Climate Justice Forum: WIRT Fourth Celebration Speech & Blackkiss Music 4-6-15


The Monday, April 6, 2015 Climate Justice Forum radio program hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) will discuss recent and upcoming events, seismic oil and gas exploration and dropped fractivist charges in southwest Idaho, a direct action and article about western Washington climate activists, coal and oil train and terminal issue developments, and another oil drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.  During the second hour of the show, we will air the performance of Navajo dark country musician Pete Sands of Blackkiss and a speech describing the successes and highlights of 2014-15 WIRT initiatives, both at the Fourth Annual Celebration of WIRT in Moscow, Idaho, on March 28.  Broadcast on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow every Monday between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PST, live at 90.3 FM and online, the show covers continent-wide climate activism and community resistance to dirty energy developments, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Thanks for a Successful Fourth Year & Celebration!


Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) extends our gratitude to everyone who organized and participated in our successful Fourth Annual Celebration of WIRT on Saturday, March 28, at the 1912 Center Great Room in Moscow, Idaho [1, 2].  We heartily thank Tom Bennett, who coordinated musical performers and created facebook event notices; Pat Monger, who printed and posted color event flyers throughout Moscow; Leigh Robartes, who produced a KRFP Radio Free Moscow announcement promoting the occasion [3]; Rob Briggs, who served as a bartender, beer supplier, and event materials hauler and arranger; Sharon Cousins, David Hall, and Jacki Vorhees, who stored and provided beverages and potluck food, loaned a vehicle for silent auction item retrieval, and prepared the 1912 Center Great Room; and several volunteers who diligently cleared dishes, tablecloths, tables, and chairs, and assisted other arrangements.

We greatly appreciate the talented musicians who drove hundreds of miles to exuberantly offer event participants an inspiring, invigorating, live benefit concert free of charge.  Tom Bennett, the folk/blues, one-man band from north Georgia and Utah, stopped in Moscow during his Northwest tour and opened the evening show with his rowdy, refreshing, real music, after playing at the WIRT fundraising party at The Attic in mid-November 2014 [4].  Pete Sands of ‪‎Blackkiss ventured a long round trip from northern Utah to offer his amazing performance – delayed for Sapaatk’ayn Native American Film Festival attendees – of unique, soul-stirring, Navajo dark country music that participants are still complimenting [5].  When acoustic rock, punk, and blues musician Eugeine Grey could not travel from Chicago to Moscow, core WIRT activist Fiddlin’ Big Al Chidester stepped in to conclude the concert with his rousing, eclectic, traditional, and original folk tunes [6].  Through a background WIRT slide show and intermission talk, WIRT organizer Helen Yost described the successes of our grassroots climate activist collective, including industry-impacting resistance to tar sands, shale oil, natural gas, and coal extraction and transportation [7].

We especially thank Mikey’s Greek Gyros and the Wine Company of Moscow, for donating beer, wine, and a liquor service permit, and these 14 Moscow and Pullman community members and businesses, who generously provided silent auction items together valued at hundreds of dollars.

B&L Bicycles: A bicycle pump

Brused Books: One gift certificate

Cowgirl Chocolates: Eight assorted chocolate bars

Fiddlin’ Big Al: Two KRFP T-shirts and one Fiddlin’ Big Al T-shirt

Glassphemy: Incense and a holder and a hemp wick lighter

Howard Hughes Video: Two movie rental gift certificates

Hyperspud Sports: A Leatherman-like multi-tool and a Hyperspud Sports “Chico” bag

Moscow Brewing Company: A beer growler and one gift certificate

Nectar: Dinner for two gift certificate

One World Café: One gift card and a One World Café T-shirt

Paradise Creek Bicycles: A bike rental coupon and a Paradise Creek Bicycles glass

Patty’s Mexican Kitchen: Two gift certificates

Rico’s Pub: Two gift certificates

Tye Dye Everything: A tye-dye T-shirt and a WIRT contribution Continue reading

Climate Justice Forum: Bill Moyer 3-30-15


The Monday, March 30, 2015 Climate Justice Forum radio program hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) gratefully welcomes Bill Moyer, a co-founder and executive director of Backbone Campaign at Vashon Island, Washington.  Bill discusses Solutionary Rail, a bold, thoughtful, and effective vision for transforming the Northern Transcon section of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad between Chicago and the U.S. Northwest into an environmentally sound, electrified rail corridor that could sustain communities, commerce, and alternative energy.  Broadcast on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow every Monday between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PST, live at 90.3 FM and online, the show covers continent-wide climate activism and community resistance to dirty energy developments, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Fourth Annual Celebration of Wild Idaho Rising Tide


