Coal Terminal Hearing in Bellingham

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Comment

Comment by David MacLeod on October 26, 2012 at 3:44pm

An open request to the community.

October 26, 2012

As community leaders, we value public process, civil discourse, and the open exchange of ideas. For the upcoming scoping process for the Gateway Pacific Terminal project, we commit to behaving with the utmost respect, professionalism, and civility to each other and to the government officials involved in this process. We ask you to join us and commit to the same set of standards.

Sincerely,
Crina Hoyer                                                    Mark Lowry                                                  
Executive Director                                          President
RE Sources for Sustainable                           NW Washington Central Labor
Communities                                                  Council    

 

                                                

Comment by David MacLeod on October 25, 2012 at 7:49pm

An excerpt from an email from a local pastor. I think this is wise advice, so I am passing it on.

- - - - - -

I ... ask that if you are able to attend the hearing on Saturday that you consider the following document which is a statement from local community leaders setting forth our hopes for the tone of the discussion going forward on the Coal Terminal Project.  This is more than a "we are right, they are wrong" issue and these discussions will have lasting impact in our community...

 

We represent religious communities and labor unions in Whatcom County that gathered on October 25, 2012 to confer on the matter of the proposed Pacific Gateway Terminal Project.  As this proposal makes its way through the scoping process, our interest is in encouraging each other to engage the debate on the issue in a way conducive to healthy relationships. To this end:

·        We are committed to the proposition that we are first and foremost neighbors, and that the viability of our community and neighborhoods requires a healthy economy featuring family-wage jobs in a clean and safe natural environment.

·        We are committed to engage the upcoming scoping process with an open attitude, listening carefully in an atmosphere of mutual respect for each other and honoring varying points of view in a way commensurate with respect for human dignity.  We commit wherever possible to find common ground, and to express concerns and disagreements with fairness, candor and transparency.

·        We invite all members of our community to join us making this commitment to civil discourse on this very important matter before us, and to hold us accountable to this high standard of conduct.

***Please note that this is not the final document, however the general sentiment is staying the same as input is received.