Well, hyperinflation is one good reason. And since we are no longer on the gold standard the value of U.S. money is directly tied to confidence in our economy to include paying off our debts (or at least servicing its interest obligations).
Registered: 10/22/09
Posts: 3020
Loc: University Place and Whidbey I...
Originally Posted By: eyeFISH
Originally Posted By: Larry B
Well, hyperinflation is one good reason. And since we are no longer on the gold standard the value of U.S. money is directly tied to confidence in our economy to include paying off our debts (or at least servicing its interest obligations).
Bottom line, this beautiful land/river/sea-scape is what's at risk.
How fitting that the latest protest rally would take place right thru the heart of that aerial photo.
I joined this flotilla of tribal canoes, fishing boats, and kayaks that made a grand entrance thru the mouth of the Hoquiam River to descend upon the city center. We were received by a crowd of hundreds that marched with us to City Hall where multiple speakers denounced the proposed storage of Bakken crude oil in our quaint little hamlet by the bay.
Sorry I didn't get more pics of the ceremonial canoes, the crowd at the dock, or the march itself..... but I must say it was a TREMENDOUS outpouring of community support.
Highlight for me was listening to this young man take the microphone... 10 yr old Isaac Gil. For such a young man, he had a commanding presence at the podium... articulate and incredibly projected in his delivery, speaking from the heart with conviction and confidence.
I'm with you Isaac.... JUST SAY NO!
City of Hoquiam, I sure hope you're listening!
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
The overarching theme of this rally is SHARED WATERS, and to that end, my personal war cry is SHARED WATERS, SHARED SALMON.
Salmon are iconic to the Pacific Northwest and sacred to the Quinault people. Historically, the Chehalis River was once a literal salmon superhighway, and the streams of Grays Harbor have sustainably produced salmon for centuries. In modern times, I’ve personally witnessed phenomenal runs of nearly a quarter million coho, over 50,000 chum, and over 40,000 chinook salmon. To me personally, sustainable salmon are my passion. I marvel at their unyielding tenacity to complete their life cycle while also recognizing all too keenly their tremendous food value. More than anything, I just like to catch them. For me and many of my fishy peers, the experience borders on religion.
SHARED WATERS, SHARED SALMON
They’re a HUGE reason why I’ve chosen to call Grays Harbor home for the past 22 years. I’ve fished all over the west coast from the Columbia River north to Kodiak Alaska… and on a good year, there’s no finer salmon fishing than what I’ve got 30 minutes from my doorstep. Over my career, I’ve amassed a ridiculously well stocked arsenal of fishing tackle, and for the next 3-4 months, I‘ll spend many a sleepless night strategizing on how best to use it to fill my boat’s fishbox…. much to the delight of my family, my friends, and my neighbors.
SHARED WATERS, SHARED SALMON
Salmon are a keystone species, the lifeblood of the natural economy linking the Pacific Ocean to the temperate rainforest ecosystem and all the creatures that call it home. In their annual spawning migration, our local salmon deliver through their bodies a tremendous biomass of marine derived nutrients to fertilize and support the inland forest all the way up to the Olympic mountains. Along the way, they support valuable commercial and recreational fisheries shared by the state and the Quinault Indian Nation.
SHARED WATERS, SHARED SALMON
To thrive, young salmon need a cool clean river flowing into an unspoiled estuary that serves as their nursery before they transition to a life in the ocean pasture. It is the river and the estuary that are at greatest risk from the threat of transporting and storing Bakken crude oil in Hoquiam. An oil spill into the mainstem Chehalis or directly into Grays Harbor would be devastating to salmon and the local fisheries dependent on them.
We who share the salmon must ask the policymakers, “With whom shall we be made to share our waters?”
The folks bringing us these toxic and explosive oil trains? Thanks, but NO THANKS! I learned long ago that oil and water just don’t mix, and it’s as true now as it was then. Crude oil is just a bad fit for the Grays Harbor economy and the coastal life style that we all enjoy. Simply said, SPOILED WATERS THREATEN SHARED SALMON.
Among the many reasons presented by my fellow speakers, this is why I believe this permit MUST be denied.
As I testified at the public hearing last fall in Aberdeen, the question we must ALL ask ourselves is, “Is it worth the risk?
