Aberdeen joins the UN People's Climate March!

From: Avaaz.org
slideshow at link

This weekend's Global Climate March broke records as the largest climate mobilization in history! From São Paulo to Sydney, 785,000 of us shook the ground in over 2,300 events in 175 countries, united in one voice calling for a 100% clean energy future to save everything we love. It was front page media worldwide, and the impact is already being felt at the summit here in Paris.

It’s nearly impossible to describe the powerful and diverse beauty of humanity that rose up yesterday, but these photos help:

London, UK

This is the movement our world has been waiting for. Many countries, from Bangladesh to Ireland, saw the largest climate marches in their history. In Australia, 120,000 people marched, in India, over 100,000. And in towns across the planet small groups of us joined together in beautiful local events. Even in Sana'a, Yemen, organisers went ahead with their march despite bombs falling close to the route!

Clockwise from top left: Melbourne, Helsinki, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bogotá, Jakarta

P.S. Click here for an Op-Ed from Avaaz' CEO, Ricken Patel, on this moment as a test of humanity.

Portland Passes Groundbreaking Fossil Fuel Ban!

Passed: The City Council voted 5-0 on the Fossil Fuel Policy!

Portland City Council voted 4-0 passing the Oil Train Resolution last week and Thursday evening the Fossil Fuel Policy was passed by a 5-0 vote!! Thank you to everyone who came to the hearing, sent emails and made phone calls!     Video above

This Northwest City Just Passed The Strongest Resolution Against Fossil Fuels In The Country

by Natasha Geiling Nov 13, 2015      Climate Progress 

 

CREDIT: Rick Rappaport

In a landmark victory for climate activists, the Portland, Oregon city council voted yesterday to pass a resolution that opposes any new infrastructure that would transport or store fossil fuels within the city or its adjacent waterways. 

The vote, which was unanimous, comes a week after the city council voted to adopt a similar policy opposing any proposed rail projects that would carry crude oil through the city of Portland or Vancouver. Together, the resolutions constitute what environmentalists are calling the strongest city-supported opposition to fossil fuels in the country.

“We seem to be reaching some sort of tipping point where people are waking up and realizing the enormity of the issue,” Adriana Voss-Andreae, director of 350PDX, told ThinkProgress. “That we got a unanimous vote was jaw-dropping. It was an inspiring moment for all of us.”

While Portland cannot, due to interstate commerce laws, unilaterally ban fossil fuels from being shipped via rail, road, or water, it can enact local laws that limit the transportation and storage of fossil fuels within the city itself, especially if those laws are based in environmental or safety concerns. That’s largely the goal of this resolution — to codify into law things like zoning restrictions or restrictions on materials that would make shipping and transporting fossil fuels through Portland either prohibitively expensive, or too time consuming, for fossil fuel companies.

“Our work is not done yet, but we feel that with this unanimous vote, there is good chance that the codifying language is going to be strong and signal to the fossil fuel industry that Portland is not open for their business,” Voss-Andreae said.

Protesters before the hearing on oil trains last week.

CREDIT: Rick Rappaport

Located at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, Portland is an important port city for the transport of fossil fuels overseas and has been the site of standoffs between environmentalists and fossil fuel companies for years. In 2014, the Canadian energy company Pembina proposed constructing a propane export terminal in the Port of Portland, which would have received, stored, and shipped some 1.6 million gallons of propane a day. The terminal, which would have cost an estimated $500 million, would have been the single largest private investment project in Portland’s history. At first, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales appeared to support the project, but faced with a groundswell of local opposition, Hales came out in opposition of the project in May of this year.

To the activists that rallied against the project, the stakes were higher than a single export terminal — it was a stand against a future where increasing fossil fuel infrastructure was the political and economic status quo.

“Here you have this pipeline project that, six months ago, was seen as just a simple economic development project, shipping one more thing through the Port of Portland,” Carl Abbott, an urban studies and planning professor at Portland State University, told the Globe and Mail in May of this year. “Now it has gotten caught up in the fear of energy transportation and the cause of global warming and taking a stand against more fossil fuels.”

