Newspaper Critique
1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 1 /1 1 h ttp s://n yti. m s/2 jH pu3Y E N ER G Y & E N VIR O NM EN T I n A m eric a ’s H ea rtla n d, D is c u ssin g C li m ate C han ge W it h ou t S ayin g ‘ C li m ate C han ge’ B y H IR O KO T A BU CH I J A N . 2 8 , 2 0 17 G LE N E LD ER , K an . — D ou g P ale n , a f o u rth g en era tio n g ra in f a rm er o n K an sa s’ w in ds w ep t p la in s, i s i n t h e b u sin ess o f u n ders ta n din g t h e c li m ate . S in ce 2 0 12 , h e h as c h oked t h ro u gh t h e h ars h est d ro u gh t t o h it t h e G re a t P la in s i n a c e n tu ry , p u n ctu ate d b y f r e a k is h s n ow sto rm s a n d s u ffo ca tin g g ale s o f d u st. H is p la n tin g s e a so n s ta rts e a rli e r i n t h e s p rin g a n d p u sh es d eep er i n to w in te r. T o a d ap t, h e h as e m bra ce d a n e n vir o n m en ta lly c o n sc io u s w ay o f f a rm in g t h at g u ard s a g ain st s o il e ro sio n a n d c o n se rv es p re cio u s w ate r. H e c a n t a lk f o r h ou rs a b ou t c a rb on s e q u estr a tio n — t h e t r a p pin g o f g lo b al w arm in gc a u sin g g ase s i n p la n t l i f e a n d i n t h e s o il — o r t h e s c ie n ce o f t h e b en efic ia l m ic ro b es t h at e n ric h h is l a n d. I n s h ort, h e i s a c li m ate c h an ge r e a li s t. J u st d on ’t e x p ect h im t o u tte r t h e w ord s “ c li m ate c h an ge.” “ If p oli t ic ia n s w an t t o e x h au st t h em se lv es d eb atin g t h e c li m ate , t h at’s t h eir c h oic e ,” M r. P ale n s a id , w alk in g t h ro u gh f ie ld s o f f r e sh ly p la n te d w in te r w hea t. “ I h ave a f a rm t o r u n .” H ere i n n orth c e n tr a l K an sa s, A m eric a ’s b re a d bask et a n d c o n se rv a tiv e h ea rtla n d, t h e e co n om ic r e a li t ie s o f a g ric u lt u re m ak e c li m ate c h an ge a c rit ic a l b u sin ess i s su e. A t t h e s a m e t im e, p oli t ic s a n d s o cia l p re ssu re m ak e f r a n k d is c u ssio n c o m pli c a te d . T his 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 2 /1 1 i s w hea t c o u n tr y , a n d D on ald J . T ru m p c o u n tr y , a n d t h ou gh t h e w ea th er i s a ctin g u p, t h e c o n se rv a tiv e o rth od oxy m ain ta in s t h at t h e s c ie n ce i s n ’t s e ttle d . S o w hile c li m ate c h an ge i s p art o f d aily c o n vers a tio n , i t g ets d is g u is e d a s s o m eth in g e ls e . “ P eo p le a re a ll t a lk in g a b ou t i t , w it h ou t t a lk in g a b ou t i t ,” s a id M ir ia m H orn , t h e a u th or o f a r e ce n t b ook o n c o n se rv a tiv e A m eric a n s a n d t h e e n vir o n m en t, “ R an ch er, F arm er, F is h erm an . ” “ It’s b eco m e s u ch a c h arg ed t o p ic t h at t h ere ’s a n avig atio n p eo p le d o.” M r. P ale n — h e p la ys h is p oli t ic s c lo se t o h is v est b u t a llo w s t h at h e d id n ’t v o te f o r H illa ry C li n to n — a n d o th ers h ere i n G le n E ld er a n d a cro ss t h e s ta te i llu str a te t h e d eli c a te d an ce . F arm ers l i k e h im f o cu s o n p ra ctic a l i s su es l i k e e ro sio n o r d w in dli n g a q u if e rs . “ W hen y o u d on ’t g et t h e r a in fa ll, i t ’s t o u gh t im es,” h e s a id . R eg io n al p oli t ic ia n s a n d b u sin