wfn.org | [ENS] Religious leaders join Presiding Bishop to support protection

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@mail.epicom.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

March 04, 2005 - Friday Forum

Religious leaders join Presiding Bishop to support protection of Arctic
Refuge

by John Johnson

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, joined by
leaders from Jewish, Catholic and Protestant faith traditions, sent a
letter
to Congress March 1 in support of protecting the Arctic National
Wildlife
Refuge-land sacred to the predominantly Episcopalian Gwich'in
Nation-from
oil and gas development.

"To risk the destruction of an untouched wilderness and an ancient
culture
violates our theological mandate to be caretakers of creation," the
statement said. "While the ecological and human rights values of the
Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge are recognized by many, the cost from
exploitation
of the potential resources that may exist there does not justify
exploration
or development."

Proponents of drilling are attempting to use the congressional budget
process to circumvent normal consideration of the controversial measure
by
including highly speculative revenues from lease sales in the Arctic in
this
year's Budget Act.

A January 2005 bipartisan poll by Republican firm Bellwether Research
and
Democratic pollsters Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates found that by a
margin of 53 percent to 35 percent, Americans oppose proposals to drill
for
oil in the Arctic. By a wider margin-73 percent versus 18
percent-Americans
believe this issue is too important to "sneak through" in the budget
process.

"We recognize that our use of fossil fuels and the resulting global
warming
has its greatest impact on the poor and vulnerable," the statement
concluded. "Controversy over whether to open the Arctic National
Wildlife
Refuge to oil development requires us to ask ourselves: what kind of
world
will we leave to future generations?"

Ninety percent of the Gwich'in are Episcopalians, creating a special
obligation for the Episcopal Church to advocate with the Gwich'in on
behalf
of their sacred spaces. Drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge threatens
the
Porcupine caribou herd that the Gwich'in have depended on for survival
and
culture for 10,000 years. Experts say it would damage the pristine
wildlife
sanctuary for less oil than the U.S. uses in less than one year.
Potential
oil from the Arctic would take an estimated 10 years to reach markets
and
have no impact on the price of oil or gas. Reports in the New York Times
have indicated that interest among major oil companies in drilling in
the
Arctic Refuge has declined in recent years.

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church, the Executive Council
and
the House of Bishops have issued repeated resolutions and statements
calling
on the U.S. Congress to permanently protect the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge and to urge government and industry to consider
conservation-based
energy strategies that include raising vehicle fuel economy of all
vehicles
in the United States, increasing funding for mass transit, and investing
in
renewable energy research and development among others.

-- John Johnson is the domestic policy analyst in the Episcopal Church
Office of Government Relations in Washington, D.C.

The Full Text of the letter with signatories follows:

Leaders of Faith Communities Support Protection of
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

March 1, 2005

Dear Members of Congress:

Representing communities of faith and as leaders of various religious
traditions, we share a common scriptural and theological belief that we
have
a responsibility to care for God's creation and to be good neighbors. As
people of faith, we support protecting the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge
fully. To risk the destruction of an untouched wilderness and an ancient
culture violates our theological mandate to be caretakers of creation.
Because of these deeply shared values we respectfully ask you to oppose
legislation that would facilitate the opening of this sacred space to
oil or
gas exploration and development in any way.

While the ecological and human rights values of the Arctic National
Wildlife
Refuge are recognized by many, the cost from exploitation of the
potential
resources that may exist there does not justify exploration or
development.
The best estimates tell us that oil from the Refuge as a single source
is
equal to what the Unites States would consume in several months.
Conservation, energy efficiency, and alternative sources of energy can
do
much more to address our country's energy needs.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the few ecosystems left on
earth in its original condition. It is a national treasure and such
natural
places are anchors in a changing world. They help hold us in place and
tell
us where we have been; they often can be sources of inspiration and
comfort.
As Job counsels, "listen to the earth, and it will teach you." Job 12:8.

The Arctic Refuge is well-known for its Porcupine caribou herd, whose
life
cycle is dependent on the Refuge as an intact, virtually undisturbed
ecosystem. The caribou are a chief link in the subsistence culture for
the
indigenous Gwich'in people. The Gwich'in call themselves the "Caribou
People" and the Arctic Refuge is for them "the Sacred Place where Life
Begins." The caribou are essential for Gwich'in cultural, social, and
spiritual needs and it has been that way for over 10,000 years.
Disturbances
that lead to reduced calving success for the caribou may cause
significant,
irreversible, negative consequences for all involved in this unspoiled
web
of life.

Pristine places like the Arctic Refuge provide numerous benefits. For
humankind, the Arctic is a control environment that helps scientists
answer
current and future questions in the changing environment. For animal
kind,
the Arctic is an important habitat and home for many species, including
the
Arctic peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, golden eagle, snowshoe hare,
ptarmigan,
polar bear, grizzly bear, musk ox, threatened spectacled eider, wolves,
smaller mammals and water fowl. "The psalmist proclaims, 'O Lord, how
manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is
full
of your creatures." Psalm 104.
We recognize that our use of fossil fuels and the resulting global
warming
has its greatest impact on the poor and vulnerable. Controversy over
whether
to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development requires
us
to ask ourselves: what kind of world will we leave to future
generations? As
people of faith, we are committed to working for a world with justice
for
indigenous peoples and all creation and we support indigenous peoples'
rights as a basic component of a just society. For these reasons and
others,
we ask you to oppose opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil
and
gas exploration and development.

Thank you for considering our concerns.

Sincerely,

Simone Campbell, SSS
National Coordinator
NETWORK

The Right Reverend Vicken Aykazian
Legate of the Armenian Church

The Reverend Dr. Robert Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches of Christ, USA

The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA

The Reverend Dr. Stan Hastey
Executive Director
Alliance of Baptists

The Reverend William Chris Hobgood
General Minister and President
The Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) in the
United States and Canada

The Reverend Michael Livingston
Executive Director
International Council of Community Churches

Marie Lucey, OSF
Associate Director for Social Mission
Leadership Conference on Women Religious

Rabbi Janet Marder
President
Central Conference of American Rabbis

Stanley J. Noffsinger
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren General Board

The Reverend Dr. Lon Oliver
Associate Regional Minister
Kentucky Appalachian Ministry

Sister Robbie Pentecost, OSF
Executive Director
Catholic Committee of Appalachia

Rosanne Rustemeyer, SSND
Executive Director
U.S. Catholic Mission Association

Rabbi David Saperstein
Director
Religious Action Center on Reform Judaism

Adam C. Stern
Executive Director
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life

School Sisters of Notre Dame
Office of Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation

The Reverend John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

Reva Price
Director
Jewish Council of Public Affairs

Joe Volk
Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
(A Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest)

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