More of the Arctic Threatened by Oil Drilling
Current mood: annoyed

Alaska Wilderness League sends out great bi-weekly email updates.  Below is one of their blurbs from the email that went out last night. 

It's about the Chukchi Sea, one of the many parts of the Arctic Ocean that the Bush administration wants to drill for oil.  (Click here to sign up for these updates.)  Unfortunately, it's not great news:

Bush Administration Set to Offer Chukchi Sea to Oil Industry

Wednesday, January 2, 2008, the Bush administration moved a step closer in its bid to open the sensitive arctic waters of Alaska's Chukchi Sea to the oil and gas industry.  Issuing its final notice of intent in the Federal Register, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) officially scheduled its long-planned oil and gas lease sale for February 6, 2008.  Through the lease sale, the administration will offer nearly 30 million acres of the Chukchi Sea to the highest bidder.

Although highly controversial, the MMS's move did not come as a surprise.  The Bush administration has continued to promote an overly-aggressive development plan both onshore and offshore Alaska.  The latest plans to open the Chukchi Sea to drilling were approved even after the administration's own environmental impact statements highlighted a 35% chance that industrial activity in the Chukchi Sea would produce a major oil spill of at least 1,000 gallons.  This risk, needless to say, would be in addition to more "minor" spills, routine operational discharges, and substantial noise disturbances.
 
The threat of oil and gas development comes at a time when the Chukchi Sea is experiencing increasingly serious effects of global warming.  Amongst other startling findings, the scientific community has already noted that summer sea ice cover reached a record low in 2007 and that American polar bears – whose primary habitat includes the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas – could be extinct by 2050.

This week the Bush administration was supposed to release its final decision on the proposal to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  The Fish and Wildlife Service, however, announced on Monday that the decision would be delayed for a couple of weeks, if not months.  The coincidence of the timing is hard to ignore.  Without federal protections for the polar bear – which could have extended to the population's primary habitat in the Chukchi Sea – the administration is now free to continue its pursuit of oil and gas drilling offshore Alaska.

Thankfully, Congress has shown an interest in fighting for protection of the polar bears and the Chukchi Sea.  A group of senators led by Senator Kerry (D-MA) recently called for a "time out" from oil and gas leasing in Alaska's arctic waters.  Before we can even consider the Bush administration's plans, they contend that we must better understand how the arctic is changing and how drilling would further impact this sensitive area and its threatened wildlife populations.  The House of Representatives took a similar stand last year, and when this year's Congressional session opens they might be willing to act again.  Please take action and ask your members of Congress to oppose Lease Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea and to protect the polar bear's arctic habitat.

10:15 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Wow
Current mood: embarrassed

Holy cow!

I want to thank everyone for all of the birthday wishes. Never could I have guessed that you folks would have shown me so much love. I really, really appreciate it. You guys are the best; you even made my tundra blush with embarrassment.

If you want to make sure that I have many more birthday (and a lot of you said that you did) make sure to let your Senators and Representative know! The key legislation is out there, and you folks just always need to remember that you have a voice!

Thanks again, and have a good one, everybody.

8:35 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Getting in touch with Washington
Current mood: cheerful

In my last blog, I urged everyone to contact their Senators and Representative to let them know of your support for me. Here is a way you can do it!

Dear Senator...

Dear Representative...

Thanks so much, everyone. And thanks to Derek, who called Rep. Young's office for me. Let 'em have it, Derek!

7:16 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but...
Current mood: bouncy

...I need your help again.

Sen Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has introduced his Arctic Refuge Wilderness bill in the Senate with 25 co-sponsors!

Make sure to take the time to tell your Senators that you support this bill, and urge them to support it too.

And don't forget the House bill, H.R. 39, which tries to protect me as well. The House already has lots of co-sponsors, but we can still use lots more, so talk to your representative today.

Thanks everybody. I'll be talking to you all soon. Oh, and I want to give a big shout-out to all of my new MySpace friends. I wouldn't be here without your support!

10:17 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Puttin on the Ritz
Current mood: touched

So I know my MySpace friends pretty well, so I have a pretty good idea about what you've all been thinking: "Isn't there a way I can support the Refuge and look awesome doing it?"

You asked, and Patagonia came through. Check out the t-shirts they are selling to benefit me .

Of course, a big thanks goes out to Patagonia for doing so much. And thanks to anyone else who supports me while looking stylish!

11:44 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Kudos to my Buddy
Current mood: jealous

You all know that I love my buddy Tongass, so I thought I'd embarrass her by showing off what someone wrote about her on the Alaska Wilderness League hompage.

What can I say? People love this chick. And I'll admit it--she's pretty kickin' for a 100-year-old. I just hope you all love me as much...

6:32 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Here Here!
Current mood: thankful

Everyone knows how much I love to talk about my friends. There are a whole lot of people who really help me out, and I always want to make sure they get their props. Today, I want to propose a toast to my pal Joel Connelly of the Seattle P-I.

Read about what Joel has done for me and I'm sure you'll understand why we are so tight.

So everyone raise your classes to Joel, and to all the other folks who have been so good to me. I couldn't be here without you!

12:03 PM - 1 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Wilderness Week
Current mood: energetic

Activists descended on Washington, D.C. last week to meet with representatives and senators and lobby for Alaskan issues. It ocurred to me today that, "Hey! I'm an Alaskan issue!" So I'd like to give a big shout-out to everyone who came to D.C. to help me out.

The activists got the Congressmen ready for upcoming legislation, so stay tuned for updates to come when any bills get introduced. In the mean time, I'll be sitting tight and pretty, waiting to fight for my survival!

Thanks for the help everybody!

7:14 AM - 0 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

More Cool Info
Current mood: excited

When I waxed on about myself on here, I mentioned the good folks at the  Alaska Wilderness League who help me so much.

If anyone wants to know more about my pals and what they do and meet even more of my friends, you can check out the Facebook group for AWL.

Stop by, say hi, and let me know what you think!

Oh, and thanks to everybody who wished good ol' Tongass a happy birthday. The old gal really appreciates it. Here's to 100 more!

10:01 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Happy Birthday, Buddy
Current mood: energetic

Hey there! Sorry I haven't been posting much lately; life's pretty busy when you're big and beautiful.

I do have some good news, though. One of my good friends, Tongass , is turning the big 1-0-0 this year. Yeah, she might be old and all, but she definitely still knows how to party.

If you want to get in on the fun, check out what some of my other buddies have been doing . Everyone's invited (we've got plenty of room to celebrate), so make sure you get in on the party and let the old gal know how you feel about her.

That's all for now, but I'll be back soon with more news. While I'm gone, don't forget about Wilderness Week . I might have a lot of friends, but I always need your help!

Catch you soon...

7:16 AM - 0 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment