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Remembering Sam Hamill
This week brought the sad news that Sam Hamill had passed away. He was a prolific poet, Zen Buddhist, pacifist, and co-founder of Copper Canyon Press — one of North America’s most prominent publishers of poetry. Sam was perhaps best known as a founder of Poets Against War, which was created to organize poets opposed to the US war in Iraq.
Hamill was also a supporter bioregionalism, and attended the Cascadia Poetry Fest. His friend and fellow poet Paul Nelson offers this tribute:
Old Friend
We wander through asphalt riparian zones
until it hits each of us: it IS later than we thought.
Another quick trip between this veil of soul-making
and complete re-calibration to the ultimate mystery.
The Moon-Rabbit’s elixir we learn was a metaphor
but the message could have come from a House Finch.
Dead, they ready our friend’s bones for the last fire
and if we’re paying attention, we get ready
for the next grief wave.
He warned us this life was mist and he,
for one, did not fear the hereafter.
His Zen studies readied him for the notion
of anything after here
as one more illusion.
–Paul Nelson
WA state fighting tribes over salmon in US Supreme Court
Lynda Mapes, writing for The Seattle Times, reports on a case in the US Supreme court this week that pits Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson against Native American tribes, who claim that the state needs to fix 800 highway culverts that block salmon streams. If the tribes prevail, the cost of the fix could total $1.9 billion. KUOW interviews an attorney about the treaty rights precedents in this case. Meanwhile, BC’s environment ministry approved a controversial permit for salmon farms in Clayquot Sound to administer hydrogen peroxide pesticides.
Kinder Morgan pipeline only benefits US oil companies
In an editorial for The Tyee, Mitchell Anderson notes that the only real beneficiaries of an expanded Trans Mountain pipeline across British Columbia are US oil companies. There’s almost no market in Asia for diluted bitumen, and most of the flow from the new pipeline will be diverted to refineries in Anacortes, Washington. The Stranger reports on a meeting between Canadian diplomats and US environmentalists that confirmed Trudeau won’t back off plans to build the pipeline. KNKX reports on how a new NAFTA trade agreement might make local limits on coal exports or salmon farms more difficult.
US Teacher of the Year is from Spokane
According to the Spokesman-Review, the new US National Teacher of the Year is Mandy Manning, a teacher at Ferris High School in Spokane. Manning is noted as a teacher of math and English to refugees and immigrants. She’s looking forward to talking to president Trump about her work: “We fear that which we don’t understand so this is an opportunity to help people experience things that are outside of their understanding and help change their perceptions.”
Using otter poop to determine river pollution levels
Writing for Scientific American, Deirdre Lockwood reports on how researchers monitoring the Superfund cleanup of pollutants in Seattle’s Duwamish River are studying river otter poop to determine levels of PCBs and other chemicals. Fun fact: otters apparently have “poop parties” leaving their scat in one location, making it very convenient for biologists to gather.
Tulip blooms peaking now in Skagit Valley, WA
One highlight of spring in Cascadia is viewing fields upon fields of blooming tulips in Washington’s Skagit Valley. ?? ? ? This weekend should be a peak time to visit. Northwest Trip Finder has all you need to know about visiting the tulip farms near La Conner and Mount Vernon — including renting bikes, photo tips, and overnight lodging suggestions.
Poetry in English & Vietnamese by Portland’s Dao Strom
Portland poet and photographer Dao Strom will soon have a new book of poetry and photography out that’s being published in Vietnam and features both English and Vietnamese verse. You can read a sampling, “You will Always be Someone From Someplace Else,” online at The Offing:
“—Former country,
—Former water,
—Nước cũ,
—Sông xưa”
That’s today’s summary of news, arts, and culture from across Cascadia. Enjoy the balmy weather arriving this weekend! ? –Andrew Engelson
Photo credit: river otter by Detroit Zoo CC BY-SA 4.0