House.

• NY Attorney General sues meat producer https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/29/new-york-jbs-climate-lawsuit

• Meat a contributor https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/us-banks-sabotaging-own-net-zero-plans-by-livestock-financing-report-claims 

• 80/20 rule strikes again https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/just-57-companies-linked-to-80-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-since-2016 

• How to spot five of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest disinformation tactics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/14/climate-disinformation-explainer?CMP=share_btn_url 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 43 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1176-making-sense-of-climate-42-04-16-24

--------------

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, April 18

 

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, April 18, 7:00-9:00 pm.  Please add it to your calendar.

The meeting will be on Zoom: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274    Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

Whether or not you attend the meeting, we ask you to complete two easy but important tasks.

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

1. Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our 350 Mass priority bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. You will find a script for a phone call and text for an email. Please take these actions this week or next week, before May 1.  

2. It's a "No Brainer" that we tell ISO-New England to stop sending our money to fossil fuel peaker plants! Read about it and sign the statement here.

Please sign up for the Climate Weekly email if you are not yet receiving it. 

Check out upcoming events on our website. 

 

Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. 

Thank you.

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

The Guardian: "How to spot five of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest disinformation tactics"

"Amy Westervelt and Kyle Pope have covered climate disinformation for a combined 20-plus years – here’s their guide on how to decode it

Increasingly sophisticated and better-funded disinformation is making climate coverage trickier both for journalists to produce and for the public to fully understand and trust.

But telling the story, and understanding it, has never been more urgent with half of Earth’s population eligible to vote in elections that could decisively impact the world’s ability to act in time to stave off the worst of the climate crisis.

Swayed for 30 years by fossil fuel industry propaganda, the media has been as likely to unknowingly amplify falsehoods as they were to bat them down. It’s only in recent years that more journalists started to shy away from “both-sides-ing” the climate crisis – decades after scientists reached an overwhelming consensus on the scope of the problem and its causes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/14/climate-disinformation-explainer?CMP=share_btn_url

‘Basically it’s a propaganda campaign.’ Composite: Getty Images, Guardian Design

Franklin Health Dept: Climate change is the most pressing threat to human health

It's National Public Health Week! 

Today's theme is Climate Change. Climate change is the most pressing threat to human health. If we don't make changes, in 5 years our carbon budget would be depleted and the likelihood of devastating global climate impacts would be very high. By buying less, supporting green spaces, and transitioning to renewable energy, we can lessen the health impacts of climate change. 

Visit for more ways you can make a difference: https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions 

Franklin Health Dept: Climate change is the most pressing threat to human health

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

FM #1164 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1164 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The list of articles we drew from:

• Nature article - Are we all doomed? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00790-6  
• Office of Energy Transformation https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-establishes-nations-first-office-of-the-energy-transformation 
• False info from activists on whale impact for wind power https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/25/science/activists-use-whales-to-fight-wind/ 
• MBTA to improve battery/electric efforts  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/24/metro/battery-powered-improved-service-could-be-coming-to-ts-commuter-rail-in-2027/ 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 37 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1164-making-sense-of-climate-41-03-26-24    

--------------

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, April 4, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this week, Thursday, April 4, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.  

Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same. 

 

Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

 

OPTION:     

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

As usual, we will share information about 350 Mass, and discuss and plan for local and state activities. 

We are scheduling Franklin residents to make Citizen Comments to the Franklin Town Council to advocate for a Franklin Sustainability Coordinator. When you SIGN UP, please write in your name and put an X on the date you want to speak. We really want a variety of town voices, not the same ones each meeting (4 meetings x 3 Citizen Comment speakers = 12 different voices). For those who have already signed up with Xs for all the dates, CHOOSE ONE and PUT PARENTHESES AROUND THE Xs ON THE OTHER DATES in case we need you as backup. DON'T WORRY: THE TALKING POINTS WILL COME LATER THIS MONTH (we're organizing them right now). SIGN UP HERE.

Also, attendees at our Node meeting will share developments in their cities and towns.

IMPORTANT Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. Please take these actions this week and next week.

For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website. 

 

We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.

 

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, April 18. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, March 21, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, March 21, 7:00-9:00 pm.  Please add it to your calendar. 

We will send more details about the meeting on Wednesday/Thursday. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

The meeting will be on Zoom:  

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274    Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

You may be interested in an online program, this Wednesday, March 20, 7-8:30 pm. Presentation on Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change: Communities and individuals must develop strategies to deal with the effects of climate change as they happen. Join Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, for a presentation and Q&A and learn how you can make your community safer and more secure in the face of our changing climate. Sign up here. Wed, Mar 20, 7-8:30 pm.

Please sign up for the Climate Weekly email if you are not yet receiving it. 

Check out upcoming events on our website. 

 

Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. We will maintain our schedule of meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. 

Thank you.

Thank you.

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)

FM #1159 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1159 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The topic list:

• Pickled jalapeño, blueberry, strawberry, raisins, & flax seed added to steel cut oats

• State of the Union, Inflation Reduction Act

• Conservation land, rewilding to restore carbon balance

• Gulf Stream, and implications of climate change

• Boston Globe article on smart electrical panels

• Stranded asset, reuse with geothermal possible

• Total eclipse, April 8

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 47 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1159-making-sense-of-climate-40-03-12-24

--------------

Boston Globe article on monitoring devices for electricity in the home

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/07/nation/want-to-electrify-your-home-it-might-need-this-upgrade-first/ 

“Ministry of the Future” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future 

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Jalapeño enhances flavors and starts our Making Sense of Climate episode this time (audio)