Spokane Coal Export Activists’ Arraignments

Over the next week, Tony Dellwo and Ziggy face arraignment hearings on second degree criminal trespass charges for walking toward the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad bridge over North Division Street near Sprague Avenue, during the Fearless Summer: Coal Export Sacrifice Zone Uprising in Spokane, Washington, on Thursday, June 27.  During rush-hour traffic on North Division Street in Spokane on that evening, over 20 people waved protest signs to denounce Northwest coal export and increased fossil fuel rail traffic through northern Idaho and Spokane.  Seeking higher activist visibility on the bridge temporarily blocked by a loaded coal train, Tony and Ziggy noted that they did not see “No Trespassing” signs posted near the BNSF tracks and that they received no warnings to leave the area before BNSF patrols cited them.  Even when both defendants offered to leave the railroad tracks, BNSF personnel ordered them back onto the coal export route.  Moreover, BNSF officers touched one of the activists’ pants two or three times, while inquiring about identification documents, an illegal action forbidden more strictly under Washington codes than by federal laws.  In response to these improprieties, Tony and Ziggy are considering possible counter-lawsuits against BNSF.  Meanwhile, Tony will appear for arraignment and further case arrangements in Spokane district court, 1800 West Broadway, at 9 am on Friday, July 5; Ziggy appears at the same time and place on Thursday, July 11.  Please support these fellow coal export opponents by attending their hearings, to display regional resistance and solidarity.

Boardman Coal Port Hearing, Rally, & Comment Period

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently issued three draft permits for Ambre Energy’s controversial Morrow Pacific project, to regulate air, water, and storm water quality at the proposed Coyote Island coal export terminal at the Port of Morrow in Boardman.  DEQ is holding a comment period until 5 pm on July 12 and will host public hearings on Tuesday, July 9, at Blue Mountain Community College in Hermiston and at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.  With several regional organizations, Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activists are coordinating a demonstration outside the Hermiston hearing starting at 5:30 pm, upon our return from the Tar Sands Healing Walk (July 5-6 in Fort McMurray, Alberta).  We are grateful to work with Oregon groups to plan this rally, integrate it with other hearing activities, and recruit passionate rail route residents, speakers, and protesters from Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, Spokane, northern Idaho, and Montana. Continue reading →

Dear Friends,

Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) is hosting a potluck at the WIRT Activist House (call for address) tonight, Tuesday, July 2, at 7 pm, for everyone to meet Doug Grandt and John Pappan, who came from Nebraska to join our journey to the Tar Sands Healing Walk.  Fellow traveler James Blakely will arrive from Boise later this evening.  John of the Omaha Tribe will offer a pipe ceremony as we gather for our departure at 7 am on Wednesday morning, July 3.  We will travel and document the industry-preferred megaload route on one leg of the trip, as part of our shared regional activism against Alberta tar sands exploitation.

Second Tar Sands Solidarity Journey

The Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition (PESC) and Wild Idaho Rising Tide are coordinating a carpool/caravan to Fort McMurray in northeastern Alberta, Canada, to join with hundreds of indigenous and grassroots allies and activists from across the continent and the world in the Fourth Annual Tar Sands Healing Walk on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6.  The eight Idaho and Nebraska participants in the Second Tar Sands Solidarity Journey will depart Moscow, Idaho, just before the Fourth of July weekend, on Wednesday morning, July 3, and return on Tuesday afternoon, July 9.  They offer opportunities to share expenses and supplies during a summer camping trip to and from the largest industrial project on Earth, retracing routes of tar sands megaloads. Continue reading →

Dear WIRT activists and supporters,

Monthly WIRT Potluck Meeting

We are converging at the Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) Activist House at 7 pm on June 20, as on the third Thursday of every month, for some brainstorming, planning, and potlucking fun.  A few Moscow and Spokane folks have been arranging Fearless Summer events for next week, while WIRT remains immersed in Stop the Frack Attack, Idaho! actions and preparations for the Second Tar Sands Solidarity Journey, Rising Tide Continental Gathering, and other endeavors.  WIRT activists will finalize summer plans at this Thursday evening meeting, so we would greatly appreciate your feedback soon about ideas for protests.  Please see the WIRT Events Calendar website page for more information.

Two Omega Morgan Evaporators on Highway 12?

