Events & ACTIONS Summer 2024 | |
|
SAVE THE DATES for our Next Monthly Meetings
Aug 21 7-8:30 PM will be hosted by Friends of Bees. More details to come!
Sept 18 7-8:30 TBD
| |
Events from our Working Groups | |
|
Thunderchild with Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor Sunday July 14 2 PM Watertown Library
Watertown Free Public Library and the Pigsgusset Initiative invite you to experience the electrifying album THUNDERCHILD, a twelve-song masterpiece, blending soul and blues, with undertones of funk, Caribbean, and punk rock. As a multi-award-winning artist and Mashpee Wampanoag elder, Mwalim infuses THUNDERCHILD with musical history and innovation. Don't miss this mesmerizing journey through soul, blues, and musical authenticity on the THUNDERCHILD TOUR.
| |
|
|
Save the date: Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration
Sunday August 4
Vigil 7 PM Dock Ceremony 8 PM Candleboats 8:30 PM
Save the date for our annual Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration with Vigil, Ceremony and Candleboat lighting on the dock in Watertown Square.
| |
|
|
Fall Life Friendly Garden Tour
Sunday Sept 8
We hope you enjoyed Watertown's first Summer Life-Friendly Garden Tour.
Friends of Bees and Watertown Community Gardens are planning to hold the next Life-Friendly Garden Tour on Sunday September 8. We will show how our gardens are part of Homegrown National Park, expanding habitat everywhere. For example, if you have room to plant a new tree, an oak will have the greatest benefit for biodiversity. In the meantime, we will be at the Watertown Farmers Market on August 7.
| |
|
|
Save the date: Indigenous Peoples Day
Sunday, October 13th from 12:00 - 4:00 PM at the Hosmer Elementary School.
The afternoon will feature: Indigeneous food, performances, crafters, artisan and vendors In collaboration with Branch Line Restaurant, James Beard award winner, Chef Sherry Pocknett's Indigenous cuisine will be offered as part of a fixed price meal on Tuesday, October 8th. Chef Pocknett will be preparing the meal and will be in attendance at the restaurant that evening.
| |
|
|
Watertown-Cambridge Greenway Invasive Plant Removal
July 14 and July 20
9-11 AM Meet at the bench behind Target
Help keep the Greenway green! We will be working on addressing the massive invasive plant problem that has infested the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway. Exact tasks will be defined the day of the event.
Our goal is to remove invasive plants, replace them with ecologically-beneficial native plants, and restore wildlife habitat.
| |
|
|
Debunking Deterrence Theory And Pursuing Global Nuclear Disarmament
Webinar, July 9 - 8:00 PM
(8 a.m. July 10 in Hiroshima)
Our speakers will examine the very frightening flaws of deterrence theory that have too often brought humanity to the brink of extinction, and offer practical strategies and tactics to replace it, and to advance the cause of global nuclear disarmament.
Initiated By: Peace Action and Campaign for Peace,Disarmament & Common Security
| |
|
|
European Peace Movement Perspectives: Ukraine, Gaza, Nukes & Elections
A Webinar July 11, 7-8:15 PM
Russia’s summer offensive is on, and U.S. supplied weapons are being launched against targets threatening a wider, potentially nuclear, war. Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank continue, reinforced by U.S. and German weapons.
How are the German and European peace movements responding, and what do they expect of us?
| |
| |
|
|
SUMMER OF ACTION -
HOT ENOUGH YET?
| |
|
We Don't Have a Budget Yet and the House has yet to Pass A Climate Bill.
Contact your Rep! Once again the Massachusetts Legislature has failed to finish its budget in time. Several bills have passed one chamber or the other. Senator Brownsberger lent his support to a plastics plastics reduction bill and a climate omnibus bill which includes a halt on gas expansion and transition from gas. And the house has yet to act- 350Mass is urging the following :
email your Representative and urge them to push for a major house climate bill centered around environmental justice, a halt on gas system expansion, and a transition from gas! We're still worried there might not be a House bill, or that it may be very narrow in scope. See our (regularly updated) guide to take action! We know that our Rep Steve Owens (617) 722-2460 has been a champion so thank him. If Rep John Lawn is your rep maybe he will do the same. Ask him! (617) 722-2430)
Come Rally with Us Climate Justice Can't Wait: July 13 Rally and March in Boston
Our legislators aren't feeling the heat of climate change! Our movement needs to fire them up. We're rallying on the Boston Common on July 13 with our Mass Power Forward coalition and our youth allies from Mass Youth Climate Coalition, and we need you there. To pass climate legislation this session, we have to show up BIG. RSVP here. Sat, Jul 13, 1 pm, Boston Common Bandstand, 139 Tremont St, Boston. To coordinate with the Watertown Contingent email or phone.617 823 6465.
Come to NYC with US for Summer of Heat on Wall Street
Activists across the country are coming together in NYC for a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience against banks funding the climate crisis. Learn more about the Summer of Heat. Want to help? You can financially support the movement here. And if you want to take action in NYC, reach out to Evan Bell (evanbell@betterfutureproject.org). To coordinate with the Watertown Contingent email or phone.617 823 6465.
Visit Us. We will be at the Farmers’ Market on WEDNESDAY July 10. Please stop by and say “hi”.
| | |
|
|
GREEN SPACES IN WATERTOWN SQUARE NEED YOUR VOICE
| |
|
Watertown is making a great example of public engagement in the Watertown Square Area Plan. We hope you have seen some of the letters shared about green spaces and how trees are just as important as the rest of our infrastructure. Providing for the health of future trees and other growing plants needs to be fully addressed. Accordingly, we would like to have a meeting devoted to the topic of green spaces in Watertown Square.
