Nancy Langston, environmental historian, to present her new book, "Sustaining Lake Superior," Jan. 14 at KUUF Forum; presentations book signings offer book preview

By Michele Bourdieu

Nancy Langston, MichiganTech University professor of environmental history, signs copies of her new book, Sustaining Lake Superior: An Extraordinary Lake in a Changing World, for two Michigan Tech colleagues -- Erik Lilleskov, left, of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and Casey Huckins of Biological Sciences -- following her presentation during the book launch event at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center on Nov. 1, 2017. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Environmental historian and kayaker Nancy Langston's love for Lake Superior led her to write a book about the history of the big lake's recovery from polluting industries -- from deforestation and paper mills to invasive species, mining and chemical industries -- and the present and future environmental challenges mobilizing with climate change.

Langston, who has been at Michigan Tech since 2013 as professor of environmental history in the Department of Social Sciences, the Great Lakes Research Center, and the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, recently published Sustaining Lake Superior: An Extraordinary Lake in a Changing World (Yale University Press: October 2017) and has been speaking about her book, involving local community members in discussions on Lake Superior, and donating some of the proceeds from the sale of the book to educational environmental causes.

Her next presentation and book signing will be at the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (KUUF) Sunday Forum at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14. Langston will lead a conversation on what we can learn from the past to help sustain Lake Superior. The Forum is held at BHK Campus, 700 Park Ave., Houghton (enter on Waterworks Street).

Langston has written four books and more than 50 scientific papers on environmental change, and she has won fellowships and awards from the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Philosophical Society, the National Humanities Center, the National Science Foundation, and the American Society for Environmental Historians. During 2012-2013, Nancy was the King Carl XVI Gustaf Professor of Environmental Science at Umeå University in Sweden, where she was a recipient of an honorary doctorate. She served as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 18 years with appointments in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology. Former president of the American Society for Environmental Historians and editor of Environmental History, she is now writing a book on climate change and wildlife in the north. Langston is presently active in the Keweenaw Climate Community and the local Citizens' Climate Lobby group.

Some of the facts Langston presents in Sustaining Lake Superior include the following:

• Lake Superior is the largest lake in the world (by surface area) and contains 12 percent of the world's freshwater, a resource of enormous importance.
• Lake Superior is big enough to contain all the other Great Lakes "with a couple of additional lake Eries tossed in." The lake is big enough to create its own storm systems.
• The lake is so vast that a drop of water stays in the lake for an average of 191 years.
• Lake trout, once nearly extinct, now thrive -- one of conservation's great success stories.
• From the other side of the globe, China exerts a strong influence over the lake. Atmospheric currents bring chemicals, and pressures to mine iron ore are driven by China's steel boom. These global influences have profoundly local effects.
• Global warming is now changing Lake Superior rapidly, remobilizing contaminants that were thought to have vanished.

The book has been praised by many knowledgeable authors for its careful research, scientific and historical detail, passion and insight, engaging writing and concern for future generations.

"Langston has written nothing less than the definitive biography of the Greatest Lake, from its birth right up to its current encounter with climate change," writes James Gustave Speth, former dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. "It is a wonderful, moving story, and as she eloquently describes, a new and challenging chapter must now be written."

Langston speaks at Keweenaw Climate Community event

More than 100 local community members, educators and students attended the Oct. 5, 2017, Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) event that preceded the official publication of Sustaining Lake Superior. Langston presented "Lake Superior Impacts" and involved the audience in a discussion on how climate change is affecting Lake Superior and what the lake could look like in the future.

Michigan Tech University Professor Nancy Langston, author of the 2017 book Sustaining Lake Superior, speaks about Lake Superior and climate change during a meeting of the Keweenaw Climate Community on Oct. 5, 2017, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

When some members of the audience commented on recent intense weather changes, Langston noted that climate change could mean more intense wind and more intense lake effect snow events in the Keweenaw's future:

During the Oct. 5, 2017, Keweenaw Climate Community climate change discussion, Michigan Tech Professor Nancy Langston replies to audience comments on changes in snowfall and wind events in the Keweenaw because of climate change.

Asked for their opinion on Langston's KCC presentation, students had positive reactions.

Emily Prehoda, Michigan Tech Ph.D. student in environmental and energy policy, who took a course on Global Environmental History from Langston, was enthusiastic: "She's great! She's always captivating," Prehoda said.

In response to Langston's mention of the Citizens' Climate Lobby and their efforts to include lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, Will Lytle, Michigan Tech Ph.D. candidate and student leader, said, "I thought it was nice to hear about the bipartisan solutions beginning -- and local discussions and successes (such as Rep. Jack Bergman joining the House Climate Solutions Caucus)."

Emily Prehoda, left, Lydia Lytle and Will Lytle enjoy Nancy Langston's presentation and discussion at the Keweenaw Climate Community event on Oct. 5, 2017.

Lucille Zelazny of Michigan Tech's Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) said she could relate to some of the climate changes Langston mentioned in the discussion.

"I've lived here a long time, and I have a house on the Portage," Zelazny said. "I see changes in plants."

