Alaska’s Finest Seafoods

Conserving the Environment – How the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is Preserving Our Future

All over the world various species of animals, insects, and plants are being slowly wiped out. Some may argue that it is the natural order of things, but human involvement has certainly exasperated the issue, causing untold amounts of damage to the worlds ecosystems. All of the world, that is, except for the Arctic Circle and Alaska.

The Arctic is home to many different species of birds, bears, fish, and other animals. Much of the Arctic is still unspoiled, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) intends to keep it that way. This organization and reserve sees the value in unspoiled landscapes and thriving wildlife.

The ANWR reserve spans over nineteen million acres, and within its boundaries there are over 500 different species of recognizable wildlife, and many more that have yet to be discovered. Some of the world’s most succulent fish find their way in and out of this reserve, and many native tribes continue to live here.

Life, Untainted

Life continues to exist and thrive without human intervention. In fact, it could be said that the biggest attraction of the ANWR is the continuation of life cycles before the recent intervention of man. The wildlife continues to raise their young, hunt and forage, and evolve in peace.

This situation is particularly unique due to the climate of northern Alaska and the Arctic Circle- the extreme temperatures and high amounts of snow have kept humans and animals alike from setting up camp. However, with recent oil projects starting up in Alaska, the ANWR’s role will become more important than ever as it strives to maintain the unspoiled solitude that the wildlife has enjoyed for thousands of years.

The results of this untainted lifestyle are easy to see: the fish are healthier and larger, the land animals graze in packs, and the hunters stalk without fear of reprisal. There is no pollution, no noise, and no intervention. Just nature doing what it was always intended to do.

See the Refuge

Close your eyes for a moment and picture the sun setting over the hills. A stream runs through the valley that you are standing in, and the few remaining rays of sunlight reflect off of the water, giving it a golden edge. A flock of Geese fly overhead, their call echoing unchallenged throughout the landscape. A few Moose stand at the base of the stream, drinking the golden water. You sense peace, and feel as if the world has all but disappeared, if only for a few fleeting moments.

You can open your eyes. Nowhere else in the world will you be able to see or experience something as tranquil and serene. Tourists are able to see certain areas of the ANWR and experience some of the magic themselves. But remember, life here is how it was meant to be- you may find that you won’t want to leave.

If suppliers are determined to decrease their dependency on the United States then it is critical for the U.S to return the sentiment.

Ethanol

It is a beautiful thing, it really is. A few facts about E85 ethanol:

30% of competitors in the Swedish Touring Car Championships use ethanol

Ethanol can reduce toxic emissions as much as 30%

One Bushel of corn can produce 2.8 gallons of Ethanol

Energy output for Ethanol is 34% more than the energy it takes to produce it

Coors Brewing Company produces 1.5 million gallons of Ethanol from beer waste

And the major benefit of ethanol? It decreases our dependency on foreign oil, especially those countries who harbor terrorists. Imagine the boost the U.S economy would get from producing its own energy source within the country. Typically a 40 million gallon Ethanol plant produces 32 jobs on the local level, furthermore the money spent on ethanol would stay here in the United States since that is where it is produced, reducing the trade deficit.

Now is the time to make a change, not only for our government but us as United States citizens as well. Here are some tips that you can do to reduce fuel consumption and costs.

Carpool/Public Transit: Not only does Public Transit or Carpooling help ease fuel consumption it will reduce that stress of driving behind idiots going 15mph in a 45mph zone while talking on the cell phone and eating their breakfast.

Maintain your vehicle as directed: Replacing the air filter, o2 sensor on an older vehicle, and keeping your tires properly inflated can increase fuel efficiency 13%

Purchase a fuel Efficient vehicle: I know I know, the big SUV is a necessity but wouldn’t it be nice to give that big ole truck a rest? Park the tank because a reliable fuel efficient vehicle can be bought for less than a couple of thousand dollars. Instead of paying $70-$120 weekly you can drop that amount in half saving enough to pay for the second vehicle in a year.

It can be done and making small changes in our everyday lifestyle makes a huge difference, are you ready to contribute?

The issue of gasoline in the United States and alternative fuels have become quite an interesting topic. United States citizens have seen a steady increase in gas prices over the last 3 years. A long drawn out explanation is not needed to explain why, it is simply supply and demand, as demand rises so will prices.

Some people tend to think the solution is to increase supply, that we should open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to help control the price of gas but that is simply a band aid fix for what is becoming a terminal illness. Furthermore opening ANWR would have no effect on current economy for years and possibly decades.

So what is a declining superpower of the modern world to do? Again its simple economics, lower demand and prices will drop. The major problem is that government officials are easily swayed by the deep pockets of the oil industry, which leaves very little room for change in this country. The oil companies have a money tree in the United States and will do anything to preserve that.

The fourth largest supplier of oil for the United States is Venezuela, who has had tense relations with the Bush administration over the past few years. The problem with this scenario is that we depend on Venezuela for oil and because of the tension between the two leaders Venezuela is looking to decrease their dependency on the U.S as a major client.

Venezuela has increased their oil exports to China from 12,300 barrels per day to 150,000 barrels per day, with a predicted increase to 500,000 barrels per day over the next 5 years. Venezuela also began exporting 65,000 barrels a day to India and have come to agreements with Iran to build joint oil refineries. This information is troubling, if Venezuela drops their exports to the United States prices will rise drastically and economic growth in the U.S will suffer.

Vegetable oil sticks him with $1,000 fine

Bruce Henderson, The Charlotte Observer

Bob Teixeira decided it was time to take a stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil.So last fall the Charlotte musician and guitar instructor spent $1,200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He bought soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more than diesel would cost.

His reward, from a state that heavily promotes alternative fuels: a $1,000 fine last month for not paying motor fuel taxes. He has been told to expect another $1,000 fine from the federal government.

To legally use veggie oil, state officials told him, he would have to first post a $2,500 bond.

Teixeira is one of a growing number of fuel-it-yourselfers — backyard brewers who recycle restaurant grease or make moonshine for their car tanks. They do it to save money, reduce pollution or thumb their noses at oil sheiks.

They’re also caught in a web of little-known state laws that can stifle energy independence.

State Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Denton, is known around Raleigh for his diesel Volkswagen fueled by used soybean oil. The car sports a “Goodbye, OPEC” sign.

“If somebody was going to go to this much trouble to drive around in a car that uses soybean oil, they ought to be exempt” from state taxes, he said.

The state Department of Revenue, which fined Teixeira, has asked legislators to waive the $2,500 bond for small fuel users. The department also told Teixeira, after the Observer asked about his case this week, that it will compromise on his fine.

But officials say they’ll keep pursuing taxes on all fuels used in highway vehicles. With its 29.9-cent a gallon gas tax, the state collects $1.2 billion each year to pay for road construction.

“With the high cost of fuel right now, the department does recognize that a lot of people are looking for relief,” said Reggie Little, assistant director of the motor fuel taxes division. “We’re not here to hurt the small guy, we’re just trying to make sure that the playing field is level.”