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When Diversity Matters Most. The Strength Lies In Differences, Not In Similarities
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Part of Nine state campaign for 100 percent clean energy
Environment Washington announced a major initiative today to convince state leaders to commit to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity. Environment Washington’s efforts are part of Environment America’s broader 100% Renewable campaign to boost clean energy bills in at least nine states: Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
“Washington State has both the capacity and will to be a nationwide leader on 100 percent clean, renewable energy,” said Bruce Speight, Environment Washington Executive Director. “With other states and scores of cities and corporations committing to cleaner, healthier futures for our kids and our planet, Washington State has an obligation to take a strong, clear position.”
This campaign comes following the key role Environment California, a sister organization to Environment Washington, played in convincing the Golden State to commit to 100 percent clean electricity generation by 2045. Now, other states are poised to emulate the renewable energy pioneers: California and Hawaii.
Environment Washington is pushing a bill that would eliminate coal on the grid by 2025, require all utilities to have a resource mix that is 80 percent clean by 2030, and ensure all electricity in Washington state is carbon-free. Gov. Jay Inslee requested the bill, and its prime sponsors are state Sen. Reuven Carlyle in the Senate and state Rep. Gael Tarleton in the House.
“Considering the level of climate chaos already unleashed at 1°C warming, from ravaging wildfires to devastating storms, we must move as rapidly as possible to reduce emissions,” said Speight. “What we do in the next few years, not in 20 years, is what matters. That’s why strong short-term targets are critical to making this bill meaningful. At the very least, we need to ensure that the provisions to eliminate coal on the grid by 2025 and to require utilities to be 80% percent clean by 2030 remain in the bill, and if anything, that they are strengthened not weakened.”
The renewable revolution isn’t only happening at the state level. Growing awareness of the environmental impacts of our energy use, coupled with rapid advances in technology and declining costs, has made renewable energy the “go-to” option for many communities and businesses. One hundred U.S. cities, led by a mix of Republican and Democratic mayors, have pledged to transition their power sources to 100 percent renewable energy. In addition, 131 major companies, including Bank of America, Walmart and Anheuser-Busch, have pledged to power their entire operations with renewable energy.
“Renewable energy technologies are gaining momentum because they’re pollution-free — which means they’re healthier for both us and the earth,” said Rob Sargent, Environment America’s Clean Energy Program Director. “It should be a no-brainer for other states to follow Hawaii and California’s lead. But we have to convince states to act as soon as possible.”
The Facebook data breach opened a Pandora’s box of concerns for social media consumers. The company estimated that data firm Cambridge Analytica may have had information on about 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge. In testimony before the U.S. Senate, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised to do more to protect the privacy of users’ data. But according to studies by the Pew Research Center, people haven’t had much faith in social media firms’ capacity to do just that. A Pew survey last year found that only 9 percent of social media users were “very confident” that companies would protect their data. About half were “not at all” or “not too confident” their data were in safe hands.
With so many people concerned about what private data is shared by social media sites and with whom, the CEO of a social media app says users need to do more to protect their information and be aware of how their data can be used.
“In the past 60 days there has been a profound awakening by the average social media user about data privacy and trust regarding social media companies,” says Scott Relf, CEO and co-founder of PikMobile Inc. (www.pikmobile.com), an ad-free social media app that allows users to share content through a unique viewing platform.
“All of the other social media companies are equally as guilty as Facebook – Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Google. These companies are betraying their users’ trust by selling them out, and all of this with virtually no regulations or accountability to anyone.”
Relf lists five ways social media users can better protect their data:
“Ideally, social media users should choose what they feed into their mind all day long,” Relf says. “Don’t give up control of your news feed to companies and advertisers that harvest your data for their benefit.”
After a nationwide search, Executive Constantine selected a former senior Amazon manager to lead King County’s Department of Information Technology, recognized last year as the Best IT County in the Nation.
Executive Dow Constantine appointed a former senior Amazon manager to lead King County’s nationally recognized information technology department.
Tanya Hannah will lead the 450-person team that was selected as Best IT County in the Nation last year by the National Association of Counties. Hannah, who joined King County IT in June 2017 as Deputy Director, was selected after an extensive nationwide search in which more than 300 candidates applied.
“Our award-winning team of IT professionals has established King County as a national leader in using technology to improve the quality of life in our community,” said Executive Constantine. “Tanya has exactly what I wanted for our next Chief Information Officer: The proven ability to lead creative, innovative teams committed to continuous improvement.”