During one of the small-group discussions at the Oct. 5 Keweenaw Climate Community event, Lucille Zelazny, second from right, discusses climate changes with, from left, Craig Waddell, Michigan Tech professor in Humanities; Charles Kerfoot, Michigan Tech professor in Biological Sciences and director of the Lake Superior Ecosystem Research Center (and Zelazny's husband); and John Soyring, a retired senior IBM executive of Austin, Texas, who is on the PAVLIS board at Michigan Tech and is interested in climate and environmental research.

Book launch at Great Lakes Research Center

Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center was the scene of a book launch and reception for Sustaining Lake Superior on Nov. 1, 2017, shortly after the official publication of the book by Yale University Press. Author Langston gave a short reading from the book and a presentation, followed by a question and answer session with the audience and a book signing.

At the Nov. 1, 2017, book launch for Sustaining Lake Superior at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center, author Nancy Langston reads some of the important facts about Lake Superior and the challenges to the lake presented by the impacts of climate change.

Questions from the audience included concerns about Lake Superior's future and what to do about the present pollution challenges.

Following her Nov. 1 reading and presentation from Sustaining Lake Superior, Nancy Langston replies to a question on citizen science from Bill Rose, Michigan Tech research professor in Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, and a question on monitoring pollutants from Marshall Plumer, retired Isle Royale district ranger.

Dawn Plumer, who teaches in the Houghton-Portage Township schools, said she found Langston's presentation informative.

"We need to start now (protecting Lake Superior)," Dawn said. "I don't want it to go backwards."

A question from Craig Waddell, Michigan Tech professor in Humanities, led to Langston's account of how she decided to write a book about Lake Superior.

In reply to Prof. Craig Waddell's question on how she came to write Sustaining Lake Superior, Nancy Langston speaks about her kayaking, her love of the lake -- and her experience with Wisconsin's Mining Moratorium and the Bad River Band of Anishinaabe, struggling to stop a proposed open-pit taconite mine in Wisconsin in order to protect the water and their wild rice crop.

In Chapter 6 of her book, "Mining, Toxics, and Environmental Justice for the Anishinaabe," Langston recounts struggles by the Mole Lake Sokaogon to defeat the proposed Crandon Mine that threatened to pollute their water and the Bad River Band's efforts to protect their wild rice from Gogebic Taconite's proposed open-pit mine, both in Wisconsin. As she mentioned in the above video clip, the Anishinaabe determination to protect water from mining pollution inspired her to write Sustaining Lake Superior -- a book that challenges citizens to think about the environment, as Native Americans do, in terms of future generations.

Patty Loew of the Bad River Anishinaabe expresses her appreciation of the philosophy behind Langston's book: "This insightful environmental history is a cautionary story about the true cost of the unenlightened commodification of Lake Superior. Like the Anishinaabe whose stewardship Nancy Langston chronicles, she invokes Seventh Generation thinking: make wise decisions today based on the best interests of future generations."

Langston speaks at FOLK Annual Meeting

Nancy Langston also spoke about Sustaining Lake Superior at the Nov. 9, 2017, annual meeting of FOLK (Friends of the Land of Keweenaw), a local environmental group formed in 1989 to oppose the siting of a bleach kraft pulp paper mill on the shores of Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay. A year later after a lot of public outcry and a law suit against the State of Michigan for misappropriation of State funds, James River Corporation withdrew their proposal. FOLK’s mission is to protect and preserve the ecological integrity of the Lake Superior Watershed through education and citizen involvement. FOLK’S most current issue is monitoring the L’Anse Warden Electric Plant, located near Keweenaw Bay, to help ensure that it is properly permitted and in compliance with its permits.

Linda Rulison, FOLK president, in her report on the meeting, commented on how Langston's book is related to FOLK's mission: "[Langston's] new book explores the environmental and social history of the Lake Superior basin and what that history can teach us about why it is important to protect Lake Superior," Rulison writes. "Conventional wisdom surrounding pollution which was primarily from pulp mills in the early days was that 'dilution was the solution' to dealing with industrial waste. It was thought that Lake Superior is so large that the pollution will be mixing with the large body of water and will not hurt our drinking water or the fish. What we did not count on was the fact that pollution is not only local but also global. It knows no boundaries. Through air deposition toxins end up in the Great Lakes and that pollution often stays close to shore where it can bioaccumulate in fish. Mercury and PCB bioaccumlates in large enough quantities to be toxic to humans who eat the fish. It was noted that people around the Great Lakes eat twice as much fish as those who don’t live around the Great Lakes. Therefore, it behooves all of us to love and protect the 'greatest' of all of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. FOLK will continue to be an advocate for Lake Superior helping to protect the health of the Lake and its people."

To learn more about Nancy Langston, her three previous books and other publications, and her present projects, visit her Web site, nancylangston.net.

Inset photo: Nancy Langston. (Photo courtesy Nancy Langston)

Houghton Elementary fourth graders present interactive skits on climate issues

By Michele Bourdieu

Houghton Elementary fourth graders take turns describing the advantages and disadvantages of various types of energy, from oil to solar, during their June 2 climate program, organized by volunteers from the Keweenaw Climate Community and their teachers. Each energy type was examined to determine whether or not it is "clean" and/ or "renewable." (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Last week, as President Trump made his announcement about pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement, 106 fourth graders at Houghton Elementary School, coached by their teachers and several Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) volunteers, were busy practicing for their June 2 presentation of lively, interactive, creative skits on climate issues.

