Arctic Oil Drilling 23 Years After Exxon Valdez

It’s been 23 years since the now-infamous oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on March 24, 1989. The spill was one of the most devastating environmental disasters in history, with far-reaching consequences for wildlife and people. Prince William Sound’s remote location, accessible only by helicopter, plane and boat, made government and industry response efforts difficult and severely taxed existing plans for response. The crude oil eventually covered 1,300 miles of coastline and 11,000 square miles of ocean. Today, tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil still linger.

America’s Arctic Ocean is a national treasure and is home to many of our nation’s most beloved wildlife species — polar bears, walrus, ice seals, bowhead whales, beluga whales and more. Unfortunately, politicians and oil companies seem all too eager to forget the lessons of Exxon Valdez. This summer, if we don’t stop it, exploratory drilling will begin in the Arctic Ocean.

The Chukchi and Beaufort seas, where Shell Oil is slated to begin drilling, are far more inaccessible and remote than Prince William Sound, and the seas are far more treacherous and ice-locked for much of the year. An oil spill in the Arctic’s remote, ice-choked waters would simply be impossible to clean up, and the environmental destruction that would ensue in this pristine ecosystem is unimaginable — the Deepwater Horizon spill would look tame by comparison.

For all these reasons, groups like the Center for Biological Diversity have blocked all drilling in the Arctic since 2007 — and it’s why we should block it again this year. It’s time to demand real change, not just business as usual and empty promises.

Help the Center for Biological Diversity send 1 million signatures to President Barack Obama asking him to stop Shell’s reckless drilling plans and say NO to Arctic drilling. If Obama approves Shell’s plans, we could face an irreversible oil-spill disaster in one of America’s last, best wildernesses.

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Photo of the Exxon Valdez spill courtesy of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Terry V.

2:47PM PDT on Sep 13, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DhEwpRcPozE

September 13
send a green star

Muriel S.

6:40AM PDT on May 10, 2012

Thank you for the article. .

May 10
send a green star

leslie c.

11:55PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Thanks.

March 28
send a green star

Joy M.

11:26PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

wow

Past Member .

10:27PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

We really don't learn, do we...

9:16PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

If we were not so spoiled and lazy perhaps we would not need any kind of energy except human energy....like for example getting on our feet,off our ass and walking.Then we could go and hunt for the food we actually need and not irresponsibly slaughter more animals than we need for survival.We would not have too many horses that we feel we have to kill because of overpopulation and instead use them like in the good old days for long trips.So many things could be better but we choose not to because we feel privileged.We are too good to be getting dirty and roughing up our fragile hands.

Rosie L.

2:52PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Signed!!

Duane B.

2:43PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

We claim to be the smartest species on the planet, yet we don't seem to be able to learn from our past environmental disasters!

Ann S.

1:45PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Terrible that our memories are so short for such scarring devastation to our home planet.

Joy W.

4:57AM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Thanks for sharing.