If you care about climate change, the best chance to slow it down is now. That’s one reason 2,000 people packed the coal export hearings in Bellingham on Oct. 20. Most of those people were opposed to the plan that would have nine coal trains pass through their community every day.
Vancouver is forecast to have about 24 coal trains pass through every day. The noisy, slow-moving coal trains are each 1.5 miles long. I imagine that much coal being burned every day for 50 years.
The Army Corps of Engineers is conducting public hearings on coal exports in six other cities, including Vancouver. Our hearing will be in Gaiser Hall of Clark College beginning at 4 p.m. on Dec. 12. Please write that on your calendar and attend. The meeting structure is informal, so you can drop in any time between 4 and 8 p.m.
Economic harm like that caused by Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy far outweighs the economic benefits of a few jobs. Climate scientists predict increasing climate chaos and wildfire. Please remember the hearing on Dec. 12 and plan to attend.
