Hi all,

In lieu of a more extensive, late-August Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) newsletter with plenty of positive news and updates, here is another quick note about upcoming events over the next week.  Please check the WIRT Events Calendar frequently and join us!

Tribal Activists Meeting (Tuesday, September 3)

Nez Perce, Idle No More, WIRT, and allied activists are gratefully anticipating hearing and sharing tribal activists’ insights at a gathering at Lapwai City Park in Lapwai, Idaho.  The 6 pm meeting on Tuesday, September 3, may be moved indoors to the nearby Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center if it rains.  Listen to the following KRFP interview of tribal activist Julian Matthews by citizen journalist Brett Haverstick, describing the last (first) such convergence.

Nez Perce Hold Community Meeting in Lapwai City Park on Megaloads (August 21 KRFP Evening Report, between 11:41 and 3:14)

National Weather Service Forecast for Lapwai

IRAGE at The Liquid Forum (Wednesday, September 4)

At the next, first Wednesday of every month Liquid Forum, activists of our partner grassroots group, Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction (IRAGE), will describe what is happening with and how citizens are fighting oil and gas drilling and looming fracking in Payette County.  Deserving much more public attention, these processes threaten land, water, residents, agriculture, dairies, and sustainability in Idaho.  Please join the discussion and enjoy music by Breakdown Boulevard (as experienced at the Community Progressive III), between 5:30 and 7:30 pm MDT on Wednesday, September 4, at the restaurant/bar Liquid, 405 South Eighth Street in Boise, Idaho.

Weekly WIRT Potluck Meeting (Thursday, September 5)

Wild Idaho Rising Tide is holding potluck gatherings at 7 pm on Thursdays at the WIRT Activist House in Moscow, setting organizational goals, brainstorming strategies, devising tactics, establishing roles, delegating tasks, and mobilizing our collective.  Please see the WIRT alert about the last meeting for further information about upcoming and ongoing projects.

Idaho Rivers United & Nez Perce Hearing (Monday, September 9)

In solidarity with Nez Perce megaload blockaders, carpools are departing the WIRT Activist House at 8 am on Monday, September 9, with stops through the reservation, to rally outside and pack the 4 pm Boise federal court hearing seeking a megaload injunction.  Advocates for the West will present oral arguments for suspending Idaho Transportation Department permits for Highway 12 megaloads until the Forest Service completes its megaload impact study.  After the Nez Perce Tribe and Idaho Rivers United (IRU) versus the U.S. Forest Service case hearing, IRU is hosting a gathering of anti-megaload activists that evening, before we return to north central Idaho.  Please contact IRU at 208-343-7481 or info@idahorivers.org if you can attend the party and call 208-301-8039 if you plan to carpool from the Moscow area.  The following article describes new developments in this lawsuit.

Megaload Ban Could Cost General Electric Millions (August 27 Lewiston Tribune)

Other megaload haulers are seeking passage on U.S Highway 12 of large equipment like power plant generators and wind turbines.  By November, Contractors Cargo Company of Compton, California, wants to ship three massive refinery vessels from the Port of Lewiston to Great Falls, Montana.  Recent tribal/environmental activist protests and a Nez Perce Tribe/Idaho Rivers United lawsuit have stalled a transported General Electric Company evaporator and one awaiting shipment at the Port of Wilma.  Resources Conservation Company International (RCCI), a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate, asked to intervene in the lawsuit that seeks to compel the U.S. Forest Service to stop Alberta tar sands megaloads from crossing the overpass-free Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest and Lochsa/Middle Fork of the Clearwater Wild and Scenic River Corridor.  Its court deposition states that RCCI could lose: 1) $3.6 million incurred from late delivery, 2) $5.1 million in planning, engineering, and transportation costs to find another route, and 3) $75 million “if delays cause its customer to cancel a contract to provide” the equipment.  Federal Judge Winmill postponed the case hearing until September 9, and hauler Omega Morgan agreed to not move any evaporators across Highway 12 until September 18.

Please Donate to WIRT

We are not quite sure how we are going to cover the cost of WIRT direct actions, travel, supplies, outreach, and general operations this month, so please pitch in if you can.  Thanks to graciously supportive Alma, Anesa, Ben, Bob, Borg, Brett, Cass, Cheryl, Dave, Doug, Ellen, Eric, Helen, James, Jennifer, Jo, Julian, Lea, Leigh, Lin, Lori, Melinda, Meredith, Pat, Paul, Ross, Sharon, Steven, Tina, Tom, Zach, contributors at Moscow Farmers Market, and the many other strong supporters who have shared our dirty energy resistance by providing food, funds, housing, outreach, media, rides, and other resources throughout the summer.

We greatly appreciate your activism and solidarity!

Wild Idaho Rising Tide

P.O. Box 9817, Moscow, Idaho 83843

WildIdahoRisingTide.org & on facebook, Twitter

208-301-8039