Coal Isn't the Answer

Coal Plant - 5 x 7 - pencil, top

Decay - 5 x 7 - pencil, middle

Save the Bats - 5 x 7 - pencil, bottom

A few small pencil drawings will help clarify my stand on a coal export facility proposed near my home.

 

I believe everyone has a responsibility to act in an environmentally responsible manner. No exceptions. The decision by our local county commissioners to approved a 5.7-million-ton-a-year coal export shipping facility on the Columbia River doesn't sit right. They didn't adequately consider the environmental impacts, both here in our county, nor in the areas the coal is coming from, or going to. They said that wasn't their responsibility. Why?

 

Many people in our area are opposed to the project. I've collected information that helps clarify why we don't want a coal export plant built here. It's not in line with what the Governor has ordered. So why in the world is it even moving forward?

Allan says it so well, "It's my belief that different energy sources will take us into the future. Technology will leave coal far behind. It will stay in the ground, but why should we get a coal dusting in Cowlitz County in the meantime?"

Media Articles 

• Governor Gregoire Signs Order to Cut Climate Pollution
• Columbia River Coal Export Facilty Challenged on Greenhouse Gases, Dec. 14, 2010, Society of Environmental Journalists
• West Coast coal exports to China challenged on greenhouse gases, Dec. 13, 2010, LA Times
• Environmental groups appeal approval of coal export facility, Dec. 13, 2010, Oregonian 
• Groups challenge Cowlitz County's approval of coal export facility, Dec. 13, 2010, The Daily News
• No Coal Please, Dec. 9, 2010, Allan Wise
• Riverkeeper leader a hero to friends, obstructionist to foes, Dec. 4, 2010, The Daily News
• Nations That Debate Coal Use Export It to Feed China's Need, Nov. 21, 2010, New York Times
• County Can Do Much Better, Nov. 21, 2010, Sandra Davis
• More Study is Needed, Nov. 20, 2010, Judy Baker
• Commissioners should support coal export facility, Nov. 19, 2010, The Daily News
• Protest over coal facility expected at commissioners meeting, Nov. 15, 2010, The Daily News

Information Resources

 

Climate Solutions http://climatesolutions.org/
On Twitter http://twitter.com/climatesolution
On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/climatesolutions

Washington Environmental Council http://wecprotects.org/
On Twitter http://twitter.com/wecprotects
On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/wecprotects

 

Earthjustice http://www.earthjustice.org/
On Twitter http://twitter.com/earthjustice
On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Earthjustice

 

Columbia Riverkeeper http://www.columbiariverkeeper.org/

 

EPA http://www.epa.gov/
On Twitter http://twitter.com/epagov
On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EPA

Washington Department of Ecology http://www.ecy.wa.gov/
On Twitter http://twitter.com/ecologywa
On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EcologyWA

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership Annual Art Gala was beautiful!

My artist's booth at the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership Annual Art Gala

December 4, 2010

This year's Estuary Partnership Art Gala was a gala event indeed! The evening was festive and everyone was in a joyous mood. It was held in the Krider Ballroom at the Portland Art Museum. The artists were set up around the perimeter of the ballroom and our art glittered like jewels. I was so happy to be a part of this event again this year. I hope they will invite me back next year. 

The artists contributed 50% of their sales directly towards the Estuary Partnership's outdoor programs. Living so near the beautiful and scenic Columbia River, you can imagine how important this is.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

More photos of the 2010 gala on my flickr photostream

My pre gala blog post:Dec. 3, 2010: Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership Annual Art Gala

My posts from last year's art gala:

• Nov. 15, 2009: Reach for the Columbia, Celebrating Art and Artists of the Columbia River, Art Show & Sale
• Nov. 7, 2009: Reach for the Columbia: Annual Art Show & Sale

Washington Landscapes for the Twitter Art Exhibit - on display at MossBibliotek

The Twitter Art Exhibit at Moss Library (Moss Bibliotek), Moss, Norway

On November 3 I blogged about two small postcard-sized paintings I'd done for a 'Twitter Art Exhibit'

I met artist David Sandum on Twitter when I spotted his tweet about an exhibit of 140 paintings (to represent the140 characters allowed in a tweet) to raise funds for a library in his home town of Moss, Norway. Libraries are near and dear to my heart, as is painting!

So I sent off my two little paintings and waited. Then yesterday David tweeted that the show was up and very successful, with pictures on Flickr and artists around the world tweeting it out to their friends! The original exhibit was designed to allow 140 artists to show artworks (again with the 140 character symbolism), but there ended up being over 240 artists participating!

All this from tweeting and blogging! The photos above are downloaded from Moss's Bibliotek flickr set, only I added little arrows pointing to my paintings.

It's amazing to me that I was able to show my little Washington landscapes in Moss Norway, along with artists from all over the world. I feel connected, in a global sort of way, to a sort of inner consciousness that binds artists together. We all came together and made a difference to a little library in Norway. Now that's the power of social media!

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership - Annual Art Gala

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership

Annual Art Gala

December 4, 2010Portland Art Museum

For the second year I've been invited to join the artists supporting the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership through an Annual Art Gala. It's very gala, held at the Portland Art Museum and featuring many prominent public figures. The artists get to feature their artwork for sale throughout several lobby and reception areas during a pre-dinner cocktail hour, and this year (for the first time) after the dinner as well.

Last year was a great success. This year looks better than ever, with a calm and clear weather report, and many beautiful artworks. I created a collage (above) of some of the floral paintings I'll be featuring. The artists contribute 50% of their sales directly towards the Estuary Partnership's outdoor programs. Living so near the beautiful and scenic Columbia River, you can imagine how important this is.

I'll update my blog with photos taken at the event, along with my set up, and of course let you know how many artworks are sold. Wish me luck!

Links to last year's Gala:
Reach for the Columbia Annual Art Show & Sale
Reach for the Columbia: Celebrating Art and Artists of the Columbia River