The most important thing you can do to protect Alaska's fishing communities is take just a few moments to call Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Mark Begich. Urge them to work together and with their Senate colleagues to draft and adopt a new and effective national energy policy, one backed by robust legislation that combats ocean acidification and climate change.

Remind them that ocean acidification is not a prediction for the future. It is occurring today and will have lasting impact on the ocean’s food web and our fisheries unless we pass legislation to curb carbon emissions. Our fisheries, our working waterfronts, our jobs, our communities, our very ways of life may depend on their stepping up and taking constructive action.

Call Now! 1-877-501-6275

You can also fax a message:

Sen. Murkowski: 1-202-224-5301

Sen. Begich: 1-202-224-2354

WHAT TO SAY

You will be speaking with staff members and not the Senators. This will not be a policy debate; you are simply delivering a message urging them to pass clean-energy and climate-change legislation. Here is how the call might go:

You: "My name is __________. I’m a voter from ___________.  I'm calling to remind my Senator that Alaska's economy and the future of the state's fisheries depend on our adopting a new and effective national energy policy backed by legislation reducing carbon emissions, combating ocean acidification and supporting clean-energy development. Such action will serve to protect Alaska's fishing communities from the catastrophic effects of ocean acidification. I consider this issue a top priority."

Staffer: "Thanks. I will make sure the Senator gets your message."

IMPORTANT POINTS to CONSIDER RAISING:

Alaska's fisheries are the most productive in the world. But carbon emissions are acidifying the oceans, posing a direct threat to the fish. Alaska jobs, the futures of our coastal communities, our fishing legacy are all at risk from the impacts of ocean acidification and climate change.

We need meaningful climate-change legislation and a new national energy policy that can unleash entrepreneurial development of clean-energy technologies, strengthen the American economy and keep us competitive internationally. This approach will create jobs and opportunity here in Alaska.

We want legislation that cuts emissions consistent with the recommendations of the scientific community -- 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2080. Those levels are possible if we act now.

Pivoting away from the fossil fuel dependency of the past and moving toward a clean-energy future that mobilizes Alaskans and the rest of the nation is a positive way forward. Building solutions to ocean acidification and climate change is critical to sustaining healthy oceans and Alaska's fisheries for our children and future generations.

NOTE: You have two Senators so please, after speaking with your first Senator’s office, remain on the line and press the “star” key. The system will then automatically connect you to your second Senator.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP The warnings about ocean acidification coming from the overwhelming majority of the world’s scientists studying climate phenomena couldn’t be clearer.  We need to cut our carbon pollution quickly and dramatically.  We need clean energy and climate-change legislation that meets that challenge of climate change and ocean acidification and we need it now. 1. Join with other Alaskans and sign the letter to Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich demanding they take the action necessary to protect Alaska's fishing communities. Use this petition to register your support. 2. Call your local elected officials and tell them you want your local government to join those of other communities by signing on to the Alaska Coastal Communities Global Climate Change Compact.  3. Let AMCC visit your community to give a presentation on ocean acidification and what policy options Congress is considering. Contact Alan Parks with AMCC at (907) 235-3826 or visit www.akmarine.org.