AlaskaWild Update #268 - October 18, 2007
- Arctic Refuge Wilderness Bill to be Introduced in the Senate
- The First Voice of the Wild: Honoring Joel Connelly
Arctic Refuge Wilderness Bill to be Introduced in the Senate
In less than two weeks, Senator Lieberman (I-CT) will introduce a bill in the U.S. Senate that would permanently protect the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Wilderness. This important legislation reflects similar legislation in the House of Representatives, H.R. 39, introduced by Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN).
While similar bills have been introduced in the past, Sen. Lieberman’s introduction of the Arctic Refuge Wilderness bill marks the best opportunity in recent years to build momentum in the Senate towards protecting our last great wilderness. In the last Congress, 23 senators joined Sen. Lieberman in sponsoring the Arctic Wilderness legislation. This session, there is a good chance of exceeding that number.
Please take action and contact your senators. Urge them to cosponsor the Arctic Refuge Wilderness bill and help permanently protect our country’s last great wilderness.
In addition to providing vital habitat to thousands of caribou, migratory birds, and a threatened population of polar bears, the Arctic Refuge is considered sacred land to the Gwich’in, an indigenous people who depend on the area’s caribou for their subsistence needs.
The Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge also serves as the most important on-land denning site for America’s polar bears. As global warming continues to alter the arctic ecosystem and force polar bears on to land for greater periods of time, a protected Arctic Refuge becomes even more critical to the polar bear’s survival.
Over the past year, the government has conducted in-depth research on America’s two polar bear populations, bringing much needed attention to the state of America’s Arctic. The United States Geological Survey recently released nine more reports on polar bears, detailing new projections about population size and habitat as a result of climate change. In light of this new information, the government is accepting additional comments from the public until October 22 about the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to list the polar as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Please take action and submit a comment.
The First Voice of the Wild: Honoring Joel Connelly
On October 15, Alaska Wilderness League presented journalist Joel Connelly with the inaugural Voice of the Wild Award for his groundbreaking reporting on Alaska’s wilderness. The Voice of the Wild Award was created by the League to recognize individuals whose actions, commitment and contributions have led to greater awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving Alaska’s wilderness.
Currently a national correspondent, Connelly has been a Seattle Post-Intelligencer staffer for 28 years. His column about local and regional people, politics and public affairs has consistently shone a spotlight on the beauty of Alaska’s wild lands and the forces and policies that threaten to destroy this beauty.
The League presented Connelly with the award at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture on the University of Washington Campus. Over a hundred people attended the event, which was covered by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
The League’s chairman of the board, Tom Campion, introduced the night’s guest of honor, and Connelly accepted the award with grace, delivering a powerful and entertaining speech. He spoke of the power of Alaska’s wild lands as a symbol and noted that this wild, natural state presents us with one last opportunity to “do it right” and act as good stewards of our public lands.
After detailing Alaska’s connection and significance to the lower 48 states – and the Pacific Northwest in particular – Connelly shifted to his own relationship with the 49th state. He recalled his travels to Alaska, including one trip to the Arctic Refuge with Alaska Wilderness League board members Tom Campion and Mike Matz. With his journalistic attention to detail, he described the majestic scenery and the remarkable wildlife. He also casually mentioned his close encounter with a pair of musk oxen, one of Alaska’s most unique animals. Despite a sudden charge by the prehistoric-looking animals, all members of the party emerged unscathed.
Once again, Alaska Wilderness League would like to say thank you and congratulations to Joel Connelly, a true voice of the wild!
