[link removed] [[link removed]]
Dear John,

Spring is here, and with it comes the first anniversary of our weekly Lunch & Learn series. When we put together an online, noontime event on spring birds [[link removed]] last April, we had no idea how this program would evolve and thrive. Thank you for building this wonderful community with us each week, asking such insightful questions, and taking action on the issues we’ve explored together. It’s really something!

This month’s calendar includes briefings on crucial climate and conservation bills that were prioritized by Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition [[link removed]] , a panel discussion with Indigenous women from around the world, and—of course—a very special program on spring birds.

We hope to see you this month!

Friday, April 2, 12-1pm: Phasing Out Toxic PFAS Chemicals

*
Toxic
PFAS
—
chemicals
used
in
thousands
of
everyday
products
including
cookware,
clothing,
food
packaging,
textiles,
and
car
seats
—
are
contaminating
our
lands
and
waters,
threatening
public
health,
and
burdening
municipalities
with
expensive
cleanup.
State
Rep.
Lori
Gramlich
of
Old
Orchard
Beach
has
introduced
legislation
to
phase
out
use
of
PFAS
where
safer
alternatives
exist
and
to
require
manufacturers
to
pay
a
reporting
fee
to
fund
source-reduction
and
remediation.
Rep.
Gramlich;
Gail
Carson,
the
director
of
the
Buck
Lab
for
Climate
and
Environment
at
Colby
College;
and
Sarah
Woodbury,
the
director
of
advocacy
at
Defend
Our
Health
will
share
their
work
to
stop
contamination
of
these
PFAS
"forever
chemicals"
at
the
source
—
and
how
you
can
help
their
efforts
this
session.
Phasing
out
PFAS
is
a
priority
of
Maine’s
Environmental
Priorities
Coalition!
Learn
more
about
the
EPC’s
2021
agenda
here
[[link removed]]
,
and
stay
tuned
for
upcoming
Lunch
&
Learns
on
other
priority
bills.
Register
here!
[[link removed]]

Friday, April 9, 12-1pm: Advancing Equitable Recycling Reform with Extended Producer Responsibility

*
Product
packaging,
including
plastic,
cardboard,
glass,
and
metal,
makes
up
30-40%
of
the
materials
managed
by
municipal
waste
management
programs
and
costs
municipalities
about
$17
million
a
year
to
manage.
Extended
Producer
Responsibility
(EPR)
for
Packaging
would
make
manufacturers
—
not
Maine
taxpayers
—
responsible
for
the
cost
of
recycling
those
materials,
making
recycling
more
effective,
sustainable,
and
equitable.
Join
us
as
State
Rep.
Nicole
Grohoski
of
Ellsworth
and
Sarah
Nichols,
the
Sustainable
Maine
Director
at
the
Natural
Resources
Council
of
Maine
,
discuss
the
challenges
facing
Maine's
municipal
recycling
programs,
EPR's
record
of
success
around
the
world,
and
how
you
can
help
advance
recycling
reform
in
Maine.
Saving
Maine’s
municipal
recycling
programs
is
a
priority
of
Maine’s
Environmental
Priorities
Coalition!
Learn
more
about
the
EPC’s
2021
agenda
here
[[link removed]]
,
and
stay
tuned
for
upcoming
Lunch
&
Learns
on
other
priority
bills.
Register
here!
[[link removed]]

Friday, April 16, 12-1pm: J usti ce for Women | The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Women Around the World

*
Every
year,
the
Justice
for
Women
Lecture
Series
(JFW)
brings
a
distinguished
speaker
to
Maine
for
a
week
to
present
a
public
lecture
and
to
contribute
to
a
global
conversation
about
justice
for
women
and
girls
in
the
developing
world
as
well
as
in
Maine.
This
year,
MCV's
Lunch
&
Learn
series
is
delighted
to
collaborate
with
the
Justice
for
Women
program
to
offer
a
panel
discussion
with
some
of
the
2021
Justice
for
Women
speakers.
Moderated
by
Cathy
Lee
of
Lee
International,
hear
from
Ruth
Miller,
Director
for
Climate
Justice,
Native
Movement,
Alaska,
and
Christina
Henriksen,
head
of
Saami
Council,
Norway
on
the
impact
of
climate
change
on
Indigenous
Women
around
the
world.
Register
here!
[[link removed]]

Friday, April 23, 12-1pm: Spring Birds in Maine

*
Did
2020
turn
you
into
a
birdwatcher?
Us
too.
Judy
Camuso,
Commissioner
of
Maine’s
Department
of
Inland
Fisheries
&
Wildlife
,
will
join
us
to
talk
about
Maine's
spring
birds.
We’ll
learn
together
about
how
to
attract
them
to
our
yards,
how
to
identify
them,
and
how
climate
change
is
impacting
what
birds
we
are
seeing
and
when.
Register
here!
[[link removed]]

Friday, April 30, 12-1pm: Advancing the Climate Action & Equity Act in the Maine Legislature

*
Decisions
by
Maine’s
Public
Utilities
Commission
have
the
potential
to
advance
a
low-carbon
future,
in
line
with
the
state’s
Climate
Action
Plan
and
climate
law—but
current
law
requires
the
PUC
to
prioritize
low
rates
and
reliable
service
without
regard
for
climate,
health,
and
equity
priorities.
Join
us
as
State
Rep.
Vicki
Doudera
of
Camden,
Islesboro,
&
Rockport
and
Jeff
Marks,
Maine
State
Director
at
Acadia
Center
,
discuss
proposed
legislation
to
add
climate
and
environmental
justice
to
the
PUC’s
mandate
and
advance
the
action
called
for
in
Maine’s
Climate
Action
Plan.
Aligning
the
Public
Utilities
Commission
with
climate
and
equity
goals
is
a
priority
of
Maine’s
Environmental
Priorities
Coalition!
Learn
more
about
the
EPC’s
2021
agenda
here
[[link removed]]
,
and
stay
tuned
for
upcoming
Lunch
&
Learns
on
other
priority
bills.
Register
here!
[[link removed]]

I’m very much looking forward to continuing to spend Friday afternoons with you.

--Will
DONATE [[link removed]]
CONNECT WITH US:
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
© 2021 Maine Conservation Voters
295 Water St.
Ste. 9
Augusta, ME 04330
United States
unsubscribe: [link removed]