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Is polyamory the new normal in Cascadia?
The major cities of the Pacific Northwest have sometimes been ahead of the curve on social movements, whether it’s feminism, abortion rights, or LGBTQ rights. So it comes as no surprise that consensual non-monogamy and polyamory–alternative ways of creating relationships that openly and honestly include more than two people–are on the rise in cities across the Pacific Northwest.
In a detailed and empathetic feature now online at Cascadia Magazine, journalist and relationship columnist Karin Jones looks at the different ways people in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and elsewhere in Cascadia are creating new relationship styles and building community.
“Romantic love is socially constructed. But if, as individuals, we make our choices autonomously and love the way we choose to, rather than the way we’re expected to, it doesn’t take much to alter the script,” say Carrie Jenkins, a professor at the University of British Columbia, who practices and writes about consensual non-monogamy.
Read the full feature here.
Group in WA stokes fear of homeless
The Seattle Times has a disturbing report about a group in Bonney Lake Washington, that’s stoking fear of the homeless, trying to shame panhandlers by posting photos online and even drawing negative attention to people in the community who treat the homeless with compassion. “Morgan has also been targeted. Photos of her posted in the group claimed she was hindering efforts to reduce drug activity, and she and her husband received messages claiming she was having an affair.” Meanwhile, Real Change notes that even though it has a high homeless population, Washington’s King County is too wealthy to qualify for some federal assistance.
Google’s massive political advertising campaign in Spokane
Eli Sanders at The Stranger investigates “dark money” campaign spending targeting voters in Spokane–for a seemingly benign issue–funding for 911 services–but finds that Google and Facebook routinely flaunt political ad restrictions required by Washington state law.
Salmon to be transported by truck around Fraser River landslide
CBC reports that the British Columbia government has given approval to a plan to truck migrating salmon around a massive landslide that blocked passage near Big Bar on the Fraser River. Meanwhile, the Star Vancouver reports that sockeye salmon returns on the Fraser River this year are at just 13 percent of what was expected by biologists.
Several BC authors nominated for Giller Prize longlist
The Georgia Straight looks at the longlist of nominees for the Giller Prize (one of Canada’s most prestigious fiction awards), and finds that quite a few British Columbia authors are in the running, including Ian Williams (profiled at Cascadia Magazine here), as well as Alix Ohlin, Michael Christie, Steven Price, and Megan Gail Coles, who’s completing her MFA at the University of British Columbia.
Poetry by Sarah de Leeuw
Over at Geist, read “Force of Nature,” by Sarah de Leeuw, who teaches at the University of North British Columbia in Prince George. This poem is packed with wisdom about human interactions in the larger context of the natural world:
“Scientists don’t necessarily name the places
but speak instead of mid-to-large centres,
are focused on impact instead of precise
dimensions…” Read the full poem here.
That’s today’s sampling of news, arts, and culture from across Cascadia. Have a great evening! –Andrew Engelson
Photo credit: homeless camp by Andrew Engelson