Tuesday, 14th of February, 2012
PRESS ADVISORY
CONTACT: Gwen Dobbs, Alaska Wilderness League, 202-266-0418
Should the President Trust Shell to Drill in the Arctic Ocean this Summer?
Join the boat tour to see the drill rig
SEATTLE – As President Obama makes his way to Seattle this week, Alaska Wilderness League is inviting all interested press to jump onboard a harbor tour of the Kulluk, the floating drill rig that Royal Dutch Shell plans to drill in the Beaufort Sea right off the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this summer.
Tour participants will travel via boat to Vigor Shipyards in order to view the Kulluk – which Shell has proclaimed is in drill-ready condition, despite obvious signs of corrosion, a lack of necessary upgrades and little public information about the ship’s current condition. Meanwhile, on board, experts will be available to discuss why President Obama must stop Shell from moving forward with drilling in the Arctic’s Chukchi and Beaufort Seas – home to the Inupiat people, polar bears, ice seals, walrus, millions of birds and much more.
Despite reports of numerous upgrades to prepare the Kulluk for drilling in the Arctic’s extreme conditions, Shell has failed to make any of this information public. Tour participants will have an opportunity to see for themselves: Is this monstrous rig, that hasn’t drilled a well in 18 years, ready for sea ice up to 25 feet thick, hurricane-force storms and sub-zero temperatures?
The Obama administration has made a series of decisions to allow Shell to move forward with the most aggressive Arctic drilling plan in history, without a proven plan to clean up an oil spill in the Arctic’s extreme conditions, and with limited information about this abundant, fragile marine environment. However, President Obama still has the ability to stop the next oil spill disaster by not allowing Shell to drill this summer.
WHAT: Boat Tour to view the Kulluk Drill Rig
WHO: Members of the press, Captain Jerry Adams, Layla Hughes, Senior Program Officer – Oil, Gas and Marine Shipping for the World Wildlife Fund-US Arctic Program
WHERE: Bell Harbor Marina, Bell Street Pier/Pier 66, 2203 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121
Meet at the fountain that is shaped like a fish, which is directly outside of the marina’s gate. The gate will be locked and Captain Jerry Adams will meet the tour’s participants there to let the group in.
WHEN: Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 9:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING: Closest parking garage is located at Pier 66 Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal Parking, 9 Wall Street, Seattle, WA 98121. There is also metered parking available in front of the marina. Directions to the marina are available online here.
OTHER: Rain or shine – please bring rain jackets and warm hats.
Friday, 20th of January, 2012
Marine Stewardship Council losing ground with wild salmon fisheries
http://thecordovatimes.com/article/1203marine_stewardship_council_losing_ground_with
by Margaret Bauman
Eight major primary processors of wild Alaska salmon are phasing out their financing of the Marine Stewardship Council salmon certification program, prompting a decision by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation to continue its support only through Oct. 29.
The eight processors, Trident Seafoods, Icicle Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Peter Pan Seafoods, Alaska General Seafoods, Kiwk’pak Fisheries, E&E Foods, and North Pacific Seafoods, account for about 70 percent of the wild salmon harvest processed in Alaska.
“They have given us notice they will support the MSC program for Alaska salmon only through October of 2012, when the current certificate expires,” said James Browning, executive director of AFDF.
AFDF made its decision at a board meeting on Jan. 16, Browning said.
Individual reasons from the companies for the phased pullout are confidential, he said. “MSC has offered independent affirmation of what the Alaska industry and fishery managers have held since statehood; that Alaska salmon fisheries are sustainably managed. However, the majority of these processors now feel it is time to redirect their resources toward a broader marketing message,” he said.
Kerry Coughlin, MSC Americas regional director, responded that MSC regrets that the Alaska salmon industry is withdrawing from the assessment underway for a potential third certification period. “While there are other sources of MSC-certified salmon, Alaska was an early and important leader in the MSC program,” Coughlin said. “We hope that this fishery will re-enter assessment, maintain the market advantage of MSC certification, and continue to showcase their sustainability.”
It is important to emphasize that the transition away from MSC certification of Alaska salmon in no way affects the ongoing MSC certification of Pacific cod in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands or the Gulf of Alaska, Browning said. As fishery client of record for those Pacific cod fisheries, AFDF will continue to represent its industry sponsors and take all action necessary to maintain certification and recertification of the Pacific cod fisheries without restriction, he said.
