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“Environmentalist” Deceit on ANWR
Sierra Times ^ | 11/15/2005 | Andrew Walden

Posted on 11/15/2005 7:00:29 AM PST by FerdieMurphy

American petro-dollars continue flowing to terrorist-sponsoring oil producing states and American soldiers fight in what leftists call a “war for oil” in Iraq. In spite of this, Congressional debate on oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) is once again going down to the wire.

A group of 24 “moderate” Republican congressmen mostly from North East states joined Democrats on November 9 in stripping the House Budget Bill of a provision opening ANWR to drilling after hordes of home-district “environmental” activists lobbied them at their Washington offices. Senators, on the other hand, have voted 51-47 November 3 against the so-called “Cantwell Amendment” – thus keeping ANWR drilling authorization in their budget bill. The two conflicting versions now go to conference to be reconciled; President Bush has pledged to sign authorization for ANWR drilling should a bill reach his desk.

The same left-wing activists who claim that the liberation of Iraq is really a “war for oil” are doing everything they can to prevent oil and gas drilling in ANWR or anywhere else within the United States. Many in the media are busy asserting that Alaskan Natives oppose ANWR drilling and that drilling poses a grave danger to Alaskan caribou herds. Neither of these statements is true. A typical example of media deceit on ANWR is this quote from MSNBC:

“Congress could soon approve drilling in the refuge, a move opposed by environmentalists who along with Inupiat Eskimos also oppose offshore arctic development because of possible risks to migrating whales and other wildlife.”

This passage strongly implies that the Inupiat are opposed to drilling ANWR—this is false. The Inupiat oppose only offshore drilling, which is not currently technically feasible in the ANWR area. Their support for ANWR on-shore drilling is explained on the website of the city of Kaktovik, AK (population 286)--the only human settlement in ANWR:

“The essence of the Kaktovik position is that we would support oil exploration and development of the coastal plain provided we are given the authority and the resources to ensure that it is done properly and safely. Without the necessary provisions to ensure this protection, we would not.”

Leftists point to one of the very few native groups to oppose drilling—the Gwich’in—but do not note that they are located hundreds of miles south of ANWR on the other side of the Brooks Range. The majority of Gwich’in live in Canada. Another native group opposing oil drilling in ANWR is the native city of Point Hope, AK—700 miles from ANWR. The vast majority of Alaskan Native corporations support drilling as do the vast majority of Alaskans.

In Hawaii, where activists are working feverishly to reverse the two key pro-ANWR-drilling votes of Hawaii Democrat Senators Akaka and Inouye (pledged in exchange for Alaska Senators Stevens and Murkowski for the Akaka Bill, which would tribalize Native Hawaiians as Native Alaskans and American Indians), the Honolulu Weekly criticizes pro-drilling Alaskan Natives as “corporate”, denouncing one Native group as “the largest landowner in South East Alaska.” Other leftists denounce Hawaiian activists who accept Alaska-based funding. Apparently the only “real” Natives are the ones who line up with environmentalist dogma. In Alaska and Hawaii, ethnicity is being transformed into a political position.

Media accounts of ANWR feature photos of caribou and musk oxen frolicking in fields of wildflowers. The Artic slope looks like this for about one month of the year. A more realistic image of harsh ANWR environment can be found in the photo galleries of the Kaktovik, AK city website.

The Sierra Club claims that, “the harm to wildlife and this spectacular wilderness would be permanent and irreparable.” ANWR is 19 million acres – larger than Massachusetts, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut and Delaware combined. If oil is found, less than 2,000 acres would be directly affected.

Caribou herds in Alaska’s existing North Slope drilling areas have actually increased in size since drilling began. Caribou around the Prudhoe Bay oilfield increased from about 3,000 in the 1970s to over 32,000 today. The Porcupine herd, which occupies the ANWR areas currently blocked from drilling, decreased in the same period. If they were truly concerned about the caribou, logically the Sierra Club should be demanding more drilling, not less.

Since most Alaskan Native groups support drilling and wildlife actually are doing better in the drilling areas, what is the real "environmental" goal?

Their agenda is revealed in the “Earth Charter”, endorsed by the Sierra Club and many other so-called environmentalists, which reads: "the dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation.” They want to destroy the free enterprise system and replace it with a system that the Earth Charter says, “Promote(s) the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations” – in other words, socialism.

In order to destroy free enterprise, the eco-socialists are using false arguments about Alaskan natives, false images of life in ANWR and false claims about the effect of oil drilling on wildlife. Their real goal and its affect on the day-to-day life of millions of humans is contained in the preamble to the Earth Charter which reads: “when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more.”

