Western Washington University Masthead Logo Western CEDAR The lP anet Western Student Publications Spring 1993 The lP anet, 1993, Volume 23, Issue 03 T. R. Morris Western Washington University Huxley College of the Environment, 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 Morris, T. R. and Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University, "The lP anet, 1993, Volume 23, Issue 03" (1993). The Planet. 12. https://cedar.wwu.edu/planet/12 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]. % '2.-5 Western Washington University's Environmental Quarterly X)6+No. Wmter 1993 WttSQR Library ^’OkiviS Editorial Graduation, humanity, and the environmental movement with nature, community, and even ourselves is very painfiil. Each indi­ vidual must choose how, or if, to remedy this ailment. Even if a greater sense of connection wouldn’t calm the craving for reckless recreation, it caries its own benefits. As for understanding, it’s clear we don’t understand our own species or this planet as well as we thought. (If we did we’d have some pretty horren­ dous planning to explain.) We must survive in order to entertain ourselves and now it seems we must understand in order to do either. In any case, let’s hope we’re fast learners, and not too proud to deny we’ve been wrong. On the lighter side, people prize feeling good. If folks see a problem with a visible course of action to The state capital—future battlegrounds for the environment. Greg Myhr correct it, they’ll dig in and get to feel good. Take recycling for example. It’s iB^erched at the pinnacle of my From Plymouth Rock to the Pacific easy, simple, and most people do it. If I college education, I stand ready to Northwest Europeans have left their there is no clear solution in sight, plunge into the seemingly inhospitable gruesome mark. Manifest Destiny is people also seem to feel pretty good depths of the “real world.” I’ve been nearly realized with Armageddon not about forgetting all about it~and wondering though. What have I even in sight (to those who only look at irritated at being reminded. Great; so learned?” Having spent a fair amount their feet). This was the big goal— this means we need to think of solu­ of time at Evergreen, Huxley, and where’s our prize? Let me see, there’s tions. Fairhaven Colleges, and Western’s global warming species extinction, With the work of filling the media biology department, I should know landfills, strip-mines .... with tales of environmental ruin well something by now, right? Securing human survival without the underway, there remains an alarming I see that humanity hasn’t changed mess requires the same Herculean absence of the ground-breaking much over time. Despite a string of effort to obtain renewable energy, solutions we so desperately need. irmovations (including fire, spears, the population control, and wilderness We’re under the media’s wing, I’d say, plow, religion, gun powder, electricity, conservation we spent on the space but not for long. While statistics may surgery, television, nuclear bombs, and race and the cold war. Whatever stagger, the numbers numb, detaching computers) we’re still operating from works. In any case, Clinton’s energy people from the reality of the crisis. the same set of basic desires—survival, tax is a far cry from the cold shower The environmental community has amusement, and understanding (in needed to snap this species out of its gotten pretty good at sounding alarms. about that order). marauding stupor. (Sorry Bill.) But right now the fire crews either We also keep improving our special Consider amusement. Walking ignore the blaze or appoint committees talent for the technological destruction through the woods may not be as upon arrival. Formulating solutions is of the Earth. In the midst of the sixth exciting as gluing your eyes open with now more valuable than advertising mass extinction, humanity seems to the velocity of a jet-ski or executing problems. And as long as our govern­ have forgotten its evolution with the the perfect corporate takeover. But it ments drive and support themselves rest of the planet’s life. is real entertainment that lasts. Getting there is little hope for significant Call me stubborn. I just can’t get the what we think we want has yet to change. idea of providing for human needs prove as sure a path to contentment as Get involved. without the ecological catastrophe out wanting what we already have. Keith of my head. Population, energy, Murray said it well in 1970, “True After soaking his head, T.R. Morris resource use, and biological diversity affluence is not