Comments on: Look Who’s Taking Coal Money

By: Bill Schenken

Bill Schenken — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:56:51 +0000

There are two disappointing things going on here.
1) You are stirring the old enviro pot that says anyone who works with industry is bad, and then saying “well, I don’t mean too.” If you don’t mean to, then why don’t you say that instead of saying the coal industry ‘needs’ PR? You can see in the comments here that even though you don’t mean it, people still take assume that firms working with th coal industry are now the enemy.
2) It seems that Sightline is all about well done economic research. So attacking firms (sorry, just naming names) seems hypocritical in a meaningful way: what happens when we go to have the public conversation about coal port impacts? Well, we will know from sightline’s innuendos that any analysis done by the coal industry is biased AND any analysis done by environmental groups is biased. So instead of having a meaningful conversation about what we value, we just yell at each other that our information is biased. Isn’t that the opposite of what we all want and Sightline’s mission?

The saddest thing would be if this coal debate were to ruin the credibility of Sightline. I really value the work you do and hope you don’t get so emotional over this issue (which is very challenging!) that you resort to desperate character attacks.

By: Dana Allen

Dana Allen — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 04:39:34 +0000

Heidi,

I would also get in touch with Envision Spokane organizer, Kai Huschke. He is also working with Coal Free Bellingham, and Whatcom County, as well as No Coal Eugene (OR) to stop the coal trains and terminals in WA and OR by helping to get rights based community initiatives on the ballot that actually stop the corporations and the coal trains in their tracks . Over 140 communities have been able to stop corporate harms in their communities with these initiatives. You can also check out CELDF.org to find out more.

By: Ray Jubitz

Ray Jubitz — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:07:16 +0000

I went on ECONothwest’s website and not surprisingly the coal study was not one of their featured case studies. It would be interesting to know how they got to their conclusions – barging requires re-handling creating even more coal dust and sending fine particles into the river that are not good for fish.

By: Chris Herman

Chris Herman — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:34:59 +0000

Today is philanthropy day, after returning last week from 30 days of helping the disaster survivors in New Jersey. You just made my list of folks to support with some of the money I made with FEMA. Thanks to Denis Hayes for sharing this with me. Thank you for helping restore my respect for the journalism profession.

By: Chris Herman

Chris Herman — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:30:55 +0000

I have been associated with Parsons PR in their pro bono work for the NW Eco-Building Guild. They do great work and live their values.

By: Chris Herman

Chris Herman — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:27:59 +0000

Ah, the crux of our slide into corporatocracy. Despite what the supreme court ruled, I still think it is unconscionable to call money speech and corporations people. Letting corporations buy our government has undermined our democracy and is trashing our planet. We NEED a 28th amendment! Putting corporations back in their place as businesses that cannot set public policy is something I dearly hope to see in my lifetime.

By: Lisa McShane

Lisa McShane — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:10:39 +0000

Thank you for this article Eric.

In Washington we have a strong history of open public process and being honest about who is taking money from the coal industry is important. At Cherry Point alone SSA plans to ship coal using more than 960 ship transits each year. These will be massive single-hulled vessels weaving through the San Juan Islands. They carry a lot of fuel. One accident and the Salish Sea, marine life and the good jobs that rely on a healthy environment will be damaged for years. The citizens of Washington have a lot at stake.

It’s no surprise to see Gallatin involved but I’m saddened to see Nyhus Communications doing this work. You just can’t greenwash coal.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:53:41 +0000

Great piece, very needed. Thank you, as always, Sightline and Eric. We do need a line in the sky. You cannot shill for the coal companies and then claim to be green. Coal export cannot be done in an “environmentally safe way” as it’s COAL and for anyone to think that is maybe enjoying I502 a little too much.

By: Rick Barrett

Rick Barrett — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:10:13 +0000

OMG, what next? Is nothing sacred?

By: Crystal Gartner

Crystal Gartner — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:07:53 +0000

Heidi,

Gallatin Public Affairs has an office in Spokane. The railroad and energy companies’ tentacles reach far and wide. The way to fight back is to get involved where you are. Visit http://www.CoalFreeWashington.org or call me at (509) 209-2395. I’m the Spokane organizer for the Beyond Coal campaign, Sierra Club.