Posts Tagged ‘ al gore ’

VIDEO: Going To The Gore Rallies And Living To Blog About It.

November 18, 2009
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Yes, there really was a nearly naked PETA protestor painted to look like Mother Earth.

There was also a woman dressed up as a polar bear trying to convince me the species wasn’t in trouble.

The rallies were peaceful. Though I did see one man being arrested. “You broke the law when you made contact with him,” I heard the police officer scold him. “But he was in my face yelling at me,” the arrested man protested. I felt sorry for the guy. He was led away in handcuffs.

If you only went by who rounded up the most supporters, then the night belonged to the Gore protestors. I’d guess a few hundred people came to the Americans For Prosperity rally next to Keller fountain. They obviously had been preparing for some time. One of the speakers mentioned something about a bus and car caravan coming down from the Puget Sound area.

There were only a few dozen Gore supporters, not too surprising considering environmental groups only heard about the protest plans the day before.

But it wasn’t until I began to walk around that I noticed something really important. Despite the rhetoric, despite the chants, people were talking to each other. Small groups – maybe a dozen or so by my count – of Gore supporters and protestors talking to each other, discussing the issues, trying to make sense of it all. They were passionate, intelligent, knowledgeable and above all, respectful to the those they disagreed with.

Things turned kind of stupid when the Americans For Prosperity Rally broke up and the protestors walked Keller Auditorium chanting, “Gore Lies!”  This was followed by some yelling back and forth across SW 3rd Ave. None of it was very illuminating.

But those small person-to-person conversations continued. I’m not sure any minds were changed. But was good to see that despite the strong feelings on both sides, ordinary Oregonians were still taking part in an important conversation about climate change, global warming and how we move forward.

Gore Rallies Update: More Groups Turning Out Support – Critics Spreading Misinformation

November 18, 2009
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With less than three hours to go, some updates to pass along about the rallies and protests planned outside Keller Auditorium.

At least three groups plan to protest outside Gore's speech tonight.

At least three groups plan to protest outside Gore's speech tonight.

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters has joined the cause to support for former Vice-President Al Gore. Get more information on the OLCV blog page, “Drown Out The Tea Party”. Environment Oregon has sent out messages via Twitter and Facebook.

All the new posts and tweets point in one direction, the Repower America sign up page. So far, this page still says the rally starts at 6:00pm outside Keller Auditorium at SW 3rd Ave and Clay. But Andy Grow of Climate Solutions says they’re hoping people will start showing up about 5:30pm.

NOTE: Please be careful about what you read in the comment section of the blog. Some anti-Gore groups have been posting misinformation about where the rallies will be held. Until further notice, use the Repower America link as your best source.

Some of this last minute support appears to have been motivated by some anti-Gore graffiti that sprayed painted on the outside of Keller Auditorium.

At least three groups plan to protest Gore’s appearance, including MoveOnDotGore, Americans For Prosperity, and PETA.

Gore’s speech at Keller starts at 7:30pm.

Developing: More Gore Protests Planned For Today In Portland

November 18, 2009
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At least two more groups are calling for protests outside Keller Auditorium, the stage for tonight’s public lecture by former Vice President Al Gore.

Joining the anti-Gore protests will be Americans For Prosperity, a group that opposes cap-and-trade legislation. In their view, it’s an unaffordable tax on energy. The group’s President Tim Phillips will be speaking at the Keller Fountain about 5:30pm.

That’s in addition to the protest already planned by MoveOnDotGore. This group will gather outside Keller about the same time and their agenda appears very similar to Americans For Prosperity, against cap-and-trade and doubters on climate change.

Plus, according to Willamette Week, PETA plans a third protest. They want Gore to stop eating meat and prove his “green” credentials.

The Oregonian reports this morning that someone vandalized Keller Auditorium with anti-Gore graffiti.

Meanwhile environmental groups are rallying supporters to put on a counter demonstration. Repower America, Climate Solutions and Oregon Environmental Council are all spreading the word to gather outside Keller starting about 5:30pm. Get more information here.

So, PETA is promising a “nearly” naked Mother Earth, and MoveOnDotGore is asking people to show up in polar bear costumes. Could be quite show. The best seats for tonight may be outside of Keller.

But on a serious note, no matter how you feel about Gore, climate change and cap-and-trade, this is an excellent opportunity to show up and be heard. With the United Nations Climate Change conference starting in less than three weeks, this issue will dominate the headlines for some time to come.

Breaking News: Big Protests And Rallies For Gore’s Visit To Portland

November 17, 2009
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Former Vice President Al Gore in 2007

Former Vice President Al Gore in 2007

Word is spreading through Oregon’s environmental community that Tea baggers plan a large demonstration tomorrow to protest during Al Gore’s visit to Portland.

From what I’ve been told, the Tea baggers are hoping for a turnout in the hundreds, which would be pretty large by Portland standards.

Not to be outdone, the enviros are putting together a rally to support Gore, his message about the dangers of global warming and his just released book that outlines solutions.

The two events are supposed to converge tomorrow afternoon, about 5:30pm-ish outside Keller Auditorium in downtown Portland. Gore delivers a public lecture at Keller starting about 7:30pm.

The pro-Gore rally is being put together by Repower America a group with close ties to the former Vice President, Nobel Laureate and Academy Award winner. But other groups, such as Climate Solutions of Seattle and the Oregon Environmental Council are helping to spread the word.

They’re asking people to register for the event, which can be done here. The concern is that even though Portland has a reputation for being a green friendly city, the Tea baggers will show up in greater numbers. With the Obama Administration preparing for the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen next month, rallies like these carry an extra punch.

Meanwhile, tickets for the 7:30pm lecture at Keller Auditorium still appear to be available. Prices start at $52. It was easy to find a pair of tickets at Ticketmaster, but you can also buy them directly from the Keller box office at 222 SW Clay or the Performing Arts Center box office, 1111 SW Broadway.

Walden Vs Gore On Biomass, See The Video

April 28, 2009
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Have you noticed all the news attention Representative Greg Walden is getting for his recent “debate” with Vice President Al Gore?

The two squared off over forest biomass, and whether or not it should be considered a form of renewable energy. The exchange came during a week long string of hearings on national greenhouse gas legislation.

Gore was skeptical. He appeared concerned that thinning federal forests for biomass fuel might encourage too much logging.

But Walden was clearly frustrated that biomass was not in the bill as a renewable energy source. He wants more thinning partly because he thinks it will help reduce wildfires. He also sees more jobs in the forests if thinning is ramped up, and at new power plants that could be built using biomass as fuel.

Walden isn’t alone in his point of view. Senator Ron Wyden and Rep. Peter DeFazio also support including forest biomass on the renewable energy list.

Walden’s office posted the exchange on its YouTube page.

The exchange was well covered in the Bend Bulletin, and Walden carried on with his argument a few days later in White City as seen in this Medford Mail Tribune story.