Hundreds of people attended solidarity marches and rallies in the Valley in recent months for Native Americans who were fighting a proposed oil pipeline in North Dakota. On December 4, they won. The U.S. Army's Corps of Engineers announced that it would reject a building permit for the pipeline.

Currently, one Amtrak train per day runs north and one runs south between Springfield and Brattleboro, via Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield. “The plan is to have two trains in the morning and two in the evening, in addition to the existing trains,” Tim Brennan told the Valley Post in a telephone interview on November 21. He is the director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, a government agency with 47 employees. “I'm pretty confident this will happen within two years.

In Brattleboro on November 4, about 200 people attended a march and rally in solidarity with Native Americans who are fighting to stop a proposed oil pipeline in North Dakota. The rally was outside TD Bank, which is funding the pipeline. The below photo shows the rally. To enlarge the photo, click on it, then scroll down and click “see full size image.” photo by Eesha Williams

More information is at the rally organizers' web page:

www.facebook.com/BrattleboroSolidarity

Hundreds of people have been arrested in recent weeks as part of a Native American-led effort to stop a proposed oil pipeline at Standing Rock in North Dakota. The pipeline is bring funded by TD Bank. On November 4 in Brattleboro, there will be a protest outside TD Bank. The protest will start at 5 p.m. at 215 Main Street. The bank closes at 6 p.m. At that time, the protesters will march to Pliny Park at the corner of Main and High streets. As of November 1, more than 50 people had RSVP'd at the event organizers' web page:

www.facebook.com/events/1326894787352164

On September 30 in Brattleboro, about two dozen people attended a rally outside TD Bank. They were protesting the bank's support for a proposed oil pipeline in North Dakota that thousands of Native Americans in North Dakota are using civil disobedience and mass protests to try to stop.

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.

Activists are working to make Amtrak service between Springfield and Boston faster, more frequent, and cheaper. Thanks to their work, Amtrak is set to go much faster between the Valley and New York City starting in January 2018.

In addition to Springfield, Amtrak stops in Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, and Holyoke. Activists are also working to increase the frequency of Amtrak service within the Valley. They have a web site at www.TrainsInTheValley.org.

At least five people from the Valley were among the thousands who marched against climate change in Philadelphia July 24. “The march was huge,” Paki Wieland of Northampton told the Valley Post on July 26. She traveled to the march with four other Valley residents. “I am here with CODEPINK,” Wieland said. CODEPINK is a women-led group that works to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect Americans' tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and related programs.

The environmental group 350.org is promoting rallies on July 21 in Keene and near Springfield, in Hartford, Connecticut. The Keene rally starts at 6 p.m.; the Hartford rally is at noon. Hartford is about 30 minutes from Springfield by car; Amtrak and Greyhound provide non-stop service.

“If elected, Trump would be the only national leader in the world to outright dismiss the science of climate change,” said event organizer May Boeve.

The Keene rally is at 44 Central Square. The Hartford event will be at 31 Pratt Street.

This photo was taken on July 6. It shows a walking trail in the 719 acre Saw Mill Hills conserved land area in Northampton. A group that worked to protect some of the area has a web site at www.KestrelTrust.org. Saw Mill Hills is open to the public for hiking. A map is at this official city web page:

www.northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5627