AFDF is the current fishery client for the salmon harvest in Alaska, representing a total of 35 participants in the third annual surveillance audit of that fishery, Browning said.
A spokesperson for Copper River Seafoods, which is also a participant, said that CRS would have no official comment on this action at this time.
Browning said all Alaska salmon harvested during the 2012 fishing season will remain eligible to carry the MSC logo and be sold as certified as long as the participating entities maintain valid MSC chain of custody certification. However, the second recertification that AFDF just initiated with Intertek Moody Marine would need to be completed in order to continue the MSC certification beyond Oct. 29, he said.
The issue of MSC certification, which represents to international seafood buyers that these fisheries are sustainable, has long been a controversial one for some major processors, who said that Alaska’s constitution mandates that the state’s fisheries must be sustainable and that MSC certification should not be needed. Others maintain that the MSC certification is needed to get their fish into some substantial wholesale and retail markets.
AFDF was asked to take over the clientship for MSC certification of Alaska salmon in December 2009 after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced in July of 2008 that they would no longer carry out the duties required of the client. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute considered picking up the clientship, but voted in December 2009 to delay a final decision.
At the industry’s request, AFDF investigated the level of support on the part of the primary salmon processors and found virtually unanimous industry support for retention of MSC certification for Alaska salmon and AFDF became the client in February 2010.
“Clearly the level of industry support for MSC certification has changed substantially since 2010,” Browning said. “After receiving letters from the seven processors, the AFDF board decided on Jan. 16 that lacking substantial industry support to continue MSC salmon certification, they were compelled to instruct AFDF to proceed only to maintain MSC certification through Oct. 29.
“We understand the course change by Alaska salmon processors and the subsequent vote by the AFDF board may come as a surprise to other Alaska salmon procesors and members of the Alaska-North Pacific commercial fishing industry,” Browning said. “However, the message from major sponsors was clear and swift board action was necessary to resolve the issue and quell speculation and confusion in the salmon market.”
Marine Stewardship Council website
Statement by Edmund LaMacchia (Whole Foods VP of Global Procurement):
Copper River Sockeye Salmon is one of WFM's most sought after wild fish. Copper River's early slot in the season combined with it's exceptional culinary quality and beautiful flesh color make it a corner stone of our spring season seafood marketing program when price allows. In addition the integrity of the fishery as demonstrated by it's Marine Stewardship Council certification aligns with our customers desire for responsibly raised or caught seafood. Our growth on Salmon is primarily driven by seasonal availabilities. Normal seasonal conditions our MSC certified Alaskan salmon growth exceeds 20% annually and out paces our non-certified products by 10%.
Friday, 18th of November, 2011
Sarah Agnus James, Chairperson, Gwich’in Steering Committee
Testimony before the House Committe on Natural Resourses
Oversight Hearing on "ANWR: Jobs, Energy and Deficit Reduction"
Mr.Chairman and Members of the Committee:
My name is Sarah James.
I am Neetsa’ii Gwich’in from Arctic Village, Alaska, and I serve as Chairperson of the Gwich’in Steering Committee. Arctic is the northernmost Indian community anywhere. Only the Inuit live north of us – along the Arctic coast.
The Gwich’in are caribou people. Caribou is our main food, it is in our tools and clothes and songs and stories and beadwork. We have lived right here with the caribou for hundreds of generations and will stay right far into the future. There are maybe 7,000 of us, mostly living in 15 small communities and villages scattered across northeast Alaska and the northwest corner of Canada. We are among the most remote and most traditional people in America.
The Gwich’in Steering Committee was created by resolution of our Chiefs in 1988 at the first gathering of all our people in more than 100 years – the Gwich’in Niintsyaa. Our job is to speak with one voice for all our Gwich’in people on the caribou issue. The Chiefs gave us two directions:
- to tell the world about the caribou and the Gwich’in way of life, and what oil development would mean for the Gwich’in; and
- to do it in a good way.
So, Mr. Chairman, I am especially honored to be here today to carry out this important task for my Chiefs and my people.