Earlier this summer, Portland again found itself at the center of the debate about fossil fuels, as a Royal Dutch Shell ship attempted to make its way through Portland and up to the Arctic to aid in Shell’s exploratory drilling efforts. The ship was initially stopped by 13 climbers who hung from Portland’s St. John’s Bridge for 38 hours, impeding the ship’s ability to pass. Eventually, the ship was able to pass through the climbers and leave Portland, but news of the protest spread through social media and national outlets, increasing the visibility of the movement, according to the protesters.

Around the same time as the Shell protest, Hales traveled to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. Then, in September, Portland voted to divest from fossil fuels.

“That whole movement, from Pembina to Shell to divestment, really set the stage for this,” Voss-Andreae said. “This is a very exciting moment for our movement.”

Grays Harbor Climate March- Nov 29th !

 

Welcome to the largest climate mobilisation in history

When:  11/29/2015 1:00 pm

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Where:  Aberdeen, WA, USA  

               Zelasko Park

Show Map

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‹‹ The countries of the world are meeting to decide what to do about climate change. We are running out of time to avoid catastrophic global warming. People all over the world are marching on this day to ask their governments to take action. ››

Event Hosted By Donna Albert      

    Contact host 

 

Sign up here 

What will happen at the event?

Join the Global Climate March to protect our children's future, our community, the salmon, the ocean, the forests and more.  Let's talk about how we want to participate in this global event, here in Grays Harbor.  Tentative time and location 1:00 pm at Zelasko Park in Aberdeen.  We can keep it simple, walking with signs in the vicinity of the park, and posting pictures on Facebook, or we may want to do more.  Let me know if you have suggestions.  -- Donna

 

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This event is part of the Global Climate March. On November 30th, world leaders meet in Paris to start negotiating the next global climate deal. That’s why, the day before, people around the world will take to the streets and push leaders at every level of government to commit to 100% clean energy. Together, we can push the world towards a climate deal that gets us off dirty energy and unleashes clean energy for all. Let's make history -- RSVP below for this Global Climate March event!

 Sign up here  

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Did the DEIS's properly address your scoping comment??

by Arnie Martin,   Citizens for a Clean Harbor

The draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for the Westway Expansion Project and the Imperium Terminal Services Expansion Project [crude oil terminals] in Grays Harbor, were published Aug 31, 2015,  starting  the  60-day public comment period. The comment period starts August 31, 2015 and ends October 29, 2015.

The scoping comments made 2 years ago were to be a guide for the Department of Ecology in writing the Environmental Impact Study (EIS).

Now is the time to go back and look at the scoping comment(s) you submitted back in 2013/2014.

1. Review your scoping comments (comments are in Volume 2, Appendix A). 

    a.       Search for your comments by expanding the “Appendix A” list by clicking on the “+” to its left, then clicking on “Index of Comment Submissions Sorted by Commenter Name”, then scroll down to your name.

    b.      Carefully review your comment(s).

2. Were your concerns addressed in the draft EIS?

    a.       Search (using your exact words in the scoping comment – or a subset of those words) to find what the DEIS says in response to your comment.

    b.      Using “Ctrl” – “Shift” – “F” is the best way to find something buried in the text of the Volume 1.

3. Were your concerns adequately resolved?

    a.      Has the DEIS put in requirements that would have the project proponents change their plans to reduce the effects of the problem addressed in your comment?           

    b.      Does the DEIS just add some words that say that occurrence is “very unlikely” or “highly unlikely”. 

    c.      Does the DEIS simply have a sentence that states: “Compliance with the applicable regulations and permits described above is expected to reduce impacts on land and shoreline use. There would be no unavoidable and significant adverse impacts.” ?

    d.      Does the DEIS fail totally to mention your concerns?

    e.      Be aware that the studies used to prepare the DEIS are included in volumes 2 and 3.

4. Responding to the DEIS

    a.       If you don’t believe that such comments adequately address the concerns you raised in the scoping comment, call their attention to the comment, using the comment submission number assigned to your comment. 

    b.      Point out the inadequacy of their DEIS, relative to your scoping comment. They will have to respond to your comment, and modify the DEIS text for incorporation into the Final EIS.

  

Both Draft EISs are available on the Ecology website, www.ecy.wa.gov/GraysHarbor. In addition to the draft documents, the website also has links to fact sheets in English and Spanish. These fact sheets summarize key issue areas, the environmental review process, and the Westway and the Imperium [ now REG] expansion projects. The website has information on submitting comments and a link to the online comment form.

