The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Sounding the alarm

March against coal

March 05, 2013

On Wednesday, March 13, there will be a gathering of Gorge residents concerned about coal export and climate change.

The event is called Sound-the-Alarm to send a clear message to Governor Kitzhaber to deny upcoming permits for the Ambre Energy Morrow Pacific project, to sound the alarm that the climate clock is ticking and to re-enforce the message that coal is a dirty pollutant that should not be transported through the Columbia Gorge.

The group will meet at 12 noon at Riverside Community Church in Hood River. After a short introduction the participants will march, ringing bells and carrying signs, down to Overlook Park in downtown Hood River.

At the park, community leaders will address the crowd and at 12:30 everyone will ring bells for two minutes in solidarity with a similar event that will be taking place at the state capital in Salem, Ore.

Following the remarks at Overlook Park the group will continue the march through downtown Hood River on Oak Street and end up back at Riverside Community Church by 1 p.m.

Gorge residents are encouraged to participate, simply show up at Riverside Church and bring a hand bell to ring.

The event is coordinated by the Gorge Ecumenical Ministries and the Power Past Coal collation.

Gorge Ecumenical Ministries is a Gorge wide association of Christian denominations, including congregation and interfaith partners, working together to improve the lives of Gorge residents through community ministry programs, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, environmental ministry and public policy advocacy.

The Columbia Gorge chapter of the Power Past Coal collation is a group of individuals and organizations that are committed to stopping coal exports off the west coast and promoting a clean energy future.