About 100 people showed up at a pro-wolf rally to protest the State policy of killing predators to increase the moose and caribou population for human hunters. That may not seem like a lot, but using *NYE (New York Equivalency) a measure I created to give Outsiders a sense of proportion for understanding Alaskan crowds, 100 people in Juneau, with a population of 30,000, is about the same as 27,000 people showing up for a demonstration in New York City.
Speakers decried the selection of Corey Rossi the new head of the Division of Wildlife Conservation. One speaker said he'd been involved with the Board of Game for over 30 years and there'd been many highly qualified Directors, some even with PhD's in relared fields. But Rossi, he said, without even a bachelor's degree was totally unqualified. Sen. Hollis French mentioned a member of the Board of Game as citing the Book of Genesis as the basis for for his wildlife management decisions.
Here are some pictures of the rally that began about two hours ago. I'll post video later today.
John Toppenberg of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance.
Some of the speakers included Joel Bennett, Greg Brown, Andrea Doll, Alex Simon, John Toppenberg, Vic Van Ballenberghe, Rep. Beth Kerttula, and Sen. Hollis French. Video later.
Update Monday March 29: Video now available here.
Great signs!
ReplyDeleteI have visited Alaska 8 times to enjoy world class halibut fishing. I have grown friendships with the charter operators and their families.
ReplyDeleteI have canceled this year's trip because of this insane slaughter. Management has nothing to do with this practice of exterminating apex predators.
Since I can't vote in Alaska, this is the only way to make my voice heard.
Fantastic signs, good size crowd given the size of the community and season.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have always wanted to visit Alaska,but canceled plans after your current Governor continued the ill-advised policies promoted by Sarah Palin.
If the Alaskan politicians are out to destroy the very wildlife that draws tourists to Alaska, then we and others will keep our money out of the state and spend it in states where the environment and wildlife are nurtured, not disrespected.
We are encouraging others to stay away as well.
My apologies to all well-meaning small business owners in Alaska who support ecotourism.
Alaskans should really try to sneak more NYE's into news coverage.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting on this and especially on legislative issues. This is a huge service now that journalism has virtually evaporated. I also love the NYE approach.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks to folks for changing their travel plans. Sadly, it's about the only message that gets attention.
I hope you'll explain your reasons not only to Gov. Parnell but to the Alaska Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska Travel Industry Association.
feedback@alaskatia.org
info@alaskachamber.com
If you add up the number of canceled visits and multiply that by what each is apt to spend, add the $400k for the "education" in 2008 and the $100k Rossi is spending on the video, add to that the cost of operating a helicopter, then divide all that by the number of wolves taken in the past 2 years, I'll bet you that is some of the most expensive aerial hunting Alaska has ever had to pay for.
ReplyDeleteI think you should all come up to AK and go sightseeing in Chignik. Stay out of AK's business! Until you've lived in the shoes of the rural Alaskan....keep to your own state. The value of a Moose to a rural Alaskan has been estimated at 1500.00. The value of a wolf to that same resident...None or Negative.
ReplyDelete