Comments that do not identify a specific project will be considered for both projects. All comments are valued equally.  Comments can be submitted:

By mail at:
Westway and Imperium Terminal Services Expansion Projects EISs
c/o ICF International
710 Second Street, Suite 550
Seattle, WA 98104

Online at: https://public.commentworks.com/cwx/westwayimperiumcommentform/

Defending our Communities from Crude Oil: Activism through Writing

 

 

September 2015

Unsung Heroes

James R. Wells: Activism through Writing

by Kathryn Fentress

Kathryn: What environmental issues have been most important for you?

James: First I would like to acknowledge that I am relatively new to environmental activism. Up until three years ago I was busy with my job and family and writing an occasional article for the Daily Kos. The coal train issue galvanized me. Before moving here we lived on property that had an acid seep from an abandoned coal mine. The awareness that we didn’t want our daughter to grow up so close to toxic waste prompted our move. So I met first with Whatcom Docs (www.coaltrainfacts.org/whatcom-docs). Several of us began offering workshops on how to make effective comments at the coal train hearings. About 8,000 attended the six hearings and there were 14,000 individual personally written comments. The enduring lesson here is democracy 101. People think democracy is about voting for people, and that is part of it, but daily democracy is looking at the decisions that affect your community. If our community hadn’t been very clear that we were watching every detail, the coal train would have been a simple check-the-box operation.

You mentioned workshops. Please say more.

Nicole Brown introduced me to the idea of public commenting workshops and several of us offered them for between five and two hundred at a time. Most impressive was that we didn’t have to tell people what to be concerned about. They knew what to be concerned about. The variety and knowledge experience was phenomenal and people were motivated to work together without any core organization. Organizing is asking others to do things you want them to do and I realized I am not very good at that. I now more often take the role of motivational speaker. After all the facts have been offered, I share with people what they can do, and that they can definitely make a difference.

When we worked on the commenting workshops, I realized that the process of public commenting is a life skill that is applicable in many places. Introduce what you are concerned about and then request an action. This format can be used in many settings. We are also teaching others that it is possible to get the results you hope for.

Very early in the coal train process, coal train proponents put out a strong message that there is nothing we can do so you might as well support this effort so we get a few crumbs for it. This was very calculated so one of the first things you have to get through is this notion that there is nothing we can do. For example, the idea was pushed that if you stop the coal train here, it will just be rerouted somewhere else at an unspecified place and time. That is just not true. The industry people tell us that if you are concerned about coal being burned in China, there is nothing you can do because they will just get it from somewhere else. The NW Alliance, for example, is made up mostly of hirelings from the corporations, and they deliberately try to create despondence and despair. When 8,000 people come out for the hearings, we are demonstrating that we don’t believe this propaganda, and that other outcomes are possible.

My cover story in the July 2015 Whatcom Watch focuses on how many times advocates for fossil fuels don’t really focus on the merits of the proposal. They focus on other distractions that we might call “purity test trolling.” For example, people in kayaks are protesting Arctic drilling, so the argument is that kayaks are made of petroleum products so their protest is not legitimate. Purity test trolling says if you have any impact at all on the issue, you have no standing on that issue. The logic is that no one can really say anything because we are all dependent on fossil fuels. These are masters at diverting us from what matters to things that create self-doubt. No matter what the topic, recognize that you are being deceptively sold the notion that you have no power to change things. Simply take action no matter what. There is a huge difference between driving a car right now and creating new big industries that will lock us into large emissions forever. We need to force examination of every project. Capital investment in fossil fuel is morally indefensible.

What do you mean by morally indefensible?

Morality is about our responsibility to other people, especially to the people who have less power, and at some level everyone and all other creatures in our world. Decisions cannot be made just based on overt power dynamic, which we have gotten used to. Our responsibility is to the entire system of life. Industry has become good at hiding the real costs. If they are allowed to hide costs, then we don’t get to know the negative results. For example, say statistically that a fossil fuel plant will kill a number of people. Moral decisions need to be made with all of the information, all the real costs, and the full set of costs. With that full disclosure most people would decide the plant is a bad idea. Our essence as a people is to work together for the benefit of all. If we do not use morality as part of the criteria, we will be in trouble.

How to take care of yourself, keep yourself hopeful?

