Will Steger and Global Warming 101

Was at a fundraiser this afternoon and evening for the Will Steger Foundation and to learn more about some of the foundation’s efforts like GlobalWarming101 while also breaking out my checkbook to help fund it.

Wikipedia says that this amazing explorer “...joins Amelia Earhart, Robert Peary, Roald Amundsen and Jacques-Yves Cousteau in receiving the National Geographic Society‘s John Oliver La Gorce Medal for “accomplishments in geographic exploration, in the sciences, and for public service to advance international understanding” in 1995.”

Being a Minnesota boy myself with a love for this State and especially the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and my beloved, two feet down in water level Lake Superior‘s north shore, I’ve long admired Steger and his exploratory path in life. This admiration was always tinged with thoughts like, “Geez it’s damn cold in those places…how can he do that?” when reading up on his latest adventure.

It’s now become fashionable to be “green” and care about global warming but only someone like Steger — who truly loves these places, the earth in general as well as the people and animals out of sight of most of us who are already impacted by it — can forget about fashion and just charge ahead to raise awareness.

This man isn’t the most eloquent, charismatic speaker nor does he seem comfortable pitching or marketing himself, but his drive to carry the message outweighs his reticence. This is a message that the world is finally ready for and I can’t think of anyone better to be the bearer of it. He’s focusing on delivering it to everyone regardless of political, ethnic, religious or corporate affiliation. We all live here on this planet and Steger emphasized tonight how we’re in this together which is why he, a progressive, is also keen on carrying the message to conservatives. He’s seen first hand the warming of our world, has the street cred to be completely credible and I can’t think of anyone in a better position to keep the fashionable focused on global warming.