No matter where you are, we're glad you're here!
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
- Describe the major reasons given for statehood and explain how those reasons are reflected in the Alaska State Constitution.
- Americans sometimes complain about feeling alienated from their elected officials and from the seats of power. Is such alienation true in Alaska? Explain, and link the explanation to Alaska's state and local governance structure.
- Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 1971 - Discuss two ways that this legislation has impacted Alaska, and two specific ways that it has impacted Alaska Natives.
- Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 1980 has been supported and derided by Alaskans, both in 1980 when it was passed and today. Describe three impacts of this landmark legislation.
- Alaska Permanent Fund - $41+ billion. It is our "rainy day account". So, is it "raining" yet? How hard is it raining? Is it time to spend some of the earnings of the AK Permanent Fund to provide for state services? What arguments would you present to legislators reluctant to confront this issue?
- Pick one contemporary issue from your region and discuss - explain the issue, identify the major players and their positions.
Engage
At this point in the module you may feel that you have been inundated with information. While it would have been tempting to edit out topics or provided less information, the authors felt that to do so would have resulted in a diminution of material essential for an understanding of current issues. It would also have been difficult to establish cause-effect relationships. In fact, much sifting and sorting of information occurred; there are still interesting and pertinent details out there which would provide for an even deeper understanding of Alaska/
At this point, a listing of various current issues is offered here. There are undoubtedly more. The list is simply offered to make you aware of the topics and to spark further inquiry on your part.
Take a look at the list and use it as a starting place for your own examination of current issues - linking past to present.
At this point in the module you may feel that you have been inundated with information. While it would have been tempting to edit out topics or provided less information, the authors felt that to do so would have resulted in a diminution of material essential for an understanding of current issues. It would also have been difficult to establish cause-effect relationships. In fact, much sifting and sorting of information occurred; there are still interesting and pertinent details out there which would provide for an even deeper understanding of Alaska/
At this point, a listing of various current issues is offered here. There are undoubtedly more. The list is simply offered to make you aware of the topics and to spark further inquiry on your part.
Take a look at the list and use it as a starting place for your own examination of current issues - linking past to present.
An Incomplete List of Current Issues:
Pebble Mine - Bristol Bay area
Chuitan Coal Mine - Cook Inlet area
mining expansion
natural gas line proposals
aging Trans-Alaska pipeling
oil/gas development - NPRA
oil/gasl development on-going interests - ANWR
oil drilling- outer continental shelf
oil tax reform proposals
high energy costs
alternative energy models/ "clean" energy
energy efficiency and conservation
current utility and communications infrastructure/upgrading
transportation infrastructure
transportation costs
NW and NE Passages - shipping, monitoring, environmental impacts, coastal communities
National Ocean Policy
sustaining the fisheries
high seas interception of AK fish
fisheries treaties
fisheries management
coastal zone management
fish allocation - commercial, sport, subsistence, charter sport
sea mammal health
coordination of management with federal government
economic diversification
rural economies/rural cost of living
rural-urban migration
global climate change
Pebble Mine - Bristol Bay area
Chuitan Coal Mine - Cook Inlet area
mining expansion
natural gas line proposals
aging Trans-Alaska pipeling
oil/gas development - NPRA
oil/gasl development on-going interests - ANWR
oil drilling- outer continental shelf
oil tax reform proposals
high energy costs
alternative energy models/ "clean" energy
energy efficiency and conservation
current utility and communications infrastructure/upgrading
transportation infrastructure
transportation costs
NW and NE Passages - shipping, monitoring, environmental impacts, coastal communities
National Ocean Policy
sustaining the fisheries
high seas interception of AK fish
fisheries treaties
fisheries management
coastal zone management
fish allocation - commercial, sport, subsistence, charter sport
sea mammal health
coordination of management with federal government
economic diversification
rural economies/rural cost of living
rural-urban migration
global climate change
ocean acidification
wetlands management
melting Arctic ice pack
invasive plant species
forest fires
recycling across Alaska
forest recovery post -big logging
wetlands management
melting Arctic ice pack
invasive plant species
forest fires
recycling across Alaska
forest recovery post -big logging
state operating and capital budgets
AK Permanent Fund earnings - use?
political leadership
state legislature- productivity?
legislative reapportionment and challenges
AK Permanent Fund earnings - use?
political leadership
state legislature- productivity?
legislative reapportionment and challenges
high school drop-out rates
completion rates at University of Alaska campuses
education - strengths and weaknesses in K-12 public education
education funding
University of AK system- funding, programs, effectiveness
University of AK system- funding, programs, effectiveness
suicide rates
accident rates
challenges and costs of health care delivery
addiction - tobacco, drugs, alcohol
healthy lifestyles, diets
uninsured Alaskans
care for senior citizens
adequacy of mental health care programs/facilities
prison overcrowding
subsistence - dual management systems
food security/local foods production
predator control programs/controversy
Federal 8A contracts for AK Native corporations
military base closures, consolidation
Sealaska Lands Bill
labor force - future needs
local hire
rural/urban "divide" - relationships
cultural diversity
immigration to Alaska - models for transitioning to life in AK
cultural respect and tolerance
incorporation of Native knowledge in scientific research
Native languages - recovery, maintenance
law enforcement and adequate levels of policing, esp. in rural AK
public employees retirement - defined benefit vs. defined contribution
public employee retirement indebtedness
healthy lifestyles, diets
uninsured Alaskans
care for senior citizens
adequacy of mental health care programs/facilities
prison overcrowding
subsistence - dual management systems
food security/local foods production
predator control programs/controversy
Federal 8A contracts for AK Native corporations
military base closures, consolidation
Sealaska Lands Bill
labor force - future needs
local hire
rural/urban "divide" - relationships
cultural diversity
immigration to Alaska - models for transitioning to life in AK
cultural respect and tolerance
incorporation of Native knowledge in scientific research
Native languages - recovery, maintenance
law enforcement and adequate levels of policing, esp. in rural AK
public employees retirement - defined benefit vs. defined contribution
public employee retirement indebtedness
Now it's your turn to BLOG IT!
