Klamath River Tribes Travel to Omaha to Demand Dam Removal from Warren Buffett 

by Dan Bacher
April 23, 2008  

In the wake of unprecedented salmon fishing closures on the West Coast, Klamath River Tribes, commercial and recreational fishermen and conservationists will attend and protest Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 3. They will also screen a film and hold a press conference in Omaha , Nebraska that week.

“Buffett’s Mid-American Energy kills salmon, communities, and profits,” says Karuk Vice chair Leaf Hillman, “and that’s the message we are taking to Omaha .”

Photo: The Yurok, Karuk and Hoopa Valley tribes held a "salmon bake" along this river in Omaha , Nebraska during their trip to the Berkshire-Hathaway Shareholders meeting last year. Courtesy of Regina Chichizola, Klamath Riverkeeper.

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Karuk Tribe · Yurok Tribe · Klamath Riverkeeper · Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens’ Associations

P R E S S A D V I S O R Y

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2008

For more information:

Craig Tucker, Spokesperson Karuk Tribe (916) 207-8294
Regina Chichizola, Klamath Riverkeeper (541) 951-0126
Matt Mais, Yurok Tribe (707) 954-0976


Klamath River Tribes and Fishermen travel to Omaha to Demand Dam Removal from Warren Buffett 

Group holds events centered around Berkshire Hathaway AGM

Orleans, CA – “Buffett’s Mid-American Energy kills salmon, communities, and profits,” says Karuk Vice chair Leaf Hillman, “and that’s the message we are taking to Omaha .”

In the wake of unprecedented salmon fishing closures on the West Coast, Klamath River Tribes, commercial and recreational fishermen and conservationists will attend and protest Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway AGM, screen a film, and hold a press conference. Event times and venues are listed below.

At issue are four dams that block all migration of salmon on the Klamath River and lead to massive blooms of toxic algae that poison the river and those living down-stream. The groups are demanding the removal of the four dams through a negotiated settlement agreement with PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp is owned by Mid American Energy that in turn is owned by Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

The groups cite economic studies from state and federal agencies that conclude dam removal is cheaper than relicensing the antiquated structures. In order to keep the dams and get a new operational license, the company must spend hundreds of millions of dollars to bring the aging facilities into compliance with modern environmental standards. These facts lead Hillman to conclude that, “Buffett and his shareholders can actually save money by doing the right thing.”

This year the group will focus on three main events:

1. Progressive film night, Wednesday April 30th at 7pm at McFoster's Natural Kind Cafe (38th & Farnam). The evening will feature a film chronicling the struggle of Klamath communities and speakers from the Tribes.

2. Press conference Friday, May 2 at Courtyard by Marriott, 101 S, 10th Street , 10 a.m. (we will serve some smoked salmon!).

3. Picketing and leafleting at Berkshire Shareholders’ meeting, May 3, Qwest Center, 8 a.m.

For more information see: http://www.klamathriver.org or http://www.salmonforsavings.org

# # #

S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D.
Klamath Campaign Coordinator
Karuk Tribe of California
NEW NUMBER home office: 707-839-1982
Tribal office in Orleans: 530-627-3446 x3027
cell: 916-207-8294
ctucker [at] karuk.us

http://www.karuk.us 

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Source:  http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/04/23/18494715.php