So many good things are happening around Fidalgo — walks, talks, educational opportunities and rewarding experiences!
Below are some highlights of events coming up that we believe may be of interest to Transition folks. Our TF&F Events and shared sponsorship events are highlighted in green.
Transition Fidalgo and Friends’
Monthly Gathering Presentation:
Our August Presentation:
Tuesday, August 27, 6:30 pm,
Anacortes Senior Center, 1701 22nd St.
Join Transition Fidalgo & Friends for our Monthly Gathering. Hear and share community announcements and events; connect with fellow friends.
The Impact of Climate Change on Soils
Agriculture is expected to play a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, much of which is driven by soil management. In this presentation we’ll discuss agricultural sources of greenhouse gas emissions, opportunities to mitigate these emissions (and emissions from other sectors), and potential adaptation strategies. In particular, we’ll look at soils through the lens of soil health, explore how climate change may impact soil health, and discuss the potential and limitations of soil health-building practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Presented by:
Gabe LaHue is an Assistant Professor of Soil Science at Washington State University based in Mt. Vernon. He focuses on soil-water relations, soil fertility, and water-nutrient interactions. Currently his projects include determining irrigation thresholds for spinach seed production, quantifying nitrogen release from soil organic matter to inform fertilization for blueberries, and evaluating regulated deficit irrigation in cider apples for improved water use efficiency and fruit quality. Gabe received his Ph.D. in Soils and Biogeochemistry from the University of California, Davis where his research focused on evaluating alternative water management to reduce methane emissions from rice fields, quantifying subsurface water flows in rice fields, and exploring the legacy effects of nitrogen fertilization on nitrous oxide emissions.
Our Monthly Gatherings include a sharing time and programs to help build local resilience and reduce carbon dependency. Everyone is welcome!
Other Events of Interest
Fix-It Days
August 31, and September 28
Last Saturday of each month
10 – 4 at the
Farmer’s Marker, Anacortes
This is the 8th year that Transition Fidalgo & Friends has held the popular Fix It Days events at the Anacortes Farmers Market. Fix It Days is a public service to our community, where friends and neighbors from our area bring their broken appliances, lamps, electronics, etc. to be repaired. In return for repairing an item, we ask that a donation be made to support the continued sustainability work of Transition Fidalgo & Friends.
For Transition Fidalgo & Friends, the Fix It Days program is a three-way win-win. First, we provide a way for people to avoid throwing away items that, in many cases, only need a simple repair, thus avoiding the need to purchase a replacement. Second, we reduce our solid waste problem by keeping items out of the landfill that still have life left in them. Third, TF&F is able to support a successful program that addresses the growing homeless problems in our community. Our goal of creating a sustainable and resilient community will require solutions to both these problems.
Monday, August 5
Julia Frisbie has helped start a local Extinction Rebellion (XR) chapter. They have their first ‘action’ planned for Monday, August 5, at Rick Larsen’s office in Bellingham, to encourage him to help sponsor a Climate Emergency declaration in the house of representatives. Please arrange a carpool to get there … NO single occupancy vehicles please! The group wants to fill his office and flow into the hallway at least. They are bringing their children, dressed up in a way to help share the message. XR website: https://www.facebook.com/XRanacortes/
Tuesday, August 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Anacortes Public Library Meeting Room, 1220 10th St. Anacortes, WA
In the Shadow of Danger: Refinery Workers, Communities, Ecosystems
Refineries store and use large quantities of highly hazardous toxic and flammable chemicals. Unplanned releases of these chemicals have led to disasters. In Skagit County, explosions and fires at the March Point refineries in 1998 and 2010 claimed the lives of 13 workers and have brought untold sorrow to their families, friends and co-workers. Chemical releases do not stop at the refinery fenceline: recent incidents in California, Texas Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Skagit illustrate that communities and the natural environment are also at risk from refinery explosions and toxic chemical releases.
Washington State can and must establish stronger regulations to avoid catastrophic refinery incidents. Even as we transition away from fossil fuels, strong updated safety rules – called “Process Safety Management” – are needed to protect workers in refinery operations, as well as communities near refineries and our fragile environment. A coalition of union and environmental groups have been working to advocate stronger safety regulations aimed at preventing another catastrophe. Department of Labor and Industries will give formal notice of rule-making to strengthen the regulations this fall. The coalition also expects continued refinery industry opposition to the new regulations, however.
Fidalgo Dems will host a presentation by a panel of coalition representatives on Tuesday, August 13, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Anacortes Public Library Meeting Room, 1220 10th St. Anacortes, WA. Learn who and what is in danger from refinery hazardous chemical releases, how California modernized its refinery safety regulations and why Washington must do the same. And importantly, learn about your opportunity to help advocate for strong state rules.
The panel of speakers will include: Stephanie Celt, Washington State Policy Coordinator for the BlueGreen Allliance; Steve Garey former refinery worker and former President USW Local 12-591, AFL-CIO; and Mary Ruth Holder, Representative, Evergreen Islands. For more information contact Corinne at 360-293-7114.
For more background information listen to:http://speakupspeakoutradio.org/mp3/suso-2019-04-17-RefinerySafety.mp3
Climate Strike March, to be held Friday September 20. More details to come
Skagit Audubon Hikes