April 12-16 - Alaska Eyewitness to Climate Change Tour

Will Steger and Nicole Rom head to Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks to build public support for climate action this Spring!

Schedule:

• Monday, April 12th: Juneau, AK
  • Morning - Presentation at the University of Alaska
  • 12:00 pm - Eyewitness Presentation, Centennial Hall
  • 2:30 pm - Editorial Board meeting
  • 3:45 pm - KTOO-Radio (AK Public Radio)
• Tuesday, April 13th: Anchorage, AK
  • 6:30 Doors Open, 7:00 Presentation Wild Berry Theater (Download the event flyer PDF 344KB)
• Wednesday, April 14: Fairbanks, AK
  • 12:30 pm - Radio interview with Dan Bross of APRN/KUAC
  • 2:00-3:00 pm - Meet with local reporters on University of Alaska - Fairbanks (UAF) campus
  • 6:30 pm - Presentation at UAF Schiable auditorium (Download the event flyer PDF 460KB)
• Thursday, April 15th : Fairbanks, AK (Download the event flyer PDF 91KB) (Download the event schedule PDF 91KB)
  • 9:00 am-12:00 pm - Permafrost Tunnel Tour with scientists, conservationists and religious leaders
  • 12:30-1:00 pm - Informal meeting with UAF's Outdoor Adventure (student) Club
  • 1:00-2:00 pm - Informal speech (includes lunch) to UAF Leadership Development (student) Group
  • 2:00-3:00 pm - Meet with UAF Scientists
    • Katrin Iken
    • Knut Kielland
    • John Walsh
  • 3:00-4:00 pm - Tour Cold Climate Housing Research Center with Jack Hebert
  • 4:00-5:00 pm - Tour of Alaska Center for Power and Energy to discuss rural energy with Dr. Dan White
  • 6:00 pm Social Hour -7:00 pm Presentation - Social Hour at Alaska Dog Mushers Hall (Download the event flyer PDF 244KB)

Videos from the Montana Tour:

Press articles from the Montana Tour: The Missoulian - 2/11, 2010 The Montana Kaimin - 2/10, 2010 The Bozeman Daily - 2/10, 2010 New West Missoula - 2/10, 2010 The Billings Gazette - 2/9, 2010

Will Steger Montana Tour -- February 9-11, 2010:

The Will Steger Foundation (WSF) launched its Eyewitness to Climate Change tour across Montana to create and diversify public support and demand for a strong national policy on climate, and thus influence key swing members of Congress to ensure adoption of comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation in 2010.

Our overarching goal is to build diverse public support and pressure on policy makers for urgent, scientifically sound action to ameliorate climate change, based on our wholly unique eyewitness account of the consequences of a warming world in the Arctic and Antarctic. This unique account is effective in engaging a very diverse cross-section of the American heartland in climate change, which will be critical to overall national success. Legislators in Montana are essential to advancing federal policy. Second, we augmented diverse public support by imparting a better understanding of how Montana will benefit significantly from the opportunities inherent in a clean energy economy, based on their collective capacity for renewable energy production and conservation through wind, solar, geothermal, and carbon sequestration. Building momentum for climate action in the coal dependent Montana is an essential part of guaranteeing long-term change.

While in Montana, Will Steger delivered his Eyewitness presentation to over 800 Montanan’s in Billings, Bozeman and Missoula; met with business leaders, field directors for U.S. Senators Baucus and Tester, media, and University of Montana students and faculty and local high school students to engage different stakeholders in the urgency of climate change and the need for political action.

While in Bozeman, Will and tour partners met with over 30 area business leaders, three of whom also participated in a recent Washington D.C. fly-in of over 220 business leaders from across the U.S. where they met with their Congressional delegation and urged them to pass comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation this year. The Bozeman business leaders were excited to share their experience and reasoning for supporting climate and clean energy legislation.

The three public forums collected over 800 postcards to Senators Baucus and Tester urging them to continue to support comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation.

The Tour resulted in a cover page story in the Missoulian, and longer articles in The Billings Gazette and Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Additional coverage was provided by Public News Service, Montana Public Radio, Montana Kaimin, KBZK TV in Bozeman, KTVQ TV in Billings, and NewWest online.

