Missed our “Defining Cascadia” panel? Watch it online!
This past Friday it was a pleasure to participate in a fascinating panel discussion at Seattle’s Horizon Books on the different ways we define Cascadia, and how thinking beyond borders can help us approach issues with more clarity in the Pacific Northwest, whether it’s the environment, the economy, politics, or the arts. Ian Martinez of the UpZones podcast was a great moderator, and the panelists offered some intriguing thoughts about everything from creating a regional high-speed rail system to building a green economy; the cultural differences between the east and west sides of the region, and the DIY ethos in the local arts and poetry scene.
Many thanks to Tarika Powell of Sightline Institute, Paige Malott from Cascadia Rail, and poet Nadine Maestas for joining me on the panel, and to Ian Martinez of the UpZones podcast, and Horizon Books. It was a fun and fascinating evening!
You can watch the whole panel discussion here. –Andrew Engelson
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Case of transgender prisoner in Idaho could set precedent
The Idaho Statesman has a fantastic, detailed feature on the case of Andre Edmo, a transgender prisoner in who is suing the state of Idaho to provide transition surgery. It’s a nuanced article about the complexities of the case: Edmo is Native American, and in prison as a sex offender, attempted suicide in 2014, and has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and believes not allowing him a sex-change is cruel and unusual punishment. Idaho has been fighting previous court-orders to allow Edmo to receive the surgery. The case is in appeals, and if successful, it would be the first court-ordered sex reassignment in the US. Boise State Radio has more on the case before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
What efforts will be sufficient to protect orcas?
The Seattle Times reports on a local initiative in San Juan county, Washington that would increase limits on boat traffic and whale-watching trips above what the legislature passed this season. The limits have new urgency as NOAA reported that two orcas in the southern resident pod are in danger of starvation, CBC notes. Governor Jay Inslee signed a raft of bills to protect orcas, the San Juan Journal reports, and he shifted $75 million in the budget to increase funding to fix road culverts, which will increase chinook salmon habitat. And the Lummi Nation has called on NOAA to issue an emergency intervention to save orcas in the Salish Sea.
Ruling expected on BC limits to pipelines
CBC reports that a British Columbia court is expected to rule on Friday whether the province has the right to declare limits on diluted bitumen (the tar sand petroleum carried in the Trans Mountain pipeline), an important part of BC’s strategy to push for a halt to pipeline expansion. In related news KNKX looks at the fight to stop a proposed LNG terminal in Tacoma, and governor Jay Inslee’s recent change of position to oppose the project.
BC’s failure to protect spotted owls
The Narwhal looks at stalled efforts to protect spotted owls in British Columbia’s western rain forests: though the US has dedicated 8 million hectares to spotted owl protection, BC has only set aside 218,350 hectares, a tiny fraction. “Spotted owl populations in the province have plummeted from an estimated 500 pairs historically to only a few individuals in the wild at last count.” Today is the anniversary of the US court ruling that forced forest managers to protect spotted owl habitat.
Where to explore in Cascadia this summer
Warm weather is already upon us in Cascadia, and summer is just around the corner. Time to start planning your adventures: the Portland Mercury has suggestions for weird and quirky places to visit across the region (including a fun park with a pink lemonade fountain and a museum of satanism!). BC BookLook reviews a new guidebook to climbing peaks a short distance from Vancouver, BC. And Seattle Met offers a list of 15 amazing-looking cabins for rent across Cascadia.
Poetry by Jenifer Lawrence
Over at Collateral, you can read Seattle-based poet Jenifer Lawrence’s short prose poem “Expectant.”
“I spoke to the long-armed lawman once, but what could he say except go home.” Jenifer is the editor of the great literary journal Crab Creek Review: the Spring issue is available and you should support them and subscribe!
That’s this evening’s edition of Cascadia Daily, your smorgasbord of news, arts, poetry, and environmental reporting from across the Cascadia bioregion. See you tomorrow. –Andrew Engelson Photo credits: spotted owl by Emily Brouwer, Mount Rainier NP (CC BY-SA 2.0), photos of J-17 orca courtesy of NOAA (public domain), cover of CCR courtesy of Crab Creek Review.