REPRESENTATIVE HERMINA M. MORITA
CHAIR, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 12 (EAST/NORTH KAUAI & EAST MAUI)

Several months ago full-page advertisements appeared in Hawaii's newspapers thanking U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka for his support of the Native Alaskan Inupiat and their right to self-determination with regard to their desire to drill for oil within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Each vote in the U.S. Senate is critical to defeat oil drilling in ANWR. Both Hawaii U.S. Senators seem to be placed in a difficult position. They are both champions for the right to self-determination for native Hawaiians and other indigenous groups and both are continuing the legacy of the late U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga's vision for hydrogen and related clean energy issues. Now these laudable causes have converged to create a conflict where our Senators seem to be "caught" in the middle. But, the decision is difficult only if one wants to craft the issue of self-determination as exclusive to the Inupiat.

While I want to respect the right to self-determination of the Inupiat it should not be at the expense of other native peoples or based on a flawed energy policy. The Bush energy policy will signal the death of many other indigenous peoples of the world, especially Pacific Islanders suffering the effects of global warming and rising sea levels. Oil drilling in ANWR represents the continuation of over-consumption by the United States of finite resources without regard to the impacts on other areas or people of the world. The moral issues and consequences of the Bush energy policy is too great to use Native Alaskans as pawns in this debate pitting the interests of one indigenous peoples against another or to use Hawaii's own sovereignty issues as bargaining chips for the future. In the larger global picture, the United States must lead the world in seeking solutions surrounding climate change issues or we will be directly responsible for the genocide of indigenous cultures as the land base, the root and foundation of self-determination, of these island cultures cease to exist. And, of course, Hawaii being an island State may face the same perils in the near future.

The United States has the technology and resources to move towards a clean energy future. Our congressional leaders' role is vital at this critical time. They can and must separate the "red herrings" from the national energy policy debate. ANWR is a red herring that will not enhance the U.S. position to build energy security.

The right of Native Alaskans to offer their ancestral lands for oil development should be debated at another time. The larger issue before us is the United State's ability to lead the world in clean and sustainable energy policy that offer real energy security and prosperity as its benefits and reflects our moral obligations to other inhabitants of this earth. These mandates should be the essence of a national energy policy and the test of true vision and leadership.

District 14, East & North Kauai

OTHER WORKS IN ARCHIVES SECTION

SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS
CA Hydrogen Business Council
Hanalei Rotary
Women In Business
Hydrogen Partnering Meeting

EDITORIALS
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Bottle Bill
Hawaiani Electric Company

NEWS AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Legislator Doesn't Like P-Word
Surrounded by Aloha
Sierra Club Environmental Ranking
One Island District
Fueling Hawaii's Future