King County’s Department of Information Technology has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative, forward-thinking public IT agencies in the United States, by rethinking the way the county delivers products, services and capabilities to residents, using technology to meet customers where they are – day or night on any device.
Hannah previously served as a senior manager at Amazon and Computer Sciences Corporation. As a Senior Technical Program Manager at Amazon, she launched self-service automated hardware planning and a data analytics platforming using machine learning while working with global partners. She has served as the interim Chief Information Officer since October 2007.
“Our customers get world-class service from the tech giants in their own community. They expect nothing less from their government. This is what drives us every day. Whether it’s Hololens technology to streamline on-site work or integrating real-time food safety data into Yelp restaurant reviews, we believe in partnerships and innovation to deliver the best possible service to our community.”
“Our award-winning team of IT professionals has established King County as a national leader in using technology to improve the quality of life in our community. Tanya has exactly what I wanted for our next Chief Information Officer: The proven ability to lead creative, innovative teams committed to continuous improvement.”
“Our customers get world-class service from the tech giants in their own community. They expect nothing less from their government. This is what drives us every day. Whether it’s Hololens technology to streamline on-site work or integrating real-time food safety data into Yelp restaurant reviews, we believe in partnerships and innovation to deliver the best possible service to our community.”
Employment trends expert explains new findings and whether humans should fear being replaced by A.I.
A new study suggests that previous findings regarding job automation predictions might have been way off. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) says that fears over artificial intelligence stealing jobs might be overstated.
“The findings from the OECD are helping to reassure some workers who feared that they were going to be replaced by robots in the next 20 years,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert says. “These researchers are now saying that previous numbers were overstated and did not take into account different types of jobs which fall under the same name and title.”
In other words, says Wilson, previous studies regarding job automation may have been too broad. In fact, when it comes to considering the risks of artificial intelligence’s impact on the workforce and our economy, Wilson says we need to break down the numbers as much as possible.
“The fact remains that earlier findings show that fast-food workers could be at serious risk of losing their jobs to robots in the next several years. Another recent study found that each new robot added per 1,000 workers causes wages to drop in the surrounding area by around 0.25 and 0.5 percent,” says Wilson. “We can clearly see that in specific industries, the impact of automation cannot be overstated.”
Wilson says minimum wage hikes could also make robots the preferred option for employers. “Robots don’t need raises,” he says. “They don’t healthcare or sick days. For employers who are looking down the barrel of ever-increasing business costs, robots are a cost-saving option in the long-run.”
The employment trends expert also points to a new study which highlighted the fact that Seattle workers lost $129 a month on average after the city’s minimum wage was increased to $15.
“Higher wages sound like a boon for employees, until you realize that employers simply cannot keep pace with these increased costs,” says Wilson. “As a result, they cut staff, limit hours…and consider new technology like automation to replace workers. This is just the beginning of a very disturbing new trend which could lead millions to end up out of work.”
First-of-its-kind policy analysis of best practices from across U.S. and globally
With Seattle taking big strides to increase electric vehicle infrastructure, and electric vehicles (EVs) hitting U.S. streets in record numbers, a new study by Environment Washington Research and Policy Center, WashPIRG Foundation, and Frontier Group highlights best practices to help local officials make their cities as EV-friendly as possible. The new report, “Plugging In: Readying America’s Cities for the Arrival of Electric Vehicles,” includes local and state data for Seattle and Tacoma about the projected number of electric cars expected on the road in coming years, and how cities can accommodate these new EVs with enough places to park and recharge.
“Electric cars are leaving gas-guzzlers in the dust in Washington, and the City of Seattle is showing great leadership in how to transition to an electrified transportation system,” stated Bruce Speight, Director of Environment Washington Research and Policy Center. “This transition is positive change after more than a century of vehicles spewing pollutants into the air, but Seattle and cities across the state need to do more and take additional steps to accelerate the transition to EVs.”
The “Plugging In” report estimates that Seattle could have as many as 47,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030. The City of Seattle has a goal of having 30 percent of vehicles in the city being electric by 2030, which would be roughly 133,000 cars, or three times what the report estimates. The report also estimates that roughly 4,000 chargers are needed to meet this goal. Meanwhile, the city is investing in EV infrastructure – last month, the Mayor unveiled two new municipal fast chargers in Beacon Hill and 156 new chargers at a municipal parking garage.
“In Seattle, we’re investing in transit and other modes of transportation so that you don’t have to be in a car. But, if you do need to drive, we want it to be in an electric vehicle. That’s why we are committed to building out the infrastructure to support electric vehicles of all types,” said Jessica Finn Coven, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment. “Our reputation as an electric transportation hub is growing and we are encouraged by the electric mobility companies that are investing in Seattle. This report will be a good resource as we move forward together toward a pollution-free future.”
