PUTNEY — I am writing this after a drab, gray, and very unsettling spell of February weather, including a 70-degree day - part of a disturbing trend toward perpetual weather weirdness.
Six towns in Windham County will be considering a town meeting resolution sponsored by 350 Vermont, making it clear that our communities want to become part of the work to improve our chances of leaving our grandchildren a livable world.
Town Meeting resolutions propose to support our state in moving toward the 90-percent renewable standard by 2050, as well as expressing our opposition to any new fossil-fuel pipelines through our towns.
Last year, 2017, was another year of elevated global temperatures, massive storms and wildfires, and, locally, an amazing number of folks sickened by tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.
Since the federal government has made a dangerous and shortsighted decision to follow the will of the oil and gas industries, we must act.
The majority of Americans and all climate scientists (except those bought and paid for by the industry) accept the reality of climate change, making it clear that states and local communities must serve as the voice for our next generation.
If you live in Brattleboro, Putney, Dummerston, Wardsboro, Guilford, or Marlboro, you can vote for this resolution and send a message to the rest of the country.
As Senator Bernie Sanders said in the first Democratic debate, climate change is the most important threat facing the world. In our small communities, the best way we can let the world know that we understand the depth of this problem is to use our collective voices to speak up for a healthy and livable future.