Best of 2008: Features
Thank you for joining us in 2008 - it's been a wild ride. No year in retrospect is complete without acknowledging the phenomenal victory of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States America – for with that victory it sure seems that anything is possible. And it is – there’s a real energy growing right now. For the first time, certainly in the lives of DTE, there is a connectiveness that can be felt between a collective people. Whether you believe it or not, we’re all in this together.
The role that we have taken is to inform you all of stories, news, events and perspectives that we think are critical to the times and our chosen location. We sincerely hope that we have succeeded in this role, and just know that it’s a tireless effort. I guess in the end, all we’re really doing is trying to cut through the BS and explain what’s going on. Famed author, journalist and environmentalist Thomas Friedman had this to say about that, “In this era of mounting complexity with more people, systems and products entwined in a bewildering web of global networks, explaining is an enormously valuable skill.”
In 2008, here is where we felt we explained our best – our favorite features of the year.
The most ambitious project we ever undertook turned out to be not only our finest work, but also one of very few things that survived the transition from the old site to the new site.
Our 7 Wonders of Spokane series, grown out of frustration, and nurtured out of love for our great city, was a massive project and best of all a collaborative project.
Off the heels of an un intentionally
hilarious KXLY video that counted down the 7 Wonders of Spokane (Dicks, the
goat, etc) we enlisted the help of our local friends to identify the 7 Wonders
of Spokane, the true wonders that make people proud of this region and would make
people want to visit
From that initial email we got dozens of suggestions, and then the suggestion to not limit it to seven. With that in mind we create the 7 Natural Wonders of Spokane, the 7 Cultural Wonders of Spokane and the 7 Surrounding Wonders of Spokane. Visit the series HERE.
Unfortunately, due to problems with bringing over our archives from the old site, we don’t have workable links to our old features but what follows are some of our favorite features from the year.
To see all of our past features in their entirety, see our Myspace blog, located HERE.
Take some time, escape the snow and relive some of our writings of 2008.
The stories we have included are our interview with Mary Verner (she was heavily criticized for not being more visible during the horrible snow storm in January, yet the day after it snowed she met DTE in her office to conduct this interview), our trip to Olympia for Environmental Lobby Day, our feature on Bike To Work Week and the state of bicycling in Spokane, and a piece on "greenwashing". Enjoy!
Mayor Mary Verner and Down To Earth
This post first appeared on Down To Earth on February, 5.
The Mayor spoke diligently about Spokane and its place on the green radar, highlighting her confidence in, "how
green we are already." To read the interview
DTE: Talk about your environmental agenda.
Mayor Verner: I will have a coordinated environmental
agenda, of which I am compiling now for my State of the City Address on
February 8. It incorporates not only the state of all the departments in the
city but really where I want to take the city government in my term. I have
created a Sustainability Office for the city of
DTE:
Mayor Verner: The city could support the River Cleanup even
more, I would like to highlight that event and give it more visibility. In
addition, I have been asked and I agree that I would like to create a day that
is really focused on the river. I would like to organize it around what used to
be the old Pow Wow Day in late spring. It could incorporate the native tribes.
In regards to phosphorous levels in the Spokane River
Mayor Verner: The collaborate plan to address phosphorous
in the river was a good template and a good process. All the many stakeholders
need to gather around one table and share perspectives. Ultimately the
responsibilities fall to government but government should be informed by the
stake holders who are either dischargers or feel passionately about the
cleanup. Government is responsible for addressing all of those interests. I'm
not about to back down from the commitments that were made for phosphorous. The
city of
DTE: Are groups like the Sierra Club being reasonable with
their expectations for the city in regards to the phosphorous levels?
Mayor Verner: Let me say this, it's not helpful to be sued,
it really diverts our resources into fighting the courts instead of putting
those resources into cleaning up the river.
DTE: Could you address golf courses and their role in all
of this?
Mayor Verner: I can only speak on city golf courses but
yes. The city is undertaking pilot projects at our own courses for reused water
and this is part of our commitment to the team deal for phosphorous and for
greater conservation and reuse of water resources. If we have a plentiful
supply of reused water we won't need to use as much fertilizer. A dual purpose
of addressing chemical application and watering with reused water on city golf
courses. Also, the Parks Department is investing, as money allows, in our own
irrigation, to make sure they are modern day with timing devices and trying to
power those with solar energy, that's a matter of capitol investment that has
to be planned.
Mayor Verner discussed parts of her legislative agenda for the
city that she will be taking to Olympia
Mayor Verner: I am pursuing renewable energy credit. My
sustainability office is going to be a regional leader in looking at climate change
and oil depletion which I'm calling Energy Security, it has a better ring. It
really has become the positive aspect of a negative factor that we need to take
into consideration which is oil depletion and moving us into alternative energy
in a very aggressive way. I unabashedly support being a
DTE: You mention buildings, and the new Saranac building is
a great example. Do you see
Mayor Verner: On the building side of things I see it
escalating in a great way. At my state of the city address I'm going to be
highlighting how green we already are.
