Respect the planet
Open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Welcome to the Yukon.
As you are no doubt aware, Northern Canada is experiencing the effects of climate change ‘first and worst.’
Your recent statements in Nunavut regarding the need for Canada to enforce its sovereignty over our potentially commercially viable northern sea lanes reflect this.
The northern sea lanes are opening up due to the retreat of the polar ice cap. The reason the polar ice is in retreat is due to global warming.
The scientific consensus is that the Earth is warming, and that it is due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
While it is not possible to halt the immediate effects of climate change, it is important to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in order to minimize the future effects of further climate change.
I urge your government to implement a climate change plan that reduces Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions to at least the levels stated in the Kyoto Accord.
Lewis Rifkind
Whitehorse
Respect the caribou
and the people
Open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
The Vuntut Gwitchin, have worked tirelessly to protect the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou from big oil companies for decades.
The Porcupine caribou are an integral part of our existence as a people and we have the right to feed ourselves and live a subsistence lifestyle and this has been reaffirmed by the United Nations.
For thousands of years, the Vuntut Gwitchin together with our other northern indigenous brothers and sisters, have diligently sought to protect the sovereignty of the Arctic within our territories with special emphasis from the Gwich’in on the protecting the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds.
Prime Minister Harper, for the benefit of all Canadians, I ask your commitment in protecting the sovereignty of the Vuntut Gwitchin in relation to our human rights to live a subsistence lifestyle and feed our families from the land, by conveying a clear position and message to the United States of America that the Porcupine caribou herd can not be managed in complete independence and that in order to secure the herd’s long-term survival and the existence of the Gwich’in, that the herd’s entire critical calving range must be protected from industrial intrusion for all time.
Darius Elias, Vuntut Gwitchin
Old Crow
Thieves spoil campground
It’s a darn shame. It’s such a nice campground at Tagish and the man who looks after it really keeps it so nice and tidy.
But it’s a shame because there are some thieves. We have been going there for years camping and never had any problems until August 12 at about 3 a.m.
Someone came along and stole three fishing rods and reels, two casting and one trolling.
I have an idea who stole our rods and reels.
I just wonder how proud the parents are of their children to let them run until the early hours of the morning and steal.
Is that how you bring your children up these days?
My wife and I are seniors and if you had any decency you would return the rods and reels.
You can take them to Art Smith at the gazebo.
Peter Wolozeniuk
Marsh Lake
Today’s Yukon bush
Open letter to wheelbarrow thieves,
You with the four wheeler who stole our wheelbarrow from the bushes off the road by the Old Lagoon. We’d like it back.
We will find you.
That’s our only way to haul our stuff from the road. You must be pretty bad off to steal from us. You took it August 8.
Also, to the wood cutter who stole our first wheelbarrow some years ago by the Old Lagoon. By now you should have been able to have bought your own.
Drop it off where you picked it up.
Is there no honesty even in the bush?
Christopher Lewis and Pam Peters
Whitehorse
