Finding Common Ground in the Battle Over ANWR
The Alaskan National Wilderness Refuge has been the topic of political debate for decades. A large, beautiful piece of the world, ANWR as it is often referred to, is not a only a refuge for hundreds of species of birds, fish and mammals, but also a political battleground that is used to ignite the debate on America’s dependence on foreign fuel sources. The possibility of drilling for oil in ANWR brings with it the promise of jobs, dependency from unstable countries for our fuel needs and a boost to our declining economy. However, drilling in this land also brings the possibility of destroying the habitat of birds that migrate to this area yearly, caribou that use this haven as a calving ground, fish that fill the rivers and lakes, as well as grizzly bears, wolves, elk and hundreds of other species that depend on this habitat for food, shelter and safety. There is no debate that there are passionate debates, important facts and amazing possibilities that concern both sides of this argument. And even if it were possible to remove political agenda from the table, it would still be a very difficult debate to win for either side. My hopes are to come to a conclusion that would benefit both parties involved. I strongly feel that any drilling in this area would be detrimental to the surrounding area, as well as bring possible harm to the countless animals, birds and fish that use this safe haven yearly for migration, calving and egg laying and feeding. The decision to either drill or not to drill may not have a direct impact on us now, but in the years to come, good or bad, we will all see the changes that this decision will have resulted in. There are many others, like you, that believe that drilling in ANWR is the perfect solution to our current economic situation. The possibilities of new jobs and freedom from purchasing oil from unstable and hostile countries
Cited: Biello, David. "Can Ethanol from Corn Be Made Sustainable?" Scientific American Global RSS. Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014. Krupnick, Alan J