Well…. to quote a Native Alaskan elder speaking on behalf of Bristol Bay salmon, I say
No… Not no… Not just no… But HELL NO!
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
The CFCH FaceBook page links to a Flickr album posted by John Duffy with some absolutely stunning on the water pics. It will make you feel like you were right there in the thick of things.
Thank you for taking time to represent those of us who couldn't be there. It is gratifying to see representatives from the sportfishing community and the QIN unified in advocacy over this extreme threat to our community, passion, and way of life.
_________________________
... Propping up an obsolete fishing industry at the expense of sound fisheries management is irresponsible. -Sg
Testified tonight at the Aberdeen City Council where they ultimately voted UNANIMOUSLY to ban the storage and handling of crude oil within the city limits.
Add Aberdeen to the growing list of communities STATEWIDE that have passed similar legislation.
Are ya listening, Hoquiam?
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
Great minute-long video capsule of our day on the water led by tribal canoes, the riverside reception of the flotilla, the citizens march to Hoquiam City Hall, and a few choice sound bytes from the microphone.... all beautifully captured in moving pictures.
Click on the YouTube logo to watch it in HD quality!
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
That’s why we are looking at banning oil facilities and refineries in expansion to terminal companies.”
“Vancouver is choosing its future right now,” Serres said. “They’re choosing to move to a waterfront development that is $1.5 billion that will connect its city to the waterfront.”
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
Topic of oil terminals causes tension at Hoquiam City Council meeting
Mayor Dickhoff responds to criticism by project opponents
TERRI HARBER: Tue Sep 27th, 2016 6:45amNEWS
It wasn’t included on the Hoquiam City Council agenda for Monday night’s meeting, but the two crude-by-rail terminal projects proposed for construction in the city took up most of the meeting and caused tension between city officials and some of the opponents of the projects.
Hoquiam Mayor Jasmine Dickhoff became upset with some of the opponents who were making comments from the audience about the initial permitting process for Westway Terminal Co. LLC and Renewable Energy Group, Inc., formerly Imperium Terminal Services, to construct the terminals.
She said defending the system works well when it benefits you, but criticizing it when it results in an unfavorable outcome is “hypocritical.”
The negative comments from the audience in response to that statement became louder and she looked out to a specific section and told one person, “I’m not getting in a debate with you.”
She defended City Administrator Brian Shay regarding criticism about his demeanor, specifically his appearing not to make eye contact when the subject comes up during public meetings.
Shay has been working for the past two years with the Department of Ecology to find a solution and he “is making detailed notes, not looking away,” Dickhoff said.
Opponents collected more than 8,500 signatures on a petition addressed to Dickhoff, Shay and the Washington State Department of Ecology stating their concerns about the projects’ impact on the region and its residents and presented them to the council Monday night.
When another opponent asked the council to make its feelings about the project known, council members Richard Pennent and Dave Wilson said they were against the project.
Pennant said he’d prefer the city be sued by the corporations than the Quinaults and “other friends,” so that it would be best to deny the permits.
Dickhoff has expressed opposition to it in the past as well.
The final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be made public Friday, and the city will decide what to do in the coming weeks and months, Shay said.
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
Grays Harbor has the worst unemployment level on the wet side and falls number 3 in the state. ECONOMY Aberdeen, Washington United States Unemployment Rate 9.90% 6.30% Recent Job Growth -0.37% 1.18% Future Job Growth 29.40% 36.10% Sales Taxes 8.63% 6.00%
Grays Harbor has the worst unemployment level on the wet side and falls number 3 in the state. ECONOMY Aberdeen, Washington United States Unemployment Rate 9.90% 6.30% Recent Job Growth -0.37% 1.18% Future Job Growth 29.40% 36.10% Sales Taxes 8.63% 6.00%
So what is it you are saying? That a crude oil terminal would actually improve the unemployment issues in Grey's Harbor ? The number of jobs available to locals would be piss in the overall numbers, unless you mean we all could make money cleaning up major oil spills? Or will we be stuffing bodies into bags like the folks in Canada had to do when 30 or 40 people died in the ensuing explosion from a derailment? Just where ARE you coming from? Bob R
I am simply putting facts on the table.Sorry you have a problem with that.
I was actually wondering what Francis thinks of this.Something different needs to be done to keep the coastal logging communities alive.What is it going to be?