The event began with a song about why we should try to "make the world a better place."

Music and art were incorporated into this introductory presentation with a motivational song and posters created by the students. Click on YouTube icon for larger video screen. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Next a game of "Jeopardy" involved all the students who, divided into groups, competed to answer questions related to renewable energy, pollution, ways to conserve energy and other climate issues.

KCC member Jim Vendlinski and his group of students take the stage to ask "Jeopardy" questions on the climate, while the fourth graders in the audience compete in small groups to be the first to answer correctly. At left, KCC member Stephen Handler assists his group by clarifying a question. The prize for the winning group: "bragging rights."

KCC member Andi Vendlinski coached a class in demonstrating -- through pantomime -- the many steps and many people involved in producing one apple that they might buy at the grocery store. Students were invited to mime the planting of seeds, fertilizing and watering the apple tree, picking the apples, driving the apples to the market and selling them in the store.

Students raise their hands to volunteer for the pantomime skit on the steps involved in growing, transporting, selling, buying and eating an apple. At center is Andi Vendlinski, KCC member and coach for the skit.

Andi Vendlinski noted the high interest and enthusiasm of the fourth graders.

"After the first lesson, all the instructors were really impressed with how much many of the kids already knew about climate change, and how eager and enthusiastic they all were to learn more," she said. "It's so much fun when the kids are into it!"

Following the presentations on different types of energy (photo above), the final skit told the story of how a local healthy ecosystem works and how its plants and animals might be threatened by climate change.

These students mime the change in trees when climate change begins to have damaging effects on the ecosystem.

Students demonstrate through pantomime the effects of extreme heat and flooding on the ecosystem that was once healthy. Click on YouTube icon for larger video screen.

KCC volunteers Rob Handler and Emily Shaw assisted teacher Ken Klein with this skit on the effects of climate change.

"We were in Mr. Klein's class for two days, talking about the effects of climate change on plants and animals," Handler said.

On the third day the students developed the skit, he added, and Mr. Klein had them practice it in class.

"They were awesome," said Shaw. "They practiced a lot."

In addition to Mr. Klein, other fourth-grade teachers who participated were Margo Hall, Neeta Jacobson, and Shannon Lehto.

Pictured here in the Houghton Elementary School cafeteria following the climate program are Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) volunteers, from left, Hunter King, Emily Shaw, Jim Vendlinski, Andi Vendlinski, Stephen Handler, Kathy Halverson and Rob Handler. Not pictured is KCC volunteer Jenny Dunn, who also helped coach the students but was unable to attend the Friday program.

After the presentations all the students received LED energy-efficient light bulbs, donated by HEET (Houghton Energy Efficiency Team), and a reusable bag from Wal-Mart. Other sponsors were FOLK (Friends of the Land of Keweenaw), who donated supplies, and GS Engineering, who contributed funding for the project.

To learn more about the work of the Keweenaw Climate Community, visit their Web site and their Facebook page.

Editor's Note: Jim and Andi Vendlinski's children, twins Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski, who just celebrated their 9th birthday, participated, along with twins Stephen and Rob Handler, in the Keweenaw Climate Community's third Climate Café held last November. See our Nov. 30, 2016, article, "Keweenaw Climate Community to hold 4th Climate Café Dec. 1 at Orpheum Theater; video report on October, November KCC events."

"Sustainable and Efficient Business Strategies" event to be June 5 at Great Lakes Research Center

How can energy efficiency and energy conservation add to your business's bottom line? Find out Monday, June 5, at the Great Lakes Research Center. The free event, "Sustainable and Efficient Business Strategies," is sponsored by the Keweenaw Young Professionals, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC), and Michigan Interfaith Power and Light. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Young Professionals)

HOUGHTON -- "Sustainable and Efficient Business Strategies" will be the subject of an event to be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 5, in Room 202 of Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center, 100 Phoenix Drive in Houghton. This a non-partisan, non-political event that is focused on educating the local business community about programs that are available for energy efficiency and energy conservation. It is free and open to the public.

The event is sponsored by the Keweenaw Young Professionals, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC), and Michigan Interfaith Power and Light.

Light fare will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Stephen Handler, a member of both KCC and Keweenaw Young Professionals, said the groups especially hope members of the local business community will attend.

"This event is designed to help local businesses understand how energy efficiency and energy conservation can help add to their bottom line," Handler said. 

Presentations will help attendees learn WHY energy efficiency is a smart investment for their business, WHAT steps to take to cut energy waste, and HOW to get positive recognition for their business's efforts. Presenters will share information about existing programs that are available to our local community.

Click here for more details and FREE registration.

Houghton March for Science to be Apr. 22; Portage Library, Keweenaw Climate Community to host related events

The Portage Lift Bridge will be the scene of the March for Science to be held at noon this Saturday, Apr. 22 (Earth Day). The march will be preceded at 10:30 a.m. by Hands-on Science: Activities and demonstrations, led by students and educators from the area, at the Portage Lake District Library. Following the march, at 1 p.m., all are invited to the Portage Lake District Library for "What do we do next?" -- a community action meeting focusing on impacting policy decisions. (Photo © and courtesy Gowtham. Reprinted with permission.)

