What are the connections among climate change, the Alberta tar sands, megaloads, the Keystone XL pipeline, and the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants?

Explore these and related issues with local citizens on Thursday, March 27, at 7 pm in College of Law Room 103 at the University of Idaho in Moscow.  Area activists journeyed to the tar sands region of northern Alberta to join First Nations (Native Americans) and concerned citizens from across the continent for the 2013 Tar Sands Healing Walk.  Led by First Nations elders and leaders, participants witnessed the scale of environmental and social devastation caused by tar sands mining and crude oil processing.

Several local healing walkers, including James Blakely, Pat Fuerst, Dan and Pat Rathmann, Anne Remaley, and Helen Yost, will share what they learned on their solidarity journey, connecting local and regional megaloads, huge pipeline projects, impacts on people and places, and overarching climate change, cultural, and ethical issues.  During a discussion period following their presentation, the speakers welcome all questions, comments, and suggestions of solutions to these national, continental, and worldwide problems.

Based on similar presentations at the 1912 Center in December and at Washington State University in February, this event is created in allied partnership with the Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, Idaho Sierra Club, 350 Boise, and the University of Idaho Environmental Law Society [1-5].  For further information, contact Pat Fuerst at epfuerst@frontier.com.

[1] ‘Healing Walk’ Looks at Tar Sands (December 9, 2013 Moscow-Pullman Daily News)

[2] Moscow Group Tours Alberta Tar Sands (December 15, 2013 Spokesman-Review)

[3] A Local Approach to a Global Issue (February 28, 2014 Daily Evergreen)

[4] Tar Sand Healing Walk Presentation (February 28, 2014 KRFP Evening Report, Tar Sands Descriptions)

[5] Tar Sands Threaten Environment, Health, and Treaty Rights Local Activists Tell WSU (March 7, 2014 Washington State University Office of the Tribal Liaison)