Steiner treatment appalling
The case of University of Alaska professor Rick Steiner's lost grant funding is weird and sickening in this 20th anniversary year of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Steiner stood as one of the spill's authentic heroes, and since has become a world-renowned expert on marine pollution and how to build community organizations that can prevent it. International agencies have sought his advice in Mongolia, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea, among many other places, and have paid his way in spreading lessons learned in Alaska.
But back home, Steiner stands accused of bias by officials in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant Program. Their evidence? That he pointed out pro-oil bias at their own conference promoting drilling in Bristol Bay.
Leaving aside the Orwellian logic of this attack, and leaving aside, as well, the damage to the integrity of our university if a professor can lose funding for speaking his mind, consider what it means on this anniversary for the federal government to be silencing those who seek to protect the sea from oil spills. Twenty years ago we were failed, first and foremost, by our institutions, especially our governments. Many of us swore we wouldn't let it happen again. Professor Steiner's situation suggests we've already forgotten that promise.
-- Charles Wohlforth
Anchorage
ADN a newspaper worth reading
I love your paper. I fell in love with your editorial approach while vacationing in your state the summer of '06. Each time we came out of the Bush your paper was our first purchase. Someday I'll cough up the dollars and subscribe to your PDF edition. 'Till then I enjoy your online paper.
-- Ken Miller
Rimrock, Ariz.
Program must train Natives
Recently, the University of Alaska Board of Regents and Alaska's regional Native corporations approved a resolution to create the Alaska Native Education and Research Council. This new council will assist and provide support for the higher education needs of Alaska Native students. One of its goals is to cultivate and grow the Alaska Native work force through education and thus provide more employment opportunities for them. This is a win-win situation for the state and Alaska Natives.
Alaska Native corporations and tribes have made contracting with the federal government a true success story. In fiscal 2008, companies owned by Alaska regional and tribal corporations earned a record $5 billion in federal contracts, nearly 10 times the $506 million they earned in fiscal 2000, according to new data analyzed by Government Executive.
They have created thousands of jobs worldwide and have returned profits to benefit Alaska and their shareholders. And at the same time, these experiences are making them better business players in the global marketplace. But Alaska Natives are not getting the employment on these contracts that should be theirs because of a lack of training and/or education.
The new council needs to correct this situation. Foremost is the need for an Alaska Native retention and graduation program for post-secondary students -- a program with housing, mentors, tutors and a program that produces employable graduates.
-- Kent Weltin
Anchorage
Corporations, councils: Give aid
For many months the Native villages have been sending out dire cries about the terrible situations they face with the costs for food, electricity, gasoline and fuel oil. Prices so high that many are faced with decisions whether to buy food for their families or fuel for heat.
What a frightening thing to wake up to each day. It must be a dreadful existence for many of the Native families. They probably feel that no one hears their cry for help. The Native corporations and directors are silent, all the Native women and men of past and present influences are silent, the Village Council of Presidents is silent.
Where have they all gone? The corporations and councils have some very intelligent folks on their staffs who took advantage of noncompetitive bids and generated millions and billions from contracts they secured. But why aren't they answering the pleas from their own folks in the villages? They should jump right in with immediate financial aid and apply their brain power to assist now and develop innovative ways for the future. Use their bank accounts and ongoing profits as a tool. Waiting for our government to solve your problems is not the right thing to do.
-- Alt Haug
Anchorage
Americans, it's time to speak out
"The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the people. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legislative authority." -- attributed to Alexander Hamilton.
Bypassing the consent of the American people, Republican- and Democratic-controlled Congresses and presidencies, manipulated by whacko experts and lobbyists, have used our money and delegated authority to create mediocre or failed results. Our country's condition, its economy, its foreign relations and its wars currently demonstrate this.
I call on Congress to adjourn for three months, put citizen minds to work on national problems and harvest a true wealth of ideas and solutions. When Congress reconvenes, massive partisan influence from foreign countries, lobbyists and fake experts that now poison government deliberations would be naturally overthrown. Citizens, what say you?
-- Stuart Thompson
Wasilla
APD search team deserves thanks
I would like to say thank you to the Anchorage Police Department auxiliary search team. Some of the great residents of this city know of us, some do not. We are the ones that most people never see; we do not ride in marked police cars nor show up in bright flashing fire trucks. We drive our own vehicles, pay for our own fuel and most of our own equipment. We are the ones who get called out right at dinner time or as we get ready to go to bed.
The search team gets called out on weekends, holidays and sometimes at 0100 hrs in all kinds of weather conditions to go find a missing person, young or old matters not. The APDST members are composed up from diverse backgrounds, retired people, active military, private sectors, muni and state employees to college people. Often times we call on ASARD (Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs) to assist us in finding people, alive or deceased. Many thanks to the dogs and their handlers, for endless hours of training and searching.
There is no depth of my words to express my thanks and gratitude to this group of people for the unselfishness in helping this city.
-- Mike Graves
director, APDST
Iditarod stories are most helpful
I just want to say thank you for the wonderful coverage you give to the Iditarod. Our friend, Nancy Yoshida, ran in this year's race and had a bit of a train wreck in Happy River gorge. Your coverage has kept us up to speed on her condition and situation.
We were in Anchorage and Willow for the festivities but had to return home once the race began. Your concern and wonderful coverage was a gift to those of us who were so anxious over her situation.
Thank you, also, for the interviews with the mushers who stopped to help her, they will remain in our prayers. Nancy explained to us that the Iditarod originated to help a village in need, the mushers in the original run pitted themselves against nature to accomplish a charitable cause.
It seems the nature of the race continues with the overwhelming help and care everyone involved takes to see to the safety of the competitors. The response to the accidents by mushers and check point people, the bush pilots and everyone involved is exceptional. Your coverage of the race has given us some wonderful reading.
-- Suzanne Antonenko
Thompson, N.D.
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