The Snake River dam system (37 dams) has depleted the salmon runs and many other fish species over the past decades- to the point where many are endangered. This has cascading effects on the ecosystem as a whole. The Southern Resident task force concluded the main contributor to the orcas threatened status is lack of salmon, in addition to vessel noise and pollution. The lack of salmon is due to the Snake River dam system (and I imagine pollution as well). Over $17 BILLION dollars of public money has been put into replenishing the salmon runs to minimal success. The issue is the dams, the salmon need their restored ecosystem to flourish and in return, sustain the larger ecosystem. Consider contacting your local representative about dam removal as much of the orca task force funding has been reassigned due to Covid. For more information and involvement check here: Wild Salmon.Org An Idaho representative, Mike Simpson has a dam removal proposal which aims to appease concerns of tribes and farmers with the goal of bringing back the salmon. Please contact your rep to sign on to this proposal and support it. More info can be found here in the Idaho Statesmen, among many other news articles. I've attached a 4x6 postcard you can print out and send to your representative asking for their support on this proposal and perhaps go further. You can print out and send, post however many you want. I printed them on a cream cardstock and they look pretty nice :) At future shows I will be handing these out for free as well. Write a postcard to Patty Murray's office at: The Honorable Patty Murray 915 2nd Ave, Suite 2988 Seattle, WA 98174 CALL and leave a message at Sen. Murray's Seattle office: (206) 553-5545 Write a postcard to Maria Cantwell's office at: The Honorable Maria Cantwell 915 2nd Ave, Suite 3206 Seattle, WA 98174 CALL and leave a message at Sen. Cantwell's Seattle office: (206) 220-6400 This is just for Washington, but if you're in neighboring states, reach out to your rep!
A more contextual sidenote, I was doing research for an orca tattoo design and got caught up in the tragic story of the Southern Resident Orcas. A few years ago Tahlequah, one of the Orcas in J Pod carried her dead calf for 17 days, over 1,000 miles. It broke my heart then and everytime I'm reminded of her, I know there's more we can always do. If you end up making a piece for this issue, please send me a pic or link, I would love to share it. :)
1 Comment
Ben
2/9/2021 10:30:15 pm
Love the postcards! I shared this everywhere! Thanks! Leave a Reply. |
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April 2024
Me!Hello! I'm Cascadian colored pencil artist extraodinaire. |
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