ess l e a d ers s p ea k o f p u rs u in g j o b s t h at c le a n e n erg y m ay c re a te , r a th er t h an p re ss in g t h e n eed t o r e in i n c a rb on e m is sio n s. A s c ie n ce t e a ch er a t a c o m mun it y c o lle g e — w hose d eep ly r e li g io u s s tu den ts s o m etim es e x p re ss d ou bts a b ou t t h e t r u stw orth in ess o f s c ie n ce t h at c o n tr a d ic ts b ib li c a l t e a ch in gs — s p ea k s t o h is c la ss a b ou t t h e p osit iv es o f s c ie n tif ic d is c o very ( e le ctr ic it y ) i n o rd er t o e a se i n to m ore c o n te n tio u s s u bje cts ( g lo b al w arm in g). A nd a n e d it o r f o r a c lo se ly f o llo w ed a g ric u lt u re m ag azin e, S u cce ssfu l F arm in g, r e ce n tly m ad e a c o n tr o vers ia l m ove, d ra w in g a f lu rry o f a n gry l e tte rs : H e b ro ke w it h l o n gsta n din g p oli c y t o a d dre ss c li m ate c h an ge h ea d o n . “ S om e r e a d ers t h an ked u s,” t h e e d it o r G il G ulli c k so n s a id . “ B ut s o m e w on dere d w heth er w e’d b een h ija ck ed b y a vid e n vir o n m en ta li s ts .” T he c li m ate h as n ot a lw ays b een s u ch a p artis a n i s su e. R ic h ard N ix o n , a R ep u bli c a n p re sid en t, s e t u p t h e E nvir o n m en ta l P ro te ctio n A gen cy a n d s ig n ed t h e C le a n A ir A ct . R on ald R ea g an u sh ere d i n t h e M on tr e a l P ro to co l, t h e f ir s t g lo b al t r e a ty t o p ro te ct t h e g lo b al a tm osp h ere . 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 3 /1 1 M uch o f t h at c o n se n su s h as b ro ken d ow n, i n n o s m all p art b eca u se o f a w ell f in an ce d p u sh b y f o ssil fu el i n te re sts , t o geth er w it h i n flu en tia l R ep u bli c a n a lli e s, t o a tta ck w ell e sta b li s h ed r e se a rc h o n t o p ic s l i k e g lo b al w arm in g a n d p u sh b ack o n e n vir o n m en ta l r e g u la tio n . T hat p u sh b eg an i n e a rn est d u rin g t h e G eo rg e W . B ush a d m in is tr a tio n a s a tte m pts t o u n derc u t t h e C le a n A ir A ct , a n d s in ce t h en , t h e d iv id e h as w id en ed . P re sid en t T ru m p h as f a m ou sly s a id h e b eli e v es t h at c li m ate c h an ge i s a h oax i n ven te d b y t h e C hin ese , a n d h is a d m in is tr a tio n h as p u rg ed n ea rly a ll m en tio n o f c li m ate c h an ge p ro gra m s f r o m t h e W hit e H ou se a n d S ta te D ep artm en t w eb sit e s. I t h as a ls o o rd ere d a f r e eze o n f e d era l g ra n t s p en din g a t t h e E .P .A . a n d o th er g o vern m en t a g en cie s. T he f a ct t h at t h e c li m ate c h an ge d is c o u rs e h as a ls o b eco m e d om in ate d b y l i b era ls h as a li e n ate d s o m e c o n se rv a tiv es, i n clu din g M r. P ale n . M an y p eo p le h ere i n p artic u la r r e se n t h ow , i n t h e p ola riz e d p oli t ic a l l a n dsc a p e o f r e ce n t y ea rs , c o n se rv a tiv e A m eric a n s h ave b een p ain te d a s h ostile t o t h e e n vir o n m en t. T he T ru m p c a m paig n s u cce ssfu lly s e iz e d o n t h at s c h is m , p ain tin g D em ocra ts a s o verz e a lo u s e n vir o n m en ta li s ts w it h l i t tle s y m path y f o r t h e e co n om ic r e a li t ie s o r s o cia l m ore s o f r u ra l A m eric a . “ M an y o f o u r f e d era l e n vir o n m en ta l l a w s a re b ein g u se d t o o p pre ss f a rm ers i n ste a d o f a ctu ally h elp in g t h e e n vir o n m en t,” M r. T ru m p q u ip ped i n a w id ely c ir c u la te d Q . a n d A . o n F arm Futu re s.c o m . “ F arm ers c a re m ore f o r t h e e n vir o n m en t t h an t h e r a d ic a l e n vir o n m en ta li s ts .” S till, “ it w ou ld b e a h uge m is ta k e t o t h in k p eo p le v o tin g f o r T ru m p w ere v o tin g a g ain st t h e e n vir o n m en t,” M s. H orn s a id . I f T ru m p f o llo w s a n a g gre ssiv e a n ti e n vir o n m en t a g en da, s h e s a id , “ th ere w ill b e a b ig b ack la sh i n t h e h ea rtla n d.” D efe n der o f t h e S oil I n m an y w ays, M r. P ale n s e es h im se lf a s t h e u lt im ate c o n se rv a tio n is t. H is g re a t g ra n dfa th er, t h e s o n o f a n i m mig ra n t f r o m L uxem bou rg , w as t h e f ir s t t o f a rm i n t h is s tr e tc h o f n orth c e n tr a l K an sa s. 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 4 /1 1 M r. P ale n g re w u p o n t h e f a rm , t o ok i t o ver i n h is 2 0 s, a n d l o oked t o m ak e h is m ark . I n c o lle g e, h e l e a rn ed o f a f a rm in g t e ch n iq u e c a lle d “ n o t ill,” w hic h i s i n te n ded t o m ore c lo se ly m im ic t h e n atu ra l p ra ir ie e co sy ste m , a n d w as i n tr ig u ed b y i t s p ro m is e t o p ro te ct h is f a m ily f ie ld s f r o m K an sa s’ r e le n tle ss w in ds a n d s u dden d ow npou rs . T he i d ea b eh in d n otill f a rm in g, h e n ow e x p la in s t o a n yo n e w ho w ill l i s te n , i s t h at p lo w in g t h e s o il d estr o ys i t s n atu ra l s tr u ctu re , c a u sin g i t t o l o se i t s p re cio u s m ois tu re a n d n utr ie n ts . T hat m ak es i t v u ln era b le t o e ro sio n . M r. P ale n ’s f ie ld s a re n ’t t ille d . T here a re n o n ea t f u rro w s. T he r e sid u e o f p la n ts f r o m p re v io u s p la n tin gs s till c a rp ets t h e e a rth , o ffe rin g a l a yer o f p ro te ctio n , a n d h is f ie ld s a re n ev er b are e v en a ft e r h arv est. H e a lt e rn ate s w hea t a n d o th er c ro p s w it h w hat h e d esc rib es a s a c o ck ta il o f g ra sse s a n d l e a fy p la n ts , l i k e g ra in s o rg h um , s u n flo w ers a n d a lf a lf a , a g estu re t o w ard t h e d iv ers it y o f t h e w ild p ra ir ie . “ T hey s a y t h ere ’s m ore o rg an is m s i n a h an dfu l o f s o il t h an p eo p le o n t h e p la n et,” M r. P ale n s a id , m ak in g h is w ay t h ro u gh a f ie ld b etw een p la n tin gs. H e s to op ed h is t a ll f r a m e d ow n, d u g u p a c lu m p o f e a rth , a n d r o lle d i t b etw een h is f in gers . H e i s s o ft s p oken , y et w hen h e t a lk s o f t h e e a rth , h is e x cit e m en t i s o b vio u s. “ S ee h ow i t ’s f ir m a n d h old s t o geth er? ” h e s a id . “ S ee h ow i t d oesn ’t b re a k d ow n i n to g o o?” N otill f a rm in g a d dre sse s a d ir e p ro b le m f a cin g A m eric a n f a rm ers : A lm ost 1 .7 b illi o n t o n s o f t o p so il a re b lo w n o r w ash ed o ff c ro p la n ds a y ea r, a cco rd in g t o t h e D ep artm en t o f A gric u lt u re , r e su lt in g i n b illi o n s o f d olla rs i n l o sse s f o r f a rm ers .
