Erik Brooks's Blog, page 34

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 291 - 11.30.16

Bernadette Demientieff is one of many Arctic advocates on the Gwich'in Steering Committee. The quote above is from her appearance in the recently released video "The Refuge," which was put together by Patagonia, The Alaska Wilderness League, and the Gwich'in. Watch the video and sign the petition to support this conservation effort: http://www.patagonia.com/the-refuge.html

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 290 - 11.30.16

Senator from Virginia and recent Vice-Presidential candidate, Tim Kaine, is another voice that we need on the side of increased protections for Alaska's coastal plain. The question of resource development in the Arctic versus the contrasting impact on both the people, the landscape, and the over-arching cultural significance of this place, is exactly the kind of "sacred responsibility" that he is talking about above. Please support Senate bill s.2341 for a Wilderness designation for ANWAR's "1002." Thank you! #wearethearctic

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 289 - 11.29.16

And for another Senator from Delaware, Chris Coons. Although seemingly far afield, this polar bear cub and nesting Red Knot (a bird who migrates all the way to Tierra del Fuego via stops in Delaware Bay) find common ground in their Arctic upbringing. While depicting a benign and somewhat whimsical relationship in this instance, warmer arctic waters and less sea ice means that Red Knot eggs will become prime scavenge for bears and other Arctic predators when their normal prey is harder to find. Further south along various coastal migration routes, rising sea levels will also threaten traditional Red Knot habitats. Please Senator Coons, become a signatory of Senate bill s.2341 and help to support a Wilderness designation for ANWAR's coastal plain. Your concerns about expanding drilling operations into the Atlantic should be equally valid for currently unspoiled and untrammeled areas of the "1002." Alaska's coastal plain does NOT have to go down as another casualty of short-term thinking and heedless resource extraction at the expense of both the indigenous Gwich'in people, the wildlife that inhabit the landscape, and our greater common connection to this awe inspiring place. Thank you for your support!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 288 - 11.29.16

A nod today to Delaware's Senator, Tom Carper. Congratulations on your recent appointment to serve as the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee -- and hopefully we can get your support (and your Fighting Blue Hen spirit) behind bill s.2341 and a Wilderness designation for ANWAR's long disputed coastal plain. The time is now to shore up progress on climate actions the world over - and to hold our country accountable to both a clean environment AND the economic growth that is simultaneously possible. Alaska's unspoiled coastal plain does NOT have to go down as another casualty of short-term thinking and heedless resource extraction at the expense of both the indigenous Gwich'in people, the wildlife that inhabit the landscape, and our greater common connection to this awe inspiring place. Thank you for your support!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 287 - 11.28.16

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 286 - 11.27.16

Turns out I'm just not 100% awesome at keeping up on the post cards when faced with trips away from home and/or major holidays -- but anyway, in the absence of regular postings last week, a digitally created card for this cyber Monday. Hope that everyone had a fine Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends. Still picking at last year's whale carcass... thusly both a literal and figurative turn of phrase.

Harts Pass No. 324

"Hang Time" A Thanksgiving poem!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 285 - 11.20.16

Recent CONTINUED shrinking of the arctic sea ice -- even during the ever darker month of October -- is a fine example of how things are far from normal in our arctic atmosphere and oceans.

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 284 - 11.18.16

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 283 - 11.17.16

#wearethearctic #keepitintheground #saveourseaice