In a first world context this leads to recession and unemployment. In a third world context this leads to poverty, disease, and starvation. The only way forward for humanity and the environment is through economic development and improved technology. Prosperity leads to improved human health and also to improved natural environments. Poverty damages both. By pushing poverty-creating policies, the so called “environmentalists” are actually damaging the environment. For them, socialism is more important than the environment they claim to protect.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: 109th; anwr; deceit; ecology; ecoping; environment; environmentalists; envirowhackos; greens; issues; pristinewilderness; republicrats; sierraclub
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To: saganite
If other conservatives sit on their hands in 2006 and that means minority status, in name as well as fact, then the message will have been sent loud and clear.

Cut off nose to spite face approach?

21 posted on 11/15/2005 8:11:29 AM PST by Mogollon (Contempt prior to investigation assures Everlasting Ignorance)
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To: Mogollon

I hear that argument from so many who are afraid of Democrats regaining control but frankly I can't see any difference between the parties right now. Putting Republicans back in minority status is the only way I can think of to remind them why we sent them there. A little wandering in the wilderness wouldn't be bad for them in my opinion.


22 posted on 11/15/2005 8:15:32 AM PST by saganite (The poster formerly known as Arkie 2)
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To: FerdieMurphy; All
See Also:

Blogger "Danegerous" includes a pic of the 'pristine wilderness' in his columns today

. DANEgerus Weblog . Colonic Conservatism for those whose ignorance tilts Left

 

ZULU
EnviroFascists
12718
Link rich explanation of
"Environmentalist" Deceit on ANWR
By... DANEgerus
Global Warming?!?
E-Mail
 
  The only "War for Oil" is the War on Oil by the SecularFundamentalists...
Many in the media are busy asserting that Alaskan Natives oppose ANWR drilling and that drilling poses a grave danger to Alaskan caribou herds. Neither of these statements is true.
...
The Inupiat oppose only offshore drilling, which is not currently technically feasible in the ANWR area.
...
Leftists point to one of the very few native groups to oppose drilling—the Gwich’in—but do not note that they are located hundreds of miles south of ANWR on the other side of the Brooks Range. The majority of Gwich’in live in Canada. Another native group opposing oil drilling in ANWR is the native city of Point Hope, AK—700 miles from ANWR. The vast majority of Alaskan Native corporations support drilling as do the vast majority of Alaskans.
...
Caribou herds in Alaska’s existing North Slope drilling areas have actually increased in size since drilling began. Caribou around the Prudhoe Bay oilfield increased from about 3,000 in the 1970s to over 32,000 today. The Porcupine herd, which occupies the ANWR areas currently blocked from drilling, decreased in the same period. If they were truly concerned about the caribou, logically the Sierra Club should be demanding more drilling, not less.
Same old Watermelons, Green on the Outside, Red on the inside:
Their agenda is revealed in the “Earth Charter”, endorsed by the Sierra Club and many other so-called environmentalists, which reads: "the dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation.” In other words, they want to destroy the free enterprise system and replace it with a system that “Promote(s) the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations” – in other words, socialism.

In order to destroy free enterprise, the eco-socialists are using false arguments about Alaskan natives, false images of life in ANWR and false claims about the effect of oil drilling on wildlife. Their real goal and its affect on the day-to-day life of millions of humans is contained in the preamble to the Earth Charter which reads: “when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more.”

 

23 posted on 11/15/2005 9:37:49 AM PST by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: mlc9852

but republicans have a way of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.like the Vikings in the Superbowls.


24 posted on 11/15/2005 10:11:18 AM PST by Rakkasan1 (Peace de Resistance! Viva la Paper towels!)
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To: saganite
You can do a bit of that by volunteering and donating directly to strong candidates that back conservative principles and letting the Party and the RNC know it.

I have been regularly discussing this w/the various phone bank workers who keep calling for my donations. The last one, this week, admitted that there are MANY Republican voters sending the same strong message and that the word is getting to the higher levels. I told him that if that is so, let's see some real results. I made a huge issue of the RINO critters and Senators and my anger that they get RNC funds and still do not support drilling, border control, spending cessation, etc, etc., let alone stand up to the left.

We'll see. It is the first remotely honest response I have received in the 6-8 months I have been responding in this manner.

But I will vote GOP. Clinton benefited the last time anyone sent a message and today, the issues are too important to let the left into power.........ever.
25 posted on 11/15/2005 6:58:18 PM PST by reformedliberal (Bless our troops and pray for our nation.)
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To: mlc9852
Not only make them do with out their cars for awhile, make them do without airline flights here, there, and everywhere. And do the same with the enviros.
Someone on another site was bragging about attending a Gore speech in California. I asked how much fuel they thought was used to get Gore there and all of the people there and regulate the temperature of the building, and also what did it accomplish? Obviously they wouldn't answer that.
26 posted on 11/15/2005 7:29:34 PM PST by midwyf
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To: FerdieMurphy

Maybe we should send the RINO herd to ANWR.


27 posted on 11/15/2005 9:08:10 PM PST by satchmodog9 ( Seventy million spent on the lefts Christmas present and all they got was a Scooter)
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