It's a New Day!

THANK YOU AMERICA!!!!!

we did it! we can be proud of our nation again! voter turnout was the highest our nation has seen since 1908! this election shows that everyday people like you and me can change the world, and indeed we have. thank you for all of your amazing work on this amazing campaign.

incredible huh?

xoxo

Pat and I - getting the word out about wild salmon and Barack's support of us!

from a town that Reagan had a missile station put

Too bad McCain voted to disengage our missile defense system

And this from a state that his veep says is vital b/c we can see Russia

more live

alaskans like us know all to well how long offshore drilling takes to get going we know that his claims are mere droppings of palin's favorite food

live blogging from the bar

did he just say that north Koreans are a scary evil giant race??

Call me a terrorist but I think it's a good idea to talk with everyone

Just so y'all know, there are plenty of conservatives here pah pahing the same things as I

live from homer debates

it seems that john forgets that his veep actually WAS miss congeniality...

How is it that sen McCain doesn't beleive in govt transparancy? Oh, that's right he is a bush drone!

I think that his temper is getting the best of him hence the stutter

WOW

alright, i apologize for the lack of blogging... things have been crazy! in anchorage right now getting ready to fly back home to homer.

as many of you realized, i was honored to be picked to sit in the FRONT ROW in the seat directly in front of the podium at invesco field. the most amazing experience of my life, truly. what a whirlwind, and so different from the night before, when i had to sit one row away from the ceiling at the pepsi center!

little nobody me from homer, got an email got a mystery email at about 11:30 the night before saying that i had been picked as a hard worker for the campaign to have special seating at invesco the next day. honestly, i thought it was a fake. you know, like those emails from the son in law of the just departed nigerian queen who needed a bank account number to put the money left to him into...

so i had no idea what was going on, and josiah and i went down to the meeting spot at this super swanky hotel, beat from the barrage of activities mixed with the oppressive (for us) heat, in our shorts and t-shirts (didn't even have time to put on makeup, as our hotel was quite far from downtown), to this super swanky hotel. and by swanky, i mean swanky folks. so we go to the aforementioned meeting area, and happen to see a handful of people dressed just like us (imagine us walking over, and under our breath saying 'hey, uh, did you get an email?' and nervously standing around in our flip flops uncomfortable next to the finance commitee folks in stillettos. then this full of energy guy comes over and says, 'if you got an email from rich, go stand by the piano'

hmm... no designated line? this must be fake... how do we explain this to our friends we ditched to get here? then, a familiar face walks by, one that we all recognize (except for our partners that have come along to support us), Jenn Watts, our lovely Western States delegation coordinator and we all are relieved that we know someone here. she tells us little other than she is a worker bee and proud of the work we've done, and has enjoyed working with us thus far.

then, we go through a round of introductions at the piano. all of us are just everyday people, who are passionate and working hard completely grassroots. a school teacher from virginia; a nurse from north carolina... who through our grassroots work got elected to go along with the delegation by the people we worked hand in hand with and only recently really met through this delegation process our democratic party leaders.

then rich comes out with community (nosebleed) looking like passes, but with a green stripe. and goes through the states we live in alphabetically. he jokes with me that the bidens didn't called and said they didn't want to sit next to me, i respond that i love the bidens they must have mixed me up with someone else. we all look at each other - what is going on? then he gets through our names, hands us the passes, and tells us to turn around a see the wall right behind you? see that painting on it? that's how close we will be away from obama making his acceptance speech!! we scream, we cry, and people come up and ask us what is going on and we are all mumbling away saying... i never thought i'd be rewarded for all of my work, i'm just a passionate mother of 3... or a passionate fisherman's wife... or a full time factory worker who loves obama... you get the idea.

