Should we go to trial, many of us will be arguing we did this out of necessity, in order to prevent a far greater looming evil -- of being incinerated in our sleep, of doing nothing to stop this deadly fossil fuel cargo while hundreds of thousands of people die each year from floods, disease, malnutrition, and heat stress due to climate change.

On Friday, June 3rd, a crude oil train traveled through the scenic Columbia River Gorge, a national treasure and one of the most beautiful spots in a country blessed with some of the most stunning places on Earth.

Black smoke billowed over the scene.

Ticking time bombs are rumbling through the Pacific Northwest. Nearly overnight the railways have become primary transport routes for trains filled with highly flammable crude oil. With this rapid increase in traffic has come an enormous uptick in explosions.