diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index c7850dead5d9..f007dd675343 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+2012-12-05 Added MatplotlibDeprecationWarning class for signaling deprecation.
+           Matplotlib developers can use this class as follows:
+
+           from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
+
+           In light of the fact that Python builtin DeprecationWarnings are
+           ignored by default as of Python 2.7, this class was put in to allow
+           for the signaling of deprecation, but via UserWarnings which are
+           not ignored by default. - PI
+
 2012-11-27 Added the *mtext* parameter for supplying matplotlib.text.Text
            instances to RendererBase.draw_tex and RendererBase.draw_text.
            This allows backends to utilize additional text attributes, like
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index 924ec143aa1f..23e3aa2bd50a 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -122,6 +122,20 @@
 if not hasattr(sys, 'argv'):  # for modpython
     sys.argv = ['modpython']
 
+
+class MatplotlibDeprecationWarning(UserWarning):
+    """
+    A class for issuing deprecation warnings for Matplotlib users.
+
+    In light of the fact that Python builtin DeprecationWarnings are ignored
+    by default as of Python 2.7 (see link below), this class was put in to
+    allow for the signaling of deprecation, but via UserWarnings which are not
+    ignored by default.
+
+    http://docs.python.org/dev/whatsnew/2.7.html#the-future-for-python-2-x
+    """
+    pass
+
 """
 Manage user customizations through a rc file.
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
index ec9b3c091792..388a7839ed06 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/axes.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 import matplotlib.ticker as mticker
 import matplotlib.transforms as mtransforms
 import matplotlib.tri as mtri
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 from matplotlib.container import BarContainer, ErrorbarContainer, StemContainer
 
 iterable = cbook.iterable
@@ -154,8 +155,7 @@ def set_default_color_cycle(clist):
 
     """
     rcParams['axes.color_cycle'] = clist
-    warnings.warn("Set rcParams['axes.color_cycle'] directly",
-                                                    DeprecationWarning)
+    warnings.warn("Set rcParams['axes.color_cycle'] directly", mDeprecation)
 
 
 class _process_plot_var_args(object):
@@ -1376,11 +1376,11 @@ def get_child_artists(self):
 
         .. deprecated:: 0.98
         """
-        raise DeprecationWarning('Use get_children instead')
+        raise mDeprecation('Use get_children instead')
 
     def get_frame(self):
         """Return the axes Rectangle frame"""
-        warnings.warn('use ax.patch instead', DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn('use ax.patch instead', mDeprecation)
         return self.patch
 
     def get_legend(self):
@@ -3135,12 +3135,12 @@ def connect(self, s, func):
         disconnect to disconnect from the axes event
 
         """
-        raise DeprecationWarning('use the callbacks CallbackRegistry instance '
+        raise mDeprecation('use the callbacks CallbackRegistry instance '
                                  'instead')
 
     def disconnect(self, cid):
         """disconnect from the Axes event."""
-        raise DeprecationWarning('use the callbacks CallbackRegistry instance '
+        raise mDeprecation('use the callbacks CallbackRegistry instance '
                                  'instead')
 
     def get_children(self):
@@ -3192,7 +3192,7 @@ def pick(self, *args):
         the artist and the artist has picker set
         """
         if len(args) > 1:
-            raise DeprecationWarning('New pick API implemented -- '
+            raise mDeprecation('New pick API implemented -- '
                                      'see API_CHANGES in the src distribution')
         martist.Artist.pick(self, args[0])
 
@@ -3760,7 +3760,7 @@ def hlines(self, y, xmin, xmax, colors='k', linestyles='solid',
         .. plot:: mpl_examples/pylab_examples/hline_demo.py
         """
         if kwargs.get('fmt') is not None:
-            raise DeprecationWarning('hlines now uses a '
+            raise mDeprecation('hlines now uses a '
                                      'collections.LineCollection and not a '
                                      'list of Line2D to draw; see API_CHANGES')
 
