Tell us YOUR global warming story

Karen Stevensen, Clean Wisconsin volunteer

One of Aldo Leopold's many legacies was an increased appreciation for the importance of observation. He showed us how much can be learned when we look at our natural surroundings with deliberate care and attention. Clean Wisconsin hopes to tap this powerful source of information and insight as we move forward with our efforts to address the issues of climate change in our state.

We suspect that many of you have already noticed changes in your own lives and surroundings which have caused you to wonder if global warming might be involved. A personal example is the fact that my cross-country ski equipment has gotten very little use in recent years; I remember nostalgically the January cross-country ski trips we used to make to the Minocqua area each year until the snow became unreliable four or five years ago. Other examples might include changes in usual habitat for animals or plants, or in blooming times for plants. Clean Wisconsin would like to begin building a record of personal stories reflecting upon the changes occurring in Wisconsin.

We ask that you turn your attention to whatever your Wisconsin environment might be—in city, small town, yards and gardens, favorite woods, rivers and lakes—you name it. When you notice a change that you think might be related to global warming, please send an email, send us your story at wiswarm@cleanwisconsin.org . Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number. You needn't have scientific proof that the change you're seeing is caused by global warming, as long as your common sense suggests that it might be.

All too often, scientists and politicians spend to too much time focusing on the changes global warming is causing on the global scale, without any attention paid to the local level. This is your chance to tell the world how global warming is affecting you! As Clean Wisconsin members, you can help to build this record by telling your friends, neighbors, and family members to call as well with their change stories as well.