With record-breaking heat waves and droughts, severe storms battering the coasts, and wildfires burning throughout the Pacific Northwest and choking the region in smoke, it is hard to ignore the fact that climate change is affecting our daily lives in myriad ways. Yet, that is exactly what Oregon’s political and business leaders are doing by supporting the construction of major new fossil fuel infrastructure in southern Oregon.
The proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal is planned to be built at the port of Coos Bay and receive fracked gas from the Pacific Connector Pipeline — 229 miles of brand new pipeline that, upon completion, will cut through tribal lands, cross 400 rivers and streams, create a huge clear-cut zone through old growth forest, and impact almost 700 private landowners. From there, the gas will be liquefied, loaded onto super tankers, and exported to Asia. Jordan Cove would become the single largest source of emissions in the state, and make it impossible for Oregon to meet its climate goals.
Scientists warn that we need to halt the construction of all new fossil fuel infrastructure immediately, and begin the full transition away from fossil fuels. Why, then, would anyone support the construction of a new fracked gas pipeline and export facility? One word: jobs. Either we build infrastructure that endangers the whole planet, or we deprive the working class of southern Oregon of jobs. This is the same argument we always hear from pandering industry spokespeople.
The residents of southern Oregon do deserve economic opportunities. But they deserve better opportunities than this. No one should have to choose between unemployment and continuing the march toward human extinction. If our economic system does not allow us to both avert climate catastrophe and allow people to make a decent living, then our economic system is clearly the problem.
Profit-driven corporations that answer only to wealthy shareholders are never going to adequately address the climate crisis, and will continue to exploit a desperate and struggling workforce. They will always put maximizing private profits above all else. But we know that maximizing profits comes at the sacrifice of worker safety, living wages, and a healthy environment. This is how capitalism stands in the way of both solutions to climate change and opportunities for working people.
As socialists, we seek to build a society that puts people and planet over profit. We cannot continue to ignore the role that capitalism plays, not only in driving climate change, but also in exploiting workers and creating poverty. The people of southern Oregon should be able to meet their needs without compromising the future of all life on earth. Oregon’s decision-makers should not continue to double-down on destructive fossil fuel projects, but rather lead a bold investment in renewable energy created by well-paying union jobs for rural and urban communities alike. For the sake of our collective future on this planet, we cannot afford to see the construction of more projects like the Jordan Cove LNG.
Portland DSA’s Ecosocialist Caucus meets on Monday, September 17th at 7:00 pm. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and find Portland DSA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.