It takes a lot of personal strength to commit an act of civil disobedience. What principles and inspiration lead Daniel Yildirim to become a valve turner? What sustains him on the difficult road? Listen in as we discuss.

The reading list:

• Permaculture
• The Catholic Worker
• The bystander effect
• The Ominvore's Dilemma

Send us an email at podcast@massclimateaction.net.

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

Daniel Yildirim, along with three other 'valve turners', shut down a pipeline in Minnesota early this month. Listen in as we chat about the who, the what, the when and especially the why of this direct action against climate change. How can this act help all of us come to understand the implications of climate change? Does the 'necessity defense' apply in this case? Does the enormity and immediacy of the threat justify breaking the law? We discuss.

 https://soundcloud.com/massclimateaction/a-human-sized-drama-in-minnesota-the-climate-minute-podcast

 The reading list:

• Unicorn Riot gives a good accounting of the action, with lots of video
• Eric Holthaus makes a report on the action
• The 4necessity website
• The necessity defense in a previous case
• An explanation of the necessity defense
• Criminalization of pipeline protests

Send us an email at podcast@massclimateaction.net.

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

The Massachusetts Legislative session has just begun, and it is a good time to catch up on the list of climate bills that MCAN is supporting. Executive Director Carol Oldham takes us on a tour of what is happening, and how you can help. Remember, there is a Webinar on 2/26. Sign up! You can also hear us on Podbean and Stitcher

The reading list:

• A short description of the bills we like
• RSVP for the Legislative Conversation Webinar 2/26!
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

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

The science and reality of climate change is inexorable. According to the New York Times, “..the five warmest years in recorded history have been the last five, and that 18 of the 19 warmest years have occurred since 2001.” Listen in as we discuss and check in on some hungry polar bears.

The reading list:

• LA to ditch fossil fuels
• Climate change as security threat
• Eversource jumps into wind power
• NYT: the fourth hottest year
• When hungry polar bears come to visit
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

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

A recent article by Carolyn Kormann in the New Yorker reviews the issues around the costs of climate change. We discuss the observations, plus more.

The reading list:

• Kormann's New Yorker article on the economics of climate change
• Baker Testifies about climate

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

A document, saying in part “That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that it is the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal..” will be placed before Congress. The document outlines more detail of what a Green New Deal actually entails. Listen in as we discuss what all this means!

The reading list:

Read the actual proposal here

Roberts at Vox discusses the text

Holthaus at Grist on the GND

NPR's Inskeep reports on the GND

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

In this episode, we discuss the content of MCAN’s scorecard of the state’s municipal utilities. Oriana Reilly, the Muni Program Coordinator at MCAN gives us some insight into the findings and what to do next.

The reading list:

Get the MLP scorecard!

Sign up for the Webinar Feb 6!

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

Municipal light plants are power utilities owned by the local town. They represent a significant fraction of the electricity used in the Massachusetts. MCAN has provided a scorecard to help guide these electricity suppliers to more climate friendly practices. Listen in to the first of two episodes as we discuss this groundbreaking new study with Oriana Reilly, the Muni Program Coordinator at MCAN.

The reading list:

Get the MLP scorecard!

Sign up for the Webinar Feb 6!

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

Governor Baker recently approved an important permit for a natural gas compressor in Weymouth. We discuss why this bit of fossil fuel infrastructure is a mistake.

The reading list:

• com, home of FRRACS
• Globe report on approval
• Medium on the Compressor
• July 2017 report on call to Baker
• "My hands were tied"

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

Given what we know, how should we address climate change? Is it a Green New Deal or a New Apollo project? Are those different things? Bill McKibben, Naomi Oreskes, and Daniel Schrag chatted with Boston’s own Christopher Lydon about the Green New Deal. We do our best to keep up, analyze their conversation and break some ground of our own.

The reading list

• Christopher Lydon and podcasts
• Open Source with Oreskes, McKibben and Schrag
• NASA timeline
• Climate Leviathan
• SCOTUS, Healy, Exxon
• Wind headquarters in Boston
• PG&E declares bankruptcy
• Bloomberg on PG&E
• Green Muni event, 1/26 plus more
• Mass Power Forward Lobby Day 1/24

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, and send us a comment at podcast@massclimateaction.net

…Ted McIntyre