an essay i wrote about ANWR

Expanding our Oil Resources, beneficial?
Our oil resources in the US are dependent on other countries and not our own and is something that needs to be addressed. Expanding our oil resources would not only improve our economy but would also help us become more independent from other nations. Hannity addresses this issue by showing an example of Liberals that are trying to restrict us from finding our own oil to lower prices of gas and to improve our economy. Hannity uses the example of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge to show us the pros of drilling oil, claiming that we already have enough land set aside. On the other side of things, we also find that there could be serious health risks to wild caribou that graze in the area. We must examine all areas in order to make a decision that could affect our country for years to come.
As we dive into many articles on the subject of drilling for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge(ANWR) we find there are two mail views, those that are for drilling and those that are against it. In the heart of Alaska we find that Alaskans are pro-oil development and they predict there will be little or no impact to the environment. Alaskans also believe that they live in a state with many resources and that they need to harness the resources in order to live. “Most Alaskans are realistic about the fact that Alaska is a natural resource state. That’s what pays the bills”(Washington Post)
It’s understandable that Alaskans think this way, because they actually live there. Where as it’s the ones who do not live in Alaska that usually think that digging for oil is going to have a bigger impact on the environment. There is population of Porcupine Caribou that migrate in the ANWR, this is an annual trek. “First east away from the plain into Canada, then south and west back into interior Alaska, and finally north in a final push over the mountains and down the river valleys back to the coastal plain, their traditional birthing grounds.”(Markey) The opposition of drilling feels that this would ruin the population of Porcupine Caribou because of drilling. Claiming the oil industry will follow in the footsteps of Deadhorse and Purdhoe Bay. “They are part of a vast industrial complex that generates, on average, one toxic spill a day of oil, or chemicals, or industrial waste of some kind that seeps into the tundra or sits in toxic drilling mud pits.”(Markey) Which is a valid answer in my opinion, we do need to protect a vast majority of wilderness, because if we do not, one day it will be gone.
The fact of the matter is that drilling of oil in the ANWR is a good idea and there is already plenty of land set aside for conservation. “There are 171 million acres of land in Alaska fenced off for conservation and wilderness preservation. That’s an area larger than the state of Texas.”(Hickel) The part that oil companies want to drill is nothing more than a frozen wasteland for over ten months of each year, no trees. Yet for two months out of the year, lichen shows itself and during that period of time, the Porcupine Caribou graze and breed on that plain.
Most biologists believe that exploration and drilling of the plains will harm the Porcupine Caribou, but instead help them, in such the way of Prudhoe Bay. “That heard has not only survived, but flourished. In 1977, as the Prudhoe region started delivering oil to America’s southern 48 states, the Central Arctic caribou numbered 6,000; it has since grown to 27,128.”(Hickel) It is also important to note that Congress wants to set aside 1.5 million acres of coastal plain, a mere .08 percent of what is being conserved today. “It was stipulated that these resources could be developed at any time if Congress so voted. As a result scientists have studied this area for more than 20 years, and their work has produced estimates of recoverable oil ranging up to 16 billion barrels. Most of these scientists recommend that exploration be allowed.”(Hickel) Not only would we not be ruining our environment, but it would help us break loose from our dependence on other countries.
We are faced with the opinion that, drilling oil will decrease our need to be dependent on foreign countries for oil. This is a very persuasive argument considering we get over half of our oil from other countries. “Back during the Arab oil embargo, the United States imported only about 36 percent of our oil needs. Thirty years later, that number has skyrocketed to almost 60 percent.”(Hannity)
Most of the talk in the last few years has been about us going to war with Iraq for oil, but still we are depending on Iran and other countries to supply us with oil, why is it that we are still paying so much per barrel for oil? But those same people who are against us going to “war for oil” are the same people that are against us drilling in our own country to decrease our dependence on other countries.
Drilling oil in the ANWR would be beneficial to our economy. It would in turn help lower gas prices and provide jobs for the people in Alaska. Lowering gas prices and providing jobs puts more money into the pockets of Alaskans, thus making them putting more money into buying things, which in turn puts more money into the economy, making it rise. It could also cause to be more independent from other countries, allowing us to keep us out of the “war” we are in. At the same time, I am torn between the two sides. I love the environment. I love camping, hiking, backpacking and most of all I love watching the wildlife in different areas. I also believe that we do need to conserve what we have in the United States, because we not only effect ourselves when we drill but we effect the generations that will come after us. We must think of what will be better for economy and the citizens of the United States, this will take lots of time and discussions before we ever resolve this issue.

Works Cited
Hannity, Sean. Let Freedom Ring, New York, HarperCollins Publishers Incorporated, 2002.