In response to our allies’ requests for information about potential overlegal/oversize equipment shipments on U.S. Highway 12 across Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) released on Friday, June 14, documents that Omega Morgan submitted to ITD in mid-May (Omega Morgan Schematics 6-13, Omega Morgan Traffic Control Plan 6-13, Omega Morgan Haul Route 6-13).  Supporting permit requests to transport two humongous evaporators (“water purification vessels”) from the Port of Lewiston to Sunshine Oilsands near Fort McKay, Alberta, the files describe the schematics, traffic control plan, and haul route and schedule of megaloads that weigh about 644,000 pounds and measure 255 feet long, 23 feet tall, and 21 feet wide.  Omega Morgan of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Red Wolf Traffic Control of Lapwai, Idaho, moved similar loads in October 2013, the first to reach Alberta ground-zero of tar sands exploitation via Highway 12.  Crews expected to transport the evaporators around June 12. Continue reading →

Dear fellow activists and friends,

Here is a quick update on Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activities, before a tar sands oriented newsletter in a few days.

WIRT on Twitter

We are now on Twitter: Follow us at WildIdahoRT.

WIRT Events Calendar

Wild Idaho Rising Tide and our allies are ready for a non-stop #FearlessSummer, full of events expanding the movement against extreme energy, with powerful convergences, training camps, and actions for a livable future!  On our new website page, a calendar lists and links to activities in the Northwest region and in which WIRT activists will participate, including emerging solidarity actions with our comrades across the continent.  Visit this constantly updated events page often and get involved in grassroots resistance to the root causes of climate change!  For more information about nationwide Fearless Summer initiatives, view the Energy Justice Network calendar.

Oil/Tar Sands Speaker Protest (April 17)

The last time that the Alberta tar sands industry visited Moscow, we blockaded it, hurled protest signs at it, and gestured at its escorts.  We were nicer this time but no less insistent that it is wrong and that it should stop its pillage immediately.  See the photos and descriptions of WIRT’s latest action.

Bidder 70 Screening & Tim DeChristopher Discussion (April 22)

Thanks to each of you for attending and/or assisting the simultaneous, nationwide screenings of the documentary Bidder 70 and the live-streamed discussion with Utah climate activist Tim DeChristopher on Earth Day.  Almost 40 people participated locally in this seminal show and conversation hosted by WIRT and Gathr Films in Moscow.  As anticipated, Tim’s question-and-answer session inspired climate activists and community members continuing our struggles against dirty energy development in the Northwest.  KRFP Radio Free Moscow recorded and aired Tim’s talk during the April 22 Climate Justice Forum radio program, about an hour later on the same evening.  We offer our gratitude and congratulations for a successful event and encourage you to listen to Tim’s incisive and insightful, first public appearance after almost two years in federal prison and watch the following videotaped excerpt.

Tim DeChristopher: Clip 1 Next Step in the Climate Movement (May 2 Bidder70 Film video) Continue reading →

Fellow activists, friends, and supporters,

The colonial conquest mindset of dirty energy developers and their minions only seems to intensify, as they trespass upon and seize lands from northern British Columbia (B.C.) to the American Gulf Coast.  The life of these places mutually abides with the people who care for them, not with those who despoil them.  We must collectively continue to escalate resistance to the selfish and destructive ways of fossil fuel corporations and consumers.

This one of several belated Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) newsletters describes the tar sands and coal opposition of indigenous, Rising Tide, and other allies, current as of mid-April with a few topic-specific exceptions.  Expect another few extensive messages about early 2013 tar sands developments, dirty energy accidents, and Idaho legislative and fracking news, before we summarize late April happenings and launch another phase of our Idaho anti-fracking campaign in coming weeks.

INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE

Ta’Kaiya Speaks for First Nations Youth at Idle No More (January 12 video)

An 11-year-old First Nations girl from North Vancouver, B.C., Ta’Kaiya Blaney, spoke out for youth at an Idle No More protest at Vancouver City Hall on January 11.

Journey of Nishiyuu

With two guides, six young men under the age of 20 of the Cree Nation in Quebec walked almost 1000 miles across Canada, from the southeast shores of Hudson Bay to Parliament Hill in Ottawa, between January 16 and March 25.  In a quest-journey supporting Mother Earth, the mission of Idle No More, and the indigenous rights of the true keepers of the lands, waters, and winds, the fierce, young warriors sought to unite and empower historical allies, restore traditional trade routes among First Nations, and revive the ancestral voices and truth of sacred teachings.

