The Furrow: August 31 2013

Page 1

Issue: Summer 2013; Volume 12 Number 01

Finish Summer with a good ole’ fashion Barn Dance! Sound like fun? Well you are in luck! Oregon Rural Action is hosting the Third Annual Barn Dance Fundraiser September 21st from 5:30pm to 10pm! We have a three band line-up that will be sure to get your tail feathers shaken! There is guaranteed to be great people and plenty of live music, so join us! You can purFKDVH \RXU WLFNHWV IRU RQO\ DW WKH 2UHJRQ 5XUDO $FWLRQ RIÀFH Food and non-alcohlic beverages are included, please bring cash for the beer, wine and dessert auction! by Thomas Stratton

Continue to Page 2 to read more about the bands!

Solar Oven at SolWest 2013 by Dave Felley

In This Issue:

Bands at the Barn Dance :: Introducing New Organizers :: What is Homegrown Prosperity? :: SolWest 2013 :: Solar Now! University :: Dominent Narritive in Agriculture :: Why healthcare? :: Coal Exports :: Events

“ORA is a voice for everybody in Eastern Oregon. It is a voice for local, sustainable food and energy. Together it is our voice for viable, strong rural communities!â€? -Mabel Dobbs, rancher and ORA Board of Directors Treasurer 7KH )XUURZ LV SXEOLVKHG IRXU WLPHV D \HDU E\ 2UHJRQ 5XUDO $FWLRQ 2UHJRQ 5XUDO $FWLRQ VXSSRUWV DQG HQFRXUDJHV FRPPXQLW\ RUJDQL]LQJ DURXQG ORFDOO\ LGHQWLĂ€HG LVVXHV 2XU PHPEHUV ZRUN WRJHWKHU WR SURPRWH KHDOWK\ DQG VXVWDLQDEOH UXUDO FRPPXQLWLHV DQG WR HQVXUH WKDW DOO SHRSOH KDYH D FKRLFH LQ WKH GHFLVLRQV SROLFLHV DQG V\VWHPV WKDW DIIHFW WKHLU OLYHV

1119 Washington Ave ¡ P.O. Box 1231 ¡ La Grande, OR 97850 ¡ Phone (541)975-2411 info@oregonrural.org ¡ www.oregonrural.org 1

Music at Last Chance Barn Dance

On September 21st, the night starts off with the assorted string sounds of the Bottlecap Boys! These guys are rocking 31 shows this season with high energy Renegade BlueJUDVV WRRQV 7KHLU ODWHVW DOEXP (DVW to West highlights upbeat composiWLRQ ZLWK PRGHUQ WKHPHV We are proud to bring Bitterroot to the stage! Colt Haney and Foster Haney, Jay Colton Hughes, Talen Couey and Lauren Bihr will showFDVH WKHLU PXVLFDO WDOHQWV IRU XV Their newly released album The Valley of Peace pays homage to the EDQGV URRWV KHUH LQ (DVWHUQ 2UHJRQ The Valley of Peace is the name given to the Grande Ronde Valley *59 E\ WKH 1DWLYH $PHULFDQV Native tribes would come to this here during times of turmoil and SHDFH WR H[FKDQJH JRRGV LQ SHDFH

The Barn Near Summerville, Credit Jeff Clark

Bitterroot is spreading their good-hearted and down to earth message of love, honesty, compassion DQG MXVWLFH 7KHLU PXVLF ZLOO EULQJ \RXU KHDUWV DQG PLQGV WR WKH ZLGH RSHQ VSDFHV ZKHUH WKHLU VRXOV ZLOO IRUHYHU URDP The night will be polished off by an extra special set from local band Bag of Hammers! Luke McKern and Holly Sorensen have been paired off for the last year sending their funking and eclectic tones from mountain top to mountain top! by Thomas Stratton

Oregon Rural Action Annual Gathering

2UHJRQ 5XUDO $FWLRQ¡V $QQXDO *DWKHULQJ ZLOO EH KHOG 6DWXUGD\ 2FW RQ WKH (DVWHUQ 2UHJRQ 8QLYHUVLW\ FDPSXV LQ /D *UDQGH IURP ZLWK D Ă€OP VFUHHQLQJ WR IROORZ -RLQ XV IRU WKH IXOO JDWKHULQJ IRU GLQQHU DQG VSHDNHU RU MXVW WKH Ă€OP DW WKH HQG 7LFNHWV DQG D IXOO DJHQGD ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH VRRQ RQOLQH DQG DW WKH 25$ RIĂ€FH In preparation for that meeting, there are two things members can do: 1) Apply to be on our board, a committee or action team 2)

Take our member survey to give us input and ideas for consideration

(OHFWLRQV ZLOO EH KHOG DW WKH DQQXDO PHHWLQJ DQG \RXU VXUYH\ DQVZHUV ZLOO EH XVHG WR VKDSH WKH PHHWLQJ DQG RXU IXWXUH Members’ Survey – we will be seeking your input regarding campaigns and IXWXUH DFWLYLWLHV YLD DQ HOHFWURQLF VXUYH\ La Grand Community Garden Credit Tova Woyciechowicz

