PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 will mark the 84th anniversary of the executions of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1927. To commemorate the date and to build opposition to the restoration of the death penalty in Massachusetts, the Hampden County Chapter of the Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty, in association with The Springfield Diocese: Catholic Charities Agency, will be sponsoring a memorial service in...
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PRES RELEASE – Montague, MA- July 28, 2011-The Montague Energy Committee may have been off the public radar for a while, but it has been actively planning and moving forward with a number of projects and goals. Over the winter, the committee prioritized its goals, deciding to focus on working with residents and small businesses to promote energy efficiency, while it wraps up on-going projects and addresses energy-related town issues that demand short-term action. Plans are in the works...
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Monday, August 22nd, 6:00-8:00pm, CISA and the MA Farm Energy Program will team up to offer a workshop on Solar Thermal energy for farmers. Come learn the basics of energy efficient solar hot water systems with the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program and system installers, including The Solar Store and Coop Power. We will discuss system and equipment options, best management practices for different farm sectors, how to work with an installer, funding opportunities, and take a look at an on-site...
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This workshop is designed to meet the needs of small-medium sized farms and livestock operations. Topics to be presented include: Manure management plans, containment and storage, pasture and paddock management, and manure management options – land application & composting. All participants receive free Manure Management & Composting CD Toolkit of resources. Tuesday, August 30th, 6:00-8:00pm New England Small Farm Institute 275 Jackson Street, Belchertown Sandwich,...
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Good news GGEC just received $500 Wolfe & Rita grant via the the Massachusetts Climate Action Network. Thank you to Susan for writing this grant! You are GREAT! These funds will go a long way towards supporting our efforts this year! See below for more info, and others who received grants. MCAN Chapter Wolfe Rita Grant Applicants and Chapter Representatives Thank you for your grant applications. All of the applications submitted were excellent and for the first time ever, all were...
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Massachusetts just printed a GREAT REPORT on $money$ saved through energy efficiency. Its inspirational! It has lots of numbers, but it also has success stories & IDEAS Residential programs – MassSAVE & low income programs Small businesses Large commercial & industrial businesses Municipal efforts They calculate that $18 bil left MA last year to pay for oil, gas etc. — 80% of total spent…just slightly higher than the 78% that the Greening Greenfield Energy Committee...
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When economic power is concentrated in a few multi-national corporations, it not only erodes two sustainability objectives (environmental integrity and social justice) but creates a political situation that undermines democracy. I wrote in an earlier blog… “the global food system will always favor large, financially efficient businesses which exploit people, undermine democracy, erode community, and degrade natural resources in order to maximize profits.” Another of my blogs...
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Summer is heating up While summer in the Valley normally seems to mean fewer events and a little relaxation time, there’s quite a bit which has not slowed down. In fact, actions related to Green seem to be heating up just as much as the weather -> steamy. While events abound on our calendar, there are some that you simply don’t want to miss, such as 8/12 – 8/14 Northeast Organic Farming Association Summer Conference 8/20 Regional Open Space Conference 8/27 Western Mass Green...
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Pioneer Valley Local First, an organization which has been working for the past 10 years on creating a vibrant local living economy in our area, has just realeased it’s NEW 2011-12 Buy Local Guide! Haven’t had a chance to pick up a paper copy -or- prefer to view it electronically? No worries, follow this link to their website where you can download the guide for...
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Some Interesting FREE webinars: See below for descriptions & how to register… August 2011: Upcoming Climate and Energy Webcasts for State and Local Governments This message provides details about eight upcoming webcasts being offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and others. All webcasts are offered free of charge, but space may be limited. EPA State and Local Climate and...
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