Stand for Salmon initiative provides needed update to law
I am a conservation biologist. I support development (and jobs) — when that development is regulated to balance the sustainability of renewable resources, including the jobs that depend on them. (Disclaimer: I am not Alaska Native.)
I think it is disingenuous of Sophie Minich and Rex Rock to imply that they represent all Natives when they ask us not to sign the initiative on salmon conservation (Commentary, Oct. 19).
They say, "Alaska Native people already stand for salmon," which I'm sure is true. However, several tribes and Native NGOs in Bristol Bay oppose Pebble mine's plans to dump toxic fill in the headwaters of anadromous streams. And many of the Natives of Tyonek opposed the proposed Chuitna coal mine, which would have destroyed another such stream.
Without an updated law on conserving salmon streams, state regulators could legally permit their destruction. With an improved law, proponents of development would still have a voice, too.
Please do sign the "Stand for Salmon" initiative.
— Vivian Mendenhall
Anchorage
Alaska is fortunate to have young Gambell whaler
Count me among the conservationists who stand with and applaud the leadership of Chris Apassingok of Gambell. Mr. Apassingok helped to successfully land a bowhead whale at the age of 16 and then was rudely attacked on social media. It is no small feat to straddle the skills of hunting in Arctic waters and navigate the global reaction of social media. And, Mr. Apassingok made clear his experience with the many challenges posed to Arctic residents by our changing climate.
Judging by his keynote speech and reception this week at the First Alaskans Institute 34th Annual Elders and Youth Conference preceding the Alaska Federation or Natives conference, we are all fortunate to have an emerging leader like Mr. Apassingok in Alaska's future.
— Sue Libenson
senior Arctic Program officer
Pacific Environment
Haines
Hope Trump quits like Palin
I see in the Wednesday, Oct. 18, letters to the editor, Jim Cross' opinion stating that Sarah Palin's political example led to the election of Donald Trump. We can only hope that Trump continues to follow her political example once more by resigning from office half-way through.
— Michael Harrison
Kotzebue
Bring two sections back
One apparently unintended consequence of creating a "one section" newspaper irritated me more than any other. I have been a News/Dispatch subscriber for 40 years and every morning I wake up and read the newspaper sharing sections with my wife of 47 years. Now we have to read the newspaper separately. I guess I'm old and don't want to read the news off the internet while she peruses the hard copy. Bad planning, new owners. I'm close to pulling the plug.
— Larry Holman
Anchorage
Icy roads prove writer right
Cynthia Wentworth's commentary (Oct. 17) on the highway/automobile/commuter issue got the perfect exclamation point on the "morning after" when the first frost/ice situation occurred from Mat-Su to Anchorage, causing traffic to set up like concrete with landings in the ditch and a variety of crashes, leading to complications all of which generate great inconvenience, stress, cost and grief not to mention precious time for commuters, medics and police. Talk about inefficiency. Her clearly thought out premises should be a bop on the noggin to transportation planners.
Consider the lamebrain idea for an additional lane built for rapid-transit-buses (good luck out-driving the road streakers already hammering the highway) and picture the happy commuters jolted into crawling out of a nose-dived, flopped-over bus on the frosty/icy days we call normal.
Our unique opportunities, our creative brains, and progressive ideas are being wasted — paved over, so to speak.
— Joan Daniels
Bird Creek
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.