Quit Whining
Carl R. Battreall
Written for the Insurgent49

“Quit whining!” is a comment I received after a slide show I gave on conservation motivated exploration and photography in Alaska. The statement did not surprise me; I could completely understand the person’s opinion. Alaska has more state and federal parkland than much of the entire lower forty-eight combined. Many of our parks have ice fields larger than some east coast states. On the flip side, that is exactly my point. Alaska is still considered by Americans and many foreigners to be that last frontier, a symbol of endless wilderness and adventure. And it is, but barely.

Let’s try and imagine Alaska one hundred years from now, during our great grandchildren’s lifetime (a feat Alaskan politicians can’t seen to comprehend). We might envision Alaska still being the symbol of all things wild, but we would be very naïve to think that at the current rate of our world’s population growth, our lack of commitment to truly wild, undeveloped places, and the rapid warming of our planet, that that could ever be the case.

What? You don’t think people are going to move to Alaska? You’re dreaming! We have it good up here and people are starting to figure that out. We must also not forget that the western United States, was, not too long ago, considered the wild west, a place only rugged men and savages lived, how many people live in California now? And as the last wild places across the globe diminish, where will the human race go to get their wild fix? Alaska, that’s where, but only if we start planning for it. And don’t even bring up the argument that it’s too dark and cold in Alaska and that people will never flock here. Ever heard of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland or Canada?

It is true, Alaska has plenty of land; wild land, threatened land, land that could become premier parkland. Land that could provide that wilderness fix that the human race needs to stay sane and survive or that land can be leased off to highest bidder for short term, often very destructive, non-sustainable development, which is exactly what the government is doing.

So while the environmental groups keep the public’s eyes on the big issues like ANWR and Global Warming (rightfully so) much of Alaska’s most pristine wilderness is ready for either salvation or destruction and most of which is ear marked for destruction.

It is time that the conservation community starts thinking of the future and quit acting on things only when the threat is in full progress. Understandably, anyone who has worked for a non-profit knows that most conservation organizations don’t have the funds to tackle anything but the big threats, but we as concerned, individual citizens do. In fact, many Alaskan’s have begun to fight against the greed, selfishness and corruption that has been the Alaskan trademark for decades.

Let’s take ANWR as an example of why we should start protecting these wild, public lands before there is a major threat against them. Wildlife Refuges are on the low end of the scale when it comes to protection. If the Arctic Wildlife Refuge was say, The Arctic National Park, the topic of drilling wouldn’t even be considered and on the other side, if it was simply federal or state lands, the oil would have been flowing twenty years ago. So even though it is only a refuge, it has been able to withstand the constant assaults from those greedy individuals looking to get rich in their lifetime.

And truly, that is what it boils down to, acting for the future generations or acting for what benefits only our own life and it’s short existence. Most of the people who complain about my complaining enjoy plenty of wild places, have a good time skiing, climbing, hiking, hunting or snow machining and really don’t give a rats ass about what happens to the land when their dead. Many don’t plan to stay in Alaska and they do plenty of their own whining when they say that there is nothing they can do to help any ways. So they treat the mountains just like the politicians and government they complain about, use it for their own pleasure and then leave when things get rough.

I have a six month old son and he only fuels my fire for change and conservation. I want his kids to have wild places to explore and enjoy like I do. And if there is one thing I have learned from him, the louder you cry and whine, the easier it is to get people to drop what their doing and listen. I must not be whining loud enough.