The Russians, the Seattle interests, and others from around the world exploited our furs, our whales, our salmon, our gold and our people. In Alaska, we are as proud of our development accomplishments as we are of our environmental victories. And sustainable living requires both. Some people from urban centers seem to have forgotten that they use resources to live and work. But it is a fact of life.
Development has to take place somewhere.
Therefore, the resources of the future will come from the Arctic, the Antarctic, the oceans, and space, where there will not be conflict with people and where they live. In the case of the Arctic, instead of fearing to use resources, our goal is to use them wisely. Most nations would agree that fifty percent of their land would be a minimum percentage to create an economic foundation. In my lifetime and in the lifetime of my children, we will not develop even one percent of Alaska. I believe that will also be true throughout most of the Arctic.