Cascadia today: LNG exports to double from BC terminal + more data centers in OR + Rick Rizzs calls last game for Mariners

Good morning to everyone but ICE! Hey, do you appreciate this newsletter and also have some curiosity in the movement for Cascadia autonomy? Well, you're in luck, because Cascadia Journal and the grassroots organization Cascadia Democratic Action are working to become a single organization. Details aren't sorted yet but we're likely going to combine into a member-owned LCA co-op along the lines of the Spokane Workers Cooperative, which includes several businesses including RANGE Media, my favorite news outlet in the Spokane area.

I'm about to launch Cascadia Journal's fall fund drive on October 1 and wanted to let you know that if you sign up for a Cascadia Journal paid subscription at the $100 annual level, you'll also be guaranteed an annual membership in Cascadia Democratic Action, which is working to increase the resiliency, autonomy, and fiscal independence of the Cascadia bioregion.

Want to get a jump on our fund drive? Become a paid subscriber/member today!

And to all of you who are current paid subscribers, thank you!

Mark Carney moves to double LNG exports from BC coast

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney proved he's no friend to the world's climate by announcing multibillion-dollar expansion of the LNG export terminal at Kitimat, British Columbia that will double export of fossil gas from 14 million tonnes to 28 million tonnes. This is terrible news for the climate, as well as residents of Kitimat, who've had to endure gas flares, sooty pollution and endless noise.

In other energy news, Puget Sound Energy, which provides electricity and fossil gas to residents of western Washington, want to hike its rates $1.5 billion, resulting in an average increase of $612 per year for electricity customers, and $276 per year for fossil gas customers. If and when Cascadia gains independence, look for CDA to advocate for conversion of the region's private power companies into consumer-owned co-ops.

White nationalists march in Kamploops

The Tyee reports that a large group of masked white nationalists who call themselves the Second Sons marched in Kamploops British Columbia a few days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The racist group has advocated for violent removal of non-white people from Canada. Many residents were alarmed, and a man who refused to identify himself noted "Especially after I looked into Second Sons afterwards — I don’t want these people in my neighbourhood, in my city, in my country.” The day of reconciliation, on Sept 30, marks the tragic history of the residential school system and its traumatic impact on Canada's Indigenous people.

Proposed data center on federal land in eastern OR

Oregon Capital Chronicle reports that the feds have proposed building a large new data center on BLM land in Umatilla county in eastern Oregon. Umatilla county is home to about 20% of Oregon's 111 data centers. Data centers are emerging as a point of debate in the race for Oregon's governor between Democrat Tina Kotek and Republican Christine Drazan.

Candidates in Seattle city council rate differ on public safety

KUOW reports on the only Seattle city council race this November in District 5 in the city's north end. At a recent debate, it became clear the two candidates differ significantly on approaches to public safety. Candidate Julie Kang supports more funds for cops, expanding surveillance cameras and enforcing SOAP areas (designed to prohibit those arrested for prostitution from returning to certain areas such as Aurora Ave). Candidate Nilu Jenks opposes surveillance cameras and believes in a more human services-based approach to public safety.

Vote for Jenks.

Rick Rizzs calls his last Mariners game

KUOW reports that Rick Rizzs, longtime play-by-play broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners baseball team called his last game this week, retiring from 41 seasons of calling balls and strikes. Though I haven't been a loyal Mariners fan for many years, I'll always fondly remember Rizzs' cheery broadcasts and his catchphrases such as "holy smokes" and "goodbye baseball." He sat next to legendary play by play announcer Dave Niehaus – one of the best ever – for many of those decades. Thanks, Rick!

Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andy