Major sponsors include Montana Audubon, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Repower America, & Montana Conservation Voters.

Events

Billings, Montana:

WHAT: Multi-media slide show and presentation Eyewitness to Climate Change
WHERE: Billings Depot, 2310 Montana Ave
WHEN: 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 9
WHAT ELSE: Join all for Green Drinks @ 5 pm at the Depot! Food and drink available...

Bozeman, Montana

WHAT: Business Solutions to Climate Change & Sustainability - A Roundtable Discussion
WHERE: Bozeman Public Library - Large Meeting Room
WHEN: Noon-1:15pm Wednesday, February 10
WHAT ELSE: Bring your own lunch, light snacks will be provided.

Bozeman, Montana

WHAT: Multi-media slide show and presentation Eyewitness to Climate Change
WHERE: Hager Auditorium, Museum of the Rockies, MSU
WHEN: 7:00 pm Wednesday, February 10
WHAT ELSE: Resource Fair begins at 6:30 - information tables from sponsoring organizations.

This event on FACEBOOK Here's a great FLYER -- check it out and consider passing along and/or printing! Additional sponsors include The Wilderness Society, World Wildlife Fund, ASMSU Sustainability Center and NECO.

Missoula, Montana:

WHAT: Brown bag lunch discussion with legendary polar explorer Will Steger (bring your own lunch)
WHERE: University of Montana, Main Hall (University Hall), Room 210
WHEN: Thursday, February 11, 12:00 – 1:00pm

Missoula, Montana:

WHAT: Multi-media slide show: Eyewitness to Climate Change
WHERE: University of Montana Urey lecture Hall
WHEN: 7:00 pm Thursday, February 11
WHAT ELSE: Resource Fair begins at 6:30 - information tables from sponsoring organizations. And join us for a post-event reception at the Clark Fork Coalition's office!

Here's a great FLYER -- check it out and consider passing along and/or printing! This event on FACEBOOK Additional co-sponsors include UM's Climate Change Studies Program, the Clark Fork Coalition and the Trailhead!

On Tuesday January 30th, a historic event took place at the Minnesota State Capitol. Will Steger testified in the House Chambers before eight joint House and Senate committees -- over 100 legislators -- about the need to take action now on global warming.

The audience was captivated as Steger spoke about the impacts global warming is having on the Arctic wildlife and human communities, in particular the polar bear and on the Inuit. When he was finished speaking, he received a standing ovation.

"We have to act on this," Steger said. "The populace is demanding it and wants action. This is for anyone who is an elected official now, it's a golden opportunity for us to take some action on this." He shared a list of cities in Minnesota he has given his Eyewitness to Global Warming community forum - emphasizing the breadth of interest across the board from Minnesotans. He concluded with quotations from the Inuit living across the Canadian Arctic. As policy makers concluded the session, they emphasized the role they have as leaders to take bold, aggressive action. They stated their conviction that the opportunity for change is not undaunting and we have solutions before us.

TO HIGHLIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN MINNESOTA AND SOLUTIONS

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Will Steger are joining forces to bring attention to the impact of global climate change in Minnesota and possible solutions.

The announcement was made after both attended a panel discussion on the impact of climate change on Lake Superior’s economy, natural systems and tourism. The panel was part of a conference sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and other organizations.

“Like most Minnesotans, Will and I share a great respect for nature and the outdoors. By highlighting impacts of climate change right here inMinnesota, we hope to bring greater attention to this important issue.”

As Chair of the National Governor’s Association, Pawlenty is leading the Securing a Clean Energy Future initiative that seeks cleaner domestic fuels, advanced electricity generation, improved efficiency and accelerated energy research and development.

“You don’t have to go far to see the impact of climate change or to find ways we can address it,” said Will Steger. “I’m delighted to join with the Governor in this effort.”

Along with a visit to Lake Superior, Pawlenty and Steger have plans to examine the impact of climate change on the state’s northern forests this winter and study of progress being made in alternative fuels, an area of national leadership for Minnesota.

In April, Pawlenty appointed the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group, which includes Steger and representatives from business, utility, environmental, academic, religious organizations, private citizens, farmers, local government, and tribal leaders. The Group is charged with the development of a comprehensive plan for reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by February, 2008.