GWICHIN PEOPLE NEED YOUR HELP THIS WEEK!
* * PROTECT THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE * *
A new effort by BP, ARCO and their friends in Congress to develop the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil threatens the 160,000 member
Porcupine River caribou herd, and the future of our Gwich'in Indian people.
We are caribou people. We are among the most traditional Native peoples
today. We rely on the caribou coming every year for our subsistence and
way of life. It has been this way for a thousand generations. Now they
want oil development in the exact place the caribou use every year to give
birth and nurse their young. We need your help THIS WEEK to protect the
caribou and and give our communities a future.
We face a two-step attack. First, by the end of this week the US Senate
and House of Representatives will vote on the "Budget Resolution" that
includes more than a $1 billion in income over five years from selling oil
leases in the Arctic Refuge. The second step is actual authorization of
leasing. Because of how the budget rules work, the Budget Resolution sets
revenue targets for the different committees. This will put tremendous
additional pressure on Congressional committees to authorize Arctic Refuge
oil development, since few alternative sources can generate that much
revenue. (The $1billion figure is wildly inflated, but once accepted, it
sets the revenue target alternatives must meet.) We expect authorizing
legislation will be considered in June or July.
Please contact your Senator today! If you can do more, contact your
representative too.
The capitol switchboard telephone number is 202-224-3121.
Please ask your Senator or Representatives to:
1. Oppose oil leasing revenues from the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge in the Budget Resolution; and
2. Please co-sponsor the wilderness bill (S428 for Senators, and
HR1000 in the House of Representatives.) Wilderness protection is
the best way to protect the caribou birthplace, which is sacred to
us. Please tell them in your own words why they should not
sacrifice the caribou and priceless wilderness for less than 200
days of oil.
This is a very serious threat to develop the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. Our normal avenues of defense are not as available to us in this
case--the budget process cannot be "filibustered" in the Senate and is very
unlikely to be vetoed by the President because of all the thousands of
provisions it will contain besides this one opening the Refuge.
Your Representatives and Senator need to hear from you now. Please
distribute this Action Alert to as many people as possible. If you have
access to other computer bulletin boards, please cross post this alert.
For more information on how you can help with Congress, call the Alaska
Wilderness League at 1-800-322-5205 or send e-mail to <awl@igc.apc.org>.
For information about the Gwich'in, write:
Gwich'in Steering Committee
P.O. Box 202786
Anchorage AK 99520
If you would like to get on our e-mail alert list, send your e-mail address
to <gwichin@econet.apc.org>.
Mashi choo' (thank you very much)
/s/ The Gwich'in Steering Committee