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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2016)
1 Street Roots • June 10-16, 2016 News CLIMATE, from page 4 a talk titled “Climate Futures: Beyond Paris” at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. His appearance is the final installation of World Affairs Council of Oregon’s 2016 International Speaker Series. Tickets are still available and range from $25 to $150. McKibben has repeatedly been named as one of the most influential people in the world and is credited with writing the first book about climate change for a general audience (“The End of Nature,” 1989). And his influence is about to expand into directly shaping American politics. In late May, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders appointed McKibben to the 15-member committee that authors the Democratic Party’s platform. It’s an opportunity for McKibben to combat Republican efforts that he says are impeding global efforts to stop global warming. “The reason that when the world’s nations came together in Paris last year they had to make voluntary pledges, not make a binding treaty, is because everyone knows that the U.S. Senate would never ratify a treaty,” he told Street Roots in an email. “Our sick politics are dragging down the world.” His recent appointment to the Democratic platform committee conflicted with a previously scheduled appearance at First Unitarian Church in downtown Portland on June 17, which has been canceled. Portland is a regular stop for McKibben, and he has publicly praised Mayor Charlie Hales and the city’s adoption of progressive climate strategies. “Portland is doing remarkable things,” McKibben told Street Roots. “Its decision to stop any new fossil fuel infrastructure is a groundbreaking step which is resonating around the world.” He said the climate movement has grown to become truly global, with Break Free protests equating to “the biggest, broadest movement that humans have yet seen.” The local chapter of his organization, 350PDX, joined forces with other Pacific Northwest activists in Washington to protest oil refineries on tribal land. Page 5 1I B I SIS!! C O U R T E S Y P H O T O B Y T R IP J E N N IN G S /B A L A N C E M E D IA Protesters block fossil fu el train traffic in Anacortes, Wash., as part o f the Break Free climate campaign in May. Its director, Voss-Andreae, said hundreds of Portlanders joined what amounted to more than 2,500 participants in refinery protests, the Indigenous Day of Action, a blockade, workshops and other Break Free events. “Those two refineries in Washington equal 47 percent of the fossil fuels we use in the Pacific Northwest,” Voss-Andreae said. She said the message behind Break Free was that not only do we not need any fossil fuel infrastructure expansions, but we must also dismantle existing infrastructure “as rapidly as possible.” She said 350PDX plans to launch a campaign this summer aimed at the state, demanding that public pensions be divested from fossil fuels. In addition to the derailment response, Voss-Andreae said from July 6 to 12 there or at risk of becoming homeless? will be opportunities for the public to engage with climate change activism, as the Pacific Northwest commemorates the three- yea r an n iversary of t h e L,ac-M égnatic oil train d isa ster th a t to o k t h e liv e s o f 4 2 people in the town of Lac-Mégnatic in Quebec, Canada. The 74-car freight train was carrying Bakken crude oil, the same type of oil carried on the train that derailed in the Columbia River Gorge by Mosier on June 3. Solving climate change can sometimes seem daunting and insurmountable. Most American activities, day-to-day, contribute either directly or indirectly to greenhouse gas emissions, from the food we eat and the clothes we wear to getting from point A to point B. We asked McKibben if he thought the impending nature of climate change was affecting our collective psyche. “I think a lot of us tell ourselves that it’s too big for us to affect,” he said. “That’s tr u e in a s e n s e — w in ch i s w h y w e b u ild m o v e m e n ts, to co m b in e ou r p ow er. A s individuals we can’t do much; together we can.” We also asked him what a world that doesn’t warm the planet would look like. “It looks like one where the political power of the fossil fuel industry has been broken, and hence we’ve made the rapid transition to renewable energy,” he said. “At which point most of what we do will be done cleanly. The question is not if we’ll make this transition - it’s if we’ll make it in time to get ahead of the physics of climate change.” emily@streetroots.org At Health Share, we believe good health is more than what happens inside your doctor's office. Good health starts in your community and includes staying active, eating healthy food and getting regular check-ups. Share your healthy habits with family and friends. We can all have better health when we share it together. Transition Projects Please call 855.425.5544 or visit 650 NW Irving Street Better health together. www.healthshareoregon.org Cuts & Checks Barbershop Blood Pressure Program / T errell Brandon Barber Shop North by Northeast Community Health Center/ Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
