[Grovenet] Fwd: The Blueprint for Oregon's Future

[Bonnie Combs]

--- Gerik Kransky <gerik at friends.org> wrote:

> Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 07:04:53 -0800
> From: Gerik Kransky <gerik at friends.org>
> To: tosca at prodigy.net
> Subject: The Blueprint for Oregon's Future
> 
> To view this email as a webpage, please click here.
>
http://www.friends.org/resources/luu_issues.php?luu_issue=luu_issues/luu_120607.html
> 
> Contents:
> Blueprint for Oregon's Future
> Rebooting Democracy
> Tom McCall Legacy Dinner
> Liquefied Natural Gas
> Proposed Elkhorn Resort
> 
> Dear Bonnie,
> 
> Blueprint for Oregon's Future   
> Thousands of Oregonians have spoken. With the
> overwhelming passage of Measure 49 and the
> resounding success of the Envision Oregon events,
> now is the time protect the places we love while
> strengthening the economic engines of farming,
> forestry, tourism, and recreation.
> 
> Over the past two years more than 2,200 of your
> friends and neighbors participated in one of the
> Envision Oregon town halls across the state. These
> Oregonians described a vision for our future and
> helped create strategies for making that vision a
> reality. 
> 
> We listened.
> 
> 1000 Friends of Oregon has compiled a Blueprint for
> Oregon's Future to accomplish your shared goals. The
> Blueprint describes the following key strategies:
> 
>     * Make our towns and neighborhoods safer and
> healthier 
>     * Invest in farming and forestry 
>     * Protect Oregon’s special places 
>     * Plan for transportation given today’s climate
> threats and tomorrow’s needs 
>     * Provide more parks, trails, and natural areas
> 
> Click here to read the Blueprint, learn more, and
> take action.
> http://www.friends.org/issues/blueprint.html
> 
> Rebooting Democracy   
> Portland, January 11-13th: Join the Bus Project and
> 1000 Friends of Oregon for the northwest's premier
> nonpartisan political conference, Rebooting
> Democracy, on January 11 - 13 at Montgomery Park,
> 2701 NW Vaughn St in Portland. 
> 
> The event will include in-depth trainings and
> workshops with the region's top political
> strategists, elected officials, and movers and
> shakers. Ballot Measure Breakdowns—a sneak peek at
> what's coming up on the '08 ballot and what we can
> do about it. Innovative Policy Panels to discuss the
> biggest issues facing our state and how to move
> those issues forward. First-Rate Speakers— Air
> America radio personality and author Thom Hartmann,
> Progressive Majority's Dean Nielsen, and many more.
> 
> Nominate yourself and your friends to attend
> Rebooting Democracy. This weekend event will be a
> great opportunity to network with progressive
> activists and give Oregon's democracy a swift kick
> in the pants.
> 
> Tom McCall Legacy Dinner   
> Portland, March 22nd: Join us as we host the Tom
> McCall Legacy Dinner and Awards at the World
> Forestry Center. March 22nd is the birthday of our
> founder, Governor Tom McCall, and in honor of his
> role in spearheading statewide land use planning in
> Oregon we are awarding the Tom McCall Legacy Award
> to The Oregon Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and
> Vintner/Activist Eric Lemelson for their enormous
> contribution to the passage of Measure 49.
> 
> Please plan to join emcee Jefferson Smith as we
> celebrate and party with one of the most exciting
> acts to emerge from the Northwest, March Fourth
> Marching Band.  Imagine Duke Ellington meets Sgt.
> Pepper in an international big-top extravaganza.
> March Fourth just back from a nation wide tour is
> unlike anything you have experienced before, and
> this celebration of Oregon is not to be missed.
> 
> Buy your tickets early and save 15%. Individual
> seats are $85.00 until January 1, 2008. Currently
> $50.00 is tax deductible. Table discounts and
> sponsorship opportunities are also available.  For
> more information please contact Lori @ 503-497-1000
> or lori at friends.org.  Don't wait too long tickets
> are already going fast. 
> 
> Liquefied Natural Gas   
> Oregon faces an unprecedented number of proposals
> for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminals,
> pipelines, and related facilities.  Two terminals
> are currently proposed for the Columbia River
> Estuary and a third terminal is proposed for Coos
> Bay.   Hundreds of miles of pipeline are proposed
> from the Columbia River terminals to Central Oregon
> via Molalla and from Coos Bay to the California
> border. These pipelines would cut across some of our
> most productive farm and forest land to serve
> utilities in California, where the vast majority of
> the gas from the three terminals would be used.  
> 
> 1000 Friends of Oregon is opposed to these proposals
> because the pipelines threaten family farms and
> forests and because the terminals threaten sensitive
> estuaries and the fisheries that depend on them. 
> Oregon and the Pacific Northwest are already feeling
> the effects of global warming.  Constructing huge
> facilities to import fossil fuels will worsen these
> effects and undercut our goals for energy
> independence.
> 
> If the LNG facilities are built, they should be
> built on Oregon’s terms.  The pipelines should
> follow existing roads and rights-of-way, instead of
> plowing through the middle of productive farm fields
> and forest lands that support Oregon families.  The
> terminals should fully comply with Oregon’s
> Statewide Planning Goals without exceptions,
> including Goal 16, which protects Estuarine
> Resources.
> 
> Take action, visit Onward Oregon's website to send
> your public comments on LNG today.
> 
> Proposed Elkhorn Resort   
> Salem, December 18th: A large destination resort is
> proposed near Opal Creek.  150 single-family homes,
> 46 condos, a gas station, and a convenience store
> may be coming to the banks of the Little North Fork
> Santiam River, just a few miles downstream from
> Oregon’s prized Opal Creek.  A hearing is currently
> scheduled on this topic before the Marion County
> Board of Commissioners for 6:30pm on December 18th. 
> 
> 
> The development application cannot be approved under
> current standards.  
> 
> It is beyond dispute that current land use standards
> do not allow the proposed development.  A
> residential development at urban densities and a
> destination resort at the proposed location are not
> allowed under the statewide planning goals,
> administrative rules, and applicable statutes nor
> are they allowed under Marion County’s comprehensive
> plan and development code. Please bring this
> important message to local decision makers and help
> protect the Little North Fork. For more information
> e-mail sid at friends.org.
> 
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