Portland - Cascadia Wildlands

Rally Against the “Who Will Own the Forest” Conference — Sept 27

kaley — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:31:00 +0000

From September 26-28, the World Forestry Center in Portland will be hosting a conference titled “Who Will Own The Forest,” set to be attended by the most notorious representatives in the Wall Street timber industry to scheme on the financialization of forest ecosystems, expand greenwashing, carbon trading, biomass, and land grabs in Cascadia and around the globe.

A growing coalition of community-based organizations from across the region will be hosting a public rally on Wednesday, September 27 at the World Forestry Center as well as an alternative “Who Should Own The Forest” conference from 10am – 5pm on September 28 to protest the industry’s polluting practices and point to a positive vision for just and sustainable land ownership and management models.

Get in touch with Madeline Cowen, Grassroots Organizer, at madeline@cascwild.org if you’d like to get involved and volunteer! You can find more information about the event here.

The post Rally Against the “Who Will Own the Forest” Conference — Sept 27 first appeared on Cascadia Wildlands.

Statement on the 9th Circuit Court Ruling Dismissing our Portland Teargas Case

kaley — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 06:21:45 +0000

In 2020, federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) descended on Portland escalating police violence against people demanding an end to racist police violence. DHS agents used unprecedented amounts of teargas, pepper spray, and other chemical munitions on the crowds. Thousands of Portland residents were exposed to harmful chemicals known to cause cancer, organ damage, and lung injuries. This all while a respiratory pandemic threatened the globe.

A broad coalition of organizations—Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Cascadia Wildlands, Willamette Riverkeeper, 350PDX, Neighbors for Clean Air, and ACLU of Oregon—filed a lawsuit against DHS, calling out its failure to consider the potentially severe human and environmental health impacts of its violent operation in Portland. This despite the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requiring that hard look.

After a federal judge in Oregon dismissed the case on shaky grounds, the coalition appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In part, the government argued that it was too late for a court to get involved because the operation had ended in Portland and doing an environmental review after the fact would do no good. On January 20, 2023, the Ninth Circuit agreed with the government that there was no longer a role for the courts to remedy our members’ injuries.

Respectfully, we dissent. Our coalition is committed to continuing to advocate for an end to the domestic use of tear gas. Measuring the impacts of tear gas on people and our environments is not only possible, but it is required by federal law. We stand ready to hold the government accountable to us the next time.

The post Statement on the 9th Circuit Court Ruling Dismissing our Portland Teargas Case first appeared on Cascadia Wildlands.

Environmental, public health, and social justice groups file legal challenge against DHS citing lack of analysis on impacts of teargas to human health and the environment

nsc425 — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 19:43:29 +0000

For Immediate Release:
October 20, 2020

Media Contacts:
Dylan Plummer, Grassroots Organizer, Cascadia Wildlands; dylan@cascwild.org, 541.531.1858
Doug Brown, Communications Strategist, ACLU of Oregon; dbrown@aclu-or.org, 7 34.239.2706

Broad Coalition of Organizations Sue Feds for Use of Chemical Weapons in Portland

Portland, OR — With no regard for health or safety, the federal government blatantly violated federal environmental law when it flooded Portland and the surrounding communities with an unprecedented amount of dangerous chemical weapons, a lawsuit filed today by a broad coalition of environmental justice and civil rights advocates alleges.

Represented by the attorneys from ACLU of Oregon, Cascadia Wildlands, Willamette Riverkeeper and Markowitz Herbold, a broad coalition of environmental justice and public health organizations, including Neighbors for Clean Air, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Cascadia Wildlands, 350PDX and Willamette Riverkeeper have filed a legal challenge against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today. The lawsuit cites the federal agency’s failure to analyze the potentially severe human health and environmental impacts before deploying chemical munitions against anti-racist protesters in Portland as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The organizations seek a court order forcing the DHS to halt their use of chemical munitions, including tear gas, until the DHS performs a thorough analysis of the health and environmental impacts of these chemicals, and makes this information available to the public.

