11/23 Snowberry, BC pipelines, GasLink protest, pollution fights, shoreline documenting, WA state ferries, Papahanaumokuakea

Snowberry [NW Plants of the PNW]

Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Symphori- means “bear together;” –carpos means fruits– referring to the clustered fruits.  Albus meaning white, and the common name, Snowberry also refers to the white fruits.  Snowberries are high in saponins, which are poorly absorbed by the body.  Although they are largely considered poisonous, (given names like ‘corpse berry’ or ‘snake’s berry’), some tribes ate them fresh or dried them for later consumption. (Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest)

When Surging Floods Meet Expanding Pipelines
The impact of last week’s deluge sends a sobering message, say engineers and activists. Zoe Yunker reports. (The Tyee) See: 'Pipelines will be blown up,' says David Suzuki, if leaders don't act on climate change  'It is now the age of consequences,' Extinction Rebellion organizer tells protesters in Victoria. Critics called the statement 'dangerous' and 'reckless' Tyler Dawson reports. (National Post)

Slew of Journalists and Land Defenders Released After Three Days in Custody
Ten people remain in custody in Prince George after a bail hearing for those arrested on Wet’suwet’en territory last week went overtime Monday. Most of those released agreed to a condition that they not return to the Morice West Forest Service Road, the area where Coastal GasLink’s 670-kilometre gas pipeline is under construction from northeast B.C. to Kitimat. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Airport debate an example of united activists' gains in pollution fight
...In Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, local activists fighting for quality-of-life issues are teaming up with climate activists and using their collective strength to sway local governments. And they are winning. Local leaders are responding to this pressure — often backed by the rising moral and legal authority of Indigenous tribes and nations — by passing ordinances and implementing rules that deliver on their stated commitments to address climate change and environmental injustice, including rules to phase out gas heating, ban new refineries and chemical plants, and more. Peter Fairley reports. (Investigate West)

One man in a kayak working to make a virtual 360-degree view of the Puget Sound shoreline
Brian Footen has made it his mission to document every tideland of the sound's nearly 1,300-mile nearshore environment, using 120 pounds of instruments as he paddles — namely, a GoPro camera equipped with a 360-degree view that shoots a picture every 10 seconds. The result: the most comprehensive collection of images ever captured along its shores. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap Sun)

How to make Washington State Ferries shipshape again
Unless leaders at Washington State Ferries can generate a tidal wave of new money and staffing ideas, the fleet could remain in dire straits through 2022 and beyond. The nation’s largest ferry system, which traditionally completes 99% of scheduled sailings, slid to 90% this summer and 70% by early October, mainly because of crew shortages. WSF then retreated to what it calls an “alternative schedule,” which removed one vessel from most routes, slashing capacity one-third. Mike Lindblom reports. (Seattle Times)

A New Marine Sanctuary Proposal May Not Be What It Seems
A federal proposal to provide additional resources and increased protections for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument by designating it as a national marine sanctuary could end up having the opposite effect. Some members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee see the sanctuary process as a way to potentially reopen the area around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to commercial fishing should a future president or court decision remove the monument status that has banned such activity for the past 15 years. Nathan Eagle reports. (Civll Beat)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  305 AM PST Tue Nov 23 2021   
TODAY  NW wind 15 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft  at 13 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the morning. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of showers  in the evening.

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