Arctic Science Journeys
Radio Script
1996

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Green Vote
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STORY: With the November presidential election just two months away, the campaigns of both major political parties are swinging into high gear. Issues like welfare reform, family values, and the economy are getting a great deal of attention. But according to a recent national poll, the environment is high on the list of concerns as well.

The National Wildlife Federation sponsored the independent poll of 1,000 registered voters earlier this summer. The Federation's Naomi Paiss says the poll found that three out of four Americans place a high value on protecting the environment.

"And it's a value that crosses party lines, it's broad-based, it's young people, old people, urbanites, rural, even in the West where supposedly there is a great 'Sagebrush Rebellion' against national environmental regulation, we found very strong support for preserving natural resources for the next generation."

Paiss says most people polled favored protecting endangered species and other environmental safeguards. Paiss says those feelings are likely to translate into political choices.

"I do expect environmental attitudes to go into the voting booth. It is true that we tend to rank fourth or fifth after the things which have always been at the top of people's list, particularly crime and the economy. It's also true that the voters who care most about the environment are also the swing voters in the upcoming presidential election, namely women, young people, blue-collar people and political independents. Those are the ones who rank environmental values as their highest priority, and those are also the ones whom both political parties are very much courting."

One environmental issue many voters will consider this fall has its roots in Alaska. Sylvia Ward of the Northern Alaska Environmental Center in Fairbanks says it's rare that Alaska plays a role in national politics.

"The presidential candidates are diametrically opposed and their party platforms reflect this opposition on one major environmental issue--the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: shall we drill in the refuge or not to drill in the refuge. It's unusual that they would do that, it's a state-specific issue and it's elevated to the presidential level.

Both major presidential candidates have made their position on the issue clear. Republican Bob Dole favors drilling, while Democrat Bill Clinton opposes it. Regardless of who wins this fall, the effects likely will be felt in the Arctic. For Arctic Science Journeys, this is Debra Damron.