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Oregon Rural Action Welcomes New Staff Tova Woyciechowicz

Jeff Mathias

is a Community Organizer IRFXVHG RQ HQHUJ\ LVVXHV 6KH came to Oregon Rural Action with a unique combination of higher education, bachelors’ GHJUHHV LQ (QYLURQPHQWDO Studies and Advertising from WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0RQWDQD DQG WKH $UW ,QVWLWXWH RI 3RUWODQG UHVSHFWLYHO\

is a Community Organizer with a food and sustainable DJULFXOWXUH IRFXV +H EHFDPH an Oregon Rural Action member in 2008, just after PRYLQJ WR :DOORZD &RXQW\ Jeff brings with him a degree in Human Resources 0DQDJHPHQW IURP *HRUJH )R[ 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG (QYLURQPHQWDO 6WXGLHV IURP :KLWPDQ &ROOHJH :RUNLQJ IRU WKH National Park Service for 15 years not only provided Jeff an understanding of how government works, but also experience with the struggle to balance human use RI RXU ZRUOG ZLWK FRQVHUYDWLRQ RI WKH QDWXUDO ZRUOG For the last 10 years, Jeff has gained hands on experience in sustainable living; from the voluntary simplicity of living in a yurt with his family to owning and managLQJ D PHPEHU \HDU URXQG &6$

Her professional experience includes work with the *LIIRUG 3LQFKRW 7DVN )RUFH 'HIHQG 2UHJRQ DQG %DUN At Wyoming Outdoor Council her rural organizing experience was crucial in a campaign protecting parts of Wyoming’s Red Desert and the Great Divide from irUHVSRQVLEOH RLO DQG JDV GHYHORSPHQW 7RYD FRRUGLQDWHG D Good Neighbor Agreement for another Western OrgaQL]DWLRQ RI 5HVRXUFH &RXQFLOV DIÀOLDWH 1RUWKHUQ 3ODLQV 5HVRXUFH &RXQFLO

Jeff currently lives in Lostine and is the Board Chair of the Wallowa Local Food Project and Manager of the Lower Valley Farmers’ Market in Wallowa (SaturGD\V -HII LV DOVR GHYHORSLQJ KLV RZQ EUHHG RI PHDW FKLFNHQ WKDW LV DFFOLPDWL]HG WR WKH SDVWXUHV LQ 1( 2UHJRQ

As a Montana native, from a young age Tova has had a strong passion for conservation, running recycling program for 2,000 students at her high school, speaking at UDOOLHV SDLQWLQJ PXUDOV DQG PRUH 6KH KDV WUDYHOHG LQWHUnationally, creating promotional material as a volunteer IRU LQGLJHQRXV UXQ SURJUDPV At Oregon Rural Action Tova will focus on solution oriented sustainable energy projects and address “dirty� HQHUJ\ SUREOHPV

Jeff and Tova are interested in hearing what’s important to you and working together! Please call, email or VWRS E\ WKH RIÀFH ZKHQ <RX JHW D FKDQFH tova@oregonrural.org and jeff@oregonrural.org We believe in the goals of organizing set forth by the Western Organization of Resource Councils,

“Individuals are important, but groups get things done. Individuals working together in groups are powerful agents for social change.�

Democracy ¡ Participation ¡ Leadership ¡ Diversity ¡ Cooperation ¡ Justice ¡ Stewardship 1119 Washington Ave ¡ P.O. Box 1231 ¡ La Grande, OR 97850 ¡ Phone (541)975-2411 info@oregonrural.org

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www.oregonrural.org 3

MAKING THE SHIFT TO HOMEGROWN PROSPERITY You’ve heard this mantra before, of “making the shift to homegrown prosperity�, and perhaps wondered what it PHDQW ,W FURSSHG XS LQ DV WKH VORJDQ IRU D ELR GLHVHO IXHO FDPSDLJQ 2YHU WLPH WKH FRQFHSW KDV OHQW LWself to more of our work and issues - renewable energy, local food and farming activities and issue campaigns OLNH KHDOWKFDUH :KDW HOVH PLJKW EH LQFOXGHG LQ D KROLVWLF view of ‘homegrown prosperity’? Homegrown prosperity has taken on a much broader PHDQLQJ ,W PHDQV JURZLQJ RXU RZQ EX\LQJ DQG VHOOLQJ ORFDOO\ DQG UHJLRQDOO\ ,W PHDQV FUHDWLQJ DQG FRQVHUYLQJ HQHUJ\ DQG VXSSRUWLQJ ORFDO EXVLQHVVHV :H UHWDLQ control of our basic necessities, become more self-reliant, more resilient, and improve our quality of life and make prosperous rural communities!

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In our recent Local Food & Farm Guide, an ORA member Diane Lunsford captured homegrown prosperity as “a switch from an unsustainable, distant Wall 6WUHHW HFRQRP\ WR D PRUH VHOI VXVWDLQLQJ RQHÂľ 2QH WKDW ORFDO SHRSOH KDYH PRUH FRQWURO DQG VD\ LQ 7R EH clear, by “localâ€? we simply mean ‘as close to home as SRVVLEOH¡ Âś:DOO 6WUHHW¡ LV D SODFH KRPH WR WKH ZRUOG¡V ODUJHVW PRVW SURĂ€WDEOH FRUSRUDWLRQV DQG HSLWRPL]HV WKH RSSRVLWH PHQWDOLW\ To be fair, we know our world needs businesses and HFRQRPLHV LQ D YDULHW\ RI VL]HV WKDW Ă€W GLIIHUHQW VHWWLQJV DQG SXUSRVHV 2XU JRDO LV WR VHH PRUH FKRLFH LQ ORFDO HFRQRPLF DFWLYLWLHV EHQHĂ€WV GULYHUV DQG JURZWK $W WKH core are more opportunities for local folks to own, buy, produce and sell the food, services and goods that people here and anywhere need and buy, as often and as sustainably as possible from their own ‘Main Streets’ and - to retain and circulate DV PXFK SURĂ€W DV SRVVLEOH LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\

Taking a strategic look at past and future activities ORA staff and Board see this shift as more than an issue or project, it looks like a groundswell, a movement! A movement toward a world we’d like to live in – well cared for, fair, diverse, responsive, thriving and connected to itself In other words, creating rural DQG LWV UHVRXUFHV :H¡UH KDSS\ communities that rock! The to see that not just our members Community Marketplace, Credit Tova Woyciechowicz Center for Rural Affairs (in are doing something about it, but others around the the Midwest plains states), raves that rural towns have UHJLRQ DUH MRLQLQJ WKH HIIRUW so much, so many assets and opportunities to build on eastern Oregon could echo their statistics: It doesn’t take a focus on sustainability to see that when ‡ &RPPXQLW\ LQIUDVWUXFWXUHV DUH LQWDFW UXUDO FRPPXQLwe bolster the strength of our rural economies the com- ties have existing schools, churches, town governments, PXQLW\ EHQHĂ€WV /D *UDQGH 0DLQ 6WUHHW LV DQ HIIRUW E\ KRXVLQJ DQG ZDWHU VDQLWDU\ V\VWHPV /D *UDQGH¡V (FRQRPLF ,PSURYHPHQW 'LVWULFW WR LQYLWH ‡ 5XUDO DUHDV DUH IXOO RI HQWUHSUHQHXUV WKHUH DUH WZLFH “sustainable downtown rooted in La Grande’s history as many sole proprietorships in the plains rural counand culture, providing a vital center for commercial and WLHV FRPSDUHG WR XUEDQ FRXQWLHV DQG RI QHW MRE FRPPXQLW\ DFWLYLWLHV Âľ 6LPLODU HIIRUWV DURXQG 2UHJRQ DOO growth in the [Midwest plains] counties in the past has VHH WKH YDOXH RI UHYLWDOL]LQJ WKH ORFDO :H Ă€QG WKDW IRONV EHHQ LQ QRQ IDUP VHOI HPSOR\PHQW who are opposed to many of our issues can agree that ‡ )DUPV JHQHUDWH FRPPHUFH ² RQ DYHUDJH D VLQJOH IDPprosperity is better when the solution is found close to LO\ IDUP FRQWULEXWHV WR WKH ORFDO HFRQRP\ RU KRPH WKH HTXLYDOHQW RI HLJKW ´WRZQ MREVÂľ 2Q DYHUDJH IDUPV VXSSRUW WRZQ EXVLQHVV 1RZ FDQ ZH GHĂ€QH ÂśKRPHJURZQ SURVSHULW\¡ ZHOO enough to take action and inspire our friends to join us Could homegrown prosperity be jump-started with a on this journey? full-blown “Buy Localâ€? campaign in eastern Oregon?

One example of support for “Main Street not Wall Street� comes from ORA member, Jenny Bartell, owner of Community Marketplace, a retail business in LaGrande that procures and sells all forms of high quality UHJLRQDOO\ FUHDWHG IRRG DQG JRRGV Jenny sees and supports an incred-

were born of - local people creating things, solutions and opportunities for a more sustainable, vibrant, healthy-for-all community, economy DQG ZRUOG It’s a big job - but that has never stopped us, right? We will make the

rural communities with their great natural amenities, family-friendly atmospheres, small businesses and opportunities for sustainable growth will lead the way to a prosperous VW FHQWXU\ 2XU QHZ PDQWUD 6+,)7 +$33(16

Please read on! In this edition of The Furrow you’ll learn about our current projects; We invite you to join us in these initiatives for homegrown prosperity: shift one step at a time! With our ‡ 6KLIWLQJ WKH 'RPLQDQW 1DUUDWLYH ² members and partners we will create dispelling the myth and message that healthy communities that build a RQO\ ELJ FRUSRUDWLRQV FDQ HIĂ€FLHQWO\ KHDOWKLHU ZRUOG $V ZH PDNH SRVLWLYH or effectively take care of our needs solutions locally we will bring resolu- ‡ %ULQJLQJ 6RO:HVW 5HQHZDEOH (Qtion to some of the biggest challeng- ergy Fair to eastern Oregon es of our time like: climate change, ‡ $GYRFDWLQJ IRU D UHIRUPHG XQLYHUincome disparity, disease and posal healthcare system in Oregon OLWLFDO RU VRFLDO GLVHQIUDQFKLVHPHQW By Karen Wagner With foresight and commitment,

