A report in the New England Journal of Medicine finds more then 4600 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. The enormous discrepancy with the Trump administration’s estimate of 64 is stark. After months in the dark, we hope some light shines on that island. Also, two legal cases that could force the disclosure of what Exxon knew, and when it knew it advanced. The judges allowed ‘discovery’ of corporate documents to proceed. Finally Dave Roberts of Vox tweeted an interesting question: “What would the last two centuries of human development have looked like if fossil fuels had always been properly priced?” Let us know what you think!

The reading list:

• NYT: a report estimate 4600 death in Maria aftermath
• Julian case goes to discovery
• Oakland case goes to discovery

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 concept of a massive seawall to protect Boston Harbor is less cost effective than local adaptations, says a new report. Mayor Walsh plans a climate conference, but must answer questions on urban pipelines and procrastination on implementing Community Choice Energy. Listen in!

Reading list:

• Globe: Seawall not worth the effort
• WBUR on seawall
• Community Choice Energy
• One Dalton
• Steve Minditch
• Wikipedia on the Boston Phoenix
• 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

Two examples of deception this week: Entergy paid actors to testify in favor of a power plant in New Orleans and the White House is hiding a ‘nightmare’ report on water quality. And, by the way, Jupiter is changing our weather…very slowly. Listen in.

The reading list:

• Actors in New Orleans
• lead to subpoenas for big oil
• White House buries water study
• Alaskan Climate Change
• Jupiter and Venus change Earth's climate

Events

• March for the Ocean June 9
• MCAN Green Muni Summit June 23
• Zero Hour July 21
• 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

NY AG Eric Schneiderman resigns after the New Yorker reveals him as a violent man. He was leading the effort against Exxon. What now? Back at home, Boston will host a mayoral conference on climate in June. Listen in.

The reading list:

• New Yorker on Schniederman
• A loss for the Exxon case?
• WBUR on Boston's climate summit
• CLF and Synapse report no need for pipelines
• The Weymouth Compressor Station

Events

• 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

Trees play an important role in the vibrancy of cities. Listen in as we speak with David Meshoulam of “Speak for the Trees Boston” at the Local Environmental Action Conference last March at Northeastern.

The Reading list

• Stand for the Trees Boston website
• Worcester Tree Initiative
• Artist for Humanity
• Fast Company on trees in cities
• A 1970's reading of the Lorax
• 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

Scott Pruitt’s tiresome “swamp-monster” routine has moved beyond parody to absurdity but is nonetheless as a continuing insult to Climate Hawks. SAD! A more constructive and substantive discussion is happening around the putative need to support nukes and the more pragmatic need for electric busses. Listen in!

The reading list”

• Scott Pruitt in OK and DC
• NJ and Nukes
• Waste radioactive fuel casks at Pilgrim Station
• THE "Next System Project"
• MA needs electric busses

Events

• 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

Systemic racism expresses itself both before the law and in environmental injustice. Progress comes when Climate Hawks speak out about the issue. For example, the Flint water supply was damaged four years ago this week. Activist Siwatu-Salama Ra‘s imprisonment is a case of a combination of injustices. The good news is that a Minnesota judge has allowed the necessity defense in a jury case. This will allow the introduction of climate science into a court hearing—an important precedent for future legal cases. Listen in.

We talk to Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project about what makes people vote. It turns out that two motivations to vote are peer pressure (you don’t want to be the only one who DIDN’T vote in this wave election) and expressing your deeply held commitment to the earth. Enviro’s should ‘vote like it is your job’ and take pride in expressing their green credentials at the ballot box. Listen in for tips on how to help motivate your friends and neighbors to vote for the planet.

What seems like a freak accident-a single backhoe knocking out the power for the whole island of Puerto Rico- is actually emblematic of the environmental injustice being perpetrated there. Listen in as we discuss.

A bill aimed at stifling climate activists was introduced into the Iowa legislature recently. According to Buzzfeed, “The bill is a ramped-up version of the generic “Critical Infrastructure Protection Act” that the American Legislative Exchange Council, a Virginia-based national conservative group, is pushing across the country. Iowa’s legislation criminalizes protest on any “land, building, conveyance, or other temporary or permanent structure” or a “water supply treatment, collection, storage or delivery system” considered part of the fossil fuel industry’s “critical infrastructure.” At the same time the SEC is trying to cut back on stockholder activism, a more abstract but important way to bring corporations like Exxon to account. Finally, we discuss the teacher strikes in the Midwest and how they relate to the climate movement. Listen in.