IT WAS PEOPLE JUST LIKE US!!!



so then we find out our passes will let us go everywhere but backstage whenever we want, and that we have to go to meet at a certain spot, and get whisked away to go to the stadium. you can only imagine... our hearts are afluttering, our partners now get to get in, and we get to pick a lucky person off the street to get in to invesco... and tears. of course, tears. i couldn't even steady my breathing enough to call my parents... josiah had to do it! anyways it was GREAT. so we go to the field and see the line everyone else has to stand in...





and we get whisked away by our tour guide to the floor:



this is where all the state delegations sit - everyone is so close! how on earth did they manage to make a football stadium seem so small and cozy? anyways, alaska is pretty close!

then we see where we are sitting - more heart palpatations!!! at this point, we are with another couple who has gone through the same thing, we met them at the piano... neither of our partners have been able to have time on the convention floor so they are uber excited to sit with our delegation!






so it only got better and it was sure reason to dance - i got a text in the middle of it from my mom saying i dance the same in her kitchen as i do on national t.v.! my friend has me on tivo! crazy!

WE ARE UNITED!

BARACK OBAMA IS OUR CANDIDATE!

hillaryHillary

she is speaking now -all seats have been blocked off, both the floor and upper seating for at least an hour. Can't get down , but have an in with a press room to see!
Let me clarify, press can go back and forth but no delegates

_____so where did we get to go to see speech? fellow delegate alternate mike davis, a commercial fisherman from Dillingham (Bristol Bay), and his wife, Pat, and I had been walking around with Salmon heads on our hats, getting the word out about sustainable fisheries and how important they are, as well as how keen obama is in actively supporting them and those of us who rely on them. we did many interviews (if anyone sees any, please let me know, as we couldn't keep track of them all)


most excitedly, we got a 15 minute interview on BBC World News live! then, when we got out, we found out we would have to watch on a t.v. in the hallway, so we hiked back to our BBC Friends and asked if we could stand in the back, promising we'd be quiet. they said yes! so we watched as ted koppel and the bbc t.v. crew reacted to the speech and then were asked to react ourselves! we got to meet ted koppel and what a day! it was great!


i then got to meet josiah outside and we went to a great afl-cio event at Coors field, what a beautiful park, and got a glimpse of the celebrity poker tourney going on there with ben affleck, matt damon, and others.

DNC Day 1 = AMAZING!!!

It's exciting to be from Alaska! Everyone is excited abt AK!!!

Check out our future V.P.'s acceptance/introduction video to us - he mentions Alaska!

Today:

THE 2008 CONVENTION:
Americans Gathering to Change the Course of a Nation

Prominent Republicans Former Congressman Jim Leach and Fairbanks Mayor Jim Whitaker to Speak at 2008 Democratic National Convention

DENVER – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America campaign announced today that two prominent Republicans will address the Democratic National Convention on Monday, August 25, 2008 and Tuesday, August 26, 2008. Former United States Congressman Jim Leach and Fairbanks Alaska Mayor Jim Whitaker will speak about Barack Obama's record of bringing Republicans, Independents and Democrats together to bring change and his vision for unifying our country.

Former Congressman Jim Leach will speak on Monday, August 25, 2008. The opening night of the Convention, themed as "One Nation", will highlight Barack Obama's life story, his commitment to change, and the voices of Americans calling for a new direction for this country. Michelle Obama will be the keynote speaker on Monday night and the Convention will feature a video tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Fairbanks Mayor Jim Whitaker will speak on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. Tuesday night, themed as “Renewing America’s Promise” will focus on Americans’ concerns about the economy, rising healthcare costs and the need to expand educational opportunities for all. United States Senator Hillary Clinton will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday night.

Former United States Congressman Jim Leach represented southeastern Iowa in the US Congress from 1977-2007 and earned a reputation as one of the most respected foreign policy experts in Washington. Jim Whitaker is the Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska. Leach and Whitaker endorsed Barack Obama earlier this month.

Everyone I talk to (and y'all know I talk to a lot of folks) is thrilled about Alaska's chance to vote Dem and Go Obama this election! The seating of our delegation on the floor reflects that. We are seated close by to the action up front due to our 100% carbon offset Green Delegation status (thanks for all of those who helped fund that venture!), but the powers that be have seated us right in view of the main Fox News cameras we found out this A.M. So, watch out for us! :)

Since our delegation is so small, we will be working hard to share the floor between our delegates, alternates and pages, something I don't know if bigger delegations can do logistically.

