Diana McCaulay, ContributorThe tree was dusty and unprepossessing, not big, not particularly beautiful, growing out of an uneven square in the Fremont sidewalk.
Next to it, an enormous crater had been excavated and construction of a building was proceeding with American dispatch. Tree, you've not got long for this life, I thought as I walked past. Then I saw the tree had a sign on its trunk.
"Protect Tree Public Notice!" the sign proclaimed. "This tree has been inspected by the City of Seattle. It is to be retained and protected from construction impacts. Failure to provide proper protection may result in treble damages. This tree is valued at $4,600.00".
The sign concluded with a detailed design of a chain-link fence to be erected around the tree, including how close any excavation could come to its roots. I am not making this up. If this tree got hurt, the contractor could be fined US$13,800.00!
(Seattleites are fond of their trees; I've already described how they're not averse to drinking tree toasts. However, Mayor Paul Schell has just got himself into trouble by having the city buy a 80-year-old Japanese maple tree for the not-inconsiderable sum of US$35,000. He now says he's going to raise private money to reimburse the city).
The sign on the tree in Fremont got me thinking about things I've noticed in what could loosely be described as the media here. Take crime, for instance. The striking thing about crime reporting in Seattle is that it is just as much about trials, acquittals and convictions, as it is about the crimes themselves. When last have you seen a television crime report that detailed the trial of an accused person in Jamaica? Here, you feel there is actually some possibility a miscreant could be caught and punished. And the T.V. cameras will be there, recording the triumph of justice, journalists will attempt intelligent commentary and not merely revel in the spectacle of blood-soaked pavements.
Pollution report
Here's something that's in the newspaper every day: An air pollution report. There is a little graph called the Air Quality Index on the weather page, right next to depressing graphics of rain clouds. The Air Quality Index reports on the levels of particulate matter and carbon monoxide in main areas of the city. Here, it seems to be accepted that people are interested in the quality of their air and the Government is expected to provide the appropriate information.
Somewhat in the same vein, the front page of the Seattle Times was recently devoted to reporting who were the major water users in the city. Seattle is currently experiencing a drought and there is much concern about water conservation.
It transpired that the home of the president of the University of Washington consumed nearly three times as much in the first three months of 2001 as the average Seattle house does in a year, and the top residential water user was - surprise, surprise Bill Gates. Spokespeople for both men were quick to point out their residences were used for conferences and other events. The article ended with hype from a reformed water waster as follows: "But our lawn, in 2001, is no longer going to be the greenest one in Seattle!"
If you are a polluting business, not only are you going to be fined, but your name is going to appear in a sizeable newspaper advertisement headed, "Companies Violate Wastewater Pre-treatment Standards" or the like. The nature of your company's violation will be stated, along with the penalty and the status of any litigation. I've never understood why Jamaican environmental regulators don't do this - it would cost very little. I can't believe even the most predatory Jamaican businessman would be unconcerned to see his company identified as a polluter.
Positive reinforcement
Nor do the newspapers ignore positive reinforcement. Companies are mentioned in an equally prominent ad when they've had an "excellent record of compliance with the county's waste discharge regulations." Again, this costs very little, and simply requires a modicum of creativity and real interest in addressing pollution issues. The most prestigious EnviroOvation Award is given for companies who voluntarily implement pollution prevention measures and most significantly reduce their waste. Boeing won it in 2000.
Finally, you'll be relieved to hear I found out from the newspapers what to do with my hazardous waste. You might remember I'd painted some furniture and had been left with six ounces of paint waste. It was under my sink, and I was beginning to wonder how I would leave it to go home to Jamaica. Turns out there's a Household Hazardous Waste Mobile that comes to my area once a month. So I left them with my paint rags and a Duracell battery and slept the sleep of the righteous that night. The tree in Fremont was safe. And I was no longer stockpiling hazardous waste in my bathroom.