K eep in g t h e s o il h ea lt h y a n d c o vere d a ls o r e d u ce s e v a p ora tio n b y 8 0 p erc e n t, h elp in g f a rm ers c o n se rv e w ate r, t h e d ep artm en t e stim ate s. F arm ers l i k e M r. P ale n a ls o h ap pen t o b e p ro te ctin g a v a st a n d v a lu ab le c a rb on s in k, m ak in g h im a n a lly t o c li m ate c h an ge c a m paig n ers . T he s o il t r a p s f a r m ore c a rb on i n i t s d ep th s t h an a ll p la n t a n d a n im al l i f e o n t h e e a rth ’s s u rfa ce , s c ie n tis ts e stim ate . A 2 0 13 s tu dy e stim ate d t h at n otill a n d o th er r e sto ra tiv e f a rm in g m eth od s c o u ld a ch ie v e u p t o 1 5 p erc e n t o f t h e t o ta l c a rb on r e d u ctio n n eed ed t o s ta b ili z e t h e c li m ate . D esp it e h is c o n se rv a tio n is t s tr e a k , M r. P ale n h as n o a ffin it y f o r e n vir o n m en ta li s ts . H e f e els v ili f ie d , h e s a ys, f o r h is c o n tin ued u se o f c h em ic a l 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 5 /1 1 h erb ic id es a n d p estic id es. ( S om e o rg an ic f a rm ers c o n tr o l w eed s b y t illi n g t h e s o il, w hic h M r. P ale n a rg u es c a u se s m ore e co lo gic a l h arm .) A nd h e r e m ain s s u sp ic io u s o f a n y e x p an sio n o f g o vern m en t r e g u la tio n s t h at i g n ore r e a li t ie s o f r u ra l A m eric a . “ W e w an t t o b e l e ft a lo n e,” M r. P ale n s a id . H e s in gle d o u t t h e C le a n W ate r R ule , a n E .P .A . r e g u la tio n d esig n ed t o p ro te ct s tr e a m s a n d o th er w ate rw ays, a s r e g u la to ry o verre a ch . W ash in gto n t y p es w an te d t o d ic ta te w hat h e c o u ld d o w it h e v ery c re ek , e v ery p u ddle , o n h is f a rm , h e s a id , p u ttin g i m poss ib le b u rd en s o n f a rm ers . A nd m ost o f t h em h ad p ro b ab ly n ev er s p en t a n y t im e o n a f a rm , h e s a id . “ W e’r e t h e o n es w ork in g t o p ro te ct t h e e n vir o n m en t. W e’r e t h e o n es w hose l i v es a re t ie d t o t h e e a rth .” H on in g S cie n tif ic S tr a te g y C arl P rie se n dorf, a s c ie n ce t e a ch er a t M etr o p oli t a n C om mun it y C olle g e i n K an sa s C it y , M o., h as l e a rn ed s tr a te g ie s t o t a lk a b ou t c li m ate c h an ge w it h ou t c o m ple te ly a li e n atin g c li m ate s k ep tic s. H e t e a ch es g eo lo gy a n d m ete o ro lo gy. T hose s u bje cts w ou ld u su ally b e i n nocu ou s, b u t n ot h ere . “ I’d s h ow t h e C O 2 d ata — h ow w e’d h ad t h e h otte st y ea r o n r e co rd ,” M r. P rie se n dorf s a id . “ B ut I g et s tu den ts w ho b asic a lly s a y w hat I ’m t e a ch in g i s n on se n se . M y c a r’s b een k ey ed . I g et n ote s f r o m s tu den ts s a yin g t h ey ’r e p ra yin g f o r m y s o u l.” O ne s u ch n ote t h at h e s h are d r e a d s, “ K now t h at G od ’s l o ve s u rp asse s k n ow le d ge.” S in ce a p artic u la rly c o n te n tio u s d eb ate i n c la ss — a s tu den t t h re w a b ook b ag a t h im , h e s a id — M r. P rie se n dorf h as t a k en a s te p b ack t o f o cu s o n t h e e v ery d ay p osit iv es o f s c ie n ce . “ I a sk : ‘D o y o u l i k e t h e l i g h t b u lb ? D o y o u l i k e e le ctr ic it y ?’ T hat’s s c ie n ce ,” h e s a id . “ T hen I e a se i n to m ore c o n te n tio u s t o p ic s, l i k e c li m ate c h an ge.” T hat i s a n u ph ill b attle . A 2 0 13 s u rv ey f o u n d t h at j u st 8 p erc e n t o f f a rm ers i n t h e M id w est b eli e v ed t h at “ c li m ate c h an ge i s o ccu rrin g, a n d i t i s c a u se d m ostly b y h um an a ctiv it ie s.” A n e a rli e r P ew R ese a rc h C en te r p oll f o u n d t h at o n ly 4 8 p erc e n t o f p eo p le i n t h e M id w est a g re e w it h t h e s ta te m en t t h at t h ere i s “ s o li d e v id en ce t h at t h e 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 6 /1 1 a vera g e t e m pera tu re o n e a rth h as b een g ettin g w arm er,” a n um ber b elo w o th er r e g io n s i n t h e c o u n tr y . A nd c o n se rv a tiv es h ave b een p u sh in g b ack a g ain st c la ssro om s ta n dard s a d op te d b y t h e s ta te o f K an sa s t h at t r e a t e v o lu tio n a n d c li m ate c h an ge a s s c ie n tif ic c o n ce p ts .
