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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
ACTION ALERT - Protecting Sensitive Ecosystems On Monday, Mass Audubon hand-delivered a letter to all 160 members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives asking them to support An Act to Regulate the use of Off Highway and Recreation Vehicles (SB 2257.) Signed by 9 major conservation organizations, the letter requests that they help move the bill out of the House Committee on Ways & Means and to the floor for a final vote. The bill passed the Senate in January. Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use is growing in Massachusetts with sales of all terrain vehicles increasing by more than 300% over the past decade. The lack of enforcement is well documented in the state and was the focus of the 2007 Department of Conservation and Recreation Off Highway Vehicle Enforcement Working Group. Lack of enforcement leads to extensive and long-term environmental damage on private and public land and unsafe conditions; on the 160,000 acres owned by the Department of Fish and Game alone there are close to 300 miles of illegal trails. Illegal riding on public lands, often unique and sensitive areas protected with public dollars for wildlife and sensitive ecosystems, damages public property and degrades the public trust. It is expensive to restore sites, and may be impossible as damage to wetlands, wildlife, and endangered species can be permanent. Please contact your state Representative and ask them to speak to House Ways & Means Chairman Charles Murphy expressing support for S.2257! To find out who your state Representative is, enter your address at http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php and scroll down to "Rep in General Court." If you know your Representative's name, you can just call the House switchboard and be put through: 617-722-2000. You can also email. Email addresses can be found here http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm. Sample Message: Tell them that you are calling in support of Senate Bill 2257, which has passed the Senate and is currently before House Ways & Means. Say that you hope your Representative will speak to the House Ways & Means Chairman soon and let him know that it is an important bill to you. Bill description:
Thank you for helping to protect the nature of Massachusetts! |
Help Wanted: Full-time, Temporary Day Camp Director, Lenox |
Governor Calls for BPA Phase-out Regulation Governor Deval Patrick has responded positively to the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow urging him to address the dangers of the hormone disrupting chemical, BPA in common household products. He has directed the Department of Public Health (DPH) to prepare a regulation that can ban the sale of household products containing BPA. |
Environmental Leadership Program Accepting Applications |
Road salt is poisoning water bodies, study finds During winter thaws, some streams have salinity levels just under those found in the ocean.One of the most detailed investigations ever conducted in Canada into the fate of road salt has found that it is polluting groundwater and causing some streams during winter thaws to have salinity levels just under those found in the ocean. <more> |
Patrick-Murray Administration Announces April 22 Launch of Home Appliance Rebate Program With $6.2 million in federal stimulus funding, "Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange" will reward consumers who trade in energy "clunker" appliances for new, super-efficient models BOSTON — March 5, 2010 - As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state's economic future, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles today announced that a federal stimulus-funded energy efficient appliance rebate program will launch in the Commonwealth next month. The "Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange" will begin on April 22, marking the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. "The Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange is the latest example of the Commonwealth's use of federal Recovery dollars to lower household energy costs, cut energy waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Governor Deval Patrick. "I am delighted that launching this program will be part of our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day." The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) allocated $6.2 million to Massachusetts to administer an Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program designed to spur significant household energy savings by taking high energy consuming home appliances out of commission and replacing them with qualified ENERGY STAR models. "Swapping electricity-guzzling refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dishwashers for super-efficient new ones will cut energy use across the state, saving consumers money on monthly utility bills for years to come, while protecting our environment through lower energy use," said Secretary Bowles. EEA's Department of Energy Resources (DOER) estimates that 27,000 inefficient appliances will be taken out of service as a result of the program, meaning Massachusetts residents will use 2.6 million fewer kilowatt hours of electricity annually - the annual equivalent of eliminating 4.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide and enough energy to power 340 households for one year. This program is being administered by the DOER in partnership with retailers, utilities and energy efficiency service providers. "This program is a benefit to both consumers and the environment," said Barbara Anthony, the Undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. "Buying a big household appliance is a big financial decision for families, especially during our economic recovery. This program provides a great incentive for consumers to make that purchase, and do it in a positive way for the environment." Initial instructions for taking part in the Massachusetts program - dubbed the "Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange" - are now posted at www.masssave.com/GAX. By visiting the site, consumers can obtain an overview of the rebate process. In coming weeks, the site will include a list of refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer and freezer models that will be eligible for the rebate in April. The program will continue as long as rebate supplies last, on a "first come, first served" basis. To ensure that the process is managed fairly, consumers will be required to make an advance reservation via www.masssave.com/GAX. Eligible consumers will also be required to turn in their inefficient appliances. Returned appliances must be working when exchanged for more efficient models, and, once