Click here for articles from The Policy Issue - Winter 2013
Dear Reader,
In this issue of Planet, we decided to tackle stories of environmental policy.
Luckily, our timing could not have been better. A lot is happening in the world of policy:
President Barack Obama just entered his second term in office at the beginning of this year and will announce his final word on the Keystone XL pipeline in the next few months. In Bellingham, the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point has been as prominent as ever. Thousands of citizens gave their comments in support and against the project during the public comment process that ended in late January. Washington state as a whole also had a very important November election, when the state passed initiative 502 and referendum 74- two controversial but forward-thinking laws.
In this issue of Planet, there are stories dedicated to international policy problems, state policies and issues right here in our backyard. We covered the Alberta tar sands, urban planning in Bellingham, the coal terminal, invasive species in Lake Whatcom and more.
During our search for stories, the Planet staff and I were not surprised to find an overwhelming focus on climate change and energy within the sphere of environmental politics. We were surprised, however, to see so many solutions to dealing with these prolific problems.
In addition, a special thanks goes out to Troy Abel whose energy policy and politics course helped to generate many of these story ideas. Congratulations once again on winning the Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize last fall. And a special thanks to Lynton Caldwell himself, who ushered in modern environmental policy during the 1960s in response to Rachel Carson's release of "Silent Spring."
Enjoy.
James Rogers
Editor-in-Chief
In this issue of Planet, we decided to tackle stories of environmental policy.
Luckily, our timing could not have been better. A lot is happening in the world of policy:
President Barack Obama just entered his second term in office at the beginning of this year and will announce his final word on the Keystone XL pipeline in the next few months. In Bellingham, the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point has been as prominent as ever. Thousands of citizens gave their comments in support and against the project during the public comment process that ended in late January. Washington state as a whole also had a very important November election, when the state passed initiative 502 and referendum 74- two controversial but forward-thinking laws.
In this issue of Planet, there are stories dedicated to international policy problems, state policies and issues right here in our backyard. We covered the Alberta tar sands, urban planning in Bellingham, the coal terminal, invasive species in Lake Whatcom and more.
During our search for stories, the Planet staff and I were not surprised to find an overwhelming focus on climate change and energy within the sphere of environmental politics. We were surprised, however, to see so many solutions to dealing with these prolific problems.
In addition, a special thanks goes out to Troy Abel whose energy policy and politics course helped to generate many of these story ideas. Congratulations once again on winning the Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize last fall. And a special thanks to Lynton Caldwell himself, who ushered in modern environmental policy during the 1960s in response to Rachel Carson's release of "Silent Spring."
Enjoy.
James Rogers
Editor-in-Chief
