Valley Green Energy coming soon, Climate Action Now Summer Gathering on August 27, Quabbin Walk & Talk and lots more!

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Photos: Rene Theberge

Climate Action Now Summer Gathering

Tuesday, August 27

 7pm via zoom

Register here

Let’s mobilize every climate/environmental justice organizer/activist in Western Mass to engage in election action!

Presenters

Jeff Ordower, North America Director of 350.org, who will offer a national perspective through a climate justice lens;

Rudy Perkins, fresh from his on the ground experience door knocking his way through swing states from Minnesota to Pennsylvania;

Elizabeth Silver, expert in strategic electoral organizing who leads our local 413 election hub.

Our presenters will offer a range of high impact actions for you and your community. Let’s get out the vote like our ecosystem depends on it…because it does!

Time for questions & resource sharing

Photo: Rene Theberge

 VALLEY GREEN ENERGY arrives in the Valley!

Tonight, August 20 at 7pm 

 Zoom link here **

Northampton, Amherst and Pelham are set to launch their new joint municipal electricity aggregation, Valley Green Energy, on November 1st!

Local Energy Advocates of Western Mass spent years bringing this exciting project to fruition and warmly invites everyone to come and learn more. 

Presenter: Ben Weil, Director of the Northampton Climate Action and Projects Administration and Northampton Representative on the Valley Green Energy Working Group.

**Meeting ID: 879 4000 1434           Passcode: 893443

Photo: Rene Theberge

Candidates’ Climate Panel

August 21 at 7pm 

350ma-Berkshire welcomes everyone to a virtual panel discussion on local climate issues with the four candidates for the state representative’s seat, Berkshires’ 3rd District.

Zoom link here

ID: 916 3742 1656; Passcode: 350ma) 

For more info, contact info@350ma-berkshires.org

Photo: Rene Theberge

Quabbin Watershed Walk-and-Talk

Saturday, August 24

10:00 am – noon

Learn about forest management on public lands surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir in a walk-and-talk with experts including:

John Hirst of the MA Sierra Club

Michael Kellett of RESTORE: The North Woods

Dr. Bill Stubblefield, biologist 

Details here

Valuable resource:

“Wildlands in New England: Past, Present, and Future”   

Photo: Rene Theberge

We are in a climate emergency and we need a just and robust climate bill this Fall!

We call on Governor Healey, Senate President Spilka, House Speaker Mariano and the entire legislature to work this fall to meet critical environmental justice goals. We need to equitably and rapidly transition the gas industry to clean energy while protecting ratepayers.

We cannot accept a narrow siting and permitting bill that does nothing for climate justice or reducing climate pollution as the outcome of 18 months of the legislative process. Stand up for the future and the people of Massachusetts, not the interests of corporations.

Please sign the Mass Power Forward petition and share widely

Photo: Rene Theberge

Take Action with 350.org to Stop Eversource Rate Hike!

Learn about 350.org’s nationwide campaign to restructure utilities here.

Millions of low-income Americans have faced power shut-offs in this year’s record-breaking heat as for-profit energy utilities are raising rates.

Eversource holds a monopoly over Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire; once they set the prices we have no choice but to pay. Oppose rate hikes by Eversource and other utilities here.

And for help reducing your dependence on greedy utilities go here for help weatherizing and here for information on solar electricity rebates and incentives.

To submit a letter to the editor exposing the relationship between the utilities and the fossil fuel companies go here. 

Photo: Rene Theberge

Protecting what we love

From Russ Vernon-Jones, a blog post that is both inspiring and helpful as we communicate about the climate crisis. In “Protecting What We Love,” Russ summarizes a survey of 60,000 people by the communications experts at Potential Energy.

The study found that vast majorities of people in the 23 countries surveyed wanted government action to limit the effects of climate change. The most effective message in every single country was about “generational responsibility; protecting the planet we will leave to future generations. For the complete post go here. 

Photo: Rene Theberge

Climate Action Now is a people-powered, grassroots Western Mass organization dedicated to building a powerful, unstoppable and just climate movement. We work in our communities and in collaboration with diverse partners across the region to educate, advocate, and mobilize for climate justice.

The Climate Action Now Steering Committee includes a representative from each working group and campaign. Climate Action Now warmly welcomes newcomers. Let’s work together to create an inclusive climate justice movement!

Please send feedback, comments, and suggestions to:

Susan Theberge, Newsletter Editor

Photo Editor: Rene Theberge

Special thanks to Mary Jane Else

 climateactionnowma.org

climateactionnowmass@gmail.com

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