L ast y ea r, t h e U nit e d S ta te s S u pre m e C ou rt d ecli n ed t o r e v ie w a n on pro fit g ro u p’s l a w su it t h at c la im ed t h at t h ose s ta n dard s p ro m ote a th eis m . B ut n ow , u n der a T ru m p a d m in is tr a tio n , M r. P rie se n dorf f e lt s c ie n ce i t s e lf w as u n der f ir e . “ If e v en y o u r g o vern m en t s ta rts t e lli n g y o u r c o u n tr y t h at s c ie n tis ts a re l y in g t o y o u , i t ’l l b e e v en t o u gh er f o r s c ie n ce t e a ch ers ,” h e s a id . “ I’m g o in g t o f o cu s o n k eep in g m y s tu den ts ’ m in ds o p en t o t h e p oss ib ili t y t h at t h e s c ie n ce i s c o rre ct.” L aw m ak er F org es A lli a n ce s A nnie K ueth er, a D em ocra t a n d c le a n e n erg y a d vo ca te i n t h e R ep u bli c a n c o n tr o lle d S ta te h ou se a n d a m em ber o f t h e S ta te U tili t ie s C om mit te e, h as f o r y ea rs p u sh ed f o r m ore r e n ew ab le e n erg y. O ne o b sta cle , t h ou gh , i s t h at t h e c o m mit te e’s c h air m an d oes n ot b eli e v e i n c li m ate c h an ge. A S t. L ou is n ativ e w ho l a n ded i n T op ek a a s a y o u n g b rid e f o u r d eca d es a g o , M s. K ueth er i s u se d t o w ork in g a lo n gsid e a d vers a rie s. H er c o u n ty v o te d f o r M r. T ru m p, a lo n g w it h a ll b u t t w o c o u n tie s i n t h e s ta te . S h e h as s a t t h ro u gh c o m mit te e m eetin gs w here c li m ate s k ep tic s, i n clu din g t h e d is c re d it e d s c ie n tis t W ei H ock S oon , b la ste d t h e s c ie n ce b eh in d g lo b al w arm in g. “ C arb on D io xid e, C O 2 , i s m ere ly a b it p la yer i n c li m ate c h an ge,” r e a d s o n e s li d e M r. S oon p re se n te d i n 2 0 13 . “ R is in g C O 2 i s l a rg ely b en efic ia l t o p la n t a n d h um an l i f e .” “ I r e m em ber b ein g h orrif ie d ,” M s. K ueth er s a id .
S till, o ver t h e y ea rs , s h e h as f o rg ed p ow erfu l b u sin ess a lli a n ce s b y f o cu sin g, i n h er a rg u m en ts , o n j o b s a n d t h e e co n om y. S h e h as a ls o f o u n d i n cre a sin g s u pp ort f r o m f a rm ers a n d l a n dow ners w ho c o u n t o n w in d t u rb in es a n d s o la r p an els t h ey h ost o n t h eir p ro p erty f o r i n co m e. 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 7 /1 1 “ G ra d u ally , f r o m a p oli t ic a l s ta n dpoin t, y o u c a n b u ild a c o n stit u en cy t h at b en efit s f r o m t h is i n du str y ,” s a id M ark L aw lo r, o n e a lly a n d a n e x ecu tiv e a t C le a n L in e E nerg y P artn ers , w hic h i s b u ild in g a 7 8 0 m ile t r a n sm is sio n l i n e t o d eli v er 4 ,0 00 m eg aw atts o f w in d p ow er f r o m w este rn K an sa s t o M is s o u ri, I lli n ois a n d o th er n eig h borin g s ta te s. “ J u st l i k e g ra in , c a ttle , a ir p la n es, w in d’s a n oth er v a lu ab le r e so u rc e K an sa s c a n e x p ort,” h e s a id , r e fe rrin g t o K an sa s’ s iz a b le a g ric u lt u ra l i n du str y , a s w ell a s t h e C essn a A ir c ra ft C om pan y, w hic h i s b ase d i n W ic h it a , K an . “ K an sa s h as a l o t o f p ra g m atic f o lk s h ere , a n d w e r e co gn iz e b en efit s .” K an sa s’ d w in dli n g w ate r s o u rc e s h ave b een a n oth er i s su e t h at M s. K ueth er h as f o u n d s tr ik es a n erv e a m on g v o te rs h ere , w hate v er t h eir b eli e fs o n c li m ate c h an ge.