Hickel, Walter J, “Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will decrease America’s Reliance on Foreign Oil.” Foreign Oil Dependence. At Issue Series (James Haley, Ed.) Greenhaven Press, 2004

Markey, Edward J, “The Arttic National Wildlife Refuge Should remain Off-Limits to Oil Drilling.” Foreign Oil Dependence. At Issue Series. (James Haley Ed.) Greenhaven Press, 2004 http://infoweb.newsbank.com/

Blum Justin. “Environmentalists make last stand on Alaskan Drilling.” The Washington Post 27 Oct. 2005: NewsBank. LPC Library Livermore http://infoweb.newsbank.com/

D’Oro, Rachel. “Alaskans Keen to Exploit State’s Resources Most Citizens see no Conflict Between Development and Protection the Environment.” Associated Press 28 Dec. 2003: NewsBank, LPC library, Livermore http://infoweb.newsbank.com/

yay for basketball

borrowed my friend eric's 20d today, to see if its a body that I am interested in buying eventually.

its a little hard to play with, but... here are two shots i came up with:




thanks for looking,

Andrew

Ahhhhh finals are here!

Yep finals are starting thursday... ugh i hate them with a passion. my desk is really funny right now, its covered in poli sci stuff for my test tomarrow. Hopefully i pull a C in that class.

well im out and back to studying laterz!

Is Nothing Sacred Pics

here are some updated shots for anyone who reads this thing:







hope all is well for everyone else out there.

~Andrew

NIV

No Innocent Victim has to be one of my favorite bands out there. Tonight I shot, Is Nothing Sacred with their new lead singer brandon. He is an intense character and gives this band life. Its too late to do any more editing so here is a parting shot...

new flash

yep, i got a new flash today... so thats exciting. Its 12:08 right now and i really need to get some sleep since i have to work early tomarrow.

well good night,

Andrew

yeehaw

haha, well not much going on out here in Dublin. I've been revising an essay that I wrote on Drilling Oil in ANWR a few weeks ago, so hopefully I will be posting that up. I have been doing a little hunting around in old photos somewhat, which has been kinda fun. No Innocent Victim is playing on Saturday night, which should be awsome, so in parting... here is a concert shot that I always love looking at:



~Andrew

soccer

Well, yesterday i headed out to shoot some soccer and ended up meeting a really nice guy by the name of Doug Doran. He shoots for the Contra Costa Times and was telling me some great stories and giving me some great advice on shooting. It was damn cold out there though, the temps dropped into the 50's and I having no gloves felt the pain of shooting in cold temps for the first time.

here are some of the shots i came up with:






man I cannot wait to get a new body and a tele converter. But first I really need to buy a flash and a diffuser for basketball season this year. So hopefully once christmas has come and gone i will have enough for a new body and two lenses.

Hope everyone elses day is going well, I am in the computer lab at school waiting for class to start.

~Andrew

Back to school

Well after a great vacation of almost three weeks, i had to come back to school today. Today has been so much work, i really dont know why I am even blogging, but i need a break from all this mess. I applied for a Sports Shooter membership today, and now I am hoping that I get accepted. I hope Crystal gets here soon with the ice cream, cause man I really want some.

Well I'm outa here.




weee fun underwater pictures.

Haha.

Iphoto poster

So my uncle showed me a link on Mike Matas' site on how to make an Iphoto poster so i made one and sent it off to apple to get printed yesterday... here's a mini preview:



so I think it should turn out pretty cool, I will post a full picture of it on my wall once i get it and frame it.

Gotta love parents that can't discipline their kids

Haha, well today, at work I had a great day. I sold a camera to some crazy liberal parents that couldn't control their kids worth a damn. But the great thing was, they spent 2k dollars and bought the maximum of a 5 year Extended Service plan from me. So hey, all was not lost. I gave the kid a bear so he'd shutup and that won them over too.
all in all i made like 140 bucks off that sale... mmmm i love christmas time

Hope all is well for everyone else, my book reading is coming slow, since i have a paper to finish.

~Andrew Villa

Happy Turkey Day!

Well hello everyone from the liberal bay area. Happy Turkey Day and the Day of Thanks.

Hope all is well, from where ever you are from.

peace and dont eat too much!

Back from hawaii

So i got back from hawaii today and decided since my Uncle Paul has been slacking on the blogging, i'd take up the duties for the Villa family. I was recently given the book Bias, written by Bernard Goldberg an ex CBS newsman, who wrote and artice for the Wall Street Journal in the Op-Ed column about how the Media is bias in the liberal favor. Its an interesting book so far, so once im done I will post up my review of it.


Well for all, im out of here, ducking under the blue state radar and keeping the vast right wing conspiracy alive in the Villa household.


~Andrew