MCLA Green Living Seminar: Ecological Economics and Policy Change Discussion

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — David Batker, President of Batker Consulting and Founder of Earth Economics, will give a talk titled "Using Ecological Economics to Drive Policy Change" at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 at the MCLA Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, Room 121.  
 
This event is free and open to the public as part of MCLA's Green Living Seminar series. 
 
About David Batker 
 
David Batker is a renowned ecological economist, policy leader, pragmatic project proponent, and acclaimed speaker with 35 years of experience. With an extensive resume, Batker has worked to advance policy at U.S. federal agencies and worked in over 40 countries, 45 U.S. states, and many U.S. cities and countries.  
 
Batker's history of keynote addresses covers a wide range of institutions including the International Society for Ecological Economics, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Batker has worked to implement hundreds of projects providing jobs and local economic development ranging from mining and forestry to shipping and disaster resilience.  
 
Batker received a bachelor's in Geology and Biology and a master's in Economics from Louisiana State University. He is a fellow at the University of Vermont the author of dozens of publications, book chapters, and a book.  
 
Every semester, the Green Living Seminar Series centers around a different topic, timely and relevant to current sustainability issues. The 2023 series is a presentation of the MCLA Environmental Studies Department. Podcasts will be posted online following each presentation: http://www.mcla.edu/greenliving 
 
 
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Clarksburg Joining Drug Prevention Coalition

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board has agreed to join a collaborative effort for drug prevention and harm reduction.
 
The new coalition will hire a North County community coordinator who will be headquartered on the North Adams Regional Hospital campus and who oversee allocations for harm reduction, education and prevention efforts. Berkshire Health Systems has also committed about $120,000 over the next five years. 
 
Clarksburg, one of the first communities to sign on to the opioid lawsuit filed by a consortium of states several years ago, has so far received payouts of $23,594.78. It's expected to receive nearly $64,000 by the end of the 16-year payout. 
 
In October, the board had discussed whether to pool that money with other communities, expressing concerns that the small town would not receive enough benefits.
 
"Anytime there's a pooling of money I think countywide, I think we know where the bulk goes to," said member Colton Andrew said Monday. "I'm more open to the idea of keeping the money here but open to hearing your intentions and how the mony will be allocated."
 
Chair Robert Norcross said he felt there seemed to be a focus on harm reduction, such as the use of Narcan, and not enough for prevention or problem-solving.
 
But after hearing from members of the nascent coalition, members voted Monday night to partner with other Northern Berkshire communities.
 
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