I first approached the business community and said that one of my priorities
for the city of
Jim Sheehan has the LEED certified office building with the Saranac.
So we already have office, education, convention, residential, distribution and warehouse facilities that we can showcase to people what we are already doing. We have great examples of how we are already pursuing this path. I just want to set us very firmly on the green path, very proudly on the green path.
DTE Does
This post first appeared on Down To Earth on January, 30.
Even during the Legislative Session on an entire day devoted to what many
believe to be the most important issue facing
Last week, DTE headed west over the mountains to
The idea behind Lobby Day is to get together a bunch of passionate,
articulate and energized citizens who will arm themselves with knowledge of
particular bills and take that knowledge to their respective represents to make
the case for them to support the bill or thank them if they are already in
support.
As we've mentioned before on DTE, this year's four Priorities
for a Healthy Washington bills are: Local Farms Healthy Kids,
If there is one other purpose of Lobby Day, it would be an unspoken one but
a very important one indeed. And that is a chance to recharge ones batteries.
Surrounded by scores of people from all over the state who feel the same way
about environmental issues and share a sense of motivation and desire for
change, it is impossible not to be empowered and driven for more success.
Lobby Day kicked off bright and early on a gorgeous sunny morning at the
United Churches of
The welcoming address was in the sanctuary of the church and five minutes
before the address, a wave of excitement and clamoring ensued as Governor Chris
Gregoire approached the podium (this of course being a surprise as it wasn't
listed on the agenda).
Gov. Gregoire provided a football coach-like pep talk to the 300 plus
eco-warriors in attendance. It's worth mentioning that you could easily split
the room 50/50 and one half would be under 30-years old and the other half over
60.
Even before the first words came out of her mouth, the crowd chanted,
"Four more years." With that, she spoke about how often people take
for granted the hard work and dedication of the people in the environmental
community, she hit upon key buzzwords such as, "time is wasting",
"moral responsibility to save the planet", a DTE favorite
"change" and "keep the pressure on." She spoke very
passionately and seemed oddly surprised how well she was being received. It
appeared at times that she was taken back by the enthusiasm of the lobbyists.
Governor Gregoire made one thing very clear in her fifteen minute speech.
She talked about how the western states and some provinces in
DTE followed one bill in particular for most of Lobby Day, House Bill 2815
or Climate Action and Green Jobs. This bill as it read in the handout,
"creates a structure and timeline for implementing the state's global
warming pollution reduction goals, and creates a program to prepare
Megan Dixon of Climate Solutions stated, "[this bill] not only how to
we confront global warming but how do we recognize the economic
opportunity." HB2815 was formed in conjunction with the Governor's Climate
Advisory team and is Governor sponsored. Senator Craig Pridemore (D) likened
the economic opportunity to that of the dot com boom of the 90's, "like
Silicon Valley and high tech,
After two workshops about HB2815 it was time to see the bill in action.
There was a House Committee Hearing on the bill in the John O'Brien Building on
Capitol Campus and the hearing played to a full house. The first attempt was in
Room E which sat about 25 people. After nearly 50 people crowded the hearing,
it was moved to Room C and its 100 person occupancy, which still wasn't quite
enough but the show of support was just as effective as the comments to the
committee.
Environmental Lobby Day 2008 was a mighty success in many ways. It was quite amazing to see the amount of energy put to use in positive means as it was just as impressive to see the overwhelming support by several members of congress and the senate. Stay tuned to DTE for any and all news concerning the four Priorities for a Healthy Washington and their progress.
The state of bicycling in
Work to eat. Eat to live. Live to bike. Bike to work
Take a bow
Aside from the obvious national trends like soaring gas prices and a
frightening economy, there are local factors that could contribute to a larger
bicycle commuting/recreating community. The City of
We talked about how riding in
Safety is probably the most common reason people give for not bike
commuting. People don't feel safe leaving their bikes downtown, people don't
feel safe not riding on the sidewalk and overall, cars make people feel unsafe.
In a recent editorial
in Out There Monthly, the czar of Spokane bicycle riding, and fellow
blogger John Speare said "When we're kids, we're taught to
stay out of the way of cars. We are taught to ride on the sidewalks and stay
out of the way. Yet, as adults, if we read up on cycling in traffic, we find
the recommendation to "be a vehicle" is the safest, to "take the
lane!" Going back to our January interview with Liza Mattana here advice
was, "Any new thing you are leaning is scary and daunting, finding a
support system helps. Try finding people on bikes and talk to them. Try it once
a week, once a month, try to be bold. Just get out there and be seen, that is
the best thing to do." One "support" group to look into is the Spokane County Commute Trip Reduction program which
encourages alternatives to driving oneself to work through participation with
your employer. Through this program you could meet other bicycle commuters and
learn more about their experience.
