Western Washington University Western CEDAR The Planet Western Student Publications Spring 1991 The Planet, 1991, Volume 20, Issue 03 Michael J. Lehnert Western Washington University Associated Students Environmental Center, Western Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://cedar.wwu.edu/planet Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the Journalism Studies Commons Recommended Citation Lehnert, Michael J. and Associated Students Environmental Center, Western Washington University, "The Planet, 1991, Volume 20, Issue 03" (1991). The Planet. 5. https://cedar.wwu.edu/planet/5 This Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Western Student Publications at Western CEDAR. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Planet by an authorized administrator of Western CEDAR. For more information, please contact [email protected]. liilllMMK ^iRCMrvEs: Bagels and juice By Sara Olason I’m sure Bill Lane has tasted fancier fare. Spread on the table before him was a student-style lunch of apple Juice, bagels, cookies and smoked tofu. As former U.S. Ambassador to Aus­ tralia and recently retired pub­ lisher of Sunset magazine. Bill had us aspiring young journalists somewhat awestruck -- especially when he displayed the palm-sized telephone he kept tucked in a breast pocket for calls around the globe. But that simple lunch we shared with Bill in March was a bonus, giving a dozen students a chance to learn from his experi­ ence in publishing, public service and conservation. L. W. “Bill” Lane Jr. has been a door-to-door Sunset salesman, mountain guide and packer, naval L to R., Gary Gray, LW. “Bill” Lane Jr., Rich Fotheringill and Sara Olason officer, member of many federal and California state boards and history, is possible through his the United Nations Educational, commissions, and U.S. Ambassa­ generosity. Scientific and Cultural Organiza­ dor to Australia from 1985 to Our lunch hour in the Huxley tion, he stated; “To be successful 1989. With his brother, Mel, he conference room was only one at our goal will demand a cam­ was CO-chair of Lane Publishing stop on Bill’s tour of Western. He paign to gain the understanding Company until the firm’s recent spoke to classes, met with Huxley and support of every government merger with Time Warner. faculty, and was keynote speaker official, businessman, educator, Today Bill continues as a con­ at the first Northwest Media/ scientist, military man, church­ sultant and as a member of the Resource Workshop, conducted on man, all of us in the communica­ board of Time Inc. Magazine campus. tion field, and literally every Company. He is generous with In 1969, not long before Huxley citizen.” advice and enthusiasm for student College opened its doors, Bill We’re honored to join Bill in the writers, and with funds. This spoke of the need for a national effort to provide data citizens need special issue of the Planet, high­ environmental ethic. Addressing a for making sound decisions. That lighting 20 years of Huxley College conference on a commission for effort is the journalist’s creed. • cil is not that we were not alert to pre­ who has appointed them. vent The Connelly Creek Tragedy but Since 1976 the Samish Neighbor­ rather that we were and are nice civi­ hood association has worked with the lized people who found it impossible to city on a Comprehensive Plan, Greenbelt Editor: believe that when we presented a map Initiative, Wetlands Sensitive Area Map­ We wish to applaud your publication pointing out the sensitive areas of ping, as well as every development pro­ of the fine article, “The tragedy of Connelly Creek to the departments and posed that effected our neighborhood. It Connelly Creek,” written by Peter the development engineer, long before is not from lack of vigilence but rather Donaldson (Winter, 1991). We feel Mr. any work had begun, it would be inten­ that we have been unable to force com­ Donaldson did an outstanding job pre­ tionally ignored. pliance. senting the pyramid of facts in a profes­ Protecting our sensitive areas will not We sincerely hope that you will make sional, dynamic and accurate manner, be helped by two new inspectors who every effort to send this fine article on to often lacking in local publications. report to the same department heads other publications to broaden aware­ We feel the lesson to be learned from who continue to permit developments ness of this type of tragedy during a time this development and all of our other such as Sunrise and Wildwood and who of rapid growth throughout our state. dealings with the Public Works Depart­ are answerable to neither the City Coun­ Shirley and Richard Hayes ment, Planning Director and City Coun­ cil nor The Voters, only to the