Alaskans, if you are in Denver, contact us to come to our open to the Alaskan Public Delegation Morning meetings! This morning we had the National Organizing Director of the AFL-CIO, Stewart Acuff, come give us a rousing speech and answer many questions:



And we also had the Obama Campaign's Energy Policy Director come to listen to our concerns, answer questions, and unveil the latest in Campaign Energy Policy and SPORTSMEN Policy! I will post these soon so you can read it, but here is a picture preview of the Sportsman Policy: (coming soon, won't load at the moment, sorry!)

Last night we went to the opening party, a celebration honoring Katrina victims. Very fun, but I have to guess that the shrimp in the gumbo was farmed...

Also went to a PACKED Young Democrats Event, great fun to meet people, and so great to see the strong numbers and diversity of us youth here!

Denver is Great! Getting ready to be a part of history!

Well first of all, let me just say what a great choice for the DNC. Coming from Homer, it is refreshing that there are so many great, nice and genuine people here! Often rare in many cities. Of course, Denver is just the right amount of city I think, it hasn't been as much culture shock as I expected. Of course, it could be the adrenaline pumping through me with all of this excitement...

But really though, it is so exciting here!

Today I spent getting used to the light rail and checking out "LoDo" (lower downtown) before everything explodes with people.
Already, Denver has geared up with police:

(i'm guessing here, but pretty sure this was a drill...)

Check out the cop in the window... hard to see, but this was the only one I could get in a photo...

On my light rail ride (praises to easy, clean, quiet, public transportation) in, I met a lovely couple, both teachers (a retired math teacher and an eighth grade science teacher, who hail from the Cherry Creek area. They were going downtown to check out all the changes before it got too hectic. They pointed me in the right direction of a Whole Foods near my hotel that I could walk to (hurrah), though I wish there was a Locally owned store...sure there must have been before W.Foods descended... and talked with me about my experience, and why they are excited about Joe Biden (voted against No Child Left Behind Act that has made life so difficult for them), and of course, Obama! Lovely people.

They also put me onto a lead of a Ethiopian and a Moroccan restaurant and guided me to the locally owned bookstore, the Tattered Cover (isn't that straight from Harry Potter name great?) :) they also were the first people to say there were No locally owned coffee shops that used locally roasted coffee! I am sad to report that other folks and a desparate search confirms this, thank you starbucks... (on every corner of course!) thank god the bookstore did serve a local roast at their coffee shop! (KBay, I MISS YOU, even this little gem does not compare in the least. apparently Denver isn't as coffee crazed as we Homerites...)

Then, I cruzed the Patagonia store, and met a woman who used to spend her summers in Seward guiding! Great to touch base with her, and she led me to a Taqueria who had $3 margaritas so I only spent $8 on my meal and a drink! Thanks!

There, I was invited over to eat with Jason Steele and his lovely family, who live in Denver. It was so sweet that they invited me over, and it was great to have them share their enthusiam! Jason is a pilot and flight instructor who had loved flying in AK, and who is blogging a city guide to Denver.. He's also got a personal blog which is great, and has great photos of the convention center which he toured! Very cool, indeed!

I will post the photos to this soon. Apparently delegates are a very wired crew at 3 a.m. and the server is too busy...

Much love to you all and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your contributions to this amazing experience!!!!

McCain = Rich AND not so strategic...

Okay so first of all I just realized in the hubbub that I haven't yet mentioned anything about the McCain only those whose incomes are $5 Million and over are rich and that McCain has no idea how many houses he owns craziness.
Here is the actual clip:

And Obama's Comeback Speech:

And Obama's Ad:


It is just so atrocious that anyone, let alone someone running for President, would think to say anything like that!

I'm here! Woohoo!

just got downtown, it's very nice and electric with excitement. It takes some work to find locally owned places, but so far, denverites are super helpful and nice! Ran into one protester who was claiming that we were all rich -ha! Had to talk with him about that - certainly not true on this front! I think I had an impact, I think the only reason he was adament was that he felt he had to make his point, which is exactly what we fighting for!

