[Vision2020] Moscow City Council's Megaload Discussion

Sun May 29 00:43:59 PDT 2011

Hi Ted,

Thanks for the input, which I think is very helpful.

In part, you wrote:

"As is obvious from the pictures, a major focus of this action involved
anthropogenic climate change ("Climate Justice" in banner), which is a
separate issue from whether or not the mega-loads local or state impacts are
acceptable or legal; and is an issue that I find exceedingly strange is not
a major focus of local discussion, as far as I have determined, regarding
why the mega-loads should be opposed"

If you've not already done so, I would encourage you to look more closely at
the Moscow City Council comments.  Certain Council members made it crystal
clear from the beginning that they didn't give a rip about the Bigger
Picture of anthropogenic climate change with respect to the proposed
mega-loads.  Given that local governmental climate, so to speak, I don't
find it strange at all that some folks have opted to speak out about
particularly local issues rather than trying to address the bigger
anthropogenic climate change issue on a local basis.  It seems to me there's
plenty of legitimate concern about mega-load issues on a local basis without
trying to convince local/state government & legislators who have clearly
stated that they don't care about the big picture - see Debi
Robinson-Smith's response earlier today (well, yesterday now).

Mind you, I'm not dismissing the bigger picture concerns at all.  Rather,
I'm saying that when local government has clearly expressed a bias against
Big Picture concerns, it makes sense to me to try to reason with them on the
many valid local concerns.

In the interests of full disclosure, I feel compelled to state that a
private piece written by a very dear friend about the perspective of local
(throughout Idaho) Native Americans when we started building roads has given
me much food for thought.  Additionally, I've concerns about trying to
"dictate" to another country (Canada) what they "should" be doing, given
this country's penchant for sticking our noses where they don't, IMHO,
belong.

OTOH, I also readily admit that this country has failed miserably, IMHO, to
stick our noses where conscience dictates we should care, so I'm not deaf to
the concerns about the health of First Nation peoples about the Alberta oil
sands development.

>From my perspective, the bigger issue is very complex with somewhat valid
arguments from more than two perspectives.

However, from a local discussion standpoint, it seems to me there are
legitimate concerns from local citizens that don't necessarily take into
account - or take a position on - the Bigger Picture.  In trying to reach
our local representatives, some of whom have clearly stated disinterest in
looking further, I want to encourage folks to continue to hit the local
perspective - and hit it hard.

Do you think that puts us at odds?

I hope not!

Ted also wrote, "Anyone attempting to organize effective civil disobedience
in Moscow opposing the mega-loads should consider gaining the involvement of
committed and experienced activists from outside our area who oppose the tar
sands development."

I don't disagree, and I sincerely hope that should the mega-loads be routed
through Moscow that such activists reach out locally as I suspect that
they'd find a sympathetic population.  And, as I've already stated, I'm
willing to participate & would be, I suspect, some of my friends  J

Saundra Lund

Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.

~ Edmund Burke

From: Ted Moffett [mailto:starbliss at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 4:04 PM
To: Saundra Lund
Cc: Sue Hovey; Moscow Vision 2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow City Council's Megaload Discussion

Rising Tide Portland- Hood River, OR

http://www.extractionaction.net/2011/04/rising-tide-portland-hood-river-or/

"They're making a killing. Profit > People+Planet?" Quote from badge or
poster at this website:

http://www.extractionaction.net/2011/03/add-the-day-of-action-to-your-site/

>From first website above:

To commemorate the one year anniversary of the gulf oil disaster, 100 people
gathered today on the banks of the Columbia River where the infamous Tar
Sands shipments will be transported by barge to the port of Lewiston, ID. 

-----------------------

A few moments of searching revealed this action April 20, 2011 (anniversary
of the gulf oil disaster), in Hood River, Ore. against the tar sands bound
equipment that may pass through Moscow.  As is obvious from the pictures, a
major focus of this action involved anthropogenic climate change ("Climate
Justice" in banner), which is a separate issue from whether or not the
mega-loads local or state impacts are acceptable or legal; and is an issue
that I find exceedingly strange is not a major focus of local discussion, as
far as I have determined, regarding why the mega-loads should be opposed 

Note this action brought members of first nation indigenous communities from
the tar sands and surrounding areas and Northwest climate justice activists.
Anyone attempting to organize effective civil disobedience in Moscow
opposing the mega-loads should consider gaining the involvement of committed
and experienced activists from outside our area who oppose the tar sands
development.

No, that would not be me!
------------------------------------------

Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett

On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 3:18 PM, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:

Interesting critical comments.  Thanks.

As you may know, given local newspapers had pictures of the "protests,"
there were several public actions recently (though I don't think these
events qualified as "civil disobedience" given my understanding that this
involves breaking a law) opposing the mega-loads with those involved
carrying supposedly mega-load sized signs, and so forth.  Why those involved
in these actions did not post about these events to Vision2020, I wonder.

On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 9:00 AM, Saundra Lund <v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm>
wrote: . . 

Hey -- if anyone reading this knows of any civil disobedience plans for
if/when the mega-loads come through Moscow, ***please*** let me know.  For
obvious reasons (including the Council not giving a rip about full input
from Moscow citizens), I'm not interested in attending public meetings or
writing letters.  However, Steed's stunt -- along with the other lemming
Council members' disinterest in the input of their constituents -- has
annoyed me enough that I'm willing to participate in civil disobedience if
needed, and I've got some friends who would also probably like to
participate   :-)  For a variety of reasons (including the fact that even I
get tired of tilting at windmills, and since our governor & his henchmen had
sold us out *long* before we'd heard a word about the mega-loads defiling
Idaho qualifies as tilting at windmills), I'd made a conscious decision not
to get too involved in the issue.  However, given our Council's blatant
disregard for and disrespect of citizen input on this highly controversial
issue, I'm ticked enough that I'm willing to express with action my absolute
disgust at the Resolution.

Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
~ Edmund Burke

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Sue Hovey
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2011 2:43 PM
To: MoscowCares at moscow.com; Moscow Vision 2020

Cc: Jane Kauzlarich; Borg Hendrickson; Friends of the Clearwater; Fritz
Knorr; Jeanne McHale; Marilyn Beckett; Joann Muneta

Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow City Council's Megaload Discussion

Somewhere I had a thread in this discussion where I stated Randy Fife had
teamed up with Walter Steed to blindside the mayor.  Walter sent me an email
to tell me Randy had nothing to do with it.  Yesterday I saw Nancy at
Farmers' Market and she agreed.  So the video should not be interpreted with
an inference that Fife was helping Walter create council chaos.  He did it
all by himself, with council members who were willing to support him.

Sue

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