[act-ma] 10/27 Climate Change on Trial: The Lobster Boat Blockade

[Charlie Welch]

*_Climate Change on Trial: The Lobster Boat Blockade_*
*Panel Discussion* featuring Jay O'Hara, Ken Ward, DA Sam Sutter, and 
Marla Marcum
*Monday Oct. 27, 6-7:30pm, MIT 6-120 <http://whereis.mit.edu/?go=6>*

Last summer, Jay O'Hara and Ken Ward anchored their lobster boat 
<http://www.thenation.com/blog/174343/henry-david-t-blocks-coal-tanker-brayton-point> in 
the path of a 40,000 ton coal freighter on its way to deliver coal to 
the largest coal plant in the Northeast. At their trial 
<http://lobsterboatblockade.org/> last month, they argued that their 
actions were necessary to prevent the greater danger of climate change, 
leading District Attorney Sam Sutter to drop their criminal charges 
<http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/08/activists-drops-charges-case-blocked-coal-shipment-power-plant/sUpBpGxzxAz3E2Vr5RFQQM/story.html> because, 
in his words, "Climate change is one of the gravest crises the planet 
has ever faced." At this panel discussion, come hear the incredible 
story and take part in a conversation about the role of civil 
disobedience in defense of the climate.

_Speakers:_
*Jay O'Hara* is a Quaker and a native of Cape Cod. Inspired by Wendell 
Berry, he moved back to his home town in 2007 to pursue a faithful 
response to the climate crisis. He is the founder of "Climate Summer 
<http://climatesummer.net/>", a two-month experiential sustainability, 
organizing and liberation experience for college students. O'Hara lives 
a life of radical simplicity and works part-time as a sailmaker.

*Ken Ward* has a 35-year record of leadership in climate and 
environmental activism. Through a variety of positions - founding 
president of the National Environmental Law Center, co-founder of Green 
Corps and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and former deputy 
director of Greenpeace USA - he has advocated for climate action that 
matches the urgency and magnitude of the climate crisis and that goes 
beyond the bounds of mainstream environmentalism.

*District Attorney Sam Sutter* is known statewide for his policies that 
have drastically reduced illegal gun violence in Southeastern 
Massachusetts, for his community volunteer initiatives, and for a record 
of solving cold case homicides. In recent weeks, Sutter's handling of 
the Lobster Boat Trial has garnered national attention for his political 
leadership on climate change.

*Marla Marcum* organized community, legal, and action support for the 
Lobster Boat Blockade and Trial. She is Director of Programs at the 
Better Future Project <http://betterfutureproject.org/>, a 
Cambridge-based nonprofit that accelerates the growth of a grassroots 
movement to address the climate crisis and make a just transition away 
from fossil fuels. Marcum is the current Director of Climate Summer and 
chair of the Climate Change Task Force of the New England Conference of 
the United Methodist Church.


_Moderator_
*Vanessa Green* is the Campaign Director at Divest-Invest Individual 
<http://divestinvest.org/individual/>, which has coordinated individuals 
to divest a combined $2.7 billion of their own assets from fossil fuels. 
She has previously run and supported successful campaigns for Rainforest 
Action Network, Clean Water Action, and the National Diesel Clean-Up 
Campaign.


Hope to see you there! If you can't attend in person you can catch the 
livestream at EcoWatch <http://ecowatch.com/> or on the FFMIT website 
<http://fossilfreemit.org/lobsterboatblockade>.

Thanks,
Patrick