On our small world, we all pay when anyone pollutes

GLEN ALSWORTH SR.

April 04, 2008 at 9:26AM AKST

For Alaska Newspapers

It’s a small world after all. Global warming, climate change and soaring energy costs are the frequent subjects of debate these days, and right they should be.

Trying to establish who is to blame is easy: It is obviously everyone else’s fault. If these issues were viewed as assets instead of liabilities, there probably would be no end to the individuals and entities lining up to take credit for their creation.

Since that is not the case, I herewith offer a few fleeting thoughts on who actually are the most environmentally conscious folks on this planet.

Although some people seem to have all the answers, I seem to have mostly questions:

1) Will humankind likely consume more or less in the coming years?

2) Comparing environmental standards in the United States to other countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, China, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, Argentina, Pakistan and a myriad of others, are our standards more or less stringent?

3) Assuming the environmental requirements for development are the same worldwide, are the enforcement procedures and resources more or less assured in the United States?

4) In many countries, the nation itself is the developer of certain resources such as oil, gas, minerals, timber, etc. If these resources are developed by the country’s government, which also is the enforcer of its environmental policies, where are the restraints and the citizen’s forum to ensure proper evaluation, review and protection of the environment?

China alone, with more than 1.3 billion people, is home to more than 20 percent of the earth’s population. As an emerging country with an insatiable appetite for resources, its demand for energy, raw material and other resources could grow exponentially.

The law of supply and demand will find ready producers to meet their needs as well as the rest of the world’s consumers.

Before you conclude that China is our problem, let me assure you that I advocate neither unmitigated development nor careless extraction of our natural resources to meet worldwide demands.

What I am implying is that our great country, with strict regulations and a people’s forum for input through the environmental impact statement process, is less likely to do global harm in the extracting of our oil, gas, minerals, fish, timber and other resources than many other nations who would aspire to do so.

I would venture so far as to suggest that those who under the guise of being "green" imply that we cannot develop responsibly, are in reality promoting unmitigated pollution and global environmental harm, by pushing the supply machine into areas without restraint, regulation or review.

Bottom line: Let us diligently, carefully and wisely develop our own resources, when that development can meet our permitting standards, and not, by default, cause careless regimes to further pollute our planet by irresponsible resource extraction.

Perhaps the greenest person of all is the one who demands thorough science, provides for full accountability and insists on responsible development in a country where there is a rule of law.

If this is true, then paint me green. This planet is so small that if anyone pollutes, we all pay.

Glen Alsworth Sr. is the mayor of the Lake and Peninsula Borough. He can be reached at (907) 781-2212.