Voices from the Flats – Citizens Speak Out for Salmon Over Coal
~The mouth of the Chuitna River where 7 million gallons/day of mine waste would pour into Cook Inlet every day, right across from Anchorage, if the Chuitna Coal project goes through. By Bill Sherwonit I wish to add my voice, again, to the many and diverse Alaskans who oppose the destruction of a Cook Inlet salmon stream for the sake of a coal mine. And I urge other Alaskans to join the effort to stop the proposed Chuitna coal strip mine, by either attending a public hearing in Kenai on Jan. 19, or by sending comments to the state’s Department…
Former UA Professor Receives Cook Inletkeeper’s Highest Award
A Commentary By Susan B. Andrews and John Creed KOTZEBUE—Finally, he’s getting a dinner. For almost 30 years, Rick Steiner toiled away at the University of Alaska, rising through the ranks to become one of the most accomplished, high-profile professors in the history of UA’s Marine Advisory Program. But when Professor Steiner left our state’s public university system earlier this year, the employer to which he dedicated virtually his entire career showed him less regard than it would a temp. Most UA faculty members who rise to the rank of “full” professor and serve as long as Steiner are conferred…
Voices from the Flats – Dear Sarah, You're Not Alaska.
By Zach Roberts Special note: This is a message to Sarah, that I sent to her via Facebook. Alaskans will get all the places, some of the references and some of the names. If you don’t get them, give it a Google, or read TheMudFlats.net (why aren’t you reading it already? What’re you a member of the Paliban?) Or better yet, get your butt on the next flight up to Anchorage. Yes I know it’s November and it’s cold… that means flights should be cheap. Go to Spenard Roadhouse get the Bacon Jam and tell them I sent you. ***************…
Employees Say BP’s Ombudsman’s Office Neglected Their Safety, Retaliation Concerns
By Jason Leopold [Jason Leopold is the Deputy Managing Editor at Truthout where this article is cross-posted. He is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller, News Junkie, a memoir. Visit newsjunkiebook.com for a preview. ] Over the past year, BP’s office of the ombudsman has been presented with dozens of safety concerns and evidence that would appear to support claims of widespread retaliation against employees who work for Acuren, one of the beleaguered oil company’s contractors on Alaska’s North Slope. But the watchdog has failed to investigate the allegations and in some instances has prematurely closed cases without conducting a thorough…
Open Thread – Mark Your Calendar for Rick Steiner
Frequent Mudflats contributor Rick Steiner will be speaking on November 7 in Anchorage. Mark your calendar now. The first time I heard Rick Steiner speak, I was blown away. It wasn’t an anomaly. This is an event you will not want to miss. Steiner is incredibly knowledgeable and conveys even the most complex subjects in ways that are easy to understand and entertaining. Bring a friend.
Open Thread
We are approaching the end of our virtual fly-over of the beautiful region just across Cook Inlet from Anchorage. We’re headed back across the silty grey water, passing over the mudflats and soon we’ll be landing at Merrill Field in Anchorage. I’ll soon have a story up about my trip to the area where PacRim Coal is pushing for the development of the Chuitna Coal Mine. I urge everyone to watch Moore Up North tomorrow on KYES Channel 5 at 4pm Alaska time, when Shannyn Moore will have a panel discussion and an update on the current situation. For those…
Mudflats Chats – Joe McGinniss (Part 1)
Sarah Palin’s famous neighbor is gone, and Alaska is a little emptier than before. But before Joe McGinniss took off into the waning light of the late Alaskan summer and back to the East coast, I had the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about his book. No, not that one – the new edition of his classic Alaskan adventure Going to Extremes which was originally published in 1980. Like a nineteenth century flaneur (from the french to stroll, and meaning “a person who walks the city in order to experience it”) McGinniss traveled the state of Alaska…