Human "Dam" Blockades PacifiCorp's Headquarters
Portland Indymedia.com
August 14, 2007

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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