Human “Dam” Blockades PacifiCorp’s Portland Headquarters

For Immediate Release: August 14, 2007 

CONTACTS: 
Monica Vaughan  (541) 521-1832 / westcoast@climateconvergence.org
ON SITE: Brian Sloan - 503-493-7495 
Nina Uehara - 510-517-6855 (backup) 
www.climateconvergence.org 

** Photos Available ** 

Human "Dam" Blockades PacifiCorp's Portland Headquarters 
Three protesters lock into 600 pound concrete barrels, demand removal of 
Klamath dams 

Portland, OR - August 14th, 2007 - At noon today three protesters 
blockaded the main entrance to PacifiCorp's headquarters (NE 7th and 
Multnomah). The protesters were joined by a rally of several dozen 
supporters, many of whom wore hazmat suits painted with fake blood to draw 
attention to the poisonous conditions on the Klamath River. The action was 
claimed by the Convergence for Climate Action, Stumptown Earth First! and 
Rising Tide. 

"We're locked down to demonstrate our solidarity with affected communities 
and the salmon of the Klamath River who are fighting for their health and 
survival," said Will Munger, one of the blockaders. "We demand the 
immediate removal of PacifiCorp's Klamath dams." 

PacifiCorp is the owner of numerous dams blamed for the loss of several 
species of Pacific salmon. Reservoirs on PacifiCorp's four Klamath dams 
have created liver-toxic algae blooms in concentrations that exceed World 
Health Organization guidelines by 4,000 times. 

Despite the wind mills splattered across its website, about 88% percent of 
PacifiCorp's energy comes from climate change producing coal and gas-fired 
power plants. PacifiCorp has 5 new coal plants on the drawing board across 
the west, including one in Washington State. Dams themselves release 
methane from rotting materials, and methane from large dams around the 
world cumulatively contribute more than four percent of global warming 
pollution, according to a report by the International Rivers Network. 

"PacifiCorp is a climate criminal and salmon killer living in the heart of 
Portland," said Cedar Knoll, who was also locked into the blockade. "For 
human health, salmon survival and a livable climate, PacifiCorp must 
un-dam the rivers of the west and eliminate its use of fossil fuels." 

PacifiCorp is controlled by the Bershire Hathaway Corporation, owned by 
Warren Buffet who is the third richest man in the world. 

The protest follows the "Convergence for Climate Action" which took place 
in Skamokawa, WA over the past week. Yesterday, protesters from the camp 
occupied the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas terminal at Bradwood, Oregon 
for several hours. A simultaneous occupation took place in Asheville, 
North Carolina on Monday where a Bank of America branch was shut down by 
protesters for its lead role in financing the coal industry. Police at the 
Asheville protest used a TASER to electrocute immobilized protesters using 
non-violent civil disobedience tactics, an unprecedented application of 
this device. 

Today in London an affiliated "Camp for Climate Action" begins just 
outside of Heathrow airport, where more two thousand participants plan to 
target airline industry giants profiteering amidst the climate crisis. The 
London gathering has garnered front page media attention across the UK, 
where more than 1800 police have been mobilized and anti-terrorism laws 
have been activated for the camp's surveillance. 

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