Cape Ann climate change to be focus of Rockport talk - Gloucester Daily Times

Cape Ann climate change to be focus of Rockport talk | Local News | gloucestertimes.com

ROCKPORT — Dianne Finch thinks Cape Ann residents need to take action regarding the unwanted effects of climate change, especially being adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean with its potential for sea rise.

Matters related to the questions of climate change will be the focus of an upcoming talk by Finch, slated to take place on Saturday, Nov. 18. The talk, which is being sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Cape Ann, will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Brenner Room at Rockport Public Library, 17 School St.

Finch said her talk will focus on individual actions that are both affordable and realistic for the average person to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home and in the community.

“Positive action at the local level is the focus,” the Rockport resident said. “Further, we will discuss how each one of us, by engaging with others in our neighborhoods and towns, can work to encourage our local elected officials to work harder on acquiring grants for climate projects locally.

“Like voting, we can make a difference.”

Elvira Fulchino, a member of the League of Women Voters of Cape Ann, said she and fellow members are looking forward to Finch’s talk, adding it will hit home with residents who live and work on Cape Ann.

“We are particularly thrilled to have Dianne speak on this topic,” she said. “As residents of Rockport, Gloucester, Manchester and Essex, we are all significantly impacted by the issue.”

Finch has taught journalism and “data visualization” at Elon College in North Carolina and Kent State University in Ohio and has also held workshops at Boston University. Also, she has guest lectured at the Harvard Extension School and Emerson College.

In addition, Finch spent six weeks teaching data visualization at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand as a Fulbright specialist.

Data and information visualization is the practice of designing and creating easy-to-communicate and easy-to-understand graphic or visual representations of a large amount of data and information.

According to Fulchino, Finch also recently published a book on data visualization, which includes a chapter on how carbon dioxide gasses harm shell-based sea animals in the ocean.

Finch, who has worked as a journalist, filing stories for the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and a number of National Public Radio station affiliates, has served on the town’s Green Action Committee.

“I think many people are overwhelmed with doomsday news on climate and attendees already know the dire consequences that await us if governments, businesses and citizens don’t act,” Finch said.

Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@northofboston.com.