HOUGHTON -- Houghton-Hancock area residents who love science invite the community to join them for a March for Science at noon on Saturday, Apr. 22 (Earth Day) in support of using scientific evidence to inform policy at all levels of government. Marchers will gather under the lift bridge, on the Houghton side, and march across the bridge, into Hancock, and back.

The theme of the march is the Great Lakes watershed and how scientific research is used to protect and maintain the important services and connections the Great Lakes provide. Our watershed’s lands, rivers and lakes bring us together for sustenance, recreation, and spirituality. The Great Lakes are our home. Our strong connection unites the protection of the lakes to ensure the health and well-being of both residents and ecosystems. Science is on the federal chopping block. It is essential to understanding and solving many problems, including climate change.

Interested community members are also invited to events preceding and following the march on Saturday. At 10:30 a.m. Hands-on Science: Activities and demonstrations, led by students and educators from the area, will be held at the Portage Lake District Library. After the march, at 1 p.m., the Portage Lake District Library will host "What do we do next?" -- a community action meeting focusing on impacting policy decisions.

This local march is affiliated with the national march in Washington D.C. and all the other marches for science throughout the world.

Organizers of the Houghton March for Science state, "The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good, and for political leaders and policymakers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest."

For more information contact MarchforScienceHoughton@gmail.com.

Keweenaw Climate Community Spring Potluck Apr. 21

The Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) will hold a Spring Potluck at 6 p.m. Friday, Apr. 21, at Good Shepherd Church, 1100 College Ave., Houghton. Bring a dish to share, make creative signs (poster-making supplies provided) for this Saturday’s March for Science and the Marquette Climate Change March to be held Saturday, Apr. 29, and share ideas and information about KCC activities.

Please bring your own dishes, a cup and flatware (to avoid excess paper/plastic waste).

Everyone is welcome! Bring children, friends, etc. Contact keweenawclimate@gmail.com for more information.

"What's the Deal with Solar?" presentation to be Jan. 12 at Orpheum Theater; Keweenaw Climate Community holds December discussions on Local Climate Action

By Michele Bourdieu, with information from Robert Handler, operations manager for Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute*

The Keweenaw Climate Community and Keweenaw Young Professionals will present "What's the Deal with Solar?" Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. (Poster courtesy Keweenaw Young Professionals.)

HANCOCK -- The Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) and Keweenaw Young Professionals will host "What's the Deal with Solar?" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock.

Joshua Pearce, Michigan Tech associate professor in Materials Science and Engineering and in Electrical and Computer Engineering, will explain the science behind solar and will discuss the benefits and challenges of using solar in the Keweenaw and what the future holds.

Pearce has done extensive research on solar energy, sustainable development, sustainability education and much more. He heads the Pearce Research Group, Michigan Tech's Lab in Open Sustainability Technology.**

Terance McNinch, who has lived more than 30 years off the grid with low-cost solar, will share his experience. He will speak about how he has seen the costs associated with solar setups change over the years.

Each guest speaker will give a presentation and answer questions afterwards.

The event is free and open to the public. Pizza will be served. BYOB. For more information contact the Keweenaw Young Professionals Board at info@keweenawyp.com.

Inset photo of Joshua Pearce courtesy Michigan Tech University. Photo of Terance McNinch courtesy Keweenaw Young Professionals.)

December Climate Café: Groups discuss "Taking Local Climate Action"

Solar energy was among the topics discussed at the Keweenaw Climate Community's December 1, 2016, Climate Café, the fourth in a series of community discussions on climate change held at the Orpheum last fall. The December event attracted more than 75 community participants. Following some brief presentations by experts, the attendees broke into groups to discuss various options for local climate action. These included renewables, energy conservation, health impacts, education, local policy, and land adaptation.

"It was great to see such a strong turnout for our final event of the fall, and people came with a lot of good ideas about how we can address climate change in our local area," said KCC's Robert Handler, operations manager for Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and master of ceremonies for the event.

Introduced by Handler, Dave Camps of Blue Terra Energy spoke about his work helping customers with solar and with LED lighting:

Dave Camps of Blue Terra Energy speaks about some solar alternatives to the grid, now that UPPCO (Upper Peninsula Power Company) no longer offers full net metering to residential solar customers. He also explains some advantages of LED lighting for commercial as well as residential use. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Renewables

During the breakout session, Camps, along with Seamus Crane, helped lead a group discussion on renewables. Participants in that group discussed the following solar topics:

• Solar -- wait until next year for legislation changes
• Understand your house’s electricity demand and how it varies
• Start with system design, consultation to see if it is worth the investment
• Make people aware of solar as an option in this area, integration with storage (Tesla power walls, etc.)
• Solar panel costs are decreasing every year
• "Black on black" panels (black frame, black panel) are good for this area
• Manual position changes are fine, 2x per yr
• Microinverters make each panel its own power plant and can reduce effects of shading; individual panels can be swapped out if needed.

