2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Thirty years ago, I lived on my sailboat in Portland, and I asked an old tug boat captain if there was still anyplace on the Columbia where a person could still find someplace to put in a dock, tie up a boat, and enjoy the rural, riverfront liftstyle.   Only one place left, he said, "Birnie Slough on Puget Island."    

I explored, bought property there, kept my city job, and parked a trailer on the lot, looking forward to retiring where the grass grows, the river flows, the fishing was good and the views are majestic.   Now, I'm almost to that point, and I discover the same folks who gave us Enron, now plan a six story potentially explosive gas terminal that will cast its shadow on my little bait shack.  I've seen such terminals in the Gulf Coast, and it's nothing that belongs in the Pacific Northwest.   Even Tijuana said "no thanks" to LNG.   The lower Columbia River is a jewel (and with a bright future for tourism, recreation, and retirement)--not a corporate weighstation for importing foreign fossil fuels, to be shipped via pipeline to consumers down south.    Thanks to Senators Wyden and Merkley, and all of the leaders and activists organizing to confront this terrible idea.

BuckarooBob (Joel Davis) 

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
view in context