LNG is the 800 pound toxic gorilla
squatting on the best lands we have at the Port of Brownsville
and it’s going to take a major community effort to make it go away.
How it got there is past history.
By now, we all have a pretty good idea that our public
officials let us down. So, now that the Big Gorilla is here, how do we get rid
of it? Allow me to digress. If it seems like this threat to our lifestyle just
happened, it didn’t. Up to a few weeks ago, I had a foggy notion this LNG issue
was “something about warehousing gas and shipping it out.” That was the extent
of it. Like many of us, I get most of my local news from the Herald and the Valley TV
stations. And for all I know, the media have been on top of this all along (not
really) and I just didn’t have the awareness (nothing new there) to fire up
dormant synapses and snap to the gravity of the moment. And herein lies the
rub.
I absolutely and truly applaud the enormous efforts by environmentalists, the canaries that started warning us about this impending disaster for the past couple of years.
But this battle cannot be fought by a few principled “tree huggers.” It has to be fought by college kids, fathers and sons going fishing, and ordinary families, many of whom have the common sense to understand that this is not right.
Why the local media, who are supposed to be our watchdog, are not more rabid about this is unforgivable.
Correct me if I’m wrong but, with the exception of The Rio Grande Guardian, the other media have given this epic struggle, which to me is a Pulitzer-worthy type of project, a yawning glance, covering it as a continuing, “slow news” event.
This is not a class or race struggle; toxic air stinks and sticks to everyone.
Sometimes I get the feeling that political and business leaders must think they’re immune in their nice homes out in the country or secluded niche away from the congestion and the crowds then it dawns on me that maybe they are immune, maybe this is a Titanic moment and they’re grabbing loose change, scurrying to be the first ones on the lifeboats, not really giving a damn (I was going to say shit, but that would not be lady like) about what happens to the town.
Maybe just maybe, and mixed metaphors aside, they’re slashing and burning in a Russian-type of retreat out of Brownsville and making sure the barbarians at the bridge are left with nothing but a toxic dump. Maybe it is, after all, a class struggle. And maybe I’m just paranoid, but that sure looks like an 800-pound gorilla is about to take a toxic dump on our backyard.
[Ed. note: Protests against Texas LNG, Tuesday, May 5 at 5 pm: Brownsville Event Center and Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center]
How it got there is past history.
By now, we all have a pretty good idea that our public
officials let us down. So, now that the Big Gorilla is here, how do we get rid
of it? Allow me to digress. If it seems like this threat to our lifestyle just
happened, it didn’t. Up to a few weeks ago, I had a foggy notion this LNG issue
was “something about warehousing gas and shipping it out.” That was the extent
of it. Like many of us, I get most of my local news from the Herald and the Valley TV
stations. And for all I know, the media have been on top of this all along (not
really) and I just didn’t have the awareness (nothing new there) to fire up
dormant synapses and snap to the gravity of the moment. And herein lies the
rub.I absolutely and truly applaud the enormous efforts by environmentalists, the canaries that started warning us about this impending disaster for the past couple of years.
But this battle cannot be fought by a few principled “tree huggers.” It has to be fought by college kids, fathers and sons going fishing, and ordinary families, many of whom have the common sense to understand that this is not right.
Why the local media, who are supposed to be our watchdog, are not more rabid about this is unforgivable.
Correct me if I’m wrong but, with the exception of The Rio Grande Guardian, the other media have given this epic struggle, which to me is a Pulitzer-worthy type of project, a yawning glance, covering it as a continuing, “slow news” event.
This is not a class or race struggle; toxic air stinks and sticks to everyone.
Sometimes I get the feeling that political and business leaders must think they’re immune in their nice homes out in the country or secluded niche away from the congestion and the crowds then it dawns on me that maybe they are immune, maybe this is a Titanic moment and they’re grabbing loose change, scurrying to be the first ones on the lifeboats, not really giving a damn (I was going to say shit, but that would not be lady like) about what happens to the town.
Maybe just maybe, and mixed metaphors aside, they’re slashing and burning in a Russian-type of retreat out of Brownsville and making sure the barbarians at the bridge are left with nothing but a toxic dump. Maybe it is, after all, a class struggle. And maybe I’m just paranoid, but that sure looks like an 800-pound gorilla is about to take a toxic dump on our backyard.
[Ed. note: Protests against Texas LNG, Tuesday, May 5 at 5 pm: Brownsville Event Center and Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center]
14 comments:
Yes to LNG.
Good point, Babs. You're right, all of us need to be involved if we want to get rid of the gorilla. We really do have too much to lose. They see our silence as acceptance. If we don't speak up now, one day we'll be going to the beach and boom, there it is, stinking to high heaven. They will say, "The people didn't say anything when they had the chance and now it's too late."
You hit the nail on the head when you said the local media failed the people on this. KVEO 23 gave the protesters a few minutes of air time during the last Open House in Brownsville. Other than that, I've not heard one word about it. In fact, Channel 5 showed up at the open house, deliberately ignored the protesters and made LNG look like they were the best thing to ever hit the Valley. They should be ashamed of themselves for being news manipulators. Who can trust them after that?
I am glad to see someone talking about this for a change, so count me in, Babs, and thanks for speaking up. Hope you keep writing.
The news never tells us what they don't want us to hear. If they keep us ignorant, then they can build that fart plant without any opposition. A lot of people still don't know anything about this.
People,
We must unite!!! This is not a Rep. or Dem. issue, this is about our future, and the harm these "government entities" are doing to ALL of us!!!
Fuck all stupid commenters. i can kick your asses!
Absolutely right, this is one of those moments that we get once in a lifetime to make a difference. I do not want smokestacks on my way to the beach! where do I sign up?
Grow up idiot!
Babs, what makes you think there is any point at all in talking to the port commissioners?
The poorest city in the USA does not want jobs . That's brilliant. You all are crabs in a bucket! Turn in your lone star cards and get to work you lazy uneducated shit stains!
Say NO F'ING WAY to LNG and also to our fat cat politicians who supported this. Our politicians are the root of the problem here and need to go. You better believe that next time they run for election, they will get the boot in the ass instead. They think they're immune....
Protest> NO to LNG on Tuesday at Brownsville Event Center on Paredes Line Rd.
LNG TEXAS Open House Event
5:00 pm
Be there.
Tomorrow in Port Isabel Open House
Event.
A group called SAVE RGV from LNG is organizing it. They are on facebook, too.
The guy calling everybody "crabs in a bucket" is probably a politician. "Turn in your lone star cards and get to work you lazy uneducated shit stains" is probably too short sited to realize most of the protesters are business owners who live and pay taxes here. This area depends on tourism and we are going to protect our interests. The only people who think this is a good idea are the port officials and LNG. Now even the Port is trying to get out of it by saying they were only leasing the property. Shit is hitting the fan people. Get ready!
Great pic of da mayor disguised as a giant ape from Katanga Province.
Babs,
You are correct about LNG boosters trying to split the community. The community needs to know that the jobs to build the plant and run the plant will largely go to people not living in the RGV now. Look at who is working in the other LNG plants in Texas and La. Most from out of state.
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