Climate Justice Forum: Worldwide Renewable Energy, Idaho Activist Events, Oil Train Hazards, Defense Bill Limiting Public Input, Multi-Pipeline Construction Protests, Lakeside Gas Storage Rejection, Valve Turners’ Prison Release & Necessity Defense Trial 7-18-18

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The Wednesday, July 18, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on renewable energy around the world, activist events across Idaho this week, deadly oil train hazards, a defense bill limiting public input on mining and drilling projects, indigenous and allied protests of Bayou Bridge, Keystone XL, and Trans Mountain pipeline construction, New York state agency rejection of a lakeside, propane storage facility, and tar sands valve turners’ release from prison and climate necessity defense trial.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Events Across Idaho This Week (July 18 to 21)

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Wednesday, July 18, 7 pm, Sandpoint

WIRT & #No2ndBridge Meeting & Petition

Since two public hearings in Ponderay and Sandpoint on May 23, and two Second Lake Rail Bridge Discussions in Moscow and Sandpoint during June 2018, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) issued a final order on Thursday, June 21, approving Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway’s encroachment permit application for its proposed Sandpoint Junction Connector project [1]. As explained in WIRT’s initial, draft analysis of the decision, IDL has deferred to antiquated, railroad land grant laws and 1000-plus pro-second bridge, BNSF, form letters [2].  Still requiring Clean Water Act water quality certification from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, dredge and fill approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and bridge permits from the lead, federal agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, BNSF plans to build two miles of doubled tracks, two temporary, work spans, and three permanent, parallel bridges west of existing rail infrastructure across Lake Pend Oreille, Sand Creek, Bridge Street, and downtown Sandpoint.

Grassroots, #No2ndBridge, and Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activists are concerned about this near-conclusion of the state permitting process, and believe that our community should protect Lake Pend Oreille from this Northwest fossil fuels pipeline-on-wheels expansion, by resisting every advance of this proposal. Its construction could drill 1000 piles into train-spewed, lakebed, coal and other deposits in BNSF’s private right-of-way, releasing more pollution into regional, lake and aquifer, drinking water.  North Idaho groups and governments with greater capacity and non-profit status to litigate will probably not challenge dismissal by IDL and other state agencies of myriad, local concerns over significant, project impacts.  But we intend to dispute this permit through both conservative, Idaho courts and creative, frontline resistance, and are searching for attorney assistance around the IDL permit appeal filing deadline of Friday, July 20 [3].

Please participate in the third-Wednesday, monthly, WIRT, and #No2ndBridge meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 18, at the Gardenia Center, 400 Church Street in Sandpoint. Event hosts invite everyone to bring and share snacks, refreshments, donations, and suggestions and referrals to lawyers who practice in Idaho and could advise or represent us before and after filing pro se in Bonner County district court.  We also ask that you print and circulate the accompanying, double-sided, informal #No2ndBridge Petition, and return it, filled with signatures, to WIRT at public events and farmers market outreach tables in Sandpoint and Moscow, on Saturdays throughout the season, where we hope to talk with you and provide printed material about this critical situation.

Visit the WIRT facebook and website pages for further, issue, and event updates and contact information for state and federal agencies reviewing BNSF applications and deliberating permit decisions. Request that local, state, and federal, elected, appointed, and agency officials conduct rigorous reviews and analyses of this north Idaho, railroad ‘funnel’ expansion, including federal, environmental impact studies and statements, and denounce, deny, and revoke all permits for this negligent and culpable project. Continue reading →

Climate Justice Forum: Idaho Oil Train & Lake Bridge Opposition, Railroad Barge Mussels, Eagle Oil & Gas Ordinance, Great Falls Trump Protest, Aerial Oil Tanker Blockade, Farmer Resistance to Keystone Pipeline 7-11-18

