U.S. energy needs are becoming increasingly desperate, and the country will stop at nothing to fulfill them, despite the inevitable risks.
For over 25 years the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been fighting for the Arctic’s refuge against the United States’ deadly oil drilling plot, in order to preserve the millions of animals that migrate to, and live in, this vulnerable environment. The Budget Reconciliation Act, which has been trying to pass the rights to perform the potentially hazardous drilling project in the Arctic, is very close in obtaining its goal.
If the act passes, this will be another example of America demolishing our Canadian environment in its relentless quest for oil. The remote, small area targeted in Alaska is one of the very few remaining rich and rare ecosystems left in the Arctic where the wildlife can live prosperously.
The risks that come with drilling for oil in the arctic are staggering. Canada’s environment and residents will be devastated along with the delicate ecosystem and wildlife in Alaska. Bringing the oil down to the States risks our Canadian environment enormously. Looking back at the Exxon Valdez incident, for example, sends shivers down my spine. Without any new technology in transporting this crude oil, the same fate may occur again on our western coastline.
The great number of wildlife that lives in and migrates to the Refuge is great. If the oil drilling takes place in their environment many of these animals will die because all their resources will be contaminated. The intrusion alone will be detrimental to the environment. In addition, oil will be spilled all over their natural habitat and their homes will be destroyed.
Once this affects the animals, it will become a problem for the Gwitch’in people of North Yukon who depend on the endangered porcupine caribou to live. If Canadian animals’ lives are put in jeopardy, Canadians are at risk as well.
This expedition for finding oil in the Arctic is not worth all the damage it will cause. It has been researched that the amount of oil that will be found will only serve the U.S. demands for less than a year. Events in the past, like the 2003 blackout, prove that North America’s need for energy is on the rise. Canada’s endangered natural resources are at a great risk if the Americans continue this expedition for oil.
Our society is in a vicious cycle when it comes to our needs and the environment. We have an ever-increasing desire for energy as our technology advances, and we abuse our environment more and more. As a result, we begin to run out of our natural resources by fueling our constant growing appetite for power, and paradoxically damage our environment even more. If this dangerous cycle continues, we will find ourselves without any resources left.
Several encouraging amendments were made to the bill in the Senate earlier last week, but the results remain to be seen. The House of Representatives’ version will meet this newly amended bill in conference in early December.
