Tomorrow thousands of people will descend on Capitol Hill for Arctic Refuge Action Day to stop Congress from allowing harmful oil and gas drilling in one of America's last remaining great wild places -- the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Even if you can't join us, you can still make a difference...

Contact your Member of Congress right now (or between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern Time on Monday or Tuesday) and urge him or her to oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Click here for contact information and sample talking points.

Polar bears, caribou and the Refuge's other special creatures are counting on you! In the next few weeks, Congress will be asked to vote on drilling in the Refuge, most likely through a provision added to the enormous Budget Reconciliation Act, but perhaps through another piece of backdoor legislation.

Tell your Representative why wildlife supporters and conservationists from across the country are opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge:

* Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would ruin one of our nation's greatest wildlife refuges, home to millions of migratory birds and other wildlife.
* Drilling would do nothing to ease fuel costs or solve America's energy problems. According to the Energy Information Administration, drilling in the Arctic Refuge today would only lower gas prices by roughly 1 cent per gallon in 2025!
* Drilling in the Arctic Refuge has nothing to do with the federal budget and the Reconciliation Bill should not be used to advance this short-sighted proposal.

Some in Congress have sought to exploit the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to push for drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Just days after the storm struck, Representative Joe Barton of Texas linked the two issues, saying “We could be drilling in Alaska right now.”

Don’t let them get away with exploiting a national tragedy! Please take action right now to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the animals who live there.

This is expected to be a very close vote. Your call could make the difference between Congress deciding to preserve the Refuge or to open this special place up to harmful oil and gas drilling.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is an important part of the natural legacy we will leave our children and grandchildren. Thank you for taking the time to protect it.

Sincerely,

Rodger Schlickeisen, President

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. If you can come to Washington, DC on Tuesday, please join us for the rally at the U.S. Capitol.