Break Free from Fossil Fuels

What: Peaceful, planned protest to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground

When: May 13-15

Where: Tesoro and Shell refineries near Anacortes

More info or to get involved: See breakfreepnw.org or olyclimate.org

The message to reduce and ultimately end humans’ dependency on fossil fuels will be conveyed clearly, strongly and peacefully through the voices and actions of many on May 13-15.

Thousands of Pacific Northwest residents concerned with the impacts of climate change are planning to converge on March Point in Anacortes at the Shell and Tesoro refineries to protest against the use of fossil fuels.

The peaceful protest is one of many actions happening throughout May 4-15 in more than a dozen countries as part of a global resistance “Break Free from Fossil Fuels” with the united goal to transition to renewable energy.

Both refineries are among the establishments listed by the Washington State Department of Ecology that emit at least 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

In 2014, the Shell Puget Sound Refinery reported 1.81 million metric tons of CO2e or carbon dioxide equivalent (a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints), according to the most recent Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data reported to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Likewise, Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company LLC., reported 1.33 million metric tons CO2e.

“They refine 47 percent of all the gas used in the Northwest,” Annette Claycomb, Olympic Climate Action member, said. “To me the cause is so important that we have to go beyond what we can personally do.”

Claycomb is among at least 10 OCA members preparing to attend the event, not including another group from western Clallam County and a number of individuals from Jefferson County.

“They’re estimating about 2,000 people to attend,” she said. “It’s (participating) is so critical to the survival of my grandchildren … I think a mass demonstration sends the message more loudly.”

A handful of concerned and frustrated citizens formed OCA in 2012 as an organization aimed at addressing the threat of climate change on the Olympic Peninsula. Since OCA has continued to grow with more than 500 people on the organization’s mailing list.

Its creation was ignited by author, activist and environmentalist Bill McKibben, who co-founded the international climate campaign 350.org that works in 188 countries. The organization is behind the worldwide push to break free from fossil fuels.

Although a goal of the global climate movement is to petition government, it’s more attempting to “raise the consciousness of people around the globe and to speak the hard truths,” Ed Chadd, OCA co-founder, said.

The “hard truths” not only include the anthropogenic-driven impacts on the climate, but also the structure of society that’s allowing the fossil fuel industry to continue, Chadd explained.

“We as a society are going to have to find some way to rein in the power of the fossil fuel industry, which is the most powerful industry on the planet,” he said. “The only way humans have ever made strides and social advancement is by working together.”

From being involved in past protests, Claycomb anticipates some “antagonism” from those policing the event, she said. Despite the expected discomfort, she’s looking forward to being able to contribute to the mass action.

Getting there

Claycomb and fellow OCA members are making a collaborative effort to use as little fossil fuel as possible when traveling to the protest. Those traveling from the area plan to carpool or rely on public transportation. One OCA member Gerald Johnson is planning to minimize his fossil fuel footprint by traveling via public transit and bicycle.

After doing the math, if Johnson were to drive his car, it would take about 9.5 gallons of gasoline to attend the protest. That amount of fuel equates to about one-tenth of one ton of CO2, he said. Instead, by peddling his way and pursuing public transportation methods, Johnson’s trip will result in nearly zero carbon dioxide emissions.

Johnson has never been part of a large scale protest, but the chance to learn and spend a weekend with like-minded individuals sparked his interest. The movement away from fossil fuels also coincides with Johnson’s academic endeavors. He is pursuing a long distance sustainability degree through Prescott College in Arizona with a goal to carve out a career within the solar industry.

“Ideally, working with a nonprofit, maybe internationally installing solar panels or teaching renewable energy applications, would be amazing,” he said.

At 24 years old, Johnson is one of the youngest OCA members and finds it “disheartening” that not more of his peers are locally active on the topic of climate change impacts. For Johnson pushing to reduce fossil fuel reliance has “a lot to with our obligation to future generations,” he said.

“There’s a lot controversy whether climate change is human interference or natural, but frankly from my perspective it shouldn’t matter,” he said. “If you have clean technology available that can promote clean air, clean environment and human health, then why can’t we just agree that these are better for society and just implement them whether you believe in climate change or not.”

Johnson notes there are environmental impacts from solar energy, too, like extracting the silicon and phosphorous, but still the alternative is more sustainable.

“If we want to maintain this standard of living, then there are some lifestyle changes that need to be made,” he said.

‘Non-voting’ organisms

Ed Bowlby, a recently retired marine biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, can’t attend the protest in Anacortes, but is an active member of OCA and believes in the need to break away from fossil fuels.

Bowlby made clear the goal is not to stop climate change, but it’s to take action now to lessen the impacts of decisions like the ongoing use of fossil fuels have amplified. Mass action, such as the Break Free from Fossil Fuels, is a pathway to raise public awareness, including political leadership, he said.

“It’s individual efforts that if done by more people will help the overall forecast,” he said.

Distancing humans’ reliance on fossil fuels is vital to Bowlby for both future generations of people, as well as all the organisms that don’t have a say.

“My real passion is for the non-voting organisms … everything from wildlife to microscopic organisms.”

Unlike humans with technology at their fingertips, many plants and animals aren’t as adaptable to change at such a quick rate.

“Human contribution to climate change far exceeds what marine and terrestrial organisms can respond to in evolutionary time,” he said. “This is far beyond the normal ups and downs in geologic history and that’s been demonstrated.”

The “ugly child” of climate change is ocean acidification, Bowlby said — something scientists and commercial fisheries already are seeing the consequences of.

“I do feel the legacy we’re leaving to both the human, animal and plant population is unfortunate,” he said.

Breaking away from fossil fuels and reducing pollution on an individual level, let alone globally is difficult, he said. However, even minor choices can help offset local impacts. Everything from making a conscious effort to limit driving and being aware of consumption to staying away from environmentally harmful products like plastic can limit individual impacts.

“We all should live our lives to be as positive as possible, which includes leaving a heritage to our children that is as good, if not better than we inherited,” he said.

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.