By Ande Finley
For a future in which our children can thrive, world leaders warn that we have to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C to avoid radical climate destabilization. But no current policies keep the planet anywhere near this goal. Organizers on every continent are planning a global wave of mass actions in May to target the world’s sixteen most dangerous fossil fuel facilities to demand that coal, oil, and gas stay in the ground and to accelerate the just transition to 100% renewable energy, balancing the needs of workers while safeguarding our climate.
In the Pacific Northwest, 350.org has taken on the massive planning of actions around the Shell and Tesoro refineries in Anacortes on the weekend of May 13-15 where organizers say, “The fossil fuel industry is turning the Northwest into a dirty energy superhighway.” These plants have been identified as the largest unaddressed source of carbon pollution in the Northwest, refining 47% of all the gas and diesel consumed in the region. To prepare for actions on May 14th, Transition Lopez Island is holding a Break Free Lopez party on Saturday, May 7th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Sunnyfield Farm.
Foremost for Break Free global resistance is putting direct pressure on decision makers to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Although Tesoro already receives highly volatile Bakken crude oil, Shell has recently applied for an expansion of its operations which would increase oil-by-rail by six trains weekly. Concerns about aging rail infrastructure and effects on nearby wetlands and heron habitat are among the issues being explored in the required EIS. Shell wants to limit the EIS to the refinery land and nearby rail, while environmental groups are urging investigation of the whole chain from source to final destination.
Transitioning workers from the fossil fuel industry to other jobs with a living wage is also central to this campaign. In 2010, after an explosion at the Tesoro refinery claimed seven lives, the company fought the Labor & Industries fine of $2.4 million – the amount they take in globally in ½ hour – even after it was revealed that Tesoro knowingly had avoided steps to improve safety and maintenance beforehand. With profits in decline, Shell’s CEO took an 8% drop in pay from his annual compensation of $32 million while laying off more than 10,000 workers globally. During last year’s strike, Shell employees on the picket line told Lopez’ Kai Sanburn, “The Company doesn’t care about the workers, safety, the environment, or anything other than profits.”
The final piece to these global actions is pointing the way toward clean, renewable solutions. An accelerated conversion from dependence on oil and gas will require shifting the $32 billion in current U.S. fossil fuel subsidies over to conservation measures and renewables to encourage investment in new projects. More economical access to public lands and a smoother permitting process will also fast-track development of new technologies.
On May 7th, join Transition Lopez Island at Sunnyfield Farm (6363 Fisherman Bay Road) to share conversations, create banners, make music, generate ideas, and coordinate kayaktivists, bikes, and rideshare for the May 14th event in Anacortes. For general information and/or to sign up for kayaktivist training, e-mail transitionlopezisland@gmail.com.
