The Sierra Club and the Gwich’in Steering Committee launched a public campaign against SAExploration – a seismic testing company that intends to put heavy machinery on the coastal plain as soon as December.
Seismic testing in Refuge would profoundly damage the ecosystem and harming threatened polar bears, undermining the human rights of the Gwich’in Nation, and destroying our public land.
1. Tell SAExploration: Stay Out of the Arctic Refuge.
SAExploration applied for a permit to conduct seismic testing for oil in the Refuge. The reality of seismic testing is brutal — their 90,000-lb “thumper trucks” would send shock waves deep into the ground, carving tracks into the tundra and disturbing the pristine ecosystem. Sign this petition to show them that moving ahead will be toxic to their reputation; making them infamous for harming threatened polar bears, undermining the human rights of the Gwich’in Nation, and destroying our country’s last great wilderness.
2. Ask your representative to vote for H.R. 1146 Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act.
On May 1st, the House Natural Resources Committee passed the bipartisan Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act. It will move on to the House floor for vote in coming months. Check this link to see if your representative has co-sponsored the bill or not. If not, you can send them a letter to urge them to co-sponsor the bill and vote to protect the Coastal Plain. Here is a sample letter template:
If your representative has co-sponsored the bill, you can send a letter and let them know that we appreciate their support to restore protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
A personalized letter is always better to reach your representative but if you have a limited time, click here to submit letter through PatagoniaActionWorks.
3. Host a film screening house party.
For a private home screening, click this link to share the film or order DVD. For a public screening or a non-profit use of my film, please contact me.
4. Spread the word on social media.
Below are sample languages that you can you on your social media. Feel free to use them or you can create your own message.
Sample Facebook/Instagram post language:
This year, a company called SAExploration could be testing for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They spin their seismic testing as sophisticated — but the reality is brutal. Massive trucks would crawl across the tundra, slamming into the ground with 64,000 pounds of force, while polar bear families den nearby.Take action to tell SAExploration: Stay out!
SAExploration wants to start destructive seismic testing in the Arctic Refuge as soon as December — causing permanent damage to America’s last great wilderness. Seismic testing in the Arctic Refuge means polar bear mothers and cubs could be crushed by heavy vehicles in their dens. Help us to send a clear message to SAExploration to stay out!
The rush to drill in the Arctic is on. A company called SAExploration just applied for a permit to conduct seismic testing for oil in the Arctic Refuge. Their 90,000-pound “thumper trucks” could start sending shock waves through the Refuge as early as December — and they risk running over undetected dens of threatened polar bears. Tell SAExploration: Stay out!
Sample tweet language: (Suggestion: Also you could use “$SAEX”, their linked stock name, in place of linking to their account in some of these)
Gwich’in people’s sacred land is no place for airstrips, heavy machinery, or 90,000-lb “thumper trucks.” Say NO to seismic testing in the Arctic Refuge: LINK #ProtectTheArctic
@SAExploration wants to start destructive seismic testing in the Arctic Refuge as soon as December — causing permanent damage to America’s last great wilderness. Tell them to back out before it’s too late: LINK #ProtectTheArctic
The Arctic Refuge coastal plain is the cornerstone of the Gwich’in Nation’s survival and culture, but @SAExploration wants to do irreversible damage to this sacred place. Act now and tell them to #ProtectTheArctic: LINK
Scars are still visible in the Arctic Refuge from seismic testing done in the 80s. Don’t let @SAExploration do more damage: LINK #ProtectTheArctic
Hey @SAExploration, do you REALLY want to be known as the company that destroyed America’s last great wilderness, threatened polar bear cubs, undercut human rights of the Gwich’in, and contributed to the climate crisis? #ProtectTheArctic
Thank you!
