| The Alaska chapter of Youth for Environmental | | | | standards for automobiles and trucks, and |
| Action, a high school program of the National | | | | calls for strong incentives for development |
| Wildlife Federation, has traveled to | | | | and support of renewable energy sources.Some |
| Washington, D.C., to deliver a message about | | | | of the warming effects that have been seen in |
| global warming to Congress. The group has a | | | | Alaska include the melting of upper |
| multimedia presentation that explains how | | | | permafrost layers that have caused buildings |
| increased emissions of the byproducts of | | | | to sink and tilt and the erosion of the |
| burning fossil fuels, carbon dioxide and | | | | coastline at the village of Shishmaref. The |
| methane gas, have created a reflective | | | | warmer ocean temperatures have resulted in |
| greenhouse effect that has caused a rise in | | | | the reduction of the amount of ice near the |
| temperatures globally.The teenagers have | | | | shore that normally protects the shoreline |
| collected over 5,000 signatures from other | | | | from harsh winter storms. As a result of the |
| Alaska teenagers, endorsing a call to action | | | | vanishing shoreline, much of the village has |
| on the controversial issue of global warming. | | | | been relocated further inland at great |
| The immediate effects of global warming can | | | | expense.Another result of warming can be seen |
| be seen most dramatically in Alaska where the | | | | in the Kenai Peninsula where the largest |
| average temperature has risen 3 degrees in | | | | insect infestation in North America has |
| the winter and 6 degrees in the summer during | | | | decimated the growth of white spruce trees. |
| the past 30 years.Among the students who have | | | | The population of spruce bark beetles has |
| been traveling and have visited Congress are | | | | increased tremendously due to the longer |
| Verner Wilson of Dillingham, Tim Turner of | | | | length of the warm season in the |
| Anchorage, Charlee Lockwood of Saint Michael, | | | | area.Glaciers in Alaska are retreating at a |
| and the group advisor, Polly Carr.The | | | | rapid rate due to the warmer temperatures. A |
| students traveled throughout Alaska to | | | | popular glacier and tourist attraction at |
| basketball games, field trips, ski meets, | | | | Portage could be seen from the road and |
| wrestling contests, school breaks, and debate | | | | visitor center 20 years ago, but now it is no |
| events in 103 Alaska communities. The | | | | longer visible except from a tour boat. The |
| signatures represent about 10 percent of the | | | | Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound is |
| teenage population of Alaska.The students' | | | | retreating 80 to 115 feet per day and has |
| program asks Washington congressmen to back a | | | | receded more than 6 miles in the past 35 |
| cap-and-trade greenhouse gas program that | | | | years.In Barrow, the most northerly village |
| limits growth of carbon dioxide and methane | | | | in Alaska, the warmer temperatures mean that |
| gas, two of the most harmful of the | | | | there are now mosquitoes where once there |
| greenhouse gases, in industry. The teens' | | | | were none. |
| program also calls for increased fuel economy | | | | |