Dear friends,
I arrived at Spectra's West Roxbury Lateral construction site on Saturday morning expecting to find a massive trench surrounded by machines and workers. Instead, all I saw were the familiar faces of friends and allies in the climate movement. I almost couldn't believe it: faced with day after day of protests, including more than 40 arrests, Spectra had chosen to go home for the winter rather than proceed with construction.
This is a huge boost for our movement: by the time Spectra comes back in the spring, we'll be even bigger and more powerful, and even more ready to stop this pipeline once and for all.
Onward and upward!
Emily
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Spectra Stops Construction Until Spring
Spectra Energy has stopped construction on the West Roxbury Lateral pipeline for the winter -- weeks ahead of schedule! Over the last three weeks, more than 40 people, including many steadfast members of 350 Mass, have been arrested for acts of nonviolent civil disobedience while protesting this pipeline. It's clear that our movement is making an impact, and when Spectra starts construction again next spring, we'll be back -- bigger and stronger than ever!
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Rally for Jobs, Justice and Climate on December 12
This December, UN delegates will meet again in Paris for yet another round of talks. We already know that even if the delegates finally reach an agreement, it won't be strong enough to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. No matter what happens in Paris, we know what we need: real climate solutions that create secure union jobs and strengthen community power and resiliency. It's up to us to lead the way -- and we're starting right here in New England with a massive rally on December 12, the day after the Paris talks end. We'll lift up the voices of New England's organized labor, immigrant rights, racial justice, and climate justice groups as we call for jobs, justice and climate action together. RSVP and get all the details here!
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350 Mass Joins Union Allies to Call for $15 and a Union
On Tuesday, 350 Mass members from Cambridge, Boston, Lowell, and the South Shore joined our union allies for a massive rally and march in support of low wage workers! SEIU 509, SEIU 888, the Mass Nurses Association, and other unions have been some of our strongest allies in the fight for fossil fuel divestment, and last week, we had the chance to stand with them in calling for $15 an hour and the right to form a union for all low wage workers. Thank you to everyone who was there!
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Packed Article 97 Hearing Sends Clear Message: Don't Take Our Conservation Land for Pipelines
On Tuesday, hundreds of people, including many members of 350 Mass, filled the State House for a hearing on a bill that would authorize the use of Article 97 conservation land in Sandisfield for the Kinder Morgan gas pipeline. If this bill passes, it will be just the tip of iceberg: hundreds of Article 97 parcels could ultimately be taken for pipelines. The good news is that pipeline opponents filled the hearing room, and presented such a strong case that Rep. Garrett Bradley, the sponsor of the bill, didn't even show! Congrats to everyone who worked to make the hearing a success, and stay tuned for updates!
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Carbon Pricing Forum on December 3
The world's leading economists agree that putting a price on carbon is the single best way to tackle climate change and reduce carbon pollution, and 350 Massachusetts is working to make Massachusetts the first state in the nation to pass this groundbreaking policy. If you're curious about carbon pricing or interested in getting more involved in the campaign, join us for a forum in Arlington on December 3! You'll have the chance to ask questions and hear directly from experts like economist Marc Breslow. RSVP and get all the details here!
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Other Big News from 350 Mass
Another Big Day of Hearings at the State House: Another week, another important energy hearing! On Tuesday, the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy committee will hear a series of bills related to energy, including bills related to gas leaks and a bill that would stop utilities from charging consumers for export pipelines. Check out all the details on the hearing in the sidebar to the right!
"This Changes Everything" Screenings in Williamstown and Cambridge: You won't want to miss this new ground-breaking documentary, which connects the dots between racial, economic and climate justice! There are two screenings coming up in the next few days: there's a screening at Images Cinema in Williamstown tonight, while the 350 Mass Youth Caucus, Black Lives Matter Cambridge, and others are hosting a screening at First Parish Cambridge on November 22. See all the details in the calendar to the right!
