XR Statehouse Standout

For months now, Extinction Rebellion Boston (XR) has been holding a day-long standout at the State House, every week day. FRRACS members have attended some of these standouts in support. They explain why they are holding this standout: “We are holding our elected leaders accountable for their inaction on stopping new fossil fuel projects in MA and we are prepared to be here until our demand is met - that is, until the Governor commits to a No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure policy and takes action from the Executive Office to put that policy into place, or until the Senate and House pass legislation making it impossible to carry out projects that expand the use of fossil fuels in MA.”

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, XR organized a special standout to celebrate their months of action. The following statement from FRRACS member, Alice Arena, was read in front of the State House:

Greetings from the Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station in the Fore River Basin communities of Weymouth, Braintree, Quincy, and Hingham! Many thanks to XR for convening this week-long action and today's event.

We need to deliver a loud message. Like throwing a pebble in the ocean and expecting a tidal wave, the timid actions of the broader political class can no longer be accepted. In this climate emergency where all planetary life hangs in the balance, we must not only use our voices, we must take actions that give political leaders the will to take decisive steps against the fossil fuel giants in order to save our precious earth. Our Margaret has said on many occasions that we have been too polite. We at FRRACS have taken every possible conventional route--the legislatures-both state and federal, the courts, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission--and we have hit a dead end at each juncture. We have won some battles, but we are not seeing the quick and bold actions from any of these institutions that will be necessary to save ourselves.

And the needed actions are both simple AND difficult. Sacrifice will have to be made by one and all, not just by the environmental justice communities, the poor, and the third world nations. If capital were taken from the fossil fuel plunderbund and given to the alternative energy community and if monies were redirected to community power generation instead of giving the usual hand-outs to National Greed and Eversource. imagine the clean energy world we could have!

But back to our current sad reality. FRRACS was given information on Monday of this week that the Evil Empire known as Enbridge is planning an expansion through MA called Project Maple. Clever, right? It appears that MA will again be a "pass through" for toxic planet destroying gas to be delivered north--likely ending up in Canada. And it appears that Weymouth is on the list for expansion. What will the Healey administration say and do about this new gas infrastructure? Will we hear crickets and be sold out again? Like the Towns of Douglas, Salem, Peabody, East Boston, Longmeadow, and Springfield? Or will the administration stand against this evil and be the climate champions they claim to be?

Hold their feet to fire! March on climate warriors. March on.

We thank XR for organizing this impressive streak of daily standouts and for their unwavering commitment to fight for a livable planet. You can learn more about Extinction Rebellion Boston here.