Drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Reserve

By Colin Sullivan

Bronx Guild H.S.

 

 

 

Introduction

 

President Dwight D. Eisenhower had the foresight in 1960 to set aside this arctic treasure for future generations. Congress reaffirmed the value of the Arctic Refuge in 1980, expanding the Refuge to 19.5 million acres and designating most of Eisenhower’s orginal Arctic Range as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The coastal plain was denied this critical wilderness designation because of last-minute pressure from the oil industry.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is an amazing and inspiring place. Visitors tell of its stunning vistas, unique wildlife and untouched landscape. Scientist note the importance of the refuge as habitat for hundreds of species and the crucial role it plays in Alaska's web of life. The Gwich'in – native Alaskans who live nearby – depend on the Caribou that give birth in the refuge for food, clothing and spiritual sustenance. And the refuge is also an important part of American’s heritage.

Since its original formation in the 1960s, the Artic Reserve has battled against oil companies, for control over Alaska’s wilderness.  In recent years, the war in Iraq, skyrocketing gas prices, and the country’s economic recession, as well as, our increasing dependence on oil and gas, has once again brought this issue to the front lines of American politics.  President Bush even outlined drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Reserve as part of his new energy plan.

 

On March 17th, of this year, Congress, with a 51-49 vote, barely passed a bill that will allow drilling in the wildlife refuge. This decision, although not final, has upset and angered many environmentalists, including former presidential candidate John Kerry, who said, “Today we saw a Republican sneak attack on one of our most treasured natural wonders.” The debate isn’t finished as Congress still needs to pass a budget for the drilling.  

 

Now it’s your turn to decide what’s best.

 

 

Tasks

 

It’s time for your voice to be heard on this issue.  Your job is to follow the steps outlined on the TIPS online worksheets, along with information you gather from the websites listed below, and make a recommendation on what to do about this problem.

 

1)      After completing your TIPS worksheets, you will write a letter to your state senators, Hillary Clinton and Charles Shumer, or President Bush, explaining your findings and your opinions on the drilling.  I expect you to use specific facts that you gather from your online research to support your point.

 

2)      You must research to find out about a single animal that lives in the Arctic.  You must write a one-page report on why you think that this animal deserves to have a home in the wildlife reserve. Start with the things that make this animal an important part of the Arctic world, and go on from there. (Hint: Use the websites for the Sierra Club and Defenders of the Wildlife to find pics).  You must present at least on  picture of the animal.   

 

 

Public Policy (PPA) Worksheets

 

a. Define the Problem   Worksheet 1    http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

b. Gather Evidence      Worksheet 2    http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

  c. Identify Causes        Worksheet 3       http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

  d. Evaluate Policy         Worksheet 4   http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/existing.html

  e. Develop Solutions     Worksheet 5    http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/solutions.html

f.   Select best Solution   Worksheet 6   http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/bestsol.html

     

Related Websites

 

http://www.anwr.org/photo.htm  - Arctic National Wildlife Reserve Website

http://www.anwr.org/topten.htm  - Top Ten Reasons to Support Drilling

http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/arctic/index.asp  - Sierra Club Website (Against)

http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/arctic/arissue.html  - Defenders of the Wildlife

http://www.arcticwildlife.org/flashintro.htm  - Flash Movie Against Drilling

http://www.balancedpolitics.org/anwr_drilling.htm  - Good and Bad Effects Chart

http://csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/durableRedirect.pl?/durable/2000/10/25/fp11s1-csm.shtml  - Christian Science Monitor Argument For Drilling

http://magazine.audubon.org/features0109/arctic.html  - Audubon argument against

 

PPA Evaluation Rubric

 

Excellent

 

Very Good 

     

Satisfactory

No Credit

Research

And

Letter

Problem clearly identified and thoroughly researched. Letter is convincing and well written.

Problem identified and reasonably researched. Letter is choppy but contains good facts.

Problem identified and letter is written, but with many grammatical mistakes. Information is randomly thrown in. It is not a convincing argument.

Problem is not identified. Research is lacking. Letter is incomplete.

PPA

Worksheets

All six steps of the PPA  are clearly addressed and all worksheets correctly completed

All six steps of the PPA are addressed  and most worksheets correctly completed

At least half of the worksheets are completed. It appears that the student has used the information in their letter.

Incomplete worksheets. Student never attempted nor asked for help.

Written Report

Well organized, demonstrates logical sequence. Includes picture.

Organized, demonstrates logic. Picture included. Paper is messy or not enough info.

Organized, but confused sentence structure. There is a picture. There is limited information on the animal.

Poorly organized, limited information, no picture.

 

 

Standards

English

English E1 – Read and comprehend informational materials

English E2 – Produce a report of information, produce a persuasive and reflective essay

English E3 – Participate in group meetings

English E4 – Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness

English E7 – Produce functional documents appropriate to audience and purpose

 

Conclusion

 

            Congratulations! If you have done what was asked of you then you now understand one of the more complex environmental problems facing Alaska, and the United States, today.  Hopefully, this process has made you realize that the more information you gather on a subject, the more knowledgeable and passionate you become about that subject.  It is hard to imagine living in a place, such as Northern Alaska, where we would see these animals almost every week, but there is such a place.  It is important to protect worlds like this, and it is important to know how they are connected to our world.  Next time you get in a car, a bus, a train, or plane, be sure to think about the animal you researched.  The power to run those vehicles is being taken from land owned by those animals.  You must help them to protect it.