The report calls on local officials to implement the following EV-friendly policies:
EV sales nationwide increased 38% in 2016, and then another 32% throughout 2017, as charging stations became more convenient. Those electric car purchases reflect Americans’ values, including a desire to protect our communities’ public health, reduce global warming pollution and stop using so much oil.
Even the auto industry recognizes that the future is electric. GM plans to launch 20 EV models by 2023, while Ford announced last month it plans to invest $11 billion in EVs, with a goal of having 40 models by 2022. These new cars don’t just check off the “electric” box; they’re earning acclaim from mainstream car enthusiasts. Motor Trend even named Chevrolet’s Bolt the 2017 Car of the Year.
But with more electric vehicles on the road, and many more coming soon, cities need to map out where EVs will charge, particularly in city centers and neighborhoods without off-street parking. In all, major cities will need to install hundreds to thousands of new publicly-accessible electric vehicle chargers to keep the increased number of EVs running, depending on the size of the city.
“American cities risk being unprepared for the impending arrival of thousands of electric vehicles on their streets,” said Alana Miller, policy analyst at Frontier Group and co-author of “Plugging In.” “Without forward-thinking policies that give EV owners places to park and charge their vehicles, cities could lose out on the health and air quality benefits that electric vehicles can deliver,” Miller said.
“One of the biggest barriers to greater EV adoption is the lack of charging infrastructure. We’re excited for more tools to be available to cities and towns across the United States that will help to speed adoption of these clean vehicles,” said Katherine Stainken, Policy Director for Plug In America.
The report’s authors note that local and state officials increasingly are having to lead on issues related to climate change, clean energy, and clean cars, as the Trump administration dismantles federal policies that offered concrete solutions to these issues. In the coming weeks, the administration is expected to propose new steps towards revoking federal fuel efficiency standards and weakening clean car policies.
“Adopting smart public policies, which have been implemented already in visionary American and international cities, can help more U.S. cities lead the electric vehicle revolution,” noted Elise Orlick, Director of WashPIRG Foundation. “For the sake of our public health and environment, it’s crucial that we expand access to clean transportation for those who live, work and play in our urban centers. And once we complete the transition away from gasoline and diesel, we can all breathe easier and see more clearly.”
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As the summer travel season begins, many tourists head to outdoor destinations that bring them into contact with wildlife they don’t normally encounter back home.
Locals might be aware of a problem with alligators, bears, or lions, but if there are no warnings posted, someone from out of town may not know they’re potentially in danger.
One woman, Susan Mattern, learned this through painful experience. She witnessed a mountain lion attack her 5-year old daughter in a local Southern California park.
“The lion came out of nowhere,” she says. “As we stood in the ankle-deep stream, I glimpsed behind me a blur of matted fur, short round ears, a long tail. And then they were gone ¬¬– that fast – the mountain lion and my daughter.”
Mattern detailed the attack in a book, “Out of the Lions Den,” (www.outofthelionsden.net), which also recounts her daughter’s recovery and the long legal battles afterwards. Mattern’s faith as a former Catholic nun was severely tested.
Mattern has some tips for tourists heading to outdoor destinations:
“There are a few things the experts still say that just aren’t true.” Mattern says. “One is, ‘If you see a lion, make yourself look tall and threatening – make lots of noise.’ That’s good advice if you actually see the lion. But in reality, as anyone who has watched their own pet cat sneak up on a bird, the attack will almost always come from behind, stealthily and quietly. You will never even see it.
“And the saying, ‘Animals are more afraid of you than you are of them.’ Not in our case.”
Mattern points out that people are encroaching on wildlife’s habitat.
“Animals are protective of their territory and can attack before you know what’s happening,” she says. “People have to be protected, and even though cities and counties should warn people if there is danger, that doesn’t always happen.”
In her daughter’s case, she says, it took a lengthy lawsuit and trial before the county where the attack happened even put up warning signs in its parks.
“Remember, in spite of all the amazing programs on TV showing the majesty and beauty of these creatures – bears, alligators, mountain lions, snakes, elk, wolves, bison – they are wild creatures,” Mattern says. “They are not your cute dog or domesticated cat, eager to be petted and fed, or approached for a great photo-op. They are unpredictable and sometimes very dangerous.
“If you do see wildlife, leave it alone in its own natural environment. Let them be the wild creatures they are.”
