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Billionaire Buffet Gives to Charity while His Dams Kill Salmon
While Billionaire Warren Buffet says he intends to work with the Gates Foundation to donate billions of dollars to charity, one of his subsidiaries owns dams on the Klamath River that are killing salmon.
K a r u k T r i b e o f C a l i f o r n i a
P R E S S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2006
For more information: Craig Tucker, Media Spokesman, Karuk Tribe, 530-627-3446 x 3027
BILLIONAIRE BUFFET GIVES TO CHARITY WHILE HIS DAMS KILL SALMON AND COMPROMISE TRIBAL CULTURES
Karuk Tribe appeals to Buffet: Remove your dams, save our salmon
Orleans, CA – According to an Associated Press report, Billionaire investor Warren Buffet intends to work with the Gates Foundation to donate billons of dollars to charity. Meanwhile, on the Klamath River, dams that are owned by a subsidiary of Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. continues to kill salmon, host toxic algae blooms, and put Tribal and non-native fishermen out of work.
According to the AP, the Gates Foundation stated that "Warren [Buffet] has not only an amazing intellect but also a strong sense of justice.”
The Karuk Tribe remains unconvinced. “Until Mr. Buffet removes his dams which are driving our fish into extinction, I will be forced to question his sense of justice,” commented Leaf Hillman, Vice Chairman of the Karuk Tribe.
The Karuk Tribe is currently working with neighboring Tribes, conservation organizations, and commercial fishermen to get four of the six Klamath River dams removed. The dams block access to over 350 miles of salmon habitat and instead provide habitat for the blue green algae Microcystis aeruginosa, a producer of tumor promoting toxins.
The dams are owned and operated by Portland, Oregon based PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp was recently bought by a Buffet owned company after the previous owner, Scottish Power, was targeted by the Tribes’ campaign. In 2004 and 2005, Tribal leaders protested Scottish Power’s shareholder meetings in Scotland.
“Not only is dam removal the right thing to do morally, it makes economic sense for ratepayers,” according to Hillman.
In April, the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued mandatory terms and conditions for a 40 license renewal for the dams. Theses terms and conditions include the construction of fish ladders and increased river flows. Together, argue the Tribes, these conditions make removal a better deal for ratepayers.
“Spending $187 million to put ladders on these antiquated dams is a waste of ratepayer money. It would be cheaper to remove them,” says Hillman.
In addition, the dams have very little power production value. According to a 2002 report by the California Energy Commission, “Because of the small capacity of the Klamath hydro units…removal of these units will not have a significant reliability impact on a larger regional scale…”
The report went on to add that, “decommissioning is a feasible alternative from the perspective of impacts to statewide electricity resource adequacy and that replacement energy is available in the near term.”
The Buffet family has demonstrated an interest in Native American issues in the past. Ironically, Hillman was a finalist for the Buffet Award for Indigenous Leadership last year.
“Mr. Buffet may not yet understand how his dams affect my people. We have subsisted on salmon since the beginning of time. But today we can’t catch enough fish for our ceremonies much less feed ourselves. We need his help to solve this problem since his employees at PacifiCorp are failing to address the needs of the Tribes and other communities that depend on this fishery,” concludes Hillman.
This year, the California and Oregon economies will lose an estimated $150 million due to commercial fisheries closures. The closures were instituted to protect weak stocks of Klamath River salmon.
# # #
For more information see http://www.karuk.us/press%20&%20campaigns/press.php
P R E S S R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2006
For more information: Craig Tucker, Media Spokesman, Karuk Tribe, 530-627-3446 x 3027
BILLIONAIRE BUFFET GIVES TO CHARITY WHILE HIS DAMS KILL SALMON AND COMPROMISE TRIBAL CULTURES
Karuk Tribe appeals to Buffet: Remove your dams, save our salmon
Orleans, CA – According to an Associated Press report, Billionaire investor Warren Buffet intends to work with the Gates Foundation to donate billons of dollars to charity. Meanwhile, on the Klamath River, dams that are owned by a subsidiary of Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. continues to kill salmon, host toxic algae blooms, and put Tribal and non-native fishermen out of work.
