author: Stumptown Earth First!
e-mail:
stumptownef@riseup.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 22, 2008
2:00 PM
CONTACT:
Stevie Boston
(360) 904-3113
Stumptown Earth First!
 stumptownef@riseup.net
Protestors Tell Shareholders NW Natural's LNG Plan "Stinks!"
-Portland, OR.- Protestors from Stumptown Earth First! sneak into shareholders meeting and disrupt with stink devices in protest of the company's investment in proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects slated for Oregon.
Hundreds of people are rallying against the LNG proposals at NW Natural's Annual Shareholders meeting at the company's headquarters in Portland, OR. NW Natural has been making greenwashing claims, including "foreign LNG is a green alternative to the already existing domestic gas." Protestors say "there is nothing green about LNG."
NW Natural's LNG proposal requires over one thousand miles of clearcuts through nationally protected forests in Western Oregon for their Palomar pipeline. Palomar would cross streams and rivers 292 times. The plan includes a receiving-terminal that requires that 700,000 cubic meters of river bed be dredged, causing habitat destruction to an already suffering salmon population. Jeremy Zayda, one of today's protestors, claims "Oregon's energy usage is less than 1/5 of what these pipelines would provide. LNG is not a good idea and is not necessary for Oregon, and foreign LNG is not good for Oregon citizens and the environment. NW Natural is gambling with our future."
The protesters aren't alone in their opposition to NW Natural's proposal. A NW Natural shareholder attended the meeting in protest of the company's investment in non-renewable energy infrastructure, claiming that LNG is an irresponsible investment. "Foreign LNG is expensive; twice the cost of domestic natural gas. Building LNG infrastructure in Oregon is a multi-billion dollar project," says Lisa Silverman, investor in NW Natural. "I'm here to let NW Natural know that I'm selling all of my shares if they choose to invest in LNG."
The purpose of today's protest, called by Stumptown Earth First!, in solidarity with the coalition of groups opposing LNG across the state, is to make it clear to NW Natural that Oregon will not let these pipelines be built. Activists with Earth First! declare that "This action is just the beginning of what's in store for this LNG proposal. We are here to defend the land, the rivers, and the natural habitats, and we will not stop until LNG is dropped!"
For additional information or email interviews, please contact:
Stevie Boston, stumptownef@riseup.net
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I'm ready to dance my ass off on table tops.................