Homegrown prosperity is “a switch from an unsustainable, distant Wall Street economy to a more self-sustaining one,â€? said Diane Lunsford ible amount of talent and skill – entrepreneurs who just “needed a nudge and a place to market their goods – I’m here to make it easier WR VHOO DQG VKRS ORFDO DOO \HDU ORQJ Âľ We say, “good on ya, Jenny - more SRZHU WR \RX DQG \RXU VXSSOLHUV The rest of you – shop Main Street â€? and stay tuned for “next big thingâ€? in local investment, coming soon! And proof that locals get it? In a UHFHQW UHJLRQDO %DNHU 8QLRQ DQG Wallowa) economic development VXUYH\ FRQGXFWHG E\ 1( 2UHJRQ (FRQRPLF 'HYHORSPHQW 'LVWULFW “homegrown prosperityâ€? (with a Buy Local marketing campaign) was ranked the #1 choice of action in 8QLRQ &RXQW\ DQG UG LQ WKH UHJLRQ <RX FDQ Ă€QG WKLV UHSRUW DQG RWKers related to food and farming at KWWS QHRHGG RUJ UHSRUWV This Shift we’re talking about won’t KDSSHQ HDVLO\ ,QGXVWU\ LV VWURQJ ZLWK XQSUHFHGHQWHG FRUSRUDWH ULJKWV ORA members (and many around WKH ZRUOG ZLOO ZRUN WR Ă€QG VROXtions like renewable energy and local IRRGV DQG WR Ă€JKW DJDLQVW WKH GLUW\ coal trains and mines, toxic ‘super weeds’ and GM wheat, ‘Big Gulps’ and sickening health insurance, and the corporate interests that promote WKHP :H¡UH Ă€JKWLQJ IRU WKH UHVLOient roots that rural communities

Jenny Bartell at Community Marketplace, Credit Tova Woyciechowicz

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Solwest 2013 – the Last Year In John Day

Keynote Speaker Paul Scheckel, Credit Tova Woyciechowicz

Last month the board of Oregon Rural Action atWHQGHG WKH Ă€QDO 6ROZHVW )DLU LQ -RKQ 'D\ -XO\ ,Q case you’ve missed it, this is eastern Oregon’s premier DOWHUQDWLYH RII WKH JULG EHWWHU OLYLQJ HYHQW 7KLV HYHQW has attracted folks from across the West every year for WKH SDVW Ă€IWHHQ \HDUV KROGLQJ OHFWXUHV DQG ZRUNVKRSV for kids and adults and a vendor fair with products from UHQHZDEOH HQHUJ\ WR JDUGHQLQJ DQG PRUH 7KLV \HDU ZDV no different and there were some great presentations, KDQGV RQ ZRUNVKRSV DQG LQWHUHVWLQJ SURGXFWV 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WKLV LV WKH ODVW \HDU IRU (25(1(: WKH QRQ SURĂ€W IRUPHG WR KRVW WKH 6ROZHVW +DUG ZRUNLQJ Jennifer Barker has decided to retire from putting on WKLV KXJH VKRZ %HFDXVH LW¡V VR LPSRUWDQW DQG D YHU\ JRRG Ă€W ZLWK RXU RUJDQL]DWLRQ¡V PLVVLRQ 25$¡V %RDUG KDV GHFLGHG WR WDNH RYHU IURP (25(1(: :H ZLOO EH running Solwest in 2014, right here in La Grande!

Described as a force of nature, Jennifer Barker has been coordinating SolWest for 15 years Credit Tova Woyciechowicz

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This is a great opportunity to showcase our ongoing efforts in renewable energy, local food networks, health FDUH DQG ZKDWHYHU HOVH ZH WKLQN LV LPSRUWDQW ,W ZLOO DOVR EH D JUHDW VXPPHU HYHQW IRU /D *UDQGH DQG 8QLRQ &RXQW\ DWWUDFWLQJ LQWHUHVWLQJ IRONV IURP DOO RYHU This will be a really exciting and fun event but it will also EH D YHU\ ELJ MRE :H ZLOO DOO QHHG WR SXOO WRJHWKHU WR PDNH 6ROZHVW D KXJH VXFFHVV If you have an idea for a workshop or presentation on a new technology, an old technology, some aspect of sustainable living, or just something kookie and fun, or you know someone that would be good, call Karen DW WR JHW LW RQ WKH SURJUDP ,I \RX KDYH other ideas and would like to be involved, there will be SOHQW\ RI RSSRUWXQLW\ 5HPHPEHU PDQ\ KDQGV PDNH ZRUN OLJKW by Dave Felley

