The Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands has voted 2-1 to prohibit its nine employees from working on or discussing global warming and climate change "on board time." According to Republican State Treasurer Matt Adamczyk who is on the board, he was upset that the board's executive secretary worked on global warming issues on board time years ago. He also said that the the topic has nothing to do with the board's mission of "generating investment dollars for public school libraries and providing loans for municipal and school projects." The executive secretary? Tia Nelson, daughter of Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson. The work she did on "board time?" Serving as co-chair of a global warming task force formed by former Governor Jim Doyle until 2008. The lie? It IS part of the mission of the Public Lands board to protect the environment on school lands.
The above information comes from an article published in Thursday's Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel. According to the article, "Nelson declined to comment Wednesday, saying the board has forbidden her from talking about anything linked to global warming." According to Adamczyk, "If Nelson were to receive any questions or emails about global warming, she should refer them to the commissioners."
Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, the other board member who voted for the ban, said that "global warming has nothing to do with the board."
"I've never seen such nonsense?" Well-said, Doug La Follette! La Follette is the Secretary of State and was the lone board member to vote against the ban.
FYI, last month, Adamczyk wanted the board to fire Nelson outright, but the other two board members voted against it.
So, where do I begin? How about with the website of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Section: School Trust Lands. What are they? In almost 1/2 of Wisconsin's counties, there are "school forests," land that is managed for responsible and sustainable timber harvest. The funds generated by these forests support public school programs. Personally, I've always enjoyed seeing these forests, most of which are in Northern Wisconsin. Yes, they are your basic pine plantations, but they provide opportunities for Wisconsin citizens to enjoy fishing, hunting and other recreational activities on public lands.
What does the Board of Public Lands own website say its stated goal is for these lands? And I quote, "Our goal is to manage Trust lands efficiently and sustainably." They also are charged with the "protection of water quality and biological diversity...[and] unique natural areas."
If, as Adamczyk and Schimel have said, the board's mission has nothing to do with global warming, one can only assume that they believe one of two things: 1) they do not believe in global warming; or 2) they do not believe that global warming has anything to do with timber production, sustainability, water quality or biological diversity. Either way, this is another example of rightwing ideologues shaping public policy with their anti-science, anti-fact, and anti-education world view.
It is perhaps a fitting metaphor for the climate change denial movement that they are directly attacking the daughter of the "Father of Earth Day," Tia Nelson. What better way to turn the clock back 45 years to those wonderful days of yesteryear, when there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act, etc.
As a high school junior, I was so proud in 1970 that a Wisconsin senator was responsible for Earth Day. I am equally embarrassed in 2015 that Wisconsin public officials are working hard to undo the gains we have made in environmental protection.