@@ -3842,7 +3842,7 @@ def vlines(self, x, ymin, ymax, colors='k', linestyles='solid',
         """
 
         if kwargs.get('fmt') is not None:
-            raise DeprecationWarning('vlines now uses a '
+            raise mDeprecation('vlines now uses a '
                                      'collections.LineCollection and not a '
                                      'list of Line2D to draw; see API_CHANGES')
 
@@ -6143,7 +6143,7 @@ def scatter(self, x, y, s=20, c='b', marker='o', cmap=None, norm=None,
             edgecolors = 'none'
             warnings.warn(
                 '''replace "faceted=False" with "edgecolors='none'"''',
-                DeprecationWarning)  # 2008/04/18
+                mDeprecation)  # 2008/04/18
 
         # to be API compatible
         if marker is None and not (verts is None):
@@ -8064,7 +8064,7 @@ def hist(self, x, bins=10, range=None, normed=False, weights=None,
 
 
         if kwargs.get('width') is not None:
-            raise DeprecationWarning(
+            raise mDeprecation(
                 'hist now uses the rwidth to give relative width '
                 'and not absolute width')
 
@@ -8783,7 +8783,7 @@ def spy(self, Z, precision=0, marker=None, markersize=None,
         """
         if precision is None:
             precision = 0
-            warnings.DeprecationWarning("Use precision=0 instead of None")
+            warnings.warn("Use precision=0 instead of None", mDeprecation)
             # 2008/10/03
         if marker is None and markersize is None and hasattr(Z, 'tocoo'):
             marker = 's'
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 53df08ab58b5..ecaf4575d3f0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 import matplotlib.tight_bbox as tight_bbox
 import matplotlib.textpath as textpath
 from matplotlib.path import Path
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 try:
     from PIL import Image
@@ -2306,7 +2307,7 @@ def start_event_loop_default(self, timeout=0):
         """
         str = "Using default event loop until function specific"
         str += " to this GUI is implemented"
-        warnings.warn(str, DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn(str, mDeprecation)
 
         if timeout <= 0:
             timeout = np.inf
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
index 70a07ec99303..b936cdfaf76e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt.py
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 import sys
 import warnings
 
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
+
 warnings.warn("QT3-based backends are deprecated and will be removed after"
               " the v1.2.x release. Use the equivalent QT4 backend instead.",
-              DeprecationWarning)
+              mDeprecation)
 
 import matplotlib
 from matplotlib import verbose
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index e0dd930865a1..8e20ee623aee 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 # Debugging settings here...
 # Debug level set here. If the debug level is less than 5, information
@@ -788,7 +789,7 @@ def Printer_Init(self):
 
         Deprecated.
         """
-        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
         self.printerData = wx.PrintData()
         self.printerData.SetPaperId(wx.PAPER_LETTER)
         self.printerData.SetPrintMode(wx.PRINT_MODE_PRINTER)
@@ -802,7 +803,7 @@ def Printer_Init(self):
 
     def _get_printerData(self):
         if self._printerData is None:
-            warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+            warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
             self._printerData = wx.PrintData()
             self._printerData.SetPaperId(wx.PAPER_LETTER)
             self._printerData.SetPrintMode(wx.PRINT_MODE_PRINTER)
@@ -811,7 +812,7 @@ def _get_printerData(self):
 
     def _get_printerPageData(self):
         if self._printerPageData is None:
-            warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+            warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
             self._printerPageData= wx.PageSetupDialogData()
             self._printerPageData.SetMarginBottomRight((25,25))
             self._printerPageData.SetMarginTopLeft((25,25))
@@ -830,7 +831,7 @@ def Printer_Setup(self, event=None):
         dmsg = """Width of output figure in inches.
 The current aspect ratio will be kept."""
 
