Sarah Palin’s Record On the Environment: A Closer Look
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 09. 6.08
Palin on the Environment, Beyond the Sound Bites
We’ve all heard the big ones by now: Sarah Palin doesn’t believe in global warming (as a result of human practices, at least), she’s suing the federal government to get polar bears removed from the endangered species list, and she vigorously supports opening the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve up for drilling.
But Palin’s stance on environmental issues is far more detailed than those simple, sound bite-friendly talking points. A recent Associated Press article delves into her repeated run-ins with environmentalists and federal marine scientists and breaks down her votes on a slew of environmental issues. Take a look at some of the Alaskan governor’s votes and stances:
Palin's Votes on Alaskan Environmental Issues
(from the AP ):
-Her administration disputes conclusions by the federal National Marine Fisheries Service and its science advisers that the beluga whale population is in critical danger. The state argues that 2007 data shows the whale rebounding.
-Palin opposed a state ballot initiative to increase protection of salmon streams from mining operations. It was defeated.
-She also opposed a ballot initiative barring the shooting of wolves and bears from aircraft except in biological emergencies. It was also defeated.
And then there’s this:
Under Palin, the state Board of Game authorized for the first time in 20 years the shooting of wolves by state wildlife officials from helicopters. The order resulted in the controversial shooting this summer of 14 one-month-old wolf pups taken from dens on a remote peninsula 800 miles southwest of Anchorage — an act that environmentalists claim was illegal. State officials characterized the killings as humanitarian, saying the pups would have suffered and eventually died without the care of their parents. Environmentalists argued they were killed to boost caribou populations to the benefit of hunters.
Additionally, she enacted a policy that provides a bounty of $150 for each freshly killed wolf turned in to the state, which is paid for with state funds.
In Palin's Defence
Palin’s defenders, as cited in the article, say that she’s acted to preserve the economy of state, since “the extraction of oil, natural gas, gold, zinc, fish and other natural resources is the primary source of state income and jobs.”
And that very well may be the case—but it doesn’t mean she couldn’t look into more environmentally responsible methods of obtaining resources; like creating sustainable fisheries, for instance—instead, she seems to possess a genuine impulse to vote against the environment when it imposes any economic restrictions to her state and not look back.
The Environment Under Vice President Palin
The sheer number of times she’s voted against the interests of environmental preservation is also a pretty clear indicator of her attitude towards the matter (as is perhaps Palin’s office décor)—which is worrisome, to say the least, to those who believe that environmental threats like global warming constitute some of the most important issues the next vice president (and potential president) may face.
More on Presidential Environmental Politics
John McCain's Bear Problem
John McCain on Amtrak
Used Mattress Design Competition: Making Mattresses Sustainable
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New EPA Antipollution Rules Target Lawn Mowers, Boat Engines and Weed Trimmers
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eek. she just keeps getting scarier.
However, I would love to see these kinds of things about the democrats (whom I plan on voting for). We all know Biden loves his trains, but past that talking point friendly soundbyte I'd love to know more about them. Both good and bad.
I think the entire political system is hopeless. An artist i know painted an anecdote or a nice supplement to the Obama "Hope" paintings crafted by Sheppard Fairey. Zoey Stevens captured Mccain in his painting called "Less" put them together and you get an allegory for these political times. Is there hope? Do we want less? Is it all hopeless?
Check it out in his blog http://zoeyobi1.blogspot.com/
I hope to see him create more art commenting on the election.
Come to think of it... she does bear an eerie resemblance to Cruela deVille :-S
Seriously now: all environmental credibility mcCain may have had, its all down the drain with this ticket.
I cant vote, as I'm not an american, but for the sake of all of us living on this planet; vote indepent if you must, but please dont vote mcCain...
I'm sure that they will take a similar stance to George Bush. Remember when he promised to make environmental decisions based on “sound science”? Of course, when he said that there was an asterisk meaning “the only sound heard after I pull my fingers out of my #… [ears, that was it].
I'm so disgusted with Sarah Palin's environmental record. This article doesn't mention the cruelty associated with aerial wolf hunting. There's rarely a "clean kill" from a plane or helicopter, so these beautiful, noble animals are left to suffer until they die. She's pro-human life, but ANTI-ANIMAL LIFE! And why are none of these issues stressed in the national news? Is it because no one cares about the environment? Alaska has this country's last reserve of pristine environmental resources, but Sarah Palin just wants to exploit them with drilling and mining until they're gone. If you've been to Alaska in the last 15 years, you've seen the rapidly accelerating melting & receeding of glaciers caused by global warming. But Sarah Palin could care less. Other countries are scoffing at us for our superficial admiration of this shallow, smiling hockey mom with a B.S. in journalism (that it took her 6 years and 5 colleges to obtain). AT A TIME WHEN WE DESPERATELY NEED TO BE REPAIRING OUR REPUTUTATION IN THE WORLD SO WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO SOLVE OUR AND THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS, THIS VP CHOICE IS LIKE SPITTING IN THE WORLD'S EYE. (And "One Heartbeat Away" is a real threat considering McCain's age and health issues.)
The more I read about this woman the scarier this becomes. I have hopped on the "Obama Bandwagon" as a result. The environment must come first or we will pay for it in the years to come. I can't imagine having 5 kids and not having a concern about this. I am trying to figure out what she actually means when she says she is "pro-life". Doesn't sound like it to me! Stupid!