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Global
Warming?
Methuen Councilor Kathleen Corey
Rahme
 When most people were
out Christmas shopping and preparing for the holiday
season, Councilor Deborah Quinn and I attended the
Climate Change: Local Solution to A Global Crisis town
meeting held at UMASS Lowell on Saturday, December 16,
2006. Congressman Marty Meehan hosted this event and
approximately 1000 people were in attendance including
Governor-elect Deval Patrick and numerous experts in the
field. A video message to the attendees from Vice
President Al Gore was played along with some clips from
his controversial movie An Inconvenient Truth.
It was ironic, (if that is the correct word to describe
it), that it was a sunny 54 degrees outside when we all
gathered at what was ultimately the third venue for this
meeting. Initially the organizers thought the turnout
would yield about 200. They changed locations when it
felt closer to 500 would attend. Eventually, they moved
the meeting to the Durgin Hall so that 1000 people could
attend the town meeting to discuss this all important
topic of global warming. I was in a good mood when I
arrived, but by the end of the discussion, I have to be
honest, I was a little depressed.
I remember reading Small is Beautiful by E. F. Schumacher
when I was in college and at the time, I was amazed how
simple it was. That was 25 years ago. Why haven’t we
done something to correct the way we treat our
environment? “A civilization built on renewable
resources, such as the products of forestry and
agriculture, is by this fact alone superior to one built
on non-renewable resources, such as oil, coal, metal,
etc. This is because the former can last, while the
latter cannot last. The former cooperates with nature,
while the latter robs nature. The former bears the sign
of life, while the latter bears the sign of death
(Schumacher, 1973).”
At the town meeting we heard frightening news about the
impact of environs and our health. Never before have
there been so many health issues especially among
children such as increased in asthma cases. They are more
vulnerable to toxins than adults (www.healthytomorrow.org).
This website speaks of “toxic soup” which is a
chemical buildup in our bodies that we accumulate due to
our everyday interaction with the environment and
products found in our water supply, air, food, our homes
and workplaces.
Dr. Amy Cannon of UMASS, Lowell, was one of the panelists
whom I found to be quite informative. She is a PhD in
Green Chemistry. She is one of a kind. What was very
interesting was her report that chemists are very good at
creating chemicals but they have little knowledge about
what these substances do to our health. She is someone
who knows the impact of chemicals on both the human body
and the environment.
Each of us has the awesome responsibility to provide the
next generation a safe environment. Global warming should
be a real concern for all of us. The fact that we are
responsible for the most carbon emissions in the world
leading to this environmental catastrophe is disturbing.
During my recent visit to Sweden, my husband and I were
most impressed with the miles and miles of bicycle paths.
The health benefits and environmental impact are too
obvious to state.
Individually we can make our environment better. What can
be done? We should support legislation and initiatives to
protect our environment. Congressman Marty Meehan is
sponsoring the Climate Change Investment Act (HR 6417).
This Bill establishes a greenhouse gas intensity
reduction investment tax credit. There is also S. 553 or
H. 1286 which is An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts:
Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals. This bill seeks to
eliminate toxic chemicals that have healthy alternatives.
If alternatives exist, they should be used.
In NYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Bloomenergy.com) is
concerned with local initiatives. Methuen has a committee
called the Mayor’s Commission on Energy Efficiency
and Green Government to tackle some of these issues. It
is chaired by Sal Albano and the committee members
include Councilors Joseph Leone and Deborah Quinn, Jo
Anna Marion, Richard DiGrazia, and me. We are looking at
everything from better recycling to making the new or
renovated Methuen High School “green.”
Locally, new constructions should be energy efficient and
have alternative solutions utilizing solar and wind.
Older constructions can be modified using incentives to
encourage alterations. Green solutions (cedar oil based
products) can be utilized to spray for mosquitoes (EEE)
as opposed to harsh chemicals that are currently
used.
Other exciting measures include energy efficient vehicles
and hybrids. During the town meeting, Deval Patrick
challenged UMASS Lowell to retrofit the existing governor
issued vehicle.
We can all participate in the betterment of our
environment. By supporting local initiatives and doing
our best to make our homes and lifestyles healthier, we
can reap the benefits for future generations. I cannot
wait to begin. What I plan to keep in mind is that even
small changes can yield big results.
Kathleen Corey Rahme is the former Central District
Councilor in Methuen and was elected as a city councilor
“at large” last year. She is also the founder
of the Methuen Youth Corps and hosts “Call to
Serve.” You can email her at kcoreyrahme
@comcast.net
*Send your questions
comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The January 2007 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 10,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
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