On Wednesday, September 18th, 2019, the City Council of Easthampton voted unanimously to pass a resolution “Calling for the US to Join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” The passage of this resolution follows efforts by residents and activists to petition their local government to take a stand on an issue of global…
Written by Ben Purden On May 13th, 2019, the residents of Belchertown, Massachusetts voted by majority to pass Article 33 at the annual town meeting, creating a resolution calling for the US to join the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Notwithstanding the lack of favorable attention the executive branch of…
Written by Ben Purden Once every twelve months, usually in springtime, residents of towns in Massachusetts meet to discuss and vote on issues of town importance. This year in seven towns across western Massachusetts, residents considered something of global, existential importance: the abolition of nuclear weapons. The residents of Chesterfield voted on May 13,…
Written by Ben Purden On May 4th, 2019, residents of Conway gathered at their annual town meeting as they do every year, to vote on issues such as the town budget, town laws, articles put forward by town boards, and citizen petitions. This year was no different, except that residents weighed in on a…
Written by Ben Purden Annual town meetings are a New England tradition dating back to colonial times. In what Henry David Thoreau called “the true Congress,” residents engage in direct democracy on matters affecting them all. Residents in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, made their May 4th, 2019 meeting a forum about an issue of global importance:…
Written by Ben Purden On April 10th, 2019, residents of the town of Montague, Massachusetts, weighed in on a matter of great national and international significance: the abolition of nuclear weapons. At the annual town meeting, a tradition of direct democracy called “the true Congress” by Henry David Thoreau, Article 38 was passed, creating…