Global Frackdown! in Boise 9-22-12

Posted on September 24, 2012 by WIRT

On a Saturday autumnal equinox, over three dozen fracking protesters from Idaho, Oregon, and Washington participated in the Global Frackdown! in Boise on the Idaho Capitol steps. In conjunction with similar demonstrations in 200 places around the world, the mid-day rally and evening message projection drew leadership and support from Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, United Vision for Idaho, Occupy Spokane, Occupy Boise, the Ontario Autonomous American Indian Chapter, GMO Free Idaho, and concerned citizens of the region. Organizers, speakers, and protesters attracted local television news coverage as they exposed the potential risks of looming hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and waste ejection wells in Idaho, called for stronger government oversight, and launched an informal statewide petition requesting a ban of these processes that contaminate water, air, and land.

Alma Hasse of Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction addresses protesters near an unfurled list of known carcinogenic chemicals in fracking fluids.

Wild Idaho Rising Tide activists display the group banner in protest of impending fracking in Idaho.

Terry Hill of Occupy Spokane composes a photo of Global Frackdown! in Boise participants.

Alma Hasse of Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction outlines the dangers of fracking, while concerned citizens converge with their protest signs and banners.

The Idaho fortress of political inertia towers over citizens demanding a reliably healthy environment and future without fracking.

Over three dozen fracking protesters from across the region participated in the demonstration that drew support from Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, United Vision for Idaho, Occupy Spokane, Occupy Boise, the Ontario Autonomous American Indian Chapter, GMO Free Idaho, and concerned citizens and children.

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Anti-Fracking Rally Kicks Off on the Steps of the Idaho State Capitol

Posted on September 22, 2012 by WIRT

The Global Frackdown! in Boise appeared on the local Saturday evening, September 22, ABC/FOX television news. Concurrently with anti-fracking demonstrations in 150 worldwide locations, concerned organizers, speakers, and protesters from Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, United Vision for Idaho, Occupy Spokane, Occupy Boise, the Ontario Autonomous American Indian Chapter, and GMO Free Idaho rallied on the downtown Capitol steps to launch and support a statewide ban of hydraulic fracturing and waste ejection wells and to expand awareness and expose the potential risks of these processes and attendant chemicals that could contaminate water, air, and environments. View the KIVI Channel 6 Idaho On Your Side newscast Anti-Fracking Rally Kicks Off on the Steps of the Idaho State Capitol.

(By Jennifer Auh, KIVI TV Boise)

Global Frackdown! in Boise

Posted on September 10, 2012 by WIRT

During the 2012 Idaho legislative session, a majority of our state senators and representatives succumbed to the mercenary ambitions of the oil and natural gas industry and passed state laws and regulations allowing hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and subsequent waste injection wells accommodating oil and gas exploration, production, and transportation in the state. Despite sustained outcry from thousands of citizens and diligent input from scientists, elected officials, and conservation organizations, our delegates have effectively compromised our drinking water, jeopardized our health, undermined local protective ordinances, threatened agricultural communities, endangered tourism revenue, and risked the state’s lands and economy.

In response to our policy makers and in conjunction with the Global Frackdown! on Saturday, September 22, concerned citizens and climate justice activists from across Idaho are converging to stage the first public demonstration against looming initial fracking in Idaho. As we craft a ballot measure to ban all toxic oil and gas practices statewide, Wild Idaho Rising Tide, Idaho Residents against Gas Extraction (IRAGE), and other groups and individuals are launching a petition and rally on the Jefferson Street steps of the Idaho Capitol in Boise (700 West Jefferson Street). Join us between 11 am and 12:30 pm with your family and friends and protest signs, banners, and chants. Contact Wild Idaho Rising Tide at 208-301-8039 or Idaho Residents against Gas Extraction at 208-695-1556 for information about carpools embarking from northern and southern Idaho respectively. (We are departing the south lot of Eastside Marketplace in Moscow at 5 pm on Friday, September 21, and returning on Saturday evening.)