Starring at the sun! Literally you can see it’s craters! Credit Dave Felley

Prize winning biodiesel motercycle Credit Tova Woyciechowicz

&RQWUDFWRUV FRPH IRU FRQWLQXLQJ HGXFDWLRQ FUHGLWV DERXW VRODU KRWZDWHU IURP 0U 6XQ Solar and attendees get to try out the resulting showers! Credit Dave Felley

Kickstart Your Solar Energy Project

3OHDVH MRLQ 6RODU 2UHJRQ (QHUJ\ 7UXVW RI 2UHJRQ 3RUWODQG %XUHDX RI 3ODQQLQJ DQG 6XVWDLQDELOLW\ DQG 2UHJRQ 'HSDUWPHQW RI (QHUJ\ DW RXU WK DQQXDO 6RODU 1RZ 8QLYHUVLW\ FRQIHUHQFH RQ 6HSWHPEHU WK LQ &RRV %D\ 7KLV WKUHH GD\ HYHQW SURYLGHV FRPPXQLW\ VRODU FKDPSLRQV LQGXVWU\ PHPEHUV JRYHUQPHQW DQG QRQSURĂ€W OHDGHUV WKH WHFKQLFDO HGXFDWLRQ QHWZRUN RI VXSSRUW DQG EDFNJURXQG QHHGHG WR PDQDJH DQG FRRUGLQDWH VRODU SURJUDPV LQ WKHLU FRPPXQLWLHV 7KH SURJUDP ZLOO IRFXV RQ WKH REMHFWLYHV RI WKH 86 'HSDUWPHQW RI (QHUJ\ 5RRIWRS 6RODU &KDOOHQJH ,, DLPHG DW LQQRYDWLYH ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW OHYHO VROXWLRQV IRU HOLPLQDWLQJ PDUNHW EDUULHUV DQG ORZHULQJ WKH FRVWV RI JULG WLHG SKRWRYROWDLFV

Solar Now! University topics:

‡ 6RODU $SSOLFDWLRQV IRU +RPHV %XVLQHVVHV DQG Public Buildings ‡ 7D[ &UHGLWV ,QFHQWLYHV *UDQWV ‡ 6RODU (QHUJ\ 3ROLF\ ‡ )LQDQFLQJ 2SWLRQV ‡ 3HUPLWWLQJ &RGHV ‡ (OHFWULF 9HKLFOH &KDUJLQJ ,QIUDVWUXFWXUH ‡ 5HJLRQDO &DVH 6WXGLHV ‡ $QG PRUH

$100 Registration fee includes two days of presentations, a conference “Meet and Greet� at Coos Bay’s new VRODU EUHZHU\ )ULGD\ GLQQHU LQ GRZQWRZQ &RRV %D\ DQG DOO FRQIHUHQFH PHDOV To register, please visit: http://solaroregon.org/solar-now )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ SOHDVH FRQWDFW (PLO\ .UDIIW Emily@solaroregon.org

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FKDQJH 0LOOHQQLXP %XON 7HUPLQDO LV D SDUW RI VHOOLQJ cheap dirty coal to be burned in Asia and harm our enviURQPHQW

Coal Terminal, Credit Paul K Anderson

Coal in this Millennium

The exponential increase of coal exports has been on PDQ\ PHPEHUV· PLQGV RYHU WKH ODVW \HDU 2FWREHU VW scoping hearing begins the conversation on the largest SURSRVHG H[SRUW WHUPLQDO LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 0LOOHQQLum Bulk Terminal is part of a larger network of proposals that could result in problems for human health, rural HFRQRPLHV DQG WKH HQYLURQPHQW $PEUH (QHUJ\ ZDV FRPSHOOHG WR ZLWKGUDZ LWV DSSOLFDtion for Millennium 2 years ago because it lied to public agencies about the size of its, 44 million tons of coal, SURSRVDO 7KLV LV WKH VDPH FRPSDQ\ SURSRVLQJ WKH 0RUURZ 3DFLÀF &RDO 7HUPLQDO LQ %RDUGPDQ 0LOOHQQLXP Bulk Terminal is in Longview, Washington and it will have wide ranging impacts for eastern Oregon due to the 8 full and 8 empty coal trains that might go through 2UHJRQ RQ WKHLU ZD\ IURP 0RQWDQD DQG :\RPLQJ

