|
Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 10/16/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Join in the Fight to Save Our Rivers!
Last week, the Patrick Administration took a giant step backward in protecting our streams and rivers, all the while claiming that it had the environment's best interests in mind. As a result, the four environmental groups on the state's Water Resources Management Advisory Committee have resigned in protest of the disregard for river protection. These organizations - Conservation Law Foundation, Charles River Watershed Association, Ipswich River Watershed Association, and Clean Water Action - resigned en masse after hearing the state's new definition of "safe yield" water withdrawal levels. Mass Audubon is working to reverse this decision. For more information and to contact Governor Patrick to ask him to restore river protections, visit the Conservation Law Foundation's website: https://secure2.convio.net/clf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=246 Read the recent article in the Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2009/10/15/mass_waterway_members_resign_over_safety_issues/
State Budget News
There is grim news for the state budget, with a projected $600 million shortfall this year. Given fixed costs for health and human services are half of the $27 billion annual budget, we can expect environmental programs to be harder hit. Unpaid furlough is being required for Executive Branch managers and the state is considering selling surplus lands and consolidating agencies. Agency heads have been asked to come up with staff reduction plans over the next ten days, and we can expect up to 2,000 state employees to lose their jobs. Thus far, 53 staff at the Department of Conservation and Recreation have lost their jobs and close to 30 at the Department of Environmental Protection. More cuts are expected from each agency. These cuts, and those to come, will leave agencies struggling, or unable, to meet statutory requirements for environmental protections. On a positive note, just over $45 million in bond funds have been set aside for land protection programs this year. Mass Audubon thanks Governor Patrick for keeping his commitment to land protection even during such tough economic times. For details on capital funding, visit http://www.mass.gov/bb/cap/fy2009/rec/dept/he_and_eea.htm.
Explore Climate Change
Join climate activists from across the state at the 8th Annual Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) conference. Speakers include Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Workshops will be held on issues ranging from energy savings in the home to building localized climate movements, as well as the upcoming Copenhagen talks. Sunday, November 15, 2009
9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
Stata Center, MIT
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA For more information, and to register, visit MCAN's conference page at: http://massclimateaction.net/conference/2009-conference.html.
Calendar
Mass Audubon's Free Workshop Series: Get involved and make a difference! This fall, Mass Audubon's Shaping the Future of Your Community Outreach and Assistance Program is holding free workshops in communities throughout the state. Make a difference in your town's future -- join us and learn effective strategies for working with your local officials to guide your community's development, ensuring a high quality of life for years to come. Over the past 40 years, the landscape of Massachusetts has been dramatically transformed. In June 2009, Mass Audubon released Losing Ground: Beyond the Footprint, documenting changes in Massachusetts' land-use and exposing the harsh reality of unplanned development's impacts on natural resources and community character. Shaping the Future of Your Community is Mass Audubon's response to the issues revealed in Losing Ground. Working together, we can maintain the Commonwealth's natural heritage for the benefit of this and future generations. Free, pre-registration strongly encouraged. For schedule information or to register, email shapingthefuture@massaudubon.org or visit http://www.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture/outreach.php
Mass Audubon is proud to be an organizational sponsor of the following upcoming event: Worthy Causes Presents Boston Night to Combat Climate Change Sunday, November 1, 2009
6:00 p.m. -- 10:00 p.m.
Royal Sonesta
Cambridge, MA Honorary co-chairs: Senator John Kerry & Congressman Ed Markey A benefit for Oxfam American & NRDC. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit
http://www.worthycausesinc.org/
Greening the City: Fostering Inspired and Innovative Leadership for Just and Sustainable Urban Communities A conference sponsored by Lesley University's graduate Division of Environmental Studies and Mass Audubon, November 6-8, 2009.
Join more than 150 urban environmental leaders from throughout New England at the main campus of Lesley University in Cambridge, MA to explore key strategies for fostering inspired and innovative urban environmental leadership. "Greening the City" is geared toward environmental practitioners and thinkers from nonprofits, higher education institutions, local community groups, government agencies, and businesses. It will feature prominent environmental thinkers and practitioners from academia and government agencies, as well as from for profit and nonprofit organizations. There will be keynote talks, workshops, and an exhibit area, and other interactive ways to engage with the challenges and solutions arising from our increasingly urban world. Keynotes will include well known environmentalists like Julian Agyeman, environmental social scientist, activist and academic from Tufts University. Other keynotes will be announced shortly. The conference is meant to engage in-depth and meaningful dialogue among participants while addressing the difficulties and opportunities faced in cultivating just and sustainable urban communities.
Registration required.
A Water Resources Conference: Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust Hogan Conference Center
Holy Cross College
Worcester, MA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Established as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Trust has infused over $17 million into projects for water quality, aquatic species, environmental education and more. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Trustees are hosting a one-day conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The conference is intended to bring together practitioners engaged in the work of protecting and restoring water quality and the continuity of aquatic systems. For more information contact Susan Lanza at 617-626-1068 or email Susan.Lanza@state.ma.us
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
|
print
e-mail
go back