Newsletters

May 2009 - UMass,Dartmouth, Taunton River

“To sit home, read one’s favorite paper, and scoff at the misdeeds of the men who do things is easy, but it is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count upon the good men doing.”

-Teddy Roosevelt


“Here’s what I think the truth is: We are all addicts of fossil fuels in a state of denial, about to face cold turkey.”

-Kurt Vonnegut

 

UNIVERSITY GREEN ?-

We receive a number of “alumni magazines” each season and the Spring 2009 UMass Dartmouth alum. mag. just arrived. It states boldly on the front cover, “Blue, Gold and Green Sustainability …an emerging focus of research, teaching, and action by faculty, staff and students.”
Is UMass Dartmouth green? Is it going green? Since many of us hold a degree or two from that institution, it is troubling that our local university does not, as yet, live up to what it appears to be espousing on its cover and within the pages of that spring edition.
Maybe it’s too early to tell? All we know, is that it seems whenever some environmentally damaging economic development scheme comes along …and the “right” politicians are involved …we can usually count on UMass Dartmouth to provide someone to present questionable data on why the development should be allowed to proceed …environment be damned!.
It is very apparent that UMass Dartmouth sees itself as some type of economic development engine, here on the South Coast, when it should be concentrating on what a university is supposed to be doing …research and education on a broad range of subjects …and leave the economic development to the numerous city, regional and non-profit development entities that exist to take on that task. .
On page 10 of the current edition begins an article that appears written by some public relations hack for “clean coal“…yes, an obvious oxymoron.
“Clean energy technology is mission of university partnership with GreatPoint Energy” states the headline. That’s not a “partnership” a university should be joining.
Here’s a bit of the article for your edification:
 “Eight engineering students are learning about the development of clean energy technology thanks to a partnership between UMass Dartmouth and GreatPoint Energy, a company that converts coal, petroleum coke, and biomass into clean natural gas.
The company is using some of the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center to continue development of its “hydomethanation” technology. The collaboration, in combination with GreatPoint Energy’s commissioning of the Mayflower Clean Energy Center, a first-of-its-kind gasification demonstration plant in Somerset, signifies the firm’s commitment to make Massachusetts a major center for clean energy technology, research, and development.
Hydromethanation also allows other technologies, such as carbon capture and sequestration, to be tested at the facility, according to Daniel Goldman, GreatPoint Energy’s executive vice president and chief financial officer.”
GreatPoint is a not an alternative energy company. They are working with the same old fossil fuels.  Energy “entrepanuers” have been “researching and developing” catalytic conversion of coal and other materials for decades.
Over sixty years ago desperate German Nazis, cut off from raw materials to continue the war effort, were doing research and development on catalytic conversions of waste materials.
Molten Metals, just a decade or so ago in Fall River, received millions of your tax dollars to do research and development on catalytic conversion of industrial waste. Many area “investors” are still smarting from that failed enterprise.
Today we have GreatPoint, which has taken all this a step further. Instead of producing the usual dirty “syngas” …a gas no one wants …by catalytic conversion, GreatPoint has what they call their “proprietary hydromethanation process” that produces “clean” methane. So they say, from behind the curtain.
However, GreatPoint’s process produces the same old carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, does nothing to stop mountaintop coal removal, and keeps us addicted to fossil fuel. And sadly, Obama bucks, slated for alternative energy development, are wasted when gobbled up by GreatPoint and other coal industry enablers trying to “clean” that which cannot be cleaned.
Shame on UMass Dartmouth for hooking up with the coal industry and their lackeys.
Mission Statement
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional economic, social, and cultural development.
Vision Statement
Within a climate that is inclusive, open, and diverse UMass Dartmouth will be the university of choice for students seeking high quality liberal arts and science programs as well as professional academic programs that build a foundation for civic responsibility, individual skills and professional success.

 

BIRD WALKS –

Member Lynn has been offering bird walks every Wednesday evening starting out from Fighting Rock Corner at the confluence of Wilson, Bell Rock and Blossom Roads.
The area of focus is anywhere within the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve and adjacent areas. It is fascinating to see the many bird species, up-close, that call the Bioreserve home.
Many of the spring warblers and other neo-tropical songbirds, like Joseph, are arrayed in coats of many colors. Some are resplendent in iridescent feathers, changing color as the light changes, as they flit about the forest canopy. Truly living jewels that are only here for a few short months or less as they stake out territories, build their nests, and raise their young before returning to their more salubrious winter homes in Central and South America.
We participated in one of Lynn’s recent viewings and were thrilled to see a number of birds easily found in our bird identification guide books, but rarely seen in the flesh  …err ..feathers.
Lynn visits her winged friends frequently and so is an expert birding guide knowing where they can usually be found. On that recent Wednesday evening we had great views of prairie warbler, redstart, Baltimore oriole, ruby-throated hummingbird, wood thrush, towhee, warbling vireo, great-crested flycatcher, eastern kingbird, killdeer, spotted sandpiper, wood and mallard ducks, Canada geese, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat warbler  ...and a few others.
Grab your binoculars and insect repellent and participate. We found it to be a great way to enjoy a pleasant spring/summer evening outdoors in our natural environment.

