Connecticut River Defenders Present: A Public Hearing
Saturday November 18 3:00 -5:00 pm
Shea Theater, 71 Avenue A, Great Falls MA 01376
Join with others from our community to hear testimony about the way the rights of nature with respect to the Connecticut River are being violated. We will hear from some of those most knowledgeable about and most affected by the operation of the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station and its harmful and deadly effects on the Connecticut River ecosystem. This testimony will be heard by a panel of respected “judges” who will render findings and remedies based upon the testimony given. A short entertainment program will take place during the judges’ deliberations, after which the judges’ findings will be shared with those in attendance.
Special Guest: Liz ColdWind Santana Kiser, Elder, Council Woman and Tribal Historical Preservation Officer for the Chaubunagungamaug Band of the Nipmuc Indians
Climate Action Now Coordinator, Susan Theberge will be the Prosecutor
Testimony will be presented by:
• Glen Ayers, Retired Public Health Official, Co-Host of The Enviro Show
• Annette Spaulding, Master Connecticut River Diver
• Bill Stubblefield PhD, Ecologist and Evolutionary Biologist, Wendell State Forest Alliance
• Local Children concerned about the environment
• Quinn Bernard Morrow, Sophomore Franklin County Technical School
Serving as Judges will be:
• Joel Kupferman, National Lawyers Guild
• Nathan Phillips PhD, Consumer Liason Group to ISO New England
• Naia Tenerowitz, Springfield Climate Justice Coalition
Adabu Brownhill Jefwa, Youth Representative, National Farmer’s Union, La Via Campesina, Canada & US.
Kate O’Conner, Musician, Trees as a Public Good
Entertainment will include:
• Nnimmo Bassey, Poet and Co-recipient of the Right Livelihood Award
• Ben Grosscup, Singer/Songwriter
• Annie Patterson, Singer/Songwriter
• Local children performing poems and songs
Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Station, operated by FirstLight Power, creates and maintains a dead river, while at the same time using primarily fossil fuels to do so, never creating a bit of virgin energy. FirstLight buys low and sells high, thereby making huge profits for a foreign conglomerate at ratepayers expense. This event will allow the public to decide for themselves whether the Connecticut River and its ecosystem have the “Right” to live and thrive and whether FirstLight will be granted a “Social License” to operate.