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The Wednesday, July 11, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on Stop Oil Trains in Idaho workshops, demonstrations, and outreach, Lake Pend Oreille rail bridge opposition, invasive mussels on railroad maintenance barges, an Eagle community-protective, oil and gas ordinance, protests at Donald Trump’s Great Falls rally, an aerial blockade of Trans Mountain oil tanker traffic, and South Dakota farmer resistance to the Keystone pipeline.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Idaho Oil Train Protests, Watershed Train Wrecks, Iowa Tar Sands Derailment, Portland Hazmat Leak, Newport Silicon Smelter, Vancouver Tanker Blockade, Tar Sands Line 3 Approval 7-4-18

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The Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on upcoming Stop Oil Trains in Idaho actions, North American oil train explosions, Montana and Idaho train wrecks, a tar sands derailment into Iowa floodwaters, a leaking, Portland, hazmat rail car, the proposed, Newport, silicon smelter, a Vancouver, B.C., oil tanker blockade, and Minnesota approval of the Line 3 tar sands pipeline.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Stop Oil Trains in Idaho: July 5-7, 2018 Actions

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Region-wide events mark the five-year Lac-Mégantic disaster anniversary

North Idaho and eastern Washington activists invite everyone to participate in five Stop Oil Trains in Idaho events on July 5, 6, and 7, commemorating the 47 lives lost to a Bakken crude oil train derailment, spill, explosion, and fire in downtown Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, on Saturday night, July 6, 2013.  During the five years since this tragedy, dozens of similar accidents have wrecked public and environmental health and safety and the global climate – more than in the previous four decades – including the Union Pacific oil train disaster in the Columbia River Gorge town of Mosier, Oregon, on June 3, 2016.  In response, Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), 350Seattle, Occupy, Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition, and allied Moscow, Sandpoint, and Spokane partner groups have participated with thousands of people around North America in Stop Oil Trains actions [1-4].

Through multiple training, protest, and outreach events, concerned citizens continue to actively oppose and call for an end to all Alberta tar sands and Bakken shale oil exploitation and train and pipeline transportation, refusing to let Big Oil threaten and risk our families, friends, homes, businesses, lands, waters, and air.  Together with environmental and social justice activists across the U.S. and Canada, we are organizing various tactics and resources to stage powerful, effective actions defending and protecting frontline, rail corridor communities and the global climate.

Please join these demonstrations and/or host or attend an event in your vicinity around July 6, to stand in solidarity with Lac-Mégantic and other towns and cities demanding an immediate ban on the railroad industry’s extreme energy pipeline-on-wheels.  Thanks to everyone who has provided invaluable, relevant ideas, connections, and on-the-ground support for these events.  We welcome your questions, suggestions, assistance, and refreshments at these upcoming actions: Please reply through the enclosed contact channels or on-site.  Expect ongoing descriptions of Northwest train and terminal issue background and recent updates, via WIRT facebook and website pages. Continue reading →

Climate Justice Forum: Oil Train Protests, Idaho Approval of Second Lake Rail Bridge, Increased Train Traffic & Lengths, Montana Train Collision Death, Idaho Oil & Gas Reporting Discrepancies & Citizen-Protective Ordinance, Iowa Tar Sands Train Derailment 6-27-18

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The Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide, features news and reflections on upcoming actions against oil trains, Idaho agency permit approval of parallel, railroad bridges over Lake Pend Oreille, increased fossil fuel train traffic across north Idaho, the train collision death of a Montana Native, discrepancies between Idaho oil and gas production and sales, a citizen-protective, Eagle oil and gas ordinance, a tar sands train derailment and spill in flooded Iowa, and a U.S. investigation of growing freight train lengths.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Megaload Author David James Duncan, Indigenous Activist Winona LaDuke, WIRT & Allied Events, Avista Sale Hearing, Washington Train Collisions, Longer Freight Trains 6-20-18

