SHELBURNE FALLS — Seeking to highlight the impact of federal funding cuts, the West County Climate Circle led a walk through the village on Thursday.
Organizers of “Count the Cost: A Peaceful Walk of Lament and Commitment” took attendees to different locations throughout the village, such as the Arms Library, Trailside Health and the Senior Center, in an effort to showcase the effects that decisions being made in Washington D.C. will have in Franklin County.
“It’s one thing to hear about the news out there, but it’s another to say, ‘How does that affect us right here?'” said Kate Stevens, one of the founders of the West County Climate Circle. “I think as we go along here and keep learning more about this, every institution that’s important to us here in town is going to be affected.”
Stevens said the West County Climate Circle has grown to be more than just a group of residents seeking to curb the impacts of climate change. They have formed an art group, a book group and a political action affinity group, which is looking at issues beyond just climate change.
“The issues are so complex and diverse,” Stevens said. “It’s coming at us from every direction. What I say now is we’re preparing for we know not what. Our preparations include getting to know our community better.”
“It’s not just a Washington question. It’s not just a federal question. It’s something that’s happening to each and every one of our communities,” added the Rev. Alison Cornish, an organizer. “We really feel like what’s going on now are lots of small deaths. When you cut libraries, when you cut SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), when you cut Medicare and Medicaid, you’re just making hits and taking cuts at things that are fundamental to life.”
Cornish said Thursday’s walk was intended to serve as a new model of protest, with the goal of allowing participants to take in information and reflect on the topic. It was loosely inspired by The Way of the Cross, which is held on Good Friday each year in D.C.
“There’s something that happens in Washington D.C. every year on Good Friday. A group of Christian congregations leads a walk to stations of the cross. It’s meant to represent visiting the different places and different stages in the story of Jesus’ last week and leading up to his crucifixion,” Cornish explained. “When it’s done in Washington D.C., the sites are like the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Defense, to sort of point out that there are injustices happening for thousands and thousands of years, and they look similar. … This is that same idea of how do you take a big universal story and particularize it to a place and time and what’s going on.”
To visualize how federal funding cuts will affect the village of Shelburne Falls, the West County Climate Circle discussed impacts on public services, health care and the environment. Organizers said decisions to gut the Federal Emergency Management Agency and dismantle the Clean Water Act would have devastating impacts on local habitats. In particular, the rescinding of a $25 million grant to Mass Audubon would threaten conservation efforts along the Connecticut River. The elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services would leave libraries across the country, including the Arms Library, without the funding they need to provide patrons, including schools, with access to critical databases used for instruction.
“At the Arms Library, we strive to offer a place of safety and free access to information. Libraries are places in which democracy is fostered, culture is shaped and where citizenry is learned,” Arms Library Director Laurie Wheeler said. “We plan to continue to offer these while maintaining vigilance of what is happening at federal levels, and working with community members and institutions to gather resources to navigate possible changes to traditional ways of life here.”
Along the walk, they also discussed the impact on health care, amid cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. At Trailside Health in Shelburne Falls, 90% of patients are insured through Medicare or Medicaid. Founder Dr. Stefan Topolski said the clinic will remain open, but without insurance, patients are more likely to delay seeking health care until it is urgently needed.
“It’ll affect us, too, like everyone else, in some way,” Topolski said. “We’ll still be here.”
Stevens said that while Thursday’s walk only included five stops, the West County Climate Circle has done research on many more institutions in the area and could plan more walks showcasing more local organizations being impacted by federal government decisions.
Cornish added that she hopes other towns plan their own “Count the Cost” walks, and showcase what businesses and organizations in their communities are being impacted.
“We’re kinda hoping this is a model that might take off and that other communities might be interested in adopting,” Cornish said.
For more information about the West County Climate Circle and future events, email westcoclimatecircle@gmail.com.