I'll post pics tonite! Love ya! Thank you so much for making this happen for me, friends!

Obama Canvass Event in the news

The first Presidential canvass event EVER on the Kenai Peninsula took place last weekend, part of a Statewide canvass.

From the Homer News:

Homer Alaska - News -


Obama backers reach out to 'on-the-fence' voters



By Aaron Selbig
Staff Writer
It's been 44 years since Alaska gave its three electoral votes to a Democratic nominee for president Lyndon Johnson took them en route to a lopsided victory over Barry Goldwater in 1964 but that's not stopping Sen. Barack Obama from campaigning hard throughout the 49th state.



Photo by Aaron Selbig, Homer News

Obama campaign field organizer Saumya Nerichania (left) gives instructions to volunteers gathered at the Fresh Sourdough Express Bakery and Cafe.

Obama has five campaign offices in Alaska two in Anchorage and one each in Palmer, Fairbanks and Juneau and, according to Nate Osburn, Obama's deputy communications director for Alaska, there are plans to open another somewhere on the Kenai Peninsula.
Last Saturday, Obama's nationwide "Campaign For Change" made it all the way to the end of the road, when about 20 volunteers met at the Fresh Sourdough Express Bakery and Caf on Ocean Drive to receive training on "canvassing" the fine art of political door-to-door sales from field organizer Saumya Narechania, and then took to Homer streets to spread the word about their favorite candidate.

"He will bring respect for America back to the world," said Obama supporter Judy Nester, who proudly displayed her blue "Obama '08" T-shirt at the event.

Homer fisherman Josiah Campbell said he likes Obama's ideas on health care and economics.

"Obama's tax plan helps me out as a commercial fisherman. He has said that he supports sustainable fisheries and I understand that the Republicans want to open federal waters to farm fishing," said Campbell.

Campbell and the other volunteers received campaign literature, maps, scripts and lists of addresses from Narechania, who advised the group to "stick with it" even though they might get a door or two slammed in their faces.

"The first five doors will be tough but after that it should be smooth sailing," Narechania told the eager group.

The lists of addresses were designed to exclude "hardcore McCain supporters," said Narechania, and contained basic voting information about residents, such as their party affiliation and whether they had donated to a particular campaign. The scripts were designed purely as a guide, he added, and volunteers were free to ad lib in their conversations with prospective voters. Volunteers were asked by Narechania to be respectful at all times and to avoid "Bush-bashing" while talking to their neighbors.

Campbell and his friend Anna Bosin piled into Campbell's Subaru and headed up to Mountain View Drive to start knocking on doors. After about an hour and a half of canvassing, they reported not a single door slammed in their faces.

"We're running into more supporters than non-supporters. People around here are relatively friendly," reported Bosin.

"We hope we did some good," said Campbell, as he and Bosin headed off to Bayview Avenue to continue their efforts.

Statewide, about 350 canvassers participated in the effort to reach "on the fence" voters on behalf of the Obama campaign, according to Osburn.

They covered ground in 16 Alaska cities and towns, he said.

"It went really well. We had good turnout and knocked on thousands of doors," said Osburn, adding that the Obama campaign has placed paid staff members in all 50 states and is putting extra effort into 18 identified "battleground" states, of which Alaska is one.

"People are excited that Barack Obama cares enough about Alaska to send a staff person to Homer. It shows that Homer matters," said Campbell.

The campaign for Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain has not sent paid staff members to Alaska, nor do they have an office in the state. They do have a Web site devoted to Alaska, www.alaska.johnmccain.com, but contact information on the site refers users to McCain's West Regional Headquarters in Henderson, Nev.

Biden is announced as V.P. for Obama Ticket

The press fiasco is over. Biden has been announced!

I just got to Denver, will write more later - it's 2 a.m. here but electric with excitement - literally - lightning has been flashing, very exciting for us Alaskans, who aren't used to warm air meeting with cool, rather just the latter!

