The project that’s destroying the world
The Willow Project is a danger to Alaska’s wildlife.
U.S. president Joe Biden has approved a new government project, the Willow Project, that will affect future generations in a horrible way.
The Willow Project is a plan that will allow for the drilling of oil at the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, which will cost the U.S. around eight billion dollars and take decades to complete.
As a part of the youth generation, fear for my health is rising due to the 239 metric tons of carbon emissions that will be released into the air in the span of the next 30 years. Non-profit organization Defenders of Wildlife announced that this amount of carbon emissions is “the equivalent of an extra two million cars on the road each year for thirty years.” Carbon emissions will increase the disaster of climate change, and Alaska’s icebergs and animal species will be some of the most affected.
Since Alaska will suffer the most problems from this project, many living species will be in danger. The government isn’t necessarily allowed to harm any living species during any of these projects, but the Willow Project is a different story, indirectly. The government has authorized activities which do, in fact, harm the animals, although protections are in place to ensure they don’t harm the population.
No animals deserve to be put in danger over oil drilling. The government is putting living, breathing creatures, ones that do humans no harm, in danger for its own benefit.
Defenders of Wildlife writes that “a mother polar bear will choose death over leaving her cubs alone.” If climate change or oil spills occur, the government’s kill count limit doesn’t matter because no matter what, these species will be harmed by these disasters.
Millions of citizens, children to adults, signed petitions, donated money and held protests against The Willow Project because of its environmental effects. However, all of these voices didn’t seem to mean anything to the government workers, who ignored them and approved the project anyway.
As one who signed a petition to stop The Willow Project, I believe that The Willow Project will do more harm than good. With all the damage it will cause in such a short period of time, its risk is not worth the reward.
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Gwen Dreessen is a sophomore at Delaware Valley Regional High School. She loves writing, so she decided to start writing for The Delphi. Gwen is interested...
Northern native • Apr 4, 2023 at 7:56 pm
Yall are clueless. If you are so against this project, than why don’t you give up your everyday products as most hints you use are made from petroleum all the way to the soles on your shoes? If you are against this project than I suggest you go back to the old ways of life like using a wagon and horse to bring you around. This will not destroy the world as they want you to believe. Mining for the everyday products will do more damage than this drilling project will but are you trying to stop them? As a matter in fact, it will be kids younger than you in poorer countries that will be doing the mining while they get paid next to nothing so you can play on your phones and video games. I would ask your teacher what products are made from petroleum so you will have an educated mind about what comes from petroleum products. You can’t have an electric vehicle without using petroleum products as they work hand in hand. Mining for batteries will cause more damage than drilling for oil and will cause more damage to the environment when it comes to disposing them as they’re isn’t any clean way to dispose of them. Please educate yourself rather than jumping on the band wagon that they want you to be on.