New Study: Electromagnetic Radiation More Dangerous Than We Thought

This warning comes from Forbes Magazine, not exactly a hotbed of liberal activism.  Everyday electromagnetic radiation — from TV sets, microwave ovens, cell phones, etc. — is a lot more hazardous than we thought; especially to children.

Maybe this will galvanize a few more people who haven't been concerned about the Navy's planned electromagnetic warfare experiments in Olympic National Park and adjacent communities.  If nothing else, the Navy's legions of disinformation trolls will have to replace their favorite talking point:  “Aw come on, do you have a cell phone?  A microwave?  Quit your handwringing,” yada yada.

Port Commissioner John Calhoun to speak at PABA meeting

Port of Port Angeles Commissioner John Calhoun will be the guest at this Tuesday's Port Angeles Business Association meeting.  He will be discussing the Platypus Marine Inc. proposal to purchase five acres of port land adjacent to its current location on Marine Drive.

Navy's Assault on Olympic Peninsula gets Daily Kos Coverage

We're hittin' the Big Time.  Check it out:  Navy War Games over Olympic National Park and Forest.

 Hopefully Daily Kos will be just the first of many national news/environmental sites to cover this story.

Platypus to Port of Port Angeles: “Shit or get off the john”

Not in those exact words of course, but that's the gist.

Platypus Marine Inc. wants a straight Yes or No answer on Platypus' proposal to purchase the land it's presently leasing from the Port.  Platypus owner Judson Linnabary has said Platypus can add 75 new full-time positions with an average annual salary of $48,500 — IF the company has the certainty that comes with owning the land rather than leasing it.  He told Port commissioners:

“I’d just like to know when we can vote on a sale of the property, yea or nay, a schedule of when we can make things happen.” 

Navy Unfazed, Still Determined to Wreck Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park

The state Department of Natural Resources has declined to give the Navy permission to rape the forested lands controlled by the DNR.  The DNR controls three of the fifteen sites the Navy had targeted.  The Navy is still pursuing the other twelve sites.

The Navy will need permission from the U.S. Forest Service to ruin the other twelve sites.  The Forest Service expects to make a draft decision by the middle of this year.  The Forest Service has already received 3,314 comments, which can be reviewed here.

Temporary Furlough at Nippon Mill

Sixty Port Angeles employees of Nippon Paper Industries USA have been furloughed until April 27th while the mill shuts down for cleaning and maintenance.  Regarding unemployment benefits during laid-off workers' time off, the company's Human Resources Manager Cathy Price said:

“We have coordinated unemployment meetings at the mill if that’s the way they want to go.” 

Turning Olympic Peninsula into the Navy's Electronic Warfare Testing Range

Last night there was a public meeting in the Clallam County Democrats' office regarding the Navy's proposal to turn Olympic National Park and the Olympic Peninsula into their personal laboratory for Electronic Warfare testing.  I'd guess about 50 people attended.  Someone from the PDN was there (I don't know who he was); supposedly the PDN will do a story on the meeting and the information presented.  We'll see...

The three main speakers were Ron Richards, Ken Pickard of Citizens of Ebeys Reserve, and, sorry to say, I didn't catch the 3rd speaker's name.  He's a local teacher; I think Rod was his first name.  (Sorry...)

I was already against the Navy's proposed huge increase in low-flying jets and Electronic Warfare testing, based on the scant "coverage" provided by the PDN.  But last night's presentation was so alarming, I don't know where to begin.  So instead of trying to paraphrase, here are a few links:

Citizens of Ebeys Reserve

West Coast Action Alliance

Protect Olympic Peninsula


Be Very Afraid.

The difference between a Drought and Reduced Snowpack

The following anonymous comment appeared at my previous post:

"In today's PDN, we see another poll.
Demonstrating how poorly they understand the issues, the poll asks something like "Do you believe the current drought in the Olympics is caused by climate change".

There is no "drought in the Olympics". The area has received the normal amount of precipitation, and in fact, in some places, above average. Yes, it has been raining, as any of us who have been paying attention for the last few months will remember.

The problem is that it has been abnormally WARM, and the precipitation has been falling as rain, instead of snow. The problem is that there is no stored water in the form of snow for later in the year, when THEN it is anticipated there will be drought conditions in the area.

Anyways, what do you think the results of that poll will be?"

Very well put.

By the PDN's own rainfall statistics, this area has had ABOVE normal precipitation for the past 5 to 6 months.  Even aside from the statistics, this area has had landslides and minor flooding that are not indications of a "drought." 

As the commenter stated, the abnormally high temperatures have caused most of the precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow.  We're probably facing water shortages this summer because of the vastly reduced snowpack; but a "drought" has nothing to do with it.

There's a crystal clear difference between a "drought" and the unusually high winter temperatures that have caused our above-normal precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow.  Is the PDN really this clueless about this clear distinction, or are they just trying to dodge the climate change issue while pretending to confront it?

Should Public Lands be Sold to Private Owners?

Today's Peninsula Poll question is based on this article, which appeared in today's paper but for some reason is not found at the PDN website. 

Should federal lands not in national parks and monuments be put up for sale, as proposed in congressional legislation?

Number of votes cast: 631

Jim McEntire and Jim Hallett to speak at Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

At tomorrow's meeting of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the guests will be Port of Port Angeles Commissioner Jim Hallett and Clallam County Commissioner Jim McEntire.  They will be discussing economic development strategy for Clallam County.

Nature Conservancy Makes $7 Million Timberland Purchase

The Nature Conservancy has purchased 3,184 acres of Rayonier timberlands in the Hoh River drainage for $7 million.  This sale will help in the creation of a 32-mile conservation corridor along the Hoh River.  A spokesperson for the Nature Conservancy said:

“The Hoh River corridor provides critical habitat for marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, bald eagle and bull trout.  It also supports some of the healthiest native salmon and steelhead runs in the lower 48 states.”

Rayonier President David Nunes said the sale is an “economically viable agreement” that will keep the land healthy and in a ”forestland cover.”