Alaskan oil drilling a possibility under Bush

Since President George W. Bush's re-election there has been much debate over whether he will pursue his energy plan, which includes drilling in Alaska's Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In his first term as president, Bush was unsuccessful in passing legislation that would allow drilling in ANWR, and it is likely he will try to get his energy plan passed this term. This past week, many Republicans from both the House and Senate said they will push for drilling in Alaska's refuge early next year.

This refuge is one of the few preserved places in our nation and it would be criminal to ruin this beautiful untouched land. The refuge is home to many animals including polar bears, musk oxen, wolves, millions of migratory birds and caribou. Drilling would absolutely ruin these animals' habitat and could also endanger them. It would be unethical to deface this picturesque natural wonder and use it as a resource. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, this land only contains enough oil to supply our consumption for six months. The damage that this area would sustain is not worth six months' supply of oil. The extensive damage would take hundreds of years to undo, but would only fulfill our needs for six months.

There is an undeniable need for oil in America, but there are several alternatives to oil that we have not explored in depth, including using corn-based ethanol. This will help farmers because it adds value to their crops. Biodiesel, which is another alternative to oil, can be made from cooking oil and used in diesel cars. Both of these alternatives use gases that would otherwise be admitted into the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

The Bush Administration's blatant disregard for the environment is harmful and selfish. Destroying this refuge would take away one of the few natural wonders left in this country and leave future generations without the opportunity to appreciate and observe this awesome land and its inhabitants. The justification for drilling in Alaska is that gas is too expensive and it is a necessary sacrifice in order to control the exponential growth of gas prices. The debate over the drilling in Alaska is really about whether we put a higher value on saving money or saving the environment. It is imperative that we stop using expendable resources as sources of energy and begin to use sources that are more beneficial to the environment, if not for the sake of the environment then for ourselves. These resources are rapidly depleting and the possibility of one day not having any petroleum is a reality. Although the elections have come and gone, we still have a voice in the legislative system and it is important that we make our voices heard.

Lauren Williams is an undeclared freshman at CSULB.