 "Photo: Contributed Photo")
The loud and boisterous laugh of former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury is a force to be reckoned with; almost as great a force as his political push for renewable energy use in Oregon.
Bradbury will be presenting "Global Warming Hits Home" tonight at LaSells Stewart Center. The event is free of cost and open to the public, and will feature opportunities to get involved with sustainable activities on and around campus. The Sustainability Fair will be available at 7 p.m. and Bradury's presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m.
"I will be giving a presentation that really talks about the very specific expected impacts from climate change on life in Oregon," Bradbury said. He plans to briefly explain the current status of climate change at the global level and will then focus on impacts specific to Oregon—namely on the state's salmon population.
Bradbury speaks about Oregon's environmental issues as if it were something he's been involved in for fifteen years, when in fact, he sponsored a bill called the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Act during his first term as a legislator. "That was a long time ago," he said, admitting that his first term was actually closer to 20 years ago.
The act, in essence was first set up to martial volunteer resources to enhance Oregon's salmon and trout. "People in Oregon really care about the health of salmon and they have contributed millions of volunteer hours to restore salmon and keep them healthy," Bradbury said. "Since the program was created, over 2 million volunteer hours have been contributed in Oregon to the health of salmon. And that's now and old statistic. So it's indicative of how much people care about salmon."
Though enthusiastic about how much people of the Northwest give back, Bradbury remains acutely aware to the fact that there is much to be done on two different levels: that of the individual and that of society.
"If we all did everything we could it wouldn't be enough," Bradbury said. "It's important we do those things, like not using gas guzzling cars, for example. And food; trying to make sure your food comes from within 50 miles, all those things are available and we need to pursue them," he said. "There are a series of other things that need to be done by society, not just individual improvements."
Bradbury commends the work being done especially in the Northwest in the movement away from coal plants as energy sources. He said the Northwest, as it is in the process of closing its coal plants, receives a little less than 40 percent of its energy from coal. Compared to the rest of the country, it's a leader in renewable energy.
"75 percent of the rest of the country's energy comes from coal, so we're ahead, but we have to get it to zero," Bradbury said. "One of the things I'm concerned about now is that natural gas is much cleaner than coal, but guess what? It's still a fossil fuel and its still contributing to green house gas collection in the atmosphere."
Bradbury continues to find consolation in the fact that Oregonians care, and that among the most caring of Oregonians are the environmental researchers of Oregon State University.
"It's very interesting, I was looking at the presentation last night and there are things specific to Oregon (for which) the research was developed by scientists at OSU," Bradbury said.
When asked whether or not the university was doing their part, Bradbury's animated laugh betrayed a positive response. "I think so," he said.
Joce DeWitt, news editor
737-2231 news@dailybarometer.com
on twitter @Joce_DeWitt
is a member of the 
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