Alaska Tells U.N. to Bug Off - Resolution opposes United Nations 'Beringia' designation

Liberty Matters News Service

4/29/05

The Alaska Legislature has approved a resolution opposing the United Nation's plan to designate parts of western Alaska, eastern Russia, the Bering Sea and Glacier Bay National Park as a marine biosphere known as "Beringia." Many of the designated sites include private property. "Designated land could block commercial activity, including pipelines, highways, railroads and power transmission lines," said Jennifer Baxter, an aide to Rep. Jim Elkins, author of the resolution. The resolution states in part; "Animal rights activists could use these international designations to generate pressure to harass or block harvesting of marine mammals by Alaska Natives or the commercial harvest of fisheries." The resolution was presented to the Senate Resources Committee, which approved it without debate. "It always disturbs me when we see an organization like the U. N. that can't even take care of their own internal affairs want to take care of everybody else's," said committee chairman Tom Wagoner.

Resolution opposes United Nations 'Beringia' designation

JUNEAU - State Rep. Jim Elkins, R-Ketchikan, says the United Nations has gone too far in considering designating the Bering Sea and other parts of Alaska a World Heritage site. Elkins said the state should give permission before any such designation is made. "It's a state's rights issue," he said. The U.N. designation aims to "encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity," according to the U.N. World Heritage Web page. Other World Heritage sites in the United States include Yellowstone National Park, the Statue of Liberty, Monticello and the Grand Canyon. A resolution by Elkins opposes the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designating parts of western Alaska, eastern Russia, the Bering Sea and Glacier Bay National Park as a marine biosphere known as "Beringia." Many designated sites include private property and holdings, or buffer them, said Jennifer Baxter, an aide to Elkins. Designated land could block commercial activity, including pipelines, highways, railroads and power transmission lines, she said. The resolution states: "Animal rights activists could use these international designations to generate pressure to harass or block harvesting of marine mammals by Alaska Natives or the commercial harvest of fisheries." Elkins and Baxter presented the bill Friday to the Senate Resources Committee, which approved the resolution without debate. "It always disturbs me when we see an organization like the United Nations that can't even take care of their own internal affairs want to take care of everybody else's," said committee chairman Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai. Click here to return to story: http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/042405/sta_20050424015.shtml