Olympia area – Page 4 – Glen's Parallax Perspectives

Our political culture keeps praising militarists. Why don’t they thank peace organizers?

September 22, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The Port of Olympia issued a news release celebrating military troops and saying that the Port, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Olympia Yacht club will loudly blow sirens and horns to “salute the troops” on at 7:45 a.m. on September 6, 2019. Law enforcement agencies and a variety of other local entities and power centers would supportively participate. Mainstream America and powerful sectors within the U.S. want to “support the troops.” I’m still waiting for nearly 50 years for any local governments to celebrate Conscientious Objectors – the many people in the U.S. (such as me) and elsewhere whose […]

Let’s Boldly Create the Future We Really Want!

September 9, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

I wrote this powerful, inspiring essay because we have much more potential for solving problems and creating a better future than most people realize. Regardless of which issues you care about, I encourage you to read the essay at this link: Let’s Boldly Create the Future We Really Want

Adults as well as youths should strike for the climate on FRI. SEPT. 20, 2019

August 24, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Bill McKinnon urging us to strike for the climate on Sept. 20, 2019: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/21/youth-adults-join-us-climate-fight Calls for maximum adult participation in the young people’s climate strikes: https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-strikes-public-participation-2639336361.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1 A 17-year-old climate justice activist admits to being “terrified of what the future holds if we remain on our current carbon trajectory. The climate crisis looms over every single decision I make, and impedes any and all plans I try to make for the future. I have never known a time in my life where life on earth as we know it wasn’t coming to an end thanks to the climate crisis. It’s time […]

“Houselessness, Human Dignity, and the Right to Survive”

June 30, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The July 2019 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” takes a fresh look at problems and solutions related to homelessness. We dispel some of the myths that interfere with realistic understanding and smart solutions. Instead of talking about it from afar, one of guests (Jamie Joy) actually is homeless. His first-hand experiences and insights help us understand the problems and solutions. Our other guest (Tye Gundel) co-founded a great local grassroots organization — “Just Housing” — in 2016 and has been working effectively with a variety of people and local governments to inform the public, advocate for compassionate and practical solutions, […]

“Why the Public Should Own Our Electric Utilities”

May 18, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The June 2019 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Per-spectives” explores the many benefits of having the public own our electric utilities instead of letting big business own them. People typically think about “democracy” in terms of government. But why not also have democracy in how we run our economy? Why can’t our economic institutions – such as our electric utility – respond to the will of the voters? Voters can choose to have local governments own and operate our electric utilities. Dozens of cities and counties in Washington State have long, successful track records of using publicly owned utilities to pro-vide […]

“A City-Owned Electric Utility Would Help Olympia’s People”

May 18, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Local folks are starting to organize a campaign for the City of Olympia and other local cities to replace Puget Sound Energy here with a successful locally owned electric utility that will provide lower rates, better reliability, and sustainable energy – and will be ac-countable to the public instead of foreign stockholders. They plan to gather enough signatures of Olympia voters during the middle part of 2020 to qualify for Olympia’s ballot for the November 2020 election. Here is one page listing four reasons why this would be a good idea: A City-Owned Electric Utility Would Help Olympia’s People […]

Yes, we can organize more effectively at the grassroots for many important issues.

April 26, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Globally, nationally, and locally, we are confronted with very serious problems. Some people feel overwhelmed and disempowered, so they feel powerless to solve the problems. But that only allows the horrible problems to get worse. I strongly support the opposite approach: Recognize that WE CAN INDEED LEARN HOW TO ORGANIZE EFFECTIVELY at the grassroots level (“Think globally and act locally”) to solve the problems. Sometimes people and organizations merely vent or flail about with random activities without a clear strategy for how to make the political and social changes we want. We can do better than that! Specifically, I seek […]

June 17-21, 2019: Learn how to mediate disputes.

