Environmental Dangers

The main argument against drilling for oil and natural gas in Alaska is that it will harm the environment by decreasing wildlife populations. The environmentalist simply can not substatiate this claim. Take the example of the North Slope oil fields, just 65 miles west of ANWR, for instance. The Central Arctic caribou herd was only 3,000 strong in the early seventies when oil drilling began. At last count, the herd's population was 32,000 according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's aerial survey in 2002. The caribou herd has been increasing in number by 8.5% since drilling began. The herd simutaneously posseses the land with the oil rigs. In fact, pregnant caribou birth their calves near the facilities. source

Besides caribou, there are foxes, bears, birds and others which pass through ANWR in the summer when the land is not a frozen tundra. There is no evidence that any other populations have been adversly affected near ANWR by exploration on the North Slope of Alaska. The grizzly bear population has increased 15% in Prhudoe Bay since drilling began. source

The dispute over the environment is fueled by political gain. Some politicians ,which we have hired, vote down pro-ANWR bills again and again on the basis that the environment will suffer. To date, there is no evidence that wildlife has been harmed in Alaskan oil fields, nor is there any evidence which would suggest that the neighboring ANWR would experience damage to it's wildlife.

Put simply, elected officials that oppose ANWR receive a significant amount of their funding from special intrest groups that don't have our best interests in mind. Therefore, they must defend opposing arguments because their monitary life-line depends on it. Tell them that their job depends on forgetting their special interest groups and focusing on our best interests. click here.

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