My guests today on Digging in the Dirt are a little different from other guests I've had. I have never had a philosopher here. Today I have two. They are Michael Paul Nelson Professor of Environmental Ethics & Philosophy and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Emerita at Oregon State University Kathleen Dean Moore, Ph.D.. Together they have penned an article entitled "Did Western philosophy ruin Earth"? A philosopher's letter of apology to the world.

-Climate Change studies will be mandatory in Connecticut

-The Arctic transforming from snowfall- to rainfall-dominant climates

-Sea levels have risen over 8 inches since 1880

-COP15 conference faced “corporate capture” by lobbyists

-EU to impose ‘carbon tariff’ on environmentally damaging imports

-France to greenlight a ban on short haul domestic flights.

-Nearly all houses in Tokyo to install solar panels after April 2025

-Small Farm Report with Steve Munno from Massaro Farm

-Special guest Sal Gilbertie from Gilbertie's Organic Farm in Easton. CT

Hosts: Richard Hill and Chris Ferrio

Jon Weiss, a New York-based Jazz pianist, talks about his new CD release, Buddha of the Rain Forest. The interview includes airing

several tracks from the release along with Weiss' musical commentary.

Interview by Richard Hill

* Threatens to Hold Federal Debt Limit Hostage to Force Social Security, Medicare Cuts Alex Lawson, Executive Director of the group Social Security Works Producer: Scott Harris

* Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to Connecticut’s Trans-Inclusive Student Athletics Policy Dan Barrett, Legal Director, ACLU of Connecticut Producer: Melinda Tuhus

* 10 Years After Sandy Hook School Massacre, Campaign to End Gun Violence Continues Zeenat Yahya, Director of Policy with the group March For Our Lives. Producer: Scott Harris

Spotlight On Arts & Culture | December 19, 2022 | Symphonic Changes

Hosted by David Green of The Cultural Alliance Of Fairfield County.

In our December broadcast, we talked to the leaders of four of the prestigious orchestras in our region about the changes happening with the orchestras. Meet Mark Halstead, Executive Director of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Russell Jones, President & CEO of Orchestra Lumos, Stuart Malina, Music Director of The Greenwich Symphony, and Jonathan Yates, Music Director of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra.

The Greater Bridgeport Symphony is auditioning conductors for its new Music Director; Orchestra Lumos, formerly the Stamford Symphony found its new Music Director, Michael Stern in 2019, and the Greenwich Symphony recently selected Stuart Malina as its new Music Director. Jonathan Yates, on the other hand, has been Music Director at the Norwalk Symphony and the Norwalk Youth Symphony since 2011. Hear how these orchestras found creative ways to respond to the COVID challenge to keep audiences connected, and how they continue to plan new ways of expanding their audiences and attracting new sponsors through increasingly creative and innovative programs.

Information about having happy holiday gatherings and New Year's resolutions that work

{December 18, 2022 Episode of Mic Check}

In addition to being Pastor of both Woodbury United Methodist Church and Watertown United Methodist Church in Connecticut, Reverend J Michael Cobb is an organizer with Justice Southbury, a community activist group that formed in 2020 in Southbury, Connecticut.

For more on Justice Southbury:

https://www.justicesouthbury.com

https://www.facebook.com/JusticeSouthbury

Reverend Cobb can be reached at:

More info on the Watertown United Methodist Church at:

https://www.wumcct.org

More info on the Woodbury United Methodist Church at:

https://www.WoodburyUMC.net

For more on the 85th Anniversary of Southbury Saying No to the Nazis:

https://southbury-ct.org/1937

https://connecticuthistory.org/southbury-takes-on-the-nazis/

https://teachitct.org/lessons/no-to-nazis-in-connecticut-southbury-takes-a-stand/

The Panel interviews Adam Eichen, executive director of Equal Citizens, a non-profit, non-partisan organisation, about the continuing threats to democracy after the mid-term elections with specific focus on the Moore v. Harper case and fringe "independent state legislature" theory now being considered by SCOTUS.

Panel: Ruthanne Baumgartner, Richard Hill and Scott Harris

-European Union to impose a carbon tax on imports

-Accelerating pace of species loss threatens ecosystem breakdown.

-Rising sea levels threaten existence a Pacific Island nation

-Keystone pipeline has 588,000-gallon oil spill

-Drought-stricken Oregon sees historic die-off of fir trees

-Oil producers still spending billions of dollars on fossil fuel projects

-UK universities ban fossil fuel companies from recruiting on campus

-Americans are climate migrating