Cascadia today: Cascadia separatism in the New York Times + Seattle sweeps encampments for World Cup + poetry by Lue Hughes

Good morning, friends. This past weekend, I returned home from a lovely backpacking trip to Snoqualmie Lake to learn the New York Times published its profile of Cascadia Democratic Action and our efforts to start the conversation on independence for Cascadia. The reporter, bureau chief for the Pacific Northwest, who's been based in Portland for more than twenty years, did a very good job and covered the issue fairly and with some nuance.

"The revolution begins with a poetry reading," Anna Griffin said of our Cascadia Day event at Vermillion, and then went on to describe our growing movement aimed at putting options – including soft secession or independence from the US – on the table.

The piece also delved into another separatist movement in the Northwest – the right-wing Greater Idaho project to merge eastern Oregon counties into Idaho. I'm not thrilled to be mentioned alongside this MAGA movement, but the reporter made it clear Cascadia Democratic Action is progressive, and seeks to use our wasted federal tax dollars on things like universal health care and free college education. The piece definitely foregrounded a deep sense of disconnection in the US, and rumblings of other secession movements from California to Alberta to Texas.

Give it a read all the way to the last line: “We’re in an abusive relationship with the federal government. Divorce is a valid response.”

Find more info on CDA here.

Seattle sweeps encampments prior to World Cup

KUOW reports that the city of Seattle is increasing sweeps of homeless encampments prior to the arrival of World Cup matches, despite mayor Katie Wilson expressing her distaste for sweeps. The city claims they've increased shelter beds to meet demand, but the article notes Wilson is well short of a goal of 500 new beds prior to the World Cup. Meanwhile, Harrison Mooney at the Tyee writes about how, despite the big money behind FIFA, and the major expenses North American cities have had to shell out to host matches, he still loves the drama of global football competitions, and is excited his kids can experience soccer's biggest event in Vancouver.

WA drops in national education ranking

Washington State Standard reports that Washington state's ranking in public K-12 education (from an annual report from the Casey Foundation) plummeted from 27th in the US to 31st.

"In Washington, the latest analysis shows that 70% of eighth graders were not proficient in math and 68% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading."

This is absolutely unacceptable in a state that's home to some of the world's most profitable companies and abundant wealth. When governor Ferguson talks about an austerity budget, I'm reminded of the fact that every year the people of Washington pay $57 billion more to the federal government than we receive back.

That has to change, and it's part of why I'm pushing discussions on Cascadia separation. We could do better for our residents without wasting our share of a proposed $1.5 trillion military budget and hundreds of billions of dollars on a cruel mass deportation campaign.

Feds fast-track mine that could poison the Snake River

Columbia Insight reports on how the federal Bureau of Land Management is limiting public comment on a proposed silver mine in southwest Idaho near a creek that's in the headwaters of the Snake River. The planned mine will double an existing mine in size and use cyanide-leaching, a cheap and dangerous method of extracting gold and silver from ore. For more on opposition to BLM's attempt to railroad mines without public comment, visit Idaho Conservation League.

Poetry by Lue Hughes

At Poetry Northwest, take a moment to read Seattle poet Lue Hughes' powerful and beautiful poem, "Dementia," about her mother's decline:

"When the sky pulls back its slip, you’ll find them
in the Fields of Worry slowly killing its people,
but don’t bother with that sugar. Instead, imagine
yourself at a gospel concert’s end, readying to sing
the last song, and when you open your mouth, nothing."

Read the full poem here.

The revolution starts with a poetry reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andy