returned, will be taken out of service. Only Massachusetts residents will be eligible for these rebates. A final, searchable list of eligible appliance models and other details of the Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange, including rebate amounts for each appliance type and how to participate, will be posted on www.masssave.com/GAX on March 22. "These rebates are the proverbial offer you can't refuse. They're incentives that will help consumers across Massachusetts save money, make their homes energy efficient, and protect our environment. This is exactly the kind of investment we intended when we passed the Recovery Act and the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day is the perfect time to start such an initiative," said Senator John Kerry. "Massachusetts families continue to be squeezed by rising medical, education and energy costs. This rebate program puts federal Recovery Act funds to use assisting households in purchasing efficient every-day appliances that will reduce energy costs for families while also reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources and protecting our environment. I applaud the Commonwealth's kick-off of this program on Earth Day," said Congressman John F. Tierney. |
Green Energy Workshops Planned For Educators and Youth Group Leaders A workshop to prepare educators and community youth group leaders to teach and empower youth about renewable energy and to reward them for becoming agents of positive change is planned for April 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield. The Center for Ecological Technology (CET) is hosting the workshop, which will be presented by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). Participating teachers and youth group leaders will enjoy hands-on activities and receive guidebooks that will help them create lesson plans to bring to the classroom. Students can take personal action to spread the word with a project of their own choosing, earning a patch and certificates, with special Girl Scout patches available. For more information or to register, contact Cynthia Grippaldi at cynthiag@cetonline.org, or call 445-4556 ext. 25. CET is a non-profit energy and resource conservation organization serving western Massachusetts for over 30 years. CET receives funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. CET is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. |
WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week, Showerhead Specification, Facebook |
Monsanto-free Seed |
FREE air sealing now available through MassSAVE home energy audit Hello, Energy Communities of Western Massachusetts -- The free air sealing is offered in addition to: Call MassSAVE at 1-866-527-7283 to schedule a no-cost home energy audit. Tightening up their homes for free is a concrete step that people can take this spring to increase their home's energy efficiency, and to celebrate Earth Day. Thanks, |
Seeds of Solidarity Education Center. The Seeds of Solidarity Education Center is very pleased to enter our 12th year of SOL (Seeds of Leadership) Garden, our program for North Quabbin youth, ages 15-18 that inspires leadership and service among youth as they use their bodies, minds and hearts to cultivate food and a hopeful future. The program begins April 1 and meets every Thursday (2.30-5) and continues on Thursdays through the summer and fall. I have attached the 2010 application which provides program details. Applications are due March 19. If you know of youth that would both benefit (are interested in environmental issue and would thrive in a safe, supportive and challenging out of school setting) and contribute (kindness, reliability, commitment and an open mind to learning) please do extend this application to them. In appreciation, |
The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) is seeking applications for the second annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards, which honor organizations making a difference in their community at a State House gathering on June 14th. At the event, Massachusetts will celebrate its second Nonprofit Awareness Day to celebrate the work of nonprofits, raise public consciousness of their contributions and celebrate the winners of these awards. Interested people can nominate an organization, individual, or their own organization for one of these important statewide awards. Applications for the awards are due on *March 15* and can be completed online. For award descriptions and to apply go to www.massnonprofitnet.org/awards *The MNN 2010 Nonprofit Excellence Award Categories:* |
Do you know a local Changemaker? Green Mountain Coffee and Ashoka's Changemakers have joined up to launch Revelation to Action: Your Place. Your Idea. Your Change. Believing that real change starts at home, we will find and help fund the most innovative ideas to inspire community action and improve communities across the Northeastern US. PRIZES: - 3 competition winners will each be awarded USD $5,000 - 7 state winners will each be awarded USD $5,000 - 3 early entry prize winners will receive a Keurig Coffee Brewer and a 12-month coffee supply - Recommend an organization and if it wins, your prize is a Keurig Coffee Brewer and a 6-month supply of coffee NEXT STEPS: 1. Visit http://www.Changemakers.com/Revelation2. If you are new to the site, create a profile, it only takes 5 minutes 3. Sign-in with your username and password 4. Download the entry form in a word document so that you can edit your entry and save changes before entering online ? this ensures that your work is saved 5. Enter your idea or organization here: https://www.changemakers.com/en-us/node/69520/entryform6. When you are finished make sure to click the "Publish" button to complete your entry Early Entry Deadline: March 24, 2010 Final Deadline: April 21, 2010 Feel free to forward this email to other organizations or individuals that are strengthening communities across the Northeastern US. For complete rules and regulations for this competition, please visit our website at http://www.Changemakers.com/Revelation, and click on Eligibility, Criteria and Prizes. |
Wildlife Conservation Society: Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund |
Wild River Dance Video For the International Day of Action for Rivers this year, we're celebrating wild rivers with a series of actions around the world. People everywhere will go to their favorite river, stream or beach (anywhere that represents water) and join us in doing a wild river dance!
That's it! Videos that we especially like will be mashed up into a YouTube video that we'll put up on our channel and show at our 25th Anniversary Celebration in Berkeley on June 4. We'll keep you posted on the upcoming festivities. More information:
Contact us:
Ian Elwood |