Speak Up! Speak Out!

Environment

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Evergreen Islands - March 27, 2013

Evergreen Islands - a citizen advocacy group - is a "watchdog" over proposed development projects in and around Fidalgo Island, that threaten our resources and the rural character of the area. They have a long history going back at least 36 years to protect Fidalgo Island and the salt water islands nearby, using existing laws. In today's show, Ginny talks with Steve Clark, former president, and Tom Glade, current president of Evergreen Islands about the history of the group and how they conduct their campaigns.

Contact Evergreen Islands through their blog or by email:
Website/blog: http://evergreenislands.org
email address: evergreen.islands@frontier.com

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Dana Lyons to perform for Skagit Human Rights Festival - March 13, 2013

Bellingham singer-songwriter and tireless activist Dana Lyons joins Ginny and Dave in advance of his concert appearance for the Human Rights Festival. In this entertaining interview he reflects on his experiences in his Great Coal Train Tour, and talks about his upcoming Australian Tour, where activists are facing the same challenges from industries hungry to extract and export fossil fuels at huge costs to local residents. This show features the radio premiere of Dana's new song about the Salish Sea orcas, and his old stand-by "Cows With Guns."

Dana Lyons performs in concert at the Phillip Tarro Theatre on the campus of Skagit Valley College on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 pm. The show is free to the public and is sponsored by the 10th Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival.

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Public Comments on Cherry Point Coal Terminal - What's Next? - January 30, 2013

Matt Krogh, North Sound Baykeeper with Re-Sources for a Sustainable Community in Bellingham; and Beth Doglio, Campaign Director for both Climate Solutions in Seattle and for the regional Power Past Coal Campaign, join Ginny Wolff for today's show. This is an update on efforts to stop the Gateway Pacific Terminal - the coal export facility proposed at Cherry Point.

Matt and Beth share their perspectives on what happened in the recently concluded Scoping Period for the Environmental Impact Statement process mandated by law for this project. "Scoping" was a four month period when the public spoke up with concerns about the proposal. Matt and Beth describe the unprecedented volume and quality of comments submitted by the public. They also discuss where their respective organizations will focusing their efforts in the weeks and months to come.

To read comments submitted for Scoping for the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement): http://www.eisgatewaypacificwa.gov
To stay informed: http://www.coaltrainfacts.org and http://www.powerpastcoal.org

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DanaLyons - Great Coal Train Tour - October 17, 2012

Singer Songwriter DanaLyons, best known for his hit "Cows With Guns," joins Speak Up! Speak Out! for a special show prior to his Great Coal Train Tour concert at the Lincoln Theatre Oct. 23. He talks about what he hears from people along the proposed coal train route and why he feels passionate enough to go on concert tour for months to oppose the proposal. He also speaks to the importance of community radio. Two of Dana's songs are included in this version of today's show: "Sometimes," and "Swimming in the Big Deep."

Visit Dana's website: http://cowswithguns.com

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MV City Council to hear Coal Transportation Concerns - September 5, 2012

Ross Macfarlane is Senior Advisor, Business Partnerships for Climate Solutions. He will present to the MV City Council on Wed. Sept 19 at 6 pm. The session is open to the public. Ross did this interview with Ginny In April, 2012. Mr. Macfarlane will focus on the transportation issues and costs Skagit County would face should the Gateway Pacific Terminal be built.

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Sustainable Transportation - August 29, 2012

Dr. Preston Schiller, co-author of An Introduction to Sustainable Transportation: Policy, Planning and Implementation, talks with Dave about sustainable transportation in NW Washington - what has been done, and what needs to be done.

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Speak Up during Scoping about the Cherry Point Terminal - August 8, 2012

James Wells and Nicole Brown of Whatcom County explain the Scoping process of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Cherry Point Coal Terminal (GPT). They describe how people can effectively draft either oral or written comments to register their concerns about impacts of the terminal and resulting increase in train and shipping traffic. They also discuss the workshops they are holding to motivate and train people to write their own comments and spread the message.

Up-coming workshops:
Tuesdays, Aug. 14 & Aug. 28, in Bellingham: ReSources office in Bellingham, 7 pm Thursday, Aug. 9, in Mt. Vernon: Skagit Valley College, Rm A-125, 6:30-8:30 pm

Website: http://protectwhatcom.org - good information about Scoping
http://coaltrainfacts.org - information about project in it's entirety
Email: gptscoping@gmail.com
Facebook: Power Past Coal Skagit

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Coal Free Bellingham Campaign - June 6, 2012

Rick Dubrow and Stoney Bird join Ginny to discuss the Coal Free Bellingham Campaign. They are two organizers of an effort to get a ballot initiative passed in Bellingham which would ban coal trafficking within the city. Rick and Stoney talk about the limitations of the existing regulatory processes which have prompted other communities to pass this kind of legislation, why their group in Bellingham is attempting do it now, and what kind of response they are getting.

