Say No To Xylene

Say “No” to Xylene

As a peace-loving, grandma, I am looking forward to the inspirational, compelling energy that the Break Free Pacific NW participants will bring to Anacortes the weekend of May 13-15. I hope that their insistence on moving from dirty energy to clean energy will encourage the rest of us; particularly, those of us who have reaped the benefits of fossil fuel extraction.

Anacortes is a designated, fence line community. Such communities are adjacent to companies that produce: noise, pollution, emissions, etc., and often live under the threat of job loss.

And just what do we need to Break Free from? The obvious answer is our continued reliance on fossil fuels, the burning of which has been identified by science as the major driver of climate change. About this, there is no debate; at least, not by those who accept credible science.

I have heard many conversations revolving around the issues of potential violence and the safety of participants resulting from thousands of folks, primarily young, descending upon Anacortes. The Break Free participants are pledged to non violence. But let’s for a moment, think about real violence. Real violence has been perpetrated and continues to be perpetrated by companies that specialize in the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels, in which we are all complicit, has exacerbated climate change. We now have the knowledge to move away from dirty energy; however, Tesoro wishes to expand by building a xylene, petrochemical, facility. This would open the door to oil exports and represent a major step backward. And it would continue to exacerbate the effects of climate change.

As I write this, parts of the US are already suffering from the effects of climate change: droughts in California, flooding throughout Texas destroying lives, property and yes, jobs. What about jobs in the Pacific NW? Just to mention a few serious problems: fishers are losing catch opportunities due to warmer oceans; farmers are battling new, invasive insects and diseases brought in by warmer weather; and even locally, how many tourist dollars will continue to be lost due to the Skagit Valley tulips blooming before the festival. Job loss does not just impact refinery workers. The transition to clean energy is our way out of the violence that climate change is wreaking upon all of us.

So, who will benefit if the xylene facility is denied? The potential workers will benefit from less sickness and disease associated with xylene; we, citizens, will benefit from less exposure to toxic chemicals; children, in particular, will benefit, as their developing bodies and brains are more vulnerable to air pollution; boaters, commercial and sport, will benefit, as there will be less, huge tankers to dodge; the marine eco system will benefit from less pollution and potential spills; wildlife in general will benefit from less exposure to the hazards of petrochemicals; and our already imperiled orcas and herons will benefit. In each case, the petrochemical hazards are already happening here; the xylene plant would amplify them.

Anacortes is strategically located for jobs connected to clean energy. It’s past time to begin the transition. Recently, the citizens of Tacoma defeated a methanol plant through public protest; we can do the same. These young protesters coming to Anacortes inspire me to think about their future and the future of the planet. They bring a great deal of energy, knowledge and courage with them. Informational workshops at the Transit Shed during the protest will help us understand what a just and fair transition to clean energy could look like. The transition needs to be fair to all: workers, citizens, all living things.

After the protest, we all need to work together.

-Connie Snell