Free Republic

... Kivalina, an Inupiat Eskimo village of 400 perched on a barrier island north of the Arctic Circle, is accusing two dozen fuel and utility companies of helping to cause the climate change that it says is accelerating the island’s erosion. Blocks of sea ice used to protect the town’s fragile coast from October on, but “we don’t have buildup right now, and it is January,” said Janet Mitchell, Kivalina’s administrator. “We live in anxiety during high-winds seasons.” The village wants the companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell Oil, and many others, to pay the costs of relocating to the mainland, which...

KIVALINA, Alaska -- It's Alaska so of course we sometimes do things a little differently -- including Santa Claus, who this weekend used a special sleigh to reach children in the farthest reaches of our state. Of course, at 80 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Kivalina is closer to Santa's neighborhood than a lot of communities. Still, anytime the big guy makes an appearance it's news -- especially among the children. On Saturday Santa arrived here with a little help from the Alaska National Guard's "Operation Santa Claus," and everyone wanted to see the Christmas magic for themselves. "Ever...