We respect the difficult job you have. We know about the problems of jobs and energy. In Arctic Village we only have jobs in the summer, and there are not enough to go around, so we know what it is like to be unemployed and to worry about how to pay our bills. We also know about energy problems. In Arctic Village everything is flown in. If you have a 4-wheeler or snow-machine, you will pay about $15/gallon for gas. Fuel for electric generators is flown in too, so electricity is really expensive. I’m not complaining, I love my life, but we do know what it means to have a “deficit” when life is expensive. But in the winter you can’t just turn out the lights. You have to get the money to pay the bills. Go to town to get a job, or raise taxes. You have to keep the lights on at home.
The idea of waiting to pay the bills for 10 or 15 years while you hope to find oil in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is backwards. People need to go to work now. Our country, our government needs to fix our schools and roads and towns, and find a way to meet new needs like icebreakers – not 10 or 20 years fro now, but now. If it costs more money, we will pay our fair share. To go on pretending you can just cut costs without ruining our country is not telling the truth.
But the question of oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not just about money and oil. It is about the most basic human rights of the Gwich’in.
For the Gwich’in, this is a simple issue:
Oil development in the birthplace and nursery grounds of the Porcupine (River) Caribou Herd would hurt the caribou and threaten the culture and way of life of my people and the viability of our communities.
We know the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit, “the Sacred Place Where Life Begins.” After migrating 400 miles and giving birth, the mother caribou cannot be disturbed at this time, and our people may not go there then. The cows and their calves will move from place to place to find the cotton-grass and other new green sprouts they need to recover their strength and feed their calves. Depending on weather, the prime area for feeding might change from year to year, especially for the first weeks. Sometimes when snows are deep the caribou are born in Canada, but studies of radio-collared caribou show that as soon as she can, the mother caribou will lead her calf onto the Arctic Refuge’s coastal plain. From what we know, every Porcupine caribou gets their start in life right there, at Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit.
When oil development around Prudhoe Bay came close to the calving grounds of the Central Arctic Caribou Herd, the cows and their calves were pushed away onto new calving- and nursery grounds. Because there was lots of good ground, this did not hurt them and those caribou prospered.
The problem for Porcupine caribou is, in the Arctic Refuge the mountains come close to the Arctic Ocean - and the coastal plain is only a few miles wide. There are already more caribou per square mile on the Porcupine caribou calving and nursery grounds than almost any other caribou herd. If the caribou are disturbed they have no-where to go. Caribou biologists believe oil development, or any large-scale disturbance and noise, risks displacement of cow and calve caribou from essential habitats, would likely hurt productivity, leading to declines, and possibly alter migration patterns.
These are the expected and unavoidable effects of oil development even if it is done right. This is not the risk we face if there is a spill or other large industrial accident.
As indigenous people, we have the right to continue our way of life, and that right is guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signed by the President and Ratified by the Senate. Article 1 of that Covenant reads in part:
“In no case may a people be deprived of their own means of subsistence.”
The U.S. and Canadian governments signed an international agreement for management and long-term protection of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (Ottawa, July 17, 1987), forming the International Porcupine Caribou Commission (IPCC). The objectives of the agreement were:
“To conserve the Porcupine Caribou Herd and its habitat through international cooperation and coordination so that the risk of irreversible damage or long-term adverse effects as a result of use of caribou or their habitat is minimized; To ensure opportunities for customary and traditional uses of the Porcupine Caribou Herd (emphasis added); To enable users of Porcupine Caribou to participate in the international coordination of the conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and its habitat; To encourage cooperation [and] communication among governments, users of Porcupine Caribou and others to achieve these objectives.”
Much of the language used in this international (governments-to-governments) agreement admits and supports the Gwich’in human and cultural rights regarding caribou habitat:
- “Acknowledging that there are various human uses of caribou and that for generations certain people of Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories in Canada have customarily and traditionally harvested Porcupine Caribou to meet their nutritional, cultural and other essential needs and will continue to do so in the future… and that these people should participate in the conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and its habitat;
- “Recognizing that … caribou in their large free-roaming herds comprise a unique and irreplaceable natural resource of great value which each generation should maintain…so as to conserve them for future generations;”
- “…actions for the conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd that result in the long-term detriment of other indigenous species of wild fauna and flora should be avoided;”
- [referencing territory covered] “…caribou found north of 64 degrees, 30’ north latitude and north of the Yukon River which usually share common and traditional calving and post-calving aggregation grounds between the Canning River in the State of Alaska and the Babbage River in Yukon Territory and which historically migrate within the State of Alaska, Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories;”
- [under ‘Objectives’] “The Parties should avoid or minimize activities that would significantly disrupt migration or other important behavior patterns of the Porcupine Caribou Herd or that would otherwise lessen the ability of users of Porcupine Caribou to use the Herd.
