11/6 Earthworms, Fawn Sharp, BC pipe, gas pipeline upgrade, orca talk, toilet tech, Russell Family Foundation

Earthworm [Dennis Paulson/Slater Museum]

Earthworm Lumbricus sp.
Although we can go long times without seeing one, earthworms are among the most common and widespread organisms. They are under our feet, ubiquitous in moist soils. Their abundance can be seen after a rain, when many of them come to the surface. Crawling above ground, some become stranded on sidewalks and streets. Earthworms look like a cylinder pointed at both ends, but in fact they are bilaterally symmetrical and with much the same organ systems as we have.... Earthworms are very efficient dirt-eaters. They take in bits of the soil through which they burrow and extract nutrients from the organic matter they digest. Their feces fertilize the soil even after they have extracted most nutrients, and their burrowing aerates the soil to the advantage of plant roots and the abundant soil fauna. (Slater Museum/University of Puget Sound)

Fawn Sharp wants Native voices to shake up politics
The Quinault president is rallying the Native vote to fight climate change in Washington state, but newfound tribal power could go beyond Tuesday. Manola Secaira reports. (Crosscut)

Minister already met with 22 bands in Trans Mountain consultation redo
Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi has personally met with leaders of nearly two dozen Indigenous communities since the Federal Court of Appeal struck down the Canadian government's approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in August. The court said the original consultations with Indigenous communities affected by the pipeline plans was insufficient so the government is planning another attempt. Sohi has already met with people from 22 communities, including most of those behind the successful court challenge, as he tries to set rules for a new round that he hopes will satisfy the court's conditions. (Canadian Press)

Upgrade to natural gas pipeline worries environmental groups
A coalition of environmental groups is airing concerns about a plan to upgrade nearly 6 miles of natural gas pipeline from east of Lynnwood through Clearview past Highway 9. A partial list of objections includes the wider pipeline’s potential to increase carbon emissions, encourage dirty fracking techniques and expand housing sprawl into rural areas. The pipeline company says the upgrade would improve safety and satisfy growing demand. Skeptics have scheduled a community meeting for Wednesday evening. Noah Haglund reports. (Everett Herald)


Event-- Family feast: Kin-directed prey sharing behavior in northern resident killer whales November 8
Whale scientist Brianna Wright on November 8 will discuss findings of a 12-year study examining patterns of prey sharing behavior among northern resident killer whales. Resident killer whales prey almost exclusively on salmon and depend particularly on Chinook (the least common species of salmon in the Pacific Northwest), which makes up the majority of their known diet. Despite the importance of Chinook to the survival of individual killer whales, they frequently choose to share this critical resource with family members. Presented by The Whale Trail at Dakota Place Park in Seattle, 7 PM, $10 adult, kids under 12 free. Brown Paper Tickets

Bill Gates brandishes poo to showcase reinvented toilet tech
Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates had his hands full on-stage in Beijing on Tuesday, showing a jar of human faeces. The stunt was part of his speech at the Reinvented Toilet Expo event - a showcase for new toilet technologies. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has spent more than $200m on researching the field across the last seven years. Twenty cutting-edge sanitation products were on display, intended to destroy harmful bacteria and prevent disease. (BBC) See also: Omni Processor heading to commercial market  Sedron Technologies, formerly Janicki Bioenergy, has received a license to take its Janicki Omni Processor — which turns sewage sludge into drinking water and electricity — to the commercial market. The license will allow Sedron Technologies to transition from a technology development role for the processor into business development, according to a company news release. Julia-Grace Sanders reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

The Russell Family Foundation moved most of its endowment to impact… and outperformed its benchmark
The Russell Family Foundation’s journey to align its $141 million endowment with its philanthropic mission began with a contradiction: Does an environmental foundation undermine its grants to improve water quality by investing in businesses that pollute local waterways? The inquiry jump-started a process that led the foundation to embrace a role as an investor, asset owner and shareholder seeking to protect the environment and empower local communities in the Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound. As the foundation has achieved nearly 75% alignment over the last five years, the mission-aligned portfolio outperformed its benchmark by nearly 3%. Dennis Price writes. (Impact Alpha)


Now, your tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  202 AM PST Tue Nov 6 2018   

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON  PST TODAY   

TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  11 ft at 13 seconds subsiding to 9 ft at 13 seconds in the  afternoon. 

TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds.


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