T hat h as h elp ed t o b u ild s o m e s u pport f o r m ea su re s t o s a ve t h e s ta te ’s s h rin kin g a q u if e rs , a l i f e li n e f o r c o m mun it ie s i n w este rn K an sa s, t h ou gh n ot y et a n y d ecis iv e a ctio n . I n f a ct, h er f o cu s o n t h e p ra ctic a l i s a b ig p art o f w hat h as k ep t g ettin g h er e le cte d , s h e s a id , i n a S ta te L eg is la tu re w here s h e i s o u tn um bere d b y R ep u bli c a n l a w m ak ers , t w o t o o n e. “ I’v e a lw ays f e lt t h at f a m ili e s h ave a lw ays b een c o n ce rn ed a b ou t w ate r — w heth er t h ey ’r e D em ocra tic , R ep u bli c a n o r i n dep en den t,” s h e s a id . P ubli c a tio n T ak es a S ta n d M r. G ulli c k so n o f S u cce ssfu l F arm in g, w ho u su ally w rit e s a b ou t t o p ic s l i k e p ig w eed , g yp su m a n d r u n off, h as s ta rte d t o p u sh t h e e n velo p e o n d eb ate s o ver c li m ate c h an ge. A n 1 1y ea r v ete ra n o f t h e m ag azin e, w here h e i s t h e c ro p s t e ch n olo gy e d it o r, M r. G ulli c k so n s a id h e h ad l o n g b een o n t h e f e n ce a b ou t c li m ate c h an ge. B ut t h at b eg an c h an gin g f iv e y ea rs a g o , w hen h e a tte n ded a w ork sh op w here a U niv ers it y o f K en tu ck y p ro fe sso r g ave a c o n vin cin g a rg u m en t, b ack ed b y d ata . “ I s ta rte d l o okin g a t t h e e v id en ce , a t t h e d ata a n d w hat f a rm ers w ere d oin g,” h e s a id . “ A nd i t ’s c le a r: T he w ea th er h as b eco m e m ore e x tr e m e t h ese d ays. A nd I t h ou gh t, ‘I ’v e n ev er h ea rd o f a n y s u cce ssfu l b u sin ess p u bli c a tio n t h at s ta yed i n b u sin ess b y w it h hold in g i n fo rm atio n .’” 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 8 /1 1 S o f o r t h e f ir s t t im e i n t h e s to rie d m ag azin e’s 1 15 y ea ro ld h is to ry , a c o ver s to ry s q u are ly a d dre sse d t h e s c ie n ce o f c li m ate c h an ge. T he O cto b er 2 0 14 p ie ce w as p u bli s h ed u n der t h e h ea d li n e, “ @ #$*% W ea th er!” “ I k n ow w hat y o u ’r e t h in kin g: C li m ate c h an ge i s j u st s o m e f ig m en t o f A l G ore ’s i m ag in atio n a d op te d b y l i b era l t r e eh uggers w ho w an t t o t a n k t h e U .S . e co n om y,” M r. G ulli c k so n w ro te . “ S till, t h in k b ack o ver s o m e r o u gh w ea th er y o u ’v e e n du re d i n r e ce n t y ea rs a n d a sk y o u rs e lf t h ese q u estio n s,” h e c o n tin ued . “ A re s p rin gs g ettin g w ette r? A re d ro u gh ts i n cre a sin g i n s e v erit y ? A re r a in sto rm s i n cre a sin g i n i n te n sit y ?” T he c le a r a n sw er, h e s a id : “ Y es.” M r. G ulli c k so n s a id t h at h e a n d h is e d it o r h ad h eld l e n gth y d is c u ssio n s l e a d in g u p t o t h e a rtic le ’s p u bli c a tio n . H is e d it o r i n c h ie f, D ave K urn s, w as s u pportiv e, h e s a id , b u t a ls o w arn ed t h at t h e p ie ce c o u ld g en era te b ack la sh . M r. K urn s s p oke c a n did ly o ver c o n ce rn s o f a b ack la sh i n a n e d it o r’s n ote t h at l e d t h e i s su e. W hen h e b eca m e t h e m ag azin e’s e d it o r t w o y ea rs e a rli e r, h e s a id , h e h ad b een w arn ed , “ N ev er u se t h e w ord s ‘c li m ate c h an ge.’” “ I w as t o ld : ‘R ea d ers h ate t h at p h ra se . J u st t a lk a b ou t t h e w ea th er,’” h e w ro te .