According to the AP, the Gates Foundation stated that "Warren [Buffet] has not only an amazing intellect but also a strong sense of justice.”
The Karuk Tribe remains unconvinced. “Until Mr. Buffet removes his dams which are driving our fish into extinction, I will be forced to question his sense of justice,” commented Leaf Hillman, Vice Chairman of the Karuk Tribe.
The Karuk Tribe is currently working with neighboring Tribes, conservation organizations, and commercial fishermen to get four of the six Klamath River dams removed. The dams block access to over 350 miles of salmon habitat and instead provide habitat for the blue green algae Microcystis aeruginosa, a producer of tumor promoting toxins.
The dams are owned and operated by Portland, Oregon based PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp was recently bought by a Buffet owned company after the previous owner, Scottish Power, was targeted by the Tribes’ campaign. In 2004 and 2005, Tribal leaders protested Scottish Power’s shareholder meetings in Scotland.
“Not only is dam removal the right thing to do morally, it makes economic sense for ratepayers,” according to Hillman.
In April, the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued mandatory terms and conditions for a 40 license renewal for the dams. Theses terms and conditions include the construction of fish ladders and increased river flows. Together, argue the Tribes, these conditions make removal a better deal for ratepayers.
“Spending $187 million to put ladders on these antiquated dams is a waste of ratepayer money. It would be cheaper to remove them,” says Hillman.
In addition, the dams have very little power production value. According to a 2002 report by the California Energy Commission, “Because of the small capacity of the Klamath hydro units…removal of these units will not have a significant reliability impact on a larger regional scale…”
The report went on to add that, “decommissioning is a feasible alternative from the perspective of impacts to statewide electricity resource adequacy and that replacement energy is available in the near term.”
The Buffet family has demonstrated an interest in Native American issues in the past. Ironically, Hillman was a finalist for the Buffet Award for Indigenous Leadership last year.
“Mr. Buffet may not yet understand how his dams affect my people. We have subsisted on salmon since the beginning of time. But today we can’t catch enough fish for our ceremonies much less feed ourselves. We need his help to solve this problem since his employees at PacifiCorp are failing to address the needs of the Tribes and other communities that depend on this fishery,” concludes Hillman.
This year, the California and Oregon economies will lose an estimated $150 million due to commercial fisheries closures. The closures were instituted to protect weak stocks of Klamath River salmon.
# # #
For more information see http://www.karuk.us/press%20&%20campaigns/press.php
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Who cares? When you give that kind of money to help folks in this world, then we well care about what you have to say.
Jeez, somethings are just never good enough for some people...
Jeez, somethings are just never good enough for some people...
you know, a man who runs a multi billion dollar investment giving away his fortune to people largely outwheights cancer fish. it´s´shamefull of you to come out with such articles in a time when he decides to do some good.
looking for some publicity there humm? trying to blame him for the bad fish? those big 100 million reimbursed? take a big chunk for yourself? make it all really worthwhile hmmm?
oh you will do ok like that. you know, i´ve seen people like you by the hundreds in mozambique, and to be honest, you talk a lot.
looking for some publicity there humm? trying to blame him for the bad fish? those big 100 million reimbursed? take a big chunk for yourself? make it all really worthwhile hmmm?
oh you will do ok like that. you know, i´ve seen people like you by the hundreds in mozambique, and to be honest, you talk a lot.
Some pro-billionaire sentiment on imc is always good for a laugh. Sure, Warren Buffet is just giving up his left arm so that some charity can display his cardboard check with a handshake, smile and photo op..
No, the Klamath dams need to be decommissioned, the sooner the better. The salmon need their habitat restored and the energy needs to come from more sustainable sources, try solar panels and windmills in local communities. The Yurok, Karuk, Hupa, Modoc and Klamath tribes have struggled a great deal more than Warren Buffet who recently purchased the Pacificorp dams from Scottish Power. All Warren does is sit at a banquet and he becomes a hero? Bullshit capitalism at it's finest..