The International Speaker Will Be a Featured Lecturer at Smith College April 6, 2017
From Ashes To Angel’s Dust: A Journey Through Womanhood (Amazon; $15.99 paperback) empowers African American and LatinX survivors of domestic and sexual violence by giving them a platform to share their stories. It is an in-depth look into intimate partner violence, and the road to healing.
From Ashes To Angel’s Dust provides readers with insight into the historical and current societal factors that support gender based violence and National Domestic Violence Resources. The book also illustrates the unique barriers to safety faced by survivors of color, including Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American women, and highlights strategies for safety planning, healing and prevention. It uses real stories to show survivors that they are not alone, and that it is possible to get past the pain and shame of abusive relationships.
Like many young women, Zoë found herself in a dangerous relationship. She ended it, but the experience motivated her to challenge rape culture and become a catalyst for change. She discovered magic happened when she started sharing her struggles and the journey to self-love.
“I dream that my work inspires, celebrates and honors the many women who have struggled with violence while lifting up the voices of those who have been silenced,” saysZoë, who has worked nationally and internationally in the field of domestic violence for 16 years. “It is the story of our mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and ourselves!”
As an artist and performer, Zoë expanded her message in the theatrical piece “ASHES,” which is a ChoreoDrama using poetry, monologues and vignettes to breath life into the original stories in the book. ASHES has had many successful performances across the country including Yale University’s “Fearless Conference” and The White House’s United State of Women Summit, which hosted thousands of people, including guest speakers First Lady Michelle Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, to advocate for gender equality.
On April 6, 2017, Zoë will give a lecture at Smith College regarding the topic “Our Silence Will Not Protect Us: Women of Color, Misogynoir, Sexual Assault and Reclaiming Our Magick.” The event takes place at Weinstein Auditorium inside of Wright Hall from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Here is a link to Zoë’s Huffington Post page: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/zoe-bahna
For more information about Zoë Flowers, the book From Ashes To Angel’s Dust: A Journey Through Womanhood or the theatrical piece ASHES, please contact Yaminah Ahmad at 404-861-0497 or missyaminah@gmail.com.
Please visit www.soulrequirements.org
“Meditation is our time to listen to the still small voice and hear what the universe is telling us. Each day it is important to close out the outer world and go within, in order to hear our unique rhythm, so that as we enter the physical world, we are in step with our natural path.” Daily Thoughts from the Hill
Camp WITS, a program of Seattle Arts & Lectures (SAL), returns for a second year of creative writing summer camps for young people in grades 4 through 12. Camps run from 9:00 – 3:30 for two weeks: July 24-28 & July 31-August 4 at The Center School in Seattle Center.
An offshoot of SAL’s successful, 22-year-old school-year program, Writers in the Schools (WITS), Camp WITS brings accomplished Seattle writers, poets, and comic artists together with students for two one-week sessions of writing workshops at The Center School in the Armory at Seattle Center. Each day will include on-site guided writing time and field trips to the many art, park, and urban offerings surrounding Seattle Center. Taught by accomplished WITS Writers-in-Residence, youth will learn new ways to express their authentic voices while finding fun and joy in the writing process. Campers will make new friends and become part of a community of young writers from across the city. Camp concludes with celebratory readings open to family and friends.
One parent wrote after last year’s camp, “My children are motivated to keep writing,” and described Camp WITS as “the best ever.” Alicia Craven, WITS Program Director describes the Camp as “an incredible opportunity for kids and writers to have no limits on their creativity. At Camp WITS, we have seen campers really get to know one another as friends and fellow artists, to get to try out new and different kinds of modes of self-expression and have lots of fun in the process!”
Registration is $475; early-bird registration is $450 and will be available until February 20, 2017. Scholarships are available.
To register, go to lectures.org/wits. For questions, call (206) 621-2230 x20 or email wits@lectures.org. Camp WITS is open to all experience levels and abilities, from new to seasoned writers. Sessions are limited to 20 students each.
Descriptions of Camp Writing Workshops:
WEEK 1: Mon.-Fri. July 24-July 28
Mixed Metaphor (Grades 4-5)
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Students will combine poetry, fiction, and comics to tell epic stories about themselves and their world.
Meet the Teachers
Samar Abulhassan is a teaching artist and poet living in Seattle. She has worked for Seattle Arts & Lectures’ Writers in the Schools Program since 2008. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Colorado State University, where she studied fiction. She is a Hedgebrook alum, has published five chapbooks (including Farah and Nocturnal Temple), and loves working between poetry and prose.
