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Help Prevent Oil Spills In Alaska’s Coastal Waters!
Target: Members of CongressSponsored by: Alaska Oceans Program
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An oil-soaked sea otter in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge |
Once again, AlaskaÂ’s pristine waters have fallen victim to a devastating oil spill. On December 8, 2004, a Malaysian freighter, Selendang Ayu, ran aground in the Aleutian Islands after its engine failed in severe weather. Six humans were lost and at least 40,000 gallons of oil leaked into one of the worldÂ’s most remote and ecologically rich wildlife refuges, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. This was the worst oil spill in U.S. waters since the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster.
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is home to a wide array of sea birds and marine mammals, and is part of the rich North Pacific fishery, which generates nearly $2 billion in revenue each year. Based on the legacy of the Exxon spill, we know this disaster will have a lasting impact on endangered marine species.
What’s clear from the tragedy in the Aleutians, is that Alaska’s shipping routes need stronger regulations in place. The Selendang Ayu was traveling one of the world’s most heavily trafficked routes – and ran aground in an area so remote that it was nearly impossible to rescue human victims in a timely manner and limit damage to threatened marine life.
Call upon Congress to require ships using Alaskan routes to meet minimum safety standards, and operate with well-trained crews and adequate resources to respond quickly to emergencies. Alaskan waters deserve at least these basic protections!
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Help Prevent Oil Spills In Alaska’s Coastal Waters!” petition!
# 150:
# 149:
we must take every precaution (such as double hulled boats) to prevent these accidents. My perception is that the oil companies are not held responsible and that they rake in money.
# 148:
Is the Bush administration totally unable to learn from its mistakes?
# 147:
We can't yet relocate to another planet, so let's preserve this one. Don't despoil Alaska for an insignificant quantity of oil.
# 146:
Ultimately the US economy will always depend on the strenght of our natural resources, especially as they grow more scarce around the world. Protecting coastal waters with proven preventative measures makes more economic sense than trying to solve problems after they occur- the ocean is not an aquarium that you can restock from your local pet store if you kill off all your fish.
# 145:
# 144:
# 143:
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# 141:
# 140:
It is important to protect all coastal waterways, especially Alaska's because Alaska is the summer home of many whale species, and many other species who rely on the ocean for food, including humans. Oil spills interrupt the ecology web, cause death, and the long term effects are harmful, although they may not be completely known.
# 139:
I worked on a volunteer clean-up crew after the Exxon-Valdez spill, and I was horrified by the effects the oil spill had. I would like to have wild places to take my children too, and at this rate, there will not be any. Please stiffen the protecion for our wild areas!
# 138:
# 137:
# 136:
Its no good protecting the land if we don"t protect the sea too. AND stop global warming!
# 135:
Clean water is vital for the wildlife that lives there.
# 134:
# 133:
Please use your heads, politicians! We ask for MINIMUM standards! Why is that so dificult to understand?
# 132:
# 131:
# 130:
The health of a nation is in its natural areas, an ongoing relationship with other beings that does not involve using them up or destroying them.
# 129:
It is the right thing to do. We need to protect the legacy of this nation which is its prestine beauty.
# 128:
You should know why this is important. No one should have to tell you.
# 127:
Please keep our shores safe and free from unnecessary pollution. Oil spills not only foul the waters of our country, but they rob us of precious wild life as well.
# 126:
The Polluting of Oceans should be stopped.
# 125:
# 124:
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# 121:
# 120:
Unfortunately, I don't think that anything I say will help, but I have to try. Even though I have no children, (boy I am glad of that decision!) we owe it to future generations to protect the environment. Contrary to some people's belief, just because we are destroying the environment, does not mean that God is coming!
# 119:
# 118:
# 117:
Politicans seems to ruin everything they touch. This time do the right thing. Leave this pristine land ALONE!
# 116:
Because people shouldn't destroy the entire planet just because we can.
# 115:
# 114:
We need to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. We need to protect the environment and animals.
# 113:
# 112:
# 111:
Our natural resources are irreplaceable. They must be protected.
# 110:
It is extermely important to protect ALL of our natural resources and it's precious species. Please Help!!!
# 109:
Do I really need to say that we need to protect our oceans? What the hell's wrong here?
# 108:
# 107:
# 106:
# 105:
# 104:
How is it that this has happened and there was no outcry? These things are important, and the public needs to know about them and the government to put a stop to them!
# 103:
Prime pristine wildlife habitat is increasingly under pressure. With so little left it is irresponsible not to protect it.
# 102:
If you do not see it as important you're really missing something!
# 101:
Once it's been ruined, we can't ever get it back.