Idahoans and neighbors, please profusely print and post this letter-sized, color Global Frackdown in Boise Flyer, hand distribute this Global Frackdown in Boise Quarter Flyer, and do not miss this historic event! Thanks!

Cross-posted in the Earth First! Newswire: Global Frackdown! in Boise, Idaho

Yost Pleads Guilty to Disturbing the Peace in Sign Throwing Incident

Posted on August 27, 2012 by WIRT

Yost Pleads Guilty to Disturbing the Peace in Sign Throwing Incident between 16:31 and 13:09 on the Monday, August 27, KRFP Radio Free Moscow Evening Report, Sign Throwing Plea

Teach-in on Powder River Coal Trains, Part 1

Posted on August 24, 2012 by WIRT

Teach-in on Powder River Coal Trains, Part 1 between 22:19 and 0:58 on the Friday, August 24, KRFP Radio Free Moscow Evening Report, Coal Train Teach-In

Alberta Tar Sands: an Environmental Disaster Coming Our Way

Posted on August 24, 2012 by WIRT

For the Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition at 7 pm on Friday, August 24, Helen Yost presented the story and images of the Third Annual Tar Sands Healing Walk, organized by First Nations (native) people, through the desolate landscape of Alberta tar sands operations. In the lower community room of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse at 420 East Second Street in Moscow, Helen and presentation participants also discussed the interrelationships of corporate/governmental development of and citizen resistance to Alberta and Utah tar sands, the Keystone XL pipeline, and regional megaloads of processing equipment. View a pdf version of her slideshow of the Third Annual Tar Sands Healing Walk.

Port of Lewiston Visit by U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood

Posted on August 23, 2012 by WIRT

Port of Lewiston Visit by U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood between 3:08 and 1:05 on the Thursday, August 23, KRFP Radio Free Moscow Evening Report, WSU Computer Glitch

Protesters Object to Tax Dollars Funding the Port of Lewiston

Posted on August 23, 2012 by WIRT

A group of protesters crowded the entrance to the Port of Lewiston Wednesday, chanting and holding up signs in outrage regarding a recent port grant.

Protesters said their anger is directed toward the federal government, who granted the port $1.3 million for the inland port improvement on the Columbia/Snake River System. Protestors said spending millions of taxpayer dollars for a port that’s not producing jobs or enough shipments is a substantial waste of money.

“The port continues to prove that it is not a job maker and it is in fact a money loser,” said protester Brett Haverstick. “Even from a common person’s perspective, dock extension makes no sense. Where is the business?”

Protesters also showed their disapproval of the grant, voicing their concerns about more megaload traffic and the negative impact it inflicts on the environment. The activists also provided onlookers with informational sheets explaining why they believe the Port of Lewiston extension is a bad idea.

See the video at: Protesters Object to Tax Dollars Funding the Port of Lewiston

(By Whitney Hise, KLEW TV Lewiston)

Protesters Oppose Port of Lewiston Expansion as Transportation Secretary LaHood Visits

Posted on August 22, 2012 by WIRT

State to Pay Fired ITD Director Pam Lowe $750,000 and Protesters Oppose Port of Lewiston Expansion as Transportation Secretary LaHood Visits between 18:30 and 4:30 on the Wednesday, August 22, KRFP Radio Free Moscow Evening Report, Port Expansion Opposed

Megaload Port Protest 8-22-12

Posted on August 22, 2012 by WIRT

Members of Friends of the Clearwater, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Northern Rockies Earth First!, and Wild Idaho Rising Tide protest the federally funded, proposed expansion of the container dock at the Port of Lewiston, Idaho, likely to accommodate tar sands equipment shipments, as U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood tours port facilities on Wednesday afternoon, August 22, with Idaho Governor Butch Otter, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and 50 invited port customers, entrepreneurs, local elected officials, and reporters.