For more information:
website for Coal Free Bellingham: http://www.coal-free-bellingham.org
website for Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (think tank behind all this work): http://www.CELDF.org
Bellingham campaign phone number: (360) 389-3314
email: info@coal-free-bellingham.org

Events: July 21: Thomas Linzey, founder of CELDF, will be in Bellingham - details on Coal Free Bellingham website
Oct: Richard Heinberg, of the Post Carbon Institute will be in Bellingham. More at Living Democracy website: http://www.livingdemocracy.org

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Climate Solutions Addresses Coal Export - April 11, 2012

Ginny Wolff speaks with Ross Macfarlane, Sr. Advisor for Climate Solutions, about coal export in Washington and Oregon, particularly the terminal proposed at Cherry Point, north of Bellingham. Ross explains the mission of the non-profit organization - Climate Solutions, Practical Solutions to Global Warming - and why they have taken on this issue. He also explains how people can be involved in the Environment Review process for this proposal which is approaching, and how to participate in the "Scoping" process.

Letters and Comments made during Scoping (time to be determined) can be submitted to:
Whatcom County Council: Tyler Schroeder: tschroed@co.whatcom.wa.us
Washington State Dept. of Ecology: Ted Sturdevant: tstu461@ecy.wa.gov
Army Corps of Engineers: Randel Perry: Randel.J.Perry@usace.army.mil

For further information see:
http://powerpastcoal.org
http://coaltrainfacts.org

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Skagit Human Rights Festival Looks at Defending Water and Labor - March 14, 2012

SUSO co-hosts Ginny Wolff speaks with Sandra Spargo and Kay McDonnell about Defending Water during the first half of the show: the upcoming event on March 22nd, 7pm at the Lincoln Theatre will feature a screening of Tapped and some conversation about Skagit water rights and the proposed bottling plant in Anacortes. During the second half of the show, co-host Jodie Buller talks with labor activists Rich Austin and Steve Garey about how unions support all workers, organized or not. The March 29 evening on Labor (also at 7pm at the Lincoln) will feature two short films, Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor council AFL-CIO, and a panel of labor leaders.

http://www.skagithrf.wordpress.com

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Moral Ground and Climate Change - March 7,2012

Speak Up! Speak Out! explores the moral dimensions of the challenge climate change presents to all of us. Dr. Kathleen Moore, philosopher and nature writer, and Evelyn Adams, one of the founders of Transition Fidalgo and Friends, join Ginny Wolff in our show for March 7. We talk about the mission of Transition Fidalgo and Friends, and discuss the ethics of climate change.

Dr. Kathleen Moore is the featured speaker at an event entitled: "Moral Ground: What Do We Owe the Future?" sponsored by Transition Fidalgo and Friends. This event is on Sunday, March 18, at the Phillip Tarro Theatre on the Skagit Valley College campus at 3 pm. Admission is free. Donations accepted.

For more information about Dr. Moore, see: http://www.riverwalking.com/

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Honoring Lee Mann - February 15, 2012

SUSO honors local photographer, naturalist, and human rights advocate Lee Mann, in advance of the upcoming month-long exhibit of his life and work at the art gallery on SVC campus during March, as part of the Skagit Human Rights Festival. Lee's son Bryce will speak at the opening of the exhibit on Thursday March 1 at 5pm. This show features past interviews with Lee, including excerpts from a KSVR interview with Stuarto Glasser from 2011, as well as samples of his letters to the editor over the years, read by SUSO co-hosts.

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Local Folks Oppose Coal Terminal at Cherry Point, part 2 - November 9, 2011

This is the second of 2 shows addressing the many consequences of building a coal shipping terminal at Cherry Point near Ferndale.

Co-host Ginny Wolff is joined by Phillip Holder, tireless proponent for the economic vitality of Skagit County and quality of life he treasures here; Matt Krogh, the North Sound Baykeeper at Re-Sources in Bellingham; and Carolyn Gastellum, the local coordinator of Skagit County citizens opposed to the terminal and increase in coal train traffic.

Topics discussed in this interview include concerns of the Mount Vernon businesses, health and environmental impacts of transporting coal from Wyoming to Asia, jobs and local economy, and some of the myths being promoted, such as that "the coal will go to Canada anyway."

Part One of this show aired on Oct. 26.

For more information:
http://www.re-sources.org and http://www.coaltrainfacts.org

Contact information for key decision makers:
Commissioner Peter Goldmark or 360 902-1004, through the DNR's website: http://www.wa.dnr.gov. or email cpl@wa.dnr.gov
Randel J. Perry, Army Corps of Engineers: Randel.J.Perry@usace.army.mil

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Sustainable Energies - November 2, 2011

Co-host Jodie Buller talks with Steve Hoffman from the non-profit NW Center for Sustainability and Innovation (NW CSI) about climate change, our energy future, and his work as an Energy Detective, sleuthing out common sense efficiency and renewable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and communities.

