1

I thought it important to share this heartening news story from the 3/16/10 issue of Northampton's Hampshire Gazette by staff writer Ben Storrow.  It concerns our state government working the way it should – taking its lead from the upwelling of the grassroots sense of how we should be farming and living in the new era we are entering with peak oil-induced growing energy costs and with growing environmental and economic damage from global warming.  In very truth we now are experiencing a Daniel Shays rebellion out here in the western part of Massachusetts, but this time a practical, slow, and steady rebellion, a rebellion away from corporate food to real food.  With this, corporate politics is sure to give way to real politics  – as sure as night gives way to day.

What makes this story so uplifting for me is that in the same story we have Sen. Stan Rosenberg D-Amherst backing a project that is supported by a conventional, conservative farmer in Hadley, who in turn quotes Bill McKibben's 1,400 miles from farm to plate mantra without even knowing it.  These ideas are certainly starting to percolate.  The next phase is to give these ideas a name, and have that name on everyone's lips:  relocalization. 

  

Continue reading Legislators aim to boost local food in schools
Categories , Tags , , ,

0

I’ve been using my recycled solar cloches for years to start my garden early.  This year, here in Planting Zone 6A, I started planting a few days ago with tomatoes and basil in one solar cloche, zucchini in another, roquette and broccoli in a simple single cloche, and spinach in the space between them.  It was a great early Spring day as I planted the seeds and I was happy to spend an hour in the garden.  I’ll be happier when I see the seeds become seedlings and happier still, a couple of months down the road, when I get to taste my fresh vegetables.

Next week, I plan to plant more spinach and sugarsnap peas.

In the background of two of the pictures, you can see my Dirty F*ck*ng Solar Hippie Backpack which I have been using for about five years.

Continue reading Solar Garden Plantings
Categories , Tags , , , ,

0

Amherst graphicThe historical roots of Amherst go back to the 17th century with the founding of Hadley. It would seem odd, therefore, to ask: “Does Amherst exist?”  Quite clearly it does. Wind the tape of history back to the beginning, however, to discover that Amherst did not have to come into being as a town.  The district of Amherst, for example, split apart from Hadley as a result of a petition to the General Court in Boston, which did not necessarily have to assent. Both Amherst and Hadley were the products of political deals that did not have to occur. Why, then, should any particular town exist?  Is the existence of a Town necessary for the sustainable future of its people?  These questions must now be contemplated.  

Continue reading Does Amherst Exist?
Tags , , ,

5

(Addtional information added on July 20, 2010 – please see the comments below.)

Speaking as a Green-Rainbow candidate for the Fourth Berkshire District State Representative seat, I am opposed to the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act as it was amended and passed by the Massachusetts Senate on February 4.  The bill opens the door to the Commonwealth overruling the decisions of local officials, even in communities that have a green vision for energy and have demonstrated progress and results.

While there is a need to reform the permitting process for wind and other alternative sources of energy, the first decisions on how a community will reduce its carbon footprint and promote energy alternatives must come from the local community itself.  There are many towns in the 4th Berkshire District working diligently and establishing solid programs with town departments, residents, and local businesses to support alternative energy and to reduce the community’s carbon footprint.

The Commonwealth should be charged with setting overall “green energy” goals and with providing a framework for communities to develop their own ways of meeting the goals.  Those communities that take the initiative to meet their goal should be given control over how this is done.  I will be eager to work with all communities in the 4th Berkshire District to support each community’s efforts to develop alternative energy and conservation programs that work for the community and that contribute to overall Commonwealth goals.

If a community fails to act pro-actively on its own initiative, the door should be open for the Commonwealth to expedite local permitting of projects that will promote alternative energy, and thus play a larger more active role in how green energy goals are met in that particular community.

However, as long as a community has documented a commitment to green energy and is demonstrating real progress and results towards the goals, the community should be allowed to follow current law in the issuance of permits to wind energy developers.

Continue reading Wind Energy Siting Reform Act

13

On February 26th, Suffolk University released their latest polling data [PDF] regarding the race for governor. This was the first poll to be conducted after Green-Rainbow candidate Jill Stein's announcement that she would be throwing her hat into the race for governor. Among the 500 voters they surveyed, 3% indicated that they would vote for Stein if the elections were held on the day they did their polling. The other candidates had higher figures, but no one breached the 50% mark.

