Volume CXXXII, Number 5 October 18, 2002 f

Arctic Wildlife Refuge "Walk" hosted by Evergreens
ELLY PEPPER
CONTRIBUTOR

National Parks and Wildlife Refuges are formed to serve as areas of unspoiled nature where animals and plants can thrive without negative human influence and where people can enjoy the unindustrialized outdoors. If the government has set aside these pieces of nature for the benefit of animals, plants, and humans alike, why does it now insist that we interrupt these eco-systems for insignificant material benefit?

Currently, President Bush, whose policies to date have been extremely anti-environment, wishes to drill on one of the only unspoiled wildlife reserves left in the U.S. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to a variety of animals that are endemic only to this fragile tundra eco-system in Alaska. The vast coastal plain that constitutes the refuge is home to musk oxen, wolves, and many other animals. Polar bears travel to the refuge to make their maternity dens and 130 species of migratory birds fly there to nest. The refuge also serves as a calving ground for the 120,000 members of the Porcupine caribou herd. On the refuge, the caribou birth their young, sustaining their population. These caribou are an incredibly important resource for the Gwich'in Natives. This Alaskan tribe has traditionally hunted caribou for thousands of years and depends on the animals for their skins and meat.

If the Senate votes to allow drilling in the wildlife refuge, it will open up the last 5% of Alaska's undeveloped coastal plain. Not only will drilling in Alaska interrupt a fragile eco-system, it will not even benefit Americans in terms of oil. Drilling in the refuge will yield only 3.2 billion barrels of oil, which is equivalent to the amount of oil the US consumes in six months. Drilling in the refuge will not provide any kind of energy security, and industry analysts admit that if drilled, the oil would not even be available for another ten years. So, despite the fact that the U.S. government wishes to find sources of oil in the U.S., the Arctic Refuge is not a reasonable or a useful alternative.

Although, the amendment to drill on the refuge was rejected 54-46 by the Senate in April 2002, the new 2003 Congress will debate this bill once more. In hopes of publicizing the detrimental consequences of drilling in the refuge and voicing their concern, thousands of Americans have walked and biked across the country. The walk began in Seattle on August 23, mostly with members of the Caribou Commons Project and the Gwich'in Natives participating. Currently, these people are on the last leg of their three month, eight thousand mile journey to Washington, D.C. In the capital, the Seattle representatives will meet with groups that have walked from Saratoga Springs, Kansas City and other towns and cities to advocate the value of the Alaska Wildlife Refuge and to ask the Senate to protect it.

In conjunction with the "Walk to Washington," this Friday, in Brunswick, the Bowdoin Evergreens as well as other Bowdoin affiliated and community groups, will host a portion of the walk/bike. The walk will meet in downtown Brunswick at the Fort Andross (the huge brick building at the end of main street) at 4:30 p.m. and march up Main Street. Everyone is encouraged to make signs and banners to hold during the march. Following the march, at 7 p.m., Tim Leach, nature photographer, adventurer, and Arctic advocate will speak and present a slide show in the Beam Classroom in the Visual Arts Center. Tim's presentation is one of the 40 that he will give throughout the Northeast on his 1,600 mile bicycle trek. A member of the Gwich'in people will also speak to offer a cultural viewpoint for the protection of the Arctic Refuge's coastal plain. This presentation will promote more efficient energy solutions that will allow us to control pollution, cut back on greenhouse gases, and protect our environment.

The Bowdoin community as well as the greater public is strongly encouraged to participate in this important march. It is a key opportunity to voice our opposition to oil drilling in the ANWR, and the resulting degradation of this delicate ecosystem. The movement to protect the Alaska Wildlife Refuge is not, and should not, be fought only by the people and groups that we assume will fight every environmental battle for us. In the 2002 Senate vote, Republicans and Democrats united against oil drilling. Whether you value the environment for its beauty or its peacefulness, whether you camp and play in the outdoors, or whether you value nature for the simple fact that it exists, the Alaska Wildlife Refuge is worth preserving and worth fighting for. Even if you can't make the march, you can still work towards creating a more sustainable and energy efficient country by personally urging Congress to protect the Arctic Refuge by calling the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121, and by writing your senators and representatives (look up their addresses at www.house.gov or www.senate.gov). Your voice really does make a difference, so exercise your right!

For more information regarding the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, visit www.cariboucommons.com. For more information about the Brunswick walk on Friday October 18 at 4:30 p.m. from Fort Andross, or other events sponsored by the Evergreens, email Heather at hcolman@bowdoin.edu.