IWC Meeting an Opportunity to Discuss U.S. Whaling Interests Threatened By Bush Administration’s 5-Year OCS Plan

To: POLITICAL EDITORS

Contact: Betsy Goll, +1-907-830-0184, betsy@alaskawild.org, or Becky Wynne, +1-202-494-1251 becky@alaskawild.org, both of Alaska Wilderness League

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being issued by Alaska Wilderness League:

WHAT: On Friday, May 25, at 10 am AK time, Alaska Native whalers and

conservation groups will host a press briefing to discuss U.S.

native whaling interests under threat in the Bush

administration’s 5-Year OCS Plan for Shell development in the

Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and Bristol Bay of Alaska. Despite

local and national opposition, Shell Oil advocated for the

withdrawal of a moratorium protecting Bristol Bay from offshore

oil and gas development, and has an aggressive exploration plan,

including harmful seismic testing and shallow well drilling, in

the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Native whaling community leaders

from across Alaska’s North Slope will discuss threats to U.S.

whaling interests just days before the International Whaling

Commission’s Annual Meeting in Anchorage, AK.

WHEN: 10:00 AM, FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007

WHERE: Arctic Environmental Justice Center, Alaska Wilderness League

333 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 311

Anchorage, Alaska 99501

WHO: Native Leaders and Whalers from North Slope villages

DIAL IN: U.S. – 877-228-3100

International – 719-457-5124

Passcode – 384481

VISUALS: Images of places under discussion will be available upon

request.

For additional information visit http://www.alaskawild.org

SOURCE Alaska Wilderness League

(c) 2007 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.