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Environmental Justice at the MA State House
Photo: Maria Belen Power - Chelsea GreenRoots (center), Andrea Nyamekye - Neighbor to Neighbor (left), Madeleine Scammell - BUSPH (right) testify at environmental justice hearing
Just last week at the Massachusetts State House, the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture held a hearing for a new environmental justice bill. This bill aims to increase support for environmental justice communities as defined in former Governor Deval Patrick’s 2014 executive order and the EJ policy that was originally issued way back in 2002 and updated in 2017. The Executive Order lays out a
Everyone's doing it, and so should Massachusetts!
What is IT, you ask? It’s bettering our products, homes, and lives by going flame retardant free! These chemicals have been linked to increased rates of cancer and problems with fertility, development and the nervous system and can be found in many common household items such as furniture, electronics, and toys.
Awful, right? Luckily, we’re not the only ones who think so. 14 states have already banned toxic flame retardants, pushing their leaders to recognize the hazards these chemicals pose.
This summer, Maine took it to a whole new level by passing a strong piece of legislation which bans
"All I can say is that we have to keep on fighting"
Writing in the Boston Globe just a few days ago, Karenna Gore - Director of the Center for Earth Ethics and daughter of former Vice President Al Gore - stated that "[T]he oil and gas industry is now an empire that makes its own rules." I couldn't agree more. But the tough questions that are being asked not only in print, but in public protest and in the halls of power are exposing the incredible reach of the fossil fuel lobby and fueling the popular movement fighting to shut down polluters' lock on our society.
Growing Pressure From the Ground Up to Fix Gas Leaks
I have spent a lot of time running around the Massachusetts State House, especially with the impending omnibus energy bill. But while I love the gold dome, bustling House and Senate chambers, and meaningful legislative work, Boston City Hall has something greater: City Hall Daycare and my 19-month-old nephew. Although less adorable, City Hall also has a spacious City Council chamber, which recently held a hearing on a proposed gas leaks ordinance, co-chaired by Councilor O’Malley and Councilor Flaherty.
It was fortunate that the chambers are so large, as there was a strong showing, including a