White Abyss
In a world where the need for material goods and natural resources is skyrocketing people often times forget the impact a few years of human disturbance will have on the fragile ecosystem that is planet Earth. An ongoing debate about this matter occurs between environmentalists and big business men, Democrats and Republicans, people and the planet. What are the risks to the well being of this world and the beings that live upon it should humans decide to drill deep into the ground in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary searching for a limited resource? What is the Artic National Wildlife Refuge? The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a huge portion of land in the northeastern most reaches of Alaska, which may also be home to 11.4 billion barrels of oil buried deep beneath the reserve. The 8.9 million square acre reserve became a protected area in 1957 when Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton set out to preserve the "unique wildlife, wilderness, and recreational values" of what was then known as the Arctic National Wildlife Range. The range was renamed Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), doubled in size to over 19 million square acres, and drilling for oil in this area was outlawed in 1980, when Congress passed a law s
Though the proposed area for drilling covers only 110 miles, it accounts soley for land used for drilling platforms and docks. It does not include all of forests, tundra, and waterways prospect to consumption due to the construction of hundreds of miles of roadways and pipelines through the reserve. Acre upon acre of valuable wildlife habitat-including the destruction of rivers and migratory paths of animals-would result from construction (http://www.psr.org/alaskarefuge.html). Senator Frank Murkowski of Alaska, standing on the floor of the Senate [in January 2001], holding up a blank sheet of white paper. That, he says, is all you can see in winter on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain--just "snow and ice." So what could be wrong with drilling for oil in such a bleak, deserted region in the distant northeastern corner of Alaska? There is nothing there" (McCarthy)p. 24). In his personal testimony, former Congressman John Seiberling detailed the challenge facing lawmakers and citizens of the planet after visiting ANWR for the first time. He wrote: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge deserves to be protected and left intact for future generations to experience and behold. It deserves to exist in its right as it is-as wilderness. It is unimaginable that this vital land could ever be developed without destroying its wild vitality. To make such a sacrifice of the best of our wild heritage for so little oil makes as much sense as burning a van Gogh to heat your home. It is a special place-a sacred place. We must let it be forever wild and free (p. 74). Production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is prohibited and no leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the [refuge] shall be undertaken until authorized by an act of Congress".
Some common words found in the essay are:
Wildlife Refuge, Kassi Crow, Alaska McCarthyp, Lands Act, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska ANWR, John Seiberling, North America-also, Arctic Circle, Porcupine Heard, national wildlife, arctic national, arctic national wildlife, national wildlife refuge, wildlife refuge, arctic refuge circle, drilling oil, anwr drilling, supply oil, arctic refuge, prudhoe bay, refuge circle testimony, circle testimony, refuge circle, support anwr drilling,
Approximate Word count = 1939
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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