LWV Dane County's Climate Corner

The League of Women Voters of Dane County (Madison, Wisconsin) is leading efforts to build understanding and momentum on climate issues.   Their forum series on climate has been excellent and is very well documented on  their website with videos, presentations and supplemental materials.   The Climate Corner blog provides weekly posts on climate and environment topics.  These short posts are well-written quick reads on questions we face in our daily lives.  

 The  December 15 installment in the Climate Corner is titled "Fast Fashion - the Climate Story of Too Much Stuff".  It's a very timely read for the gift-giving season!  

"Worldwide the clothing industry produces 100 billion new garments every year and employs one out of six people. At first glance that sounds like a good thing. But according to The World Resources Institute, about 75 million young women between the ages of 18 and 24 do not earn a living wage as they produce about 80 percent of our clothing, often in sweatshops."

The first of the planned four forums, held in September, focused on the public health impacts of climate change.   Here, the program opened with  a presentation on the science behind climate change by Ralph Peterson, PhD from the University of Wisconsin, followed by a discussion of LWV positions relating to climate change advocacy by Andrea Kaminsky so that LWV members would be well versed prior to digging in on the topic of the day, why Climate Change is an urgent public health issue.   Dr. Claire Gervais from the UW Health Clinic gave this presentation. This excellent webpage (click here) provides videos, PowerPoints and more information, and is an excellent resource for Leagues that may be planning a a Climate Change discussion.  ​

The second forum, on December 8,  looked at the impact that local governments can have adapting to and working to combat climate change.  ".... Facing our federal leadership vacuum, local governments are stepping up, and the real work is happening far away from the hype and hyperbole. Their strength lies in recognizing the economic value inherent in establishing and working within the confines of well-balanced and preserved ecosystems for flood control, energy savings, pest management and the like. "  This webpage has videos and related materials for this forum.  

February 4 will be the next forum in the series, Climate Change and Agriculture.  Like the others, this forum will be livestreamed on Facebook Live, as well as videoed for later presentation.  Here's a link to the LWV Dane County calendar page, where more information will be posted as time for the forum nears.  

LWV UMRR thanks LWV Dane County for their work and leadership on this critical issue!