If you haven't already spoken or written, we urge you to add your voice. It's important that the City understand that many people care about green spaces and everyone has a different take on why they matter The next meeting will take place on July 16 6pm at the Watertown Middle School.
https://watertownsquareimprovements.com/
This meeting will focus on giving community members another opportunity to speak. Each speaker will be given two minutes at the microphone.If you cannot attend, please send written comments to your City Councilor, and cc the other councilors, the planning board, and City Manager George Proakis.
citycouncilors@watertown-ma.gov,
pb@watertown-ma.gov
gproakis@watertown-ma.gov
Make sure you include Councilor Piccirilli, vpiccirilli@watertown-ma.gov and ask that it be read into the minutes.
Thank you for being involved!
| | |
|
|
Weekly Vigil Peace and Common Security Working Group
Join us on Saturdays in Watertown Square from 12 noon to 1:00 PM under the banners - "Let Gaza Live" "Permanent CEASEFIRE in Gaza and Palestine". Bring a sign or make one when you arrive. If it is raining or snowing we will not gather for the vigil.
more info
| |
|
Watertown We Need Your Signatures!
The Peace and Common Security Working Group is on a mission to get Watertown folks to sign three initiatives and help get signatures from friends, neighbors and family members.
-
Petition to Representative Katherine Clark to support the goals of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. sign online here
-
Watertown for Palestine (W4P) and Call for CEASEFIRE in Gaza. A letter to Senator Markey, Senator Warren, and Representative Clark calling for an immediate ceasefire. link to the letter
- Citizens Petition to the Watertown City Council.to support a call for the U.S. to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war by, among other steps, actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenal.
We will be collecting signatures and sharing the on-line links and QR codes at various locations in Watertown in the coming weeks and months. Please consider joining us. We will provide talking points for each initiative.
link to more details or scroll below.
| |
Peace and Common Security | |
|
Sunday June 9
7-8:30 Zoom
| | |
Friends of Bees and Pollinator Pathways | |
|
Thursday July 11 also Aug 8
6:30 -8 PM
| | |
Watertown Faces Climate Change | |
|
Sunday July 21 ( also Aug 4 at 5-6:30 PM In-person and zoom
Church of the Good Shepherd 11 Russell Ave
| | | |
|
|
Wednesday, July 17
6:30-8 PM
| | |
|
Watertown Citizens’ Non-profit Status: Change is Afoot
The Steering Committee is investigating the pros and cons of moving from a 501(c)4 status to a 501(c)3 status. One thing that we have found is that the 501(c)3 status better reflects our mission and activities than does a 501(c)4 status.
One way this change will benefit members is that your donations will become tax-deductible. A way this change will benefit Watertown Citizens is that our organization will qualify for more funds and grants administered by charitable non-profit foundations.
Steering Committee members are meeting with a Watertown attorney to determine how to accomplish this change. We are also reviewing our Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to ensure that they accurately reflect our mission and working groups’ activities. As part of this process, we will be sharing this information at one of our upcoming monthly meetings for the general membership, usually held on the third Wednesday of the month. Like our Annual Meeting, this will be a special meeting at which we will be asking for your vote.
For people who are interested: the main differences between a 501(c)3 and a 501(c)4 include: a 501(c)3 operates as a charitable and educational nonprofit and donations to the organization are tax deductible; a 501(c)4 is designated as a “social welfare group” and is able to lobby for political issues. Donations to a 501(c)4 are not tax deductible.
Stay tuned for further information. If you have questions or need more information, please email watertowncitizens@gmail.com. Also, as a general reminder, anyone who is interested is welcome to attend Steering Committee meetings. They are held on the first Wednesday of the month from 5:00 - 6:30 on zoom. To request the zoom meeting link, email watertowncitizens@gmail.com.
| | |
|
|
WATERTOWN – WE NEED YOUR SIGNATURES!
| |
|
The Peace and Common Security Working Group is on a mission to get Watertown folks to sign three initiatives and help get signatures from friends, neighbors and family members.
Petition to Representative Katherine Clark. We are asking her to support and endorse House Resolution 77 which calls on the United States to embrace the goals of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. H. Res 77 was introduced by her colleague Rep. James McGovern and endorsed by colleagues from across the political spectrum including Ayanna Pressley, Stephen Lynch, and Richard Neal. You can sign the petition on line at https://chng.it/JH4vDXFn8b
Watertown for Palestine (W4P) and Call for CEASEFIRE in Gaza. We are collaborating with W4P, a local group initiated by Arab-Americans, to collect signatures on a letter to Senator Markey, Senator Warren, and Representative Clark calling for an immediate ceasefire. Here is a link to the letter and the form to sign on. This initiative is spreading across Massachusetts with similar groups in Malden, Medford, Cambridge, Arlington and cities and towns in Western Massachusetts.
Citizens Petition to the Watertown City Council. We want the City Council to support a call for the U.S. to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war by, among other steps, actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenal. A Citizen Petition requires the City Clerk to certify that 150 Watertown voters have signed the Petition. Our goal is to collect many more signatures than required and engage voters in a discussion about the existential threat of nuclear war.
We will be collecting signatures and sharing the on-line links and QR codes at various locations in Watertown in the coming weeks and months. Please consider joining us. We will provide talking points for each initiative.
| | | | |
