Not for Hire - Alaska

Source: Monocle

Preface

Alaska’s youngest governor, Sarah Palin, is taking US politics by storm. Her anti-corruption drives have found astonishing success - her approval rating is at 90 per cent. Now Rudy Giuliani is rumoured to want her as his presidential running mate.

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Monocle: You must have heard the recent gossip that Rudy Giuliani, if he emerges as Republican nominee for President next year, might ask you to be his running mate. Would you consider it?

Sarah Palin: I think it is so far in outer space, the possibility that he would ever want a hockey mum from Wasilla to be his running mate, that I haven’t considered it. I think the obligation that I have here is to serve my four-year term as a governor of Alaska. That’s the deal that I struck with voters. There is much more that Alaska can do to contribute to the US and I think I can help it do that as governor. But it would obviously be an honour for me to serve the country. And for Alaska’s sake too, it would be very good for our future for an Alaskan to be serving nationally.

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Thanks to Steve for the quote.

Sarah Palin would love to be your President

Sarah called into The Bob & Mark Morning Show yesterday with some interesting thoughts on Alaska and her future in politics.

Take a listen here:

Alaska takes seriously its job of protecting polar bears

By GOV. SARAH PALIN

It’s that time of year when the entire world will see animated holiday images of cute, cuddly polar bears smiling and dancing — and pitching cold soft drinks on TV and movie screens.

That’s the closest most Americans will ever get to a polar bear.

To steal a line from one of the commercials, it’s not “the real thing.”

It’s unfortunate, because polar bears are magnificent animals, not cartoon characters. They are worthy of our utmost efforts to conserve them and their Arctic habitat.

For Alaska, that means recognizing that while climate change is a serious concern for everyone on the planet, it is not the only issue surrounding polar bears.

To help ensure that polar bears are around for centuries to come, Alaska has engaged in research and worked closely with the federal government to protect them. This includes enacting a ban on most hunting — only Alaska Native subsistence families can hunt polar bears — and taking habitat protection measures such as set-asides around known denning areas to prevent bear harassment.

We are also participating in international efforts aimed at conserving polar bears worldwide.

The state takes very seriously its job of protecting polar bears and their habitat and is well aware of the problems caused by climate change.

But we know it will take more than protecting what we have — it means learning what we don’t know. Which is why state biologists are studying the health of polar bear populations and their habitat.

As a result of these efforts, polar bears are more numerous now than they were 40 years ago. Despite what some may wish you to believe, the polar bear population in the southern Beaufort Sea off Alaska’s North Slope has been stable for 20 years.

I strongly believe that listing the bears under the Endangered Species Act is the wrong move at this time. My decision is based on a comprehensive review by state wildlife officials of scientific information from a broad range of climate, ice and polar bear experts.

Despite emotional arguments to the contrary, there is insufficient evidence that polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct within the foreseeable future — the trigger for protection under the Endangered Species Act. And there is no evidence that polar bears are being mismanaged through existing international agreements and the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

We’re not against protecting species under the Endangered Species Act. Alaska has supported listings of other species, such as the Aleutian Canada goose. The law worked as it should — the species was near extinction, and a recovery plan resulted in goose recovery and delisting under the act.

Listing the goose — then taking the bird off the list — was based on science. However, the possible listing of a currently healthy species such as the polar bear is based on uncertain modeling of possible effects. The listing is simply not justified.

What is justified is worldwide concern over the proven impacts of climate change.

The group asking for the polar bear listing recently disclosed that its goal is to force the government to either stop or severely limit any public or private action that produces, or even allows, the production of greenhouse gases. Such limits should be adopted through an open process where environmental issues are weighed against economic and social needs, and where scientists debate and present information that policymakers need to make the best decisions. But the Endangered Species Act is not the correct tool to address climate change — the act actually prohibits any consideration of broader issues.

There is little doubt that the world’s climate is warming. I established a Cabinet-level task force to address the effects of climate change in Alaska, charging the task force with developing recommendations to deal with the effects of climate change.

Climate change is a serious issue. I urge all Alaskans to become involved by offering comments and suggestions to the task force for constructive action by the state. Listing the polar bear as threatened is the wrong way to get to the right answer.

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Sarah Palin is governor of Alaska.

Printed in The New York Times, The Seattle Post Intelligencer and International Herald Tribune

 

Charlie Rose talks with Sarah Palin, Janet Napolitano

Alaska Agriculture Day

Source: Office of the Governor

Agriculture is the foundation of every civilization and was integral in the settlement of Alaska. From the Russian trading posts of the early 1800’s to the Matanuska Colony of the 1930’s, farmers and livestock producers have been at the forefront of frontier expansion.

Today Alaska’s agricultural industry adds more than $32 million to the state’s economy. As consumers begin to demand more information about food quality and safety, our Alaska Grown producers will benefit from being the only “local” source of food.

Alaska farmers provide fresh, quality products to Alaskans, who otherwise must rely entirely on imported products. Alaska’s long-term food security is in direct proportion to the percentage of its food supply that is locally grown.

The need for agricultural literacy has increased as the number of people living on farms has decreased. Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis, yet few people recognize the contributions of our farmers.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2007, as:

Alaska Agriculture Day

in Alaska, and ask that all citizens recognize the contributions of Alaska’s farmers and producers. I encourage all Alaskans to support our farmers by seeking out and buying Alaska Grown products. Alaska Agriculture Day should be marked by celebratory events, projects, and activities aimed at all ages to increase their awareness and appreciation of Alaska agriculture.

Dated: April 27, 2007

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