The Latest and Greatest from the Campaign

Many have been asking me for 'insider' details. I have to assure you that this campaign has the same equality in inclusiveness of breaking information for everyone, public and delegates like me. So here is what we have gotten so far. I can't say I trust the press when it says that word will come out today on VP pick, since we just got this a few minutes ago... I leave this Friday at midnight!!!! So excited!! :)

Who’s the VP? Be the first to know!

Senator Barack Obama is about to choose a running mate, and he wants you to know first. You have helped build this movement from the bottom up, and he wants you to be part of this important moment.

Sign up at this site: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/firsttoknow

Convention Speakers



Over the past few days, the Obama Campaign and the DNCC have announced the themes of the four nights of the convention and some of the leaders of the Democratic Party that you will hear from during the week. A partial schedule was published in the Rocky Mountain News.



The link is: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/18/partial-list-speakers-planned-dnc/



2008 Democratic National Convention Delegation To Be Most Diverse In Party History

With certification of all delegates for the 2008 Democratic National Convention now complete, the DNCC was proud to announce that 44.3 percent of the delegates elected to attend the Convention in Denver represent minority communities, 50.1 percent are women and 31.4 percent are either seniors or youth, making yours the most diverse Convention in Party history.



“Opening the door of the political process to people who have never taken part in the past has been the bedrock of our planning for this Convention since we arrived in Denver one year ago,” said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “Twelve months and 56 primaries and caucuses later, it’s only fitting that our delegates represent that same core value and Barack Obama’s unparalleled ability to bring more new people in to the electoral process than ever before. Young and old, first-timers and Convention veterans, all representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds and communities, this is a delegation that will bring America’s voices to Denver.”



Click here to read more: http://www.demconvention.com/2008-democratic-national-convention-delegation-to-be-most-diverse-in-party-history

Good Fish Karma - Silver Salmon Pride!

Thank goodness we got 'em - I'm leaving at the height of my fave fishery and the beginning of moose season... the harvesting gods must support Obama for a silver this big!

Gotta Love a Presidential Candidate with Dance Moves!

Barack Dances with Ellen!

Snorkeling for Fishing Lures in the Anchor River

Getting ready to dive into the Anchor! It being August, the Kings are contributing to it's 'nutrient load'... so there are a lot of decomposing zombie kings lying around... but we got over it!


Didn't have to go far to find a ton!


My 'Catch' This is JUST the catch of lures, folks! You can't imagine the amount of monofilament out there... we really need to get this cleaned up!

Meet the Delegates, Thursday, August 21

Media Advisory
August 18, 2008
Contact: Kay Brown 907 258-3077; 907 5239-6970
Cal Williams 907 276-8698

Thursday: Meet Alaska Delegates to Democratic National Convention in Denver


What: Meet the Delegates Rally. Alaska Delegates to the Democratic National Convention, including former Governor Tony Knowles and state party chair Patti Higgins, will be wearing their official delegation attire (Alaska Native kuspuks designed by Laura Wright Alaskan Parkys).


Alaska is sending 18 delegates and 4 alternates to the national convention, which begins Aug. 25 in Denver. Many of the Delegates will be present at this event.

Short program followed by evening of live entertainment.

When: Delegates will be introduced at 7 pm, Thursday, August 21

Where: Club Soraya Restaurant, 333 West 4th Avenue (4th & D), Anchorage

For more information about this event: http://www.alaskademocrats.org/mm/ak_delegates_democratic_convention1.mp3

Following the program there will be a live and silent auction fundraiser to help cover the delegation's expenses; $25 suggested minimum donation. No charge for members of the media.

Alaska's Democratic Delegates:
Ryan Buchholdt of Anchorage
Carolyn Covington of Palmer
Angela Cox of Barrow
Andres Chovil of Chugiak
John Davies of Fairbanks
Claudia Douglas of Wasilla
Elyse Guttenberg of Fairbanks
Patti Higgins of Anchorage
Lindsey Holmes of Anchorage
Blake Johnson of Kenai
Heather Kendall of Anchorage
Tony Knowles of Anchorage
Idris Ogunjobi of Anchorage
Rex Okakok of Barrow
Kimberly Pace of Anchorage
Cindy Spanyers of Juneau
Gary Waid of Juneau
Cal Williams of Anchorage

Alternates:
Jane Bye of Dutch Harbor
Mike Davis of Dillingham
Charles Degnan of Unalakleet
Liz Villarreal of Homer

For more information about the Democratic National Convention: http://www.demconvention.com/

Alaska Canvass Event THIS SATURDAY!!! **MEET THE DELEGATES IN ANC THURSDAY**

This Saturday, Homer's Canvass event meets at 10 A.M. and Noon at the Sourdough Express Cafe on Ocean Drive (in between Beluga Lake and the Spit).