Indigenous Organizers to Hold Round Table Meeting on Tar Sands Resistance and Decolonization (January 30 Earth First! Newswire)

Tar Sands Blockade activists recruited indigenous delegates from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Houston’s toxic East End, Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, northern B.C., and other Canadian locations to attend the annual Earth First! Organizers’ Conference and Winter Rendezvous.  Coordinators requested contributions to fund the travel expenses of indigenous, anti-tar sands, land defenders representing struggles against Alberta tar sands mining and proposed pipelines extending west, south, and east to the coasts.  Although we wished to participate in this international round table, the isolated, frontline, tar sands opposition campaigns in Utah and the Northwest could not send attendees. Continue reading →

Bidder 70 Screening & Tim DeChristopher Discussion

See the nationwide, simultaneous screening of the documentary Bidder 70 about Utah climate activist Tim DeChristopher, who stopped an unjust federal oil and gas lease auction.  Participate in his first live-streamed talk and tweeted question-and-answer session since his Friday release from federal prison.  On Earth Day, Monday, April 22, the Kenworthy Theater (508 South Main Street, Moscow) opens at 5:30 pm PDT, and the film starts at 6 pm, co-sponsored by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), Peaceful Uprising, Gage and Gage Productions, and Gathr Films through $10 or donation admissions.  For further information about this seminal event, see the WIRT website and facebook pages.

Tim DeChristopher’s Peaceful Uprising (April 21 EcoWatch)

Thanks to Stefanie Spear of EcoWatch for posting and featuring WIRT’s piece about the nationwide Bidder 70 screening and discussion with Tim DeChristopher on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, wishing us “Best of luck!”, and requesting further news about this event.

Earth Day Exclusive: Tim DeChristopher Speaks Out after 21 Months in Prison for Disrupting Oil Bid (April 22 Democracy Now!)

Wild Idaho Rising Tide

P.O. Box 9817, Moscow, Idaho 83843

WildIdahoRisingTide.org & on facebook

208-301-8039

Dear comrades,

Comment to the U.S. State Department on the latest Keystone XL pipeline proposal before midnight on Monday, April 22, if you still have any faith in the regulatory system, but copy your manifesto to Bold Nebraska, 350.org, or other non-governmental organizations, because our federal government (purposely?) loses citizen input (keystonecomments@state.gov).  Although Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) is a direct action collective, whose multiple members should be staging actions, here is yet another backlogged newsletter from too few of us who would prefer to create news with you rather than tell you about it.  Because talking is faster and more effective than writing, WIRT has covered most of this material, current as of April 14, on our Climate Justice Forum radio program, aired Mondays between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PDT on KRFP Radio Free Moscow.  Expect another several late newsletters with 2013 first-quarter news over the next few weeks.

WIRT hopes that the activism of our peers described through this effort will inspire you toward passionate activity rather than news-mongering passivity, in reaction to the hegemony of mercenary dirty energy corporations.  Because we are gratefully far from the big city headquarters, fancy hotels, and slick conferences of the Earth desecrators targeted by recent Tar Sands Blockade and 350.org mass actions, we decided not to rile our local banks and gas stations and divert our emphasis on direct confrontations to join our allies’ bandwagons in February and March.

KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

Keystone XL Pipeline Evaluation Process Fact Sheet 2012 (U.S. Department of State)

Submit your official 45-day comments on the Keystone XL pipeline: “…members of the public, public agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged to submit comments, questions, and concerns about the project via e-mail to keystonecomments@state.gov or by mail to:

U.S. Department of State

Attn: Genevieve Walker, NEPA Coordinator

2201 C Street NW, Room 2726

Washington, D.C. 20520”

Keystone XL Draft Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (U.S. Department of State)

All pipelines leak!  Comment on the draft supplementary environmental impact statement for the Keystone XL pipeline by Earth Day, April 22. Continue reading →

Dear climate concerned co-activists,

With coal, Bakken oil, and liquefied natural gas (and tar sands?) poised to hemorrhage out of the Northwest, and extraction supplies for Alberta (and Utah?) tar sands mining and Bakken fracking invading from Asia, our regional resistance movement grows every day, gratefully with your co-leadership!