-        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
         dlg = wx.Dialog(self, -1, 'Page Setup for Printing' , (-1,-1))
         df = dlg.GetFont()
         df.SetWeight(wx.NORMAL)
@@ -893,7 +894,7 @@ def Printer_Setup2(self, event=None):
         Deprecated.
         """
 
-        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
         if hasattr(self, 'printerData'):
             data = wx.PageSetupDialogData()
             data.SetPrintData(self.printerData)
@@ -917,7 +918,7 @@ def Printer_Preview(self, event=None):
 
         Deprecated.
         """
-        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
         po1  = PrintoutWx(self, width=self.printer_width,
                           margin=self.printer_margin)
         po2  = PrintoutWx(self, width=self.printer_width,
@@ -943,7 +944,7 @@ def Printer_Print(self, event=None):
 
         Deprecated.
         """
-        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn("Printer* methods will be removed", mDeprecation)
         pdd = wx.PrintDialogData()
         # SetPrintData for 2.4 combatibility
         pdd.SetPrintData(self.printerData)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/cbook.py b/lib/matplotlib/cbook.py
index 1aa0cb899abe..3e54a768bb18 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/cbook.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/cbook.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 from weakref import ref, WeakKeyDictionary
 
 import matplotlib
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.ma as ma
@@ -281,7 +282,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args):
             warnings.warn(
                 'CallbackRegistry no longer requires a list of callback types.'
                 ' Ignoring arguments',
-                DeprecationWarning)
+                mDeprecation)
         self.callbacks = dict()
         self._cid = 0
         self._func_cid_map = {}
@@ -1676,7 +1677,7 @@ def less_simple_linear_interpolation(x, y, xi, extrap=False):
     # deprecated from cbook in 0.98.4
     warnings.warn('less_simple_linear_interpolation has been moved to '
                   'matplotlib.mlab -- please import it from there',
-                  DeprecationWarning)
+                  mDeprecation)
     import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
     return mlab.less_simple_linear_interpolation(x, y, xi, extrap=extrap)
 
@@ -1688,7 +1689,7 @@ def vector_lengths(X, P=2.0, axis=None):
     """
     # deprecated from cbook in 0.98.4
     warnings.warn('vector_lengths has been moved to matplotlib.mlab -- '
-                  'please import it from there', DeprecationWarning)
+                  'please import it from there', mDeprecation)
     import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
     return mlab.vector_lengths(X, P=2.0, axis=axis)
 
@@ -1700,7 +1701,7 @@ def distances_along_curve(X):
     """
     # deprecated from cbook in 0.98.4
     warnings.warn('distances_along_curve has been moved to matplotlib.mlab '
-                  '-- please import it from there', DeprecationWarning)
+                  '-- please import it from there', mDeprecation)
     import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
     return mlab.distances_along_curve(X)
 
@@ -1712,7 +1713,7 @@ def path_length(X):
     """
     # deprecated from cbook in 0.98.4
     warnings.warn('path_length has been moved to matplotlib.mlab '
-                  '-- please import it from there', DeprecationWarning)
+                  '-- please import it from there', mDeprecation)
     import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
     return mlab.path_length(X)
 
@@ -1724,7 +1725,7 @@ def is_closed_polygon(X):
     """
     # deprecated from cbook in 0.98.4
     warnings.warn('is_closed_polygon has been moved to matplotlib.mlab '
-                  '-- please import it from there', DeprecationWarning)
+                  '-- please import it from there', mDeprecation)
     import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
     return mlab.is_closed_polygon(X)
 
@@ -1736,7 +1737,7 @@ def quad2cubic(q0x, q0y, q1x, q1y, q2x, q2y):
     """
     # deprecated from cbook in 0.98.4
     warnings.warn('quad2cubic has been moved to matplotlib.mlab -- please '
-                  'import it from there', DeprecationWarning)
+                  'import it from there', mDeprecation)
     import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
     return mlab.quad2cubic(q0x, q0y, q1x, q1y, q2x, q2y)
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
index 2c850b6fe523..7760b93794c0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/legend.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 from matplotlib.offsetbox import DraggableOffsetBox
 
 from matplotlib.container import ErrorbarContainer, BarContainer, StemContainer
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 import legend_handler
 
