FAQ

There are a variety of issues that we could propose. Our goal here was to pick an issue that would have a direct positive impact on the environment, is being strongly considered by the legislature, and when passed by a majority of voters in November of 2022 will have a decisive effect on individual legislators. Divesting meets every criteria. There are many legislators who are supporting, prompting and persuading others to pass laws that force companies and colleges to divest. Public opinion has been increasing over the years on college campuses, in the media and with the public. It is our time to take the next step

Public Policy questions are designed to inform local Legislators of the desire of their constituents for laws that should be enacted. When we collect the required signatures in any State Senate or Representative district, the question is placed on the next statewide election in that district. Our goal is to place a Public Policy Question in as many districts as possible, and to be placed on the November 2022 ballot.

We need to organize early so that we can recruit enough signature commitments for voters to put the question on the ballot in every Senate and Representative district across Massachusetts as soon as possible. We can start collecting signatures on paper in April 2022. Between now and then we must organize people who care about the planet, want to take positive action, and persuade them to make the commitment. Our grassroots effort will take time to go viral. But with your help we will bring the needed attention to a crucial issue, and show the fossil fuel industry that they can stop polluting our planet, or we will stop investments in their company.

The signature petitions will be available on April 26th 2022 and must be submitted to the local town clerks/election offices by July 6th. We can start collecting signatures on paper in April 2022. Between now and then we must organize people who care about the planet, want to take positive action, and persuade them to make the commitment. Our grassroots effort will take time to go viral. But with your help we will bring the needed attention to a crucial issue, and show the fossil fuel industry that they can stop polluting our planet, or we will stop investments in their company. In the limited time we have to collect the signatures, we will ask you to download the link to the petition, and send it to us. If you are unable to download the petition we will mail it to you, with a self-addressed stamped envelope. We will collect the signatures and deliver them to the clerks, for certification. Your signature makes this possible. If you can reach out to others to sign the petition you will double, triple, and even more, your commitment to our cause.

NO!! Unlike most petitions you see on social media we can’t use online signatures. We must have wet-ink signatures, printed on paper and signed by Massachusetts registered voters.

When the petitions become available in April, we will contact everyone who has committed to signing. At that point we will send you a link to the petition, or we can send you one in the mail. You can download it, sign it, and send it to the campaign. Additionally, we plan to attend local progressive organizationally meetings, where you sign the petition with one of our volunteers. This is a grassroots campaign that will reach out to progressive activists. We will organize on the ground, but you have to take action to protect the planet. It may only be a signature, but it will help save the world from the disastrous effects of climate change.

First you can commit to signing the petition. Like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter and all the social media options. Together we can spread the word to activists across the state to make change NOW!! We can be the difference. You can be the difference. You can join our online volunteer base that will reach out to your progressive family and friends. Encourage them to commit to signing the petition. You can help spread the word on social media to bring even more people to the site. Like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, and all the social media options. Together we can spread the word to activists across the state to make change NOW!! We can be the difference. You can be the difference.

No! We can lobby for our initiative throughout the year and try to persuade the legislature to pass it themselves before it goes on the ballot. The ballot initiative gives us leverage to pressure the legislature to pass similar proposals. If we get a large vote in favor, Legislators will be more inclined to support it on Beacon Hill. This is our chance to ensure our Legislators listen to us. Their constituents. But first it is up to us to get the Public Policy question on the ballot. We need your help, but together with thousands of volunteers across the state we will get the signatures, put divestment on the ballot, and pass it in 2022.

As the legal authority in the state, the Attorney General determines if the question satisfies the rules specified for a Public Policy question. The Attorney General has been following this procedure for years. We are confident that a short, but specific question will meet the required standards. As we create the wording, we will ensure that our legal and legislative advisors agree. There are a number of current bills in the House and Senate that address the divestment issue. We will use productive phrasing from these to create our Public Policy Question.

We need to gather 1200 signatures in each Senate District, and 200 signatures in each Representative District. All these signatures must be from registered voters of that district. The town clerks will certify that the signatures are from registered voters. That is why it will be our goal to get 2,000 signatures in a State Senate district and 300 in a State Representative district.