Well we had to write an essay on it, and i am curious as to what everyone wrote. Where are we going? What do you feel is the biggest issue Alaska faces. Me personally i believe that the education system is the basis of all of our issues and the source of our solutions.
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Young Alaskans - Discussion » Issues » Leadership
The Essay Topic: Where do you feel Alaska should be 50 years from now?
(11 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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I think education is very important. I have many friends from villages around Kodiak and I can see that many of them did not get an education that can be compared to Kodiak. And I even think that big cities in Alaska cannot offer an education that can be offered down south.
I talked in my essay about environmental protection. I think that is very important becasue that's the reason for many people to move to Alaska or to come here as a tourist.Posted 1 year ago # -
when i was speaking of education, i was referencing the system as a whole. I feel that north, south, east, or west the system is flawed. In what ways do you feel we should work towards environmental protection? on a side note do you know Roger Estelle?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well I think there are many issues with environmental protection.
One example for that is recycling. It is possible to recycle but there are not very many people actually doing it.
Another example is the current issue about Mebble Mine. I think there are many issues. Chemical byproducts are bad for fish and Alaska needs the fish. I think new options should be considered.
No, I don't know Roger Estelle. What did he do?Posted 1 year ago # -
I've just started reading through the essays but they're pretty good so far. I think it was tough for applicants to fit some very big ideas into such a short essay but I like what I'm seeing and I'm happy that the discussion is continuing here.
If you'd like feedback, feel free to post your essay for others to read and comment on.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Patrick, i will post mine and see where that goes...
To Mr. Philipp i asked about Roger, because he is an old friend of mine that moved to Kodiak a couple years ago... I am assuming that you meant Pebble Mine, and yes there is a need to preserve fish. I don't feel that large mining operations would destroy the environment if it regulates its work hard, but i am not an expert. I do feel that large scale projects like that, which are developed by us, are needed for the economy. How could we improve the recycling program?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Here is my essay, i didn't want to start a new topic for it so... Anyways tell me what you think about it... Also i would love to see what anyone else said in their essay.
The United States, Alaska included, has fallen into a downward spiral. We as a state and nation are failing in ways that, without proper action, may lead to a complete depression. America has always held itself as a paragon to the world which, as is natural, led to the development of a great pride and responsibility. Alaska when it became a state fifty years ago inherited that pride. It is now our responsibility, as Alaskans and Americans, to devote ourselves to the repair and growth of this state. The only question is how do we start? As is natural in every other field of life, the first thing that needs to be done is the development of broad goals which can be narrowed down and finally put into action. These goals would be best developed around three general areas, those being, the review and reform of the education system, the development of alternative fuel sources, and finally review of Alaska’s economic policy.
The education system is the absolute basis of our society and its problems. Sadly, it goes without question that our current system fails to develop youth to their full potential and strives for a socialistic equality. It is therefore paramount that Alaska strives to develop, test, and enact alternative educational formats. The ideal format being one that allows students to develop in different areas at their own rate, because restraining students to an age based education system that has a roof on what is learned suppresses their over-all development. In the end our youth will have to solve the energy and economic crisis, so it is our responsibility to push them to their full intellectual potential in preparation.
The energy crisis is the second most important field to begin developing solutions. Alaska is a land of vast resources and all we need to do is harness them. The cost to develop wind, geothermal, and other renewable energies is high, but the longer we wait the more it costs us in the end. The fact is that the current cost of energy is raising the cost of everything else nationwide and therefore is a leading cause of the economic crisis.
With banks failing there is no question the economy is in trouble. We as Alaskans have not yet suffered the brunt of this crisis, but we have watched its tyranny on television. The fact of the matter is that Alaska has enough economic potential to begin eradicating the national debt. How? We must stop allowing the systematic rape of Alaska’s resources by foreign companies. Why is it that we are allowing other nations to come and make an enormous profit off of industries that we ourselves could develop? Our economic goal should therefore be to promote more economic development within the state and the reduction of foreign presence.
In all Alaska, in the next fifty years, with its resources has the potential to become a leader among states within this union, but we have to start now.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I don't remember exactly what was in my essay, but this is sort of what I believe Alaska will be like in fifty years.
Alaska will figure more and more into global politics, due to its large reserves of oil, some of which is still unexplored. It is also a good place to generate alternative forms of energy, like wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and even solar energy. Many of those will be developed as the world continues its current downward spiral. Also, more and more people will move here as many of the areas in the equatorial and temperate regions lose their homes to accelerated natural disasters and desertification. The ice may have partially or completely melted away, raising water levels much higher than they are now, which will figure prominently in which places are actually livable. And there is more that I cannot fathom as of yet.
That is the gist of what I believe Alaska will be like in fifty years.
What do you think?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Towards the national disasters and desertification, shouldn't we take steps to help erase or limit that progressions? Unfortunately humans are reproducing exponentially so each new generation needs to produce more then the one before it or depression and starvation settles in. We need these areas to help provide that essential surplus.
Posted 1 year ago # -
However it works out, one thing is for certain: in many arenas, eyes will turn to Alaska and remain fixed there for some time. I know that this sounds mildly prophetic, but I can't help but get that kind of feeling whenever I think about where Alaska will be about fifty years from now.
Posted 1 year ago #
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