Everyone pairs up, gets materials, and then goes door knocking - in our town that means you'll see all your buddies - should be a blast! Hope to see you there.

On another note, I am honored to have been the recipient of an amazing oil portrait, to be used to raise money for the Alaska Delegation's Convention expenses! Painted and donated by Lance Porter of Anchor Point. It is even more amazing in person.




Bid on this at the "MEET THE DELEGATES" fundraiser

This THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
6:30 - 9:30
Club Soraya Restaurant
333 West Fourth Ave. (4th and D)
Anchorage

there will be great food, a live and silent auction, and live music and dancing (dancing by Phillipino Troupe, and a Polynesian Group) $25 recommended donation

Pictures from Homer

Diane Benson and I, Concert on the Lawn '08 (a local outdoor festival to raise funds for KBBI, our local NPR station, one of only 3 stations, and the only station that isn't syndicated)

Ingrid and I, getting prepared to train for our swim across Kachemak Bay


Husky for Obama, Lupita on one of the best days this summer. Diamond Creek Beach, Kachemak Bay


Lupe and I in our yard, getting ready to throw a round of disc golf

Latest Alaska Presidential Poll

From the latest presidential poll, where voters were asked who they would vote for if the election were today:


Alaskans, voting locations opened Monday for early voting! Cruise by and vote for clean water, fair hunting, and great democratic candidates! I support Diane benson, she is an amazing woman, and moreover, easy to talk with and she listens! Haven't gotten that from Ethan once, despite seeking him out to speak on a few occasions. Benson was the first woman teamster in Alaska! As the daughter of a truck driver myself, I can't imagine how tough you've gotta be to do that, and in Alaska during the pipeline no less. Congress will be a walk in the park in comparison! Click on her photo and check out how she stands on the issues. If elected, she will be the first Native American Woman ever elected to Congress, and the first Alaska Native ever elected to a national office.

Kamchatka for Obama

Liz

Thank you for providing me with an Obama bumper sticker that I gave to Martha Madsen while visiting her during the past two weeks in Yeliozovo which is in Kamchatka, Russia. Some other Russians who saw the sticker also expressed support. I didn't see any McCain bumper stickers.

Have fun at the DNC.

George


... thanks, George, for your work on stopping legal toxic dumping in salmon spawning streams. Alaskans, vote for Clean Water this Primary!

Top Ten Reasons to Protect Bristol Bay from Offshore Oil Drilling

1. Bristol Bay is home to the world’s largest wild run of sockeye salmon.

The region’s salmon are important not only ecologically, with Bristol Bay serving as one of the last global strongholds for Pacific salmon, but also economically and culturally. The area targeted for leasing falls directly within important migratory and feeding habitat for salmon from throughout western Alaska.

2. The Bristol Bay region is of global ecological importance for fish, seabirds, waterfowl and marine mammals.

The eastern Bering Sea is renowned for its enormous biological productivity and provides habitat for hundreds of fish species, dozens of marine mammal species and is home to one of the world’s greatest concentrations of seabird colonies.

3. Bristol Bay and southeastern Bering Sea waters support globally important commercial fisheries valued at more than $2 billion dollars annually.

The area targeted for offshore oil and gas development overlaps with vital habitat and fishing grounds for salmon, red king crab, herring, halibut, pollock and cod. The region provides more than 40% of the total U.S. fish catch and supports fishermen and fishing families throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

4. Salmon is the lifeblood of village economies and way of life and subsistence is the irreplaceable mainstay of Alaska Native tradition and culture.

