Arctic Action Day is March 12

National Audubon has designated Saturday, March 12 as Arctic Action Day. Once again, Congress is contemplating legislation that would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), North America's last pristine wilderness, to drilling for oil.

To show communities and Audubon members what is at stake and what would be lost if this area is industrialized, National Audubon has provided us with two stunning films, Oil on Ice and Being Caribou. Jamie Anderson of Many Voices Booksellers has agreed to provide a place for us to show these films (as DVDs). We'll show them Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Drop by Many Voices in downtown Lindstrom and spend some time with us as the films air. Thanks to Jamie for hosting us, and thanks to Audubon member Todd Arnold of Scandia for providing the DVD player and his copy of Being Caribou.

Being Carabou website is at http://www.beingcaribou.com/.

Proposals to drill in ANWR seem to be as perennial as the spring migration these days. So far, conservationists have managed to preserve the refuge, through vigilance and diligence. Wild River Audubon has an active group writing and phoning our congressmen to remind them to keep their campaign promises and vote to keep drilling out of the refuge. If you'd like to join them, please call Sue Leaf (257-6044.)

Proponents of oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge have indicated that they may attempt a back-door scheme to hide their Arctic drilling proposal in the federal budget bills this year. Since the oil lobby knows they cannot pass this through the normal process for controversial bills, they are resorting to a procedural end-run instead of open honest debate. Most Americans, and certainly most Minnesotans, don't want drilling, and Congress has rejected it every year since 2001. That's because drilling the Arctic Refuge would ruin one of our last wild places for perhaps a few months' worth of oil that wouldn't get here for ten years or more.

In Minnesota, both of our U.S. Senators have voted to keep Arctic Refuge drilling out of the budget in the past. In particular, Senator Norm Coleman withstood huge pressure when he kept his campaign promise and voted against drilling the Arctic Refuge. Get Involved. It is crucial this year that we start reminding Minnesota's leaders early and often. If you can spare about 15 minutes a week, you can help us as a PHONE TEAM CAPTAIN! This involves forming Phone Team of friends, colleagues, fellow members of clubs/your church/hobby groups who can call our members of Congress once a week. A call takes a minute or two. As a Captain, you help form the Team and keep them updated. By helping organize call-ins on a designated day in the week, you reinforce the public support our elected leaders need to hear. People don’t want drilling in the Arctic Refuge and Congress has rejected it every year since 2001. We know that drilling in the Refuge would ruin one of our last wild places—all for only a few months’ worth of oil.

Or, you could host a house party and have a public screening of a movie called Being Caribou, a lovely documentary on the beauty of the culture, wildlife and landscape of the Arctic Refuge.

To volunteer as an Arctic Phone Team Captain, to host a house party or to learn about other ways you can help in this critical battle, please contact Minnesota organizer Jacek Pruski at jpruski@greencorps.org or (319) 321-8980.