Why I’ll Be in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 20

I’ve never been to the Arctic National Willdlife Refuge–but I have been to Alaska. It’s an absolutely amazing place, full of stark snow-capped mountains, dark blue water teeming with wildlife, massive glaciers, and so much more. For some reason, the colors seem brighter there as well–the pink of the tundra flowers, the white in the snow.

It’s a place where you get used to seeing bald eagles soaring among the trees and moose, and caribou grazing in valleys (or in the middle of your hiking trail). Alaska is one of the few places I’ve been where the natural world still reigns supreme. As a friend of mine so aptly said: “If you can go to Alaska and not come away with respect and awe for the natural world, then you don’t have a soul.”

I’ve been asked several times why I am so passionate about protecting a place I’ve never been to. My response is a simple one — I want the option of going there, and I want my seven-year-old niece to have the option of going there. I also like knowing we have a place where the beauty and magic of nature is left alone.

For all those reasons–and because Kristine, my niece, just pointed out that drilling for oil where the polar bear babies are born is just dumb — my family and I are going to be in Washington, D.C., on September 20 for Arctic Refuge Action Day. Thousands of people from across the country are signing up to come to the nation’s capital and make show of force that will tell Congress we mean business.

You can be a part of this historic event as well–just send an email to alerts@nwf.org, and let us know you’re interested in more information. If you can’t make it to DC, but have an interest in attending (or even hosting) a rally or event in your city, let us know that as well. Working together, we can–and will–ensure that the wild beauty of the Arctic Refuge is protected both now and for future generations of people … and polar bears.