The North Pacific Coast --How Environmentalists, Natives, Companies, the Government can work together for a better Alaska?

There were about 30,000 people (31,000 native Indians and about 400 white) in the 19th century (http://explorenorth.com). That means about 13,000 acres per person. Today, with Alaska’s population close to 700,000 people, the density is not even 1 acre per person and that is actually the lowest density from USA (www.wikipedia.org).

Almost a century ago, the Alaska government passed a law regarding settlement which is the reason for some struggles between Alaska’s state government, native Indians, United States government, business, and environmentalists. How all these cooperate

Let’s assume you belong to one of these groups and your main concerns are just regarding your group. If you are the CEO of ARCO AmPm (the petroleum company), you know that America’s largest oil field is in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and you also know that you are a business man, which means that your main concern is how to make money. How would you defend your position/business interests?

How about if you worked for government, how would you make everybody (local/federal government, native people, and environmentalist) happy about Alaska’s land?

Let me give you my version...

First, the native people should be compensated for the land which belonged to them. Also, they should have enough land for their own communities, parks, etc. Once they reach an accord with the government, they should understand that creating business and exploiting land is needed in some cases.

Second, strict laws should protect the environment and let companies create businesses, which would create jobs, taxes to government, etc… If the environment is protected, Greenpeace and other NGO companies could not say anything.

Third, the local communities would have more jobs and a higher standard of living.

Last, of course the government would be happy if taxes are paid.

A unknown proverbs says that “There is no “I” in team work”, therefore environmentalists, natives people from Alaska, companies which are interested in creating jobs and of course making $, and the government should work together and try to solve all the struggles which currently exist in Alaska.