There are other documents that support our claim, but it is the very simple human right to continue to live our live on our traditional lands that I hope you will remember.
Mahsi'choo (thank you)
Sunday, 29th of October, 2011
Cordova Report: 350 Attend Potlatch Gathering
Before snow clung to the ground in Cordova this year, a memorial potlatch was hosted to honor and celebrate the lives of Stella and Bud Janson. Most recently missed Stella was a long time patron of arts and culture, especially Alaska Native dancing. What made the event most notable was that it marked the first Tlingit-hosted potlatch in Cordova in the last one hundred years. The date of this momentous event was October 29, 2011.
The whole community was invited to the potlatch and turned out in good number—a few hundred in attendance. Native dance groups were invited from Alaska and Washington, opening with the Tlingit Mt. St. Elias dancers from Yakutat, a regional favorite. The drummers and dancers were honored to be invited to this special event, and they brought the crowd alive with deep-rooted stories and masks, as well as vivid traditional attire. Emcees especially thanked the Eyak people, on whose land they stood.
Dancers’ introductions resonated with the importance of Native cultural revival and restoration of the potlatch ceremony. The Tsimshian Git Hoan dancers from Washington spoke in this spirit when they shared their inspiring experience of return to the potlatch tradition from within their community. U.S. ban on potlatches may have been stricken from the books, but decimation of Native culture has continued to take place alongside historic repression of this fundamental ceremony for many Pacific coastal Native peoples.
Gary Patton, Stella and Bud’s son, served as Master of Ceremonies in honor of his mother, who lived to the marvelous age of ninety-five. He introduced the dance groups, made announcements, and presented blankets in the custom of the potlatch. Aunt Helen, ninety-eight years of age, was in attendance as the honored and oldest family member at the gathering. Grandson and Tlingit artist, Mike Webber, presented an exquisite memorial box bearing the family totems of both Bud and Stella Janson. Mr. Webber reminisced about Stella’s input into the making of the box, and how the carving had been left to cure in the climate of her home. Family member Dan Birch recited a stirring, dedicational poem. Photos of family from the near and distant past were displayed at the entrance of the hall.
The St. Elias performers danced around a traditionally carved feast bowl, and attendees were invited to partake in a meal with those who have come before us. Their distinguished honored elder recalled the days of potlatches long ago. The dancers from Washington brought Tsimshian, Tlingit, and Haida traditions to the ceremony. Along with their encouragement to Cordova for Native cultural revitalization, they moved the crowd with their stories and song. Gracing the floor were Raven, Crow, Mouse Woman, and many others. A feast was thrown between dance performances with a loving presentation of subsistence and comfort foods—salmon, halibut, moose, and spawn, herring roe on kelp.
Such memories evoked and the emotions they brought were bolstered by the dignified and nourishing rhythm of drumming, dance, and song. Many a tear were shed, yet the mood of Stella Janson’s memorial potlatch was not only of sorrow, but also of a heart that soars. Her fond farewell also marked a moving chapter in the renewal of Alaska Native tradition in Cordova.
Friday, 5th of August, 2011
Regarding the decision to allow Shell's exploration and drilling in Alaska's Beaufort Sea, here's a quote from our fav attorney working on the case for the opposition, Peter.
"...So this is the big vision of our leaders – take action that won’t have any meaningful influence on gas prices even if oil gets produced in a decade or two, and rally for more risky, polluting fossil fuel jobs. Yeeha, let’s rally around that!"
He also underlines this horrifying truth:
"Neither Shell nor the United States is prepared for the consequences of drilling in the Arctic. Shell’s spill response plans are not even close to sufficient, and everyone knows it. As the USGeological Service confirmed, and all the experts worth their salt admit, we don’t have enough information to make informed decisions about the consequences of drilling in the Arctic. We don’t even have baseline info to know the full scope of what is at risk.
