Great Barrington, MA
June 22, 2019
2:00 PM

Host

PRIMARY HOST

Sarah Natan

HOST GROUP

Rights of Nature-Berkshires

TYPE OF WOUNDED PLACE

Climate change, Historic & Cultural Sites, Natural disasters, Oceans + Lakes + Rivers, Waste

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Event Inspiration

 

The river’s name is derived from the Mohican phrase “usi-a-di-en-uk”, translated as “beyond the mountain place” or “river of the mountain place” 

From  1932 until 1977, the river was was contaminated by PCB  discharges from the General Electric (GE) plant in Pittsfield MA. The EPA designated superfund sites in Pittsfield  in 1997, and ordered GE to remediate the site.  Although the EPA and GE began a kind of clean up of the area in 1999, there is much controversy over how they are proposing to deal with the waste. Birds, such as ducks, and fish that live in and around the river contain significant levels of PCBs and can present health risks if consumed. Additionally, the corn farms along the river use pesticides containing glyphosate. Because of the toxicity, communities have generally turned their backs to the river.   

Our goal is to celebrate the river with words/art/song/dance/blessings and to raise awareness about creating Legal Rights for Nature for the river. We will have a ‘bridge-to-bridge’ walking procession along the GB River Walk, beginning in Stanley Park (by the closed Cottage St. bridge), and stopping at 3-4 different places to ‘celebrate’ the River… culminating in a Bridge St. blessing and a Flotilla launch [by Searles Hotel] downstream.
The sight we will end the procession is the spot on the river where the last battle of King Phillips war was fought and lost. We will honor our indigenous relatives in this way.

We will celebrate the beauty and history of the river and honor the water as the source of life.

 

Location

Details

TYPE

At a specific address

ADDRESS

60 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, MA, USA event.

Special Notes & Instructions


Our goal is to celebrate the river with words/art/song/dance/blessings and to raise awareness about creating Legal Rights for Nature for the river. We will have a ‘bridge-to-bridge’ walking procession along the GB River Walk, beginning in Stanley Park (by the closed Cottage St. bridge), and stopping at 3-4 different places to ‘celebrate’ the River… culminating in a Bridge St. blessing and a Flotilla launch [by Searles Hotel] downstream.