The Kenai Peninsula is beautiful. It's even more beautiful seeing Alaskans unite for a glorious cause: salmon. Over 4,500 people gathered this weekend in Ninilchik for the second annual Salmonstock. Featuring dozens of bands and vendors, Salmonstock is a three day celebration of wild salmon. And despite the rain, it was a huge success. People danced, drank, and partied in the name of salmon, sporting "I vote clean salmon", "Save Bristol Bay", and "No Pebble Mine" t-shirts, hats, stickers, and tattoos. (Temporary, I think, or these people are really hard core.)
Underlying the entire event was the threat of Pebble Mine -- the gargantuan gold and copper mine proposed at the headwaters of Bristol Bay's prolific wild salmon runs. The people of the region have spoken, and they don't want Pebble Mine.
Over 80% of Bristol Bay residents oppose Pebble Mine. 81% of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation's native shareholders oppose Pebble Mine. And 85% of commercial fishermen in Bristol Bay oppose Pebble Mine.
The people at Salmonstock joined this overwhelming local opposition -- and the significant opposition in the lower 48 -- by jammin for salmon over the weekend.
Make your voice heard too. Click here to support salmon and Stop Pebble Mine.