Solidarity with Mosier, Oregon!

The following comes from a message circulating from our friend Laurie Dougherty in Salem:

Fortunately no one was hurt in the oil train wreck and fire at Mosier, OR on the Columbia River Gorge and the fire has been put out. However, the wreck happened dangerously close to schools and homes, some of which were evacuated. For hours the wreck spewed toxic smoke over the community and the river and compromised the town's sewage treatment plant. This morning the Washington Department of Ecology is working to contain an oil sheen on the river.

Here is coverage in the Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2016/06/oil_sheen_spotted_after_columb.html#incart_maj-story-1

Laurie was organizing a solidarity event in Salem. Here is the description of a solidarity event which was organized in Hood River.from Dan Serres of Columbia Riverkeper:

- Solidarity with our sister city of Mosier, Oregon, Small Enough to Make a Difference, population 433.

- Focus on Governors Brown and Inslee. “This is the future of the Columbia gorge as a fossil fuel export corridor and its simply unacceptable for our community- it’s unacceptable for any community- and if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”

- We call on Oregon and Washington to do everything in their power to protect the Columbia River, Columbia River communities, and to stop the use of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as a fossil fuel export corridor. 

- We ask President Obama and our federal elected leaders to support a ban on high risk oil train shipments through the Columbia Gorge and other US communities.

- Deny oil train projects: no more oil infrastructure!

Laurie Dougherty