Jeanine Walker is a poet who holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Houston. Her poems and reviews have appeared inCimarron Review, Cream City Review, Gulf Coast, Narrative, PageBoy, andWeb Conjunctions. She has performed at many venues around town and is the co-producer and host of the variety show ‘Mixed Bag.’
Comics & Zines! (Grades 6-8)
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Students will tell a story through drawing. Students new to comics-making encouraged!
Meet the Teachers
David Lasky is the co-author of the Eisner-Award-winning graphic novel, Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song. But he is better known to children as the guy who colored Cece Bell’s awesome graphic novel, El Deafo, a Newbery Honor Book. He teaches comics at numerous venues in the Seattle area, including Hugo House and Coyote Central.
Kelly Froh has self-published many mini-comics and zines including the all-comics magazine The Weeknight Casserole Collection and her newest, Senior Time. Her comics and stories have appeared in The Seattle Weekly, Poetry Northwest, Moss, and The Women’s Review of Books. Kelly has performed at the Hugo House’s acclaimed Literary Series, Lit Crawl, Pecha Kucha, Spark Central, and at Bumbershoot. Kelly is also the co-founder and Executive Director of Short Run Comix & Arts Festival.
Poetry Out Loud (Grades 6-8)
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Students will create original poems and develop their voice for the page and the stage.
Meet the Teachers
Imani Sims spun her first performance poem at the age of fourteen. She has gone on to teach performance poetry to youth and adults, publish her third collection of poetry entitled, (A)liveHeart on Sibling Rivalry Press, and focuses on creating interdisciplinary arts experiences for the QPOC community.
Emily Sugiyam earned her Masters in Teaching at Western Washington University and is entering her fifth year of teaching at Broadview Thomson in Greenwood. She teaches 7th and 8th Grade Language Arts and her favorite unit this past year was Speech Writing. She loves reading Young Adult books so she can keep up with her students, and she is always planning her next road trip.
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WEEK 2: Mon.-Fri., July 31-Aug. 4
What’s Your Story? (Grades 4-5)
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Students will use poetry, fiction, and comics to tell the stories that matter to them.
Meet the Teachers
Jane Wong holds an M.F.A. in Poetry from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington. She is a former U.S. Fulbright Fellow and Kundiman Fellow and the recipient of The American Poetry Review’s 2016 Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize. She is the author of Overpour (Action Books). She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pacific Lutheran University and teaches Creative Writing and Asian American Studies.
Rachel Kessler is co-author of books Who Are We? (including a 7″ record) and TYPO, made as co-founder of poetry performance collaborations Vis-a-Vis Society and Typing Explosion, respectively. Her work has appeared in The Stranger, USA Today, Tin House, Poetry Northwest, Narrative and elsewhere. Inspired by everyday occurrences, she has performed poetry in parks, on buses, disguised as a tree, aboard water taxis, in phone booths, hair salons and public restrooms.
Unexpected Connections (Grades 6-8)
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Students will explore the intersection of poetry and comics using poem-hybrids, maps, short fiction, and visual poetry.
Meet the Teachers
Emily Bedard writes poetry, fiction, and collaborative screenplays with her sister. She has an M.F.A. from the University of Montana and has taught students from preschool to college age. Her freelance work is in print and online, and her poems have appeared in Indiana Review, Swivel, and elsewhere.
Greg Stump has been a regular contributor to The Stranger for more than a decade. He is the co-creator of the comic book series Urban Hipster, a former writer and editor for The Comics Journal, and the creator of the weekly alternative-newspaper comic Dwarf Attack. He teaches comics through a variety of schools and organizations in the Seattle area and recently completed his first graphic novel, Disillusioned Illusions.
Summer Writers’ Society (Grades 9-12)
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Students will interact with writing of all lengths—from poetry to flash-fiction to short stories.
Meet the Teachers
Daemond Arrindell is a poet, performer, and teaching artist. He is currently a faculty member of Freehold Theatre and is co-facilitating a poetry and theater residency at Monroe Correctional Complex for men. In 2012, he taught Seattle University’s first course in Slam Poetry. He has performed in venues across the country and has been repeatedly commissioned by both Seattle and Bellevue Arts Museums.
Michael Overa was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and holds an MFA from Hollins University. A steadfast believer that clear communication opens doors, Michael has taught writing in a variety of venues, including Cornish College of the Arts and the Tinker Mountain Online Writers’ Workshop. His work has appeared in the Portland Review, Prime Number Magazine, Fiction Daily and the Denver Syntax, among others.