Third Act Maine's Earth Day 2023
We Care, and We Were There
People around the planet celebrated the 53rd official Earth Day on Saturday. Here in Maine, Third Act Mainers got out in force—cleaning up beaches and trails, rallying for the many interconnected actions that show respect to the Earth and its creatures, and urging citizens to get involved. We’re acting with urgency and love.
Belfast
Third Act Maine Midcoast held a joy-filled all-generations Earth Day event in Belfast. We partnered with CGBikes at their used bike and gear sale where we displayed colorful “Stop Funding Fossil Fuels” posters and kicked off a petition for Belfast to join the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. We also organized fun events for children including face painting, seed sowing, and coloring climate posters.
At noon, a local volunteer bagpiper led the whole Third Act Maine Midcoast entourage up to Post Office Square where we joined a colorful Earth Day rally. People stayed and talked after the rally was over. What a joyful day!
Portland
Over 100 young people, families, and elders participated in the Earth Day Strike in Portland. Maine Youth for Climate Justice organized the event, and asked Third Act Mainers to be the marshals. Chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, corporate greed has got to go!” and “No more coal, no more oil! Keep the carbon in the soil!” the crowd marched from Monument Square to the steps of City Hall. Testimony about the value of nature, the importance of clean air and water, the respect due indigenous peoples who stewarded the land for thousands of years before the land was taken and colonized—and the importance of ending reliance on fossil fuels—garnered cheers and applause from the crowd.
Waterville
In Waterville, nine elders (and a younger climate activist) went door to door with handouts from Efficiency Maine to inform people about incentives to improve home energy efficiency. Maine has incentives now that are as good or better than nearly everything in the Inflation Reduction Act. Efficiency Maine wants many more Mainers to participate in these energy projects, and they have staff who can present to local groups about these incentives. We also rang the Unitarian Universalist church bell for 11 minutes at 11:00 am, marking that NOW is the 11th hour before climate disaster.
Hallowell
“Marigolds Downriver.” At least one Third Act Mainer, Kay Mann, danced along the banks of the Kennebec River as part of Earth Day festivities. There were three dance segments along the banks, flowing downstream. We rally, we sign petitions—and we dance!
This is an inspiring way to begin my week--thank you for your beautiful work!