Citizen action can have lasting impact.
If not now, when? If not us, who?
Below is a list of current actions you can take as a member of the public to protect vital ecosystems in Island County and Washington State.
Calls To Action
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Apply For Island County Planning Commission
County Commissioners are seeking applicants interested in serving on the planning commission, which consists of nine volunteer citizens — three from each of the commissioner districts. The planning commission makes recommendations to the county commissioners in matters concerning growth and development, which is especially important this year due to the ongoing comprehensive plan amendment process.
Interested individuals should provide a letter of interest and statement of qualifications by mail to Island County Board of Commissioners, ATTN: Planning Commission Vacancies, 1 NE 7th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239.
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Comment On Island County's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The 30 day public comment period for the Island County CEDS 2024-2028 draft is now open. The public comment period is open from Monday, April 15, 2024 until Friday, May 17, 2024 at 5pm PST.
Please fill out this form with your comments and feedback and submit it no later than Friday, May 17, 2024 at 5pm PST.
Comments or Questions? Check out our CEDS FAQs page for more information or email Jennifer Noveck at ceds@edcislandcounty.org
Deadline: May 17, 2024
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Vote NO on Initiative 2117
Protect Our Air and Water, Forests and Farmland, Jobs and Transportation Investments. Vote NO on Initiative 2117. We can’t afford it.
Deadline: November 5, 2024
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Comment on the Island County Comprehensive PlanList Item 1
What will Island County look like in 2045? That is the question Island County’s next comprehensive plan will be answering. By 2045, Island County is anticipated to have 102,639 residents, that is more than 15,000 new residents.
Make sure the county knows how important protecting vital ecosystems are to Island County residents.
Ongoing until June 30, 2025
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Take The Island County Public Health SurveyList Item 2
Use this opportunity to share how important clean air, clean water, healthy forests and farms, and other environmental factors are for our community health.
How will your opinion make a difference? The results of this survey will go into the Community Health Assessment report. This report gets distributed widely throughout the county and region, and is used by community leaders, agency directors and staff, service providers, and community groups to help make informed decisions about what health needs exist in our community and what work needs to be done.
Take Further Action
List of Services
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Center for Biological DiversityList Item 1
Center for Biological Diversity believes that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, the Center works to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction.
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EarthjusticeList Item 2
Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has saved irreplaceable wildlands, cleaned up the air we breathe, and fueled the rise of 100% clean energy. Earthjustice has protected countless species on the brink of extinction, and secured long-overdue, historic limits on our nation’s worst polluting industries.
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Washington Conservation ActionList Item 3
Washington Conservation Action is the leading policy and political voice in Washington’s environmental community, mobilizing for conservation and environmental justice. WCA's mission is to advocate for environmental progress and justice through actions that mobilize the public, elect champions for the environment, and hold our leaders accountable.
Making Positive Change:
A Framework for Activism
WEAN founder Marianne Edain has built her life on principles of ecology and environmental activism. Below she shares with us her framework for showing up in the world in a tangible way to make it a better place.
Marianne Edain. Photo by Linda LaMar.
1.
Define the Problem
Understand the issue you are addressing. Most problems have many parts — tease those parts apart to figure out which is most important and where you can make the biggest impact.
2.
Understand The System
Understand which governmental body and/or elected official is the decision-maker for your particular issue.
3.
Do Your Homework
Be able to substantiate everything you say in public. PAY ATTENTION to the details in notices you read. They usually contain deadlines. You snooze, you lose.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Show Up
Showing up is the biggest part of success. Show up in person and online to public meetings, organized protests, and community events.
Make Yourself Heard
Comment on everything you can, based on the reading you have done, in the appropriate venue.
Measure Success
Determine whether or not your actions have moved the needle on your issue.
Continue To Show Up
Be patient, persistent, and present. Your voice matters — using it allows others to do the same.
Making Positive Change - A Beginner's Guide
A full beginner's guidebook for starting your journey as an environmental activist in your neighborhood, township, and county based on Marianne's framework for activism.
Show Up
Use Your Voice
Do Your Homework
Stick With It
"We’re all short on time and energy. We need to make the most of what we’ve got."
Marianne Edain
Co-founder, Whidbey Environmental Action Network
Additional Resources
See Something?
Say Something
A guide for civic action when faced with active logging or un-permitted development in your neighborhood.
"Alphabet
Soup"
A list of agencies and laws that have environmental impact in the state of Washington.
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