Shipping Contract Nears Deadline

Contract negotiations between the Great Lakes Seamans Union and six Great
Lakes fleets are continuing this week…as an August 1st deadline
approaches. The Seamans’ Union represents unlicensed members of the crew
like deckhands and some galley workers. They make up about two-thirds of
each ship’s crew. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mike Simonson reports:

Botanical Congress Comes to U-S

Next week thousands of plant biologists from around the world will be
traveling to the U-S to share ideas at the International Botanical
Congress. It’s only the third time the gathering has been held in the
U-S. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:

Summertime Smog

As summertime temperatures go up, so does our need for air conditioning.
But with much of our electricity coming from coal plants, this also
increases smog levels. As Great Lakes Radio Consortium Commentator Suzanne
Elston points out, the coming deregulation of the electricity industry may
provide us with some relief.

Livening Up Zoo Life

Animals in the wild have plenty to do to keep busy-like foraging for
food…or fighting off predators. But it’s a different story for animals in
captivity. So zookeepers and researchers are constantly looking for ways to
keep the animals occupied and improve their quality of life. And
increasingly, they’re becoming more scientific about it. The Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports:

Maintaining a Balance in Natural Areas

  • Martin Smay on his horse Golden Feather likes to ride in public parks. He says there has to be balance between recreational uses and preservation.

Whether it’s hiking, biking, or riding all-terrain vehicles… every time
you use a park, you damage it. It’s the job of park managers to balance the
recreational uses against preserving natural areas. It’s not easy. The
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports… people want more
places for new types of recreation, but park managers are still struggling
to find the right balance for more traditional recreational activities:

A New Indicator for Global Warming?

Researchers in Wisconsin have identified a species of dragonfly never
seen in the state before. They’ll be watching it as a possible
indicator of global climate change. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s
Stephanie Hemphill reports:

Mayflies Make a Comeback

People have long considered the burrowing mayfly a pest. And 40 years
ago, they were glad when the clouds of bugs virtually disappeared from
the Great Lakes. But the mayfly is making a comeback. And as the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Karen Kelly reports, scientists say it’s a sign
of a healthier water system:

Wind Power Expands With Deregulation

According to the Worldwatch Institute, wind power is the fastest
growing energy source in the world – growing at an annual rate of 22%.
Here in the U-S, the Midwest accounted for most of this country’s wind
energy growth. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Hammond reports
that energy deregulation is fueling much of this development:

Commentary – Six Billion Souls

The United Nations estimates that sometime between now and October 1999,
the world’s population will reach six billion. This has Great Lakes
Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston wondering – How much is too
many?: