The first few cars of a coal train make their way through Boulevard Park in Bellingham, WA.
Imagine the sheer audacity and arrogance of a capitalist society from the perspective of the local level. For at least the last ten years, the residents of the city of Bellingham have been recovering from its industrial past, removing industrial plants from its waterfront,
pursuing redevelopment plans, strengthening its downtown core, and developing a first rate economy based on education, health, and a progressive government. While doing so, this city has attracted numerous ex-urbans, retirees, and wealthy immigrants, all who want to share in the growth of this small city with such mesmerizing beauty. Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars have flooded into Whatcom County banking system on the basis of development and speculation. Now, on the near whim of a broken and bankrupt carbon-based national economy, a few wealthy corporations (with the backing of local, state, federal leaders) think it is a good idea to
run 48 million metric tons of coal through our recently revitalized downtown and merchant districts. And there really doesn't appear any good way to stop them.
