The next climate disaster

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Take action to the defend the Arctic Refuge from oil and gas drilling ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌

Dear PAOV,

I’ll keep it short and simple: The Trump Administration wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development, and we need your help to stop this.

TAKE ACTION NOW

What does this have to do with Canadians? The answer is simple - a lot!

Canada’s federal government, the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and the Gwich’in Tribal Council are all concerned about Trump’s plan because it would threaten the heart of the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. This area is known as the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Porcupine caribou are important for a few reasons. For one, the Porcupine Caribou Herd is one of Canada’s few healthy remaining caribou herds. Caribou are also a critical food source for the Gwich’in people on both sides of the border. Canada even has an international agreement with the US on caribou management and protecting this important species.

But of course, our friends in the White House have other plans. Will you take action to defend the Arctic Refuge from oil and gas drilling?

We’ve reviewed an environmental impact statement released by the Trump Administration, that outlines the impacts of oil and gas drilling in this amazing place. Of course, this environment review sucks. Is it any surprise that the Trump Administration is cutting corners, ignoring science, and undermining the public’s voice with this process?

To make matters worse, Trump has completely ignored the voice of the Gwich’in people by failing to take into account Gwich’in traditional knowledge and human rights. These fierce and passionate activists are not only fighting for their way of life, they’re fighting for their very survival.

Join me in defending the Arctic Refuge from oil and gas development.

I won’t lie. It seems like an uphill battle. We know that the Trump administration will pursue an oil and gas agenda at almost all costs. But we also know that not all staff and agencies are as excited about drilling. In fact, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has major concerns about the impacts of oil and gas development to the fish and wildlife in the area, especially to Porcupine caribou and endangered polar bears. We also know that the majority of the United States public wants to keep the Arctic Refuge just the way it is. And of course, Canada is also against this proposal.

We know that it can be easy to feel discouraged when our neighbors to the south (and northwest) have a President who blatantly disregards science and ignores human and civil rights. But we also know that it’s times like this that motivate the usually unmotivated or apathetic to take action. We know that it’s times like this that bring people together to create the long lasting systemic and transformational change that we need to tackle this climate crisis.

History has shown that when people are united and mobilized, it leads to large-scale, transformative change. None of us can do everything; but all of us can do something - and that is exactly what it’s going to take.

Click here to stand with the Gwich’in and protect the Arctic Refuge.

In solidarity,
Kiersten Iwai
Climate and Digital Campaigner


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