Leaders of Faith Communities Support Protection of

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

 

 

 

 

March 1, 2005

 

Dear Members of Congress:

 

Representing communities of faith and as leaders of various religious traditions, we share a common scriptural and theological belief that we have a responsibility to care for God’s creation and to be good neighbors.  As people of faith, we support protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge fully.  To risk the destruction of an untouched wilderness and an ancient culture violates our theological mandate to be caretakers of creation.  Because of these deeply shared values we respectfully ask you to oppose legislation that would facilitate the opening of this sacred space to oil or gas exploration and development in any way.    

 

While the ecological and human rights values of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are recognized by many, the cost from exploitation of the potential resources that may exist there does not justify exploration or development.  The best estimates tell us that oil from the Refuge as a single source is equal to what the Unites States would consume in several months.  Conservation, energy efficiency, and alternative sources of energy can do much more to address our country’s energy needs.  

 

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the few ecosystems left on earth in its original condition.  It is a national treasure and such natural places are anchors in a changing world.  They help hold us in place and tell us where we have been; they often can be sources of inspiration and comfort.  As Job counsels, “listen to the earth, and it will teach you.”  Job 12:8.

 

The Arctic Refuge is well-known for its Porcupine caribou herd, whose life cycle is dependent on the Refuge as an intact, virtually undisturbed ecosystem.  The caribou are a chief link in the subsistence culture for the indigenous Gwich’in people.  The Gwich’in call themselves the “Caribou People” and the Arctic Refuge is for them “the Sacred Place where Life Begins.”  The caribou are essential for Gwich’in cultural, social, and spiritual needs and it has been that way for over 10,000 years.  Disturbances that lead to reduced calving success for the caribou may cause significant, irreversible, negative consequences for all involved in this unspoiled web of life.  

 

Pristine places like the Arctic Refuge provide numerous benefits.  For humankind, the Arctic is a control environment that helps scientists answer current and future questions in the changing environment.  For animal kind, the Arctic is an important habitat and home for many species, including the Arctic peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, golden eagle, snowshoe hare, ptarmigan, polar bear, grizzly bear, musk ox, threatened spectacled eider, wolves, smaller mammals and water fowl.  “The psalmist proclaims, ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104. 

We recognize that our use of fossil fuels and the resulting global warming has its greatest impact on the poor and vulnerable.  Controversy over whether to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development requires us to ask ourselves: what kind of world will we leave to future generations?  As people of faith, we are committed to working for a world with justice for indigenous peoples and all creation and we support indigenous peoples’ rights as a basic component of a just society.   For these reasons and others, we ask you to oppose opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration and development.

 

Thank you for considering our concerns. 

 

Sincerely,