Economic Reasons To Oppose The Mine
It is hard to get the truth out, but that is what we have to do. We literally need the support of our fellow Alaskans if this mine is going to be stopped. We want the rest of the Alaska to take the time to care about this issue and stop the Pebble Mine. So, why should you care? The world is full of development and every time there is development, there is usually some impact on the environment. What makes this situation worthy of opposing this particular development of possibly the largest gold and copper mine in the world? There are many reasons, but we would like to offer the two reasons here to convince you to actively oppose the mine.
The first reason is economic. Some people have been misinformed that we would be gaining great economic opportunity with the mine that would create income for our region through jobs. Some say that sacrificing some pretty landscape and some fish would be a small price to pay for economic development. This is untrue. Bristol Bay has the largest sockeye salmon fishing industry in the world that employs 17,000 people and brings in 100 million dollars every year, not including profits during and after processing. The salmon also attracts tourists and sportsmen from all over the world that supports a very strong lodging industry. Also, economically, the salmon industry is a renewable resource; whereas, obviously, gold and copper mines have a short lifespan and they are non-renewable resources. A hundred years from now, we will still be fishing but the mine will have come and gone and left destruction in its wake.
On top of that, the state won’t benefit from its profits like it does from oil. The profits from the mine will not benefit the region or the state of Alaska.
The first reason is economic. Some people have been misinformed that we would be gaining great economic opportunity with the mine that would create income for our region through jobs. Some say that sacrificing some pretty landscape and some fish would be a small price to pay for economic development. This is untrue. Bristol Bay has the largest sockeye salmon fishing industry in the world that employs 17,000 people and brings in 100 million dollars every year, not including profits during and after processing. The salmon also attracts tourists and sportsmen from all over the world that supports a very strong lodging industry. Also, economically, the salmon industry is a renewable resource; whereas, obviously, gold and copper mines have a short lifespan and they are non-renewable resources. A hundred years from now, we will still be fishing but the mine will have come and gone and left destruction in its wake.
On top of that, the state won’t benefit from its profits like it does from oil. The profits from the mine will not benefit the region or the state of Alaska.
Fishing Makes Money, Even
•Out of 686,293 people in Alaska, only 6,000 of them are miners, while 65,000 are employed in the fishing industries.
•Bristol Bay brings in 65 million dollars for the state in sports fishing revenue alone and 95 million dollars for the state in commercial fishing.
•Bristol Bay brings in 65 million dollars for the state in sports fishing revenue alone.
•The state's revenue from commercial fishing is 11.2 billion dollars
•Bristol Bay brings in 65 million dollars for the state in sports fishing revenue alone and 95 million dollars for the state in commercial fishing.
•Bristol Bay brings in 65 million dollars for the state in sports fishing revenue alone.
•The state's revenue from commercial fishing is 11.2 billion dollars
Mining vs. Oil
The state of Alaska has benefited greatly from the oil industry. Taxation of oil revanues has almost single handedly made Alaska one of the richest states in the union, even giving permanent fund dividends worth sometimes over three thousand dollars to every Alaska resident. Many people who support the mine for economic reasons do so because they think that all big development like oil drilling will reap big rewards for the people of Alaska. This however is not true. The oil industry in Alaska and the mining industry lay in stark contrast.
Although this page is focused on economical isues, I feel obligated to mention that the bulding of the pipeline, of which my mother was a part of was very controlled and held up to high standards. The only spill in the pipelines history hapend as a result of vandalization.
Although this page is focused on economical isues, I feel obligated to mention that the bulding of the pipeline, of which my mother was a part of was very controlled and held up to high standards. The only spill in the pipelines history hapend as a result of vandalization.
