Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb (Author)
WINNER of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb reveals that our modern idea of what a healthy landscape looks like and how it functions is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America’s lakes and rivers. The consequences of losing beavers were profound: streams eroded, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans lost vital habitat. Today’s “Beaver Believers” – including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens – recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier, for humans and non-humans alike.
Eager is a powerful story about one of the world’s most influential species, how North America was colonized, how our landscapes have changed over the centuries, and how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, extinction, and the ravages of climate change. Ultimately, it’s about how we can learn to coexist, harmoniously and even beneficially, with our fellow travelers on this planet.
PREVIOUS CLIMATE BOOK DISCUSSIONS Here
In collaboration with Richmond Climate Action Committee.
Make Big Oil Pay
A campaign coordinated by VPIRG to liberate oil company profits to compensate for the damage caused by burning fossil fuels
Vermont Digger, By Kevin McCallum, April 2, 2024
The Vermont Senate on Tuesday passed a first-of-its-kind bill designed to make big oil companies pay for the damage caused by climate change and the costs of adapting to it. The Climate Superfund Act, S.259, passed by a 26-3 vote, and now heads to the House, where it is expected to enjoy similarly strong support.
Community Project: What Will Suffice – Artists Respond to the Climate Crisis
Collaboration with Radiate Art Space: Exhibit and Book/Catalogue
The Climate Art Catalog is now available at the Richmond Community Kitchen.
(Hours: M, Tu, Th, F 10-4; Wed 10-6).
Or, contact radiate.art.space@gmail.com to arrange a pick up or a mail delivery.
Thanks to an anonymous grant the price is just $10. Copies are limited — to reserve a copy email radiate.art.space@gmail.com
Radiate Art Space and the Richmond Climate Action Committee are pleased to announce the publication of a catalog of the community Climate Art exhibit at the Richmond Free Library. The catalog, What Will Suffice: Artists Respond to the Climate Crisis, includes fine color photographs of the artwork in the exhibit, as well as a foreword from Bill McKibben and introduction by Alexis Lathem.
The format is 8.5” x 11”, forty page soft-cover book printed on recycled paper by a company that makes sustainability a priority. Thanks to an anonymous grant the price is just $10.
See https://www.radiateartspace.org/
To reserve/purchase a copy: https://www.radiateartspace.org/new-page-4
Mission Statement
The Richmond Climate Action Committee is a citizen committee dedicated to reducing our town’s contribution to the climate crisis, while building a just, resilient, and sustainable community through local action.
Mission Challenge
The global challenge is clearly laid out by the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2021 Report here. The Report has been called “a code red for humanity. The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable”. Future actions will determine how the world’s seven billion people will survive on a hotter planet and whether these actions will prevent far worse storms, floods, extinctions and wildfires.
Everyone must do their part, but rich countries and rich people’s lifestyles have been and still are the most polluting, so equity demands that they carry the greater burden of combating the climate catastrophe – the disadvantaged can only do so much. All the world’s countries must work together to severely limit greenhouse gas emissions. The affluent countries have benefited by far the most from burning fossil fuels, so those countries with large populations and highly polluting lifestyles (such as the US) are being called on to help the less affluent countries develop their economies in a sustainable way. And the same principle will have to be applied to inequity within countries.
Richmond Climate Action Committee works at the local level, in our Town and at County and State levels. We recognize that individual actions are important, though often only possible if towns and states enable them though incentives, ordinances and regulations, and by providing grants and services such as public transport. The challenges cover all aspects of our lives – transportation, home heating, diet and agriculture, consumption and recycling
- Our recent actions have included:
- An art show at the library, soon to appear as a book;
- informational and inspirational postings to Front Porch Forum;
- Active involvement in Town Committees and engaging with our representatives;
- Tours of local ‘green’ homes;
- Pushing for sidewalks and bike lanes and non-motorized travel to the Park and Ride and other transportation opportunities;
- Promoting battery-powered vehicles and bikes, equipment for lawn and yard care; obtaining funding for a charging station at the Town Center and helping Richmond Police Dept to purchase an electric cruiser.
Join us and Contact us!
At present we meet ‘online’ each month on the third Thursday of each month to plan our activities. Contact us here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RCANVT/
Active Members include:
Jeff Forward (Town Energy Coordinator), Betsy Hardy, Chris Granda, Gary Beckwith, Ian Stokes, Fran Pomerantz, Steve Bower, Virginia Clarke, Judy Bush, Alexis Lathem, Allen Knowles (Liaison with Transportation Committee), Ariana Matthews-Salzman.