[Steve Andrada presented his film, "Stop the Peabody Peaker Plant," to an enthusiastic audience of over 100 at the Torigian Senior Center on February 16, 2023. The film documents the 2-year long efforts of residents of Peabody and beyond to stop the construction of an old technology facility that would create additional pollution. Here is Steve's introduction.]
I appreciate the decades of service to the people of Peabody by Charles Bonfanti as he retires from his position as Commissioner of the Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP), as reported on January 2, 2023, by Caroline Enos (Light commissioner steps down over activists' push to stop peaker plant).
Like Mr. Bonfanti, we are all struggling to understand and adapt to what seems like a sudden emergency as we become aware of high rates of illness and death from pollution and the looming threat of climate change. Yet although these existential threats have been known for decades, we have all conspired to ignore them.
How can we stop burning fossil fuels for transportation and electricity, burning that creates pollution? We need community engagement.
If we are to stop pollution, we must inform and empower everyone to identify pollution as a source of their pain. I announce here a coordinated effort to expand our movement for clean air, health, life, and the planet that will focus on broad community engagement and empowering local leaders.
Founded by Mayor Peter A. Torigian in 1983, the International Festival was designed to honor and bring together the many diverse ethnic and religious segments of Peabody. Today, the festival demonstrates the strength and vibrancy of the many old and new groups that live and strive for a better life in Peabody.
Our efforts to educate and empower people to deal with pollution, public health concerns, and the climate crisis by shifting from fossil fuels to clean renewables will build on the strength and wisdom of all Peabody residents.
The people of Peabody care for each other, honor their fallen heroes and nurture their children and their youth.
On May 26, 2022, demonstrators from the North Shore and across the Commonwealth gathered on the Danversport Bridge over the Waters River in Danvers to demand that Governor Baker must do health and environmental studies for the fossil fuel Peabody peaker electrical generator. The organizers of the event included Susan and Ron Smoller of Breathe Clean North Shore with the support of Mireille Beijani of Community Action Works and Logan Malik of Mass Climate Action Network, and with the sponsorship of several advocacy groups. Demonstrators flew kites and sang protest songs. Some paddled a fleet of kayaks and some rode bicycles to join the demonstration.
For the future of this child, Peyton Massie, we demonstrate. We, the people demonstrating on the Danversport Bridge, are energy democracy in action. We are teenagers, grandparents, storytellers, musicians, poets, singers, teachers, ministers, doctors, reporters, videographers, photographers, and a man from Ireland. Our goal is to empower people to work together to save our planet from global warming, save our wetlands and forests, and protect everyone from harmful pollution. We share an obligation and a desire to improve our communities, work for the common good, and be stewards of the world today to preserve it for the future.
To save the planet for all life and our grandchildren, we need to organize, protest, and be at the table to plan our local clean energy solutions. Starting with our protests against a new gas and oil-powered electrical generator, we are now engaged with changing laws & regulations and demanding to empower citizens in long-term planning. Progress is won with organization, diligent research, technical knowledge, and creating new partnerships.
Story: Judith Black; Photography: Jerry Halberstadt
We are sleepwalking to climate catastrophe—can we awaken from this nightmare? On April 16, 19, and 21 we climate activists stood out in Peabody Square to say that a new fossil fuel facilities in the year 2022 is an example of
“immoral and economic madness.”— UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Children holding sign, LLuveia and Amaya Luz Segura-Leigh
Do we want a livable planet for ourselves, our children and grandchildren?
This peaker plant, built, would be another nail in the coffin of a livable future. This peaker plant stopped is the beginning of a swift transition to a better tomorrow.