WIRT/LOCAL NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Taking Action (March 28 Lewiston Tribune)

One of the last feature stories written by Alan Solan for the Inland 360 entertainment section of the Lewiston Tribune (possibly read by Boise lawmakers) highlighted Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) and our dirty energy resistance campaigns and second annual celebration/benefit concert.

lur apparel Sustainable Leader Award (March 29)

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest that closed on Friday, March 29, and garnered almost 100 votes for Helen Yost of WIRT.  Your active, daily support of our entry attempted to win $500 in sorely needed funds for Wild Idaho Rising Tide, the same value in new clothes for Helen, and wider involvement in and national coverage of our shared activism to halt dirty energy development.  Although two years of community organizing, protests, and events, group newsletters, action alerts, website and facebook pages, and a radio show, and personal arrests and court battles have won us extensive affirmations of our work, they could not match the 700-plus votes and subsequent prize of the winning co-contestant.  Nonetheless, we are relieved that the distraction of inadvertently promoting a more lucrative company has passed so that we can focus more intently on our campaigns vanquishing fossil fuel extraction and transportation ventures in our region.  Thanks for your support (the donation link on the WIRT website functions more easily)!

Flashpoints Interview of Helen Yost (April 1 Flashpoints)

Between 21:52 and 33:07 of the Monday evening, nationally broadcast Flashpoints radio show, Helen Yost of WIRT talked with program host Dennis Bernstein during a recorded interview about megaload and tar sands operations and their impacts on the places and people of Canada and Idaho, expressing gratitude for KRFP Radio Free Moscow and promoting WIRT’s radio show, upcoming events, and internet interactions.

Andrew Nikiforuk Visit (April 4-5)

We greatly appreciate award-winning journalist and author Andrew Nikiforuk’s visit to the Palouse region and Highway 12, and his numerous presentations, conversations, signed copies of his books, and the opportunities that he provided all of us to expand our community knowledge of the Canadian Mordor that we work so diligently together to oppose.  We offer our apologies for delaying his travel toward Missoula as dusk descended and hope that his experiences of one of the largest expanses of wild rivers and forested mountains in the lower 48 states in such twilight conditions only further buttress his considerations of sharing the ‘Big Wild’ with his family and Idahoans assisting such an adventure in the future.

Wild Idaho Rising Tide extends our earnest gratitude to everyone who facilitated Andrew’s visit.  A thousand thanks to Jeanne McHale for connecting us with Jakob Magolan and his amazing Oil/Tar Sands Speaker Series; to Jakob for organizing this great educational foray and providing recorded material for the KRFP Radio Free Moscow news; to Carol Spurling of BookPeople of Moscow and Lioubov Baugh of the Washington State University (WSU) Bookie for swiftly arranging book signing opportunities for Andrew and for obtaining books for event participants; to Brian Koepke for working with his fellow WSU students, even while celebrating his ‘Big One,’ to reserve WSU space and post flyers for Andrew’s Friday, April 5, presentations; to Lin Laughy and Gary Macfarlane for sharing their vast understanding of the Clearwater/Lochsa valley and megaload issues with Andrew on his Friday afternoon tour; to Borg Hendrickson for inviting all the good people on the Fighting Goliath email list to purchase Andrew’s books at BookPeople (521 South Main Street in Moscow, 208-882-2669) and the Bookie (WSU Compton Union Building, 1500 NE Terrell Mall in Pullman, 509-332-2537) while they remain in stock (please buy some books, WIRT activists!); to Leigh Robartes of KRFP for promoting and reporting on the Oil/Tar Sands Speaker Series and Andrew’s additional appearances; and to the Associated Students of WSU Environmental Task Force, WSU Environmental Science Club, and Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition for co-sponsoring the multiple aspects of Andrew’s visit.  Explore the following links for more insights into Andrew’s beneficent work.