7KLV LV RXU ÀUVW FKDQFH WR H[SUHVV FRQFHUQV DQG VKDSH the scope of what the government will consider as the LPSDFWV RI WKH 0LOOHQQLXP %XON 7HUPLQDO 7KHUH LV D ODUJHU JRYHUQPHQW DXGLHQFH WKDQ ZLWK 0RUURZ 3DFLÀF 7KH $UP\ &RUS RI (QJLQHHUV ZKLFK LV WKH OHDG IRU all these coal export proposals, is joined by the WashLQJWRQ 'HSDUWPHQW RI (FRORJ\ DQG &RZOLW] &RXQW\ Good news is that a precedent has been set to consider broader impacts than have thus far been looked at in 2UHJRQ 1HDU %HOOLQJKDP :$ WKH SURSRVHG *DWHZD\ 3DFLÀF &RDO ([SRUW 7HUPLQDO ZLOO FRQVLGHU UDLO WUDIÀF on the way to the site, public health implications, cargo impacts for shipping beyond Washington, and greenKRXVH JDV HPLVVLRQV IRU HQG XVH FRDO FRPEXVWLRQ :KDW that means is that concerns, which have thus far been LJQRUHG E\ WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (QYLURQPHQWDO 4XDOLW\ IRU WKH 0RUURZ 3DFLÀF 3URMHFW LQ %RDUGPDQ 25 ZLOO EH KHDUG LQ WKH VFRSLQJ SURFHVV IRU 0LOOHQQLXP Please join us on October 1st at 1:45pm to call for a broad, rigorous scope of review and to demonstrate HQRUPRXV SXEOLF RSSRVLWLRQ WR FRDO H[SRUWV $ EXV ZLOO OHDYH WKH 2UHJRQ 5XUDO $FWLRQ RIÀFH DQG WUDYHO WR 3DVFR UHWXUQLQJ LQ WKH HYHQLQJ <RX DUH HQFRXUDJHG WR ZHDU UHG VRPH W VKLUWV ZLOO EH SURYLGHG In preparation for giving testimony, retired Department RI (QYLURQPHQWDO 4XDOLW\ H[SHUW 0LWFK :ROJRPRWW ZLOO be leading a training about how to be most effective in JLYLQJ FRPPHQWV RQ 6HSWHPEHU WK DW SP

Dust, Delay, Disease, and Derailments The railroad company BNSF has said that more than 3OHDVH FRQWDFW 7RYD WRYD#RUHJRQUXUDO RUJ RU SRXQGV RI FRDO FRPH RII HDFK WUDLQ FDU RQ LWV WULS WR 5693 IRU HLWKHU HYHQW This dust causes disease problems like asthma, bronchiWLV HPSK\VHPD DQG SXOPRQDU\ ÀEURVLV 7KH LPSDFWV aren’t limited to the train tracks because of an inversion LQ WKH &ROXPELD %DVLQ WKDW SLFNV XS WKH ÀQH SDUWLFOHV DQG GHSRVLWV WKHP LQ RXU ZDWHUVKHGV 'HOD\ LV D FRQFHUQ not just for those of us whose patience is short; emergency vehicles may not have the time to wait for trains WR SDVV 'HOD\ IRU WUDLQV LV DOVR D SUREOHP WRR EHFDXVH other economic drivers depend on using the same tracks WKDW ZRXOG EH FORJJHG ZLWK FRDO FDUV $QRWKHU ULVN LV train derailments; coal trains had 18 in the summer RI 3HUKDSV WKH ELJJHVW FORXG RI GXVW LV FOLPDWH 8

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Board of Directors Invites You to Join ORA’s Board of Directors is recruiting individuals to join us in supporting and building the capacity of this JUHDW RUJDQL]DWLRQ 7KHUH DUH VHYHUDO seats on the board as well as various FRPPLWWHHV DQG DFWLRQ WHDPV :LWK our long-term focus on “Making the Shift to Homegrown Prosperity� there is a lot of exciting work and planning to do and your involvement ZLOO KHOS XV VXFFHHG The mission of Oregon Rural Action is to educate, engage and inspire people to get involved in creating healthy sustainable commuQLWLHV LQ HDVWHUQ 2UHJRQ ,I \RX believe in our mission and can volunteer a few hours a month, consider applying to serve on ORA’s Board of Directors, or volunteerLQJ IRU RWKHU DFWLYLWLHV $SSOLFDWLRQV

for both 1-year and 2-year terms are being accepted through Monday, 6HSWHPEHU $ ZLGH UDQJH of skills sets and interests are optimal, but no previous Board or FRPPLWWHH H[SHULHQFH LV UHTXLUHG (OHFWLRQV ZLOO WDNH SODFH RQ 2FW WK DW RXU $QQXDO *DWKHULQJ ZKHQ QHZ WHUPV EHJLQ <RX DUH HQFRXUaged to contact us, come to the RIÀFH IRU D YLVLW RU DWWHQG D PHHWLQJ to learn about our issues, our needs DQG DFWLYLWLHV 7R ÀQG RXW PRUH DQG FRPSOHWH DQ application, please visit our website or contact Karen Wagner, Staff 'LUHFWRU RU 3HWHU 0DLOOH &KDLU RI WKH %RDUG

UPCOMING EVENTS September 21st Last Chance Barn Dance 5:30pm-10pm Summerville, OR

September 23th Public Comment Training SP SP Community Room, Public Library La Grande, OR

September 24th Health Care Reform Action Team 0HHWLQJ IURP SP SP 25$ RIĂ€FH La Grande, OR

September 25th Board Meeting La Grande, OR

September 26th Snake River Chapter Meeting SP SP 6W 0DWWKHZ¡V (SLVFRSDO &KXUFK Four Rivers Community Garden Ontario, OR

