This Is What Democracy Looks Like
Third Act Maine - in it for the Long Haul
What Does Democracy Look Like?
Third Act Mainers are responding to the moment, voicing our opposition to the Trump/Musk administration’s attacks on democracy and the rule of law. We are making daily phone calls to our congressional representatives, attending “empty chair” town halls, and writing letters-to-the-editor. Week after week, we are standing in solidarity with Mainers from all walks of life to show what democracy looks like, from Portland to Augusta, from Damariscotta and Belfast to Farmington and beyond.
And we’re excited about what’s to come. April 5th, the Hands Off national day of action, is right around the corner. Third Act Maine will be out in full force, hosting the Portland rally with Indivisible groups. Make your sign and find a rally near you. For a comprehensive list of Hands Off events in Maine on April 5 and tips for getting there, or to Washington DC, see Amy MacDonald’s “Maine Matters."
Here are links to sign up for a rally near you:
11 am - 1 pm at Monument Square in Portland
11 am - 12 pm by the Post Office in Farmington
12 - 1 pm at Post Office Square in Belfast
12 - 2 pm at the Burton M.Cross office building in Augusta
11 am - 12:30 pm at Park Row & Maine Street in Brunswick
Though we’ve been busy standing up for democracy, Third Act Mainers have not neglected our commitment to the climate. Members continue to put pressure on Maine PERS to obey the law and divest from fossil fuels and on L.L. Bean to clean up its Citi Bank credit card.
News from our Hubs
People energy is flowing at the Western Mountains Hub. Their weekly Friday protests from noon to 1 pm stretch down Main Street in Farmington from the US Post Office. They debuted a new rallying song, “Freedom Song,” words by Susun Terese of Farmington, seen playing the ukelele in the video below.
Members have been busy making signs for the April 5 rally, writing letters/articles for the local media to highlight their peaceful and hopeful nature in the face of the administration's harmful activities.
The Midcoast Hub meets on the second Monday of each month at Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage, 25 Village Rd, Belfast, at 1 pm in The Common House, the only red building in the village. Members will be attending Conservation Lobby Day, April 3, in Augusta, with Deb Fahy, TA's legislative liaison to the Environmental Priorities Coalition. On April 5, members will join Hands Off Belfast from 12 pm - 1 pm at Post Office Square.
The Central Hub, along with Waterville Creates, is co-sponsoring an inspiring evening with Robert Shetterly, founder of Americans Who Tell the Truth. This event is free and open to the public but reservations are recommended.
April 18, 7 - 9 pm at The Paul J. Schupf Art Center. Click here for more information and reservations
Legislative News
Calls to Action:
April 3 - Attend Maine Conservation Alliance and EPC’s Conservation Lobby Day in Augusta. Take this opportunity to meet your legislators and advocate for the three Environmental Priority Coalition's (EPC) priority bills that Third Act Maine is actively supporting.
April 8 - Participate in another opportunity to lobby for the climate at the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s State House Action Day. You can count on meeting other Third Act Maine members there. Get involved by tapping into one or both of these opportunities to meet your legislators in person organized by EPC members.
Sign this petition with Conservation Voters of Maine to support the Polluters Pay bill.
TAM is actively supporting these three bills:
LD 1138 “An Act to Reduce Pollution Associated with Transportation in Alignment with the State's Climate Action Plan” This bill has been printed and assigned to the Transportation Committee.
The Climate Superfund Bill or Make Polluters Pay Act has yet to be assigned a bill number but should be out soon. The common sense idea that wealthy oil companies should help pay for damage to the climate they knowingly caused (and lied about for decades using the big tobacco playbook) is sweeping the country. Bills have already passed in Vermont and New York, and are being introduced in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Oregon. Here the bill was submitted by Maine Youth for Climate Justice, and we as elders plan to support them every step of the way. Learn more at our website thirdact.org/Maine.
100% Clean Energy for Maine by 2040. We expect this bill to head to committee soon.
URGENT MESSAGE TO SECOND DISTRICT VOTERS: The House plans to vote the week of March 30 on the SAVE Act H.R. 22 which would make registering more difficult by requiring in-person registration with a passport or birth certificate. It is clearly a move to restrict voting and JARED GOLDEN SUPPORTS IT. Here is the script for your call: “I'm calling to demand that Rep. Golden oppose the SAVE Act. This law will create unnecessary barriers to voter registration and disenfranchise countless voters, especially women, seniors, and low income citizens. It is designed to block voters despite no real evidence of widespread fraud.”
Call Rep. Jared Golden TODAY. Rep. Golden’s Lewiston office: 207-241-6767. Bangor: 207-249-7400 Leave your street address for Maine offices. Golden’s DC office: 202-225-6306 Be sure to state your zip code.
Learn more about the SAVE Act here.
Here Comes the Sun
Need something to brighten your day? Check out this sneak peak at Third Act’s plans for Sun Day, a nationwide celebration of renewables, the sun, and hope happening on September 20-21. Third Act will be rolling out details as the date gets closer, but in the meantime, mark those dates on your calendar and have some creative fun. Your newsletter editor can report that making suns is a very effective antidote to the “what-the-heck- did-they-do-now!” blues. Click on the link below the “suns” to create your own.
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