T he i n du str y p u bli c a tio n , w hic h h as a c ir c u la tio n o f 3 9 0 ,0 0 0, w as i n flu en ce d b y s o m e o f t h e b ig gest n am es i n a g ric u lt u re t a k in g a s ta n d o n t h e i s su e, M r. G ulli c k so n s a id . T he a g ric u lt u ra l g ia n t C arg ill h as s ta rte d t o l o b by m em bers o f C on gre ss a n d u rg ed f a rm ers t o t a k e c li m ate c h an ge s e rio u sly , s a yin g i n actio n w ou ld b e d etr im en ta l t o t h e U nit e d S ta te s e co n om y. T he r e sp on se t o t h e m ag azin e’s t a k e o n t h e i s su es h as b een s p li t .
“ W hen y o u s ta rt q u otin g ‘c li m ate s c ie n tis ts ’ a n d t h e U nit e d N atio n s,” w ro te i n o n e r e a d er, B ill C li n ger, a f a rm er b ase d i n H arp ste r, O hio , “ y o u a re a s n utty a s A l G ore .” M ea su re s t o c o n tr o l e m is sio n s, h e s a id , “ a re j u st s e d u ctiv e n am es f o r s o cia li s t p ro gra m s i n te n ded t o m ic ro m an ag e p eo p le a n d b u sin esse s.” 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 9 /1 1 M r. G ulli c k so n s a id s o m e r e a d ers t h an ked h im . “ F in ally , a f a rm in g m ag azin e c o m es t o t e rm s w it h w hat i s g o in g o n w it h t h e w ea th er,” w ro te P au l J ere cze k o f D od ge, W is . R ea ch ed b y p h on e, M r. J ere cze k , w ho r u n s a d air y f a rm , e x p re sse d e x asp era tio n a t p eo p le ’s i n ab ili t y t o s p ea k o p en ly . “ T he p h ra se h as b eco m e s o p oli t ic iz e d , i t ’s j u st h ard t o t a lk a b ou t,” h e s a id . “ B ut w e t a lk a b ou t e v ery th in g e ls e . E ven r o u n d h ere , p ro te ctin g s o il i s s u ch a h ot t o p ic r ig h t n ow . B ut w e t a lk a b ou t t h e s o il, s a vin g f e rtili z e r, t h at s o rt o f t h in g.” G ro u se t o t h e R esc u e M ark S alv o , v ic e p re sid en t a t t h e w ild li f e c o n se rv a tio n g ro u p D efe n ders o f W ild li f e , m ig h t b e a w alk in g, t a lk in g s te re o ty p e o f t h e k in d o f e n vir o n m en ta li s t w ho s o f r u str a te s M r. P ale n . A n O re g o n ia n n ow b ase d i n W ash in gto n , h e s p en t 1 5 y ea rs i n t h e A m eric a n W est f ig h tin g t o c o n se rv e f is h a n d w ild li f e o n p u bli c l a n ds. B ut M r. S alv o t h in ks h e k n ow s a n u n li k ely — a n d h ig h ly s y m path etic — c h ara cte r t o b rin g K an sa n s a n d o th ers t o geth er a ro u n d c li m ate c h an ge: t h e l e sse r p ra ir ie c h ic k en . K now n f o r i t s s h ock o f y ello w h air a n d b rig h t o ra n ge c h eek s, t h e l e sse r p ra ir ie c h ic k en o n ce r o am ed t h e G re a t P la in s. T od ay, t h ou gh , t h e g ro u se i s u n der t h re a t — i t s p op u la tio n s r e d u ce d t o i s o la te d p ock ets i n w este rn K an sa s, C olo ra d o a n d t h e T ex asN ew M ex ic o b ord er a s i t s h ab it a t s u ccu m bs t o c li m ate in du ce d d ro u gh t, f a rm in g, d rilli n g a n d o th er h um an a ctiv it y . T he g ro u p h as b een p etit io n in g t h e F is h a n d W ild li f e S erv ic e t o r e li s t t h e l e sse r p ra ir ie c h ic k en a s a t h re a te n ed s p ecie s u n der t h e E ndan gere d S p ecie s A ct. T he b ir d f o u n d i t s e lf t a k en o ff t h e l i s t a ft e r a l a w su it i n 2 0 14 b ack ed b y t h e o il a n d g as i n du str y , w hic h a rg u es t h at a n y p ro te ctiv e m ea su re s w ou ld m ea n a d ded c o sts f o r e n erg y d ev elo p ers . M r. S alv o h as f o u n d t h at t o g ain a ll i e s i t d oesn ’t a lw ays h elp t o s ta rt w it h t h e r o le c li