I go outdoors a lot. I enjoy backcountry skiing and I go caving when I can. Caves are sacred for me. I also have a child and am motivated for her sake. I see two choices: you can believe you can make a difference or not. I believe I can. I am also encouraged by the students at Western who are taking charge of their future. Western has a lot of very active students, many organizations working on renewable energy and divestment. They invited me to take part in several events, and I was impressed at how well they were organized. The thrust was all about empowering students. Students come and go, of course, but many of the organizations on campus have long track records.

Any other environmental issues cooking for you now?

I am working on a two-part article that addresses how we communicate about climate change. Climate advocacy information is often presented at the big picture level: this much fossil fuel damage to the world, etc. I believe education about climate issues could be more effective. It could also be targeted better, and we need to focus on how we inspire and motivate folks. I would also like to continue teaching people how to communicate more effectively.

 

What would you recommend to our readers?

Speak personally, but also be unflinchingly truthful and accurate. Instead of how I feel, I describe the thing and the experience of the thing. Others can decide what or how to feel about it. If you present the most unadorned factual issue, you don’t have to rant on. Take action whenever you can, and understand that every victory helps.

Thank you, James, for your insights and creativity. James will be doing a reading from his novel “The Great Symmetry” at Barnes and Noble on September 19 at 2 p.m. 

Kathryn Fentress and her husband moved to Bellingham 20 years ago for the water, trees, fresh air and mountains. She is a psychologist in private practice and believes that spirit is everything. Living in harmony with nature reflects a reverence for life. She delights in finding and meeting those people whose stories so inspire all of us.

James Wells moved here from Tennessee with his wife and daughter 10 years ago. He is a software consultant and writer of fiction and articles about environmental issues for the Whatcom Watch and for the Daily Kos website (www.DailyKos.com). 

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The Draft Environmental Impact Statements (DEIS) for the Westway and Imperium proposed crude oil terminals on Grays Harbor were released Aug 31st.  
 

Activities to maximize community input at the Hearings and comments on these drafts follows below:

Community Action: No Oil Terminals in Grays Harbor!

 

Please come help spread the word in Grays Harbor!    Updated below

 We'll see the DEIS announcement for the proposed Westway and Imperium oil terminals in the Vidette this week (Aug 26th), now is the time to hit the ground running!

Thurs, Aug 27th, Doorbelling in Aberdeen. We'll meet at the Furford Gathering Center (behind former Baskin Robins), 104 S Chehalis St., Aberdeen at 5pm -finish by 7:30pm

Running the Risk: Washington's Fight Against Crude By Rail

Thursday, Sept 3, 6:30pm

Olympia Center

222 Columbia St NW, Olympia

Join us for a free community forum and discussion on the oil industry’s plan to build five new processing facilities in our state, and how oil transport threatens our community, our waterways, and our livelihoods.

Speakers:
Eric de Place, Sightline Institute, The Thin Green Line
Arthur R.D. Grunbaum, Friends of Grays Harbor, Talking Crude
Arnie Martin, Grays Harbor Audubon Society, Talking Crude

​

(Email cleangraysharbor@gmail.com  if you need a ride, or can give a ride)​

The DEIS will be released on August 31st.

Open houses and public hearings will be held on October 1 in Elma and October 8 in Aberdeen. Additional details will be released August 31 on the project website,  www.ecy.wa.gov/GraysHarbor .

Look for more details on Monday, August 31 through the LISTSERV on www.ecy.wa.gov/GraysHarbor or the legal notice published in the Montesano Vidette on Thursday, August 27.

Updated- We will be holding 2 Workshops on writing your best comment:

 

Sept 16th Wed 6pm How to Craft an Effective Comment WorkShop. (Furford Gathering Center 104 So Chehalis St, Aberdeen) Led by Jessie Dye & Jessica Zimmerle of Earth Ministries. Jessie was a speaker at our June 10th Forum and has participated in many EIS precedures.

Sept 19th Sat 1:30pm-3:30pm How to Craft an Effective Comment WorkShop. (Hoquiam Timberland Library Meeting Room, downstairs 429 7th St, Hoquiam) Led by Dan Serres of Columbia River Keepers.

Learn how to craft your best message for your comment!

Please share this on Facebook and with your friends and neighbors!