— by Margie Doyle —

[metaslider id=49642]

“Salish Sea Stands” day of action today, [January 16] started at the Eastsound Waterfront Park as representatives of the organization and the public met to protest Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion to the United States. The Trans Mountain Pipeline, owned by Kinder Morgan, received approval from the Canadian government to proceed.

Salish Sea Stands Orcas Coordinator Mark Mayer, Orcas NoCOALition member Michael Riordan, Jay Julius of the Lummi Nation, County Councilman Rick Hughes and Director of the Friends of the San Juans Stephanie Buffum all spoke to a gathering of about three dozen people. Youth were on hand to distribute information and signup sheets.

Hughes prefaced his remarks by reassuring the gathering that, regardless of who was in Federal government, the County Council would conduct “business as usual” in regards to matters such as environmental protection, voting rights, and immigration policies. With regard to protecting the Salish Sea from oil disasters, Hughes emphasized that dangers come from increased tanker traffic of all sorts. With the Canadian government’s approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline last week. Hughes pointed out that the Salish Sea is “the roundabout” for traffic in the Georgia Strait and Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. He said that in his work with the US-Canadian environmental agencies such as Islands Trust, we may obtain funding to obtain more oil spill response equipment, including tugboat protection. He welcomes letters and conversations about ways to protect the Salish Sea; and that support and input from the public will “direct which way the county goes.”

Michael Riordan introduced Jay Julius of the Lummi as a leader in opposition to the Cherry Point Coal Terminal near Bellingham and the traditional fishing grounds of the Lummi tribes. Julius said, “It is an honor to come home where my great grandparents walked the land.“ He spoke of the common sense required now: “We’ve got to take a look at where we are today, and ask, ‘Are we okay with that? How does that impact us?’

“What do we do today?” Julius said future generations must work with leadership to move to clean energy.

Stephanie Buffum called the younger people at the gathering to the front and said, “We’re standing for tomorrow’s children; standing to get beyond conversations of oil spills, oil response and oil spill prevention.” She said that the 696 tanker ships that pass through San Juan – Salish Sea waters today will increase to 14,000 in the future. Buffum urged people to attend an event on February 13 in Olympia, “Salish Sea Stands on the Hill,” and to contribute to the youth canoe program.

Riordan made the announcement that the Lummi Nation has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase the Youngren salmon hatchery on Orcas Island. Jay Julius said that the Lummi Nation has a hatcheries department. “We’d love to preserve the area; and it would be a more appropriate way for Lummis to come back to the island.”

Other members of the gathering spoke of partnering with OPALCO to provide solar panels on public buildings, where possible.

At noon, many of the Orcas Island attendees left to join other events planned for the interisland ferry and Lopez, Shaw, and San Juan Islands.

For more details visit www.facebook.com/salishseastands or call Friends of the San Juans at 360-378-2319.

**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**