N.Y. Times Article
Wednesday, 27th of July, 2011
URGENT UPDATE | Shepard Pointless!
Yet again we must alert the local and regional community which has come out time and time again against this proposed bad port project.
During our ongoing due diligence, we recently found a new twist has been thrown into the mix. The Native Village of Eyak jumped over the government agencies it had been working with (Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Transportation) and has begun working with a division of Department of Transportation called the Western Federal Lands Highway Division.
Read More...!
Tuesday, 5th of July, 2011
Cordova City Council to sell pristine waterfront property to oil and natural gas provider, AIGCO
Fleming Spit was also was a proposed location for the Cordova oil spill response facility, but was made “unavailable” by the Cordova City Council.
On Tuesday, June 28th at a city council hearing, the City Council of Cordova voted 6 to 2, to sell a prime oceanfront property to an oil and natural gas provider, for the purpose of supplying natural gas to Cordova.
We are on the case, and intend to start a petition to the City (we have one month according to the agreement the City reached Wednesday night) for information and with comments.
Read more...
Tuseday, 29th of February, 2011
Dune wins a Seafood Champion Award from Seaweb
Dune and Carol attended the International Boston Seafood Show where many of the biggestseafood and processing companies in the world show off their seafood products, and share theirseafood handling, processing and tracability equipment. Dune was honored by receiving Seaweb’sSeafood Champion award. The annual Seafood Champion Awards are presented to those who have made significant strides in improving practices and awareness of sustainable seafood.
- http://www.thecordovatimes.com/article/1113lankard_recognized_as_seafood_champion
- http://seawebvoicesinaction.blogspot.com/
Anchorage, 7pm Friday, 25th of February, 2011
Nils' observations from a public hearing held by BOEMRE*, seeking comments on the five-year plan for offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, and Cook Inlet.
It was clear from the getgo that something rotten was afoot. Well over 100 signed up to testify, and I was probably 90th. Unfortunately, 6:30pm was the earliest this family man could afford on the one evening of the week designated to quality time with the clan. Even if people respected the two minute testimony request, it was clear that my opinion would not be heard out loud that evening. Rising suspicions were reinforced by the first speaker, new Commissioner Dan Sullivan of the State Department of Natural Resources. With media coverage and a nice suit, he used perhaps 15 minutes to spout shortsighted, quasi false rhetoric about the economic importance of oil and gas drilling in the lease areas. Subsequent speakers used the same tone and amount of time. Apparently the commissioner and his drill head buddies didn’t get the memo about keeping it short with regard to fairness for other testimonies.
At the first interlude I grabbed some grub from a table covered with “OCS** Yes” (Outer Continental Shelf) swag. The Resource Development (Degradation) Council had coaxed early bird drilling supporters to the signup with pizza and soft drinks. How nice of them. Their message was “Eat, Drink and Testify - Friday, February 25th @ 7pm: Hot pizza, soda and other refreshments will be served at 5:30 to encourage early sign-up, which we strongly recommend. RDC members need to speak up for Alaska and not allow the opposition (environmental groups) to shut down our state's economic future (Boom doom?)" I wonder if Commissioner Sullivan works on the side as a pizza delivery man. I imagine the oil industry gives an epic tip. I was told that that attempts made that day to find out about the signup's start time had yielded nothing but a black curtain. At the second interlude one of the hearing organizers revealed that it was in fact as early as 5pm. Clearly there was some crude business afoot.
After about the 30th drill-head testified, a drilling opponent stood up to inquire if the agency intended to listen to anyone on “the other side”. The BOEMRE representative could only reply that it wouldn't be fair if testimonies were heard out of order, and remembered first then to advise us to keep our testimonies as short as possible given the amount of people and time remaining.
It was a small comfort that at least three drilling opponents got to speak towards the end, including a passionate marine biology professor from Alaska Pacific University. With 15 minutes remaining she gave a riveting testimony culminating in the statement of her vehement opposition to these leases going forward in the current period. By then fewer than half had made comments during the three-hour session. The drilling supporters may have successfully thwarted a constructive public discussion, but I imagine I’ll enjoy the look on their faces when the lease areas are again spared their foolish and greedy intentions.