350 Mass Newton Meeting: The brand-new Newton node of 350 Mass is working to pass local resolutions in support of carbon pricing and fossil fuel divestment. Join this high-energy group at their next meeting tomorrow -- see all the details in the calendar to the right!
Equal Exchange Fundraiser: Treat yourself to coffee, chocolate and tea and support 350 Mass at the same time by buying from Equal Exchange through our online portal!
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Other News from the Massachusetts Climate Movement
Mobilization in Burrillville, RI on December 4 and 5: Burrillville, RI is a hub of fracked-gas infrastructure in the Northeast, despite over 30 years of resistance by local residents. Burrillville is home to two fracked-gas pipelines, two fracked-gas compressor stations and a fracked-gas power plant. Now one of those compressor stations is being doubled in size -- and a new 1000 megawatt power plant has been proposed for the town. On December 4 and 5, local residents will come together with pipeline fighters from all over the Northeast for a weekend of resistance and community building in Burrillville. Check it out and RSVP here!
Gala for the Globe and Divest Fund Auction: The Multischool Divestment Fund is hosting an auction! You can bid now on items ranging from a cross-country ski excursion with Bill McKibben to a walk-on role in the Amazon series "Transparent". All proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Divest Fund, which holds donations in fossil free investments until the institutions it includes divest their assets from fossil fuel companies. The fund includes 25 (and growing!) schools. The auction ends on November 10 at the "Gala for the Globe" in New York City -- see the details here!
Wen Stephenson and Tim DeChristopher to speak at JP Forum: On Thursday, author and climate activist Wen Stephenson will speak at the JP Forum with Jay O'Hara, Marla Marcum, and Tim DeChristopher, the founders of the Climate Disobedience Center. They will discuss the role of non-violent civil disobedience in the climate movement -- you won't want to miss it! See all the details in the sidebar to the right.
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About Better Future Project and 350 Massachusetts
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Upcoming Events
Statewide
Massive Mobilization for Jobs, Justice & Climate
Saturday, Dec 12
Copley Square, Boston
Berkshires
"This Changes Everything" Screening
Mon, November 16, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Images Cinema, 50 Spring St, Williamstown
350 Mass Node Meeting
Wed, November 18,
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church, 174 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield
Boston
Legislative Hearing on Gas Leaks and Export Pipelines
Tue, November 17, 1pm – 3pm
Room B-1, MA State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston
Youth Voices: Perspectives on Climate Change
Wed, November 18, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
250 Dockser Hall, Northeastern School of Law, 65 Forsyth Street, Boston
Details and RSVP here.
JP Forum Featuring Wen Stephenson, Marla Marcum, Jay O'Hara and Tim DeChristopher
Thu, November 19, 7pm – 9pm
First Church in Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist, 6 Eliot St, Jamaica Plain
350 Mass Node Meeting
Mon, November 30,
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine St, Jamaica Plain
NOTE DATE CHANGE
Cambridge
350 Mass Node Meeting
Tue, November 17,
6:30pm – 8:30pm (orientation for new members at 6:00 pm)
First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden St, Cambridge
"This Changes Everything" Screening
Sun, November 22, 5:00pm – 8:30pm
First Parish Cambridge Unitarian Universalist, 3 Church St, Cambridge
Franklin
350 Mass Node Meeting
Thu, November 19, 7pm – 9pm
First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin
Lowell
350 Mass Node Meeting
Wed, November 18, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus, 61 Market Street, Lowell
Metro West
350 Mass Node Meeting
Thu, December 3, 7pm – 9pm
Peace Lutheran, 107 Concord Road, Wayland
Newton
350 Mass Node Meeting
Tue, November 17, 6:45pm – 8:45pm
First Unitarian Society of Newton, 1326 Washington St, West Newton
South Shore
350 Mass Node Meeting
Tue, November 17, 7pm – 9pm
Old Ship Church Parish House, 107 Main St, Hingham
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