Even more interesting, though, was the next question:

If it was apparent that your first choice could not win the election, which candidate (or party) would be your second choice? 

Continue reading Instant Runoff Voting still worth the effort

1

Have you heard about the speech given this morning by Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo to the Boston Chamber of Commerce?  Sounds like it’s going to be a very good year on Beacon Hill for the business lobbyists.   But the news isn’t so good for the rest of us.  Here are some highlights of the speech:

1) Remember all that talk about how casino revenues would be devoted to worthy purposes like education?  Now DeLeo has a different idea: the priority is doling casino revenues out as gifts to corporations.  You know, building infrastructure for businesses.  It’s NOT graft – it’s economic stimulus.  The recent Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to spend unlimited money in campaigns seems to be having its effect already.  The politicians aren’t even waiting for the money to appear before they sell out.

Continue reading DeLeo’s Speech: A Disturbing Vision for Massachusetts
Categories , Tags ,

0

In support of the recent adoption of a master plan by the Town of Amherst, the Pioneer Valley Relocalization Project submitted this essay to the Amherst Planning Board to highlight a critical issue confronting community planners and town executives everywhere: the looming crisis of peak oil and climate change.  These are civilization-threatening processes caused by human action and must be confronted now – not later – by all planners sharing the goal of a sustainable economic and social future.  Scientists throughout the world, including James Hansen of NASA and Rajendra Pachauri of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have reached fundamental consensus regarding the climate threat while Richard Heinberg of the Post Carbon Institute and others in the academy and in the oil industry have articulated the same with regard to peak oil. Because the crisis is imminent, far-reaching, and human-caused, it can be avoided only through planned action, and must be a first-order objective at every government level – municipal, state, and nation.  

Continue reading A necessary frame for the local master plan
Tags , , , , , , ,

1

Fall Elections:

The deadline is February 23, 2010, to become an unenrolled voter if you’re presently registered with Democratic, Republican or Libertarian Party, in order to run in the fall election under the Green Rainbow designation.  Best to check your registration today, if you’re thinking of running for office. See the Schedule link. (Un-enrolled candidates indicate their designation on their nomination papers before collecting signatures.)

Election Schedule 2010

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/schedule_10.pdf

Candidate Guide 2010

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates_Guide_10.pdf

Map of all Massachusetts Senate Districts

Map of all Massachusetts House Districts  

Continue reading Feb 23 Last day to register as Un-enrolled voter for GRP candidates, November 2010 election
Tags , , , , , ,

0

I note that there has been zero mention of GRP participation in three wide-open special elections that have already started their election calendar. The district formerly held by Anthony Galluccio has seven announced Democratic Party candidates.

Why not a Green/Rainbow presence in the General Special Election for May 11?

Note that residency for a Senate district is only required at the time of election, unlike House districts.

Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex Senate District

Parts of the cities of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett,  Revere, Saugus and Somerville.

Three Hundred certified voter signatures are required for nomination.

Deadlines:

• December 9, 2009, date to have been an un-enrolled voter, to run under the Green/Rainbow designation.

• March 2, 2010 – Last day for Nomination papers to local voter registrars for signature certification.

• March 9, 2010 – Last day for certified nomination papers to be filed at the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

• April 13, 2010 – Party Primary for party candidates (not Green/Rainbow)

• May 11, 2010 – General Special Election

Link to the Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex Senate District special election calendar: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elespeif/msecal.htm

Here are the links to current elections info:

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division

Fall Elections:

The deadline to become an unenrolled voter, to run in the fall election under the Green Rainbow designation is February 23, 2010. Best to check your registration today, if you’re thinking of running for office. See the Schedule link.

Election Schedule 2010

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/schedule_10.pdf

Candidate Guide 2010

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates_Guide_10.pdf

Map of all Massachusetts Senate Districts

Map of all Massachusetts House Districts  

Continue reading Not too late to run for Galluccio’s former Senate seat (Middlesex, Suffolk Essex district)
Tags , ,