Group Stresses Climate Issues

New England Climate Summer, an internship program for college students concerned about climate issues and sustainability, is in Concord this week to talk about some of the issues around fossil fuel usage.

Three members of the team made a short presentation to the Concord City Council on July 11, including a video about the group and a PowerPoint presentation pointing out some of the things they will be doing in Concord.

The group biked to Concord from Keene on Monday, to raise awareness and encourage a transition from fossil fuel usage and pointing to success stories around New Hampshire.

For example, tax incentives around the state have helped to fund LEED certified/green buildings. Another example, according to the group, was the Nashua YMCA that now uses lower chlorine in its pool and instead, uses ultraviolet light to kill germs.

The group stressed the need to stop using fossil fuel nothing that it was expensive and dangerous, noting that taxpayers were spending a lot of money financing wars to protect fossil fuels. Often much of the money from fossil fuels goes to fund terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda, according to the group's presentation. Fossil fuel usage could also force the Department of Defense to become involved in emergency incidents in the United States, such as drought, according to the group. 

While in Concord, the group will host an event at Red River Theaters later this week, will talk to local groups and municipal officials, and will be visiting Green Concord businesses. The group will also be meeting with residents at Market Days on July 15 and 16.

After the team is done meeting with people around the state, it will collect all the data together and produce a State of the Movement Report.