Debate Over Alaska Oil

I’m closely following the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) debate and the issues raised in your two-part series. I was recently up in that part of the world, at Arctic Village, a Gwich’in settlement. And I’m writing primarily to express my grave disappointment at your flawed portrayal of this issue.

The Sept. 15 article focused on the environmental impact with a small sidebar on the native peoples up there. The next day’s article focused on shipping mishaps. What about the people, the Gwich’in whose way of life will be wiped out? What about the economic and human rights violations? You scarcely mention the human face on this issue, what it will cost in human terms for these Indians.

It saddens me how this development of ANWR in your estimation is a fait accompli. Why not ask the deeper questions of should we really be doing this, destroying the Earth like this, displacing and demolishing this ancient Indian culture and their identity and to virtually be pounding nails into their coffin.

When I was up there I asked the Gwich’in if there was any message I should give the people in Los Angeles about this ANWR issue. And why should Los Angeles care about the Gwich’in? The most common response was because this is the last frontier. In this part of the world you can still drink the water of the rivers, still breathe fresh air, still live in sync with nature.

CHARLES EGAN, Los Angeles