September 29th Dominant Narritive Meeting SP SP La Grande, OR

October 1st Longview Coal Terminal Hearing SP 3LFN XS DW 25$ 2IĂ€FH Pasco, WA

Board Member Mabel Dobbs

For details and up-to-date information about events, sign up for our alerts network: LQIR#RUHJRQUXUDO RUJ RU JR WR KWWS RUHJRQUXUDO RUJ HYHQWV XScoming/ 9

Success! HB 3260 signed into law by Gov. Kitzhaber! On August 1 Governor Kitzhaber signed into law HB PDUNLQJ WKH VXFFHVV RI WKH FDPSDLJQ E\ +HDOWK Care for All Oregon in support of a study of health care ÀQDQFLQJ RSWLRQV IRU 2UHJRQ Members of the ORA Health Care Reform Action Team (HCR-AT) played major roles in passing this LPSRUWDQW ELOO :H PHW ZLWK RXU OHJLVODWRUV PDGH SKRQH FDOOV DQG VHQW PDQ\ HPDLOV DQG OHWWHUV WR WKHP :H DWWHQGHG DQG WHVWLÀHG DW OHJLVODWLYH KHDULQJV :H VHFXUHG HQGRUVHPHQWV RI WKH ELOO IURP 8QLRQ &RXQW\ VPDOO businesses—endorsements important for the bill’s pasVDJH %RWK 6HQ %LOO +DVNHOO DQG 5HS %RE -HQVHQ YRWHG D\H DQG GHVHUYH RXU WKDQNV +% VWLSXODWHV WKH LGHDO KHDOWK FDUH V\VWHP ZLOO ‡ 3URYLGH XQLYHUVDO DFFHVV WR FRPSUHKHQVLYH FDUH DW WKH DSSURSULDWH WLPH ‡ $OORZ FKRLFH RI SURYLGHU ‡ 5HGXFH DGPLQLVWUDWLYH FRVWV ‡ 8VH VXIÀFLHQW IDLU DQG VXVWDLQDEOH ÀQDQFLQJ ‡ (QVXUH DGHTXDWH FRPSHQVDWLRQ RI SURYLGHUV ‡ ,QFOXGH SK\VLFDO GHQWDO YLVLRQ DQG PHQWDO KHDOWK FDUH ‡ %H DIIRUGDEOH IRU LQGLYLGXDOV IDPLOLHV EXVLQHVVHV DQG VWDWH DQG ORFDO JRYHUQPHQWV +% DXWKRUL]HV WKH 2UHJRQ +HDOWK $XWKRULW\ WR

VHOHFW D WKLUG SDUW\ WR VWXG\ 2UHJRQ¡V KHDOWK FDUH Ă€QDQFLQJ RSWLRQV 7KH SULYDWHO\ IXQGHG VWXG\ ZLOO FRQVLGHU four options: ,PSOHPHQWLQJ WKH $IIRUGDEOH &DUH $FW ´2EDPD &DUHÂľ ZLWKRXW PRGLĂ€FDWLRQ LQFOXGLQJ DOO DVSHFWV RI Oregon’s Health Care Transformation process including &RYHU 2UHJRQ DQG &RRUGLQDWHG &DUH 2UJDQL]DWLRQV $GGLQJ D SXEOLF RSWLRQ WR WKH VWDWH LQVXUDQFH H[change and including the “Basic Healthâ€? provision of WKH $IIRUGDEOH &DUH $FW 8QLYHUVDO VWDWHZLGH VLQJOH SD\HU KHDOWK FDUH SXEOLFO\ Ă€QDQFHG DQG SULYDWHO\ SURYLGHG $QRWKHU RSWLRQ DW WKH GLVFUHWLRQ RI WKH 2UHJRQ Health Authority to provide only essential health benHĂ€WV WR HYHU\ 2UHJRQLDQ XVLQJ SULYDWH LQVXUDQFH 7KH Ă€QGLQJV RI WKH VWXG\ ZLOO EH SUHVHQWHG WR WKH LQterim House Health Care Committee by November of DQG WR WKH IXOO OHJLVODWXUH IRU WKH VHVVLRQ

The next regular meeting of the ORA Health Care Reform Action Team will be held on Tuesday, September IURP 30 DW WKH 25$ RIĂ€FH <RX DUH LQYLWHG WR come to learn how you can be involved in the Oregon FDPSDLJQ IRU XQLYHUVDO KHDOWK FDUH )RU LQIRUPDWLRQ %LOO#RUHJRQUXUDO RUJ RU FDOO :H DUH ORRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR VHHLQJ \RX by Bill Whitaker and Cheryl Simpson

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Ramon Lara at SolWest Workshop, Credit Tova Woyciechowicz

The “Dominant Narrative� in Agriculture

List of Current Board members: Peter Maille, La Grande, Chair Juanita Lassiter, Ontario, Vice-Chair & Snake River Chapter Rep Mabel Dobbs, Weiser, Treasurer Cori Brewster, La Grande, Secretary Dave Felley, Blue Mountain Chapter Rep Norm Cimon, La Grande, At-Large Steve Bartell, Imbler, At-Large Bob Hanson, Ontario, At-Large Rob Cordtz, Richland, At-Large Ramon Lara, Baker City, At-Large Bill Whitaker, La Grande, At-Large

