 Serious Issues
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Canadians Can Make a Difference to Wildlife
Fellow Canadians, I'd like to share with you my
concerns about one of this year's most important
environmental issues: oil and gas drilling
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
While the ANWR is an American protected area,
Canadians have a global role to play in environmental
protection. Our tremendous range of natural areas give
us a special appreciation for the role of nature in
our modern culture.
There's an important principle we must uphold - our
protected spaces must remain protected from the
increasing pressures of economics and technology.
As developed countries, we ask other countries to
preserve their rainforests, reduce their level of
pollution, and refrain from whaling. We should set an
example that we, too, act responsibly with the
resources trusted to our stewardship.
Proponents of development say that controlled
exploration won't harm the environment. Anyone who has
been in a wilderness area can appreciate that there is
no such thing as partial wilderness. As you likely
have seen, once roads, rigs, seismic, pipelines, and
other effects of oil and gas exploration have
encroached upon the land, there will be irreparable
damage to the land, vegetation, animals, including
noise, roads, pollution of various forms, and habitat
destruction.
I am not against oil and gas exploration, and am
employed in the energy industry. At the same time, I
feel strongly that we have to start changing our
practices.
The New York Times recently pointed out that there are
alternative oil sources such as the oilsands, which
hold 40 times the recoverable oil of the ANWR. Surely
partnering with Canada and other allies for secure oil
supplies is a feasible alternative.
The wildlife refuge is internationally recognized as a
pristine wilderness, a unique, beautiful, and special
treasure.
I encourage you to become involved. You can email the
Prime Minister at pm@pm.gc.ca and/or send an email to
President Bush directly at president@Whitehouse.GOV or
through a website at http://whistler.sierraclub.org:8080/takeaction/wildlands/index.jsp
Thanks
Nitin Manerikar
Calgary
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best regards
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