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The Wednesday, June 20, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), features talks by anti-tar sands megaload, Montana author David James Duncan on the Heart of the Monster, and by indigenous, Minnesota pipeline opponent Winona LaDuke on the next energy economy.  We also share news and reflections on upcoming, WIRT and allied meetings, presentations, and fundraisers, an Idaho hearing on the Avista sale to a Canadian utility, 2018 Washington train collisions with pedestrians and vehicles, and longer freight trains across the U.S.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide opposition to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Wednesday, June 20: Second Lake Rail Bridge Discussion in Sandpoint

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At 7 pm on Wednesday, June 20, please join #No2ndBridge and Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activists and concerned, community members for refreshments and a Second Lake Rail Bridge Discussion and slideshow presentation, at the Gardenia Center, 400 Church Street in Sandpoint.  Event hosts of this free, open meeting invite participants to bring and share snacks, stories, images, and donations, and learn about the natural and human environment of Lake Pend Oreille, the ongoing and potential traffic, pollution, and derailment dangers of fossil fuel and hazardous freight trains, and the flawed infrastructure, earthquake resilience, and emergency response capacity of the north Idaho, railroad ‘funnel.’

Together, we plan to explore and consider the significant impacts of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway’s Sandpoint Junction Connector proposal to construct two temporary and three permanent, parallel bridges and two miles of doubled tracks across the lake, Sand Creek, and Sandpoint.  The project would affect regional, lake and aquifer water resources, air quality, noise, public and environmental health and safety, indigenous rights, wildlife, fish, and threatened bull trout and their habitat, wetlands and shorelines, historic sites, vehicle passage, boat navigation, recreation and tourism, businesses and residences, and other, public interest factors.

For further event information and issue updates, please visit the WIRT facebook and website pages and outreach tables at Sandpoint and Moscow farmers markets and public events during the emerging season, contact us with your concerns, and print and post the accompanying flyer.  We hope to talk with you and provide printed material about this critical situation on all of these occasions!  Ask the state and federal agencies reviewing BNSF applications and deliberating permit decisions to fully analyze this railroad expansion with an environmental impact study and statement, as requested by the Sandpoint city council and mayor.  Thanks!  #No2ndBridge!

Climate Justice Forum: Cocolalla & Pend Oreille Lakes Railroad Expansion, Dakota Access & Other Pipeline Leaks, Montana Tribal Anti-Pipeline Rally, Bayou Bridge Resistance, Appalachia Tree-Sitter Blockades, G20 Fossil Fuels Agreement 6-13-18

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The Wednesday, June 13, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), features news and reflections on railroad bridge and track construction around Cocolalla and Pend Oreille lakes, Moscow and Sandpoint #No2ndBridge discussions, allied, June fundraising events, Dakota Access and other pipeline leaks during 2017, a tribal, anti-pipeline rally in Great Falls, Montana, Louisiana resident resistance to the Bayou Bridge pipeline, tree-sitter blockades of an Appalachian pipeline, anti-G7 protests in Quebec, and a G20 agreement to invest in fossil fuels.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide opposition to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Sandpoint Lake Rail Bridge Testimony & Moscow Discussion, Washington Train Injury of Teen, Newport Silicon Smelter Lawsuit, Exploratory Silica Drilling Approval, EPA Head Scott Pruitt Transfer of Water Pollution Oversight to Idaho, Small Nuclear Reactors Planned for Idaho 6-6-18

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The Wednesday, June 6, 2018 Climate Justice Forum radio program, produced by regional, climate activist collective Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), features recorded, Idaho Department of Lands hearing testimony on proposed, Sandpoint area, railroad bridge and track construction, and news and reflections on a second lake rail bridge discussion in Moscow, a teen injured by a Washington train, a lawsuit against the Newport silicon smelter land sale, Forest Service approval of exploratory, silica drilling near Lake Pend Oreille, a Boise visit by EPA head Scott Pruitt to transfer federal, water pollution authority to the state, and small nuclear reactors planned for Idaho.  Broadcast for six years on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow, every Wednesday between 1:30 and 3 pm Pacific time, on-air at 90.3 FM and online, the show describes continent-wide resistance to fossil fuel projects, the root causes of climate change, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.