KCTS 9 Connects: September 12, 2008
Cities at Sea: Cruise Ship Trade-off
You can’t miss the hulking cruise ships lining Seattle's harbor — any visit to the aquarium, sculpture park or the waterfront is overshadowed by their mass.
In 1999, only six cruise ships docked in our ports. This season, more than 200 will come and go from Seattle to destinations in Alaska and elsewhere, and the robust industry is only expected to continue its exponential growth.
According to the Port of Seattle, every ship brings in $1.7 million to our local economy. But environmentalists argue the ships are a huge source of air and sea pollution, spewing exhaust into our skies and dumping waste and sewage directly into Puget Sound.
In the premiere episode of the 10th season of KCTS 9 Connects, we examine the cruise ship trade-off. What benefits they bring in tourism, trade and dollars—and what environmental scars they leave behind.
Vote 2008: Election Countdown
With less than two months until the November election, the nation is hyper-focused on the historic race for President between Barack Obama and John McCain. Yet Washington state voters are facing significant contests and issues at home. Among them are:
- A rematch in the race for Governor between Chris Gregoire (D) and Dino Rossi (R), which went to Gregoire by a mere 129 votes in 2004;
- Another rematch, this time for Washington’s 8th Congressional seat, between incumbent Rep. Dave Reichert (R) and his 2006 challenger, Darcy Burner (D)
settled by less than a one percent margin last time; - The Death with Dignity initiative, which could make
Washington only the second state in the country to
legally permit physician-assisted suicide.
Vote 2008: Juan Williams Interview
KCTS 9’s Enrique Cerna talks with distinguished journalist and NPR News Analyst Juan Williams about the upcoming Presidential election.
Funding for KCTS 9 Connects provided by:
Comments
Posted by stewart (not verified) on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 7:30am
I am a 32 Marine engineer. Keep your biased opinions to yourselves. Get informed before you write this rubbish. The cruise industry is for more regulated now than any of you shore side industries. We take pride in doing our work cleanly. You offend me with your ill informed political opinions. They are not based remotely on science. Get a life!
Posted by Michelle (not verified) on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 8:59pm
How are we securing a future for our children if we don't ensure the health of our environment, our planet. We can't eat, breath, nor drink money.
Do you really think they will care about money or "business" if everything is polluted, dead, or dying?
The planet is not ours. It is on loan to us by our children.
Posted by Dan Lyons (not verified) on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 7:17pm
I will be 86 this month, and I have watched Puget Sound become increasingly polluted. I welcomed the cruise ships, and recognise their contribution to our economy. However,they absolutely need to be regulated as to how they dispose of their sewage and waste. Apparently most of them have facilities on board which make them capable of sewage treatment, but there is no assurance that this equipment is being tested and regularly used.
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 7:06pm
Please rebroadcast your important program regarding cruise ships.
I watch their smoke spew into our air for the whole time they are docked in Elliot Bay, Ismell their fumes, particularly on a cloudy day' and I have major house keeping clean up
after the ships leave. They leave behind a greasy residue on all surfaces in my unit.
This year I have had a serious sinus and eye infection Now I am keeping all windows and doors shut, despite the temperature outside, when the ships are here through out the weekends. The only relief I get is when the cruise ship season is over: the air is cleaner, I'm more comfortable in my unit, housekeeping is easier and I don't suffer from infections and, more importantly, do we really want to see the collapse of Puget Sound and all its creatures?
Regards,
Meriel
Posted by Guest (not verified) on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 7:02pm
I am a 28 year marine engineer, working in the industry as a Chief Engineer. Have you heard of Ocean Rangers? Check them out. No, I think we have way too many regulations as it is and are driving away the very business that secures our childrens future. You presented only one side, biased at that. Public TV has done better in the past.
Posted by Michelle (not verified) on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 8:54pm
How can a business that is killing the planet be providing for our children? We can't breath, eat, or drink money! What will there be left for the children if we don't ensure that the environment: earth, air, water, plant and animal life are nutured not polluted or killed. There will be nothing to leave! When all that is gone, who will really care about "business" or money? "The planet is not ours, it is on loan to us, by our children."
Posted by Tamma Farra (not verified) on Fri, 09/12/2008 - 6:57pm
Can't figure out how to vote on the cruise ship issure on your web page.
Posted by Michelle (not verified) on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 8:50pm
I have not been able to vote regarding the cruise ship poll either.
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