Sunday, December 27, 2020

From The Guardian: Yes, climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA

From The Guardian: Yes, climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, has become the first US city to mandate the placing of stickers on fuel pumps to warn drivers of the resulting dangers posed by the climate crisis.

The final design of the bright yellow stickers, shared with the Guardian, includes text that warns drivers the burning of gasoline, diesel and ethanol has “major consequences on human health and the environment including contributing to climate change”.

The stickers will be placed on all fuel pumps in Cambridge, which is situated near Boston and is home to Harvard University, “fairly soon” once they are received from printers, a city spokesman confirmed.


And from FastCompany

The ordinance was modified in Jan 2020 and at least part of it (referring to self-service stations) can be viewed on the Cambridge page

climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA
climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA


COVID-19 vaccine discussion on wfpr.fm - Monday, Dec 28

Given the recent vaccine news from both Pfizer and Moderna, with more trial successes likely to follow, I think it would be good to put this issue front and center.

Dr. Natalia Linos could address epidemiology and immunization stats (and societal/personal consequences of not being vaccinated?).

Dr. Jeff and Dr. Walker-Jones could also address government's role in organizing the effort and also encouraging/guiding or mandating compliance, masking, vaccination, etc. The ongoing debate is that 'personal rights-v-public good' element that is quite literally 'Trumped Up' by the President's followers.

Government sets guidelines, shared standards, regulations for the public good. We drive on the right side of the road - not wherever we want. We take tests to demonstrate competence and safety. We all benefit in a reasoned and reasonable common good. This is an important discussion.

The panel is  Dr Michael Walker-Jones, Jeff Roy, Peter Fasciano, Dr Natalia Linos, Dr Greg Chiklis and Frank Falvey.

The panel discussion will be broadcast Monday, Dec 28 at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM.

COVID-19 vaccine discussion on wfpr.fm - Monday, Dec 28
COVID-19 vaccine discussion on wfpr.fm - Monday, Dec 28


"What Will 2021 Look Like? (with Dr. Anthony Fauci)" (audio)

"It’s the episode you’ve all been waiting for: Andy closes the year with a recap of 2020 and predictions for 2021 with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Andy brings you into the bubble with Dr. Fauci by asking some of the questions he received from you. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss."
Direct link to podcast episode = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-will-2021-look-like-with-dr-anthony-fauci/id1504128553?i=1000503293292


So much for a deal, it still is waiting for a signature....

 The Boston Globe has the following:

"Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to sign an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.

The fate of the bipartisan package remained in limbo Sunday as Trump continued to demand larger COVID relief checks and complained about “pork” spending. Without the widespread funding provided by the massive measure, a government shutdown would occur when money runs out at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

“It’s a chess game and we are pawns,” said Lanetris Haines, a self-employed single mother of three in South Bend, Indiana, who stood to lose her $129 weekly jobless benefit unless Trump signed the package into law or succeeded in his improbable quest for changes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

"As unemployment benefits were due to expire for millions of Americans on Saturday, Donald Trump, who spent Christmas playing golf in Florida, continued to block a $900bn pandemic relief bill that would extend them.

The package, which Congress passed with bipartisan support on Monday after months of negotiations, would keep unemployment benefits in place until March and expand state benefits by $300 a week – as well as extending an evictions moratorium, providing federal loans to small businesses and $600 direct payments to many Americans.

But without Trump’s signature, the entire package – set to be the second biggest in US history – is stalled and the US government now faces a shutdown on Tuesday."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

 

Walk Off Those Cookies! - Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee - 10 AM

Please join us for a socially distanced group walk on the SNETT on Sunday, December 27 at 10 AM. We will start from the Center Street parking lot in Bellingham.

Masks are required for anyone 2 years old and up. Leashed dogs are always welcome. ***Registration is required*** 


In case the parking area at Center St is full, please proceed to Fox Run Rd for additional trail parking (marked). Questions, please email us at fbrtcommittee@gmail.com. Thank you.

Walk Off Those Cookies! - Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee - 10 AM
Walk Off Those Cookies! - Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee - 10 AM



Shared from the FBRTC page

Franklin, MA: 1920 to 1929 (video)

Joe Landry provides this video about the history of Franklin, MA from 1920 to 1929. 
 
Direct video link:  https://youtu.be/Q00au18o0CE
 

"the power of working with each other, of rallying together and finding the greater good"

From the New York Times: "With Each Run, a City Shaken by Racism Is ‘Finding the Greater Good’"

Over the last 15 years, the route Jones crafted has come to host the most racially diverse running group in the city. In creating the ProlyFyck Run Crew — named for the Nipsey Hussle “Victory Lap” lyrics, ‘I’m prolific/ so gifted /I’m the type/ that’s gon’ go get it,’ — Jones has helped build community amid one still reckoning with the racial trauma of August 2017, when white supremacists held  violent rallies in Charlottesville.

This year,  as people across the nation protested acts of police brutality and racial injustice in response to the killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, who are Black, the run crew has grown, with up to 75 runners on some mornings.

“After all the social unrest this year, this community has been looking for ways to connect,” said Wes Bellamy, a Black former Charlottesville City Council member and a ProlyFyck co-founder. “We are a city that believes in the power of working with each other, of rallying together and finding the greater good.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)