Kelly Simon, Interim Legal Director with ACLU Oregon, said:
“Environmental justice is racial justice. We all have a right to a safe and healthy community. Environmental hazards and police violence disproportionately deny that right to Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color. The large volumes of tear gas and other chemical weapons that federal officers recklessly and thoughtlessly unleashed in Portland is yet more evidence of the Trump administration’s racist disregard for public health and a safe living environment. So we will see them in court, again.”

Indi Namkoong, Coalition Manager with 350PDX, said: “I’ve been on the ground facing tear gas and police brutality for months because racial justice and climate justice are faces of the same struggle for a just and livable future, one that as a young person of color I expect to be in all my life. The price of justice shouldn’t be further harm to public health and to the Black, Indigenous, and other people of color who are already out here fighting for their lives. Everyone has a right to know the impacts of the toxic chemicals we’re being subjected to by our government.”

Ashley Chesser, Executive Director with Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, said: “Pesticides originated as tools of war before being used to kill insects and continue to play a role in violence against Black, Indigenous and People of Color and those protesting racist acts. Protesters are not pests and the prolonged use of pesticides and similar chemicals to disperse a crowd, without knowing the consequences, is unacceptable. We don’t have any idea what repeated exposure to tear gas does to human health or the environment. DHS had a legal duty to research this before they started gassing Portland, and they may have caused significant harm by failing to do so. We want to ensure no other city shares Portland’s pain.”

This lawsuit comes after anti-racist Black Lives Matters protesters in Portland have been demonstrating in the streets for over 125 days in response to the murder of George Floyd this May, and regularly being subject to massive, indiscriminate deployments of teargas, pepper spray, and other chemical munitions including toxic smoke grenades linked to cancer and kidney and liver damage. The federal government’s consistent, high-volume use of these chemicals has raised concerns about the possible health impacts of repeated, concentrated exposure, and has reportedly caused loss of appetite, hair loss, and irregular menstrual cycles among those exposed. Chemical munitions and residue has remained in downtown Portland long after deployment, accumulating on vegetation, on buildings, and in the streets. This has raised concerns that the stormwater system is conveying chemicals, which may contain aquatic toxicants, to the Willamette River, potentially impacting water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational users.

Elisabeth Holmes, Willamette Riverkeeper’s Staff Attorney said:
“For months we have tried other avenues to obtain the information the public is entitled to under the law, but have been denied at every turn. Disclosure and scientific analysis is the minimum requirement. It is a pretty low bar, but DHS has completely flouted its responsibility.”

Brenna Bell, a volunteer member of Cascadia Wildlands, said:
“As a street protester for racial justice, I know firsthand the harmful impacts of toxic tear gas and other chemical warfare to my body, and the body of so many other Portlanders. What none of us knows is the extent that harm has caused and will continue to cause to our health, and to the
environment.”

A copy of the filed complaint can be found here.

#

The post Environmental, public health, and social justice groups file legal challenge against DHS citing lack of analysis on impacts of teargas to human health and the environment first appeared on Cascadia Wildlands.

Carolyn comes to Cascadia!

Carolyn Candela — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 21:40:03 +0000

Greetings! My name is Carolyn Candela, and I’m the new Development and Operations Manager at Cascadia Wildlands. I am currently finishing up my Masters degree in Nonprofit Management at the University of Oregon. I came onto the staff part time at the beginning of May, and will be transitioning into a full time position by the end of June. Many of you who gave during our Spring Appeal already know my name because you have received acknowledgment letters and e-mails from me. Thank you again to all who gave this spring!

