GUEST COMMENTARY
New Draft of Tester Bill Put Together by Senate Committee
Yesterday, members of the Last Best Place Wildlands Campaign called on Senator Tester to make public a new “Discussion Draft” version of the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act (FJRA) that was put together by the US Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee and given to Senator Tester last month. Since the Committee's draft includes significant new language, we believe it's in the best interest of all Montanans and Americans for Senator Tester to make a copy of the Committee's draft available for public review and input. This step will ensure transparency and give all members of the public an equal opportunity to review the new draft language.
New Report Debunks Myth of “Catastrophic Wildfire”There is no such thing as "catastrophic wildfire" in our forests, ecologically speaking. That is the central conclusion of a report released this week by the John Muir Project (JMP), a non-profit forest research and conservation organization. The report, "The Myth of Catastrophic Wildfire: A New Ecological Paradigm of Forest Health", is a comprehensive synthesis of the scientific evidence regarding wildland fire and its relationship to biodiversity and climate change in western U.S. forests. It stands many previously held assumptions on their heads, including the assumptions that forest fires burn mostly at high intensity (where most trees are killed), and that fires are getting more intense, as well as the assumption that high-intensity fire areas are ecologically damaged or harmed. The report finds that the scientific evidence contradicts these popular notions.
Opinion: Education
Idaho Ed Board Risks Legal Action and National CensurePaul Agidius, President of the Idaho State Board of Education, has written a defense of proposed changes to its personnel policies. He begins with a reference to Charles Dickens’ “worst of times/best of times,” presumably with the intent of presenting a state of balance in Idaho higher education. The facts on the ground, however, force us to conclude that the worst, by far, has the upper hand.
Column: Climate Change
Copenhagen: Climate Conference’s Well Deserved Host
Under both left-wing and right-wing governments Denmark has chosen to invest heavily in green infrastructure, and it now has much to show for its wise decisions. Denmark is on track to meet its Kyoto goal of 21 percent CO2 reduction by 2012. The Danes have more than earned the right to host the most important international conference of the 21st Century. The full version can be read here.
Missoula’s Progressive Talk Radio Hijacked, Again….Out state owners of our airwaves shut down progressive talk once again.....
Wildlife
Bear Spray Campaign Endangers Hunters, GrizzliesYear after year, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee fails to provide for hunter safety while minimizing grizzly bear mortality. Here are eight solutions to the problem.