(NOTE: In a surprising twist, BOEMRE gave those who didn't get a chance to speak, the opportunity to do so two weeks later. Nils attended with his children and spoke in opposition of the leases, along with many other individuals)
*Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
**Outer Continental Shelf
Update! February 1, 2011
Dune attending "Responsibility Without Borders?"
Dune is in Vancouver BC this week at the 9th Annual Seafood Summit "Responsibility Without Borders?". A program of SeaWeb, the Seafood Summit brings together global representatives from the seafood industry and conservation community for in-depth discussions, presentations and networking with the goal of making the seafood marketplace environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. He'll be discussing in panels, workshops and meetings regarding conservation issues facing the Prince William Sound and Copper River watersheds, including hatchery and wild returns and policy, salmon wild habitat conservation and improvements to the commercial fishing industry which includes improvements for seafood handling and processing, lowering carbon footprint in the entire fishing, processing and shipping areas, how can we pay our fishermen more, and put more control back into the hands of fishermen. Check out:http://seafoodchoices.org/seafoodsummit.php
Dune has been named a finalist for a Seafood Champion award:http://www.seafoodchoices.com/whatwedo/champions.php
News: January 3, 2011
A Standout Year for Local Seafood, by Laine Welch, ADN
Alaska's seafood industry worked hard in 2010 to ramp up its message to policy makers, especially those from the Railbelt region who tend to overlook the industry's economic significance. How important is the seafood industry to Alaska and the nation? At a glance:
• 62 percent of all U.S. seafood landings come from Alaska.
• 96 percent of all wild-caught salmon comes from Alaska.
• Seafood is by far Alaska's No. 1 export, valued at nearly $2 billion (next in line: zinc and lead at $785 million).
• Alaska ranks ninth in the world in terms of global seafood production. The seafood industry is second only to Big Oil in revenues it generates to the state government's general fund each year. The industry provides more Alaska jobs than oil and gas, mining, tourism and timber combined.
Read full article Via Anchorage Daily News
Thoughts: April 27, 2010
Statement on the BP/TransOcean Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
David Grimes, Mt. Lassen, driving north to Alaska
Iishuh. We who experienced the disaster of the Exxon oil spill in Alaska now offer our prayers to the Gulf of Mexico-to the ocean, the wild creatures and wetlands, to the human residents of the spill region, to the workers who died on the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig when it exploded and sank.
This crisis is a teachable moment, a time to remember that ALL fossil fuel we humans use is spilled into the environment. It is spilled into the air when we burn it in our automobiles and furnaces and factories, and it is spilled into the water when super tankers collide with reefs or other ships, and when oil rigs like the Deepwater Horizon catastrophically malfunction. Every time we use fossil fuel, we spill fossil fuel.
We humans are addicted to oil-it is our number one drug. It is also the sacred black blood of Mother Earth that has often befriended and helped us. When we treat it with disrespect and enslave it to our unbridled greed, we too become slaves. We go to war for our drug. We poison our planet, our water and air. We poison our spirit.
To restore balance with the rest of creation, let us use this crisis as an opportunity-an opportunity to give thanks to the earth, to the water and the air and all the wild creatures. Let us give thanks to energy. Let us use this crisis as an opportunity to commit to conservation, to energy efficiency, to the development of clean alternative energies. Let us create a Manhattan Project for conservation and respectful use of energy.
Each of us can be a leader in our own lives to restore respect and love for the earth. Blessings to all beings. Blessings to the Gulf of Mexico and the waters of the world.
Awa' ahdah.
News: April 21, 2010
Oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico
Eleven workers are still missing and 17 injured in an explosion at a Transocean oil drilling rig that was contracted by oil giant BP off the Louisiana coast. As of this writing, the fire is still burning. Although pollution reports are hard to find, we heard an oil sheen has been reported on the surrounding waters.
Via Associated Press
News: April 20, 2010
SERVS meeting in Cordova this Thursday on Earth Day, April 22: There are "issues" regarding the proposed pay raise.
