Cover Story

  December 2015

Kitchen Table Activism: From Hard Rock Mine to Nature Preserve

Whatcom Watch

by Meredith Moench Part 14 Twenty years ago, who dared to dream that the Lummi Island quarry might one day become a protected nature preserve? At the time in 1995, a new operator hoped to expand the 10 acre pit … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

A Threat to Our Neighbors’ Environment

Whatcom Watch

by Bruce Radtke Bellingham Activist Helps Protect Olympic Peninsula, With Mixed Results Olympic National Park, Wash. – Residents, visitors, and wildlife are threatened by the U.S. Navy’s proposal for electromagnetic warfare training over the Olympic peninsula. Noisy “growler jets” likely … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Critique of WTA’s 2015 Strategic Plan Update

Whatcom Watch

by Preston L. Schiller The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) provides many useful services to many citizens in Bellingham and a few destinations outside of the major Whatcom County city. Its buses are clean and comfortable, and its staff at all … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Winter Is for Waterfowl

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche The typical sights and sounds of late October and early November evoked an avalanche of emotions from the past. When I was growing up in southwest Louisiana, the change from hot and humid summer weather gave way … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Mary Trask Sends Bicycles to Africa

Whatcom Watch

by Katheryn Fentress Mary Trask was born and raised in the Midwest and moved to Washington 20 years ago. This summer, she and her family relocated to Bellingham. She recently organized a local drive to send bikes to Africa. Kathryn: … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Voting and Vote Counting with Integrity

Whatcom Watch

by Whatcom Fair Voting Trustworthy Elections require a voting system with solid integrity, protected from tampering or corruption of the tallies of votes cast. This review does not deal with who can cast a ballot (registration, etc.) — which are … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Whatcom County Hands Coal a Sack of No

Whatcom Watch

by Kristin Eberhard Big Coal’s Gerrymandering Scheme Mostly Thwarted Election results are in for Whatcom County, Washington, where a proposal for a giant coal export terminal puts communities on the front lines of the fight against dirty energy. Thanks to … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Racism, Slavery and War: The Foundations of Capitalism

Whatcom Watch

by Stoney Bird Part 17 This is the seventeenth in a continuing series of articles that began with the January, 2014 issue of Whatcom Watch. The series addresses the impediments to democracy and well being in American society. “While many … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

poetrywatch

Whatcom Watch

Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor “When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — … Continue reading →

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  December 2015

Bellingham City Council

Whatcom Watch

Compiled by Boris Schleinkofer Action Taken at September 28, 2015 Meeting Shall the council: 178. Grant a noise variance to the state of Washington for Interstate 5 paving and guardrail work? Construction work in residentially zoned areas between 10 p.m. … Continue reading →

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