This week Erica chatted with entrepreneur and high school student Oliva Perez about her new initiative to help the Southern Residents. Oliva shows us how we can all get creative to spread positivity and help the Orcas.  

In this week's episode, Erica sits down with Howard Garret and Brian Jenkins to discuss Biden's infrastructure bill, the It's About Dam Time campaign, and the Red Road to DC Initiative. Howard is a sociologist and one of the founders of Orca Network, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. Brian the founder of Blackfin coffee and SRKW activist. We urge everyone to continue to write our senators!

Sources: 

It's About Dam Time Infographics

It's About Dam Time Video 

Red Road to DC 

Seattle Times: Lummi Nation carvers and allies to embark on national tour to D.C., give totem pole to President Biden

Howards first Breaching Extinction Epsiode 

Brian's first Breaching Extinction Episode 

In this week's Porpisode Shelby, Liam, and Erica urge listeners to continue to participate in the It's About Dam Time campaign and discuss a new initiative Red Road to DC urging Biden to remove the Lower Snake River Dams and honor agreements with indigenous people. 

Sources: 

It's About Dam Time Infographics 

It's About Dam Time Video 

Red Road to DC 

Seattle Times: Lummi Nation carvers and allies to embark on national tour to D.C., give totem pole to President Biden

This week Erica chatted Owen Begley-Collier one of the founders of Snake River Savers, an organization that works to help members of the public voice their concerns about the Southern Residents with government officials.   

This week we had a very special porpisode with Brian Skerry, a National Geographic photojournalist about his latest project, Secrets of the Whales. He discusses the development of his project, experiences in the field, and shares advice on conserving our world's oceans. Check out the film on Disney Plus this Earth Day! 

It’s time to breach the Snake River dams, for endangered orcas and salmon, climate action, and social justice. And Biden’s Infrastructure Plan is the way to do it. Brian Jenkins from Blackfin Coffee and Gloria Pancrazi from the Coextinction film & PNW Protectors chatted with Erica about the new Infrastructure Plan and how we can use it to help the Southern Residents. 

Call to action:

Call and write to Senator Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell!

Here are some bullet points of what to include in your call or letter:

    ⁃    Biden's infrastructure Bill needs to include breaching the Snake River dams this year. 

    ⁃    This can be done by supporting and funding Mike Simpson’s plan to remove the four lower Snake River dams, but Simpson’s plan needs to be revised to breach this year.

    ⁃    This is key to saving endangered chinook salmon and southern resident orcas. 

    ⁃    Breaching the Snake River dams will create 4000-8000 long-term jobs per year. 

    ⁃    It is also an important step toward climate action and social justice.

WA. Senator Cantwell

Phone: (202) 224-3441

Fax: (202) 228-0541

Address: 915 Second Ave., Suite 3206

Seattle, WA 98174

WA Senator Murray

Phone: (425) 259-6515

Fax: (509) 624-9561

Address: 2988 Jackson Federal Building

915 2nd Ave.

Seattle, Washington 98174

#itsaboutdamtime

This week Erica chatted with Kelly Biedenweg professor at Oregon State University in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife about her publication Mixed emotions associated with orca (Orcinus orca) conservation strategies. Kelly is an interdisciplinary social scientist who evaluates conservation through the lens of psychology, anthropology, sociology, geography, political science, and other disciplines. Her study provide important insight on the role of emotions in Orca conservation. 

This week Erica chatted with Lynn Barre Southern Resident Recovery Coordinator at NOAA about current efforts in place to help the SRKW's. She talks about the role of science, NOAA, and how we can help as individuals. 

Liam, Shelby, and Erica discuss the importance of sea stars in the Salish and sea star wasting disease. 

Video of sea star eating urchin (Disclaimer: please review wildlife viewing guidelines in your area when handling wildlife)