April 25, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County (the DRC at 360-956-1155 www.mediatethurston.org) offers TRAINING IN HOW TO MEDIATE DISPUTES. I highly recommend this 40-hour Professional Mediation Training during one week in June (17th through 21st), 2019. It runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It can help you strengthen your relationships at home, at work, and beyond. The insights are practical in our daily lives. I encourage people to take this training even if you do not think you’d want to be one of the DRC’s volunteer mediators. This fun and highly interactive 40-hour training will acquaint […]

Register now for Olympia’s SAT APRIL 13, 2019, Climate Convention

March 31, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Thurston Climate Action Team (https://www.thurstonclimateaction.org) and Citizens’ Climate Lobby Washington (https://citizensclimatelobby.org) have partnered to bring you the 4th Annual South Sound Climate Action Convention in combination with the WA State Citizens’ Climate Lobby Conference Saturday, April 13, 2019, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Olympia High School, Olympia WA Register today for the Early-bird rate: https://southsoundclimateconvention.org/registration-3/ Early-bird registration ($30) is OK through Monday April 1. On Tuesday April 2, registration is $35. The organizers offer student scholarships, as well as discounted registration to those who would like to volunteer at the Convention. Visit https://southsoundclimateconvention.org/ to register today!

“What’s Wrong with the Missing Middle”

March 10, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The March 2019 episode of “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series is an interview with Judy Bardin and Jim Keogh, two very knowledgeable Olympia residents who have researched — and want the public to understand — the “Missing Middle” scheme that the City of Olympia adopted recently. The “Missing Middle” is a massive up-zone that will seriously disrupt many neighborhoods and cause several kinds of problems. The City railroaded it through without the necessary public information and conversation that are necessary for an honest democracy. To watch the interview, CLICK THIS LINK: Missing Middle interview. Glen typed up a very […]

“Spiritual and Conscientious Groundings for Doing Good Work”

February 3, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The February 2019 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series (see below for info about watching it through your computer or TCTV channel 22) provides insights and examples for different spiritual and conscientious paths people can take throughout their lives that inspire and motivate them to do good work for peace, social justice, and other meaningful purposes. We can make our world a better place – and improve our local communities too – by drawing upon intangible motivations to inspire and guide our efforts. Many people do good work because they are moved by motivations grounded far below the merely […]

“Solving Local Environmental Problems”

December 27, 2018 GlenAnderson 0

The January 2019 episode of “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series (see below for info about watching it through your computer or TCTV channel 22) helps us understand and solve some environmental problems in the Olympia area, especially in the Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, Budd Inlet, Puget Sound, and the surrounding land areas. This program’s scientific insights will also help people elsewhere to understand and solve their local problems. We clearly explain the science so anyone can understand the problems and the solutions we propose. Two very knowledgeable guests help us explore these problems and solutions: Sue Patnude has a master’s […]

When sea level rise drowns downtown Olympia, here is a creative vision.

December 15, 2018 GlenAnderson 0

I wrote the article at the following link to combine seriousness and jest to help us understand Olympia’s future. It’s a quick and interesting read: A vision for downtown Olympia after sea level rise drowns it

“Let’s Understand the Islamic Faith”

October 1, 2018 GlenAnderson 0

The October 2018 episode of “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” TV series helps us understand the Islamic faith. Islam is the world’s second most popular religion, but most Americans who are not Muslim do not understand it. Many of the things Americans think they know about Islam are not actually true. I invite you to watch this TV interview with three knowledgeable, articulate Muslims so you will gain a clear and accurate understanding. See the link below to watch the program — and the link below that to read a thorough summary of what we said and a list of sources for […]

Our local weekly peace vigils attract attention and support!

September 15, 2018 GlenAnderson 0

One way to “think globally and act locally” is to participate in the three peace vigils that occur in Olympia every week! The Wednesday and Friday vigils downtown occur EVERY week, all year around, regardless of weather or holidays. The Thursday bannering at a local freeway overpass occurs when it is not too windy to hold the huge banner safely. Every Wednesday from 12 noon to 1 pm in the NW corner of Sylvester Park (Legion & Capitol Way) since March 5, 1980 Every Thursday from 11 am to 12 noon (current schedule might change in winder, and as weather […]