August 10, 2004

8/10 - Paving Paradise in Alaska for Progress

Many people consider Alaska's wilderness as the last great "pristine" area left in the United States. However, those who live there and wish to develop the lands they inhabit have a different perspective.

Doug Isaacson, a businessman in North Pole, does not understand why environmentalists in the continental United States are inhibiting progress in Alaska. He sees the protection of the Alaskan frontier by outsiders as "immoral" and "absolutely wrong." To him, protecting hundreds of millions of acres from any development whatsoever is a baseline set far too high.

It's true that those who live in metropolitan areas are often strong advocates for the protection of pristine areas. But, perhaps their motive is not so much a wish to have a quiet and empty place to visit, but rather that they know far to well the damage that can result due to excessive development.

While the earth may be "God's bounty" for us to use, at some point if we manage our global resources poorly, we will find ourselves at the bottom of the chest.

- Sage Lichtenwalner (sage@marine.usf.edu)

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What's your baseline?

Posted by Amy at August 10, 2004 08:15 PM
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