Politicians and oil companies are trying to convince the American people that all Alaskans support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This is not true. There are many of us that want to protect this national land for the sake of the wildlife, environment and future generations that depend on it.
The Arctic Refuge is home to over 250 types of wild animals that rely on this pristine land for their survival. In addition, the Gwich’in and Inupiat people rely on this land for their traditional subsistence living. This place is not just a symbol for wild places: it is a place where people and animals live.
We should not mortgage our future just to enrich the fossil fuel industry. The future of Alaskan wildlife and native peoples depend on this remarkable place, and Alaskans are increasingly speaking out against this threat.
This is not just about Alaska - the implications of drilling in this kind of protected land affects everyone in the country and the world.
Alaska is speaking up: protect our land, our wildlife and our people.
Jonathan Ross
Anchorage
