Remember Ian Thomas? He's the scientist who said he got fired by the Bush administration last month because his research into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was politically unpalatable. In a widely-distributed email message at the time, Thomas depicted himself as a sober researcher: "One of the biggest collections of maps online... certainly the biggest collection showing maps of biodiversity... a high-level political decision to set an example to other Federal scientists... I made no statement about what the maps might mean with regard to oil development of the refuge." A month later, Thomas is now showing what appear to be his true colors: He's an activist more interested in taking on the Bush administration than conducting sober research. His latest email appeal to supporters, attached below: "I promise to make very good use of any maps you send in the fight to save the refuge... make people more aware of the threat that oil drilling poses... also to support the Gwich'in Nation in their fight against oil drilling in the refuge." Now, Thomas may have been fired unjustly, and it may even be a good idea to bar all oil drilling in the refuge. But the story is not quite as forthright as it first seemed. Background: http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=caribou -Declan ********** From: "Ian Thomas" <caribou_mapsat_private> To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private> Subject: The Color of Choice: An Appeal to You to Make Maps! Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 16:10:09 -0400 Dear Friends and All Supporters of Freedom of Information! It has been almost a month since I was lost my job for putting a map up on the internet showing where baby caribou like to hang out in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Please see http://www.maptricks.com for details. I have been trying to think of ways to use my story to make people more aware of the threat that oil drilling poses to both the caribou and other Arctic wildlife and also to support the Gwich'in Nation in their fight against oil drilling in the refuge. So, I was thinking of a way to ask people to send me maps of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge when I came across the following amazing short story. I found it in "The Circle of Testimony" a wonderful collection of short stories on the Arctic Refuge, available for free online from http://www.worldashome.org It would be great to get maps from all ages and places but maps from kids would be awesome! Please forward this appeal! I promise to make very good use of any maps you send me in the fight to save the refuge and I will try my best to return any maps that you want back! Please write to me for further details at: caribou_mapsat_private Thank you so much for your support! Ian Thomas mailto: caribou_mapsat_private caribou maps website: http://www.maptricks.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Color of Choice (by Sherry Simpson) >From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner,February 1,2001: "Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski searched briefly for a picture of ANWR in winter to counter more picturesque photographs used by other senators on the floor. Failing to quickly find the shot he sought, Murkowski improvised by holding up a blank white poster board. This, he said, is what ANWR's coastal plain looks like nine months out of the year." Find some white poster board. From its blankness scissor out the shape of the Arctic coastal plain. (Neatness counts.) It is easier at the bottom,where policymakers drew straight lines, right angles, gliding curves. The top, now that is tricky, because that is where sea and ice work against the land,where the ground is less solid,where things are changing. Hold this blankness in your hands. This shape represents 1.5 million acres. Go walk an acre before you return to your map. [snip --DBM] This time, avoid harsh, obvious colors. Search your box of crayons for subtle, rich shades,or combine pigments until you can conjure the Arctic is true aspect: Musk ox brown. Meta-sedimentary gray, Bearberry crimson, Caribou cream, Hulahula blue, Oxytropis yellow, Dryas gold, Jaeger black, Grayling silver, Polar bear ivory, Lichen green, ANWR white. Copy your map and mail it to those with failed imaginations, to those with good intentions but self-serving lives, to those who can say no to everyone but themselves. Buy lots of postage. Keep the original to remind yourself every day: This is how big an acre is. This is how many choices I have. This is how it feels to hold blankness in my hand. - Sherry Simpson ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Please Send Me Your Maps! I promise to make very good use of any maps you send in the fight to save the refuge and I will try my best to return any maps that you want back! Please write to me for further details at: mailto: caribou_mapsat_private Thank you once again! Ian Thomas Please also see http://www.maptricks.com for more details. SUPPORT THE GWICH'IN NATION ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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