On May 26, 2015, over 600 Oregonians met on the steps of Oregon’s Capitol cheered a fiery speech by Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert F. Kennedy Jr. opposing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export. Flanked by ranchers, climate activists, tribal members, and community leaders from Coos Bay, Medford, Astoria, Vernonia, Portland, and the Willamette Valley, Mr. Kennedy called on the State of Oregon to reject LNG proposals in Coos Bay and Warrenton.
“Oregon is viewed as a leader in combating climate change, yet the fossil fuel industry is pushing to make Oregon a trafficker of fracked gas to the entire world through these LNG export proposals. Oregon should stand firm in protecting iconic salmon-bearing rivers like the Rogue and Columbia and in the process reaffirm its goal of reducing climate pollution by rejecting LNG export terminals and pipelines,” said Kennedy, Jr. 
Speakers and rally-goers highlighted how LNG export is a disaster for our climate. An LNG terminal would be the largest greenhouse gas polluter in the state after the Boardman coal-fired power plant shuts down. Former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury stated, “These projects are Oregon’s version of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and we must stop them.”
Cheryl Johnson, a retired school librarian from Brownsmead, organized a bus from Astoria and spoke at the rally following Coos Bay activist Jody McCaffree. “We stand in solidarity with our friends in Coos Bay. From the fracking wells to potential spills and frackouts in our salmon-bearing rivers and drinking water sources, we can’t gamble with the type of harm that LNG brings.” Added Johnson, “We need swift, decisive action from Governor Brown to protect Oregonians.”
Read the Oregonian’s coverage about the rally and the growing push to get Oregon Governor Brown to take a stand to protect Oregon from LNG exports. To see photos of the amazing day, visit our Facebook page. Watch the video Ecowatch shared.