Fourth Annual Celebration of WIRT Flyer

The fourth year of relentless Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activism has manifested plenty to celebrate!  We invite and welcome everyone to the Fourth Annual Celebration of Wild Idaho Rising Tide, commemorating our anniversary as a direct action collective and reinvigorating our members, friends, and supporters for another year of dedicated commitment and involvement in the passionate climate justice movement.  This yearly fundraising party supports WIRT activists, who confront the root causes and perpetrators of climate change by asserting direct actions and promoting locally organized solutions, in solidarity with frontline communities of resistance and an international, volunteer, grassroots network of activists.  We eagerly anticipate hosting another lively, evening gathering, enjoying shared camaraderie, live music and dancing, and exuberant fun.

Between 7 pm and 12 midnight on Saturday, March 28, revel in a benefit concert provided by three bands, along with a home-cooked, potluck dinner and desert, beer and wine for purchase, and dozens of raffle prizes donated by community members and businesses.  To savor our successes, hundreds of selected photos of our demonstrations and initiatives will cycle through a background slide show.  Please join dirty energy resisters at the 1912 Center Great Room, 412 East Third Street in Moscow, Idaho, for a well-deserved wild time full of spirited conversation and inspiring music played by remarkable, visiting songwriters and performers.

Do not miss this upcoming opportunity to support the robust activism of Idaho’s courageous challengers of the government, corporate, and industrial sources of climate chaos, for voluntary admission contributions of only $5 or greater.  WIRT offers our hearty thanks to Tom Bennett of Sweet Salt Records in Salt Lake City, Utah, for co-coordinating the multiple entertainment aspects of this event and arranging live performances by musicians traveling to Moscow from Chicago and Salt Lake City.  For further information and/or to assist with preparing and staging WIRT’s big night, please visit the WIRT website and facebook pages, contact WIRT at wild.idaho.rising.tide@gmail.com or 208-301-8039, and print and post the color Fourth Annual Celebration of WIRT Flyer. Continue reading

March through June WIRT & Allied Events


Friends and supporters,

Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) activists and allies are planning powerful convergences, training workshops, direct actions, and educational forums that expand the movement against extreme energy and for a livable future!  The Events Calendar page of the WIRT website lists and links to activities in the Northwest region that WIRT organizes and/or participates in, including emerging frontline and 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!

WIRT holds twice-monthly potluck/pizza meetings at 7 pm every first Thursday at Second Avenue Pizza, 215 South Second Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho, and at 7 pm every third Thursday at The Attic, up the back stairs of 314 East Second Street in Moscow, Idaho.  Please call 208-301-8039 or email wild.idaho.rising.tide@gmail.com for information about meeting agendas, event carpools, and volunteer opportunities.

MARCH 2015

March 19: WIRT Third Thursday Monthly Meeting and Potluck (Thursday 7 pm, The Attic, up the back stairs of 314 East Second Street, Moscow, Idaho)

March 21: The Future of Railroads: Safety, Workers, Community, and the Environment (Saturday 8 am to 8 pm, Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, Washington, co-sponsored by Backbone Campaign and Railroad Workers United)

March 28: Fourth Annual Celebration of Wild Idaho Rising Tide benefit concert with a potluck, beer and wine, and slide show (Saturday 7 pm to midnight, 1912 Center Great Room, 412 East Second Street, Moscow, Idaho)  Please contact WIRT to volunteer.

March 31: Written protests of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Little Willow oil and gas lease auction due by mail or fax to Tracy Hadley of the BLM Idaho State Office (Tuesday 4 pm, 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise, Idaho 83709, 208-373-3899)  For instructions, see page 5 of the Notice of Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale.

APRIL 2015

April 2: WIRT First Thursday Sandpoint Monthly Meeting and Pizza (Thursday 7 pm, Second Avenue Pizza, 215 South Second Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho)  Please contact WIRT to carpool.

