News
Elections
One World Crafts
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pot measure by a significant
margin, at the state level it
went down with a no vote of
54.83 percent.
More votes were cast in that
one measure than in any other
mayor, Charlie Hales drew
more than twice the votes of
challenger Jefferson Smith.
Wednesday morning’s unoffi-
cial count shows Hales
pulling slightly over 62 per-
measure on the Oregon ballot
— 1,408,700 people weighed
in on it.
In national offices Oregon
saw the Pacific Green Party’s
presidential candidate Jill
Stein place third in the state.
Green candidate for Congress
3rd District, Woody Broad-
nax, also placed third
statewide, right behind the
Republican and Democratic
candidates.
In the race for Portland
cent compared to Smith’s 30
percent.
Fritz was reelected with
slightly over 58 percent of the
votes; Nolan posted just over
40 percent.
The State Supreme Court,
Position 3 race was the rare
example of a hot competition
between judges, with Richard
C Baldwin pulling ahead of
Nena Cook, with 93,847
votes to Cook’s 87,192.
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
Jay Inslee narrowly bested Rob
McKenna in unofficial results –
despite a controversial last-
minute ad campaign by the
Seattle Times newspaper in
support of McKenna
Nala and Gabriela, both 10 look at some of the Tibetan crafts being sold by Xamexeano at
the One World Crafts Fair at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sunday, Nov. 4. The annual event
encourages people to help foster economic justice by buying fair trade products and crafts
made by artisans locally and in cooperatives in developing countries.
Coal
continued from page 1
Project supporters say it’s not practical to
lump the projects together. Only some ports
will be built, they say, and each has differ-
ent circumstances.
``Most of the people who are proposing
that just view it as an opportunity to grind
everything to a halt,’’ said Craig Cole, a
spokesman for developer Seattle-based
SSA Marine. ``We are expecting a very full
review of the impacts of this project.’’
Even as environmental reviews have start-
ed for three coal-export projects at Cherry
Point, Port of Morrow, Ore., and Longview
Wash., the Army Corps of Engineers hasn’t
decided whether it’ll conduct a broader
environmental review for all the projects.
``We haven’t made that determination
yet,’’ said corps spokeswoman Michael
and companies such as Peabody Coal, Arch
Coal and Ambre Energy with stakes in the
Northwest projects. ``That coal can be sent
through Washington and Oregon ports in a
way that’s environmentally responsible.’’
Several union leaders and some lawmak-
ers say the region can’t afford to turn down
well-paying jobs. The company says the
$665 million project will create 1,250 per-
manent direct and indirect jobs and generate
$11 million in tax revenues; critics are skep-
tical.
``Some groups have demonized a natural
resource and they think nobody on the plan-
et should burn this material. I disagree. We
need jobs,’’ said Mike Elliott, chairman of
the state’s Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and Trainmen.
izer. The Sierra Club is also running TV ads
in Eastern Washington to warn of risks. It
has plans to run more ads statewide and in
Oregon.
The Cherry Point area is noted for exten-
sive herring spawning grounds. It’s also
known burial grounds for the Lummi
Nation. The tribe recently came out against
the project.
``We do not want any further distur-
ty Councilman. He said the company plans
to follow the highest environmental stan-
dards.
``The hoops that the company has to jump
through are very extraordinary. They’re
really high. You have to prove that you can
avoid impacts, minimize them or mitigate
them,’’ Cole said.
But neighbors and others who gathered in
Cindy Franklin’s living room for a letter-
The Army Corps of Engineers hasn’t decided
whether it’ll conduct a broader environmental
review for all the projects
Coffey. ``We’re not saying yes and we’re
not saying no either.’’
Two other projects are proposed in Ore-
gon at Coos Bay and St. Helens. Another in
Grays Harbor County, Wash., was shelved
over the summer, after the developer decid-
ed to explore other terminal uses.
Meanwhile, a trade group that includes
the three largest U.S. coal producers has
been running TV and newspaper ads to tout
jobs, tax revenues and other economic ben-
efits.
``We feel that someone is going to supply
the coal to the ports that need it. ... The
question is: where is that coal going to come
from?’’ said Lauri Hennessey, a spokes-
woman for the Alliance for Northwest Jobs
& Exports, which includes BNSF Railway
Trains already carry coal from the Rock-
ies through the state for export through
British Columbia. But Bellingham resident
Lynn Berman and others fear the increase in
coal shipments — about nine mile-long
trains a day — could threaten fisheries, cre-
ate health problems and foul the area’s nat-
ural resources.
``It’s such a bad idea,’’ said Berman, who
worked the phone bank one afternoon in the
field office in downtown Bellingham set up
by ReSources, a local group that has been
organizing against the project. ``I think it
will impact everyone in this community.’’
Volunteers have made 32,000 phone calls
and hope to make tens of thousands more to
educate people about the project, said Matt
Petryni, Power Past Coal Campaign organ-
Trains already carry coal from the Rockies through the state for export through
British Columbia.
bance,’’ said Jewell James, who manages writing workshop that same afternoon
the tribe’s sovereignty and treaty protection weren’t so sure.
``I’m afraid that this new race to get all
office. ``It’s also a treaty rights issue. This
always has been a major fishing and har- this coal out of the ground, sell it under the
guise of energy independence ... is going to
vesting site for our fishermen.’’
On a recent afternoon, SSA Marine’s Cole destroy our atmosphere,’’ said Franklin, 59,
pointed to the site, near marine terminals for retired business consultant and environmen-
two oil refineries and an aluminum smelter. tal activist. ``It’s about the burning of the
``This site has been intended for this pur- coal being a major contributor to climate
pose,’’ said Cole, a former Whatcom Coun- change. We need to do all we can to stop
November 7, 2012 The Seattle Skanner Page 3