This summer, I will be in charge of Pints Gone Wild!, our monthly Ninkasi fundraiser where 25% of all pint sales go to support Cascadia Wildlands. Currently, I am keeping my ears open for a band to play at September’s event. If you know of any local bands that you think would like to play, please let me know! I hope to see some of you that I haven’t had the chance to meet yet at one (or more!) of these events. There will be further information coming out about Pints! in our next e-news. I’m also looking forward to promoting Cascadia Wildlands at other community events this summer, including the Oregon Country Fair and Whitaker Block Party.

Talking about other events. Right now, I am working on organizing a Northwest book tour this September promoting the release of the paperback version of Todd Wilkinson’s new book, Last Stand, which chronicles Ted Turner’s life and his approach to conservation. Our ED Bob Ferris will be touring with Todd and talking about Cascadia Wildlands version of conservation. We are currently looking to secure a venues in Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Bellingham and Vancouver, BC. If you know of a venue that may be willing to host us, please let me know. There will be more details on the book tour coming soon. Pretty exciting!

I will also be sending out a survey during the summer months that will allow me to learn more about you, and your interests in supporting Cascadia Wildlands. I’m really excited to get to know each of you more personally through our various donor campaigns and events!

As I have mentioned, I’m very excited about getting to know each and every one of you, and becoming more familiar with your individual interests in Cascadia Wildlands. I’m looking to arrange several house parties and dinner events where we can meet and get to know each other better. I’d also like to hear about any suggestions that you may have for social gatherings. Would any of you be interested in hosting a social event, such as a house party?

If you have any questions, or would like to say hello and introduce yourself, please contact me at carolyn [at] old.cascwild.org. I look forward to hearing from all of you in the coming months!

Thank you for all of your wonderful support!

Warm Regards,
Carolyn

The post Carolyn comes to Cascadia! first appeared on Cascadia Wildlands.

Rally to Protect Western Oregon’s Forests, Waters and Wildlife • October 1, Holladay Park, Portland

Josh — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 23:39:16 +0000

Join Cascadia Wildlands and conservation allies across the state at a rally to protect western Oregon's public lands, clean rivers and wild fish runs on Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 12:30-1:30 at Holladay Park (NE 11th and Holladay St.) in northeast Portland.

Late last week, through legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, the House of Representatives passed a bill that will effectively privatize 1.6 million acres of public forestland in western Oregon and transfer this land into a "logging trust" to be clearcut in perpetuity. Sen. Ron Wyden is currently considering introducing his own bill that will likely increase logging on public lands in western Oregon.

As we have learned from the past, runaway clearcutting will degrade drinking water supplies, erode salmon runs and harm other wildlife. The impending Senate bill could weaken environmental safeguards and limit public input in the quest to ramp up logging.

We can't let this happen. We're turning up the heat on Sen. Wyden in the hopes that he will do the right thing and help protect what makes Oregon so special.

We've asked you to take action on this issue recently. Now we are requesting your presence at the rally. We're rallying outside Senator Wyden's office at Holladay Park office to send a clear message: Oregonians want our public lands, waters and wildlife safeguarded into the future!

If you can't make the rally, please call Senator Wyden's office on October 1 (or anytime before or after) and tell him to protect our western Oregon forestlands for the clean water they provide, the recreational opportunities they offer, and for the salmon and wildlife they harbor. Washington, D.C. office: 202-224-5244; Portland office: 503-326-7525; Eugene office: 541-431-0229. You can also take action by personalizing a letter to the senator.

To carpool to the rally from Eugene: Meet at 9:45 am (for a 10:00 am sharp departure) in the parking lot behind FedEx Office at 13th and Willamette St. Contact Cascadia Wildlands for more information: 541.434.1463. Bring a vehicle if you have one, your friends and neighbors, and hand made signs and banners. Hope to see you on Oct. 1!

The post Rally to Protect Western Oregon’s Forests, Waters and Wildlife • October 1, Holladay Park, Portland first appeared on Cascadia Wildlands.