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Local Folks Oppose Coal Terminal at Cherry Point - October 26, 2011

The proposed shipping terminal at Cherry Point near Ferndale has many people worried about the many consequences of sending US coal to China, transporting it through the heart of Skagit County.

Matt Krogh, the North Sound Baykeeper at Re-Sources in Bellingham; Carolyn Gastellum, the local coordinator of Skagit County citizens opposed to the terminal and increase in coal train traffic; and Phillip Holder, tireless proponent for the quality of life he treasures in Mount Vernon; join Ginny Wolff in this interview. Their many concerns include questions of the real intent of the SSA Marine, who proposes to build the terminal; the effects of the increased train traffic on the economy and quality of life in Skagit County; and the global consequences of mining, transporting and burning coal for energy. They examine some of the myths being promoted, such as that "the coal will go to Canada anyway".

This is the first half of an hour long discussion. The second will air Nov. 9.

For more information, see: http://www.re-sources.org and http://www.coaltrainfacts.org

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Coal Coming Through - May 25, 2011

SUSO's Jodie Buller interviews RE-Sources for Sustainable Communities Executive Director Bob Ferris about the proposed coal contract at the Gateway Pacific Terminal and the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts affecting Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Bill McKibben will be appearing at Bellingham's Fairhaven Village Green on May 31st for an event to raise awareness about coal coming through our state on the way to China.

http://www.re-sources.org - petition posted online, info about McKibben's visit
http://www.climatesolutions.org
http://www.sightline.org

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Waste Management and Energy Efficiency in Skagit County - September 29, 2010

An interview with Callie Martin, Waste Reduction Outreach Specialist with Skagit County Public Works; and Katie Hampton, Sustainability Coordinator for the Climate Action and Sustainability Taskforce. Callie and Katie talk about nuts and bolts pragmatic attempts, by the County, to reduce waste and save energy in county operations; and to encourage the public to do likewise.

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Deep Energy Reduction - January 6, 2010

Energy Efficiency for Home and Business SUSO speaks with Steve Hoffman, Executive Director of the Northwest Center for Sustainability and Innovation (NWCSI), about the big picture and everyday details behind energy conservation, for individual cost savings and for the sake of climate change. NWCSI's newly launched "Energy Sleuths" program helps business and homeowners ferret out where their energy leaks are coming from, and collaborates with local manufacturers to improve air quality and tighten up existing structures. Steve leads workshops on this topic, including one at the Skagit Food Co-op on Tuesday January 12th 6:30pm.

http://www.nwcenterforsustainability.com
http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com

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Waste Wise Holidays - November 25, 2009

During the holiday season, Americans generate 25% more trash in the form of packaging, party supplies, and holiday gift wrapping. SUSO talks to Callie Martin, Skagit County Waste and Recycling Education Specialist, about practical ideas for cutting down on the amount of garbage you create during this holiday season, and a free presentation on Waste-Wise Holidays from Climate Steward Maribeth Crandell at the Burlington Library on Wednesday December 3rd at 7pm.
Listen for tips on trees, gift and gift-wrapping ideas, how to get yourself off junk mail lists, zero-waste party ideas, and what can be recycled in the Skagit Valley.

Maribeth's Waste-Wise Holiday article, The Seasonal Saint, is posted on the Skagit Valley Food Co-op's website blog: http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com
http://www.recyclenow.com
http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/ - for directions on how to get yourself off Direct Marketing lists
http://www.padillabay.gov/ClimateStewards.html - Climate Stewards program

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Earth Day: The Impacts of Plastics on Marine Environments - April 22, 2009
This interview with Jen Kingfisher from the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and Adria Banks, coordinator for WSU Skagit County Beachwatchers and Shore Stewards, looks at the plastic soup we call the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the dangers that plastics pose to our food chain. We also check in with the health of our Skagit watershed and look at everyday habit changes that people can make to curb their use of plastics.
For more information visit Port Townsend Marine Science Center, WSU Skagit County Beachwatchers, and Algalita Marine Fesearch Foundation

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Chuckanut Mountain Parks District - July 30, 2008
Franklin Eventoff joins us to make the argument for why a Chuckanut Mountains Park District would be a good think for the residents of Skagit County. Since this show was recorded, the issue has failed to make the ballot this November, but Frank's arguments tell us the issue - and the interest - is still alive. Stay tuned.

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Wetlands Mitigation Banking - December 26, 2007
Interview with Mary Heinricht. Is it possible to balance the pressure for more homes and businesses with the desire to preserve prime agricultural land. How does Wetlands Mitigation Banking fit in the picture. Who profits?

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Larry Kunzler on Flood Control in Skagit County - December 19, 2007

Doris Brevoort interviews Larry Kunzler, local historian with years of study on the history of flooding in the Skagit River Basin, about current policies and thinking about flood control.

For more information visit http://www.skagitriverhistory.com

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