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Upcoming
Events
Statewide
NE Governor's Conference Tar Sands Action
12 pm, Sunday, July 13th
Bretton Woods, NH
Register here
Salem Action
Sunday, August 17
Exact location TBD
Lobster Boat Trial
Monday, September 8
Fall River District Court, 186 S Main St., Fall River, MA
Berkshires
350 MA Node Meeting
Wed, July 16, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Unitarian Society of Pittsfield (directions here)
Boston area:
350 MA Node Meeting
Tue, July 1, 7pm – 9pm
Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine Street, Boston
Cambridge area:
350MA Node Meeting
Tue, July 1, 6:00pm – 8:30pm
First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge
BFP Field Day
Sun, July 6, 5-8 pm
Cambridge Common, 1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
MetroWest area:
Carbon Tax Presentation
7-9 pm, Thursday, July 17th
Parish Hall, Hubbard Street entrance of Trinitarian Congregational
Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord
North Shore area:
Gloucester Wind Turbine Tour
Sat, June 28, 10:00am – 11:30am
Blackburn Industrial Park in Gloucester
North Shore Divestment Network & 350MA North Shore Node
Meeting
Tue, July 8, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Fogg Room, Main Branch, Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex Street,
Beverly
Lowell area:
350MA Node Meeting
Thur, July 3, 8:30-9:30am
Brewed Awakeining, 61 Market St, Lowell
City of Lowell Green Building Comission
Thu, July 10, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Arthur Hammar Conference Room, Department of Planning and
Development, 50 Arcand Drive
Worcester area:
350MA Node Meeting
Wed, July 2nd, 7pm – 9pm
Ghosh Science and Technology Room #322, Worcester State University,
486 Chandler St., Worcester
NOTE: Worcester Node will meet in Room 322, NOT Room 402, until Labor
Day
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This Week's News and Updates
Hi all,
Big news! The Unitarian Universalist Association, which represents
more than 1,000 churches worldwide, just voted to divest from fossil
fuels. Huge congratulations to all the 350 Massachusetts activists who
helped make this victory happen!
Happy 4th of July week! Make sure to take some time with family and
friends, because we'll hit the ground running once the barbecuing and
fireworks are over -- on July 13th, we'll be at the New England
Governors' Conference calling for a ban on tar sands oil. Join us by
registering here!
Here's to another great week.
Best,
Emily for Better Future Project
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Unitarian Universalist Association Divests!
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The Unitarian Universalist General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in
favor of fossil fuel divestment in Providence this weekend, becoming
the second faith group to divest from fossil fuels on the national
level in the U.S. The Unitarian Universalist Association
represents over 1,000 churches around the United States. The
resolution also encourages individual congregations to divest; six UU
congregations in Massachusetts have already divested, more than in any
other state. Huge congratulations to the many 350 Massachusetts
members who worked to divest their UU churches and who played an
active role in the national campaign!
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Ban Tar Sands Oil from New England
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The horrors of the tar sands are familiar by now: poisoned water,
clear-cut forests, broken treaties with First Nations peoples, and
staggering levels of carbon pollution. That’s why it’s
outrageous -- almost unbelievable -- that by 2020, 11-18% of
Massachusetts’ oil could come from the tar sands. As part of the
Climate Legacy Campaign, we have been calling on Governor Patrick to
ban tar sands oil. On July 13th, Governor Patrick will meet with his
peers at the New England Governors' Conference. Together, they could
implement a regional Clean Fuels Standard to ban tar sands oil from
New England entirely. We are staging a People’s Conference to
tell them to follow the will of the people and ban tar sands now!
WHAT: People’s Conference and Speak
Out
WHEN: 12PM, July 13th
WHERE: Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Register here
to let us know you are coming so we can coordinate transportation! |
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See You in Salem on August 17th
On August 17th, families and concerned citizens from all over
Massachusetts will gather to envision a positive future for Salem --
one that doesn't include the proposed natural gas plant. We'll have
music, art, and family-friendly activities. Want to be part of the
planning? We'd love to have your input! Contact Varshini Prakash
( prakash....@gmail.com) to get involved. |
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Somerville Passes Divestment Resolution
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After a hard-fought campaign with plenty of twists and turns, the
Somerville Board of Aldermen voted unamiously in favor of a
pro-divestment resolution on June 25th. Somerville is the tenth city
in Massachusetts to pass a resolution in favor of divestment.
Congratulations to all the activists who made this victory happen!
Interested in starting a divestment campaign in your town or city?
Check out the resources here,
and fill out this
form so that we can connect you to advice and support! |
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Check Out the Updates from Climate Summer
Four talented teams of Climate Summer riders hit the road on
Thursday. They've spread out across the state to help build opposition
to the proposed Kinder-Morgan pipeline, the expansoon of the Spectra
pipeline, and the proposed Salem natural gas plant. Check out their
updates from the road by following their blog! |
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Become an Ongoing Contributor!
