Works in Progress

Thurston Regional Planning Council 2411 Chandler Court SW Olympia, WA 98502 Members of the Thurston Regional Planning Council, The League of Women Voters of Thurston County is providing comments related to the current Draft Update to the Regional Transportation Plan as presented by the Transportation Policy Board. The League is…

On January 23, three East Coast Quaker groups were the first religious bodies to bring a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, challenging a Trump administration decision that would allow immigration enforcement (arrests, etc.) at houses of worship. Soon after, the Olympia Friends Meeting (Quakers) made the following statement…

Reader 1 – We stand today in the long tradition of prophets, spiritual leaders, and freedom fighters from our sacred traditions who have, also, stood up to the empires, kings, and unjust rulers of their day. Today we are taking to the streets nationwide with a clear message: No Kings!…

A decentralized grassroots movement to organize a general strike in resistance to the federal government is taking shape online at generalstrikeus.com . (GSUS) Their website states “We’ve voted, we’ve protested, and still, they ignore us. Our government refuses to meet our basic needs while the billionaire class hoards wealth and…

Dear Democratic Party, I need more from you. You keep sending emails begging for $15, while we’re watching fascism consolidate power in real time. This administration is not simply “a different ideology.” It is a coordinated, authoritarian machine — with the Supreme Court, the House, the Senate, and the executive…

Dani Cook compiled statistics on medicaid cuts for each state, available at https://substack.com/@thedanicook.

The University of Washington’s animal research has been a heavy source of controversy. While representatives have, on multiple occasions, claimed the lab has made significant progress — such as finally eliminating the use of live pigs for paramedic training after many years of criticism from physicians and scientists — the progress is…

Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT) sponsored the fourth South Sound Climate Action Convention at The Evergreen State College on Saturday, May 17th. The all day event brought together a diverse group of community leaders interested in climate action. The event featured nearly 50 speakers, 18 sessions, and three plenaries as…

As if primary West coast forests weren’t threatened enough by Big Timber, now foreign corporations are targeting them for the production of wood pellets. Two large wood pellet producers are exploring establishing plants in the Pacific Northwest that would use our native forests to produce pellets, primarily to export to…

Re-printed with permission from Washington State Standard https://washingtonstatestandard.com As Washington residents who live near Longview and Hoquiam, we are concerned about two wood pellet plants proposed for construction in these Washington communities. These mega-plants could soon compete with existing industries to buy timber, wood chips, and sawmill residues as raw…

Recycling Act passed The bill promoting recycling in the legislature, SB 5284, mentioned in our March issue, was signed into law on May 17 and goes into effect July 27, 2025. The bill will require producers to manage their materials from design to end-of-life,ensuring responsible planning and funding to mitigate…

what if we skipped the million-dollar mouthfights the canned barbs beamed from fancy shmancy studios – and instead aired the real thing: presidential hopefuls in low-budget real-time competing on location at a roadside lunch counter – competing in serving up chili dogs yes, aprons on no teleprompters, no note pads…

Originally published in PeaceVoice A person escapes slave labor, torture, rape, and murder, and illegally crosses a border to a land where such crimes are outlawed, to a land where people have the right to work for wages and are protected by the law. Anyone in this “Free Land” who…

Originally published in PeaceVoice Canada just held its federal election this week. I watch it closely because I have dual US and Canadian citizenship. I’ve always been intrigued by the way that all political parties in Canada literally have to “bring the receipts” for any proposals that they suggest on…

Originally published in PeaceVoice From Gulf of America to mass expulsion of “illegals” (people of color) to continuing genocidal complicity in Gaza to whatever the daily news brings us…welcome to Trump America! Welcome to the small-minded, white nation so many long for, free once again from those large, inconvenient values…

Originally published in PeaceVoice For the past seven years, I’ve served as a case manager and/or therapist at Tri County Community Services and presently through TeamBuilders Behavioral Health in Taos, New Mexico. In this capacity, I’ve witnessed the hardships of some of Taos’s most vulnerable and fragile community members and…

Originally Published in PeaceVoice, Let Earth Day be every day! Let it transcend the present state of politics and our economic hierarchy. Let it open us to the future we long for but do not yet envision. We live on one vulnerable, extraordinary planet. We are not its overlords; we…

It’s been a busy month-and-a-half for me at NISGUA, with two weeks of intensive training and month of regular work under my belt. Last week, I took my first salida, or trip, to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the sentence of genocide committed against the Maya Ixil People.(1) On May…

Olympia Visibility Brigade Banner Hang – Chehalis Western Trail Footbridge over I-5, Lacey, WA – Monday, June 2, 4:30pm – You’ve seen those big signs at recent demonstrations – made of almost-invisible netting with big orange letters you can read a block away. Join Olympia Visibility Brigade’s effort to stand…