The 100-mile stretch of arctic coastal plain in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the only fragment of the United States’ total 1,100-mile arctic coastline not already open to oil and gas development. Now, oil industry officials are pushing for access to this fragile heartland of this last complete eco-system in North America. Given that there is only a 5% chance of recovering the 3.2 billion barrels of oil estimated by the petroleum industry to be lying under the coastal plain, it would take 100 arctic refuges to lessen our dependence on foreign oil at our present rate of petroleum consumption. Were oil and gas development to occur, the U.S. Department of Interior estimates up to a 40% loss (70,000 animals) to the Porcupine Caribou herd (129,000 animals).

The Last Great Wilderness show is an interactive multi-media presentation depicting the threats facing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- home to the most spectacular and awe-inspiring gathering of wildlife in the United States. The presentation places participants on the tundra of the far northeastern corner of Alaska where oil development threatens the survival of 129,000 caribou, musk-oxen, dall sheep, polar bears, grizzlies, millions of migratory birds, and a subsistence Native American culture. Members of the Gwich’in Nation continue to practice their 20,000-year-old subsistence lifestyle in harmony with their sacred animal, the caribou. Both the caribou and this ancient culture will be irreparably impacted should oil development occur on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge.

The Last Great Wilderness show will be presented by renowned wildlife photographer and activist, Lenny Kohm, and native Gwich’in activist, Luci Beach. Lenny has been traveling throughout the United States for the past 13 years telling people of the dangerous threats facing one of America’s most magnificent treasures. Luci Beach speaks on behalf of the Gwich’in Steering Committee, the native body formed to represent native interests in the face of oil development.

Cindy Shogun, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League says, " I must admit I was skeptical at first at the idea that a couple of people showing slides in church basements could compete with the sophisticated multi-pronged PR campaigns launched by a half a dozen of the world’s largest oil companies. But I’ve become a believer since I’ve seen the results."

Lenny has brought the message of protection for our Arctic coastal plain all over the country during the past 14 years.

• Morgantown, Tuesday, Sept. 18th at West Virginia University, Rhododendron Room at the Mountainlair, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the West Virginia Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign, the Presbyterian Student Group and the WVU Student Sierra Club. Contact person: Marcia Jim Leitch
• Wheeling, Thursday, Sept. 20th, at Ohio County Public Library auditorium in downtown Wheeling, 52 16th Street, 7:00 PM. Sponsored by the Wheeling Environmentalists. Contact person: Dianne Burnham
• Shepherdstown, Sunday, Sept. 30th at Reynolds Hall on Shepherd College campus starting at 6:30 PM