In realtive terms, yes Anwar's oil reserve is miniscule. The US contains less than 3% of the world's total oil reserve, while at the same time being the world's greatest consumer. As long as we are dependent on oil, we will continue be held hostage by OPEC and the middle east oil producing nations. The most optimistic estimates target Anwar's total reserve at providing perhaps, 6 months to 1 year's worth of energy with the country running at full capacity. Most of Alaska's north slope has already been set aside for oil development as it is and oil from ANWAR's coastal plain will do little to reduce the U.S. need for oil from other countries. We cannot drill our way out of the energy canundrum.
It's sad to see how the "environmental movement" has become foder for jokes by such notable, enlightened conservative commentators such as Rush Limbaugh, who is quick to label us as "environmental whackos." (Apparently the earth is totally self sustaining, according to Mr. Limbaugh, no matter how great our pillaging, plundering and polluting.) No Mr. Limbaugh, I am not a tree hugging, granola eating, sandal wearing nut. I care about the air that I breathe, the water that I drink and the land I love.
In fact, the father of the environmental movement, the nation's first notable conservationist, was also one of our greatest presidents, the progressive Republican Teddy Roosevelt.
In his seven years as President, Teddy Roosevelt increased the national forests by 148 million acres, added five national parks, 1.4 million acres of national monuments, 400,000 acres of wildlife refuges, and 1.5 million acres of land reclaimed by irrigation. The amount of land protected by Roosevelt's conservationist work is close to the size of Texas--more than 151 million acres.
Even before becoming President, as Gov. of NY, his efforts at protecting and conserving our wildlife and undeveloped land, was without precedence.
"In the 1890s, public confidence in the state’s forest commission and its attitude toward conservation was particularly low. Laws were circumvented and land set aside in the Catskills and Adirondacks as forest preserve was being sold to private developers. In 1894, the Legislature enacted the "forever wild" clause in the state constitution and the efforts of Governor Roosevelt, including his reform of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission, began meaningful change.
In addition to strengthening the forest commission, Governor Roosevelt won approval of environmental reforms including preserving the Palisades against development, preventing the dumping of sawmill waste into streams of the Adirondacks and Catskills. He was vehement about concerns for pollution of the state’s waterways, many of which had become, in his words, "little more than open sewers." In this regard, he issued an order prohibiting the discharge of untreated sewage, domestic waste or manufacturing refuse into Saratoga Lake or its tributaries which flowed into the Hudson River because of potential affect on drinking water. He also ordered the Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa to install sewage treatment facilities and forced tanneries and pulp mills in the area to treat their waste before discharging them into the waters."
The environmental movement was apparently, spearheaded by a REPULICAN! Having lived on the banks of the Hudson Riverm ost of my life, I was one of those who directly benefited from his efforts to preserve and protect the magnifcent Palisade Cliffs. If you've ever had the pleasure and privilege of visiting any of a number of our magnificent Natl. Parks, thank Teddy Roosevelt!
And thanks to a Democratic President, Pres. John Kennedy, 43,500 acres of seashore, dunes, marsh have been preserved and protected for all time. Now I too, am assured that this magnicent land, the Cape Cod National Seashore, will forever be free from the pollution and exclusionary ramifications of multi million dollar "trophy homes." I may walk and comb the same beaches and shoreline as Thoreau, who was inspired to write some of his most inspirational works, here on Cape Cod.
So it seems that environmentalism cannot be dissmissively labeled a liberal, left wing issue. Men and women of both political persuasions have historically put the health of the earth at the forefront. It is an issue held dear by all who wish to respect and protect one of God's greatest gifts to us all, this magnificent earth.
Yes Leslie, the environment is right there near the top of MY list of "moral values issues," a topic that sadly, garned little if any attention during the campaign. Much to his credit, it was a Republican Pres., Pres. Nixon, who set into the motion and made law, the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act whose regulations, strict guidelines and standards are now, after 30 years of progress, in peril of being rolled back by the Bush administration. In fact it was the Nixon administration which created the Environmental Protection Agency. on 1970 by Exectutive Order.
From the EPA's website...
"In 1970 President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by Executive Order. An executive order is an order issued by a government's chief executive, intended to give attention to a certain law or body of laws and directs federal agencies how to implement them. The formation of EPA marked a dramatic change in national policy regarding the control of air pollution. Whereas previous federal involvement had been mostly in advisory and educational roles, the new EPA emphasized stringent enforcement of air pollution laws. The EPA was assigned the daunting task of repairing the damage already done to the natural environment and establishing new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner environment a reality. A few weeks later the United States Congress passed the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1970. The passage of the CAAA of 1970 marked the beginning of modern efforts to control air pollution".
We wring our hands and pull out our hair, worrying about the harazdous affects of "second hand smoke" upon our health while we seem far less than concerned about the toxins being dumped into our waterways, released into our atmoshphere by industy!!!
If you'd liketo learn more about the Clean Air Act, the Bush administration's efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act and what you can do to about it, click here...Save the Clean Air Act
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