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‘Done Playing Role in … Political Theater’: State’s entire fishing advisory board resigns in protest against offshore wind farms

Every member of the Rhode Island Fisherman’s Advisory Board resigned on Friday in protest against the offshore wind farm projects being developed along the state’s coastline.

All nine members of the fishing regulatory board quit after the Coastal Resources Management Council approved an 84-turbine Sunrise Wind project last week.

Since President Biden signed an executive order in 2021 to double offshore wind development by 2030, the Rhode Island CRMC has approved five projects.

In a letter to the CRMC executive director, Jeff Willis, the fishing advisory board members stated that they refuse to participate in the process, accusing the CRMC of making “deference to offshore wind developers its top priority regardless of the requirements of the Ocean [Special Area Management Plan].”

"I think Rhode Island seriously needs to rethink, does it want to be the Ocean State," Meghan Lapp, a member of FAB, told WJAR-TV. "Or do you want to be the Windmill State?"

FAB chair Lanny Dellinger shared the letter in ecoRI News’ opinion piece titled “Fisherman’s Advisory Board Done Playing Role in CRMC’s Political Theater.”

“We as members of the FAB thought that the purpose of FAB/CRMC review was to ensure that offshore wind projects conformed to the requirements and restrictions of the Ocean SAMP. We were wrong. The Ocean SAMP process has been reduced to mere political theater, to which we refuse to lend any further credence by our presence,” FAB’s letter stated.

The advisory board claimed that the approval process had “become a mockery of what the Ocean SAMP was designed to accomplish.”

FAB accused the CRMC of not taking its regulatory role seriously and instead “advanc[ing] a policy agenda of offshore wind development above all else.” The board further stated that the CRMC had failed to consider “the cost to the environment, or the impacts to Rhode Island’s fishing industry.”

Fishermen worry that the offshore wind project will cause significant disruptions to commercial fishing. Additionally, critics continue to speculate whether the offshore wind farms are linked to the recent surge in whale deaths.

“We will not allow our names to be connected in any way to Council approvals now amounting to wholesale ocean destruction. Rhode Island is supposed to be the Ocean State, not the Windmill State,” the board concluded.

The CRMC replied to FAB in a Friday statement, noting it was “disappointed to learn of the resignation of the FAB members.”

“The FAB has provided valuable information and insight to the CRMC for its federal consistency reviews of offshore wind energy projects,” the state agency continued. “While unfortunate, these resignations do not affect the CRMC’s review scope, obligations and timelines. … CRMC remains hopeful that the Rhode Island fishing community will continue to participate in the public process for reviewing offshore wind energy projects, as well as any other projects affecting the fishery resources of the State.”

https://www.theblaze.com/news/done-playing-role-in-political-theater-states-entire-fishing-advisory-board-resigns-in-protest-against-offshore-wind-farms

At least 32 killed in Sudan Army strikes on Tuesday - activists

At least 32 civilians were killed and dozens injured in artillery strikes by the Sudanese Army on Tuesday, one of the highest tolls from a single day of fighting since conflict broke out in April, the activist group, Emergency Lawyers, said, Reuters reports.

Rights activists and residents say the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that are fighting for control of the country have fired missiles into populated areas, incurring hundreds of civilian casualties in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities.

While the RSF holds most of the ground in Khartoum and the cities of Omdurman and Bahri that make up the wider capital, the Army has an edge in heavier artillery and aircraft.

The strike on Tuesday took place in the Ombada neighbourhood in western Omdurman, the statement released on Wednesday said, a neighbourhood that has seen several deadly strikes.

Earlier this week, military sources said the Army had deployed large numbers of ground troops in Omdurman and was preparing for a large operation to attempt to cut off the RSF’s main supply route into the capital from the Darfur region.

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At least 32 civilians were killed and dozens injured in artillery strikes by the Sudanese Army on Tuesday, one of the highest tolls from a single day of fighting since conflict broke out in April, the activist group, Emergency Lawyers, said, Reuters reports.

