Many area residents have studied this issue and are very concerned with what they see as the effects of these uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions. Others view warming temperatures as nothing more than a naturally occurring change in climate.

With the State of Maine now involved in the development of an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this issue has now moved to the forefront in local news.

Guests invited to share their knowledge of the subject include Assoc. Professor Jon Reisman, of the University of Maine at Machias, Dr.George L. Jacobson Jr. of the University of Maine, Ed Hummell Meteorologist, Central Maine Forecasting, And Jim Bunn local Garland farmer.

Jon Reisman comes to us with an impressive background in the current environmental issues of the day. He has written many articles concerning the environment and in 1995 worked for Gov. Angus King on environmental issues. In 1998 he was the GOP nominee in Maine's 2nd Congressional District. He presently is promoting LD 72, state legislation proposed that would require the DEP to issue an estimate of the amount of global warming that will be prevented and the costs that will result from the rules requiring reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. He feels this is a regulatory precautionary principle that will spell out the benefits and costs of any new regulation pertaining to global warming policy. Early in Feb. of this year on radio station WLOB, Assoc. Professor Reisman stated that the current models being used to predict global warming have a low level of predictability and that it's, “like a religion, you either believe or you don't.”

Dr. George L. Jacobson Jr. is Professor of Quaternary Biology and former Director of the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine at Orono.

His research interests concern long-term climate change, and forest responses to climate change. His recent projects involve the ecology and paleoecology of forests, peatlands, and salt marshes. His goal is to understand long-term variability in climate and in ecological processes.

Meteorologist Ed Hummel owner of Central Maine Forecasting, has studied the weather patterns of Central Maine for the past 25 years. Ed will provide a general overview of the global atmospheric circulation, what drives it, how it affects Maine now, and how it might affect Maine in the future with increasing average warmth.

Over the past 35 years Jim Bunn, Garland farmer, has noted various climatic changes on his farm. Changes in growth of native plants as well as changes in crop yields have raised his level of concern regarding the future of agriculture in this section of the Northeastern United States.

Forum moderator will be David Pearson, Dexter Town Assessor

This discussion will take place at the Universalist Church in Dexter on Tuesday April 12 at 6 PM. Church members currently have set up an exhibit on this subject for the public to view. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact the library at 924-7292.