Carter calls for the protection of the Arctic Refuge in his foreword to “Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land, A Photographic Journey.” Carter creates a case for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in order to convince his audience. Jimmy Carter tries to reassure his audience of his position by using pathos, and logos, as well as his position as the 39th president.
Carter starts with a personal anecdote in his article. He talks about his trip to the Arctic refuge with his wife. He exclaims, “One of the most unforgettable and humbling experiences of our lives occurred on the coastal plain. We had hoped to see caribou during our trip, but to our amazement, we witnessed the migration of tens of thousands of caribou with their newborn calves.” Carter places his personal perspective carefully before addressing the threat to the Arctic Refuge. Carter lets the reader better appreciate the elegance and awe that the Arctic Refuge embodies by including his personal experience and demonstrating the magnificent essence of the Arctic Refuge. He then moves a sadder note, “Standing on the coastal plain, I was saddened to think of the tragedy that might occur if this great wilderness was consumed by a web of roads and pipelines, drilling rigs and industrial facilities.” As he states that the planned designs will destroy the wilderness quality of America’s “only” Arctic Refuge, he brings fear and anxiety to his audience. Many with a deep sense of empathy would want to prevent this from happening, promoting Carter’s stance of maintaining the magnificent place.
Logos is another powerful tool Carter employs to strengthen his claim for the protection of the Arctic Refuge. He addresses the potentially dangerous repercussions of losing this wilderness. The loss of habitats' character, wildlife, and resources are just a few examples. Carter seeks to further persuade the viewer that the Arctic Refuge should be protected in order to escape these repercussions by speaking to their logic. Carter points out there have been many attempts to extract oil in the wilderness' coastal plain. Now, Carter is able to present a new counterpoint and suggest an alternative. He says that since the Refuge only contains 1% to 2% of the oil consumed by Americans every day, they should secure it. Carter recommends that we can save money by utilizing more fuel-efficient cars and making better use of our energy. This is a good statement because it makes sense to help the Arctic Refuge reserve in order to enhance the reader's personal profit.
Jimmy's role as President of the United States is another convincing weapon he uses to make his case. He mentions that long before his administration, many republican and democratic presidents of the United States had accepted the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He goes on to state, “ In 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the original 8.9 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Range to preserve its unique wildlife, wilderness, and recreational values.” This helps him portray that past presidents express commonality in securing the Arctic Refuge. Carter expresses his commitment to the Arctic Refuge by noting his support for the Conservation Act. “Twenty years later, I signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, monumental legislation that safeguarded more than 100 million acres of national parks, refuges, and forests in Alaska.” The Conservation Act makes it clear that protecting the Arctic Refuge is a primary concern, urging Americans to consider its significance.
Carter asks for the preservation of the Arctic Refuge with a broad range of viewpoints. He does this to extend his audience. To prove his point, Carter builds an argument for the preservation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jimmy Carter uses pathos, logos, and his role as the 39th president to convince his audience of his position, which makes him capable of writing a strong argument.