Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?

[Artos O'Dalriada]

I get updates from Defenders of Wildlife, this is the latest, received today...

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Your action is needed immediately to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling. Congressional leaders have announced plans to try to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development by sneaking a measure into the upcoming budget.

Both the Senate and the House will be voting on the budget within the next two weeks, so please take one minute right now to send your Senators and Representative a message, urging them to vote against ANY budget measure that would allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge:

http://SaveArcticRefuge.org

Pro-drilling advocates in Congress plan to use the underhanded tactic of sneaking measures into the budget to open the door for drilling in the Refuge. This is an unacceptable sneak attack on our precious wildlife.

Through the actions of people just like you, we can send a powerful message to Congress that we reject this abuse of the budget process, and they must too. After sending your message to your Senators and Representative, make sure to encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Drilling in the Refuge is not a path to America's energy independence or lower prices at the pump. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the Refuge has less than a single year's supply of oil that would not reach the market for at least 10 years. Meanwhile, the harm to wildlife and to our greatest wildlife refuge would be irreparable. Please take action now to save this national treasure:

http://SaveArcticRefuge.org

Thank you for all that you do,

Robert Dewey
Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs


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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat and known for its effective leadership on saving endangered species such as brown bears and gray wolves. Defenders advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947, Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 480,000 members and supporters.


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[Pathos]

Unfortunately this entire world runs on oil. That's a simple fact. And oil is a FINITE resource. There's only a limited amount and it will eventually run out. People WILL NOT stop driving their cars or buying gas guzzling SUV's. And...keep in mind PLASTIC is a petroleum product. How much plastic do you have around?

Our oil usage increases exponentially every year. More cars are made and old ones last longer. As much as I'd like to avoid it...drilling in Alaska is inevitable. IT WILL HAPPEN. The least we can do is watch it very closely to make sure it's done with a minimum amount of damage to the area.

Unfortunate but true.

[KissMeKate]

It always annoys me that legislators try to sneak stuff into the budget bill. :evil: Hardly any of the riders get read before the vote goes through. And due to the environment up there, one spill could be absolutely devastating.

I've had many people try to tell me that increasing the efficiency of cars and homes and everything else won't really make a dent in our energy needs, although I think it would. And if we had been working on more efficient renewable resource projects, the idea of drilling in a wilderness area would have been too costly by now.

Sigh.

[LashaLaRouge]

i get the same updates, it saddens me that not even the land set aside to protect AGAISNT this by the government is safe form there change of mind...

[Artos O'Dalriada]

I do what I can, clicked the link when i got the update, and sent an email letter to congress. maybe, just maybe, the system will work and they'll listen if enough folks get mad about it.

[Pathos]

Of course the only reason this is even an issue is because the land in question is designated as a national "refuge" rather than a national "park." If it was a park...no drilling period. But since it's a refuge they can drill.

It was put up before congress several years ago to have it changed to a park but it got voted down. It only lost by a few votes. Interestingly...one of the then Senators who voted against it was Mr. Environment himself...Al Gore.

[Ysobelle]

Of course the only reason this is even an issue is because the land in question is designated as a national "refuge" rather than a national "park." If it was a park...no drilling period. But since it's a refuge they can drill.

It was put up before congress several years ago to have it changed to a park but it got voted down. It only lost by a few votes. Interestingly...one of the then Senators who voted against it was Mr. Environment himself...Al Gore.

But if it's a park, it's open to more recreational uses than a refuge would be, no?