needing anything.” will graduate from Fairhaven College are the tantamount issues here. If the I would deem most of entertainment in June and lead bike tours this planet were humanity’s spouse, we today mere distraction. Why might we summer. Future hopes include would be kissing the house and kids need diversion? Because the wound of aranging another avenue to articulate good-by in divorce court by now. divorce from a meaningful relationship his alliterations. Western Washington University's Environmental Quarterly Vol.XXIII NO. Ill - Spring 1993 1 Local coyotes trapped, shot Anita Wahler PLANETEERS The Bellingham Police have an active trapping program in EDITOR response to public complaint about these curious canines. T.R. Morris 2 Clayoquot decision hurts NDP Derek Martin The B.C. Socialists picked a fight with some serious PLANET PEON conservationists over the Clayoquot Sound. Michael J. Lehnert 4 Do you dare to drink? Deanna Adams ILLUSTRATOR Lawrence Bergquist Deanna explains Bellingham's water system and the hazards of chlorinated water. WRITERS 5 In defence of old-growth Craig Coonrad Deanna Adams Craig Coonrad No words are wasted in this critique of current logging practices. Derek Martin Gregory Myhr Lee "Ace" Portnoff 6 Responding to the logging ethic Greg Myhr Anita Wahler Having worked for the DNR and listened to the "other side," Derek gives his view. ADVISER Michael Frome 9 Be careful where you build Derek Martin Houses with views slide down cliffs with frightening GRAPHICS ADVISER detail as Derek decribnes the dynamics of development. Roderick C. Burton BC Open Minded Shopping Lee Portnoff SPECIAL THANKS TO: Michael for doing everthing I Grocery labels delude a trusting patron. Read, asked him to, Chuck for and learn what they told him. refreshing the layout staff, Sara for feeding me on the big day, and especially to the the Planet thanks its contributors moon for inspiring creativity. Please address comments to: AS Recycle Center J & R Stained Glass Huxley College The Community Food Co-op Base Camp W.W.U. Bellingham, WA 98225 Printed on recycled paper Front Cover: Chlorine makes the water from this fountain in Bellingham safe—or does it Photo by Greg Myhr Local Coyotes subject to rigorous control program Tith a clatter of gravel and a they found. Jamison said about five the coyote is nevertheless ridiculed in L/% / streak of gray, my one glimpse of were killed, including some juvenile tribal tales. While honored as the T V the Sehome Hill coyotes was animals. originator of human customs, the over. Two of them vanished like Jamison, who often checked the coyote was also denigrated as the wraiths into the underbrush when I traps, said he doesn’t like shooting ultimate bad example. The coyote came into view. Now when I walk to coyotes. embodies the spirit of the American school I imagine dark forms and keen “1 love animals,” he said. “Killing West but embitters most ranchers. yellow eyes in every shadow, but have animals is absolutely a last resort.” But Though I believe Jamison’s empathy not been blessed with a second the department still considers trapping for the coyote is genuine, he, and other glimpse. an option for coyote control, and decision-makers, may also be influ­ Some people are luckier. Mary recently renewed the contract with enced by conflicting attitudes. Police Brown, whose house borders Sehome Animal Damage Control. If trapping is Department information includes an Hill, can see coyotes just about any used in the future, the area in which article from California Magazine morning. They head up her road on traps are laid will not be announced, written by Michelle Huneven, who their way to the hill as the secrets of for fear of sabotage. portrays the coyote as a scrawny, the night recede. “We knew when we went into this mangy, “pathetic excuse for a canine.” “I look for them,” she said. “You that some people would condemn us “A coyote’s breath is rumored to be know, they just snifiF around—they for trapping coyotes,” Jamison ex­ so rank he can stun his prey with it,” don’t seem to bother anyone. I kind of plained. “Other people want to see Huneven asserts. She reviles coyotes as enjoy them.” every coyote in the world eliminated.” sleazy brutes who “glare” at poodles Apparently not everyone feels the There is no doubt that coyotes and “gorge on wooly innocents.” same way. The Bellingham Police inspire contradictory feelings. Some I don’t know how much influence Department has received about 30 people idealize them; others despise such language has had on Bellingham’s complaints from the public over the them.