During the breakout session at the KCC December meeting on local climate action, Dave Camps leads the group discussion on renewables. (Photos by Keweenaw Now unless otherwise indicated.)

Energy Conservation

Melissa Davis, energy manager for the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) and managing director for New Power Tour, spoke about HEET's accomplishments during the two-year period of competition for the Georgetown Energy Prize.

Melissa Davis, energy manager for the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team, speaks about local projects of energy conservation, including home insulation and LED lighting programs the group has been working on for the Georgetown Energy Prize and beyond.

Melissa Davis, along with Andy Roth and Parth Bhatt, led the energy conservation group discussion. This group discussed tying energy production to transportation. They talked about the feasibility of a regional public transit system with both long distance and local routes. An example might be transport twice a week from Houghton-Hancock to Iron Mountain or Marquette. They noted the need for community education on public transit.

Melissa Davis, second from left, facilitates the group discussion on energy conservation while Parth Bhatt, standing, takes notes.

They also discussed ways to assist low-income households with energy conservation by extending HEET group home weatherizations; including more advertising such as pamphlets listing benefits; going door-to-door talking to people; and recruiting volunteers from service organizations, high school and college groups, religious groups, etc. Engaging with renters was also discussed.

Health Impacts

Ray Sharp of the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department spoke about potential public health impacts of climate change in the not-so-distant, if not immediate, future.

Ray Sharp of the Western Upper Peninsula Health Dept. talks about potential dangers to public health that could result from warmer temperatures caused by climate change -- including mosquito-borne illnesses.

The message for the group discussion on health effects was to be on the lookout for things likely to increase, such as issues from warmer water temperatures or heavy rains: algal blooms, swimmers' itch, E-coli in water, etc. Communities should strengthen beach monitoring programs, promote more well testing and drain still-water areas where mosquitoes breed.

Ray Sharp, right, listens to participants in the group discussion on health effects.

As for diseases now common in the tropics that could spread north, local action can include raising awareness in local health care providers so they may increase testing and treatment capabilities.

Education

The group discussion on education, facilitated by Andi Vendlinski and Stephen Handler, attracted a large number of participants, including children.

A variety of age groups are represented in the education group discussion.

Some of the many issues discussed included these:

• Providing opportunities (and grants) for kids to learn what's going to happen with climate change, such as connections with  Michigan Tech organizations like the Sustainable Futures Institute, Green Campus Enterprise, and others
• Tangible local projects, including recycling and incentives to reduce paper
• Possibility of solar panels at schools
• Educational opportunities for a variety of areas -- science, engineering, trades, etc.
• Learning labs and electricity production
• Opportunities for kids to engage in activism, such as writing letters to elected officials after they learn about a related issue -- energy, trash, recycling, renewables
• Interact with small groups of students, after-school clubs
• Introduce Earth Day activities
• Find a group of teachers to pilot ideas
• Get parents involved

Local Policy

Grayson Morrow of Wakefield spoke about the Citizens Climate Lobby.

Grayson Morrow of Wakefield speaks about his experience with the Citizens Climate Lobby.

Morrow also participated in the group discussion on local policy, led by Richelle Winkler, Michigan Tech associate professor of sociology and demography in Social Sciences.

Michigan Tech's Richelle Winkler (third from left in red) facilitates the group discussion on local policy. Standing at right is Nancy Langston, environmental historian and Michigan Tech professor in Social Sciences, Forestry and the Great Lakes Research Center.

Participants in the policy group discussed the need to understand what is in current versions of an upcoming energy bill and lobby to exert pressure for an increase in renewables, net metering, etc. (possibly through the Citizens Climate Lobby).

Other ideas they discussed were quite progressive, some raising questions to be researched:

• Hancock could be an ideal location -- a whole town powered by solar. UPPCO would be reluctant. The City would need to create a municipal utility.
• Explore the feasibilityof becoming a municipal utility. Do this as a negotiation tactic with UPPCO? Be familiar with the Michigan Public Service Commission and become aware of the issues.
• REA/local co-op might be more realistic. Could REA members be convinced not to pay their bills (as protest)?
• Does Keweenaw have local regulations inhibiting wind power installations? Small scale or large scale?
• Partner with HEET and Keweenaw Community Foundation
• Form a local chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL)
• Re-connect with person from Traverse City about forming CCL
• Reduce number of school buses, promote walking and biking and plowing sidewalks
• Promote non-motorized travel more generally
• Serve on planning boards and other local government groups

Land Adaptation

The land adaptation group, led by Todd Ontl and Kristin Schmitt, discussed sustainable agriculture -- how it affects the water table and soil carbon. They mentioned the importance of best practices, e.g., mulching gardens in the fall, planting cover crops, adding compost or other organic amendments.

Participants in the Land Adaptation group discuss a variety of topics related to sustainable agriculture. at far right is Todd Ontl, one of the coordinators of this group. 

