Finally got around to a chore better attended to in early spring.  But thankfully the neighbors’ cattle have taken it easy on our fence, and it’s really not a bad job.  It compels me to inspect every foot of our property perimeter enabling me to find patches of tasty black-cap raspberries along the way.
            When we bought the place almost 40 years ago I surmised that we’d be replacing the fence before long.  But amazingly, with a new length of wire here and a replacement fencepost there, this well-worn fence has stood tall and is at least as good as…old.  Too bad it’s not that simple with the climate.  If only we could make some simple repairs now and fix the climate as good as…old, like it was some 40 years ago.
             But a recent report out of UW Madison reminds us that the unprecedented (in historic terms) melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is already causing oceans to rise.  Unlike a fence that can be fixed, even if we ended fossil fuel use today those mountains of ice wouldn’t magically re-assemble.  Indeed, because of accumulated greenhouse gasses, melting will continue raising the level of the oceans for decades.
            As a result America now has its first climate-displaced community.  The residents of Isle de Jean Charles in southern Louisiana are being forced to abandon their homes because of rising sea levels.  These folks will be relocated to higher ground at the alarming cost of $800,000 per person* courtesy of your tax dollars.
            With Americans already being indirectly taxed by global warming related events (been following the heat wave and fires in the Southwest?) why not have the industries that profit from the sale of greenhouse gas emitting products chip in?  Carbon Fee & Dividend legislation would do just that.  And contrary to common misconception instead of slowing down, the economy would actually grow making average citizens a bit wealthier. “Ha – must be some accounting double-talk,” you say.  Not so.  Read more next time right here or research “carbon fee & dividend” for yourself on-line.
            Our climate is being altered with unforeseen circumstances.  Unlike a fence it can’t be patched sometime in the future to make it just as good as it used to be.  Our only home is depending on us to act NOW because we’re here forever…Earthbound.  *July/Aug issue Smithsonian

     At election time out of the mouths of candidates pours a litany of problems they promise to cure if given the chance.  And as Independence Day approaches nostalgia for “the good old days” may also move us to question whether the best years of our nation have past.  However, recent events over a 36 hours period left me optimistic about the country and about our future.  Here’s why!
 
     It’s an early Saturday morning and our community-wide churches’ youth group had just spent a week in Minneapolis.  Twenty-three teens and a handful of adult chaperones collectively provided over 700 hrs. of service work sorting panty foods and gently used clothing, weeding community and cultural gardens, assisting children in crisis centers, and scraping and painting homes.  It’s evidence that our future leaders are a compassionate and hard-working generation.
 
     Having earned some recreation time, we challenged ourselves to raft and kayak the level 2 and 3 rapids of the Kettle River in the north woods.  The natural beauty and the clear spring-fed waters left us exhilarated and reminded us of the strong environmental legacy we Midwesterners embrace as demonstrated in our state parks, forests and wilderness areas.
 
     That afternoon and on into the evening hours we traveled almost the entire length of the western side of Wisconsin – a picturesque and productive landscape.  From the small tourist towns in the lake country of the north woods we made our way to the cleared farmland and agri-business operations farther south. All around us was evidence of the solid economic foundation these industries provide.   As darkness descended our headlights caught familiar town names on signposts – almost home.  Pulling into the lot, a supportive community of family members and friends crowded around.
 
     Even as another exhausting youth group adventure drew to a close, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to rise early the next morning to visit the Midwest Renewable Energy Association Fair in Custer, WI.  This event never fails to inspire confidence that a vibrant, cleaner future is on the horizon.  This year was no exception.  The keynote speaker delineated numerous reasons why historians may well look back on 2016 as the turning point in the world’s irreversible journey to a clean energy future.
 
       Thirty-six hours chockfull of reassurances.  This holiday we needn’t have reservations about the sacrifices our forefathers (and mothers) made as we head toward a bright future, here forever…Earthbound.