Climate Convergence Action in Portland Oegon

On August 4, 2008, in the final event of the West Coast Climate Convergence, about two dozen people participated in a multi faceted rally, street theater, and march to NW Natural Gas in Portland Oregon.

The Climate Convergence is a series of actions and educational workshops in August, held in three separate parts of the country, organized by www.RisingTideNorthAmerica.org

The first portion of the Portland action takes place along the Portland Waterfront, where, amid chants and exhortations in favor of riding bicycles, tickets were given to mock automobiles by officers of the Oil Enforcement Agency. Replete with chants and signs, the event was mainly organized around resistance to a proposed 4.2 million dollar, 6 lane I-5 bridge over the Columbia River.

Leaving there the gathering marched along the Waterfront, where at the Morrison Bridge they came upon a young man locked down on an access ramp to the Morrison Bridge. As the group arrived, a young woman climbed the structure of the bridge and unfurled a banner which read, "6 More Lanes = More Sick People, NO I-5 EXPANSION."

At the beginning by the Hawthorne Bridge, all along the Waterfront as well as at NW Natural Gas, the atmosphere was jovial and festive, with much singing and dancing to music rolled along in a little wagon.

After various negotiations with the Portland Police and Fire Department officials, the march continued to the offices of Northwest Natural Gas, where a small but vocal crowd had already gathered in support of three women who had locked down between the doors leading into the offices of NW Natural Gas.
Since the lock down didn't block access to the building, and I suspect also because NW Natural officials didn't want any more negative publicity, there was no removal or arrests at the scene.

This video features interviews with organizers and participants, street theater, as well as the two direct action.

For video of the final event of last years Climate Convergence at the Offices of PacifiCorp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZVLOd5dniY

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• lockdown
• bannerdrop
• global
• warming
• sustainble
• pipeline
• resistance

[Rad1ka1]

Hope to see you all in copenhagen next year!

[JonThm]

The wordl has been coolnig since 2005! Only the Poles are warming - life loves it!