'Winter
Solstice'
Front Page Photo by Carl Thompson
Ketchikan: Winter
Solstice by M.C. Kauffman - With the rising of the sun Tuesday
morning, the shortest day of the year had arrived bringing with
it the first official day of winter and the longest night of
the year. To the ancients, on midwinter's day it appeared as
if the Sun and Moon stopped in their flight across the sky. -
More...
Wednesday - December 22, 2004
Alaska: New
Poll Shows Americans Oppose Arctic Refuge Drilling - A new
national poll released Tuesday finds that a majority of Americans
from all walks of life oppose allowing oil companies to drill
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The poll, conducted
by Zogby International for The Wilderness Society and other leading
national conservation groups, found that 55 percent of Americans
oppose drilling, while only 38 percent want to allow drilling
in the Refuge. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has
been off limits to drilling and other industrial development
since it was set aside by President Eisenhower.
This new Zogby poll shows that
Americans' opposition is even stronger, 59% - 25%, to a proposed
"backdoor maneuver" that would use the annual Congressional
budget process to let the oil industry into the Refuge. Nearly
two out of three Independent voters (65%) say it is a back door
maneuver. Even Republicans (by a 41% - 37% margin) and Bush voters
(43% - 38%) say that drilling in the Refuge should not be included
as part of the budget bill.
Conservation groups pointed
to the new poll results as evidence of continued political support
for protecting the Arctic Refuge, and reaffirmed their commitment
to fight the drilling proposal at every turn. - More...
Wednesday - December 22, 2004
Alaska: Training
will transfer salmon inspections from Seattle workers to resident
Alaskans - Alaska labor officials have approved
a $25,000 grant to train resident Alaskans to replace contractors
previously brought up from Seattle to inspect premium-quality
sockeye salmon harvested in the Aleutians East Borough and marketed
under the "Aleutia" brand. - More...
Wednesday - December 22, 2004
|
