The Arctic Refuge Debacle: Keeping Strong in Tough Times

The following message is from Stephen Capra, Executive Director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance . If you attended Albuquerque's DFA-DFNM Meetup earlier this month, you'll remember Steve's moving presentation and film on preserving Otero Mesa. I hope you'll support the important work of his group by becoming a member and perhaps donating some volunteer hours. Every dollar and every hour helps.

Yesterday, was a sad, but far from conclusive vote on the fate of America's crown jewel, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I was in Washington when the final votes were counted and I can tell you that many people like myself who have worked on this issue for over 20 years, were disappointed, but realized that the fight is far from over. Still, sitting in the Wayburn wilderness house just a few blocks from the capitol with about one hundred other arctic activists it was a sobering moment that spoke to the clear ideological divide that we now confront.

The vote on the Arctic was not about oil, but about the power of the Bush-Cheney Administration and punishment to the conservation community that has fought this Administration for the past five years trying to hold on to the many pieces of conservation legislation and wildlands that have been the cornerstone of our quality of life in America.

As the Executive Director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, it could logically be argued by you as members that the Arctic Refuge is not our organizations priority. That would be correct. Our mission remains the protection, creation and restoration of wilderness in New Mexico. But sometimes there are places of such special value, that they come to symbolize what our movement and commitment are all about, the Arctic Refuge is just such a place. The Arctic issue will not be our organization’s focal point, but nor will we stay silent or give up on this special place.

Like many of you, I have never been to the Arctic Refuge. But that did not stop me from walking from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide in 1990 to raise awareness and speak to groups about protecting the refuge. It has not stopped people from riding bikes across America, even fat tire beach bikes to say this place must be protected. It has not stopped school kids from raising thousands of dollars to fight development. It has not stopped the Gwitch’in people for fighting for their way of life. It has not stopped people from following the great herds of caribou on their migration, filming them and sharing their unique perspective, mosquitoes and all!

From grade school kids to senior citizens, from former Supreme Court Justice William O-Douglas to Marty and Olaus Murie there continue to be generations who love and have fought to protect this wild place. I am writing today to say the fight is not over. I am asking for you to roll up your sleeves and make sure our very important New Mexico delegation understands how important this debate is to you. Make sure papers around the state understand how important this debate is to you.

In order for drilling to start, the Senate will have to pass a budget, something they have not done in the past five years. The facts surrounding drilling in the refuge continue to make clear there is no logic in moving forward. Many questions about who would get the oil and why we are not moving towards a serious energy plan, that focuses on alternative energy solutions for America continue. But if we sit by idly, this Administration and their friends in the oil and gas industry will push forward in the Arctic and ultimately our wildest New Mexico lands. The time has come to say NO!

Flying back from Washington last night I reflected on how the Arctic Refuge had so personally affected my life and so many others. Like the Great Plains of old, this magical place still holds wildlife in numbers and species that remain hard to comprehend. When I think of plans to drill the Refuge, I am reminded of the decision to build Glen Canyon dam back in the early sixties. Many have wondered if just a few more years had passed, would the powers that be have ever built it? Was the gain in power generation, worth the loss of such wildness? For many the answer is clearly no.  Today, we are confronted with another Glen Canyon type saga; only the amount of power generation is likely far less. With the Arctic Refuge, my hope is that we can all look back and say we made the right choice for future generations- we chose wildness.

Please get involved and let our Senators hear from you today, meet with them on their annual recess and send a letter to the editor of your local paper. We are setting up an informal group of volunteers to be involved on issues related to the Arctic Refuge, if you are interested contact Nathan Newcomer at Nathan@nmwild.org.

Many thanks for your continued support.