Oregon Rural Action is teaming up with grassroots family farm groups in ten neighboring states to explore how ZH FDQ EXLOG RXU SRZHU WR WDNH RQ %LJ $J *UDVVURRWV family farm groups have had some wins here and there through strong campaigns, but we’re losing ground to FRUSRUDWH DJULFXOWXUH %LJ $J LV UXQQLQJ URXJKVKRG RQ our politics, our food system, our health and our comPXQLWLHV In part, that’s because the dominant narrative (or common belief) about agriculture reinforces the idea that industrial food production is the only way we can feed D KXQJU\ ZRUOG $QG ZH SD\ D KHDY\ SULFH IRU WKDW QDUrative: GMOs, super weeds, diet-related diseases, facWRU\ IDUPLQJ ODQG JUDEV DQG JOREDO KXQJHU 0HDQZKLOH WKH ORFDO IRRG PRYHPHQW IDPLO\ IDUPV &6$V HWF DUH GLVPLVVHG DV LPSUDFWLFDO RU HYHQ ´HOLWLVWÂľ

List of Current Staff: Jeff Mathias, Organizer Tova Woyciechowicz, Organizer Gabriela Camacho, Membership Coordinator Nancy Gledhill, Organizer Karen Wagner, Staff Director

With the guidance of Dave Mann of the Grassroots Policy Project, an expert on building grassroots movements, 150 leaders from ten states will collectively participate in a process to help us begin to see the dominant narrative in agriculture, understand its impact on XV DQG GHYHORS D QHZ QDUUDWLYH EDVHG RQ RXU YDOXHV

ORA Territory: %DNHU 0DOKHXU 8PDWLOOD 8QLRQ DQG Wallowa Counties

As part of that process, ORA will bring 15-25 of our OHDGHUV WRJHWKHU IRU D SDLU RI PHHWLQJV LQ /D *UDQGH /L] Moran (WORC Ag Team Organizer) and Jeff Mathias (ORA organizer) have trained in the facilitation of dialogue about the narrative and will help us shape a new QDUUDWLYH EDVHG RQ RXU YDOXHV 7KH DLP RI WKLV HIIRUW LV to energize members across our ten states to build the SRZHU LW WDNHV WR ZLQ PDMRU FKDQJH LQ DJULFXOWXUH

Support Oregon Rural Action by becoming a member or by making a donation online at: http://oregonrural.org/join-give

ORA Membership:

7KH Ă€UVW PHHWLQJ LQ 2UHJRQ LV WKH ODVW ZHHNHQG LQ 6HSWHPEHU 6HDWLQJ DW WKH PHHWLQJV LV OLPLWHG ,I \RX¡G like more information about the shifting the dominant QDUUDWLYH FRQWDFW -HII 0DWKLDV DW RU HPDLO at jeff@oregonrural.org

$Q\RQH FDQ MRLQ RQOLQH RQ WKH SKRQH DW RXU RIĂ€FH RU WKURXJK WKH PDLO $QQXDO PHPEHUVKLS GXHV %XVLQHVV 2UJDQL]DWLRQ )DPLO\ ,QGLYLGXDO

Democracy ¡ Participation ¡ Leadership ¡ Diversity ¡ Cooperation ¡ Justice ¡ Stewardship 1119 Washington Ave ¡ P.O. Box 1231 ¡ La Grande, OR 97850 ¡ Phone (541)975-2411 info@oregonrural.org

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www.oregonrural.org 11

Oregon Rural Action is a community-based organization. Our mission is to bring people together to build strong communities. We do this by providing information and tools for local people to use in addressing the issues affecting our communities and by helping community members develop and implement solutions that work. Oregon Rural Action is working to promote social justice, agricultural and economic sustainability, and the stewardship of the region’s land, air, and water.

The Furrow

The Newsletter of Oregon Rural Action The Furrow is published quarterly by Oregon Rural Action with generous assistance from organizations including the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, The Meyer Memorial Trust, Penstemon Fund, Wildhorse Foundation, and members like <28 To learn more about the work we do, visit our website at: ZZZ RUHJRQUXUDO RUJ Contact Tova Woyciechowicz : tova@oregonrural.org

Oregon Rural Action PO Box 1231 La Grande, OR 97850

Please let us know your email address: info@oregonrural.org

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Support Oregon Rural Action by becoming a member or by making a donation online at: http://oregonrural.org/join-give

Be Part of Oregon Rural Action’s Sustainer’s Circle! You now have the opportunity to provide ongoing support to Oregon Rural Action with an automatic, recurring contribution from your credit or debit DFFRXQW $V D 6XVWDLQHU·V &LUFOH PHPEHU \RX will be a backbone of support and will always KDYH D FXUUHQW PHPEHUVKLS WR 25$

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