As for services that meet the demands of bicycle commuters, aside from individual companies who may offer secure bike storage, locker rooms or showers, the amenities available aren't congruent with the growing needs. DTE has heard several times that riders avoid downtown simply because it's not safe to leave one's bike. With the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza being nicely located yet inadequately accommodating to bicycle commuters, it only seems logical that Molly Myers, the communications director for the STA recently discussed STA's interest in reconfiguring the Plaza and its services to make it more user friendly for bicyclists. One thing she talked about was including secure bicycle storage as well as looking to add a bicycle retailer to the Plaza's space. Currently seven of the twelve Park & Ride lots operated by the STA have bicycle lockers.
Myers talked about the desire to add more and improve on current ones. One complaint toward the STA and their bicycle friendliness is the lack of service on the actual buses. There are only two bike racks on the front of buses, a growing bicycle community would require more. Myers is open to suggestions and encourages the public to attend open public meetings.
It's possible that in ten years we will look back at Bike to Work week 2008
and remember it for the push that
DTE fully expects two wheels to ride on as
Car-less
Last April, Barb Chamberlain told the Spokesman-Review, "I think people
would be scared off if they had to change their whole life all at once. But
it's so doable, once it's part of your routine."
That's the ethic of the environmental movement and our daily tips. We are
all creatures of habit, and it takes a simple event like Bike To Work week to
make us realize change is easily within our reach. And the impact is huge.
Riding a bike for an hour not only leads to physical fitness—eating 408
calories in a 160-pound person—and if you commuted to work on a bike at least
four days a week (presumably eight miles, round trip), you would save yourself
54 gallons of gas annually and 1,140 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
In
Besides, riding a bike is fun; there's something intrinsically thrilling,
especially when traffic is bumper to bumper, and you're passing stressed out
commuters. "It's like being a kid again," Chamberlain told the S-R,
"if you remember when having a bike meant freedom
Below are twelve tips to consider from National Geographic's Green Guide
before pushing the pedal. Spandex optional.
Daily Tip 244
1) Check your local air quality. Before heading out, visit the EPA's AIRNow
air quality index at www.airnow.gov. If your city's air quality index exceeds
151, consider taking public transportation or driving, since air pollution at
that level can affect all individuals. To reduce harm to developing lungs,
children should avoid riding bikes to school when the AQI is above 100.
Regardless of air quality, avoid routes heavily trafficked by big,
diesel-powered trucks and busses, which spew particulate matter that not only
triggers respiratory problems like asthma and lung disease but has also been
found to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. And while you're at
it, check the weather to see if rain is in the forecast for your ride home.
2) Pump it up. To avoid untimely flats, make sure your tires are properly
inflated to the recommended air pressure, which is typically located on the
side of the tire and listed in pounds per inch, or ppi. All floor pumps have an
air pressure gauge built in, but if you've only got a hand pump, use a separate
handheld gauge.
3) Check the brakes. Always, always check your bike's brakes before every ride.
Lift the front wheel off the ground, give it a spin and squeeze the brake
lever; the wheel should halt instantly. Repeat for rear wheel (spinning the top
of the tire backwards, so as not to engage the cranks and pedals and ding your
shin!).
4) Don a decent helmet every time you ride, no matter how short the trip!
Choose one made for cycling—Bell (www.bellbikehelmets.com) and Giro
(www.giro.com) are both reliable brands—that fits snugly on your head without
wiggling around. Adjust the straps to wrap securely under your chin, without
choking you, of course. Replace any helmet that's taken a good pounding, as it
may have been weakened in the crash.
5) Find the right fit. Adjust your bike's saddle, or seat, so that your knee is
just slightly flexed when the pedal reaches the lowest point of its orbit. This
saves your knees and maximizes efficiency.
6) Dress smart. Wear brightly colored, reflective clothing, especially if
you'll be riding at dust or after dark. During cooler weather, cover up with
light, breathable layers; Ibex's Echo T, made from breathable, lightweight
merino wool ($69; www.rootedtonature.com, 866-766-8332) and Nau's Cleanline
jackets, made from recycled polyester ($220; www.nau.com, 877-454-5628), both
come in men's and women's fits.
On the road:
7) Your bike is a vehicle. As such, you must obey all local traffic laws and
rules of the road. Ride with traffic, never against it—even on one-way roads.
Heed stop signs, red lights and all other traffic signals, and always use hand
signals to change lanes and turn. Hand signal definitions can be found at www.grand-island.com
8) Stick to bike lanes and bike paths whenever possible; there's no safer
place to ride. If there aren't any designated lanes or paths in your city,
contact the local Department of Transportation or Department of City Planning
and find out if there's a bike master plan, which basically outlines a city's
plans for future bike infrastructure. Transportation Alternative's Simons
recommends an even more hands-on approach: "Invite your local elected
officials out for a bike ride and show them what the local conditions
are." You might inspire improvements.
