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Pass H.4600 

An Act relative to pesticides

Did Rat Poison Kill Three Great Horned Owls in Menotomy Rocks Park?

Update:  It appears that testing for poison was not carried out. The owls may have died after catching and eating rodents killed by Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs).  Other local raptors definitely have. SGARS is the poison in the black plastic boxes that are commonly placed behind restaurants, large buildings and, sometimes, private homes.  The EPA explains that:

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Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Ban

Takes Effect 11/2022

Zero Waste Arlington, a Town of Arlington Committee, announces the passage of a single-use plastic water bottle ban. Zero Waste Arlington brought the article to Town Meeting who supported the article with an overwhelming vote of 199-42. The ban takes effect November 1, 2022. 

Read the full release.

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"The Solar Panel Panel"

Arlington Community Education

Wed., May 25, 7-8:30 pm [online]

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Arlington homeowners who are also members of Sustainable Arlington, Arlington Mothers Out Front and the Clean Energy Future Committee will describe their experiences with installing solar panels on their own homes. The event is moderated by Andy Winslow, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (also former Arlington Winchester HeatSmart coach).  Q & A time for participants to to get their questions answered.

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A panel of Newton Climate Leaders, each of whom is known in climate circles well beyond their city, will discuss their priorities for climate action and answer your questions about policies and how you can help make a difference.  Moderated by Cambridge City Councilor Quinton Zondervan, a tech entrepreneur, non-profit leader, and community activist. 

Municipal Climate Action Discussion Panel

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The kids are not ok

A scientist writes, "Today I went to give a climate talk at my old high school..."  The students:

• ... didn’t need to hear about emission trajectories: they needed to hear about trajectories of popular struggle, when and how people without power changed the world.

Later that day, her university students said about climate change:

• “Everyone knows, and no one is acting as though it matters. No one is taking it seriously. Every day, on Instagram, we see people we know taking flights just for the weekend. Everyone knows and no one cares. It’s just open hypocrisy.”
• “We have seen that covid and Russia’s war on Ukraine can really cause changes overnight — but for climate, which is supposed to be a real crisis too, nothing is done.”

Conclusion:

"...inaction is now perceived as a deliberate, inevitable choice. The grown-ups ... are hurting and harming the youth and they are still doing it. The hurt and despair are immense." 

So ... are we going to keep describing the problem?

Or ... start working on solutions?