What US residents can do today is reverse the 400+ years of genocide against indigenous peoples of north america and pressure this billionaire to decommission the Klamath dams and restore the Klamath river. There may be something in it for everyone as science indicates that an improvement in salmon's habitat will increase their population every year. Salmon is one of those miracle foods that provides people with almost every needed mineral and nutrient. Indigenous people recognized the importance of salmon and based their culture around the re-appearance of this anadromous fish. What people of today need to do is recognize the value of a healthy ecosystem is more important than an economy that proliferates the types of Warren Buffet and the psuedo-charities. Maybe if there were less billionaires like buffet there would be less poverty worldwide and thus eliminate the need for billionaires to host charity banquets in the first place..
No, the Klamath dams need to be decommissioned, the sooner the better. The salmon need their habitat restored and the energy needs to come from more sustainable sources, try solar panels and windmills in local communities. The Yurok, Karuk, Hupa, Modoc and Klamath tribes have struggled a great deal more than Warren Buffet who recently purchased the Pacificorp dams from Scottish Power. All Warren does is sit at a banquet and he becomes a hero? Bullshit capitalism at it's finest..
What US residents can do today is reverse the 400+ years of genocide against indigenous peoples of north america and pressure this billionaire to decommission the Klamath dams and restore the Klamath river. There may be something in it for everyone as science indicates that an improvement in salmon's habitat will increase their population every year. Salmon is one of those miracle foods that provides people with almost every needed mineral and nutrient. Indigenous people recognized the importance of salmon and based their culture around the re-appearance of this anadromous fish. What people of today need to do is recognize the value of a healthy ecosystem is more important than an economy that proliferates the types of Warren Buffet and the psuedo-charities. Maybe if there were less billionaires like buffet there would be less poverty worldwide and thus eliminate the need for billionaires to host charity banquets in the first place..
“Warren Buffet and the psuedo-charities.”
Kind of like your pseudo news story? The fact still remains that his money will do far more to help underprivileged folks around the world than your snickering on some Indymedia site.
“Maybe if there were less billionaires like buffet there would be less poverty worldwide and thus eliminate the need for billionaires to host charity banquets in the first place.”
Yes, and maybe pigs would fly too. The fact still remains, he did something honorabe, and your just complaining.
Kind of like your pseudo news story? The fact still remains that his money will do far more to help underprivileged folks around the world than your snickering on some Indymedia site.
“Maybe if there were less billionaires like buffet there would be less poverty worldwide and thus eliminate the need for billionaires to host charity banquets in the first place.”
Yes, and maybe pigs would fly too. The fact still remains, he did something honorabe, and your just complaining.
The Klamath Dams are dishonorable to the tribes who depend on the Klamath River and no amount of charity can right that wrong. The honorable thing for Buffet to do is take out the Klamath dams.
buffet is donating his money to organizations that are arranging to get 'global healthcare' and 'fight diseases.' when you read into the NYtimes article that I have in front of me, most of the shit that his funded scientists are 'looking into' are things like creating "chemicals that can knock out mosquitos sense of smell," i.e. to avoid malaria outbreaks. hey now, that's a good idea, flood the environment with more neurological toxins that have not been adequately tested, just to avoid something as natural as maleria. most of his schtick avoids something as radical as directly financing groups in their pursiot of autonomy and self directive ecomonic control he talks endlessly about microlending, and here is an example right in front of him: remove the dam, let the indians get their salmon, everyone is happy.
The Warren Buffet giveaway is a classic of American Competitive Altruism. This is an interesting concept that is explored in fair detail in two articles by Ian Jobling. Here's the reference to them, they do a good job parsing this behavior.
www.amren.com/0311issue/0311issue.html
and
www.amren.com/030issue/030issue.html
It would be good reading if it weren't so damned distressing.
People where well aware of Buffet's practice back in 2005. This isn't some native americans trying to grab headlines, this about them staying alive.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2005/05/25/17407331.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2005/05/25/17407331.php
buffet is the biggest stockholder in coca cola, which is behind the war in colombia and uses death squads to kill union organizers. look at who the rockefeller foundation funded: for example the eugenics society, which inspired the nazis to kill anyone who wasnt a perfect "aryan" ( try googling "kaiser wilhelm institute"). billionaire "charity" is generally for their freinds pet projects and the twisted altruistic endeavors of the New World Order social engineers. gates and Buffet finance Bushs campaigns, and are responsible for Bush's megadeath policies.
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