On Wednesday, Oct. 11th, a public hearing at the state legislature heard extensive testimony from a wide array of individuals and organizations, including the scientific community, in favor of legislation that would HALT the accelerating destruction of green spaces in Massachusetts through the installation of artificial turf fields, destruction of desperately needed urban and suburban tree canopy, and clear-cutting of forests which are a primary defense against the continued burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil AND GAS.)
Now, your action is still needed to support this Legislation: S.523, S.524, HD.4430, H.894, H.904, H.869, S.452, and H.895. (Details can be found here.)
There are powerful interests working to oppose these bills. Corporations and others that want to “maximize the economic value” of land and forests, and to make way for “development” are using money, access, and power to stop progress. We need your voice to counteract their money, access, and influence!
Please take action now! Click here to write to your state representative and senator, and urge them to co-sponsor ALL of these critical bills.
Then, send written testimony to the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Committee urging their support. JointCommittee.Environment@malegislature.gov
Click HERE for an example of written testimony that you can modify and put into your own words.
WHY?
Forests allowed to grow old, uncut and wild, are the #1 solution to removing harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere as trees breathe in climate warming gases and store them in their bodies and soils, and in the wetlands they help create, for free.
Made largely out of plastic, a derivative product of oil, artificial turf fields continue our addiction to fossil fuels, and must be replaced roughly every 10 years, leading to hundreds of tons of toxic (PFAS-infused) plastic with NO available recycling solutions and NONE on the horizon.
Forests and trees cool the temperature on land, in rural and urban areas; create balanced and clean fresh water distribution and storage; provide the best habitat for wildlife biodiversity, homes to 80% of wildlife species on land; and promote human health and happiness.
Natural Grass fields maintain reasonable, humane, field temperatures; protect our aquifers from PFAS leeching; avoid exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals; and don’t create toxic waste.
