Positive energy-(granolas of the world unite against Liquid Natural Gas... )

vcreporter ^ | 10-12-2006 | na

[Flavius]

s the debate over Australian energy firm BHP Billiton’s proposal to place a floating liquefied natural gas terminal off the coast of Oxnard continues to rage throughout Ventura County, clean energy advocates are planning a day of action to take place at several locations on the West Coast.

Events and gatherings are scheduled for several locations across the West Coast on Oct. 14, in places as far north as Longview, Wash., and as south as Tijuana, Mexico, with the main idea linking them all being that LNG is not an efficient solution to the region’s energy problems.

But the Oxnard rally, taking place at Plaza Park, is not just about opposing BHP Billiton’s Cabrillo Port Project.

“It’s really focused on doing a better job in the utilization of energy,” says Carmen Ramirez, chairperson of the local No LNG Community Alliance. A number of prominent county figures are slated to speak at the event, including Congresswoman Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Andres Herrera and Port Hueneme Councilmember Maricela Morales, along with various other members of the community.

Residents of Malibu will carpool to the event as well in a show of solidarity referred to as “Drive Out LNG.” There will also be hula dancers, which Ramirez says has a symbolic message. “A lot of people think hula is just people shaking their tail-feathers, but it really isn’t. Hula is a sacred dance, a way of communicating with mother earth.”

Awareness about LNG and the alleged dangers to the environment, and to the safety of people living near the coast, has been steadily growing, says Rory Cox, California program director for Pacific Environment, one of the groups sponsoring the coast-wide event.

“In these communities, over and over again, we’ve seen how momentum builds,” he says. “It definitely takes a couple years. Where Coos Bay, Ore., [which will be holding a ‘rally and tea party’ called ‘No Gasification Without Representation’] is now is where Oxnard was a year ago.