 
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent, handles, labels,
             # counter part is None.
             if localdict[k] is not None and localdict[v] is None:
                 warnings.warn("Use '%s' instead of '%s'." % (v, k),
-                              DeprecationWarning)
+                              mDeprecation)
                 setattr(self, v, localdict[k] * axessize_fontsize)
                 continue
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py b/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py
index 0cfe85e5531c..98fa6fba4022 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/mlab.py
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 ma = np.ma
 from matplotlib import verbose
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
 from matplotlib import docstring
@@ -1207,7 +1208,8 @@ def liaupunov(x, fprime):
         It also seems that this function's name is badly misspelled.
     """
 
-    warnings.warn("This does not belong in matplotlib and will be removed", DeprecationWarning) # 2009/06/13
+    warnings.warn("This does not belong in matplotlib and will be removed",
+                    mDeprecation) # 2009/06/13
 
     return np.mean(np.log(np.absolute(fprime(x))))
 
@@ -1339,7 +1341,7 @@ def save(fname, X, fmt='%.18e',delimiter=' '):
     for comma-separated values.
     """
 
-    warnings.warn("use numpy.savetxt", DeprecationWarning)  # 2009/06/13
+    warnings.warn("use numpy.savetxt", mDeprecation)  # 2009/06/13
 
     if cbook.is_string_like(fname):
         if fname.endswith('.gz'):
@@ -1426,7 +1428,7 @@ def load(fname,comments='#',delimiter=None, converters=None,skiprows=0,
            Exercises many of these options.
     """
 
-    warnings.warn("use numpy.loadtxt", DeprecationWarning)  # 2009/06/13
+    warnings.warn("use numpy.loadtxt", mDeprecation)  # 2009/06/13
 
     if converters is None: converters = {}
     fh = cbook.to_filehandle(fname)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/nxutils.py b/lib/matplotlib/nxutils.py
index 2f7b0bef1541..c91377c26ac3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/nxutils.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/nxutils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import warnings
 
 from matplotlib import path
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 def pnpoly(x, y, xyverts):
     """
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ def pnpoly(x, y, xyverts):
     warnings.warn(
         "nxutils is deprecated.  Use matplotlib.path.Path.contains_point"
         " instead.",
-        DeprecationWarning)
+        mDeprecation)
 
     p = path.Path(xyverts)
     return p.contains_point(x, y)
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ def points_inside_poly(xypoints, xyverts):
     warnings.warn(
         "nxutils is deprecated.  Use matplotlib.path.Path.contains_points"
         " instead.",
-        DeprecationWarning)
+        mDeprecation)
 
     p = path.Path(xyverts)
     return p.contains_points(xypoints)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/patches.py b/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
index fd134accda19..2cc9b431ac79 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/patches.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from matplotlib import docstring
 import matplotlib.transforms as transforms
 from matplotlib.path import Path
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 # these are not available for the object inspector until after the
 # class is built so we define an initial set here for the init
@@ -1274,7 +1275,7 @@ def __init__(self, xy, radius=5, **kwargs):
             import warnings
             warnings.warn('Circle is now scale free.  '
                           'Use CirclePolygon instead!',
-                          DeprecationWarning)
+                          mDeprecation)
             kwargs.pop('resolution')
 
         self.radius = radius
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py b/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
index 4b8072f412a7..8e6cc6806cff 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/widgets.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 from patches import Circle, Rectangle
 from lines import Line2D
 from transforms import blended_transform_factory
-
+from matplotlib import MatplotlibDeprecationWarning as mDeprecation
 
 class LockDraw:
     """
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ def onmove(self, event):
 class HorizontalSpanSelector(SpanSelector):
     def __init__(self, ax, onselect, **kwargs):
         import warnings
-        warnings.warn('Use SpanSelector instead!', DeprecationWarning)
+        warnings.warn('Use SpanSelector instead!', mDeprecation)
         SpanSelector.__init__(self, ax, onselect, 'horizontal', **kwargs)