Hello again, Billy - this weekend Sarah Snider and I hosted Russell’s stay here in the Lehigh Valley, and Sarah accompanied him Saturday as he leafleted in Bethlehem on this issue. They had a good response from people. I thought you might like to post this, as it will not appear in the local press. Joe DeRaymond

On September 22 - 23, Russell DeForest, of Fairbanks, Alaska, traveled through the Lehigh Valley. He is on a bike trek from Maine to Washington, DC to bring to our attention the threat to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He pointed out during his stay that legislation to allow drilling in the Refuge is being attached to Defense Appropriation bills at this time. This is not an appropriate way to deal with an issue that needs independent debate, not passage as a rider to emergency legislation. Russell urges us to contact our federal representatives, particularly our Senators, to insist on an independent hearing on this important national issue. Below is an excerpt from Russell’s statement.

THE RIDE

On September 8, I began a bicycle journey from Portland, Maine to Washington, DC to promote the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Concerned members of my community are supporting me because although over 45% of Alaska supports protecting this refuge, we are unrepresented in Congress and our state legislature.

On Tuesday, September 11 this effort was overwhelmed by the tragic events that now fill newspapers and television. While I’ve struggled to put these events into context, I’ve continued to ride.

A COMPLETE ECOSYSTEM AT RISK

Imagine restoring a piece of land in the midwest large enough to sustain 150,000 buffalo. Imagine such a herd stampeding through native prairie.

The porcupine Caribou herd is nearly 150,000 animals existing in a complete and undisturbed ecosystem. Their calving grounds overlie the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge which is at risk of development. Disrupting this ecosystem is not worth the risk.

The ‘2000 acres’ of development will be spread throughout the entire 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain. The hundreds of miles of roads and pipelines connecting these developments are not included in the ‘2000 acres’.

IT’S TIME TO CONSIDER CONSERVATION

The Arctic Refuge could offset only 2-3% of what we import annually. Every drop must travel through 800 miles of unprotected pipeline.

In the coming months, we may need to consider emergency conservation measures. We cannot significantly reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil without major reductions in our use of oil.

The technology is here, now. US automakers are set to release the first hybrid electric SUV’s and passenger vans in 2003 which will get 45-50 mpg. Honda and Toyota already have passenger vehicles getting 60-80 mpg. Europe has seen the release of the first car (a VW) to achieve 100 mpg. The target for a VW to be available in 2003 is 235 mpg.

Measures to reduce our dependence on oil through development of fuel cell, wind and solar technology, and by increasing auto fuel efficiency could reduce our oil consumption 25-30% or more in less time than it would take for oil in the refuge to come on-line.

As we move forward, as a nation and as members of our communities, I pray that we still value the wilderness of the Arctic Refuge, and that we can move in a direction which affords us real national security.