April 3: Screening of Wrenched film about Edward Abbey (Friday 7 pm, Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, 508 South Main Street, Moscow, Idaho, co-hosted with Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition) Continue reading

Climate Justice Forum: Jess Moore 3-16-15


The Monday, March 16, 2015 Climate Justice Forum radio program hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) gratefully welcomes Jess Moore, one of the organizers with Blue Skies Campaign, who staged a sit-in with 350 Missoula activists of U.S. Senator Daines’ office in Missoula, Montana, on Friday, March 13, to protest to his climate change denial and his support of fossil fuel projects.  Jess will talk about the action and its context in Montana of coal mining and export and the Keystone XL pipeline proposal.  Broadcast on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow every Monday between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PST, live at 90.3 FM and online, the show covers continent-wide climate activism and community resistance to dirty energy developments, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Idaho Senate Bill 50 on Gas Lease Unitization 3-9-15


The Monday, March 9, 2015 Climate Justice Forum radio program hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) will discuss recent issue updates on Alberta tar sands and Bakken shale oil trains, the Great Falls refinery expansion involving recent megaload transports, and oil and gas legislation and leasing in southwest Idaho.  We will air recordings of March 2 and 4 Idaho Senate Resources and Environment Committee hearings on Senate Bill 50 advancing unitization of mineral leases, which compromises private property rights, mortgages, and insurance.  Broadcast on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow every Monday between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PST, live at 90.3 FM and online, the show covers continent-wide climate activism and community resistance to dirty energy developments, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

Climate Justice Forum: Oil Trains & Idaho Oil & Gas Bills 3-2-15


The Monday, March 2, 2015 Climate Justice Forum radio program hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) will discuss the explosive hazards and issue developments of Alberta tar sands and Bakken shale oil trains crossing the Northwest and six oil and gas regulation bills compromising basic citizen and property rights, considered for passage today by the Idaho Senate.  Broadcast on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow every Monday between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PST, live at 90.3 FM and online, the show covers continent-wide climate activism and community resistance to dirty energy developments, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.

WIRT Newsletter: February & March WIRT & Allies’ Events


Please consider participating in the following events hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) and allies, as described and linked through the constantly updated Events Calendar page of the WIRT website.

Thursday, February 19, 7 pm: WIRT Third Thursday Moscow Monthly Meeting and Potluck at The Attic, up the back stairs of 314 East Second Street, Moscow, Idaho

Monday, February 23, 7 pm: Last Rush for the Wild West: Tar Sands, Oil Shale, and the American Frontier, a Utah/Alberta tar sands documentary screening with filmmaker Jennifer Ekstrom, co-hosted with the Palouse Environmental Sustainability Coalition at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse, 420 East Second Street, Moscow, Idaho

Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1: Northwest regional gathering of Rising Tide groups: WIRT will provide further, available information about the event and carpools upon your request

Saturday, February 28, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm: Tribal Environmental Summit hosted by Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment at the University of Idaho College of Law, Moscow, Idaho

Wednesday, March 4, 7 pm: WIRT First Wednesday Sandpoint Monthly Meeting and Pizza at Second Avenue Pizza, 215 South Second Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho Continue reading

Climate Justice Forum: Jennifer Ekstrom 2-16-15


The Monday, February 16, 2015 Climate Justice Forum radio program hosted by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) gratefully welcomes fellow Tar Sands Healing Walker and regional conservationist Jennifer Ekstrom​, who directed, filmed, and produced the award-winning documentary Last Rush for the Wild West: Tar Sands, Oil Shale, and the American Frontier, screening in Moscow on Monday, February 23.  Jennifer will discuss her experiences creating the compelling movie, named one of the Ten Best Eco-Docs of 2014 by EcoWatch, and its context of extreme fossil fuel extraction, watershed and climate pollution, and resolute indigenous and citizen opposition in Utah, Alberta, and beyond.  Broadcast on progressive, volunteer, community station KRFP Radio Free Moscow every Monday between 7:30 and 9:30 pm PST, live at 90.3 FM and online, the show covers continent-wide climate activism and community resistance to dirty energy developments, thanks to the generous, anonymous listener who adopted program host Helen Yost as her KRFP DJ.