Voices from the Flats – Bob Shavelson
2 12 2009I’ve had lots of people asking me about the Muckraker of the Year award, and its origins. So here’s a guest post from one of the great Alaskan Muckrakers, Bob Shavelson, the Executive Director of Cook Inletkeeper. I want to thank Bob for his kind words, and extend to all readers an invitation to the Muckrakers Ball. Your donation will go to a great cause, as you’ll see.
********************
Cook Inletkeeper is a nonprofit organization formed in 1995 by activists, Alaska Natives, scientists, fishermen, lawyers and artists who were fed up with toxic oil and gas dumping in Cook Inlet’s remarkable fisheries. Today, Inletkeeper works to protect salmon fisheries in the face of rapid climate change, and to chart a sensible energy future that rejects coal and other fossil fuels and embraces the world class renewable energy resources that surround us.
Going toe-to-toe with the oil industry in Alaska – where there’s no statewide sales or income tax, and where oil revenues make up roughly 90% of the state’s general fund revenues – is never an easy undertaking. Even the suggestion that these giant multinational corporations might not be operating in the best interests of Alaskans can draw a slew of angry letters, obnoxious phone calls and even the occasional threat of bodily harm.
But we take heart in knowing we’re not fighting these battles alone, and that there are other clear-eyed, forward-thinking Alaskans who stand by the same principles of fairness, equity and accountability we do. That’s why in 2007, we decided to recognize those individuals who speak truth to power by bestowing upon them our annual “Muckraker of the Year” Award.
According to Wikipedia, a Muckraker:
“[S]eeks to expose corruption of businesses or government to the public. The term originates from writers of the Progressive movement in America who wanted to expose corruption and scandals in government and business. Muckrakers often wrote about the wretchedness of urban life and poverty, and against the established institutions of society, such as big business. They were often accused of being socialists or communists.”
For 2009, there really was no contest for our Muckraker of the Year award. After the sordid scandals, public rip-offs, and political machinations of the previous year, the Inletkeeper Board of Directors quickly decided on one person who literally and figuratively personified the term “muckraker” in Alaska: Jeanne Devon. Through her insightful and inspirational work on “The Mudflats,” writing as “AKMuckraker,” Jeanne helped Alaskans – and the rest of the nation and the world – recognize we’re not all a bunch of knuckle-dragging flat-earthers living in igloos with Russia out our back door. Through her research and writing, she poked, prodded and occasionally punched the power players in Alaska, raising questions and demanding answers. And perhaps most importantly, Jeanne’s work has inspired and activated a loyal and growing clan of “mudpuppies” who share Jeanne’s passion for holding our politicians and our captains of industry accountable to the people they’re meant to serve.
Jeanne of course is too modest to toot her own horn, so we’re going to do it for her on December 5 at Rumrunners (4th & E, Downtown Anchorage) at our annual Muckrakers Ball starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $10 and that includes food, music, no-host bar, door prizes and a chance to help honor Jeanne as our 2009 Muckraker of the Year! And did I mention special guest emcee Shannyn Moore?! For more info see www.inletkeeper.org
Bob Shavelson, Executive Director
Cook Inletkeeper
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I love the event poster.
I liked the guest post.
So, can we call you a commie socialist now?
Congrats, AKM.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Congratulations AKM , Wish I could go. I will be there in spirit.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Congrats you deserve it. I wish i could go as well but for those of us that cant we will be there in spirit.
Best wishes
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 AM
thanks for the explanation…congrats AKM , very deserved
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Congratulations AKM
And thanks also to Bob Shavelson for a great post on the origins of the award.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Good for you! You deserve every bit of it. We’re ALL so proud of you.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Congrats AKM! This honor is rightly deserved!
-A Canadian fan
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Cool, and congrats. Wish we could all be there, but you know we will be in spirit.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Too bad we can’t all hop on a bus……or a private jet……and be there!
Congrats again………sounds like so much fun…..I hope we see lots of pics and maybe some video.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 AM
that is such a FAB poster — must be framed and put up somewhere for all to see.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Congratulations AKM. You’re my favorite commie! Wish I could be there.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 PM
AKM, could you possibly have imagined, a year ago, the turn your life would take on account of this little blog? National tv appearances; trips to Boston, ny, and Pittsburgh; best political blog of the year; mudstocks held in your honor across the land; hundreds of new friends; and now, Muckraker of the year! And thru it all you have maintained your wit, graciousness and modesty. Congratulations yet again, and thank you.
PS what the ell is a no host bar?
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 PM
That is just wonderful. I suspect live blogging will be out of the question, =)
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Congratulations, AKM, for the recognition of your stellar muckraking!
Thanks for the post describing the honor, Mr. Shavelson.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Big muddy congratulations are of course in order. You really have become an Alaskan institution in a very short time.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Well , how perfectlty cool is this ?? A hale and hearty salute from Texas for you AKM. Enjoy your deserved lovely evening.
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Congrats AKM! Well deserved and how cool! Please give us one of your wonderful write-ups along with some pics and hopefully some video. Keep on rakin’ that muck!!!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:44 PM
One thought LOL will Palin show up as she was supposed to stop corruption in Alaska.She should show up to honor you AKM. I mean it she should but of course won’t ,may Todd or Levi will show up wood be a hoot as SP would say.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 PM
sorry would be a hoot