Southwestern Alaskan communities rely on salmon, halibut, herring, marine mammals and other ocean and coastal resources for their livelihoods. Impacts from offshore drilling would threaten these rich subsistence traditions.

5. The Bering Sea ecosystem is already under stress from climate change.

Scientists have demonstrated that warming temperatures have already had significant and unprecedented effects on the southeast Bering Sea and Bristol Bay ecosystem including sea bird die-offs, rare algal blooms, declines in marine mammals and altered fish distribution. Ocean acidification, warmer ocean temperatures, disrupted oceanic production cycles, and warmer stream temperatures are expected to cause declines in productivity in the region over the next 30 years. Any further stress, such as offshore oil and gas activities, will exacerbate these threats to the integrity and resilience of the ecosystem.

6. Federal studies suggest offshore oil and gas production in Bristol Bay would result in one or more major oil spills.

Studies suggest that one or more spills of more than 1,000 barrels and a number of smaller spills would occur. Recovery of spilled oil in Bristol Bay is unfeasible as clean-up technology is inadequate in rough sea conditions, ice, and strong tides and currents.

7. Offshore drilling in Bristol Bay would further threaten a number of endangered species.

More than half of the area proposed for offshore development is designated critical habitat for the North Pacific right whale - the world's most endangered whale with a population estimated to be less than 100 individuals.

8. There are four national wildlife refuges (NWRs) in the region that could be affected by offshore oil and gas development.

The proposed transportation route for getting oil and gas to the market calls for a pipeline through the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge which provides habitat for salmon, waterfowl, wolf, wolverine, lynx, caribou, brown bears and numerous other species. Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the proposed lease sale area and contains some of the world’s largest eelgrass beds and important wetlands that provide habitat for millions of migratory birds. The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Togiak National Wildlife Refuge could also be impacted by offshore oil and gas development.
9. The economic benefits of renewable fisheries resources far outweigh the potential economic value of nonrenewable offshore oil and gas resources.

The Minerals Management Service has estimated the total net economic value of developing Bristol Bay’s oil and gas resources at $7.7 billion dollars over the entire 25-40 year lifespan of the project. Every year of offshore drilling would pose risks to an estimated $2 billion dollar annual wild fisheries economy.

10. We already determined that Bristol Bay is too sensitive to allow offshore oil and gas drilling.

After the Exxon Valdez oil spill demonstrated the tremendous damage an oil spill in Alaskan waters can have on fish, wildlife, and communities, Congress placed the region under the nationwide offshore drilling moratorium and Bristol Bay leases sold in the 1980s were bought back for over $100 million in taxpayer dollars. Protection from drilling has since been stripped away and a lease sale is scheduled for 2011, but the great ecological, cultural and economic risks remain.

thank you to our friends over at Alaska Marine Conservation Council for this!

2 Billion Dollars ANNUALLY from fishing to small businesses, or 7.7 billion over 40 years to huge compassionate corporations like Exxon?

My good friend Miriam helped put this video together about the Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery and how it is threatened by offshore oil drilling proposals.

One thing they don't mention is how much it costs to lease the land under the sea they drill into - - - i'm working on the calculations right now, so far the average is 68 cents a year!

Great Video!

Gotta give it up for this video, reality with a catchy beat! Please check it out :) (Click on it to play)

Oil Vey

TOP STORY, courtesy of grist.org

Oil companies' continued record profits tick off Democrats, consumers

Major oil companies reported ginormous second-quarter profits this week, irking consumers and fueling harsh rhetoric from congressional Democrats. ExxonMobil reported a record-breaking profit of $11.68 billion -- the highest of any U.S. company ever -- besting its own previous record set in the first quarter of this year. Royal Dutch Shell raked in $11.56 billion, BP hit $9.5 billion, Chevron brought in $5.98 billion, and ConocoPhillips posted $5.44 billion in profits. Consumers are enraged that oil companies are making crazy-high profits while they pay record-high gasoline prices, and Democrats in Congress are trying to stoke that anger, pointing out that oil-company profits rose even as production declined. Democrats have also stressed that a huge proportion of the companies' profits have been invested in buying back billons of dollars worth of their own stock in order to drive up its value instead of investing in renewable-energy research and development. "It's the most selfish group of companies that I've ever seen," said Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“Perhaps the only thing more outrageous than Exxon Mobil making record profits while Americans are paying record prices at the pump is the fact that Sen. McCain has proposed giving them an additional $1.2 billion tax break,” Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) said in a statement.


sources: The New York Times, Reuters, Forbes, The Hill, The Wall Street Journal, Chevron
see also, in Grist: Exxon spent millions fostering climate-change confusion, report says

Alaska Goes Green!

