Message from Rolf Peterson: Public input needed on future of Isle Royale wolves

Wolves of Isle Royale. (Photo by Rolf Peterson and courtesy ScienceDaily.com)

[Editor's Note:  A message from Rolf Peterson and an opportunity for you to weigh in on the future of wolves on Isle Royale.]

From Rolf Peterson, co-director, Isle Royale Wolf Moose Study

Reprinted with permission 

HOUGHTON -- The National Park Service is interested to receive your input on the pending decision regarding the future management of wolves on Isle Royale. Please send your input to the following email address:  ISRO_Wildlife@nps.gov (note the "underscore" between ISRO and Wildlife)

The Park Service is considering three options: (1) do nothing, even if wolves go extinct; (2) allow wolves to go extinct (if that is what they do), and then introduce a new wolf population; or (3) conserve Isle Royale wolves with an action known as genetic rescue by bringing some wolves to the island to mitigate inbreeding.

While expressing your view, consider providing as much detail on the reasons for your preference, as the Park Service believes the reasons for your view are as important as your view. If you have any questions on the process or anything relating to providing input, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Thank you for considering the future of this national park!

Rolf Peterson

Michigan Technological University

ropeters@mtu.edu

Finnish folk duo Aallotar to present concert, dance Oct. 12

HANCOCK -- The Finnish folk music duo Aallotar will present a concert and dance at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock.

The duo features Finnish American violinist Sara Pajunen (of the popular Minneapolis-based folk duo Kaivama) and Finnish accordionist Teija Niku (of the acclaimed Helsinki-based folk duo Polka Chicks).

Both women performed at this year’s FinnFest USA in the Copper Country. Their Hancock performance is part of the duo’s first-ever U.S. concert tour. Visit the duo’s website at www.aallotarmusic.com.

Admission is $5 per person at the door. Finlandia University students attend free.

For more information, call 487-7505.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion announces two events for Oct. 10

HOUGHTON -- The Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Michigan Technological University announces two events happening on campus on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Poetry on Mexican and Chicano identity

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host a Social Justice Lecture Series event at 6 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Great Lakes Research Center, Room 201.

Spoken word artist Michael Reyes will use poetry to address Mexican and Chicano identity, history and culture. His performance focuses on a variety of contemporary issues, such as immigration, globalization and community activism.

The event is free and open to the public. 

The program is also part of both Hispanic Heritage Month and GLBTQ History Month.

Roxane Gay to present "Bad Feminist"

"Bad Feminist" -- a free public presentation by Roxane Gay about women, men, writing, and popular culture -- will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Rozsa Lobby. Gay is recognized as an insightful blogger and commentator and her writing has been featured on Salon.com, The Nation, NPR, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other media outlets. Gay is an associate professor at Eastern Illinois University and a graduate of the RTC (Rhetoric and Technical Communications) program at Michigan Tech. She is co-editor of Pank Magazine and her collection of stories about experiences of Haitian disapora, Ayiti, was named one of the National Book Critic Circle's "Small Press Highlights of 2011." Her talk is sponsored by the Department of Humanities and the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender.

For more info on Gay's talk, click here.

Roxane Gay's presentation is part of a three-day conference this week being hosted by the Humanities Department. The conference is an annual event of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language and Gender (OSCLG). The lineup of events address a wide range of gender-related topics, such as feminism in STEM, men and masculinities, motherhood, gender equity, violence and harassment, etc. For a full schedule of the conference events happening Thursday (10/10) through Saturday (10/12), visit http://diversitycenter.mtu.edu/OSCLG.pdf.

Abundant Asbestos Confirmed at GTAC Bulk Sampling Site in Penokees

By Barbara With
Posted Oct. 6, 2013, on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative
Reprinted in part with permission

Yesterday a group of scientists led by geologist Dr. Tom Fitz and geochemist Dr. Joseph Skulan hiked to Gogebic Taconite’s proposed Bulk Sampling Site 4 to hold a press conference concerning the deadly asbestos present at the site. Several journalists accompanied the scientists who explained that high levels of the dangerous mineral have been found where GTac has applied for a permit to remove thousands of tons of rock.

Dr. Joseph Skulan holds a piece of rock from Bulk Sampling Site 4 that contains chrysotile, another deadly form of asbestos. Chrysotile, a known carcinogen, has been recommended for inclusion in the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent, an international treaty that restricts the global trade in hazardous materials. (Photo © and courtesy Barbara With)

Fitz, an associate professor of geoscience at Northland College, showed samples of rock from the site that contained the grunerite, one of the deadliest types of asbestos.

According to Skulan, who issued this press release earlier in the day, the DNR collected rock at Bulk Sample Site 4 in the spring which was positively identified as grunerite, and the asbestiform crystal habit was confirmed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) last week.

"DNR hydrologist Larry Lynch sent me both reports," Skulan confirmed. "The stuff we collected is identical to the DNR sample, and is from the same location."

While the presence of grunerite asbestos at Bulk Sample Site 4 was confirmed by the DNR, the high abundance of asbestos at the site has not previously been reported. ...

Click here to see journalist Barbara With's video clip of the scientists at the press conference at GTac's proposed Bulk Sampling Site 4, and to read the rest of this article on Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative -- including GTac's claim that asbestos does not occur in the proposed mine site.

Woods Person, who was among the 20 or more people who attended the Oct. 5 press conference at proposed Bulk Sampling Site 4, posted his report, "What Happens Now?" -- the third in his series of articles on asbestos in the Penokees.

State Representatives address Upper Peninsula vets, seek input for proposed legislation

Videos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now

LAKE LINDEN -- State Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet), along with two other state representatives he invited to join him, has been holding town hall meetings this weekend on veterans' issues -- beginning in Wakefield on Friday, Oct. 4, and ending Sunday, Oct. 6, in Iron River.

Dianda's guests -- Reps. David Kenezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) -- are enthusiastic about working with Dianda to introduce legislation that will improve veterans' lives. The town halls are intended to start conversations with Upper Peninsula veterans to find out what their needs are.

All three representatives expressed their hope to make it possible for U.P. veterans to attend college and further their education.

Here are some video clips of their presentation at Lake Linden American Legion post 90 on Saturday, Oct. 5:

Rep. Scott Dianda:

Michigan 110th District State Rep. Scott Dianda addresses veterans concerning benefits during a town hall meeting in Lake Linden on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. (Videos by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

Rep. David Kenezek:

Michigan State Rep. David Kenezek (D-Dearborn Heights) addresses veterans concerning proposed legislation to secure them more benefits, including assistance with costs of higher education. (Video by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

Rep. Harvey Santana:

Michigan State Rep. Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) addresses veterans during a visit to Lake Linden American Legion post 90, Lake Linden, Mich., on Oct. 5.

On Sunday, Oct. 6, the three representatives will speak at these town hall events:

Noon EDT -- at L'Anse American Legion Post 144, 115 N. Front St. in L'Anse

2 p.m. CDT -- at Stambaugh American Legion Post 21, 212 Washington Ave. in Iron River.