Welcome to Open Spaces
Open Spaces is a forum for voices that speak with knowledge and understanding of matters currently affecting all of us.
“When artists, entrepreneurs, and agents of social change cluster, they look for forums where they can interact and be challenged and provoked. In Cascadia, Open Spaces plays this role. It is where thoughtful people publish essays that push readers to think outside their comfort zones.”
— Denis Hayes, coordinator of the first Earth Day
and current president of the Bullitt Foundation
An insightful, passionate and entertaining examination of how voters make political decisions, and of what any party or politician needs to do to win their allegiance.
Historically, when Americans hear “climate change,” we imagine a polar bear struggling on ever-shrinking ice. But our perceptions are beginning to shift.
Incoming reports focused on climate change and health all present the same key messages: climate change is here, it is bad for your health, immediate actions can reduce future risks, and climate action has immediate and substantial health benefits.
In short, climate action is good for health, and it’s time.
Differing attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed the chasm between the data provided by science and medicine and doubts about trusting that information.
Here, we offer a physician’s take on how we arrived at this point and how the medical community can rebuild trust.
Poet Richard Benner (author of our recently featured poem “Godscape of Clouds”) offers his thoughtful insight into this uncertain time as we emerge from the pandemic.
Must Congress authorize every policy by an agency, or can agencies act with authority? This case is not just about the breadth of one agency’s authority; the outcome of the case will determine the physical and economic health of the United States for years to come.
Why are sea otters missing from the Oregon Coast? Learn about the history of otters in Oregon, how we got to this point, and about the Elakha Alliance’s restoration efforts to reestablish the ecological and cultural balance for future generations.
Top: Golden Crowned Sparrow on a Crabapple Tree
Left: Pelican
To see more of Harry’s work, visit his photography showcase.
International Climate Change
For updates, visit the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) website, where one can find Summaries for Policy Makers from recent and upcoming Synthesis Reports.
Photo: Visible Earth, NASA