When the years of Trump recede, it is possible -- maybe even probable -- that development of the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge will be seen as one of his greatest legacies. For a while, some will see it as being among his greatest achievements. But, with time, the damage could affect global warming to an unknown tune.
Sufficient to say, even the banking community is backing out. Have ever the banks refused to borrow to oil developers? They are, now, because of fears of what effect the development in northeastern Alaska will have on climate change. Such lack of cooperation from the banking industry is probably unprecedented. Conservatives have suggested that if climate change were real, the banking industry would not be lending. Well, open your eyes and look at this, then.
Congress has voted on opening the refuge maybe 50 times. And, in all those years, it hasn't happened. Then, in 2018, along came a new president putting together a budget and looking for revenue and deciding he wants the refuge open to oil development so he can make a little cash.
The Trump administration has scheduled leases to go on sale Jan. 6, making this one of the last dictates of his administration, a dramatic measure in the closing days of his office. Do we remember President Obama's final days in office by his declaring national monuments? Well, President Trump is going the opposite direction, opening up what is said to be America's last great wilderness. The land has been largely undisturbed for ten thousand years. But, no more.
(Index -- Climate change info)
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