Re: “Trump Signs Order to Approve Mining Road Through Alaskan Wilderness” (Oct. 6, Nation):
President Donald Trump simply approved the desecration of pristine, publicly owned wilderness — together with a part of Gates of the Arctic Nationwide Park and Protect — to learn a billionaire donor. Trump authorized development of a 211-mile industrial highway via Alaskan wilderness to expedite mining of copper and different minerals within the Ambler Mining District. Trump’s billionaire donor pal — John Paulson — owns 8.7% of Trilogy Metals, certainly one of two international corporations that may function the mines. Yup, that’s proper — the companies set to pillage our land aren’t even American.
The injury can be extreme. The Ambler Highway threatens the 150,000-strong Western Arctic Caribou Herd. It can cross 11 main rivers and lots of of streams, many salmon-bearing. It can eternally scar a few of the final, finest wilderness on Earth.
Trump and pals started the yr by making deep cuts to the Forest Service and Nationwide Park Service whereas pushing laws to promote thousands and thousands of acres of public land and speed up highway constructing in locations just like the North and Central Cascades, and Olympic Mountains.
Our public lands have survived for over a century as a result of residents defended them. That legacy depends upon all of us — hikers, hunters, anglers, birdwatchers. Please converse up earlier than it’s too late.
Ken Bennett, Friday Harbor
