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Defining Cascadia panel discussion May 17
It’s Cascadia Culture Week! That means it’s time to celebrate what makes the Cascadia bioregion unique. Curious to learn more about Cascadia and bioregionalism? Join us for a lively conversation this Friday, May 17 in Seattle. Cascadia Magazine and the UpZones podcast are teaming up to present a panel discussion, “Defining Cascadia” examining how bioregional thinking can help us approach issues such as endangered orcas, building a high-speed rail corridor, and fostering deeper connections in the region’s creative community.
Moderated by UpZones host Ian Martinez, the panel will feature Cascadia Magazine editor Andrew Engelson, poet Nadine Maestas, Paige Malott of Cascadia Rail, and Sightline Institute’s Tarika Powell.
Join us from 6:30-8:30 pm Friday, May 17 at Horizon Books in Seattle at 1423 10th Ave. More info here.
BC to investigate money laundering
The Tyee reports on a major investigation in British Columbia into the $7.4 billion of illegal money laundered in the province in the past year, accounting for an astounding 2 percent of BC’s total economy. Charlie Smith at The Georgia Straight wonders if the investigation will lead to BC nationalizing the province’s casinos. The Vancouver Sun has a timeline of the revelations about the massive amount of money laundering in BC, which has inflated real estate prices by at least five percent.
Seattle police not in compliance over use of force
Crosscut reports that a US District judge has ruled that although the Seattle police department has made improvements, more needs to be done to before the department is in compliance with court-ordered reforms on use of force and public accountability. In related news, OPB reports that Portland is bringing in a national group to investigate if there’s bias in how Portland police treat protestors on the left and right.
Oregon ditches vaccine and gun control bills
The Portland Mercury reports on how Democrats, responding to a Republican walkout in the legislature, gave up on bills that would have ended vaccine exemptions and raised the gun purchase age to 21 — in order to get a vote on the $1 billion education bill. Meanwhile, the Seattle Times reports on the new “public option” for health care in Washington state passed in the current legislative session. Washington this year also became the first state in the US to establish a benefit program for long-term care.
Protecting silence on the Olympic Peninsula
High Country News has a great feature on the efforts of Gordon Hempton and local activists to protect the unique quality of silence in Washington’s Olympic National Park. Navy “Growler” jets can raise the ambient silence of the rainforests to up to 70 decibels (the sound of a vacuum cleaner). “This is a national park, and natural quiet is on the list of protected natural resources.”
A weekend of festivals for UFO lovers…
One of the most famous purported UFO sightings was in 1950, when Paul Trent took a pic of a flying saucer over Yamhill county, Oregon. In honor of that event, every year the town of McMinnville celebrates with its UFO Festival, and Oregon Arts Watch has a great preview of all the activities, including panel discussions and a parade.
…and film lovers
Meanwhile, in Seattle, it’s time for the 45th Seattle International Film Festival, which brings 410 films from 86 countries to screens across the city. The Stranger picks its festival highlights, and Crosscut has a piece on Lynn Shelton, the Seattle-based director whose new film, Sword of Trust, will open this year’s SIFF. And The Stranger has a Q&A with Shelton about conspiracy theories, Marc Maron, and making a film in Alabama: “It was surreal to make a movie in foreign territory. It was like, “I don’t know this place.” But I have to say, I kind of fell in love with it. The people are extraordinary. It really is like another country. It was a completely different cultural experience.”
Poetry by Seattle’s Doug Nufer
“Pocket Pal Bromides Attributed to Celebrities” is the latest poem by Doug Nufer online at the Seattle Review of Books during his poet-in-residence for the site in May. You might find use for advice in the poem or maybe not:
“Failing nineteen times, I’ve learned the one
Who brings out the best in me
Looks like an empty mind
With an open one to ask a better question.”
Read the full poem here.
Hope you enjoyed today’s mixtape of news, arts, and culture from across the Cascadia bioregion. Apologies for the less-than-daily frequency over the past week–when you’ve got a staff of close to one, personal issues can make it tough to get everything done. Thanks for your patience. If you’d like to help support this little upstart publication, please visit our donate page and chip in. Thanks! –Andrew Engelson
Photo credits: Hall of Mosses in Olympic Nation Park by John Walker via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0