A Milestone for ConcordCAN!
ConcordCAN! expresses its appreciation to Bob Andrews, who is retiring from the steering group this month. Bob and his spouse Berni Jenkins, who also stepped down this year, were two of the founding members of ConcordCAN! in 2007, which started with Berni’s organizing a Global Warming Symposium that year. Bob and Berni have been tireless advocates for sustainability and climate action, organizing many more events and programs over the years, as well as taking a leading role in the group and its newsletter and website. We all have been inspired by their energy and dedication to the most important issues of our time.
Concord Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
Help Defeat 1442 Main St Development
Thursday, June 10,
7 PM
Via Zoom
(agenda & zoom link)
If you missed ConcordCAN’s appeal for action in our May Newsletter, it is not too late! The Zoning Board of Appeals will, on June 10, decide whether to allow Symes Development to remove (via diesel trucks) more than 60,000 cubic feet of earth from a parcel of land located at 1442 Main St. in West Concord and, at the same time, clear-cut nine acres of trees. ConcordCAN regards this plan as an assault on our environment as well as inconsistent with the Town of Concord’s commitments to sustainability and climate action.
If you are not already clear about what this is all about, we strongly recommend that you go to the Save 1442 Main St website for a thorough explanation of why it is important, how it can be defeated, and what you can personally do about it.
If you can, plan to attend the June 10 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Since the date and time could change, it may be important to check the scheduling on the Town of Concord website.
There are also other things you can do. Save 1442 Main St. website will guide you. Don’t delay! We are getting rapidly down to the wire on this struggle to align Concord’s development projects with its excellent and ambitious climate goals.
Concord Town Meeting
Support Article 31 for Fossil-Free New Construction
June 13, 1:00 pM
Doug White Field Concord Carlisle High School
500 Walden Street
At Concord’s Annual Town Meeting on June 13th (info here), voters have the opportunity to choose whether the Town will continue to allow fossil fuels to be permitted in new construction.
Article 31 (Home Rule Legislation and Bylaw Amendment: Regulation of Fossil Fuel Infrastructure) has the aim of requiring that new construction not use fossil-fuels for heating or other uses. Alice Kaufman spoke about this article at our Sustainable Concord Coffee, which was recorded here.
ConcordCAN! and Mothers Out Front both strongly support Article 31, because stopping new fossil fueled infrastructure is a necessary step in the effort to stop climate change. We urge Concord residents to attend Town Meeting and vote affirmatively for Article 31. Visit CarbonFreeConcord.org to learn more and there you can sign the pledge to support Article 31.
Biodiversity For A Livable Climate Presents:
Nature’s Solutions
As National Policy
Saturday, June 5, 9:00 AM
Via Zoom (Registration Required)
Thousands of projects around the world are endeavoring to cool our overheated planet and restore biodiversity loss by harnessing the power of photosynthesis, carbon sequestration and regeneration of degraded landscapes. Biodiversity For A Livable Climate will host a mini-conference about leveraging nature’s solutions to shape climate policy. Panelists include Walter Jehne (founder of Healthy Soils Australia), Vijay Kumar (advocate for farmers’ empowerment and natural farming movement in India), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (organic farmer and US Congresswoman from Maine). Click here for more information.
Lexington League of
Women Voters
Massachusetts Forests are Essential for Meeting Our Climate Goals: Are They up to the Task?
Speaker: William Moomaw
Monday, June 7, 7:00 pm
Via Zoom (registration required)
Dr. William (Bill) Moomaw, currently a Distinguished Visiting Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Professor Emeritus from Tufts University, will speak on the importance of forest conservation as a natural climate solution.