Tell Obama to Stop Shell's Arctic Drilling Plans
Right now Shell is trying to get approval from the US government to start Arctic drilling off the coast of Alaska this summer. This drilling will fuel further climate change, and wreck the pristine Arctic environment — a disaster for wildlife like its beautiful polar bears.
The Arctic is not only home to polar bears, but is a life support system for the planet — it cools our climate and regulates our weather systems. But over the last eight years, the ice has melted to record levels, and over the past thirty years, 75% of the summer sea ice has vanished. It's madness to continue to drill for the fossil fuels that are causing the Arctic to melt in the first place.
Without sea ice to hunt, rest, and breed, the very survival of polar bears and other wildlife is under threat. Mother polar bears will have trouble reproducing and their cubs will struggle to survive into adulthood. There is also a 75% chance of at least one major oil spill in Alaska — black oil seeping under the ice in this pristine environment would have a devastating impact on some of the world's only polar bears, unique narwhals, rare whales, and all those who call it home.
US president Barack Obama has the power to stop the drills — and Shell.
Arctic drilling isn't just an American issue. Tell President Obama to make the Alaskan Arctic off limits to oil drilling now.
Dear President Obama,
I'm writing to ask you to withdraw your support for offshore Arctic drilling, based on fresh evidence that shows it simply cannot be done safely.
As you know, Royal Dutch Shell recently announced its formal intention to drill for oil in the remote Chukchi Sea in the Alaskan Arctic in 2015, depending on your government's response.
The New York Times has since called these plans “foolish and unnecessary”, and new details have emerged about the company's negligence and lack of preparation in 2012.
This is a critical time for Shell and the other oil companies considering whether to drill in the remote, hostile Arctic ocean. In the past you have supported drilling for oil in the region, but we believe that the case against this is now too strong.
Across the world, oil companies are backing away from expensive oil projects, as the price of oil drops and our economies start to switch to alternative forms of energy. And so we must: a new scientific study says that Arctic oil must stay in the ground if we are to keep temperatures from rising to dangerous levels.
If Shell starts drilling for oil in the Alaskan Arctic, your own scientists tell us there's a 75% chance of one or more major spills. We don't think anyone likes those odds.
[Your comments here]
We respectfully ask you to reconsider your support for drilling in this region, and to deny Shell the necessary permits and permissions it needs to drill in 2015.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Update #19 years ago
It’s just been announced that Obama has given conditional approval, and Shell are on their way to drill in the Arctic. Signatures are needed now more than ever to ask him to withdraw his support. Please share this petition on Facebook and Twitter and ask your friends to sign.