Rights activists and residents say the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that are fighting for control of the country have fired missiles into populated areas, incurring hundreds of civilian casualties in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities.

While the RSF holds most of the ground in Khartoum and the cities of Omdurman and Bahri that make up the wider capital, the Army has an edge in heavier artillery and aircraft.

The strike on Tuesday took place in the Ombada neighbourhood in western Omdurman, the statement released on Wednesday said, a neighbourhood that has seen several deadly strikes.

Earlier this week, military sources said the Army had deployed large numbers of ground troops in Omdurman and was preparing for a large operation to attempt to cut off the RSF’s main supply route into the capital from the Darfur region.

Sudan: US envoy describes atrocities as ‘reminiscent’ of Darfur 2004

Local volunteers reported that 19 people had been killed in army strikes on Ombada on Sunday. Residents say large numbers fled the Ombada neighbourhood on Wednesday.

The RSF has also been accused by activists and residents of damaging homes by firing anti-aircraft missiles and other artillery, as well as looting and occupying civilian neighbourhoods.

“The use of heavy and light artillery in areas packed with civilians is a war crime … and reflects a disregard for their lives,” the Emergency Lawyers, who are pro-democracy legal activists, said on Wednesday.

They said the Army and RSF would be brought to justice.

The factions, who fell out over internationally-backed plans to integrate their forces during a transition to democracy, have denied responsibility for strikes that have killed civilians.

The United States on Wednesday sanctioned the deputy head of the RSF for involvement in human rights abuses by his troops, and had previously sanctioned companies linked to both sides.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230906-at-least-32-killed-in-sudan-army-strikes-on-tuesday-activists/

Police Shooting Of Black Pregnant Woman In Ohio Could Unleash New BLM Protests, Mayhem

As we have been documenting, now that the country is poised to enter a highly charged 2024 presidential election season (likely Biden v. Trump again), the following dictates and trends are 'suddenly' making a comeback…

renewed push for Covid vaccine booster?: Check

masks coming back to public spaces and children's schools?: Check

new MSM claims of Russia laundering propaganda through independent media sources?: Check

BLM and race-fueled riots in major American cities?…

This last one appears imminent, or at least just potentially around the corner, following a tragic police shooting incident of an unarmed black pregnant woman in an Ohio suburb, who immediately succumbed to her wounds.

The police body-cam footage of the killing is quickly going viral and gaining national attention, leading to intense local protests… local that is, for now.

Axios and others have documented fresh protests of increasing intensity in the township outside of Columbus where it occurred: "Police body camera footage showing a Blendon Township officer fatally shooting a pregnant Black woman has once again thrust local law enforcement into the national spotlight."

21-year old Ta'Kiya Young died after an officer fired multiple shots through her moving car windshield at almost point blank range. She was seven months pregnant.

Kroger employees had called police to the location, accusing her of theft of alcohol. She died on the scene after the August 24 incident. But police released footage from two officer body-cams last Friday, which is now going viral.

After watching the video, Young's family called the shooting a "hateful act" and "avoidable" - while demanding that the officer who pulled the trigger be swiftly indicted for murder. Young's unborn daughter also died when the mother expired due to the gunshot wounds.

As an internal investigation proceeds, it seems the likely defense of the officer who pulled the trigger will be to say that he was being assaulted by a deadly weapon (namely the accelerating vehicle itself). According to local media:

In a statement on Friday, the department said the first officer, who did not fire his weapon, had his arm and hand inside the driver's window when Young accelerated, making him a victim of misdemeanor assault. The second officer, who fired his weapon, was hit by the vehicle and a victim of attempted vehicular assault, the statement said.

…On Friday, Belford said the officer who did not fire his weapon has returned from administrative leave and is back on patrol duty.

Forbes has featured a fuller video of the lead-up, with law enforcement analysis:

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/police-shooting-black-pregnant-woman-ohio-could-unleash-new-blm-protests-mayhem