Andrew Nikiforuk

Andrew Nikiforuk Interview (November 21, 2012, Alternatives Journal)

Andrew Nikiforuk – The Energy of Slaves (October 12, 2012, CBC)

What is the Petro-State? Andrew Nikiforuk (January 17 Parkland Institute) Continue reading →

Dear WIRT revelers,

Thanks to everyone who worked (and played!) so diligently to make Wild Idaho Rising Tide’s (WIRT) Second Annual Celebration and Benefit Concert so successful on Friday evening, March 29.  We heartily applaud Kelly Emo, who recruited and organized the musical acts and critiqued and circulated event flyers along with Brian Koepke; Alan Solan, who served as bartender when no one else stepped forward; Jack Porter, who strung decorative lights, Ellen Roskovich, who oversaw kitchen operations, and several volunteers, who folded napkins, cleared tables, and assisted other arrangements.  Our deepest appreciation goes to the talented musicians who exuberantly offered us all an uplifting night of inspiring music: the Moscow Volunteer Peace Band, Sharon Cousins, Josh Yeidel, Kelly Emo, Al Chidester, Dan Maher, Henry Willard, Terri Grzebielski, Donna Holmes, Jeanne McHale, Doug Park, and Nels Peterson.  We owe special thanks to the Wine Company, for donating (another!) case of wine and a liquor service permit and for supplying low-cost beer for the event, and to these fifteen Moscow and Pullman businesses, who provided raffle items collectively valued at hundreds of dollars.

Continue reading →

Dear fellow activists,

We wholeheartedly invite your participation in these engaging, upcoming events…

Vote for Sustainable Leader Helen Yost of WIRT: by 2 pm PDT, Friday, March 29

Your vote could win WIRT $1000!  The Wild Idaho Rising Tide collective has entered one of WIRT’s co-founders and core activists in the 2013 Sustainable Leader Award contest offered by lur apparel.  When this company invited WIRT to participate, Sharon Cousins graciously nominated Helen Yost to win the $500 prize (to pay the WIRT Activist House rent), $500 in new, ecologically sustainable clothes for WIRT activists (to ‘cover’ our outdoors protests), and some national exposure of our widely shared climate justice initiatives.  We trust that you agree that Helen’s kick-ass community organizing to fight fossil fuel energy corporations with all WIRT has is worth your vote.  In the spirit of solidarity, please vote daily through facebook for Helen Yost of WIRT before 2 pm PDT on March 29.  Because we need hundreds of votes to win, please also post our entry link on your facebook page after you vote, encouraging your friends and family to vote for Helen and thus assist WIRT with our ongoing climate activism work.  WIRT would appreciate the widespread recognition and greater involvement in the movement that winning the lur contest would further garner for successful direct actions that halt dirty energy development and climate change.  On the evening of our March 29 second anniversary celebration, we expect to announce that our 1400 worldwide, constantly supportive facebook friends and 500 emailed members have provided through their votes $1000 for our collective cause of combating climate change.

Second Annual Celebration of Wild Idaho Rising Tide: Friday, March 29

(See the linked PDF files: Second Annual Celebration of WIRT Flyer 1 and Second Annual Celebration of WIRT Flyer 2)

Our second anniversary party and benefit concert commence at 6:30 pm this Friday, March 29, with a Moscow Volunteer Peace Band parade from Friendship Square through downtown to the 1912 Center (412 East Third Street in Moscow).  Starting at 7 pm in the Great Room, share a potluck dinner and desert, raffle drawing, and beer and wine, while serenaded by special musical guests Sharon Cousins and Joshua Yeidel, Kelly Emo with Fiddlin’ Big Al at 8 pm, Dan Maher at 9 pm, and Henry C. and the Willards at 10 pm, all for $5 or greater voluntary admission contributions.  Please visit the WIRT website for further event information and print and post the attached PDF flyers (missed with our last note).  Contact wild.idaho.rising.tide@gmail.com or 208-301-8039 to assist with preparations for the big night.

Yin Radio Show about Ecofeminism: Sunday, March 31

Between 2 and 4 pm PDT on Easter and the second anniversary of WIR​T, Maree McHugh, Caitlin Cole, and Helen Yost will address eco-feminism and the effects of our patriarchal, rogue imperialist societal mindset on nature and humanity.  Please listen to this Yin Radio program broadcast on KRFP Radio Free Moscow live at 92.5 FM and online.  Visit the station website soon to learn how you can generously adopt an inspiring KRFP DJ for only $10 per month and thereby support great progressive news and entertainment programs. Continue reading →