Climate Change & Environment
Medicaid Town Hall
On March 4th, many of us had a powerful lobby day at the Capitol. We spent the day talking with our legislators about issues that matter most. Even though we disagree on many fronts, we did say thank you for the Medicaid postpartum care. Thank you for going against your party on this. We need more citizens to stand up and speak out. We are thankful for Citizen Action to make this possible.
It's important to note that Medicaid has not yet been cut. The fight continues and it's time for all of us to get involved. The budget resolution directs the budget outlines ...
Green Plastic and Cow Burps
This article discusses two environmental topics. Both are examples of how we refuse to do even simple, reasonable things to deal with our garbage or take action on environmental problems. These stories illustrate our propensity to both believe in scientific solutions – technology will save us – while being woefully ignorant of basic science and unwilling to accept the warnings of scientists.
The Myth of Green Plastics
In recent articles I have discussed the environmental problems with plastics and plastic waste. The myth of “green” plastics is more of the ...
Indinawemaaganidog – We are ALL Related
Many Native American tribes have a word meaning "We are ALL related". For the Ojibwe people that word is Indinawemaaganidog. It represents a concept foreign to English speakers in its all-encompassing inclusivity. Not only are all people part of a single family, but so is all of life on this fine planet, including rocks and mountains, rivers and lakes. Knowingly, living in a world full of family is rich with implications. We respect family, we honor and love our family. We are grateful for gifts given, wanting to give something in return. Most importantly, ...
WAUSAU AREA PROGRESSIVES MARCH
On February 5 at noon, 75-80 area progressives came together in solidarity to speak up. This was the same day that all 50 capitols in all 50 states gathered on the same day, also known as "50501."
Are you angry? Are you scared? You should be. The one thing you shouldn’t be is taking any of this sitting down.
Everything we, as WAUSAU AREA PROGRESSIVES, stand for is on the line. If you are not able to join the march at the Capitol in Madison on Wednesday, February 5, (these are happening at each Capitol in each state), you can find us around the 400 Block in ...
Wisconsin Forests at Risk
“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. Dr. Seuss in the children's book “The Lorax”
Wisconsin Green Fire recently published a report that speaks for trees and all the other organisms in Wisconsin's forests. “Wisconsin Forests at Risk: Engaging Wisconsinites in Another Century of Forest Conservation” is a warning about the declining health of forests across the state. They say, “Wisconsin’s forests have long enriched our state’s economy and quality of life. Yet, just when we need healthy, diverse, and ...
California Fires
Misinformation about Los Angeles County’s devastating fires is spreading as wildly as wind-
driven embers.
Fact is, these catastrophic fires driven and grown by up to 100-mile-per-hour winds are powerful
examples of how extreme weather and climate change due to global warming affect our
communities.
Climate change is whiplashing coastal southern California between flooding rainfall and
extended drought, raising temperatures, and shifting seasons—all together, increasing risks for
more frequent wildfires made bigger by high winds. Wet weather produces ...
The Age of Plastics
“Welcome to the Plasticene. If you’re under age 70, it’s possible you’ve lived in the Plasticene for your entire life. It’s a new geologic age some scientists have proposed to mark the near-universal spread of plastic around Earth. Since the 1950s, researchers say, we’ve been living in the Age of Plastics.” Kristen Minogue, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Geologists have divided the 4.5 billion years of earth's history into a geologic time scale. These divisions, or “geochronologic units,” include eons, eras, periods, epochs and ages. We ...
Rights of Nature Series
The Rights of Nature team will be hosting a 5-Week Zoom training about the Rights of Nature movement. The training will include: 1) Key principles of the Rights of Nature; 2) Global Perspectives; 3) Philosophical, Ethical and Religious Dimensions of Rights of Nature; 4) Practical Applications and Advocacy; 5) Personal, Group and Collective Action Plans.
This dynamic and interactive workshop is designed to engage participants in understanding the Rights of Nature concept. Through engaging activities, discussions, and expert insights, participants will delve ...
The Myth of Recycling Plastic
“The idea that recycling can solve the problem of plastic waste has always been a fraud, and it's always been a way for the industry to sell more plastic,” Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity.
As I wrote about recently, the use of plastic has increased enormously, creating a huge worldwide problem with plastic trash (“The age of plastics,” December 19, 2024). Much of this plastic is for single use products like packaging and shopping bags. Recycling is suppose to mitigate these problems. But for many reasons, recycling plastic simply ...
November Marsh Marigolds
If not the very first to flower in the Central Wisconsin spring, the radiant yellow Marsh Marigold is by far the most exciting of the spring ephemerals. These perky bouquets love shallow seeps of water, poking their golden heads above a green nest of round edged leaves, and where conditions are favorable, they carpet the wet, leafless spring woods for several glorious weeks in April. My first picture this year is dated April 14th, about the time our Forsythia blooms. This early splash of color in the drab days not long after winter's end is joy incarnate. It ...