Several Harvard residents contributed to the standing-room-only crowd at the December 16 “town meeting” on global warming sponsored by U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan in Lowell. Organizers at UMass Lowell changed the building location three times to accommodate the many people who signed up early to hear Governor-elect Deval Patrick and a panel of national experts discuss “Climate Change: Local Solutions to a Global Crisis.”
Steven Strong, who attended with his wife, Marilyn, both principals of Solar Design in Harvard, described the strong showing as a “very powerful demonstration of concern and engagement.” He saw “a long line of people, three to four abreast, as far down the street as you could see.” Josie Carothers, attending with her husband, Mark Kelley, said, “It blew me away—the line of people, standing in the too-warm air on a Saturday just before Christmas, went on and on. There was this yearning in the air for information. It was a huge cultural event. It was inspiring.“
Carothers quoted panelist Paul Epstein, associate director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, as saying, “Global warming is a crisis. You’ve heard it. Now it’s time to believe it. Now it’s time to take action.”
According to Strong, the expert panelists all agreed that global warming is the most important issue we face and praised local and national activists for stepping forward in what is largely a political vacuum. Strong said that Deval Patrick re-affirmed his campaign promises to support renewable energy, including the Cape Wind project. Jacob Gates Road resident Lisa Wood agreed with Patrick’s call for people to take responsibility for themselves.
Mary Essary said Marty Meehan expressed surprise that so many people devoted a Saturday before the holidays to the issue. Other Harvard residents in attendance included Rick Wood, Bruce and Susan Hampton with their daughter, Shannah Hampton, and Paul Wormser and Sloane Wormser, a sophomore at Cushing Academy.