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Well, that basically sums it up. We depend on grassroots funding --
sign up
now as an ongoing contributor for Better Future Project / 350
Massachusetts! |
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Save the Date: Lobster Boat Blockade Trial on September
8th
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Join us on Monday, September 8th at the Fall River District Court for
the Lobster Boat Blockade Trial! Last May, Ken Ward and Jay
O’Hara anchored their lobster boat to halt a 40,000-ton shipment
of coal to the Brayton Point coal plant in Somerset, MA. Ken and Jay
will use the necessity defense at their trial, arguing that their
actions were absolutely necessary in order to prevent harm to their
lives. Expert scientist Dr. James Hansen, as well as 350.org
co-founder Bill McKibben, will be testifying on behalf of Ken and Jay.
Religious leaders, climate scientists, activists, students, and
concerned citizens will gather outside the courthouse to show support.
Mark your calendar -- we hope to see you there!
WHAT: Trial for Ken and Jay, the lobster boat
blockaders
WHEN: Monday, September 8
WHERE: Fall River District Court, 186 S Main St.,
Fall River, MA |
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Become a District Captain and Help Build Support for
Divestment
Our amazing district captains have been helping to build support for
divestment in their communities. Want to join them? Click here
to sign up! We’re hosting a training for district captains on
Saturday, July 12th from 10-2 at the Democracy Center (30 Bow St in
Cambridge). We're also planning a divestment retreat for Massachusetts
divestment advocates October 3rd-5th, so mark your calendars! |
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MIT CoLab Green Building Contest
The MIT Climate Co-Lab is asking for proposals on ways to create
excitement and awareness on the topic of green buildings. Anyone
can submit a proposal. Rather than technologies and processes to
increase sustainability in buildings, they are taking a step back and
asking, what does 'green' mean to the public? Which aspects of a green
building do you find especially valuable? What could
architecture firms, government agencies, and certification bodies do
to promote conversations about green building? Check the contest page
here
and join the discussion. Also, feel free to reach out to one of
the fellows of this contest, Javier Burgos ( jbur...@gmail.com), with
questions on how to join. |
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Massachusetts Carbon Tax Presentation
On Thursday, July 17th, the Metrowest node will sponsor a discussion
about the carbon tax and its role in solving the climate crisis. A
speaker from Climate Exchange/Environmental Tax Reform MA, who is well
informed about the policy issues involved in designing a carbon tax,
will speak and answer questions about the group’s five
principles for a successful carbon tax.
WHAT: Presentation about the carbon tax
WHEN: 7-9 pm, Thursday, July 17th
WHERE: Parish Hall, Hubbard Street entrance of
Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord
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It's Official: People's Climate March is Sept. 21
Mark your calendars! September 21st is the official date for the
People’s Climate March. Many of the world's leaders will be in
New York City that weekend for a major UN summit. They'll be met by
tens of thousands of people in the streets demanding immediate action
on climate change. This will be one of the largest climate
mobilizations in history -- you'll want to be there! Sign up
now for a spot on a bus. |
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Better Future Project Field Day - DATE CHANGED
To celebrate the amazing work done by everyone (volunteers, staff,
family members, and friends) under the Better Future Project umbrella,
there will be a Better Future Project field day on SUNDAY, JULY 6,
from 5-8pm, at the Cambridge Commons in Cambridge. There will be lawn
games, soccer, and other fun activities! It will also be a potluck, so
bring your favorite summer dish and come party. For questions email
Sophie Robinson, Interim Coordinator for 350 Massachusetts, at
sop...@350ma.org. |
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Join the 350MA Structure and Outreach Teams
Two teams of 350MA-ers are exploring important topics and how to
improve an already outstanding network through bi-weekly calls. The
outreach team is focusing on recruitment, retention, and alliance
building. The structure team is focusing on the meeting structure of
350MA, and is also looking at campaign structure. The teams will be
working to create proposals for the Statewide Steering team for their
July 19 in-person meeting. If you are interested in joining either of
those teams, please email Sophie Robinson, Interim Coordinator for 350
Massachusetts, at sop...@350ma.org.
Photo from Kate Toomey. |
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About Better Future Project
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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 (350MA) is Better Future Project's volunteer-led
climate action network. Although closely aligned with the missions and
values of 350.org, 350 Massachusetts is not part of 350.org.
Rallyware is an easy way for anyone to share information and
updates within the 350MA network. Click here
to register.
Climate
Summer is Better Future Project’s flagship
leadership development program for young adults. Participants learn
organizing skills including story-telling, relationship-building,
social media, traditional media, event planning, campaign planning,
and more, all while living their values and traveling exclusively by
bicycle. Graduates of these programs go on to become leaders in the
national climate justice movement.
If you have questions, or if you've received this email through a
friend and you'd like to subscribe, email Emily Kirkland, Better
Future Project Communications Coordinator, at
em...@betterfutureproject.org. |
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