Activists in the Valley who have fought to save the environment are seeing their work pay off. Government money that exists because of their work is being used to protect land near Keene, Northampton, and Brattleboro. “It's 182 acres of land along and around the West Cliff trail,” Emily McAdoo told the Valley Post in a telephone interview on December 28. She is on the board of the Putney Mountain Association, which “recently signed purchase and sale agreements” for the land in Brookline, Vermont, near Brattleboro, according to a letter from the group's president to its members.

Simba will perform a public concert in Brattleboro, on December 21 at 7 p.m. At a recent Simba concert, at least 100 people danced for hours. The band plays reggae and funk, among other kinds of music.

This month, a Vermont government scientist made public two photos of a Canada lynx. One of the photos was taken this year in Searsburg, Vermont, which is about seven miles from Massachusetts and 30 minutes from Brattleboro by car. The other photo was taken this year in Londonderry, Vermont, also about 30 minutes from Brattleboro. Lynx are listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act and “endangered” in the state of Vermont.

More than 100 people marched in Brattleboro September 13 in solidarity with Native Americans in North Dakota who are fighting to stop a proposed oil pipeline. On the same day in Amherst, about 100 people attended a rally for the same cause. Both events were promoted by www.350.org. The Amherst photo shows the activists standing in a circle on the town common; they also held signs at the main downtown intersection. To enlarge a photo, click on it, then scroll down and click "see full size image." The Brattleboro photos are by Eesha Williams; the Amherst photo is by Gilbert Wermeling.

Valley Post Radio is airing on two local radio stations. Brattleboro Community Radio WVEW 107.7 FM, and Valley Free Radio WXOJ 103.3 FM in Northampton are airing the show. Both stations can be heard world-wide via their web sites.

Two weeks ago, Valley Post Radio began airing on "Cam's Carousel" at 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday. There may be a hiatus on August 24. On August 21 at 8:45 a.m., Valley Post Radio will be on WXOJ on "Kickin' It For Peace, Culture & Education."

You can hear Valley Post Radio anytime at:

www.youtube.com/channel/UC2wnv1cYmyXHEz_yvtYqLzw

About 400 people marched in Brattleboro July 13. They chanted, "Black lives matter," and, "No justice, no peace, no racist police!" To enlarge a photo, click on it, then scroll down and click "see full size image." More information about the march is at:

www.valleypost.org/node/1198

photos by Eesha Williams

Activists saved 65 acres of land in Amherst and 45 acres in Belchertown, Massachusetts. Belchertown borders Amherst. Protecting land from development is one of the best ways to stop climate change, which the world's leading scientists say is a major threat to earth's ability to support human life. Most of the money for protecting land comes from the government; politicians decide how much to invest in saving land, versus tax breaks for billionaires, war, and prison for non-violent people.

Activists saved 688 acres of forestland in Keene and the New Hampshire towns of Chesterfield and Swanzey. Chesterfield borders Brattleboro and Keene. Swanzey borders Keene and is about five miles from Massachusetts. Protecting land from development is one of the best ways to stop climate change, which the world's leading scientists say is a major threat to earth's ability to support human life. Most of the money for protecting land comes from the government; politicians decide how much to invest in saving land, versus tax breaks for billionaires, war, and prison for non-violent people.

In Brattleboro, a court case against police officers whose errors sent a man to prison for 18 years for a crime he probably did not commit has ended. The state will pay $1.5 million to the family of John Grega, who died after he was released from prison. “The Grega family is very happy,” Ian Carleton told the Valley Post in a telephone interview on April 27. He is the family's lawyer. “They fought for justice and they got it.” The deal was announced April 22.

In Brattleboro, there will be a rally for global peace on April 18 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., outside the food co-op at 2 Main Street. “The Obama administration has committed to renewing the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile at a cost of $1 trillion over the next 30 years,” Brattleboro rally organizer Daniel Sicken (pronounced SEE-kin) told the Valley Post. For more information, contact him at dhsicken@yahoo.com or by phone at (802) 387-2798. The event is sponsored by www.nwtrcc.org.