NEWS

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Bush Lifts Ban on Oil Drilling in Alaska Wild Salmon Fishery

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By Think Salmon

US President Bush on Tuesday lifted the drilling ban for Alaska’s Bristol Bay, and opened the waters to oil and natural gas development. The action will allow the Interior Department to open 5.6 million acres of the fish-rich waters northwest of the Alaska Peninsula as part of its next five-year leasing plan.

“Bristol Bay is one the most important fisheries in America and in the world,” said Sierra Club director Carl Pope in a statement. “It’s incredibly reckless to risk such an outstanding natural resource just to satisfy Big Oil.”

“There will be significant opportunities for study and public comment before any oil and gas development could take place,” said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. But he said the bay, as well as expanded drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, “will enhance America’s energy security.”

Drill more oil, screw the salmon?! Energy security (through oil & gas) seems to be the Bush administration’s obsession. Why should citizens trust big oil or the Bush administration? Especially after reading on December 22, 2006 that the US federal appeals panel cut nearly in half the $4.5 billion punitive damages award against Exxon Mobil as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.

What do you think?

Read H.Josef Hebert’s article in the Anchorage Daily News on January 9, 2006.

Read Elsie Wolf’s Truthout Column on December 1, 2006.

Read the African News Dimension story on January 10, 2006.