Consumer advocate and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader will speak at Berkshire Community on Saturday afternoon, April 21, at 2 in the college’s Robert Boland Theatre. His presentation, “Challenging Corporate Power and Building Democracy,†is free and open to the public but requires a ticket for admission.
Tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis through the Office of Student Life in the Susan B. Anthony Center on BCC’s main campus in Pittsfield. Office hours are Monday - Friday from 8 to 4. Tickets may be obtained in-person, by phone or e-mail.
Tickets for walk-in requests will be available beginning Monday, April 9. Requests to reserve tickets may be made now through Thursday, April 19, by calling 413-236-1660, or by e-mailing mzancona@berkshirecc.edu. No more than 10 tickets may be reserved per call or e-mail. Reserved tickets may be held in the theatre’s box office for pickup on April 21. Tickets that are not claimed by 1:50 will be released for walk-in requests.
E-mail requests should include “Ralph Nader tickets†in the subject line. The text of the message should include the first and last name of the person making the request, number of tickets requested, and a statement specifying whether the tickets should be held at the box office or prepared for earlier pickup at the Office of Student Life.
Named as “One of the 100 Most Influential Americans of the Twentieth Century†by Time magazine, and more recently as “One of the 100 Most Influential Figures in American History†by The Atlantic Monthly magazine, Nader began his public life in 1965 with the publication of his book “Unsafe at Any Speed,†in which he accused the auto industry of disregarding their customer’s safety. The Senate hearing into his accusations and the resulting motor safety laws catapulted Nader into the public sphere.
In subsequent years, working with lawmakers, Nader was instrumental in creating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Commission. He also helped to draft and pass such laws as the Safe Drinking Water Act, Meat and Poultry Inspection Rules, Air and Water Pollution Control, and Freedom of Information Act.
Working to empower the average American, Nader has formed numerous citizen groups, including the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, Pension Rights Center, National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest, and the student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) that operate in more than 20 states.
Recently the subject of the critically acclaimed documentary, “An Unreasonable Man,†Nader is also the author of a number of best-selling books including “Winning the Insurance Game,†“Why Women Pay More†and “Getting the Best From Your Doctor.†More recent books include “Children First: A Parents Guide to Fighting Corporate Predators†and “The Seventeen Traditions.â€
A question and answer period, and a book signing, will follow his presentation. Forum credit is available for BCC students.
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Confederate Vice-President Alexander Stephens once wrote, "times change and men often with them, but principles never!"
However, a poiltician's principles often change based on coming political storms. Hillary Clinton is great example of person who has changed her principles, but Ralph Nader remains true to his timeless principles of good clean government and consumer safety.
If Nader runs consider voting for him, because neither party's candidates owns you so they doon't own your vote. Nader can't steal the votes from Democrats which Democrats do not possess; they must earn them as must any candidate.
MassDEP Penalizes Berkshire Springs for Failing to Report Diesel Spill
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Berkshire Springs Holding Company, LLC, for failing to notify MassDEP of a September 2023 spill of diesel fuel at a service station in Pittsfield.
Berkshire Springs is a bottler and distributor of spring water based in Southfield.
"It is critical that customers of gasoline and diesel fueling facilities diligently monitor their fueling operations to avoid spills of petroleum products that would negatively impact public safety and the environment," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. "The cleanup has been completed, and today’s penalty sends a strong message that MassDEP will hold parties accountable for failing to provide notification of releases of petroleum to the environment."
On September 12, 2023, MassDEP Emergency Response personnel were notified by the Pittsfield Fire Department of a spill of diesel fuel at the 480 West Housatonic Street service station. MassDEP staff responded and determined that a sudden release of diesel fuel, likely exceeding the reportable quantity of 10 gallons, occurred when a Berkshire Springs truck was being fueled.
MassDEP confirmed through review of video surveillance footage that the Berkshire Springs employee fueling the truck left the vehicle unattended while the pump was engaged. Although the driver was aware of the release, he left the station without notifying station personnel of the release. When station personnel were made aware of the release, they notified Pittsfield Fire and MassDEP. Initial containment of the spill was performed by the Pittsfield Fire Department and cleanup was arranged by the station operator, Global Partners LP.
Although no waterways were affected by the spill, the release impacted an area measuring approximately 30 feet by 30 feet, including the station parking lot out to the public roadway and soil on the western side of the parking lot, and storm drains on the site.
MassDEP issued a penalty of $13,125 to Berkshire Springs.
Voters approved all 22 articles on the warrant unanimously at the annual Fire District meeting on Tuesday night at the Stationery Factory.
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More than 800 residents cast their votes during Monday's town elections, resulting in Select Board incumbent Robert Bishop retaining his seat. click for more
The steps of City Hall were lined with 56 pairs of children's shoes on Friday, representing the average number of children with confirmed abuse and neglect cases each month in the county. The Children's Trust and Child Care of the Berkshires coordinate this shocking visual yearly.
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DPI held its annual meeting at the Berkshire Museum on Thursday, touting the 17 businesses welcomed to the downtown in 2023 and six so far this year.
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