Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River, MN
November 24, 2013
Before too much more time passes in this busy season, today's report has to do with the second Gas/Oil meeting in the series, held at Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River on Friday, the 22nd. There was a light attendance. Marty Cobenais, MN Sierra Club board member, gave a Pipeline 101 slide presentation on the history of Enbridge's operations in our area, plans for expansion into northern Cass County, record of leaks and damage, and potential for adverse impact on the land, air, and water. He answered questions on his thoughts about how to try to protest and take action; basically, if one is a land owner whose property would be in the planned corridor, and you objected, banding together and hiring a lawyer skilled in environmental law and eminent domain would be the only way to stop Enbridge's approval to go ahead at the Public Utilities Commission. The public has only until December 5th to register opinions with the PUC, when the public comment period closes. There is scarcely time to organize the citizens who attended this meeting, much less be able to find an attorney who could take it on pro bono, and whether standing would be an issue would need to be addressed. Unless just as citizens is enough....it should be, in this democracy.....our suggestion is, get informed and write letters. To the County Commissioners. To your legislators. To your Senators. To your Congressmen. To your local papers. At least, don't let this slide into inevitability go down without giving voice to your concerns. If you listen at all to the Indigenous Environmental Networks postings on facebook, you will see that people just like us here in Cass County, are speaking up against the power of large corporations like Enbridge, who do not seem to answer to anyone......
Plans for NUUF's next meeting have changed. On the 14th of December, we will meet at Arbor Glen at 11am, and after, attend a Legacy concert at Tornstrum Hall in Brainerd.
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director
NORTHWOODS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Post 22
Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, November 10, 2013
Brainerd/Pine River MN
The first of three meetings on gas and oil exploitation was held on Friday, this week, at 5pm at Happy Dancing Turtle here in Pine River. About 20 people attended, with a great potluck supper to start. We viewed "Dirty Oil", the film about the tar sands development in Alberta, Canada, and its effects on the environment and the people living in the region. This is an eye opener for anyone who is not aware of the predominance of Canadian oil in our economy, and the costs to the planet of these demands by US consumers. Discussion followed, along the questions: ?is nuclear energy an option (not mentioned in the film); ?are biofuels sufficient for our needs; ?is there will to change; ?Political will; ?is there energy resiliency; ?enough emphasis on restoration farming; ?what about grain-based ethanol; ?what about combining alternative energies.....this conversation will continue in two weeks, on November 22, when Marry Cobenais will talk about pipelines, etc. Again thanks to Barb Beck of HDT for partnering with NUUF to bring this to our area!
On Saturday, November 9th, NUUF was invited to Underwood UU Church to participate in a day-long series of workshops on growing congregations. They are a small church, but full of lively interesting engaged UUs in all aspects of their community. Other congregations came from as far away as Bismarck ND to join in the day's discussions; we came away energized to rethink our goals and begin a fresh start! One great thing, we presented on the TTTT (Travelin Truth Telling Tour), and Underwood UUs asked to have it placed in their library for a time. Sure! We had brought it along, twenty +- books, and left it in the capable hands of Mary Anderson. The best thing was meeting all those other UUs, realizing that we are all in the work together, and finding support together....
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director NUUF
Brainerd/Pine River MN
The first of three meetings on gas and oil exploitation was held on Friday, this week, at 5pm at Happy Dancing Turtle here in Pine River. About 20 people attended, with a great potluck supper to start. We viewed "Dirty Oil", the film about the tar sands development in Alberta, Canada, and its effects on the environment and the people living in the region. This is an eye opener for anyone who is not aware of the predominance of Canadian oil in our economy, and the costs to the planet of these demands by US consumers. Discussion followed, along the questions: ?is nuclear energy an option (not mentioned in the film); ?are biofuels sufficient for our needs; ?is there will to change; ?Political will; ?is there energy resiliency; ?enough emphasis on restoration farming; ?what about grain-based ethanol; ?what about combining alternative energies.....this conversation will continue in two weeks, on November 22, when Marry Cobenais will talk about pipelines, etc. Again thanks to Barb Beck of HDT for partnering with NUUF to bring this to our area!
On Saturday, November 9th, NUUF was invited to Underwood UU Church to participate in a day-long series of workshops on growing congregations. They are a small church, but full of lively interesting engaged UUs in all aspects of their community. Other congregations came from as far away as Bismarck ND to join in the day's discussions; we came away energized to rethink our goals and begin a fresh start! One great thing, we presented on the TTTT (Travelin Truth Telling Tour), and Underwood UUs asked to have it placed in their library for a time. Sure! We had brought it along, twenty +- books, and left it in the capable hands of Mary Anderson. The best thing was meeting all those other UUs, realizing that we are all in the work together, and finding support together....
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director NUUF
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