2005February7Speech

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Mayor Mark Begich remarks
Alaska Forum on the Environment
9 a.m.; Feb. 7, 2004; Egan Convention Center

Thanks to Kurt Eilo, for that introduction. Kurt pointed out that I was a participant in this conference years ago, working with youth. That’s not too surprising, since the environment and youth leadership have been two of my main interests for many years.

Kurt has done a great job setting up this conference, which has become one of the largest annual meetings of Alaskans.

I hope that in coming years you will be able to meet in our new convention center a few blocks from here. For those of you who live in Anchorage, vote yes on April 5th. I promise that will be my last campaign commercial this morning.

I want to welcome all of you, including those from around Alaska, as well as our honored keynote speaker from Canada, and the many local Anchorage residents who are present. But I especially want to recognize the delegates from rural Alaska and the elders who are seated here.

Alaska Natives are Alaska’s original environmental scientists. The elders are like the PhD professors of the real world. Thank you for being here to share your wisdom. You have our attention and respect.

As Mayor of Anchorage, I have placed a high priority on improving our city’s relationship with rural Alaska and on improving our environment.

Last year we hired Jessica Black, a Gwich’in Athabascan from Fort Yukon and Nenana, to find out how we as a city government could help bridge the urban-rural divide. Her report recommended making the position of a rural affairs coordinator a permanent part of the Mayor’s Office, and I am working on doing that.

For anyone who doubted it, Jessica’s report made it clear that Anchorage needs the Bush as much or more than the Bush needs Anchorage. 60 percent of exports leaving Anchorage are going somewhere else in Alaska, a large percentage to rural communities.

We rely on rural visitors’ dollars when you come to Anchorage to shop or use the excellent medical facilities located here. Within a 40-mile radius of Anchorage 2,000 people are employed providing health care to Alaska Natives.

We want to be a good host and we are putting money and effort into making sure rural residents are safe and welcomed in Anchorage.

As Mayor, I have also placed a new emphasis on the environment.
Our new recycling coordinator has made major strides in changing the way Anchorage residents handle their trash. We have curbside recycling in West Anchorage and we’re hoping to see that grow.

Anchorage, like all of Alaska, relies on a healthy environment for our economic survival. Tourist dollars are only one part of that. Perhaps even more important is our ability to attract new, clean industry to Alaska.

In today’s world of information technology, companies can locate wherever they choose. Alaska’s beauty, openness and recreational opportunities help them to choose Anchorage. That’s a good reason to protect the environment. But that’s not why we protect the environment.

We protect our environment because this is the place we love. We want to hand on to future generations the magnificent gift we were given by God and by those who went before us.

Like so many of you here, I was born in Alaska. Some of the elders may remember my father, Nick Begich, who worked in Congress for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act when I was just a child.

Alaska is my home, and I hope it will remain my son Jacob’s home when he grows up.

Alaska’s environment is a great trust that has been placed in our hands. Your presence at this forum shows you are ready to accept that trust.

So I welcome you to Anchorage well aware of the importance of the work you are doing here. On behalf of all of the people of Anchorage, welcome, and good luck with your forum.

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