Mayor Bellingham f r'' " EDITOR Michael J. Lehnert PHOTO EDITOR Rich Fotheringill COPY EDITOR Sara Olason FACULTY ADVISER Michael Frome I Asian wilderness, Asian wisdom — t.r. Morris From Bellingham to Nepal and back A.S. ADVISER Kevin Majkut 3 Stirring up the waters -— Charity Proctor GRAPHICS ADVISER Local resident asks for answers and action Roderick C. Burton STAFF 5 Nurturing nature -— Deborah Martinsen Ellis Baker Bellingham Cooperative School adopts city waterway Michael Bell Peter Donaldson 6 Huxley College -— Mary Tyler Fore David Duffy 20 years and going strong Susan Dufner Donna Fairchild Gary Gray 8 City recycling roots run deep -— eiiis Baker Heather Bellingham's recycling program began at Western Harnischfeger-Smith Mary Tyler Fore Deborah Martinsen II Environmental journalism —- Peter Donaldson/Gary Gray T.R. Morris Words and pictures for a cause that counts Charity Proctor A1 Skoczenski 16 A writer goes wild....... Donna Fairchild Bretha Urness-Straight Huxley grad finds a career Elaine Waller SPECIAL THANKS TO: 18 Environmental Perspectives -—Saraoiason Diane, John, Karen, Nancy and Taking the Earth to the airwaves Sally at Huxley; Dave, George, Ginger, Janna, Jeff, Jeremy, David Duffy Karen, Paul, Raquel and Stuart 19 Natural highs -— at the Viking Union; Andrea, Exploring Bellingham's belts of green Chris, Doug, Kim, Mike and Tess in the E.C.; Bill, Dave, 20 Huxley, Humus and HERB.... Michael Bell Ken, Margaret at the Print Plant; The history of the Environmental Center and especially all our readers and advertisers. 22 Open minds and open doors -— ai Skoczenski/Sara oiason The Planet is a publication of Faculty makes environmental studies work the Associated Students of Western Washington Univer­ sity. 25 Designing a sanctuary on the Sound....... Heather Working to save marine life Harnischfeger-Smith Please address comments to: Viking Union 106 w.w.u. Front Cover: Ml Rainier from the Paradise flower fields. Bellingham, WA 98225-9106 Back Cover: Sandstone formation in afternoon light at Larabee State Park. Inside Back Cover: Home of Huxley College Photos By Gary Gray Prin ted on recycled paper By T.R. Morris •• '< Elephants are big, as everyone knows. But to stand next to one in a Jungle as it crashes through trees, vines and fauna like a train without brakes is a totally different experience than seeing an elephant in a zoo. A large male was ripping down 2-inch-thick vines seem­ ingly for amusement. I snuck up behind the herd, took a few photographs of their rear ends (from behind the relative safety of a large tree) and waited for them to continue into the jungle. 1 was in the middle of a three-month trip to Thailand and Nepal. Far from being satisfied, my appetite for this kind of experience was just awakening. With an even mixture of caution and wonder I The author in Thailand beside a 1,200-year-old hydra. picked my way through the richness of tropical life Another hour of bush-whacking and bug-swatting on what 1 hoped was the trail. brought me back to the Khao Yai National Park 1 had gone to Asia with a friend who wanted help headquarters. I winced when the ranger told me a with his import business. In exchange for six weeks tiger was spotted in the area the previous night. He of work and a free plane ticket I was missing winter consoled me with the information that only older quarter at Huxley College. It was not a big sacrifice; tigers kill people when other prey become too diffi­ at the time my academic energy was dispersed. A cult to catch. background in environmental studies and solo In addition to raising my pulse, wild Asia had experiences in the heart of Asian beauty and culture come to command my respect and reverence. It was a gave new direction to my life. harrowing experience but, given the choice, I would Further on, I lost my way at a stream bed. Uncer­ not have been anywhere else. tainty had become a good friend by now and I calmly Fifteen-hundred miles away in the southern half of set about looking for a sign to point the way. What Nepal, the Terai is not as protected as Khao Yai. appeared to be the print of a large dog became a Upon entry into Chitwan National Park, my friend hand-sized cat print upon closer investigation. “A and I were corralled into a visitor center and bom­ tiger!” I began to think excitedly, “and it looks so barded with information. We learned that once fresh...” abundant animal populations, including rhino, bear, Before I could finish the thought I was scanning and alligator, are dwindling largely due to human the area for the nervous twitch of an orange and encroachment. black tail. But I knew that if there was a man-eater Our initiation complete, we were soon stalking in around I was probably dead meat.