By Kevin McCauley
A coalition of environmental groups has launched a year-long PR campaign aimed at stopping oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean. It kicked of the drive with launch of the OurArcticOcean.org website and a full-page ad in Politico.
Shell Oil plans to begin drilling for oil off the Alaska coast next year after receiving Clear Air Act permits.
Shell Alaska VP Peter Slaiby told a D.C. forum on Arctic drilling this week that the company is confident of getting federal okay for drilling five wells in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
The greens’ “United for America’s Arctic” campaign says there is “lack of scientific information about the Arctic Ocean” and its fragile ecosystem that supports coastal communities and “iconic wildlife” such as polar bears, beluga/bowhead whales, walrus and seals.
They believe it would be nearly impossible to clean up a spill due to sea ice, extreme cold, hurricane-strength storms and pervasive fog. The Arctic also lacks a port big enough to support large response vehicles.
Coalition members want their educational campaign to peak July 4, 2012 with a declaration of the Arctic Ocean’s “independence” from drilling.
The group includes Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Audubon, Wilderness Socity, Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice and Credo Action. |