Climate convergence comes to Wahkiakum

July 26, 2007

In the second week of August, a broad array of organizers, climate change activists, and locals will join together to talk about fossil fuels, the Columbia River, and the growing climate crisis. The inaugural West Coast Climate Convergence will be held at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds from August 8-14 in Skamokawa. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature an array of workshops, lectures, and activities that will address strategies for living more sustainable lives and opposing the fossil fuel industry. Workshop presenters and speakers will be coming from all over the West Coast (as well as locally) to build knowledge and skills leading to a more just and less energy intensive society.

Why is Wahkiakum the location for this West Coast-wide event? As most people are aware, the Lower Columbia has become a target for major fossil fuel infrastructure projects – particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Bradwood LNG proposal, located across the River from Wahkiakum County, is a prime example of current proposals that would commit our region to another generation of foreign fossil fuel dependence.

The Convergence is being organized to provide a positive, family-friendly vision of a more sustainable community. Child care and food will be provided, as well as workshops on organic gardening, composting, small-scale renewable energy, LNG issues on the Columbia and in Mexico, and a host of other topics. Other activities will include kayaking, bicycling, and local music.

During the Convergence, many people from across the West Coast will camp out at the Fairgrounds, and organizers from Rising Tide and other climate-change focused groups are working to make the encampment as low-impact as possible. The Convergence is both local and global in its focus, as similar events will be held in the Southeast region and the UK to help draw more attention to climate change and fossil fuel issues.

LNG, in particular, represents a non-solution to our climate crisis, as the steps of liquefying, shipping and regasifying the product make it much more carbon-intensive than conventional natural gas. Anti-LNG community activists will address problems with LNG on local and regional scales, as well. The Convergence hopes to draw attention to these proposals in the Lower Columbia River, and to help build a more regional movement to stop the next generation of fossil fuels in its tracks.

In the process of learning about global climate issues, many more people will also learn about the Columbia River, the local community, and gain appreciation for the beauty of the area.

Everyone is welcome! More information is available at climateconvergence.org/west, and a schedule of workshops will be posted in the coming weeks. If you would like to give a workshop, please contact the organizers through the website. Or, if you would like to register for the event (you can come without registering), do so at climateconvergence.org/west.