DEAR READER,
We are taught that there is a right and a wrong in every story. In environmental issues, big corporations destroying ecosystems are the bad guys while the good guys, sustainable, family-owned businesses, are always the underdogs that we should cheer for.
But when we take a closer look, we see that the maxim "two sides to every story," though cliché, isn't all that far from the truth. McDonalds, the notorious villain for its food quality, ranked 22 in a national survey for greenest corporations. Victoria, British Columbia, has spent most of its existence as the bad guy, dumping raw sewage into the Straight of Juan de Fuca. This year they reversed roles and are bettering water quality by building sewage treatment plants. Nuclear power, which brings to mind mutated fish and radioactive fallout, could actually be essential to energy reform. On the other hand, Vancouver claims the 2010 Olympic Games will be the greenest in history, while local environmental advocacy groups argue otherwise.
Some issues don't have a light and dark side yet. This year, seabirds all along Washington's coast have died in record numbers and researchers are torn between pointing to global warming – naming humans as the problem – or calling it a freak event. Seattle's billion-dollar attempt to greenify the city by means of a light rail hasn't yet become as popular as planners predicted but they believe it will be a hit by the time all stations are complete, saving the commuters of the city from the nightmare of traffic congestion. Cap and trade, a potential policy that would finally limit the greenhouse gas emissions by American corporations, is still in limbo until world leaders meet in Copenhagen.
Lastly is the occasional story where there is, in fact, a superior candidate. This quarter we've included a recycling guide as a pull out in the middle of this magazine to help simplify the wild world of reducing waste. That's something we should all be on board with.
The controversial issues Planet covered this quarter are not meant to leave readers with a hero and a villain, but rather to open the floodgates of communication about difficult topics. We hope that these stories get you talking about what the best ways are to think outside of simply right or wrong.
After all, as students, Bellinghamsters, Americans or inhabitants of Planet Earth, if we don't examine the story with open minds, the bad guy role falls on us.
We welcome comments in the form of letters, email or conversation.
Sincerely,
Kaylin Bettinger
Editor and Chief
