February 2012

Killing Dogs: An Alaskan Specialty

The Iditarod looms, along with the specter of racing dog deaths
As an Alaskan (now living Outside) I have struggled with my feelings about the Iditarod since childhood. It's true that these dogs love to run, they were literally born to run, every fiber of their being tells them to RUN. But the older I get, the more I think that, as their caretakers, we owe it to our dogs not to run them to death.
 
And when you get right down to it, the Iditarod is a voluntary activity. No one has to do it. People choose to do it, and that's fine. But is it right for people to choose the Iditarod for their dogs? Shouldn't we be better conservators for them? A dog cannot, after all, really offer informed consent. It can just do what you ask it to do, and unfortunately what we ask them to do every year is risk their lives for a sporting event.

Alaska's Amazing Volcanoes

"Alaska has over 100 volcanoes and over 40 of them have been active historically, according to the U.S. Geologic Survey. "

Remember the millions of travelers stuck in European airports when that unpronounceable Icelandic volcano blew? Remember the misery of those travelers trying to get home by any means possible? Well, that could happen again if Alaska’s Mount Cleveland decides to erupt full-scale kablooey. The remote 5,676-foot fire mountain out in the Aleutians has been gassing up again, bulging out a lava dome 130 feet in diameter. If it blows, as it seems it might, ash clouds could extend up to 20,000 feet.

Which would mean big trouble for international travelers once again, as 20,000 passengers pass through Anchorage’s airport every day. And not only travelers could be delayed, 90% of air freight from Asia to Europe and North America flies over Alaskan air space on the way. The last time Cleveland blew its top was in 2001, and spewed ash clouds about seven miles into the sky.