Other topics included the following:

• Wetlands -- preservation and remediation
• Low impact development, how we will change our infrastructure
• Climate change impacts to historic mining sites (e.g. extreme precipitation and mine tailings)
• Invasive species, insect pests, tree pathogens: how they will affect our forests
• Forest management for adaptation; particularly lack of sustainable forest management practices
• Biomass for energy production; use of forest biomass in municipal energy production (L’Anse?)
• Infrastructure compatibility
• Wind power and agriculture
• Michigan Public Service commission
• Try to get net metering rules changed!
• UPPCO won’t set up any more net metering for customers, won’t change unless they are made to change.

The group also discussed contacting the conservation districts (Houghton/Keweenaw and Marquette) about distributing info on climate change and forests during their annual tree sale, e.g., importance of wetlands, maintaining biodiversity, etc.

Notes:

* KCC's Robert Handler, operations manager for Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute, served as Master of Ceremonies during the Dec. 1, 2016, Climate Café and compiled notes from the discussion groups summarized in this article.

** Click here to learn about the Pearce Research Group, Michigan Tech's Lab in Open Sustainability Technology.

Keweenaw Climate Community to hold 4th Climate Café Dec. 1 at Orpheum Theater; video report on October, November KCC events

By Michele Bourdieu

To open the Nov. 3, 2016, Climate Café event -- third in the series on "What's the Deal with Climate Change?" -- twins Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski, 8, of Houghton, prepare to illustrate suggestions from the audience on what to do about climate change. Assisting them are Robert Handler, left, of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and his twin brother, Stephen Handler, U.S. Forest Service climate specialist. The Handler twins co-hosted the event, organized by the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC). (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- TAKING LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION, the fourth and final Climate Café event in the series "What's the Deal with Climate Change?" will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Orpheum Theater, 426 Quincy Street in Hancock. This is a FREE information and discussion event from the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC), which sponsored the first three events in the series in September, October and November.*

You need not have attended those discussions to join this one and consider these questions: How can we make local changes now? What should the next steps be for the KCC? Discussions will be led by several climate-focused community leaders. FREE pizza and drinks will be served. All are welcome to attend including kids. There is no admission charge, but donations to help cover food and space rental costs will be accepted. The series is organized by the KCC, sponsored by the local chapter of the American Chemical Society and the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Tech.

Pictured here during a small-group discussion on climate change solutions at the Nov. 3 Climate Café in the Orpheum Theater are, from right, Sarah Green, Michigan Tech professor of chemistry and climate change researcher; Sarah's husband, Floyd Henderson, taking notes; Parth Bhatt, Michigan Tech graduate student in forestry; and Nancy Langston, Michigan Tech professor of environmental history.

The first three Climate Café events were well attended by diverse community members, educators, students and families. Following presentations by experts on climate issues and general question and answer sessions, the audience was asked each time to break up into small groups to discuss some questions on a climate topic and then report on their discussions or submit comments in writing. KCC also began a Facebook Page for added information and communication among those interested in the topics.**

In September the discussion began with an introduction by Sarah Green, Michigan Tech professor of chemistry, who has done extensive research on climate change. Audience members then discussed their own ideas on climate change in small groups and reported on their discussions. In October Fred Quivik, retired Michigan Tech professor of environmental and technological history, presented human causes of climate change from a historical perspective. The November session was led by Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and his twin brother, Stephen Handler, a U.S. Forest Service climate specialist.

October Climate Café: "How did we get here?"

During the Oct. 13, 2016, Climate Café, historian Fred Quivik displayed this graph showing world use of different types of energy from 1850 to 2000. 

On Oct. 13 Fred Quivik, historian and retired Michigan Tech professor of environmental and technological history, traced the history of human interaction with the planet, demonstrating how machines eventually replaced manual labor, thus requiring energy from wood and then coal and other fossil fuels -- leading to the current crisis of climate change from too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Fred Quivik, retired Michigan Tech professor of history, opens the October 13, 2016, Climate Café on causes of climate change with questions for the audience on types of energy. Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) member Erin Pischke draws images of their answers. Click on YouTube icon for larger screen. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

In this video clip Fred Quivik demonstrates how industrialization with coal developed, beginning with the use of coal for heat and cooking in 16th-century England. In his presentation Quivik refers to The Subterranean Forest: Energy Systems and the Industrial Revolution, by Rolf Peter Sieferle.

Using this table on land use in England and Wales, Quivik discusses how forest land continued to be reduced -- first by conversion to pasture land and then by agricultural use.

Following his talk on climate change from a historical perspective, Fred Quivik reads questions from the audience for general discussion.

One comment on the effects of eating meat led Quivik to display this graph comparing  amounts of CO2 produced in various types of food production.

During the Oct. 13, 2016, Climate Café event, following the small-group discussion, participants comment on energy uses that are within our control in the Keweenaw. Kathy Halvorsen, Michigan Tech professor of natural resource policy and KCC organizer, leads the discussion.

Mike Schira, district educator for Michigan State University Extension, had a positive reaction to the discussions.

"When we talk about food production that's a core of vital use of our energy as opposed to recreational or casual use," he said.

Enjoying one of the small-group discussions during the Oct. 13 Climate Café are, from left, Mary Ackerman of Cody, Wyoming (and Baltic/Misery Bay): Karen Johnson of Baltic; and Karen's sister-in-law, Shan Laitila (married to Bill Laitila, former Hancock mayor) of Hancock and Cody, Wyoming.

