Blackbear

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3918249.stm
Native Americans fight power firm


Campaigners want to restore fish passage on the Klamath River
Native American Indians have protested outside the annual general meeting of ScottishPower over alleged damage to the environment in western USA.
A series of dams which are owned by a ScottishPower subsidiary are being blamed for a big drop in salmon numbers on the River Klamath.

The visitors demonstrated outside the shareholders' meeting in Glasgow and met senior executives of the company.

ScottishPower said it wanted to work with the tribes to find a solution.


Final outcome

The delegation from Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa and Klamath tribes alongside environmentalists and fishermen are demanding the restoration of the river, which they claim has been damaged by a 350-mile dams project.

The work has degraded water quality and contributed to a large decline in salmon numbers in what was once America's third greatest salmon river, the group claims.

Thirteen of the 30 representatives from the tribes met ScottishPower's chief executive Ian Russell and president of PacifiCorp Judi Johansen in Edinburgh on Thursday.

But delegates said the pair offered no fixed vision or final outcome for the River Klamath.

The meeting was constructive and marks another step in the continuing dialogue with the tribal leaders

A Scottish Power spokesman

A Friends of the River (FoR) spokesman said: "We may have heard some good words from ScottishPower today, but we need these to be followed up with real action.

"We've heard hollow words from PacifiCorp for many years now, which have always turned out to be insincere.

"Words won't bring the salmon home and restore our damaged economy, communities and culture."

FoR said ScottishPower did agree to work towards the objectives of restoring fish passage on the Klamath river, with Mr Russell offering a "personal commitment" to find a solution between the two parties - a commitment they mean to hold him to.

A ScottishPower spokesman added: "The meeting was constructive and marks another step in the continuing dialogue with the tribal leaders.

"There will be more meetings in the US in the future."

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