In an effort to better educate Virginians about the upcoming General Assembly session, we are presenting a series of live blog interviews with various Delegates and State Senators throughout December.

We are specifically inviting legislators who are introducing bills of special interest to Virginia’s environmental community.

Kicking off our “live blog” series is Virginia Beach Delegate Joe Bouchard on Dec. 1, 2008 beginning at 5:00pm.

Delegate Bouchard serves on the Governor’s Climate Change Commission. He will be here on Dec. 1, 2008 starting at 5:00pm to take your questions regarding that work, its potential for legislation finding its way into the 2009 General Assembly session, and what he looks forward to seeing happen in Virginia with the Obama administration.

Post your questions for Delegate Bouchard in the comments section ahead of time. Then, if you can, please return here when Delegate Bouchard will be here live to answer questions.

Ducks Unlimited, the “world’s largest (700,000 members) and most effective private waterfowl and wetland conservation organization”, joined with the Wildlife Management Institute and other conservation groups (to include Trout Unlimited and the Isaak Walton League) in producing a new report entitled, “Seasons’ End: Global Warming’s Threat to Hunting and Fishing“, in which they detail the impact of global warming on fish and wildlife and the future of hunting and fishing in the U.S.

Especially alarming for us in Virginia is global warming’s potential impact on saltwater and freshwater fishing - an $1.23 billion industry in Virginia. Read the rest of this entry »