Seattle - conference & long weekend

The famous fish throwers (not actually in view - they move around pretty fast...)

Pike Place


Underground tour of Seattle

The fantastic Pacific Science Centre. Team Johnston versus Large Robot. The robot actually cheated and won. This was an outrage. Note to self: In the not-too-distant future, be sure to purchase ethical robots otherwise there may issues.

Space Needle

One of many of George's food snaps from Seattle. Loads of good food to be found.



IslandWood. One of the field trips from conference. An environmental learning centre on Bainbridge Island set up by philanthropist couple. No expense spared. Tree houses, suspension bridges, floating classroom. They even had the resources to somehow keep the leaves on the trees.

Experience Music Project. Didn't go inside. Startling building.

State of Washington has countless beautiful places and Seattle too is a really interesting city. First time for us in a big American city. Seattle, the home of Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks has wealth. Seattle also has poverty. Some parts were a bit scary.

Washington has a very strong Environmental Education Association. 400+ people at the conference. Speakers included Peter Senge (systems, MIT) and Sylvia Earle (queen of the ocean). The conference 'Reinventing Green' focused on action that works - the sorts of things that people are & could be doing to reduce our impact on the planet.

I can't be sure if it's the same at home but things are really moving in Washington. Large companies are approaching environmental consultants and are seeking advice. So after years of beating their collective heads against brick walls trying to get people to listen, the environmental groups quite suddenly find themselves being sought after and listened to - Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks included.

The Arctic ice cap has been shrinking for a while. This summer it shrunk to the size predicted for 2040 - which is 30 years ahead of time. Sylvia Earle showed graphic footage of the harvesting of our oceans. For each kilogram of prawns harvested from the ocean, 5 kilograms of other fish are thrown dead back into the sea.

I'm off my prawns.

People at conference were very friendly. We liked Seattle. Went shopping and replenished deeply depleted clothing stocks.

Back in Edmonton... Brrr!