Still time to save arctic wildlife refuge

Back in 1960, President Eisenhower designated the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as a place where wildlife such as polar bears, caribou herds, and migrating birds of many species could in fact be safe from human "development", i.e., the various activities of man which can and generally do interfere with Mother Nature and her wisdom.

Now, President Donald Trump and a number of his allies are pushing to open up this very special ANWR sanctuary for oil and gas exploration on its coastal plain. Such activities as drilling and exploring for fossil fuels in this very sensitive and pristine environment will bring about environmental degradation which will further imperil polar bears, who are already drowning due to the melting of the sea ice and will also jeopardize the future for the priceless caribou herds, the vast flocks of migrating birds, and, last but not least, the fate of the native human inhabitants of that unique and special region.

It seems to me that we have no right to drill or otherwise tamper with this area which is supposed to be a refuge, plain and simple.

Don't future generations of children in the U.S. and around the world deserve to know that there are still polar bears and caribou running free in the wild?

Please, if you cherish our country's natural legacy, I encourage you to speak up in favor of protecting the ANWR, get involved, and do whatever else you can think of to save it while there's still time.

Mary Dosch

Elburn