Jeanne —
Our Southern Resident orcas are the canary in the coal mine for the Salish Sea — and perhaps for climate and ecological stability around the world. There are only 73 of them left in the wild (Lolita/Tokitae, confined at the Miami Seaquarium, makes 74); elected officials have made a great deal of noise about saving them (just like they’ve made a lot of noise about addressing climate change).
The Port of Seattle Commission is elected, too. So why are they seeking a new cruise ship terminal for the city?
They know that vessel traffic noise pollution is crippling the ability of the critically endangered Southern Residents to hunt salmon, and the pollutants that have bioaccumulated up the food web are damaging their ability to survive and reproduce. They also know that cruise ships are the antithesis of a climate-friendly future; they are floating cities fueled by one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on earth — heavy fuel oil. Introducing more toxins and more mega-ship traffic into the Salish Sea will push orcas closer to the brink of extinction — it’s that simple.
This week and next, you can attend one of the Port’s public “scoping hearings” to insist that their environmental review of the new terminal consider our orcas, the climate, and every other critical issue related to these wildly destructive ships. Talking points are here. Comment by email here.
- Wednesday. October 30, 2019, 5:30-7:30 PM, South Seattle Community College, Georgetown Campus, 6737 Corson Avenue South, Building C, 122, Seattle, WA 98108
- Monday, November 4, 2019, 4:00-6:00 PM, Embassy Suites at Pioneer Square, King Street Ballroom, 255 South King Street, Seattle, WA 98104
- Thursday, November 7, 2019, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, The Foundry, 4130 1st Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98134
If you can’t make it, please be sure to commment by email.
Our orcas need us, and this battle is a proxy: are we going to turn from our dirtiest businesses and habits in order to preserve life for orcas and people too, or are we going to keep barreling straight towards extinction?
In solidarity with people, orcas, and the rest of life,
Stacy
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350 Seattle
1127 10th Ave. East #1
Seattle, WA 98102
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