m ate c h an ge p la ys i n h arm in g t h e b ir d ’s h ab it a t. I n ste a d , h is m ovem en t h as t r ie d t o f in d c o m mon g ro u n d, h ig h li g h tin g t h e h is to ric a l h erit a g e o f t h e l e sse r 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 1 0/1 1 p ra ir ie c h ic k en . I n t h e “ L it tle H ou se o n t h e P ra ir ie ” n ovels , L au ra I n galls W ild er w ro te a b ou t e a tin g p ra ir ie c h ic k en m ush . M r. S alv o a ls o s tr e sse s h ow g ro u se fr ie n dly p ra ctic e s c a n b e g o od f o r f a rm in g, t o o, b ack in g a f e d era l p ro gra m t h at p ro vid es f in an cia l a id t o p riv a te l a n dow ners w ho a d op t t h ose p ra ctic e s. L ea vin g c o rn s tu bble s ta n din g a ft e r h arv est g iv es t h e b ir d s f o od a n d p la ce s t o h id e, f o r e x am ple , w hile a ls o h elp in g f a rm ers p ro te ct t h e s o il. “ S om etim es, t o g ain a lli e s, i t h elp s t o f o cu s o n i s su es o f c o m mon c o n ce rn , t o s u pport l o ca l e co n om ic d ev elo p m en t a s w ell a s s p ecie s c o n se rv a tio n ,” h e s a id . “ It h elp s e v ery b od y c o m e t o t h e t a b le .” L ast w eek , M r. P ale n , t h e f a rm er, w as a g ain t a lk in g w ea th er — i f n ot c li m ate c h an ge — a t a c o n fe re n ce o f n otill f a rm ers i n S ali n a, K an . S essio n s i n clu ded “ U sin g Y ou r W ate r E ffic ie n tly ,” “ M ak in g W ea th er W ork f o r Y ou i n 2 0 17 ” a n d “ B uild in g H ea lt h y S oil W it h M ob G ra zin g,” a p ra ctic e t h at h elp s t o f e rtili z e t h e l a n d. A nd y es, M r. P ale n s a ys, h e i s o n b oard w it h s a vin g t h e l e sse r p ra ir ie c h ic k en . “ I o ft e n t h in k o f w ays I c a n p ro te ct t h eir h ab it a t,” h e s a id . “ I e n jo y w ild li f e .” A v e rs io n o f th is a rtic le a ppears in p rin t o n J a nuary 2 9, 2 017, o n P age B U 1 o f th e N ew Y ork e dit io n w it h t h e h eadlin e: T a lk A bout th e W eath er. T ru th . I t' h ard t o f in d.
ut e a ie r w it h 1 0 00+ jo u rn ali t lo ok in g. S uc ri e t o T he T im e.
aic $ 2.7 5 /w eek ille d a $ 14 3 e v er ea r G et aic aic D ig it a l A cce I n clu de:
A cce ss t o N YT im es.c o m a n d a ll N YT im es a p ps U nli m it e d a rtic le a cce ss, a n ytim e, a n yw here L ea rn m ore ► 1 /3 0/2 017 I n A m eric a ’s H eartla nd, D is cu ssin g C lim ate C hange W it h out S ayin g ‘C lim ate C hange’ T he N ew Y ork T im es h ttp s://w ww.n ytim es.c o m /2 017/0 1/2 8/b usin ess/e nerg ye nvir o nm ent/n avig atin gc lim ate c h angein a m eric a sh eartla nd.h tm l? m wrs m =E m ail& _r= 0 1 1 /1 1 A ll A cce $ 3.7 5 /w eek ille d a $ 19 5 e v er ea r G et A ll A cce I n clu de e v er th in g in aic , p lu : T im es I n sid er A cce ss, i n clu din g b eh in dth es c e n es s to rie s, e x clu siv e e v en ts , p od ca sts , a n d e b ooks 1 c o m pli m en ta ry d ig it a l s u bsc rip tio n t o g iv e a n yo n e y o u 'd l i k e L ea rn m ore ► H om e D eli v er + A ll A cce $ 6 .9 3/w eek ille d a $ 36 0 e v er ea r G et H om e D eli v er I n clu de e v er th in g in A ll A cce , p lu : C usto m iz e d d eli v ery o p tio n s s u ch a s S u n day o n ly , F ri. S u n ., w eek d ay d eli v ery , o r d aily d eli v ery T he w eek ly S u n day m ag azin e a n d m on th ly T M ag azin e 2 c o m pli m en ta ry d ig it a l s u bsc rip tio n s t o g iv e a n yo n e y o u 'd l i k e L ea rn m ore ► * H om e d eli v er p ric e ae d o n S un da d eli v er . P ric e v a r ae d o n d eli v er lo ca tio n a n d f r e q u en c.
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