Two updates on the climate "Roadmap bill"

350 Mass' email newsletter has this update to summarize legislative action on the Roadmap bill.

"Friends, 

On Friday night at 9 PM the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed The 2050 Roadmap bill. Introduced by Rep Meschino, this bill updates the Global Warming Solutions Act and commits the state to create a roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. 

This bill is the House’s response to the Senate Climate package passed in January of 2020. Both houses passing overarching climate policy demonstrates the power of grassroots organizing and coalition building. 

In this legislative session that began January 2019, 350 Mass and our partners in the Mass Power Forward coalition and beyond have been advocating for a commitment to 100% renewable energy, environmental justice, and equitable investment in green infrastructure. 

Bills with strong provisions, explicit 100% renewable goals, and a shorter time-line among other desirable provisions were not allowed to pass through committees. However, the Roadmap bill, with a focus on planning, was allowed to come to the floor. When it did, 350 Mass and our allies pushed for improving amendments, several of which passed. 

For all its shortcomings, the Roadmap Bill does provide a foundation for future efforts. And it is a step forward for a Legislature that has not passed significant climate protection laws for years— we can thank our representatives who have tirelessly championed our bills, and we must continue to push for policies that go further."

Continue reading the newsletter online
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=bdf4df04ee1ca59ba335a7699&id=6731641fd7

Subscribe to get your own copy of the newsletter here  https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/get_involved

Two updates on the climate "Roadmap bill"

Commonwealth Magazine also summarizes what is in the Roadmap bill:

"ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN the last day of the 2019-2020 legislative session, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a Roadmap Bill, helping to lay the foundation for a slightly more ambitious – and much better planned – decarbonization of the economy. Crucially, the final bill also included an amendment around environmental justice, which would codify into law protections for low-income communities and communities of color which face disproportionate burdens of pollution due to decades of environmental racism and the systematic undervaluing of black, indigenous, immigrant, and poor lives. 

Both the roadmap bill in general and the environmental justice component specifically deserve our praise and gratitude, particularly when the House could have used the guise of the pandemic to swear off climate action. Following the Senate’s “Next Generation” climate bill passed earlier this year, it is clear that both House and Senate leadership have over the course of this session tried to answer the question of how to respond to climate change with an authentic, thoughtful response."

Continue reading the article online 
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/lessons-learned-from-the-push-for-climate-action/?

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting, Thursday 4/2/20: Meeting Notes

Hello, everyone. Last night, Thursday April 2, we had an online Zoom meeting of our Greater Franklin node. Whether you were able to participate or not, we want to share with you our notes. 

We covered many topics including:

• Challenges and strategies for 350 Mass and other organizations --and their members -- to remain engaged and active during the current coronavirus crisis.
• Local, state-wide, and national issues and campaigns that we can all help promote through a variety of tools, such as contacting legislators and public agencies, signing petitions, and attending online webinars.
• Resources (articles, online materials) for learning more about these specific issues as well as climate concerns generally.

The overall message is that each of us can still take actions to promote the causes we care so much about. Our organization, 350 Mass, remains committed to stopping new fossil fuel infrastructure, building a clean energy economy, and creating a just transition that centers on economic and racial justice. We continue to partner with local, national and international organizations with similar goals. 

 

You can find the meeting notes here.  As you read them, you will see actions and links. Thank you for doing what you can. 
 

If you have difficulty with the online document or the links, reply to this email and we'll help you out.

 

We encourage you to join our meeting. For participants, this is more than a business meeting. It's a chance to socialize, to laugh, and to share stories and ideas for managing during this strange time. And dress is definitely informal. 

 

NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, APRIL 16.  Look for the invitation earlier that week.

 

Be well.

 

Node co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel

508-473-3305 H

508-335-0848 C

 

Ralph Halpern

781-784-3839 H

339-203-5017 C

Meeting Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hyP1StO7eEiX-tUMlgyj3EvqxKhj1W3IwMmOcj3eonw/edit?usp=sharing
 

Mutual aid networks for 350 Mass during Coronavirus

"We hope you are staying healthy and finding support during these disorienting times.

As climate activists, we know that as climate change worsens, we will see increasingly frequent and dangerous crises like this one.

This is a grim thought, but I also find it a powerful one: the structures, connections and resources we develop to support each other now, will leave us better prepared to support each other during future climate crises and disasters.

We know that climate change disproportionately harms people already marginalized by society, and this public health crisis is no exception: my heart is particularly with people who have compromised immune systems; people without health insurance or access to treatment; those who cannot afford to stay home from work and do not have paid sick time; kids who rely on free school lunch; and many others.

Tuesday’s weekly newsletter will focus on resources and best practices for responding to coronavirus. But while that is still a work in progress, we wanted to send one resource out without delay.

