little mesa

Mike, Aja and Liz at the Antioch table

On the heels of the 350.org day of global action, Vermonters met at the Environmental Action 2009 Conference last Saturday to explore the hot issues facing the Green Mountain State.  I was thrilled to be joined by Antioch EAOP master’s candidate Liz Newman, EAOP Director Steve Chase, and EAOP alumna Aja Lippincott, who now works for Global Justice Ecology Project.

Liz and I first learned of the conference working on an environmental justice project for a Vermont client through the ANE Advocacy Clinic.  We planned to meet some advocates we had talk to on the phone and to further explore possible collaborations for our client.

In addition to networking and eating great local cheese, we were representing Antioch in two primary ways.  First, equipped with banners, literature and free pens, we were recruiting potential students.  Second, we engaged potential clients of the Advocacy Clinic to think about how our pro bono advocacy work could be help them take innovative and strategic environmental action.

I talked to a group that was fighting a big box store development in their town.  I explained that Shapleigh, Maine and other towns have passed a local ordinance that gives rights to nature and allows citizens to defend those rights against corporate exploitation.  Shapleigh passed the Nature Ordinance to protect its drinking water from being sold off to a transnational bottled water company.  We were both excited about using the Nature Ordinance to protect against sprawl and bringing self-determination back to the people of a VT town.

The afternoon offered some excellent workshops.  I attended a session on Funding Real Change, comprehensive funding strategies for grassroots action.  Ginny Callahan from the New England Environmental Grassroots Fund walked us through the grant application process giving tips and encouragement from a funder’s perspective.  Mia Moore, Finance Director for Democracy for America and Alyssa Schuren, Development Director of Environment America presented donor-funding strategies and tools to increase giving and diversify funding for campaigns and organizations.  I walked away with a new understanding and excitement for donor funding.

Finally, after lunch we heard from five gubernatorial candidates about their positions on environmental issues.   All five stressed that Vermont needs to start leading in environmental action and clean energy.  I am thoroughly impressed and slightly jealous of the candidates VT has for its next governor.

I lost my 5 year plan.  Have you seen it? I know it’s around here somewhere.  Perhaps I donated to a fund raiser by accident.

I know, I’ll make signs and hang them in all the bathroom stalls.  When you . . . pause . . . in your day you’ll look up and read:

LOST
My 5 Year Plan
Features: Bright, Shinny & Perfect
If found please return.
Reward.

I’m really lost without my 5 year plan.  What do I tell you when you ask,

“What are you going to do after grad school?”
“Wait, you’re not going to move away are you?”
“What is your personal strategic plan?”

You might wonder why I don’t have a simple and ready answer to these questions, but I have a perfectly good reason.  So if you find my 5 year plan at a yard sale or in the trunk of your car, please return it and I’ll easily answer all your questions about my future.

Sticks figures for health care reform.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on Monday that the health care reform bill that he brings to the floor of the senate will include a public option.

Thank  you Senator Reid for reading my letter and giving us the public option back.

Keene's 350.org march on Oct 24

This past Saturday I joined other Monadnock residents for a 350.org global day of climate action.  About two dozen marchers braved the downpour walking down Keene’s Main Street from Railroad Square to Keene State College.

Later in the afternoon Keene’s Central Square was ringed with “350″ and “Save the Earth” banners.

Keene Central Square 350 Banners

Keene was joined by actions from around the world.  NPR describes the global movement.  Photos from actions around the world can be viewed at 350.org or see the Flickr slide show below.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Give us a public option.

Dear Senator Reid,

Last Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform bill that does not include a public option. By Thursday, an article in the Union Leader (Manchester, NH) highlighted NH Senator Shaheen’s hesitancy to support this bill.  But with unemployment rising last month in New Hampshire to 7.2 percent, to 13.3 percent in your own state of Nevada and the economic recovery barely sputtering to life, we can’t afford to wait.

Currently, those lucky enough to be employed are beholden to their employers for affordable health coverage. With a public option, citizens could fuel an entrepreneurial swell of new, creative businesses while freeing up much needed jobs across the country, and they could do so without risking their own health and wellbeing.

I am in strong support of the Senate HELP Committee bill, which does include a public option and is the result of Senator Chris Dodd’s efforts, and draws upon decades of work by the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

For the health of Americans and our economy I implore you to include this public option in the healthcare reform bill brought to the floor of the Senate.