Mayor Hales Invited to Meet Pope Francis at the Vatican

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

Mayor Charlie Hales

Pope Francis

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales is one of 16 mayors across the world invited to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican this July.

Vatican officials have called these mayors together to address issues of climate change and human trafficking.

Portland has been an international leader on the topic of climate change, with recognition from the White House and C40, an international consortium of cities focusing on carbon emotions and climate change. The city adopted a climate action plan in 1993 and, as a member of C40, is committed to addressing climate change, according to the Mayor's office.

Portland also is in the midst of a severe increase in gang violence, fueled in part by an increased reliance on prostitution by local gangs.

“These are crises facing every city in the world. Cites have to work together, and this is an opportunity to do just that,” said Mayor Hales. ”It’s an honor for the mayors to address the Pope.”

“Modern Slavery and Climate Change – The Commitment of the Cities,” is being sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Science, July 21, at Vatican City. Participants likely will include mayors of Berlin, Minneapolis, Oslo, Norway, Seattle, and Boulder, Colo.

Mayors taking part in the sustainability discussion are expected from Rome, New York City, Seoul, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, Istanbul and Melbourne.

The Vatican also will release an encyclical this week, focusing on global warming as a manmade phenomenon.

Hales will be meeting with leaders – on the topics of both climate change and human trafficking – throughout Oregon in the coming weeks, to coordinate a message for the Vatican visit.

Related Slideshow: Oregon Industries Jeopardized by Warm Weather

The balmy weather Oregon is experiencing, although pleasant, does not bode well for some of the state’s biggest industries.

The early, hot spring has posed risks to Oregon’s wine industry, crops, forest services, apiculture (bees), outdoor recreation such as rafting, and has taken a serious toll on the state’s winter recreation industry.

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Wine

When Spring arrives early, all biological processes get going earlier, including one of the most finicky Oregon crops -- grapes, which sustain Oregon’s $207.5 million wine industry through 950 vineyards and over 600 wineries.

Due to the warm weather, vineyards across the state are experiencing “bud break” -- the buds coming out of the vine -- about three weeks earlier than normal, two weeks earlier than in 2014, said Oregon State University Vitriculture expert Patty Skinkis.

“The main concern has to do with the potential for frost damaging growing tissues,” Skinkis said. “Once they start growing that green tissue, it’s susceptible to frost.” Frost damages the most fruitful shoots, making for a significant reduction in yield.

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Winter Sports

“This has been a very, very stingy snow season for us,” said Mt. Hood Meadows spokesman Dave Tragethon. The total number of visits for the resort was down by roughly one third, unable to open until December 22, almost a month late.

Hoodoo Ski Area, near Sisters, was open just ten days. Warner Canyon did not open at all. Cooper Spur and Willamette Pass did not open until January, while Ski Bowl, Ferguson Ridge, Mount Ashland, and Spout Springs could not consistently remain open.

Only a handful of Oregon resorts stayed open for most of the year, including Timberline, Mount Bachelor,Mt. Hood Meadows, and Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.

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River Recreation

Lower snowpack means less water in the rivers. Some outdoor recreational industries, such as river rafting, will take a hit this summer.

Craig Wright, owner of Oregon River Company since 1978, said he expects low water levels to negatively impact the bottom line of the company, which employs 25 full and part time staff.

“It’s tense,” he said. “It’s not unprecedented but it’s pretty darn unusual.”

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Apiculture (bees)

Bees are coming out early, signalled by the early bloom of flowers.

“It’s a worry that if the weather doesn’t stay like this, if it gets rainy or cold, the bees can’t sustain themselves,” said entomologist Ramesh Sagili.

Bees can’t go outside the hive and forage if the temperature drops below 40 or 45 degrees farenheit. Ideal foraging temperature is 55 degrees.

“If bees die, then pollination becomes a problem,” Sagili said. “Agricultural crops are very dependent on honey bees.”

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Agriculture

Governor Kate Brown declared a drought emergency Tuesday in Lake and Malheur counties, both of which rely on agriculture as a key industry. A snowpack between six and 40 percent of normal was the leading factor in the decision, according to Keith Mills of the Oregon Water Resource.

Overall crop yields will be lower, as farmers focus more on money-making crops, switching to crops like wheat which get higher yield for less water.

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Forest Fire Fighting

In 2013, firefighting costs ran an all-time record of $122 million, as crews battled more than 100,000 acres. The state tapped a $25 million insurance policy, and turned to the state’s general fund to pick up the over run.

In 2014, the ODF spent $75.6 million fighting over a thousand fires that burned more than 50,000 acres of forest. Again the state tapped its full insurance policy of $25 million and the over run came out of the state’s general fund.

According to ODF spokesman Rod Nichols, there is no indication this year will be any different.