Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN
December 6, 2013
This evening we held the last of our gas/oil educational meetings, in partnership with Happy Dancing Turtle here in Pine River. It has been slightly below zero all day, so it was gratifying to have people turn out. The movie "Gasland" was the featured film, about the proliferation of gas wells all over the US, and attendant environmental hazards to land, air, water, and people. This particular film does not leave much to be optimistic about. While Minnesota and Wisconsin do not have large gas pools from which to extract energy, Wisconsin does have the optimal kind of sand for fracking, and Minnesota is a corridor to the Dakotas where it is used most heavily. No one escapes the impact of these industries.....on the Enbridge front, the public comment period by letter has closed (on Dec.5), but there are still public meetings to be scheduled where citizens can testify in person. We feel continuing to write political incumbents is still worth while.....I received a reply from Joshua Stevenson, Cass County Land Commissioner to a letter about the county possibly passing a moratorium on pipeline expansion. In it he says that on September 9, there was a CC Board Meeting, in which a motion passed to "respectfully decline endorsing any pipe line routes and report the same to Carlton County and Enbridge Energy, LLC." We think this could be overridden by the State....Meantime, the plot thickens: On December 5, the last day for written comments, Kennicott filed a holding request, as they say they have some prior leases on land Enbridge is negotiating for.....now that calls up some pictures! It would be funny if it didn't affect all of us one way or another....There is another film available on hydraulic fracturing and natural gas, called "Split Estate." It is available to netflix users for instant viewing; we will soon have a copy to share as well.
Next meeting is a planning meeting on December 11 at Lakes Latte in Pequot Lakes at 11:30. The next service will be on December 14 at Arbor Glen at 11, followed by a seasonal concert in Brainerd. The annual Solstice Meeting will be on December 21st at Barb's home in Pine River. For questions or comments, contact Pat or Mary.
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director 218-587-2543
NORTHWOODS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
Friday, December 6, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Post 23
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
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
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
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Post 20
Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN
October 27, 2013
NUUF met today at Arbor Glen in Brainerd. The scheduled service was to feature a speaker on sustainable gardening and foods. Instead, we heard a sermon given by Kathleen Rollings, UU Pastor, on Stealing Jesus, about how the historical Jesus was coopted by other religious groups and symbolized. Potluck lunch followed, and discussion of ideas on increasing visibility in the community.
The next event is on November 8, the showing of Dirty Oil at Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River, at 5am, potluck; and on November 9, some members are traveling to Underwood for a workshop on building congregations. We will be presenting on the Resolution and Travelin Truth Telling Tour. On November 23rd there will be a meeting at Mary's house for the harvest season.
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director
October 27, 2013
NUUF met today at Arbor Glen in Brainerd. The scheduled service was to feature a speaker on sustainable gardening and foods. Instead, we heard a sermon given by Kathleen Rollings, UU Pastor, on Stealing Jesus, about how the historical Jesus was coopted by other religious groups and symbolized. Potluck lunch followed, and discussion of ideas on increasing visibility in the community.
The next event is on November 8, the showing of Dirty Oil at Happy Dancing Turtle in Pine River, at 5am, potluck; and on November 9, some members are traveling to Underwood for a workshop on building congregations. We will be presenting on the Resolution and Travelin Truth Telling Tour. On November 23rd there will be a meeting at Mary's house for the harvest season.
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Post 19
Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River, MN
October 13, 2013
As things are progressing on the NUUF/HUG presentations on gas and oil development, the dates have been fixed. First, November 8, the film Dirty Oil. Secondly, November 22, Marty Kobenais' slide presentation on tar sands. Third, on December 6, Gasland. These are all on Friday nights, starting at 5; please bring a dish if you can (my experience at these things is that there is always too much food, so don't worry if you cannot oblige, come anyway!) We are hoping to expand information on these topics. The matter of Enbridge pipeline expansion into Cass County is getting close to decision time; the Public Utilities Commission will decide on the application by Enbridge for approval shortly. The more citizens know, the better able we will all be to talk about and bring actions appropriate to the concerns.
Our meeting on October 12 was a showing of a DVD on the history of American Unitarianism, borrowed from Fargo-Morehead UUs. Part III of a six-part series, it traced the development of Unitarians from late 18th C into mid-19th. The founders of the movement of the time included Joseph Priestley, William Ellery Channing, Theodore Parker, Margaret Fuller and RW Emerson. The evolution was tracked in New England from the Congregationalists through the Socian and Arian ideas that branched to form two ideas about Unitarianism, which finally resulted in the Socian view in major adoption to this day, which propounds a human prophet in Jesus, and repudiation of the Trinity. We will see if more of these DVDs are wanted for programs; this one was surely well done in lecture form, very instructive.
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director
October 13, 2013
As things are progressing on the NUUF/HUG presentations on gas and oil development, the dates have been fixed. First, November 8, the film Dirty Oil. Secondly, November 22, Marty Kobenais' slide presentation on tar sands. Third, on December 6, Gasland. These are all on Friday nights, starting at 5; please bring a dish if you can (my experience at these things is that there is always too much food, so don't worry if you cannot oblige, come anyway!) We are hoping to expand information on these topics. The matter of Enbridge pipeline expansion into Cass County is getting close to decision time; the Public Utilities Commission will decide on the application by Enbridge for approval shortly. The more citizens know, the better able we will all be to talk about and bring actions appropriate to the concerns.
