| The Alaska chapter of Youth for Environmental | | | | Alaska include the melting of upper permafrost layers |
| Action, a high school program of the National Wildlife | | | | that have caused buildings to sink and tilt and the |
| Federation, has traveled to Washington, D.C., to deliver | | | | erosion of the coastline at the village of Shishmaref. |
| a message about global warming to Congress. The | | | | The warmer ocean temperatures have resulted in the |
| group has a multimedia presentation that explains how | | | | reduction of the amount of ice near the shore that |
| increased emissions of the byproducts of burning fossil | | | | normally protects the shoreline from harsh winter |
| fuels, carbon dioxide and methane gas, have created | | | | storms. As a result of the vanishing shoreline, much of |
| a reflective greenhouse effect that has caused a rise | | | | the village has been relocated further inland at great |
| in temperatures globally. | | | | expense. |
| The teenagers have collected over 5,000 signatures | | | | Another result of warming can be seen in the Kenai |
| from other Alaska teenagers, endorsing a call to action | | | | Peninsula where the largest insect infestation in North |
| on the controversial issue of global warming. The | | | | America has decimated the growth of white spruce |
| immediate effects of global warming can be seen | | | | trees. The population of spruce bark beetles has |
| most dramatically in Alaska where the average | | | | increased tremendously due to the longer length of the |
| temperature has risen 3 degrees in the winter and 6 | | | | warm season in the area. |
| degrees in the summer during the past 30 years. | | | | Glaciers in Alaska are retreating at a rapid rate due to |
| Among the students who have been traveling and | | | | the warmer temperatures. A popular glacier and tourist |
| have visited Congress are Verner Wilson of Dillingham, | | | | attraction at Portage could be seen from the road and |
| Tim Turner of Anchorage, Charlee Lockwood of Saint | | | | visitor center 20 years ago, but now it is no longer |
| Michael, and the group advisor, Polly Carr. | | | | visible except from a tour boat. The Columbia Glacier |
| The students traveled throughout Alaska to basketball | | | | in Prince William Sound is retreating 80 to 115 feet per |
| games, field trips, ski meets, wrestling contests, school | | | | day and has receded more than 6 miles in the past 35 |
| breaks, and debate events in 103 Alaska communities. | | | | years. |
| The signatures represent about 10 percent of the | | | | In Barrow, the most northerly village in Alaska, the |
| teenage population of Alaska. | | | | warmer temperatures mean that there are now |
| The students' program asks Washington congressmen | | | | mosquitoes where once there were none. |
| to back a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas program | | | | Part of Alaska's congressional delegation does not |
| that limits growth of carbon dioxide and methane gas, | | | | agree with the teenagers about the cause of the |
| two of the most harmful of the greenhouse gases, in | | | | Alaska warming trend. Representative Don Young has |
| industry. The teens' program also calls for increased | | | | blamed natural occurrences, not human intervention, as |
| fuel economy standards for automobiles and trucks, | | | | the cause of the changes. Senator Ted Stevens feels |
| and calls for strong incentives for development and | | | | that the warming trend is due to cyclical geophysical |
| support of renewable energy sources. | | | | natural forces. |
| Some of the warming effects that have been seen in | | | | |