Press Release: State of Oregon Suspends 10 State Forest Timber Sales in Marbled Murrelet Habitat

bob — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:06:33 +0000

For immediate release
July 2, 2012

Contact:
Josh Laughlin, Cascadia Wildlands, (541) 844-8182
Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, (503) 484-7495
Bob Sallinger, Portland Audubon Society, (503) 380-9728
Tanya Sanerib, Crag Law Center, (503) 525-2722

State of Oregon Suspends 10 State Forest Timber Sales in Marbled Murrelet Habitat
Simultaneously, Conservation Groups File Injunction Request to Safeguard the Threatened Seabird During Lawsuit

PORTLAND, Ore. — The State of Oregon has suspended operations on 10 timber sales in marbled murrelet habitat one month after Cascadia Wildlands, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Audubon Society of Portland filed a lawsuit alleging the state’s logging practices in the Tillamook, Clatsop, and Elliott State Forests are illegally “taking” the imperiled seabird in violation of the Endangered Species Act. To prevent additional murrelet habitat from being lost while the case works its way through the court system, the conservation groups filed an injunction request in federal court to halt sales and logging in the occupied murrelet habitat pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

The State agreed to suspend three timber sales and to hold off on auctioning three others to give the Court time to consider the preliminary injunction motion. Plaintiffs have also recognized the State has taken things a step further by removing at least four additional timber sales in murrelet habitat from the auction block that were scheduled to be sold in the near future.

“We are pleased that the state has suspended clearcutting in murrelet habitat on its own accord while this portion of the case proceeds,” said Francis Eatherington, conservation director with Cascadia Wildlands. “We hope that Governor Kitzhaber will permanently abandon these illegal timber sales, prevent any others like them in the future, and begin acting within the law in managing our state forests.”

The Endangered Species Act prohibits actions that “take” threatened species. Take is broadly defined to include actions that kill, harm or injure protected species, including destruction of habitat. The injunction request presents evidence that logging in the three state forests is harming marbled murrelets by destroying their nesting habitat. The logging operations were either already underway or ready for auction.

“Oregon’s irresponsible logging is driving the marbled murrelet to extinction,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “We’re asking the court to stop the worst of the state’s timber sales, and encouraging Governor Kitzhaber to initiate the development of scientifically-supported management plans for our coastal state forests.”

The injunction motion requests a halt to 11 timber sales, constituting 840 acres of proposed logging in the three forests as well as a halt to any future logging in occupied murrelet habitat pending the outcome of the case. The injunction is necessary because significant amounts of murrelet habitat could be lost while the case works its way through the court system.

“The suspension of the timber sales is an important interim measure while the litigation proceeds,” said Bob Sallinger, conservation director for the Audubon Society of Portland. “However it is important for the public to realize that these and other sales in murrelet habitat are still at real risk of proceeding in the near future.”

The most recent status review of marbled murrelets by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found the birds have been declining at a rate of approximately 4 percent per year and that this decline likely relates to continued loss of habitat, primarily on state and private lands.

Oregon recently abandoned its decade-long attempt to develop habitat conservation plans (HCPs) for the three forests that would have given it a federal permit for limited impacts to marbled murrelets in exchange for habitat protection measures designed to enhance the bird’s conservation. Rather than improving habitat protections, the state turned its back on murrelets and other listed species altogether by walking away from the HCP process. The lawsuit seeks to force the state to develop a plan that will protect murrelets and the mature forests on which the birds and other species depend.

The conservation organizations are represented by outside counsel Daniel Kruse of Eugene, Tanya Sanerib and Chris Winter of the Crag Law Center, Nick Cady of Cascadia Wildlands, Scott Jerger of Field Jerger LLP, and Susan Jane Brown of the Western Environmental Law Center.

###

A copy of the preliminary injunction memo and motion can be found here, and more case background can be found here.

The post Press Release: State of Oregon Suspends 10 State Forest Timber Sales in Marbled Murrelet Habitat first appeared on Cascadia Wildlands.