In November, Sen. Cory Gardner voted to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because the Alaskan delegation requested it.
By that logic, Coloradans could choose to extract resources in Rocky Mountain National Park; Arizonans could choose to mine uranium in the Grand Canyon. The senator doesn’t understand that “national” means ANWR belongs to all Americans, not just the 0.2 percent who live in Alaska.
The native population there, the Gwich’in people, oppose drilling in ANWR. Gardner also doesn’t understand that “wildlife refuge” means that American citizens set this land aside for wildlife to reproduce in peace – including the Porcupine caribou herd, polar bear, and many thousands of migratory birds. The “1002 Area” where drilling would occur is especially important to caribou calving. I suppose he’d be okay with drilling rigs next to our local maternity ward, too.
ANWR is 4.5 percent of the Alaskan landmass, far from any population centers, in a state with a density of 1.26 people per square mile. This refuge was not set aside as a fossil-fuel bank account for the government of Alaska.
When Senator Gardner voted on the tax bill, he is voted again to drill in ANWR. Tell him to protect our wildlife refuge!
Elaine Lyon
Durango
