Our Constitution’s Bill of Rights is impressive but reflect the times in which it is written – “the best of times and the worst of times,” à la Dickens.

Therefore, and while it protects our rights to free speech and other things we consider important liberties, it falls short in protecting our most basic rights – those to clean air and water. It was drafted just before the advent of the Industrial Revolution, and the excavation and use of coal for motorized machines.

There was plenty of clean air and water to be had back then! So the need to protect it never crossed James Madison’s mind as he sat drafting up the first 12 amendments. But what’s happened since?

During this legislative session, most likely in early March, L.D, 489, known as the Pine Tree Amendment, will be up for vote. If it, like other amendments to the Maine Constitution, is ratified, it will serve as a backbone upon which to rest and test all matters related to preserving healthy air and water, now and for generations to come.

Its time has certainly come! Please take action in support of its passing.

The website pinetreeamendment.org is chockful of useful information as well as tools for action, from signing off on letters to your elected officials, or selecting letters representing your various affiliations, whether they be outdoors enthusiast, educator, health care worker, fisherman, businessperson, artist, artisan, grandparent or youth. Each action should take no more than one minute, and in the time it took you to read this, they would’ve been done.

Andrea Roth Kimmich
Kennebunk

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