November Climate Café: Solutions

"What can we do about climate change?" was the question for discussion at the Nov. 3, 2016, Climate Café. Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and his twin brother, Stephen Handler, a U.S. Forest Service climate specialist, hosted the event, asking the audience to come up with possible solutions.

To begin the third Climate Café event on Nov. 3, twin brothers Robert and Stephen Handler ask the audience for their ideas on what to do about climate change. Twins Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski, with Robert's help, illustrate the ideas -- ranging from "abandon New Orleans" to electric cars to public transportation and renewable energy. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Enjoying the free pizza during the Nov. 3 Climate Café at the Orpheum, Lewis and Catherine Vendlinski are pictured here with their parents, Jim and Andi Vendlinski of Houghton. 

Robert Handler, standing, and his twin brother, Stephen, foreground, asked the audience to consider two possible concepts in dealing with climate change -- mitigation and adaptation.

Stephen Handler introduces the twin concepts of mitigation (to slow down climate change) and adaptation (to soften the blow). Robert then talks about mitigation -- reducing or preventing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Here Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute discusses energy efficiency and ways to mitigate climate change. When he compares reducing fuel efficiency in vehicles to reducing vehicle use by half, Richelle Winkler, Michigan Tech associate professor of sociology and demography, comments on why the second choice is better.

Stephen Handler fields audience questions and comments on the importance of what we do now for the climate health of both present and future generations.

Among the younger members of the audience on Nov. 3 were these Michigan Tech students -- from left, Sam Dix of L'Anse, student in mechanical engineering; Kelsey Carter of Knoxville, Tenn., Ph.D. student in forest science; and Jeremy Luebke of Chicago, student in environmental engineering (celebrating the Chicago Cubs World Series victory with his hat).

During the small group sessions on Nov. 3, audience members were invited to write down suggestions of solutions to climate change on post-it notes under general categories such as infrastructure, water quality, renewables, energy conservation, forests, agriculture and more. Since then Robert Handler compiled these brainstorming ideas into a long list which he posted recently on the KCC Facebook page. Click here to see his Nov. 25 post with the list attached.

"We will be building on these ideas to talk about local actions that our group wants to work on," Rob Handler writes.

He encourages everyone to attend the next Climate Café this Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Orpheum. The KCC wants to gather a community of interested people who will help plan the future priorities for their grassroots organization. Thursday's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a few five-minute presentations from local people who are developing responses to climate change. Then the audience will break into groups according to interests and start making plans.

Notes:

* See our Oct. 10, 2016, article: "Keweenaw Climate Community to hold second Climate Café Oct. 13 at Orpheum Theater; large turnout at Sept. 8 event."

** Click here for the KCC Facebook page.

Keweenaw Climate Community to hold Climate Café, Part 3, Nov. 3

Lake Superior. (Photo © and courtesy J. Knowlton)

HANCOCK -- Over 150 people have attended the first two Climate Café events hosted by the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) group, and the series of discussion events will continue this week.

What's the deal with climate change? What do we do about it?

In the third of a four-part event series, KCC members cover what people are planning to do in response to climate change. They will hold a short presentation followed with an open discussion from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock, with free pizza and soft drinks for attendees. The final event will be on Dec. 1. All are welcome to attend, including kids.

Attendance is encouraged even if you have not previously attended KCC events. There is no admission charge, but small donations to help cover food and space rental costs will be accepted.

Speakers for this Thursday's event will be Robert Handler of Michigan Tech's Sustainable Futures Institute and Stephen Handler of the U.S. Forest Service. 

The series is organized by the KCC and sponsored by the local chapter of the American Chemical Society and the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Tech. For more information please contact Sarah Green (sgreen@mtu.edu 906-487-3419) or Rob Handler (rhandler@mtu.edu, 906-487-3612).

Keweenaw Climate Community to hold second Climate Café Oct. 13 at Orpheum Theater; large turnout at Sept. 8 event

By Michele Bourdieu

A diversified crowd of more than 80 people attended the Sept. 8, 2016, Climate Café, sponsored by the Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) and held in the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. Besides enjoying free pizza and beverages, participants asked questions and held discussions following presentations on "What's the Deal with Climate Change? Here KCC member Linda Rulison, third from right, leads one of the small group discussions. The second event of a four-part series will be held Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Orpheum. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- The Keweenaw Climate Community (KCC) will present "What's the Deal with Climate Change? How Did We Get Here?" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Orpheum Theater (Studio Pizza), 426 Quincy St. in Hancock. This is the second in a four-part "Climate Café" series of free information and discussion events on climate change. Free pizza and soft drinks! Everyone is welcome! Donations are accepted.

This event will center on causes and impacts. Here are some questions that will be addressed:

• How do humans impact the climate?
• Why are we so energy dependent?
• What choices do we have as individuals?

This slide by Sarah Green, Michigan Tech professor of chemistry, who has done extensive research on climate change, was part of her presentation at the Sept. 8, 2016, KCC Climate Café event, "What's the Deal with Climate Change?" The second event in the series, to be held on Oct. 13 at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock, will center on causes and impacts, some of which are illustrated here. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Environmental Historian Fred Quivik will give a short presentation, followed by small-group and general discussions.

