Springfield Divestment Panel

On Saturday, January 25 a panel discussion on state divestment from fossil fuels took place in the Springfield Central Library Community Room to answer the question:

[quote]Why do community leaders, faith groups, investment professionals and students think that divestment from fossil fuels is a smart and ethical choice for Massachusetts?[/quote]

We focused on the state fossil fuel divestment legislation (S. 1225) as a strategy to diminish the power of the fossil fuel industry to block a clean energy transition.

Panelists were from the network of constituencies where campaigns to divest are full blown – in colleges and faith communities – and from the developing area of fossil free investing.

divestment-panel-springfield

Bill S. 1225 requires that Massachusetts divest the state employee pension plans from fossil fuels. Constituents used this forum as an opportunity to learn about the bill and ask our panelists questions about this critical issue.

Introduction by Malcolm Bliss

350MA Statewide Coordinator &  Moderator

Tim Rapczynski

Western New England University – Divest WNUE

Carlos Rodriquez

Community Organizer – Neighbor to Neighbor, Holyoke

Eric Packer

Investment Advisor – Progressive Asset Management Group

Chuck Collins

Director of Inequality and the Common Good – Institute for Policy Studies

Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas

Missioner for Creation Care – Episcopal Diocese of Western MA

Question and Answer

along with ending remarks

… processing …

Co-sponsors

  • 350MA
  • Climate Action Now MA
  • NAACP, Springfield Branch
  • Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) Holyoke
  • Arise for Social Justice
  • Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield
  • Green Sanctuary Committee
  • Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst

Video courtesy: East Longmeadow Cable Access Television

Producer – Kelly Glover