By Jasmine Zimmer-Stucky, Conservation Organizer—
On June 2nd Portland, Vancouver, and Longview residents against coal exports marched in front of 250,000 people in the annual Starlight Parade – a nighttime parade beginning at 8:30 PM illuminating the streets of downtown Portland along the 2.5 mile parade route.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSaBj2ZJF9Q&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]
Our Power Past Coal coalition organized the anti-coal export entry, which featured a team of coal miners from the 13th century. The miners wore dark and tattered clothing while acting sick and burdened by the replica coal cart they pulled through the streets.
[caption id="attachment_3477" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="13th-century miners pushing the coal cart."]
The 13th century miners, exhausted by coal mining practices that destroy both land and health, were taunted throughout the parade by a team of 'Fossil Fools' and a lofty 'King Coal'.
[caption id="attachment_3479" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fossil Fool couture."]
Those marching against coal export, not representing the archaic nature of the dirty energy, brought up the rear dressed as 'Energy of the 21st century'.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Following coal from the 13th century is energy of the 21st century. Photo by Greg Sotir."]
Team Wind Turbine and Team Solar Panel waved and danced the parade route, receiving smiles, cheers, and high fives from the 250,000 people estimated to have lined the streets of Portland for the Starlight Parade.
[caption id="attachment_3522" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Marching wind turbines. Photo by Greg Sotir."]
The original plan for the activists was to march in a strong, solid, well organized unit. This plan was hatched primarily based on notions that the Starlight Parade organization was very strict about the total length of each entry and restrictions around pausing mid-parade. So, like good soldiers of against King Coal, we practiced a marching routine.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Upbeat solar panels wave their sunny hands at the crowd. Photo by Greg Sotir."]
….and like creative, dynamic, activists against coal export, we scrapped the marching routine 3 blocks into the 2.5 mile parade and danced the remainder of the route.
Despite wrapping up past midnight, the warm and cloud-covered Portland night combined with the phenomenally positive reaction from the crowd carried the spirits of the marchers through the evening.
[caption id="attachment_3527" align="aligncenter" width="621" caption="Still smiling throughout the Starlight Parade. Photo by Greg Sotir."]
This is only one of the many upbeat and creative ways Portland residents are fighting back against coal export. Email Jasmine at Jasmine@columbiariverkeeper.org and follow Columbia Riverkeeper on Facebook to stay updated on events and activities about coal.
Can't get enough? Check out the hundreds of photos from the Starlight Parade Power Past Coal entry on the video slideshow.