September Climate Café event attracts large, diverse crowd

The KCC organizers of the series were delighted with the turnout at the first Climate Café held on Sept. 8, 2016, at the Orpheum. More than 80 people attended -- an audience diversified in age and background.

Jessie Knowlton, Michigan Tech research scientist in forestry and chair of KCC's publicity committee, said she was surprised and happy with the turnout.

"It's a nice mix of people from Michigan Tech and from the community -- which I think we need more of," Knowlton said. "We were very happy to have to order more pizza than we had anticipated."

At the Sept. 8 event, the audience enjoyed free refreshments while they wrote down a question to submit for the discussion. Following some humor by Chuck Wallace, Sarah Green, Michigan Tech professor of chemistry, who has done extensive research on climate change, involved the audience immediately with a visual comparison of heating a house in the U.P. and heating the planet. As Green asked questions of the audience, Erin Pischke, Michigan Tech graduate student and KCC member, sketched the comparison in a pair of cartoons:

Inviting audience participation, Sarah Green, Michigan Tech professor of chemistry, who has done extensive climate change research, and Michigan Tech graduate student Erin Pischke offer an illustration of how to heat a house in the U.P. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Green and Pischke offer a comparison of heating a house and heating the planet.

Green also showed some slides illustrating some of the warming effects of climate change on land, water and ice.

This slide shows some of the effects of temperature changes. The white arrows show increases, while the black, downward arrows show decreases or melting.

Next the audience members participated in small-group discussions with people at their tables.

Suggested questions for the table discussion were these:

• What's unclear to you about climate change?
• What's your biggest fear about climate change
• What information would help you talk to friends and family members about the importance of climate change?

Linda Rulison, president of FOLK (Friends of the Land of Keweenaw) and KCC member, said she found audience members to be very engaged as listeners and participants.

"The discussion with the college students I was sitting with centered around the fact that climate change is real and the consequences are serious," Rulison noted. "So they wondered, 'How does a person talk to another person about the impacts of climate change if you are talking to a person who does not agree with you and whose opinion is religion-based and not science-based?'"

Sarah Green offered some science-based answers to questions from the audience. Here she answers a question on the types of greenhouse gases:

Sarah Green compares CO2 and methane, the two biggest greenhouse gas contributors, and mentions other greenhouse gases such as freon and nitrous oxide. She also answers a question on possible ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Following the small-group table discussions, individuals spoke about what their group had talked about:

Following the table discussions, participants report on their groups' concerns.

John Forslin (who speaks in the above video) and his wife, Marge Forslin, of Marquette traveled to Hancock to participate in this event because the issue is important to them.

"We did the climate reality training with Al Gore in Iowa in 2015," Marge Forslin said.

She noted Gore was in Iowa for three days of discussion that they attended. The event was free and the only cost was personal transportation.

"Frankly, it was a life-changing event," John Forslin added.

Melissa Davis, project manager of HEET, the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team, gave an update on HEET's work in helping local residents with home insulation and HEET's project as a semi-finalist for the $5 million Georgetown Energy Prize.

Greyson Morrow of Wakefield spoke briefly about the Citizens' Climate Lobby and their efforts to work with legislators to put a price on carbon pollution.*

Finally, Kathy Halversen, Michigan Tech professor of natural resource policy and KCC organizer, asked Sarah Green to display a visual that shows the rate of global warming from the mid-19th century to 2016:

Sarah Green concludes the Sept. 8, 2016, "What's the Deal with Climate Change?" with a graphic that shows the rate of global warming from the mid-19th century to 2016. Click on YouTube icon for larger screen.

Donna Des-Jardins of Lake Linden said she liked the graphs and visuals, especially this last one. Des-Jardins said she had learned about climate issues especially while living in Florida, where she became aware of the efforts to save the Everglades.

Bill Narki of Lake Linden said he found the event interesting.

"It hit a lot of spots," Narki noted. "Polluting the air is the problem."

Sharon Levine, KCC member, also commented on the presentations and discussion.

"The presenters spoke about complicated processes and developments in a way that people could understand," Levine said. "Dynamic and interested conversations among the participants took place in small groups and continued in questions and comments people asked. I look forward to the next presentation (on Oct. 13)."**

Levine, who collected some free-will donations for KCC at the end of the event, was very pleased with the generosity of participants. The donations helped pay for the pizza.

Following the Sept. 8 Climate Café, Kathy Halversen created a Facebook page for Keweenaw Climate Community, an open group.

"Our group was created to build regional awareness of climate change and help catalyze local action to slow and respond to climate change," Halvesen posted on Sept. 9, 2016.

The third and fourth KCC Climate Café events are tentatively scheduled as follows: Nov. 3, Climate Change Solutions; and Dec. 1, Next steps, local action to slow and respond to climate change. These events will also be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater.

Notes:

* Click here for info on the Wakefield Chapter of the Citizens' Climate Lobby.
 
** Originally the second KCC event was scheduled for Oct. 6, but the date was changed to Oct. 13. Click here for the event Facebook page.