by Chandra Janean

Created on: August 06, 2008

There are many spin doctors on both sides of the issue of whether or not to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I don't think that opening the refuge is going to lead to reduced dependence on foreign oil in the long run, but it will lead to environmental degradation of habitat that has thusfar been protected. I believe that the direction America should move to obtain energy independence is through research and development of alternative energy and fuel sources, and improved mass transit options. With a combination of technological advances and common sense we can adapt to new energy consumption lifestyles. The oil industry does not want to relinquish their hold onto the profits and power that they have procurred over modern times. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should stay pristine for future generations enjoyment and to harbor a living example of healthy ecosystems with thriving populations of wildlife.

The first reason that I don't believe in the downplaying of ecological impact is because of the simple aspect of "road building." Where road building occurs, environmental quality degrades. When flying over the state of Alaska, one can see how dirty the areas populated by humans really are. There will be vast spanses of pistrine tundra, with marshes,and sparkling clear streams and then you come over the next ridgeline to see houses with yards looking like garbage dumps, and auto junkyards. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge does not have a current infrastructure for supporting human populations and waste. I think that it should stay that way. It is true that the wildlife will adapt to oil pipelines and other man made invasions to their habitat, but should that be the direction we take for a small supply of oil resources? When looking at the big picture, cradle to cradle should be the sight we base our decisions upon. Far too many generations have taken the cradle to grave approach and we are no closer to reducing our dependence on foreign oil than when we first began constructing a petrochemical society.

Petroleum is a finite resource. There are no more dinosaurs dyeing to re-create the massive stores of oil found in the layers of the earth. Constructing our economies, governments and society around a finite resource is foolish. The people in positions of political influence should start to put their necks out and push for more funding of research and development of affordable renewable resources. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a remote place, far to the North and far from the backyard of the politicians, corporations and hired spin doctors who are pushing for the drilling. We must attempt to share our earth with other creatures and not put short sighted human interests (and profits) before the quality of life of future generations.

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