What Would Brian Boitano Do?
What Would Brian Boitano Do?
Days before the Senate passed a fateful vote that set the stage for drilling through the heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Canadian government released the following statement: “We think it’s a big mistake and we will continue to pressure (Washington) so that it should not happen.” Has the Canadian government decided to undermine our national sovereignty in response to our ambassador threatening theirs? Not at all. Canada was actually calling on America to live up to its side of a bargain.
In 1987, the United States and Canada signed the Agreement on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, pledging to protect the Porcupine Caribou herd and the habitat it grazes. Additionally, the two countries agreed to “consult promptly if either the herd or its habitat were damaged or its migration routes disrupted.” And here is where Canada enters into the Arctic Refuge drilling debate: The drilling area is encompassed by lands covered in the agreement and “U.S. and Canadian scientific experts have concluded that any development in the coastal plain could pose a major threat to the calving and migration patterns of the herd.”
Though conservationism is a reason for Canada’s commitment to the herd and habitat, regard for human rights is at its core. The Gwich’in, a people indigenous to the region, have been telling both nations for years that the herd is “the central focus of their ancestral culture [and] more important still, they rely on the caribou for their very survival.”
The size of Canada’s share of the habitat is “more than double the acreage” of the United States’. Canada has been permanently protecting the area for nearly two decades and entreating us to do the same. It’s time we join with our neighbors up North, eh?
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Maybe it’s just me but I’m more concerned about reducing our dependence in foreign oil than indiginious people in Canada. I think they’ll be ok without the Carabou
March 17th, 2005 at 12:54 pm“OK without the caribou,” huh? Just what are they supposed to eat? Broccoli?
The U.S. could reduce more dependence on foreign oil through conserving energy than through drilling. But of course “conservatives” aren’t interested in “conserving,” are they?
March 17th, 2005 at 1:38 pmI think it is not only time to reduce dependence on foreign oil, but reduce our dependance on oil all together. there are many other ways to make a car go vroom then gasoline, and many of these alternatives could be produced at home. Passenger cars not using gasoline will reduce by alot ( would need to find statistics to support this) how much oil we use allowing our domestic oil porduction to cover in other areas. Power plants, home heating, etc.
March 17th, 2005 at 2:03 pmI agree with Terry and Krazny, and would add that drilling ANWR would only be a drop in the bucket as far as “reducing our dependence in foreign oil” goes anyway.
March 17th, 2005 at 3:23 pmSo why is it again that Canadians are leery about the US? Could it be that we continue to just do what we please without taking their interests into account and then get all pouty when they don’t just keep quiet and play along?
If I were Canadian I wouldn’t like Americans either.
March 17th, 2005 at 3:29 pmThey have already said that this drilling, if it goes through, will not have any major impact on oil production at all and will hardly effect the current oil prices right now. It’s just another attempt of Bush helping out all his oil buddies so they can make even more money. (remeber, oil is a heritage with this family). I don’t think it’s worth it all to proceed with this at the risk of pushing people and animals to extection. We’re already doing enough of that.
I agree with Kranzy on finding other means for alternative power sources…and they are out there. I’m on Canada’s side.
March 17th, 2005 at 3:31 pmDoesn’t Article VI of the Constitution open another flank on the battle to save ANWR? (Granted, we’re discussing an administration that used Legal Wizard Alberto Gonzales used a magic wand to disappear the Geneva Convention)
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Article6
Article VI
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
[not an int'l lawyer]
March 17th, 2005 at 6:21 pmLiving here in Alaska I have had the opportunity to talk with a lot of folks with a vested intrest and i can tell you that it is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. Killing hundreds of Alaskas wolves, ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. Representative Don Young of Alaska called me a “Ludite” for even thinking about challenging the “american way of life” by suggesting a change in the way Detroit does business. Heaven forbid that the Escalade owner or the Navigator pilot be reduced to driving something of less ego stature and that provided 2 to 3 times more miles per gallon than their “see me I’m a Big Shot” vehicle. You can argue till your blue in the face as the old saw goes but you wont change a repuglicans mind if it is about something that is going to effect their economic status quo. Kill all the animals that get in the way. Plunder the resources accuse anyone that thinks different of being a sicko tree huggin’ liberal. Just SHOW ME THE MONEY.
March 19th, 2005 at 7:55 pmמקלחונים
Our free מקלחונים downloads contain fully functioning versions of the מקלחונים software for you to experience all the features of the real product for 30 da…
September 4th, 2005 at 7:38 amקפה טרי
When you use us to write and send a press release for you about קפה טרי, you are guaranteed that it will be published. first you have to establish that it’s the javascript causing the קפה ט&#…
October 16th, 2005 at 5:40 amאל פסק און ליין
אל פסק און ליין is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of אל פסק און ליין and control technologies…
November 10th, 2005 at 11:44 amfree downloadable mp3 ringtones
Consider info polyphonic remember ringtones free downloadable mp3 ringtones
March 14th, 2008 at 7:31 pmonto phone ringtones
How trac phone ringtones onto phone ringtones
March 15th, 2008 at 3:02 am