Oil Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge Essay -- Argumentat

Oil Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge The main issue presented in my research involves the debate between environmentalists and the United States government on whether to open and develop a portion of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in the northern coastal plain of Alaska for the purpose of drilling for oil. Environmentalists argue that opening up this region of ANWR to future oil drilling would destroy the current ecosystems, disrupt animal habitats and adversely change the lives of the people in these local communities. Proponents of oil drilling in this region argue that all the issues presented by the environmentalist groups are not valid and they have no scientific facts to support their argument. Proponents of this issue point to the successful Prudhoe Bay oil exploration, which has produced nearly 13 billion barrels, or, 20 to 25 percent of the oil produced in the United States for the last 23 years. President George Bush recently indicated that he is renewing his campaign to open part of the Artic refu ge to oil exploration, contending that oil drilling is essential to the national security of the United States and would create jobs on a national and local level. George Bush supported his campaign by stating in a recent article â€Å"America is already using more energy then our domestic resources can provide and unless we act to increase our energy independence, our reliance of foreign sources of energy will only increase.† (w1) He also indicated from the same article saying â€Å"Alaskans know firsthand that modern technology allows us to bring oil to the surface cleanly and safely, while protecting our environment and wildlife.† (w2) His proposed energy plan also includes modernizing other energy del... ...ANWR based on geologic surveys. This oil discovery would greatly reduce our dependency for foreign oil supply, create jobs on a national and local level and put more money in the local economics by the increase in the tax base for Alaska. It appears based on the data I accumulated that with the newest technology in oil development would allow the oil to be brought to the surface and distributed in a clean and safe manner. If the people of the coastal plain are not affected negatively by oil development and the wildlife can co-exist in a positive manner then I would support future oil development in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Bibliography W3 : www.anwr.org www.alaskawild.org Reuters: by Steve Holland â€Å"Bush says U.S. Needs to Drill for oil in Alaska.† Sat. Feb 23,2002 Taken from www.story.news.yahoo.com W1 & W2: www.foxnews.com www.bushnews.com