Action Hour

We’re back with WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson. In this episode, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through the origins of the county-level comprehensive planning process, WEAN’s history of appealing the Island County Comprehensive Plan, and how the planning process relates to the Growth Management Act of Washington State.  Live in Island County? Check out the county's engagement port...

Marnie and Amanda reflect on what they learned about wildfire resilience on Whidbey Island and beyond from attending a wildfire conference hosted by Whidbey Climate Action at WICA this month.  The “Think The Unthinkable” conference program on wildfire and additional resources are available on the Whidbey Climate Action website here: https://www.whidbeyclimate.org/wildfire

Amanda chats with WEAN's Executive Director Marnie Jackson about how we can effect environmental change amid a rapidly shifting climate reality accelerated by capitalism, starting with choices at home and caring for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Organic waste is a huge generator of methane gas in our landfills. Redirecting waste through regenerative practices like composting is one of the quickest ways for communities to reduce emissions. On this episode of Action Hour, Amanda continues her conversation with environmentalist and zero waste practitioner David Haskell about how changing our organic waste management strategies on a local lev...

In this episode of Action Hour, Amanda interviews Whidbey Island resident, zero waste practitioner, and career environmentalist David Haskell about the systemic ways in which industry has designed toxic waste into the lifecycle of our products —and how we might design our way out of it.

In this episode of Action Hour, Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson chat with Amanda about balancing motherhood and activism, moving succulents under cover of darkness, and what we all can learn from the hippie movement.

In the second part of this two-part series, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through three more critical areas designated in the Growth Management Act: fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, geologically hazardous areas, and frequently flooded areas. Why are they important? Listen to find out.

The Growth Management Act requires all counties in Washington State to adopt regulations protecting “critical areas.” What are they? Why are they important? How are they protected? During part one of this two-part series, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through two of the five designated areas: wetlands and areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water. 

In the latest episode of "Action Hour," Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through Marianne's arrest record, her involvement in the Free Speech movement, Steve dodging the Vietnam draft, and the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968. Tune in and "get off the bus" with us. Special thanks to Smithsonian Folkway Recordings and Schroder Music Company for permission to use a recording of "It Isn't Nice"...

What does growth mean for our little islands? What are the limits? This episode of Action Hour goes through the Growth Management Act, the policy managing population and development growth in Washington State, and how it impacts our county. This episode is deep policy upfront, and community impact on the backend. Listen through for maximum learning experience.  Engage in the Comprehensive Planning...

How long can we hold back the sea? With sea level rise affecting shore communities around the world, local governments must ask and answer big questions. In this episode, Steve and Marianne walk Amanda through Washington State's Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and the Shoreline Master Programs that govern shoreline management on the county level. Learn more about the SMA here: https://ecology.wa.go...

In this episode of Action Hour with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Marianne and Steve walk Amanda through the State Environmental Policy Act, known as SEPA. Warning: this episode is policy heavy, and therefore a little dry upfront, but we promise to make it up to you at some point! If you dare, you can read SEPA yourself here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=43.21C

In Episode 2 of Action Hour with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Amanda continues her initial conservation with WEAN founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson about the formation of WEAN, their reputation for holding the county accountable, and their hopes for future environmental activists.

In the inaugural episode of Action Hour with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, our host Amanda Bullis interviews founders Marianne Edain and Steve Erickson about their lives as environmental activists and the formation of WEAN. Marianne and Steve have been working tirelessly on ecological conservation efforts in Island County, WA for over forty years, and are responsible for saving critica...