We know that Climate Change is real! We have been experiencing it on a very familiar basis up north. I'm sure it has affected the whaling of fellow Alaska Delegate Rex Okakok in Barrow. The fish runs are all askew with unseasonable water temps. This December, it warmed up significantly in Homer, the snow melted, and I was charged for a mile and a half on my way home from a very surly grizzly, mad about waking up unseasonably.

So I'm happy to say that the entire Alaska Delegation to the Democratic National Convention has offset it's carbon footprint. If you would like to contribute financially to this cause, you can do so easily: click on my pay pal button on this site, or mail a check to me at P.O. Box 1453 Homer, AK 99603

Your donation ensures that projects such as the one in the video below can happen, in turn helping us to get to Denver and affect more positive change for our planet!



THANK YOU!

Galena seeking critical mass for nuclear project

Galena seeking critical mass for nuclear project

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This is an update to a video I posted earlier about an extremely experimental nuclear reactor proposed for Galena, on the banks of the Yukon. Big money projects are sexy when gas prices average $7.50 a gallon! Non-oil based energy is vital, but not on an experimental scale in a place where subsistence is so important. Even if it wasn't important culturally (which is hard to factor out since it is so vital), when you live in a place where barges can only travel 5 months out of the year, it is absolutely essential that you feel good and are successful in getting your food and water safely from the land yourself.

It's also important to note that the Galena City Council is different from Tribal Government.

26 days!!!!

wow, only 26 days until the convention!!! so amazing, it really is. i have to say that i am thrilled that my fisherman is home, but that now more than ever i am hoping that he can come with me to be a part of history. i am hoping to blog from the floor of the convention, and hoping that he can do so from the outside events (which are looking pretty good), so that we can get a united story of what this is all about!

but 26 days! the fish weren't that good, folks. please help us get there! if you'd like to donate air miles for josiah, please email me at lizlouise@gmail.com

thanks!

liz

Need More Coffee...

I apologize for the long wait in between posts. I have been learning first hand how it is to be a Kodiak fisherman's wife. It's tough, I have full respect for those women who stay home and take care of the family, the home, the chickens, the bull, hold two jobs...(Renee, I am PROUD of you, you are one of the strongest women I know!) I've been processing fish on my own, knowing that we probably won't get a subsistence set and knowing that the freezer is empty. (but here's to a better moose season than last! 

Anyways, to give those of you who don't know an idea, Kodiak is one of the longest salmon fisheries in the State, as well as one of the most remote. Sure, it's not that far from town, but there are so many spots to be fishing that boats hardly make it to port to make a phone call, check email, have a shower. Get vegetables? Hah! Usually boats make it to port in the middle of the night, when nothing is open. The boat had issues with it's satellite phone, so it wasn't until they were gone for awhile that we got our first call, a total of 2.5 minutes in length, mostly comprising of 'what? you're breaking up!' Renee (captain's wife) said it best when she said that sat phone calls are a practice in divination. And I'm no Hermione! 

So, next time you are making the decision to decide between farmed (raised/dyed) and wild caught, after you think of how much healthier for yourself and the environment the Wild Alaskan Salmon option is, think how of us, and how important to us the fishery is. Those of us involved in Wild Alaskan fisheries hold these values so close to heart that we put up with a lot! 

Obama Supports sustainable fisheries, too! If I can figure out how to convert a pdf so that you can see this, the Obama campaign has a nice commercial fishing policy statement that I've been working on them with... let me know if you know how to do this!