9) Show some respect. Out-of-control cyclists give us all a bad name, so be
sure to yield to pedestrians and stay off the sidewalk. Nearly everywhere in
the country, pedestrians always have the right of way, regardless of street
signs and signals, so stay alert.
10) Illuminate. Mount lights on the front and rear of your bike. Use them even
at the first hint of dusk, as low light makes you and your bike much less
visible through a windshield; battery-operated Beamer 3LED headlights ($24.99)
and Blinky 3 LED tail lights ($14.99; www.planetbike.com, 866-256-8510). If
you're willing to spend more, CatEye makes rechargeable LED lights from $130 (www.cateye.com/store).
After the ride:
11) Secure a spot. If at all possible, bring your bike indoors to a safe spot.
Ask around if there's any place convenient to store it at work. If your boss or
building manager won't allow bikes indoors, try to figure out why and work with
that, says Simons. She also suggests that you ask to use the freight elevator,
if one exists, and to store your bike by your desk if you have room (and if
your employer or building manager hasn't provided storage space). Otherwise,
she says, "write to your employer or building manager to convince them to
allow bikes inside. A lot of companies are trying to promote their
environmental image and their commitment to these values. This is an easy way
for companies to show they're really walking the walk." For more tips,
check out Transportation Alternative's "Gaining Indoor Bicycle
Access" blueprint.
At home, keep bikes inside your garage, house, or apartment. (Wall-mounted bike
racks can help save space.) If you must keep it outside, be absolutely sure to
lock your bike securely to a rack or other strong, sturdy object using a
high-quality lock, like the Kryptonite NY Fahgettaboutit 3-foot chain lock
($72; www.amazon.com). Avoid locking to posts or parking meters—:thieves may be
able to lift your bike off them. Chaining both tires and removing the seat is
another good way to deter bike robbers.
12) Keep it clean. Enormously helpful but often neglected, wiping your bike
down after a ride will keep it running smoothly. Dirty gears, chains and brake
pads will make you work harder to go just as fast and far. Also, lube the chain
after every few trips for the easiest ride. While most bike cleansers,
degreasers and lubricants are petroleum-based, there are some great plant- and
vegetable-oil-based alternatives.
For even more local info, punch in your city or town on the League of American
Bicyclists' directory to find everything from regional advocacy groups and
event listings to repair shops and safety courses—all of which should help get
you out of the auto and onto a bicycle for Bike-to-Work Week.
Going green with skepticism
The new entrepreneurial dream, "going green" uses the environment to save the environment, reduces human impact, and last but not least, turns a profit.
In the 2008 presidential election, candidates boast of plans for saving the planet and the economy via green collar jobs; Al Gore has a part time position with a Silicon Valley venture capitalist firm; "green is the new gold" has become an ambiguous mantra amongst eager business leaders. We're not shaking our stick at innovation but let's not be overly optimistic. Business is not an automatic solution.
Part of it is the inherent problems of globalization.
Greensumption separated real solutions through fake ones like why buying a used car is greener than buying a new Hybrid because of the latter's manufacturing effects. Going green can be such a savvy PR move. Wal-Mart is every environmentalists favorite punching bag but it's like they're saying, "hey, we really got you in this mess and now we're kind of gonna get you out." Their promotion of green products is desperate at best when the company creates more than forty times the emissions it's trying to eliminate. Annually, that's half as much as France.
The recent study in Science about biofuel enterprises doing more harm than good for the environment was especially depressing. The original viewpoint was biofuels promised a way out of our trappings. They would moderate climate change, end our dependence on foreign oil, and provide income for farmers. For biofuel production, Science calculated the "carbon debt"—the amount of carbon released in the process of converting natural landscapes into cropland. U.S. produced corn ethanol had a carbon debt of 93 years. In other words, it takes nearly a century for ethanol to make up for the carbon released in the first landscape conversion. Soybean biodiesel in the Amazon had a 320 year debt.
In an interview with the NYT, the Greensumption creators stressed local solutions are obviously not as harmful to the environment because of less transportation and long distance trade. A localized renewable energy model is better than a mega model because of the greater democratic engagement and control. On a larger scale, they believe an Oil Depletion Protocol as a global treaty is necessary, but live by "less and local." This means "working to create institutions toward the regional and local in materials supply, manufactures, distribution, ownership, and political systems."
Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future, also advertised localized economies as an adjustment to make lower profits good enough. He wrote, "growth is always the final answer, the untrumpable hand."
Like the 1988 Public Enemy song that becomes more relevant each passing year, don't believe the hype.
