The Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) is continuing in the fight to make the world a better place this week when they will be hosting a rally on Thursday to promote the Public Lands Preservation Bill.
The bill is specifically targeted at out-of-control development of open spaces that currently wipes out 44 acres of land every day. This includes many parks, public gardens and preserves.
“Most people take [this land] for granted,” Andrew Spagnoli, a media intern for the campaign and a University of Massachusetts senior Political Science major said. “They see it when they’re driving or when they’re hiking, and they don’t realize that development could possibly change the scenery around them.”
The campaign is concentrating its effort to move the bill out of committee and on the floor “where it will certainly pass,” according to Spagnoli. “The majority of state residents both students and non-students alike support the bill.”
So far many legislators support the bill, including State Senator Stanley Rosenberg. However, the bill is currently stuck in the Ways and Means committee. The campaign, therefore, is trying to get people more aware of the bill and put pressure on legislators to finally pass a vote.
“Keeping it in committee is really a place to kill the bill,” Spagnoli said.
The rally will take place from 10a.m. to 2p.m. on the Campus Center Concourse and there will be representatives from MASSPIRG on hand to gather letters, signatures and comments to pass onto the Senator.
Campaign members will also be leading a hike in the Holyoke range on Sunday, Oct. 28 to look at some area and state land that might be threatened by developed.
“A lot of UMass students enjoy using state lands and appreciate their beauty,” Spagnoli said. “It’s important to recognize that we’re losing that space. You can’t get it back once it’s been developed.”
MASSPIRG is also working to pass legislation to protect lands across the country. Last year they concentrated on the protection of Arctic acres.
“We want to make sure that larger national parks don’t succumb to short-sighted development,” Spagnoli said.
Closer to home, MASSPIRG is working to alleviate hunger and homelessness in the area. They are working closely with local service providers to help the needy. They are also working with UMass administrators to look at campus operations and try to find a new way to use energy and save paper.