Our meeting on October 12 was a showing of a DVD on the history of American Unitarianism, borrowed from Fargo-Morehead UUs. Part III of a six-part series, it traced the development of Unitarians from late 18th C into mid-19th. The founders of the movement of the time included Joseph Priestley, William Ellery Channing, Theodore Parker, Margaret Fuller and RW Emerson. The evolution was tracked in New England from the Congregationalists through the Socian and Arian ideas that branched to form two ideas about Unitarianism, which finally resulted in the Socian view in major adoption to this day, which propounds a human prophet in Jesus, and repudiation of the Trinity. We will see if more of these DVDs are wanted for programs; this one was surely well done in lecture form, very instructive.
Submitted by Mary DeYoung, News Director
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Post 18
Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN
October 9, 2013
Today we met with Barb Beck, on the HUG campus, regarding partnering on presentations of Dirty Oil and Gasland in the coming weeks. These two DVDs will go along with a presentation by Marty Kobenau on oil exploitation and environmental issues. We are thinking about three separate meetings, starting on November 8 with Dirty Oil. A potluck dinner at 5 will be followed by the film and discussion, at the HUG campus.
Marty is a member of the Indian Environmental Network and on the board of the MN Sierra Club, a member of the Red Lake Tribe. Tentatively, he would be speaking on November 29. The third meeting will be on Gasland, tentatively December 13. Notices will go out locally and by press release.
Mary DeYoung, News Director 218-587-2543
October 9, 2013
Today we met with Barb Beck, on the HUG campus, regarding partnering on presentations of Dirty Oil and Gasland in the coming weeks. These two DVDs will go along with a presentation by Marty Kobenau on oil exploitation and environmental issues. We are thinking about three separate meetings, starting on November 8 with Dirty Oil. A potluck dinner at 5 will be followed by the film and discussion, at the HUG campus.
Marty is a member of the Indian Environmental Network and on the board of the MN Sierra Club, a member of the Red Lake Tribe. Tentatively, he would be speaking on November 29. The third meeting will be on Gasland, tentatively December 13. Notices will go out locally and by press release.
Mary DeYoung, News Director 218-587-2543
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Post 17A
Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/Pine River MN
September 29
This is really the 17th post, as there was no 16th. My error, sorry.
NUUF met at Arbor Glen in Brainerd on Saturday, to continue the discussion on the film Dirty Oil, viewed on September 14th. We did research on the history of pipeline development in MN as part of the distribution system for the tar sands oil originating in Alberta Canada, and from North Dakota oil shale fields. Since there is a current proposal before the MN Public Utilities Commission to expand Enbridge's lines over several of our local counties, we are thinking informed opposition would be advisable. Several actions were discussed. First, to promote education on the environmental impact of this expansion (was there an environmental impact study?); secondly, to contact local officials and politicians, asking for their position on this issue; thirdly, finding out just which townships the proposed pipeline will cross, and contacting persons in those townships to attend the local meetings where this will be discussed with the public; mount a letterwriting campaign to elected legislative and congressional people and in the local papers pointing out the hazards to air, water, and land of excavation and spills.
We shared Winona LaDuke's paper called "Certificate of Greed: PUC should not grant Enbridge permit," written on July 13, 2013, as well as other printouts from the PUC and Star-Trib. Other resources mentioned were: Bold Nebraska; Idle No More; and Marty Kobenais, activist from Red Lake. We encourage folks to become knowledgeable on these issues, continue the conversation, and take such actions as you can.
September 29
This is really the 17th post, as there was no 16th. My error, sorry.
NUUF met at Arbor Glen in Brainerd on Saturday, to continue the discussion on the film Dirty Oil, viewed on September 14th. We did research on the history of pipeline development in MN as part of the distribution system for the tar sands oil originating in Alberta Canada, and from North Dakota oil shale fields. Since there is a current proposal before the MN Public Utilities Commission to expand Enbridge's lines over several of our local counties, we are thinking informed opposition would be advisable. Several actions were discussed. First, to promote education on the environmental impact of this expansion (was there an environmental impact study?); secondly, to contact local officials and politicians, asking for their position on this issue; thirdly, finding out just which townships the proposed pipeline will cross, and contacting persons in those townships to attend the local meetings where this will be discussed with the public; mount a letterwriting campaign to elected legislative and congressional people and in the local papers pointing out the hazards to air, water, and land of excavation and spills.
We shared Winona LaDuke's paper called "Certificate of Greed: PUC should not grant Enbridge permit," written on July 13, 2013, as well as other printouts from the PUC and Star-Trib. Other resources mentioned were: Bold Nebraska; Idle No More; and Marty Kobenais, activist from Red Lake. We encourage folks to become knowledgeable on these issues, continue the conversation, and take such actions as you can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)