We are paying the consequences from past generation’s inability to make the right but hard choices, in order to protect and preserve our environment. The NRDC website lists the top global warming symptoms as melting glaciers, rising sea levels, severe weather patterns, the human health, and wildlife. (Consequences of Global Warming). Drilling in ANWR would cause horrifying situations for the wildlife ecosystem and inescapable affects on life in America and around the world, as we know it. In the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s annual report and recommendations to the US Congress, they revealed the astounding fact that, “The Artic Refuge is the only conservation system unit that protects, in an undisturbed condition, a complete …show more content…
8). The wildlife and undisrupted wilderness is interwoven in their culture, daily lives, and sense of themselves (Inkley, Kolton, p. 8). Sarah James, a member of the Neets’all Gwich’in, Artic Village Gwich’in Steering committee, emphasized this connection, stating, “We are the Caribou People…Caribou are not just what we eat; they are who we are. They are in our stories and songs and the whole way we see the world. Caribou are our life. Without caribou we wouldn’t exist” (Inkley, Kolton, p. 8). As oil drilling in ANWR would inevitably disrupt and threaten the safety and existence of the caribou, it would disrupt and threaten the safety and, as Sarah emphasizes in her last statement, herself and her villages’ existence. The abundance of wildlife within the diverse ANWR ecosystem is the beating heart of our natural global environment, with an immeasurable amount of importance with regards to our environments interconnectivity. With over 8 marine mammal species and 42 species of fish, the robust ANWR ecosystem provides the uninterrupted conservation and preservation required for these species spawning rituals, in order to maintain the fish population necessary for our mass fishing industry, that we have become so accustomed to in the lower 48 (Inkley, Kolton, p. 8). An enormous portion of the fish we consume is Alaskan salmon; whose spawning ground environment ANWR oil
Lee, Professor of Economics. In his argument claims, “that the Economic of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil is so great that even environmentalist should agree to drilling, and they would probably stand to benefit.” There would be many benefits as compared to the cost. He does not deny the fact that there would be risks associated with the drilling. In spite of this, he feels that they do not begin to compare the benefits. Lee explains that the main reason that this has become such an intense issue is because of high prices of oil and gasoline. Lee goes on to explain that technology has having fewer risks involved with the drilling. This is why it is an important issue. Drilling would help reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign sources. Richard Pombo, a Republican from California argued that “there is no logical reason” to oppose ANWR drilling (Easton, 2009).
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is located in the northeastern part of Alaska and has been the topic of many recent political and environmental debates. Many of these
The native americans and other DAPL (Dakota Access Pipeline) opposers are filled with determination, distress, passion, and such resentment towards the pipeline project because it would run under and through ground that their ancestors knew as sacred and those beliefs are still very alive to this day. The pipeline is a 1,172 mile underground oil pipeline that will aid transporting oil through all 50 states in the USA; it was projected to go through sacred lands, reservations, and rivers. There are multifarious issues and concerns pertaining to project but some of the preeminent concerns are; historic preservation and sacred grounds becoming significantly damaged and irreparable, climate change and how it would just increase the production of CO2, and potential pipeline fractures and spills that would mutilate the crucial nearby farms and threaten contaminate for the water supply of thousands of people who depend on it.
nature, not to be opened to oil drilling and possible development. The wildlife debate has focused mainly on the areas of importance to the Porcupine Caribou, and other species such as polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves and migratory birds are also at a great risk.
Throughout countless presidential debates and national news stories, the topic of global warming and pollution is one that is constantly fought over. This month, thousands of Native Americans are demanding the federal government stop the construction of an oil pipeline near Indigenous land in North Dakota. The proposed pipeline is suppose to approach near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. Additionally, the tribe is fighting against this pipeline because they say it would disrupt sacred landmarks, burial sites and could possibly contaminate drinking water for the tribe and for the people downstream to the Missouri River.
Perhaps the largest biological issue with drilling in area 1002 is the Porcupine caribou Herd. Drilling supporters argue that caribou are affected by the drilling operation. Examples of this are made at the Prunhoe Bay drill site where caribou actually use gravel pads and roads to avoid insect attacks and are unaffected by human presence.
Drilling in ANWR could greatly benefit the United States. It could boost the economy, decrease foreign oil trade, lower oil prices worldwide and create about 750,000 jobs, throughout the United States. On the other hand it could ruin ecosystems and tamper with wildlife’s habitats, for a less than significant amount of oil. Either way a decision has to be made. Prudhoe Bay is steadily declining. The question is whether the government wants to continue paying the high price of foreign imports or drill at ANWR and potentially ruin fragile and ecologically sensitive ecosystems.
Prudhoe Bay and have seen it co-exist with the their natural resources and their way of life(Doc D). The natives trust that the oil company will take care of the land by enforcing strict regulations. The Alaskan government also believes the drilling will benefit their economy as well as their way of life.
The snowshoe hare needs protection due to its sheer importance in the ecosystem’s food web. Humans, by oil drilling, will negatively impact not only the snowshoe hare, but one of the world’s greatest arctic wildlife reserves. Protecting the snowshoe hare will also increase biodiversity in the ecosystem. Humanity should be careful about fossil fuel exploration and not squander its precious wildlife refuges. By doing this, it can ensure that ANWR- and its unique snowshoe hare- lives on for future
There has been one thing quite a few people tend to skip over in the local newspapers and on the news. It is known as drilling, but that is not much of a concern. Why would anyone care? It means nothing to them anyway. To the animals and ecosystems, it does. Pretty soon dozens of wildlife will be endangered. What they call home will be long gone. That will be placed in the past and drilling will take the ecosystem's place in Alaska's Coastal Plain. Something needs to be done now before the creatures lose their only home.
Drilling an ANWR is a short term solution that is being proposed as it requires little change to the current model of energy supply in this country. Opponents of drilling bring up many valid points. 1 percent of fuel consumption would be supplemented by this drilling activity. George Wills mentions in his essay that that entire United States holds 2.14 percent of the global reserves of crude oil, and I do not believe this to be a “Few drops of oil” as Sen. John Kerry is quoted as saying in the essay. That 2.14 percent may be needed in the future if plans of renewable energy fall short, and should be saved for such a time when they are absolutely necessary.
ANWR has been at the forefront of environmental policy debate for over thirty years now. There is a battle going on between those who seek to drill within the refuge for oil interests, and those who seek to prohibit drilling due to environmental concerns. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground between the two. This article will explain the advantages of drilling, the potential risks that drilling has on the
With all the good the Arctic National Wildlife refuge has to offer as a safe haven for endangered animals and plant life, comes the burden of sitting on an oil reserve. As noted earlier in 1980, under President Carter, the protected area was doubled. However, the oil industry lobbies succeeded in having the U.S. Senate refuse to designate the critically important Costal Plain as wilderness. Instead, Section 1002 of the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act legislation directed the Department of Interior
There is an issue on this planet that will define this generation. The issue is climate change. Global warming. A world on the collapse as our oceans are acidified, our air polluted, our forests disappearing, and human rights issues getting worse. It seems that people are not aware of how big climate change actually is. It’s not something that only takes place on the ice caps or in the forests on the far corners of the world. This is an issue that happens here, and now. It’s real. It’s happening.
The systemic issues in this case are whether the government must take action on the ecological point of view. Even though the Questar drilling has benefits the local economies and increasing the welfare, they must also concern about the saga grouse that almost extinct and