In the spirit of support and solidarity, I want to introduce a new tool: 350 Mass and Community Mutual Aid form.  
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch5YoXLpT-mfRmYyocdCYJ98flZOK2WFOhhe_khamR-Uv-Eg/viewform

While a certain administration in DC is not going to take care of us or our people, we have many resources to care for each other.

Do you have resources to share with someone in need--extra food to share with a neighbor? A room someone forced to leave campus housing could stay in? A Netflix password?

Do you have needs the community could help meet--someone to look after your kids? Someone to drive you to the grocery store so you can avoid public transit?

Please fill out this Google form with your needs and offerings: 
 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch5YoXLpT-mfRmYyocdCYJ98flZOK2WFOhhe_khamR-Uv-Eg/viewform

The results will be on a survey you can access to connect with each other. I’m excited to use this tool both to help support our friends and community within the 350 Mass network as well as to share it with frontline community partners, and I encourage you to share it with your community (on a neighborhood forum, Facebook group, or just with family and friends), especially those whose needs might be higher or access to resources lower.

(Note: many communities are putting together local mutual aid networks as well--we encourage you to participate if your community has one, or consider forming one if not!)"

With love and power,
Jon Wishnie for 350 Mass

350ma.org

 

Please fill out this Google form with your needs and offerings

Come to the in-district meeting with State Rep. Jeff Roy THURS, FEB 20!

Hey, Franklin residents!

Some 350 Mass Node members/Franklin residents have arranged a meeting with Jeff Roy on Thursday, Feb 20, and we want people to come!

The Senate in the State House has just passed some significant climate legislation and now the pressure is on the House to match it. State Rep. Jeff Roy has co-sponsored the 100% Renewable bill (thank you very much!) since the beginning of this legislative session, but the bill is still stuck in committee and we need to have it voted out favorably so it can be voted on the floor. We also want the carbon pricing bill, also stuck in committee, voted out favorably. We are meeting to ask Jeff Roy to ask the leadership to do that.

For Jeff Roy to seriously consider talking to committee leadership about these bills, we need a lot of people to show up at the meeting!

This is 2020 and we're running out of time for major climate legislation to be implemented! The state legislature needs to step up NOW so please help make that happen by coming to the hour-long meeting.

DATE: THURSDAY, FEB 20
TIME: 8:30-9:30 AM
LOCATION: FRANKLIN SENIOR CENTER, 10 DANIEL MCCAHILL STREET, FRANKLIN.

Please RSVP to this email if you can come so we can anticipate the numbers. The more who come, the more he'll listen to us! Bring your neighbors!

Thanks!

Carolyn Barthel and Ralph Halpern, Coordinators
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

Come to the in-district meeting with State Rep. Jeff Roy THURS, FEB 20!

Climate Crisis: 350 Mass Road to a MA Green New Deal presentation & workshop - Jun 4

Dear climate activist friend,

The climate crisis is not in the future--it's here--and the solutions have to be on the same massive scale as the problem. 350 Mass, a statewide network of climate activists, proposes the Massachusetts Green New Deal as the answer. 

We need to vigorously ramp up these next two years using the Road to a Massachusetts Green New Deal as a guide, so we can tackle the crisis head on in 2020. We cannot wait for the federal government to take the lead; we must forge ahead at the state and local levels.

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Mass is making a presentation in which you learn what you can do to help ramp up the effort through the Massachusetts Road to a Green New Deal and then split off to work in local groups to make it happen! Join us!

When registering for the event, please include your town so you will be appropriately grouped with other local folks.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-crisis-350-mass-road-to-a-ma-green-new-deal-tickets-62451430911


Carolyn Barthel
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
508-473-3305 H

Climate Crisis: 350 Mass Road to a MA Green New Deal presentation & workshop - Jun 4

350 Mass: BBC Climate change documentary & discussion Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Tuesday, May 7, 350 Mass Screening of 

BBC climate documentary and discussion

7:00-9:00 PM 

First Universalist Society

262 Chestnut St, Franklin

The Greater Franklin chapter of 350 Mass, a statewide climate action organization, is proud to hold a screening. BBC's Sir David Attenborough, a long-trusted British natural historian, who has brought the wonder and brilliance of nature to millions of people around the globe for 20 years, has produced an up-to-date blockbuster on climate change called "Climate Change--The Facts." 

The hour-long viewing will be followed by a discussion of the various concrete ways we can each take climate action, from the personal to local and state levels. The public is invited.

For more information, please contact Carolyn Barthel of 350 Massachusetts, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com.

350 Mass: BBC Climate change documentary & discussion Tuesday, May 7, 2019

REMINDER: 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting - Thursday, Jan 5, 2017

Hey, climate fighters,

I hope everyone had wonderful holidays that suited your needs!  I knew I wanted a break and I got exactly what I needed.

