We are all following the reports coming out about the horrific wildfires on the West Coast. This week on “What’s the Word,” Adam Schuster walks us through some of the specifics about these wildfires stretching across the western states, and he explains how climate change continues to give rise to these devastating events.
Split Show: Wildfires on the West Coast and Worker Justice Wisconsin
Last week, San Francisco awoke to a bright orange sky from the wildfires raging throughout the West Coast. For our first segment, we discuss what it means to prepare for and co-exist with increased wildfire risk and longer fire seasons with professor Dave McWethy, who researches fire and climate at Montana State University. Then, we […]
Wisconsin DNR preparing for “Elevated Wildfire Conditions”...
The National Weather Service is predicting Elevated Wildfire Conditions for Wisconsin this year. In response, Governor Evers has declared a State of Emergency. WORT producer Jonah Chester sat down with Catherine Koele, a wildfire prevention specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, to discuss how the agency is planning to fight wildfires during the […]
Split Show: Wuhan Coronavirus and Australian Aboriginal Land Rights
On today’s episode, we cover issues of international importance. First, UW–Madison virologist Kristen Bernard offers information on the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China and what it means for global public health. Then, we turn our sights to Australia to learn about Aboriginal history, local response to this year’s bushfire crisis, and the fight for land […]
The Australian Bushfire Crisis
Australia is on fire. The current Australian bushfire season has been the worst in recent history, burning an estimated 26 million acres across the continent, particularly in the south-east. Last month, the New South Wales Government declared a state of emergency due to record-breaking temperatures and drought. An estimated six thousand buildings have been destroyed […]
The California Wildfires, PG&E, and the Energy Grid
California is burning, and Pacific Gas & Electric—one of the biggest privately-owned utility companies in the state—is coming under criticism for their role in the fires and their failure to provide service and safety to more than 2 million California residents who went days without power last week. To shed some light on this situation, […]
