The establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Range was made by Democratic President Harry S. Truman,
by Executive Order No. 10355 of May 26, 1952. The order was for the purpose of preserving unique wildlife, wilderness and
recreational values in northeastern Alaska, containing approximately 8.9 million acres.
By voting to permit drilling for oil, the Republican-controlled Congress, President Bush, Sen. Arlen Specter
and Sen. Rick Santorum, have chosen to permit big oil to devastate and trash the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
More than 90 percent of the coastal lands west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have already been
opened to drilling, with many documented negative effects on wildlife and habitat. Our thirst for energy will take what remains.
No matter what excuse politicians might use to justify their vote in favor of corporate oil profits, politicians,
and the people who voted for them, can tell their children that they had a chance to save one of the last untouched most beautiful
places on this Earth and that they turned their backs on this responsibility and allowed big oil to destroy their children's
inheritance.
Daniel F. Shearer, Halifax
