ANWR: A Poster-Child for Environmental Exploitation!

ANWR Drillings is a matter of heated debate ranging from environmentalism at one end to the greed of economic empowerment on the other.  Before the actual conclusion could be reached, it is imperative to understand the overlaying theme of the ANWR Drilling; a case in contemporary times that embraces political friction, economic race, and environmental catalysts.

Geographic location of the ANWR Sites

The ANWR sites in Alaska are predicted to contain untapped fossil fuel resources that are beams of hope to instill a culture of robust economic growth and resource consumption; it could lead to greater production of fuel, and thus energy, making Alaska independent - of foreign dependency- boosting its employment potential, and leading to a developed infrastructure. That remains the argument for those who support the project. It is also cited that tapping these oil wells would equate to a 35% increase in new jobs, 21% increase in annual revenue for the first three years and an amazing 37% increase in state revenue in the next seven years. This provides a wave of gravity to pro-economic growth lobbyists who believe that it is fundamental to use your resources to lessen dependence on regions like Middle East, for something as significant as petroleum.

Political Cartoon reflecting Washington's priorities

However, let us realize that in the present world, our interactions with the environment and with its resources in particular is very complex. Our patterns of production and consumption have been accentuated to the extent that we have crossed our planetary boundaries set by nature. Drilling the ANWR Sites might possibly be such a case as well- a future poster-child for economic greed with the environment at stake. Excavations at the ANWR site are linked to multiple transgressions of sustainability. Research predicts that over 32 % of the wildlife would be displaced within seven months of the drilling; 7 major habitats and wildlife spheres are subject to implications of land degradation, contamination, devastation. The serene Alaska that we know now might transform into a massive replica of oil-powered economies like that of the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arab.

It is time that we realize our existence in the anthropogenic world we breathe in; we must value our resources rather than "business as usual" of depleting them, exploiting them, sucking them. Resources like that of petroleum are non-renewable - once used, we might never have access to them again. This violates the theory of intergenerational justice and equity. Our standards of living might end up complete depletion of these historic wells in a matter of decades, or even years. This remains very subjective as a question: is it worth it? How long will it last? Will the benefits surpass the losses? The answers, unfortunately, are as divided as the ideological differences. Some theorists quote that these oil wells are an endless 'source of black gold'. While other, more rational and theoretically sound advocates of environment support that the time span as to how long will these reserves last is very uncertain. It could contain enough oil to sustain generations of people; however, our current populace might end up using all of it ten times faster than expected, which is largely attributed to our increasing quality of life and dependence on energy. Some also argue that the amount of oil may not at all be worth the digging and landscaping; it will totally devastate forests, and habitats, and might lead to a lower exponent of biodiversity- an indispensable loss.

Is this the Future We Want?

Climate Change remains another red-flag; our rising consumption of fossil fuels has rendered large-scale climatic hazards which will maximize its frequency and impact in the later years if the current trends of greenhouse emissions continue. Instead of the digging, the same capital could be invested in renewable energy resources such as Solar, Wind, or even Geothermal, to boost interest in green-eco friendly energy, which is sustainable. 

 ANWR drilling: is it an option we can opt for should we desire a more equitable approach to solving our issues?