TURNERS FALLS — Dozens filled Peskeomskut Park to enjoy live music and heed environmental messages during Saturday’s second annual “Honoring the Land” rally, the fresh air and mild temperature a reminder of what climate activists are fighting to preserve.
As a whole, organizers sought to build upon their tradition of advocacy opposing large-scale solar projects that destroy forested areas, while widening their focus to address FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s impact on the Connecticut River ecosystem.
The environmentalist rally, held from 2 to 6 p.m., included musical performances, poetry and speeches. The Bruce Katz Band was joined by local residents Joe Graveline and Tom Neilson as musical performers, Don Ogden presented poetry, and speeches were delivered by Graveline, Karl Meyer, Gloria Caballero-Roca, Fred Beddall, Bill Stubblefield and Susan Masino. There was also a raffle, and environmental advocacy petitions were available for attendees to sign.
Welcoming those in attendance, organizer Janet Sinclair introduced the rally’s guests as “local heroes.” The first to take the stage was Graveline, a Northfield resident who began by paying respect to the tribal peoples who occupied the region prior to European colonization.
“We honor those people and the fact that they left us a land that was well taken care of,” Graveline said. “The Indigenous people considered their relationship with the land as, ‘We are the land. The land is us.’”
Continuing, Graveline stressed the importance of preserving “the relationship each of us have with the sun,” advocating for climate consciousness and healthier methods of establishing solar arrays. He then voiced concern over the state of the Connecticut River, which environmentalists say has been ravaged by half a decade of operations by FirstLight.
“That river definitely has a spirit and that spirit has been challenged over the last 50 years,” Graveline said. “It’s time that we take care of that river as if it were your son or daughter.”
FirstLight has submitted its Amended Final License Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a new 50-year license to operate. The three facilities up for relicensing through FERC — the hydro-pump facility at Northfield Mountain and two hydroelectric dams in Turners Falls — have been criticized for their impact on fish populations, the Connecticut River and the surrounding environment.
Meyer, a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, furthered this message after a high-energy performance from drumming group Agua y Bosque.
“It’s hard to speak about a river that’s barely alive and that’s been barely alive for around half a century now,” Meyer said early into his speech. “I have 10 minutes, and yet, I’m going to walk away from this feeling like I have failed.”
Meyer argued that all organizations charged with maintaining the Connecticut River’s health have failed. He then shifted his focus to hone in on FirstLight and Northfield Mountain specifically, calling it a natural gas-dependent “grid parasite” that operates “the deadliest machine ever installed on the Connecticut River.”
“Please, do not ever think Northfield (Mountain) has anything to do with hydro,” he said. “All it cares about is the weight of water.”
Meyer cited ISO New England and the United States Geological Survey’s National Water Information System as resources that provide statistics and visuals portraying damage the energy company causes to the Connecticut River and environment.
“Put those in your head and put those in your heart if you want to see what the river is like,” he said.
Even the day’s music included environmentalist sentiments, with Tom Neilson and Lynn Waldron dueting lines such as “The climate disruption has caused an interruption and there ain’t no snow at all” and “What do we get in exchange for our trees? Asthma, cancer and heart disease.”
After around another hour and a half of addresses and performances, the Bruce Katz Band closed out the rally with an energetic and bluesy set highlighted by Katz performing solos on both his keyboard and Hammond organ simultaneously. The event’s speakers and spectators circled up and danced upon the green as the Earth cooled for the evening.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.