The stories published under Community Voices do not follow traditional Planet journalistic standards. They have not gone through rounds of drafting and edits from our staff, nor rigorous rounds of line editing and fact checking. However, we do preliminary fact checking and check sources for every story published here. To submit to the Community Voices section, please see out Submissions page.
My Favorite Superfund Site’s Superfailure?
Goose Lake is a Superfund site in Shelton, Washington. It hasn’t been cleaned up 35 years after the Department of Ecology first assessed the site.
Bringing Life to the Desert
After seven years of fighting against their food desert status, the Birchwood neighborhood is hopeful for change.
Whatcom Water Worries
A new legal process in Whatcom County may have drastic effects on water use for large farms. Filing in court will be required to receive a water rights certificate from the Department of Ecology.
Mountain Biking Trails Face a New Threat: Poaching
In the forests of Bellingham’s Galbraith Mountain, trail builders struggle to find balance between maintaining accessible trails and impatient mountain bikers.
Pacific Whale West
Last year’s record-breaking number of sightings of Bigg’s killer whales and humpback whales in the Salish Sea and what they mean for the ecosystem’s health.
Getting Back to Basics with Herbal Medicine
Bellingham’s growing interest in alternative medicine is nurtured by community herbalists and naturopathic practitioners.
Anacortes Nonprofit Combating Salish Sea Pollution With The City
Through monitoring stormwater outfalls, Friends of Skagit Beaches, in coordination with the city of Anacortes, discover and fix sources of pollution.
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association: Restoring Salmon Habitats and Educating the Community
Restoring riparian areas, clearing fish barriers and adding large woody debris are a few of the things Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association does to restore salmon habitats, but since its conception, they have come to do even more.
Despite Early Issues, Electric Buses Keep Chugging Along and More are Joining
Although electric buses continue to have some issues, Whatcom Transportation Authority is hopeful they won’t persist and think the buses do their job well.
Whatcom Million Trees Project: Bringing More Trees to Whatcom County
Trees have many benefits people might know about. Listen to Michael Freer, executive director of Whatcom Million Trees Project, explain why trees are important and what they’re doing to ensure Whatcom County’s tree population keeps growing.
The Outback Farm’s 50th Anniversary: Q&A with Cam Olsen-Roth and Kate Conway
The Community Coordinator and Permaculture Coordinator at Western’s Outback Farm sat down with “The Planet” to discuss the farm’s history and the work they do there, all in celebration of its 50th anniversary this past weekend.
Acres of Clams
Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest reclaim their culture with clam gardens.
Virtual Activism
Activists find new ways to advocate their cause without marching in the streets.
It’s In Their Blood
New data links DDT exposure with the development of breast cancer.
Transform Society with Universal Environmental Education
Socialism on the Seafloor
Untested Waters
Before you stoop for a drink at Western’s untested water fountains, ask yourself, is it really worth it?
Fear Not
Your perspective shifts completely when you become a parent.
You’ll always have fear once your daughter is here. It’s just part of parenthood.
Just wait, what scares you now will be nothing compared to what scares you in the future.