When you go to a store or restaurant and order wild salmon, it’s most likely coming from this region in southwest Alaska. For me, living in Colorado, I release every trout I catch, then on the way home, buy a big slab of wild Alaskan salmon to grill up for the family (yes, the dogs like it as much as we do). I catch heat from my wife because every restaurant we visit that says it has ‘salmon’, I always ask if it’s wild Alaskan.

There are so many reasons to disagree with this proposed mining project that I can’t begin to start writing about them. The fact is, this takes place in a region that where millions of salmon return every year to spawn. What happens when the earthen dams that will be developed to hold back toxic waste fail, or are left behind once all gold and copper are extracted? Remember folks, there’s a lot of earthquakes in this area. It’s a down right scary situation. We’ve seen from other similar processes that the track record is not the best. Pebble says that everything can co-exist, but give me one example where it has be environmentally safe with no exceptions.

I call on everyone reading this to simply look at the research and make your own opinion – I think that you will agree with the local people of Bristol Bay and oppose it. Maybe some of you won’t, and that’s ok, but I don’t live there, and most of you don’t either, so why not listen to what the locals want and don’t want. Education is key – everyone should at least pay attention to this process and feel free to state your opinion. We’re Americans, and we’re given that right.

Here are a few links to keep up with the news and process of the proposed Pebble Mine:

Save Bristol Bay

Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

Renewable Resources Coalition

Also, some social media outlets:

Save Bristol Bay on Facebook

1 Million Strong on Facebook

Save Bristol Bay on Twitter

No Pebble Mine on Twitter

Thanks to everyone who opposes or questions this mine and what it could do to the region. If you’re interested, leave a comment below. I have a limited amount stickers available if anyone would like a few to show your support.

Red Gold | trailer from felt soul media on Vimeo.

SAA is also running a photo contest on Flickr – “Where’s your No Pebble sticker?” There’s already been several submissions and the @NoPebbleMine Twitter site will send you one if you don’t have one already. They’re looking for the most creative ways you’ve used your sticker, whether it is on your car, your boat, a random sign, or, as you’ll see on the page, on your butt! Join and submit your photo on SAA’s Flickr site here.

From Felt Soul Media

It was a pleasure working with two of the most knowledgeable people on the Bristol Bay “No Pebble Mine” cause, Shoren Brown and Mark Hieronymus, as well as all the other volunteers that took time out of their weekend to help. But the highlight of my weekend was meeting Kurt ‘Ole’ Olson and the entire Egdorf family(Dave, Kim, and Camille). Ole and the Egdorfs were stars in the documentary Red Gold, which was shown Friday night at Cervantes’. I can’t tell you how impressed I was actually spending time with these amazing folks. We had a great turnout and emotional speeches from several people that will be directly impacted by the proposed mine.

Other notables that stopped by the booths to show their support included Todd Helton, Brian O’keefe, Brian Kraft, John Gierach, Tom Sadler and Dave Whitlock.

Thanks to everyone who showed their support at the shows and film. We raised a considerable amount of money, and got nearly 1,000 postcards signed to send to politicians to let them know people are aware of, and against, the proposed pebble mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

This is something true and dear to my heart, so if anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be happy to share what I can.

For more information on the cause, please visit Sportsman Alliance for Alaska and SaveBristolBay.org

Special thanks to Umpqua Feather Merchants for providing raffle items at the Red Gold showing.

I’ll have more pictures as I receive them.