 

WILD AND SCENIC CELEBRATION –

A great time was had by all at the recent Taunton River Wild and Scenic celebration at Fall River’s Heritage State Park appropriately located at the confluence of the Quequechan River and Taunton River.
Kudos to the many organizations and individuals who attended meetings, participated in river surveys, wrote letters in support of Wild and Scenic designation and never lost faith that it would eventually happen.
The only “fly” in the celebration was the appearance of an extremely repulsive Hess Weaver’s Cove LNG employee sitting in the audience. That frown on her face must be what comes from working against the will of the people for the past six years …or maybe it’s from inhaling one of those LNG vapor clouds?
After spending millions on Washington lobbyists and weasel legislators from Oklahoma, Wyoming and other BIG Energy states, you’d think they would stay away from a celebration of what they couldn’t stop. It appears they will be aloof and arrogant until the fat lady sings. Ha!
Here’s how Will Richmond from The Herald News reported the event:

River boosters hold a 'Wild' celebration
Fall River —
Wednesday may not have been a perfect day to be on the Taunton River, but the gray skies weren’t going to dampen the celebration in the waterway’s honor.

A party replete with the people who worked to ensure the river would remain protected into the future — from residents of the towns along the river’s banks to Massachusetts U.S. Reps. Barney Frank and James McGovern — celebrated the Taunton River’s long-awaited federal Wild and Scenic designation.

For elected officials, the celebration at Heritage State Park served as an opportunity to voice their objections to comments made by congressmen from other states who knocked the idea that a river whose mouth sits adjacent to an industrialized city could possibly be wild or scenic.

“I know some where chuckling in Congress and said we couldn’t have a wild and scenic river in our community and how preposterous that was, but we’ve spent decades cleaning that river up and cleaning the (Narragansett) Bay,” Mayor Robert Correia said. “This designation brings the recognition the river needs, the prestige it needs, and also the opportunities and monies to redevelop our area in a very sound ecological manner.”

The Taunton River designation was part of a massive Public Land Management Act that included more than 150 bills on parks, wilderness and land protection. The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March.

As approved by Congress, the Taunton River, from the Braga Bridge to the river’s headwaters in Bridgewater, will be designated under the federal Wild and Scenic Systems. Under the designation, the first 18-mile segment (flowing north to south) will be classified as scenic, the next 5 miles recreational, the next 8 miles scenic and the final 9-mile segment, from Muddy Cove in Dighton to the Braga Bridge, as recreational.

As a slide show of scenes from the river played behind, James Ross, a Taunton River Watershed Alliance board member and past chairman of the Taunton River Wild and Scenic Study Committee, said the river rates high among the many other waterways he has traversed, including those that have received the federal designation.

“What we have here in our river, the great river, the Taunton River, is as special and wonderful as any place I’ve been in over these years,” Ross said. “Some people scoffed at the idea of the river flowing slowly through the industrial area and us being Wild and Scenic, but those folks have probably only glimpsed it from bridges or roadways. Those who have ridden in its current know its true value.”

During debate on the river’s designation, representatives from Utah and Washington railed against the measure saying the river was graffiti-laden and no more wild and scenic than Six Flags is a national park.

But McGovern reminded the designation’s supporters Wednesday that placing the Taunton River under federal protection is a positive direction for those who live in urban areas.

“There are members of Congress who are snobs and elitists that believe Fall River doesn’t deserve a designation like this,” McGovern said. “Well they lost on this. I think we made the case that urban and suburban areas deserve environmental protection as much as rural areas.”

 

SUMMERTIME -

I'm gonna raise a fuss, I'm gonna raise a holler
About a workin' all summer just to try to earn a dollar
Every time I call my baby, and try to get a date
My boss says, "No dice son, you gotta work late"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues

Well my mom and pop told me, "Son you gotta make some money,
If you want to use the car to go ridin' next Sunday"
Well I didn't go to work, told the boss I was sick
"Well you can't use the car 'cause you didn't work a lick"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues

I'm gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation
I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations
Well I called my congressman and he said Quote:
"I'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
-Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart

Hey Eddie, we got the cure.  Click on our Calendar for Summertime things to learn and do.

<Back