Here I am in Arizona writing about the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Why am I doing this? Why am I concerned?
It's not just that the idea of cool beauty is appealing here in the desert. Its fate can affect global warming, which we do not need more of in Arizona.
There are two conflicting possibilities right now. First, Shell Oil is lobbying hard for the rights to drill right off the refuge shoreline. Second, the National Fish and Wildlife Service is getting ready to make recommendations, and may recommend that the refuge be classed a wilderness area.
Actually, Big Oil would love to open the whole coastal plain to drilling. It is protected right now as a wildlife refuge, but it would have much stronger protection as a wilderness area.
The Arctic Wildlife Refuge is our largest such refuge, and is home to the greatest number of species. The coastal plain especially is rich in wildlife, providing nesting grounds for species of birds from all states and from six continents. The Gwich’in Nation, whose name translates as People of the Caribou, call the Coastal Plain "the place where life begins," and it is a sacred place to them. Every year, over 100,000 caribou arrive to give birth. It is also home to polar bears, grizzly bears, musk ox, wolverines, among other species. Its waters are home to dolphins and whales.
The Sierra Club has a petition to sign urging the FWS to recommend the area as a wilderness area. I have signed up to collect 30 signatures, and would certainly like to collect them here. If you do take action there, you can say that I refered you - my real world name is Rachel Port. The League of Conservation Voters is urging people to write to Interior Secretary Salazar about this as well.
This is a chance to do something that could have real results soon. (The recommendation is to be decided next month.)