The Arctic Refuge

[tmcg]

From the League of Conservation Voters:

President Bush and his pro-drilling allies in Congress are using a sneaky backdoor trick to pass their controversial proposal to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by inserting it in the must-pass federal budget bill. But Sen. Maria Cantwell from Washington State has proposed an amendment to strip Arctic drilling language from the federal budget.

There is no time to waste; a vote on the Senate floor will take place as early as TODAY. It's very important that your Senators hear from as many constituents as possible.

A lot is riding on this decision. This incomparable wilderness is home to more than 250 animal species, including wolves, grizzlies, caribou, and millions of migrating birds. Unfortunately, it is also the target of an intense, relentless lobbying campaign by the oil industry.

It takes two seconds, tops, to sign the roll call at Kerry's Website.

Sending a letter via the League of Conservation Voters to urge senators to vote for the Cantwell amendment takes maybe five seconds, and a little more to personalize it. They also urge people to call their senators at 1-888-894-5325 to reinforce the message; that's maybe five minutes.


Here are the talking points from Kerry's Website:

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's 19 million acres comprise one of the last places on earth where an intact expanse of arctic and sub arctic lands remains protected.

Drilling in the Arctic Refuge can't make even a small dent in meeting America's energy needs. U.S. Geological Survey scientists estimate that there is very likely only enough oil to supply America's needs for six months. And oil companies admit that, even that, won't be available for at least 10 years.

An irreplaceable natural treasure, the Arctic Refuge is home to caribou, polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves, golden eagles, snow geese and more. Millions of other birds use the Arctic Refuge to nest and as a critical staging area on their migratory journeys.

Of course, the Arctic Refuge supports more than wildlife. For a thousand generations, the Gwich'in people of Northeast Alaska and Northwest Canada have depended on it and lived in harmony with it. To them, the Arctic Coastal Plain is sacred ground.

The League of Women Voters has good background information and suggestions for taking action here.

Comments

[mr-zeugma.livejournal.com]

I'm no woman voter (or at least I don't think I am...)

But I responded to this and a couple of other issues (just this week alone) which have drawn the ire of the NRDC...

I've just spent the past two hours making calls and writing/sending off email and snail mail to the various powers that be in a vain hope they'll listen to the cries of the people.

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

Glad you did!

[ogre-san.livejournal.com]

I sent mine but I'm not optimistic. My own senator is your basic rah rah Republican who only occasionally has flashes of sense and sanity, and almost never on environmental issues. Wouldn't want to be accused of being a tree-hugger or anything like that.

[terrymcgarry.livejournal.com]

Just where your voice is most needed. :)