Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & Environment
Minutes: Monthly Meeting May 19 2021 via Zoom
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Sue-Ellen gave a land acknowledgement of the indigenous people who lived here before us and their descendants.
WORKING GROUP REPORTS
Watertown Faces Climate Change is a presence at all new school construction meetings and planning meetings, advocates for aggressive emission and local shuttle expectations, and other environmentally friendly features. The group has representatives on the Steering Committee for the town’s climate action plan to meet energy goals, and also had a recent sign-holding action on the Galen Street Bridge against Pipeline funders. Coming up is an OPT UP campaign with WE3C, Sunrise and XR to distribute door hangers to every door in Watertown urging residents to opt up to 100% renewable electricity through Watertown’s Electricity Choice. The group will be reaching out to everyone to sign up for a shift to help with hanger distribution.
Friends of Bees recently helped plant a pollinator garden at the DPW yard. They are planning a plant swap on June 5. Pam will also be giving a talk at the Mt Auburn Cemetery during Pollinator Week.
The Refugee Support Group Last meeting had a presentation by Jai Puthenveetil, a former member of WCPJE, now working with American Red Cross’ Restoring Families initiative to help rejoin separated families. Some of the families they are helping have experienced family-wide covid infections, but are now recovered and can finally be visited in person They are preparing for their live stream fundraiser with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Sunday evening June 27.
Watertown Citizens for Black Lives is exploring changing its name to Watertown Community for Black Lives. Two events are planned for May 25, the anniversary of George Floyd’s death: a zoom meeting to reflect on the past year and an evening candlelight vigil. Along with regular meetings on the first Monday of the month and vigils on the second Tuesday of the month, they are also planning a Juneteenth celebration on June 19.
The Pigsgusset Initiative is collaborating with New Rep on outdoor performances at the Commander’s Mansion in early June. Listen to Sipu is a play about the history of indigenous people in what we now call Watertown. The group is also advocating for state legislation to more broadly eliminate school mascots of Indigenous People.
PRESENTATION
Brucie Moulton from Sustainable Arlington, Jean Devine from Meadowmakers for BioDiversity, and Sarah Wang (creator of a pollinator map for the region) described their efforts to foster native pollinator gardens and why this is so important. Hundreds of species of pollinator insects native to Massachusetts evolved with native plants and other creatures as part of a symbiotic food cycle in which all depend on each other in their physical characteristics and life cycle. Plants need pollinators to procreate, and pollinators need plants for their pollen, food and shelter. Native birds rely on insects at critical stages and so on through the food chain. Some insects such as the monarch butterfly rely on only one plant – the milkweed – to host eggs. Nonnative plants that look wonderful in our gardens are actually food deserts to native species – plants that are unrecognizable and inaccessible to them. Practices of the last 100 years, hard surfaces, deforestation, pesticides, lawns, and single crop farming have created a hostile environment for native species. The Meadowmakers for BioDiversity build native gardens for clients using high school students whom they train through an internship program. The Pollinator Map pinpoints locations with illustrations to encourage connected pathways since many insects have ranges of only a few hundred feet.
They have suggestions for native plantings, including Powerhouse plants that provide pollen, nectar and shelter to multiple species; and specialist plants for particular times of year or species. Native plants have deep roots, sequester carbon, nourish the soil and underground creatures, and manage stormwater. “Save ourselves in our own Backyards” could be their motto.
NEXT MONTHLY MEETING Wed. June 16 7:00 pm Respectfully submitted, Deborah Peterson