No LNG, No Pipelines: "Rally to Protect Our Home!"

Six hundred Oregonians including farmers, ranchers, business owners, and conservationists gathered on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at the Capitol steps in Salem, Oregon, for a rally to oppose liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports throughout Oregon with speeches from tribal leaders, impacted landowners, and a keynote speech from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Waterkeeper Alliance President. See the photos here!



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NO LNG, NO PIPELINES: “RALLY TO PROTECT OUR HOME!” TUESDAY, MAY 26

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Lead Rally on Oregon Capitol Steps with Farmers, Ranchers, Business Owners & Conservationists to Oppose LNG Exports

WHAT: A rally demonstrating statewide opposition to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports, led by the No LNG Exports Coalition. The rally will send a clear message to Governor Brown, state agencies, and elected officials that Pacific Northwest residents are united against LNG exports—in Warrenton and in Coos Bay.

WHO: The public will demonstrate against LNG by joining with allies throughout Oregon and Washington. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President of the Waterkeeper Alliance, will address the rally. Opposition to LNG export projects has created new alliances, inspiring conservative rural landowners near proposed pipelines to join forces with conservationists and climate activists.

"Oregon is viewed as a leader in combating climate change, yet the fossil fuel industry is pushing to make Oregon a trafficker of fracked gas to the entire world through these LNG export proposals.  Oregon should stand firm in protecting iconic salmon-bearing rivers like the Rogue and Columbia and in the process reaffirm its goal of reducing climate pollution by rejecting LNG export terminals and pipelines,” said Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President of Waterkeeper Alliance.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 26, 12:00-3pm.

WHERE: Front Steps of the Oregon State Capitol (900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301).

For more information on the rally, visit nolngexports.org.

 


Coalition of Groups from Across Oregon to Rally Against Liquefied Natural Gas at the Capitol in Salem on May 26 with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

May 14, 2015 (Salem, OR) — Hundreds of Oregonians including farmers, ranchers, business owners, and conservationists will gather on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at 12:00 pm at the Capitol steps in Salem, Oregon, for a rally to oppose liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports throughout Oregon. The rally will include speeches from tribal leaders, impacted landowners, and a keynote speech from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Waterkeeper Alliance President.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Oregon faces two LNG export proposals–one in Coos Bay and the other on the Columbia River–coupled with associated proposals to construct hundreds of miles of new natural gas pipelines throughout Oregon and Washington. Opposition to the LNG projects has created unusual alliances, inspiring conservative rural landowners near proposed pipelines to join forces with conservationists and climate activists.

“As a proud conservative Oregonian, I oppose the pipelines for LNG exports because it would destroy valuable farmland and forestland,” said rancher Bill Gow of Douglas County, Oregon. “There’s no way these companies are going to put a big scar through the middle of my ranch.” Like Gow, hundreds of Oregon and Washington families may have their land condemned to install a pipeline to export gas to overseas markets.

During the rally, the public will call on Oregon decision-makers to use the state’s power to protect Oregon from LNG projects while supporting clean energy, healthy rivers and forests, private property rights, safe communities, and a stable climate.

Don West, Manager of the Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria and owner of the Astoria Crest Motel, plans to call on Governor Brown to take a firm stand against LNG exports. "The future of our community and our business—a future that creates jobs by drawing people to iconic, salmon-bearing rivers like the Columbia—depends on the State of Oregon rejecting LNG exports. I'm inspired to be one of many voices from all walks of life joining this common call for Governor Brown and state leaders to protect our home."

“These would be the largest fossil fuel export projects on the West Coast, so we are speaking out and asking Governor Brown to help defend our state from exporting fracked gas as LNG,” said Sarah Westover, LNG Organizer of Rogue Riverkeeper. She added, “This issue impacts hundreds of families, hundreds of rivers, and the stability of our climate, and we stand united against LNG exports anywhere in Oregon.”

LNG is super-cooled methane gas that requires massive amounts of energy and freshwater to produce. Energy companies have been working for ten years on two proposals for large gas pipelines and LNG terminals in Oregon, and the companies now intend to use the proposed terminals to sell fracked gas to overseas markets.

“The Jordan Cove LNG terminal poses an unacceptable safety risk to our community,” said North Bend resident Jody McCaffree. "We are also concerned about the impacts this project would have to existing jobs in the timber, fishing, crabbing, clamming, oyster, tourism and recreation industries in Coos Bay area.”

Concerned citizens will travel to Salem on buses and carpools from Coos, Douglas, Jackson, Clatsop, Columbia, and other counties to send a clear message to Governor Brown, state agencies, and elected officials that Pacific Northwest residents are united against LNG exports.

For more information on this rally, visit nolngexports.org, rogueriverkeeper.org or columbiariverkeeper.org for details on transportation and timing.

About No LNG Exports Coalition
The “No LNG Exports” Coalition formed to stop the Jordan Cove LNG and Oregon LNG terminals and pipelines and to stop fracked gas exports in the Pacific NW. Members include: 350 PDX, 350 Eugene, 350 Corvallis, 350 Salem, Cascadia Wildlands, The Center for Biological Diversity, Columbia Pacific Common Sense, Columbia Riverkeeper, Community Alliance of Lane County, Landowners United, Northwest Environmental Defense Center, No KXL Pledge of Resistance Portland, Pipeline Awareness Southern Oregon, Raging Grannies Oregon, Rogue Climate, Rogue Riverkeeper, South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership, Sierra Club, and Waterkeeper Alliance. For more information visit www.nolngexports.org.


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