Now that we've had our respite, it's time to ramp up and wake up our climate spirits by participating in some exciting and fun actions coming up.  If you received Katherine Anderson's Climate Movement Weekly Update yesterday, you have an idea of what they are.  Links to sign-ups are in the newsletter (you should be receiving it--let me know if you aren't), so let's have a good showing at these events!  It's always a blast when 350 Mass activists get together! 

• Mon, Jan 9   Day Against Denial rally, Park St. T, Boston Common
• Sat, Jan 14   Bill McKibben and Tim DeChristopher forum, First Parish Church, Harvard Square, Cambridge
• Sat, Jan 14   #NoDAPL Solidarity Fundraiser Sing-Along, Arlington
• Wed, Jan 25  Mass Power Forward Lobby Day, State House
• Sat, Jan 28   350 Mass day-long Organizing and Advocacy Training, Boston (TBD)

We shouldn't be lulled into thinking there's nothing to do since Spectra has hit the Pause Button (for now!); we have the gift of time to make our numbers even stronger!  More grassroots outreach and publicity, Con Comms, Mass Power Forward business outreach, legislative work--we'll talk about details at the meeting.

Part of the Spectra fight will likely be in the legislature, convincing our legislators to say NO to the pipeline tax and YES to other non-carbon solutions. 

New Volunteer Opportunities: If you'd like to work on 350 Mass' legislative goals, you could be part of the 350 Mass Legislative Team either as a State Legislative Team member for the node OR a Point Person for your own legislator (see the link for more details).  And since this node covers 17 towns, that's a fair number of legislators to work with!  We'd like to have people fill these roles for each of the nodes.  I'll be happy to answer questions how that would work, or if I can't, put you in touch with Andy Gordon, the 350 Mass Legislative Coordinator.

I've also done some outreach to the Nipmuck Nation to see if they'd like to work with us to pressure the Dakota Access banks, so we'll see what comes of that.

So bring your calendars to the meeting THURSDAY and we can put our heads together and get things rolling! 

Same time, same place: 7:00-9:00 pm, First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.

See you then!

Carolyn Barthel, Coordinator

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
508-473-3305

Greater Franklin Node 350 Mass Meeting THURSDAY: 12/3/15

Hi everyone,

A reminder: our next node meeting is this Thursday, December 3, at 7:00 PM at the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin.

We have a full agenda!

1. There was a meeting of the Sharon Board of Selectmen yesterday regarding Spectra. We're looking forward to hearing how it went!

2. We're also eager to hear how the yard sign campaign is going in each of the towns.

3. Town status reports of whatever isn't covered in the first two topics.

4. We have a decision to make! Should we have a meeting on December 17, our next regular time, and what should it be about? One possibility is to have a party! We have received the OK from the church to have refreshments if we want.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again! Call me with any questions or suggestions for things that should be on the agenda.

Greater Franklin Node, 350 MASS

See you all Thursday!

Carolyn

Coordinator, Greater Franklin Node, 350 Mass

Climate Movement Weekly Update: Attorney General Says No New Pipelines Needed!

Check out the latest news from the Massachusetts climate movement! View this email in your browser Dear friends, For years, many of us have been saying that the new gas pipelines proposed all over the Northeast are unnecessary and will make it impossible for us to meet our climate goals. On Wednesday, a study commissioned by Attorney General Maura Healey vindicated that point of view. New pipelines are a great deal for fossil fuel companies that want to make money exporting gas overseas. But they're a terrible idea for Massachusetts. Our state is already more than 60% dependent on gas for electricity, and we should be moving as quickly as possible towards wind, solar and other renewables -- not building new fossil fuel infrastructure. Now, it's up to us to make sure everyone knows about the Attorney General's study. Read it here, and spread the word! Emily  New Study Commissioned by Attorney General Healey Shows New Pipelines Not Needed    On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Attorney General, Maura Healey, released a long-anticipated study showing that new gas pipelines are not needed in Massachusetts. The study demolishes the arguments of pipeline opponents, showing that we can meet our needs with energy efficiency and renewables at a fraction of the cost of massive new pipelines. You can check out a great infographic about the study here, and read the whole thing here!  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!

The email newsletter was truncated for sharing here. To review the complete newsletter follow this link --> View this email in your browser

  

Climate Movement Weekly Update: Spectra Stops Construction Until Spring

Check out the latest news from the Massachusetts climate movement! View this email in your browser 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  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!  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!  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! 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! 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! 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!  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.  About Better Future Project and 350 Massachusetts Better Future Project (BFP) builds a powerful grassroots movement to confront the fossil fuel industry and meet our energy needs without contributing to climate change, oppression, or human suffering. 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (350 Mass) is Better Future Project's volunteer-led climate action network. Although closely aligned with the mission and values of 350.org, 350 Massachusetts for a Better Future is not part of 350.org. To like 350 Mass on Facebook, click here!  To follow us on Twitter, click here!  Received this email from a friend? You can subscribe here.  Questions? Email Emily Kirkland, emily@betterfutureproject.org 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