Down To Earth at The State House
On Wednesday January 9, Charlie Hudson and Andy Burt joined volunteers from the Sierra Club Maine Chapter to deliver Down to Earth’s new film “Maine Roadtrip to the Future” to every Maine legislator and the governor, along with a complementary tabloid produced by the Maine Chapter. The two resources contain stories and background information about Maine “solutionaries” across the state who are at work building the resilient communities they want to live in…Solar on rooftops, gardens and greenhouses, new modes of clean transportation, heat pumps and solar hot water, food waste models, etc. In a 14-minute tour in the film, photos and interviews showcase innovative fossil-fuel free housing, promising research for restoring ocean health while building new business possibilities, permaculture ideas for schools…and more.
Being at the legislature it was exciting to know that the solutions that the film and tabloid documented will be a focus for public policies that Maine lawmakers will be discussing and voting on this session.
Down to Earth will report on legislation here that has relevance to mitigating and/or adapting to the climate change emergency. We are hopeful that many concerned Mainers will come to Augusta to testify at public hearings on the bills.
Andy is creator of the Down to Earth Storytelling Project and film producer. Charlie Hudson has done the videography and film editing on four films the project has produced.
Andy Burt presents a Building Thriving Communities bag containing the film, tabloid and other climate change information to Governor Janet Mills’ communications director, Scott Ogden.
Discussing the new “Roadtrip” film with her state representative Holly Stover, Andy points out how kelp research happening in Rep. Stover’s district and elsewhere is demonstrating the many benefits the marine plant has for Maine’s shellfish industry.