Via Anchorage Daily News
Update! April 13, 2010
Cordova, Shepard Point Meeting Held
A meeting took place early this morning in Cordova at the Reluctant Fisherman with the Army Corps of Engineers, and representatives from the Native Village of Eyak and several citizens of Cordova representing those against the proposed Shepard point road and deep water port permit application. An important gathering, as Colonel Reinhard W. Koenig from Army Corps called for and attended the meeting to review and see the proposed area that is planned for the dubious oil spill response facility. Unfortunately because of illness, representatives from EPC were not able to attend. EPC learned of a request by the Native Village of Eyak to conduct a "government to government" consultation with the ACE (U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska). An Army Corps source has informed us that this is "not usual" as applicants are not usually those that also request government to government relations. We will post an update after the meeting. Check back later to find out more.
News: April 7, 2010
160-Square-Mile Oil Spill Fouls Mississippi Delta Wildlife Refuge
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, An 18,000 gallon spill of crude oil from a pipeline into the Delta National Wildlife Refuge has personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, the state of Louisiana, and the Cypress Pipe Line Company scrambling to contain the spreading mess.
The incident was first reported to the Coast Guard early Tuesday morning. At that time, Berry Brothers General Contractors were conducting dredging operations for ExxonMobil in the area of the spill. They notified the Coast Guard that oil was spilling into a canal located 10 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana.
An area of about 160 square miles has been affected by the spill - 16 square miles of wetlands in the 76 square-mile Delta National Wildlife Refuge and 120 square miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
Cypress Pipe Line Company of Opelousas, Louisiana, which operates the pipeline, reports that approximately 18,000 gallons of crude oil has been released.
Located at the mouth of the Mississippi River and formed by the deposition of sediment carried for hundreds of miles down the river, the Delta National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935.
The refuge is the wintering ground for hundreds of thousands of snow geese, coots and ducks. Endangered and threatened species on the refuge include the American alligator, the brown pelican, the Arctic peregrine falcon and the piping plover.
Environmentalists warn that the incident casts doubt on more offshore drilling. "This is just more evidence that the oil and gas industry don't have the proper safety standards in place," said Casey DeMoss Roberts of the New Orleans group of the Sierra Club. "The President claims drilling is safer than ever but our state is the cautionary tale."
"Louisiana has been devastated by the oil industry," said Anne Rolfes, founding director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental health and justice organization. "Our health and our environment have been ravaged by accidents and carelessness. Instead of raking in the profits it is time to start honestly reckoning with the problems."
News: April 5, 2010
Salvage experts work to stabilise Chinese ship aground on Great Barrier Reef
Environmentalists warn of devastating effects if Chinese vessel that hit Douglas Shoals breaks up click here to read article
Via The Guardian.uk.com
News: March 31, 2010
Obama boosts drilling off US coastlines but protects Bristol Bay
Click here to read article.
Via Anchorage Daily News
Upadte! March 30, 2010
Rainforest Action Network 25th Anniversary Kick-off
News: March 22, 2010
Chuitna coal project plans to mine through salmon stream
Click here to read article.
Via Anchorage Daily News
Upadate: March 18, 2010
Shepard Pt. Project application suspended
Click here for more info.
News: March 13, 2010
Alyeska says it's short of oil spill vessels
"The operator of the trans-Alaska pipeline and Valdez tanker port is reporting a shortfall in the number of fishing boats ready to provide aid in the event of a Prince William Sound oil spill." click here to read article.
Via Anchorage Daily News
News: February 16, 2010
Fast to protest Norwegian-owned salmon farms ends
"In an attempt to draw attention to a long simmering dispute, environmentalists and the chiefs of several First Nations in British Columbia have held a 29-hour fast that ended Tuesday just as Canada was about to play Norway in men's hockey." Click here to read article.
Via The Globe and Mail
Thoughts: December 23, 2009
Two serious incidents in Prince William Sound in less than a month? One on Bligh Reef, the same reef that hemorrhaged the Exxon Valdez.
The Pathfinder spilled over 6,000 gallons of fuel, and we still don't really know why: Click here to read article.
Via Deckboss
News: January 17, 2010
Exxon tanker carrying more than 25 million gallons of Alaska crude oil loses power early Sunday morning while leaving Prince William Sound.
Vessel had to be towed to safety according to U.S. Coast Guard.
Click here to read article.
Via The News Tribune
