Malin, Ore. – A 232 mile long protest hike against the Pacific Connector Pipeline got underway this morning in Malin.
The 7.5 billion dollar Pacific Connector Pipeline would extend from Malin to Coos Bay…and protestors are hiking the 232 mile length of the proposed path.
“We have rivers that are being dredged, we have a bay that’s being dredged.” Says hike organizer Alexander Harris. “And at the end of the day, we’re building a terminal in Coos Bay that will become the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the entire state of Oregon.”
Malin already serves as a major hub to several natural gas pipelines.
Town council member John Hughto says pipeline money has helped Malin…
“We’ve been able to get pickups, lawn mowers – it’s helped the fire department, the cemetery.”
Emmalyn Garrett is one of three people that will be hiking the entire route.
Garrett knows that she’s up against a major corporate effort…
“It’s a little bit of a ‘David and Goliath’. But I personally, absolutely think that southern Oregonians have the determination and resilience to defeat this project.”
Organizer Alexander Harris hopes the hike will promote discussion.
Events are planned in Shady Cove on September 5th, and September 15th in Winston.
The ‘Hike the Pipe’ protest is scheduled to end on September 26th in Coos Bay.
The hikers will be covering about 7 miles a day.
They stress that they’re securing permission before hiking on any private properties along the way.
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