In 1980 the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) in northern Alaska in order to create a safe place for animals and plants where they would be able to thrive without human interactions. However, if we were to drill on this land we would not only be destroying the environment even more than it already is. This land is a “vital birthing ground for polar bears, grizzlies, Arctic wolves, caribou, and the endangered shaggy musk ox, a mammoth-like survivor of the last Ice Age” (Document E). This is not only showing us but is telling us we are not taking this land from these animals but putting them at risk of having an encounter with a human which can cause either one to become injured or killed. The US needs oil and by drilling for oil on our own land, we would help our economy, but in doing so would destroy the beauty of the wilderness and harm many others.
Drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness would not only destroy the home of many Arctic animals, but at the same time, it will have no real effect on our economy. According to a study by the US Energy Information Agency, the oil from the Alaskan Wilderness “would only reduce US oil imports by 4%” (Document C), which would barely put a dent in our economy. Drilling on this land would not only destroy the environment but pollute resources, scare off food sources, and ruin the environment itself. “The result in a landscape defaced by mountains of sewage sludge, scrap metal, garbage, and more than 60 contaminated waste sites (Document E). This quote is just proving the fact that the drilling for oil in Alaska’s wilderness would lead to no good, not only will it affect the waterways and the animals but also the people that eat those animals. Document C also states that “the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge contains no more than a six-month supply of at our current consumption rate.” This quote is showing us that even though this is six month supply of oil, is it really worth having to destroy this land for our own good that won’t even last as long as we need it too; is it worth destroying these wild arctic animals' home and cause more damage to the Earth’s ecosystem we have already have done.
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Even though drilling for oil in Alaska’s wilderness is wrong it still has its benefits. Document D it states that “we rely on the land and resources of the North Slope for our physical, our culture and our economic well-being.” This quote is showing us that in order for us to thrive we need oil. However, we have survived and thrived over thousands of years without oil, so why can’t we now? People in America depend on natural resources so much they waste them to the point in which nothing is left. According to document B (According to Arctic Power), “between 250,000 and 750,000 jobs are estimated to be created by the development of the coastal plain.” This is important because it will help the economy. When people have jobs they tend to spend more money, which in turn, will stimulate the economy. When employment is low, the economy tends to suffer. When people do not have money to spend, they often only spend what they have on the essentials, such as food, water, and shelter. Even though this is good what happens after they stop drilling for oil and these jobs are not needed anymore, thousands of people will lose their job and some people may not be able to get another job, which will lead to people becoming homeless.
In conclusion drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness will bin no good to the American people or the wildlife. All it would do is create even bigger problems than we have today. People in America need to understand that even though oil may be necessary it is not worth destroying our world for. We would only be killing ourselves if we were to continue to pollute and destroy our world and kill off these wild animals.
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