Is protecting the environment a trend for outgoing politicians?

President Bill Clinton moved to save millions of acres of forests from development when he retired from the Oval Office. Former President George W. Bush protected nearly 200,000 square miles of ocean habitat in the twilight of his administration.

And today, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who recently announced that he won’t seek reelection in 2012, has introduced a bill aimed at designating the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Wilderness.

Although this may look like a trend, it isn’t, in fact, all that trendy. For one, Sen. Lieberman doesn’t quite fit the mold (conservation groups have long considered him a champion for the refuge given that he has proposed similar legislation many times before). And for generations, our country’s leaders have defended national treasures in good times and in bad.

For example, past presidents from Theodore Roosevelt on down to Ronald Reagan have set in place policies to protect our country’s wildlife and lands. We owe Teddy our gratitude for designating the first wildlife refuge, and the ol’ Gipper thanks for ensuring that wildlife and habitats get due consideration on our national forests.

The Arctic Refuge Turns 50

This year, the Arctic refuge — home to polar bears, wolves, great herds of caribou, millions of migratory birds and more — is celebrating its golden anniversary. But after 50 years, this unique place is still not safe from the threat of drilling. Year after year, Big Oil, backed by the best lobbyists money can buy, has pushed to industrialize this special place.

Sen. Lieberman’s latest effort to increase protections for the Arctic refuge’s most sensitive lands has the support of  18 other senators and comes despite the fact that much of Congress appears poised to press for more drilling.

We are not yet so desperate that we must burn our cathedrals for firewood. — The late, great environmentalist, David Brower

The late, great conservationist David Brower, once said: “We are not yet so desperate that we must burn our cathedrals for firewood.” And there’s strong evidence that shows drilling in the Arctic will have neither a real impact on our energy consumption, nor much (if any) effect on gas prices at the pump.

Let’s hope that more of our nation’s leaders get the message.

Take Action

You can help protect the Arctic refuge and the polar bears, arctic foxes and other animals that depend on it for survival.

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