In the coming weeks I’ll be speaking on panels at two conferences—one on ecosystems and one on poetry. The common thread that I hope to weave into each will be The Thin Green Line—the notion that the Northwest is uniquely positioned to thwart large-scale fossil fuel exports.

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (downtown Seattle)

    • When: Wednesday, April 30, 3:30 to 5:00
    • Where: Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown Seattle
    • Details: I’ll be participating in an afternoon session titled, Fossil Fuel Exports and Climate Change in the Salish Sea. With me on the panel will be some of the most interesting thinkers and advocates on Salish Sea issues, including Fred Felleman, Friends of the Earth; Scott Veirs, Salish Sea Hydrophone Network; Gary Shigenaka, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Alexandra Woodsworth, Georgia Strait Alliance. The panel will be moderated by Stephanie Buffum who heads up Friends of the San Juans. (Conference registration is required to attend.)

The Thin Green Line by Don Baker (Used with permission)

Cascadia Poetry Festival (Seattle University)

    • When: Saturday, May 3, 11:40 to 12:50
    • Where: Seattle University, Pigott Auditorium
    • Details: I’ll be part of a panel on Geoactivism, the confluence of geography and activism. Joining me will be British Columbia human rights and environmental advocate Trevor Carolan and Portland author Kaia Sand. The session will be facilitated by award-winning environmental journalist Kim Goldberg from Vancouver Island. (Registration is required to attend the festival’s events.)