Environmentalists say the drilling will be catastrophic for Arctic wildlife and the global climate. The controversial Royal Dutch Shell oil giant has sent out 30 vessels to start drilling for oil in the Arctic, neglecting mass protests against its project. Officials at the Anglo-Dutch group said on Friday that a fleet has head for the Bering Strait that separates Russia and Alaska to start drilling within days. In May, U.S. President Barack Obama approved Shell's application to begin exploration in the Arctic Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska, paving the way for what environmentalists say will be catastrophic for Arctic wildlife and the global climate. With icecaps already melting, environmentalists say Arctic drilling poses huge climate risks not just for the sensitive surrounding ecosystem, but the entire world. An oil spill would have huge impacts on Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales, walruses, and other animals, including endangered species. Environmental groups have also raised alarm over the threat that even exploratory drilling poses to thousands of Arctic whales and seals, including endangered species, who will be subject to continuous harassment and noise pollution that will disrupt whale communication. Protesters have resorted to direct actions by boarding kayaks in an attempt to intercept Shell ships departing to conduct Arctic drilling. The latest protest was on Tuesday resulting in the arrest of 5 ‘kayaktivists’ by the U.S. police. Despite mass opposition, Shell has gone ahead to drill two new wells at sites in the Chukchi Sea off the northwest coast of Alaska. According to the BBC, Shell has spent nearly US $7 billion on exploration over the last two years, making it difficult to pull out the project considered the last undiscovered oil frontier. Shell’s oil drilling comes after British oil giant BP was forced to pay a US$18.7 billion settlement to the U.S. and five states for damages caused by the record-breaking 2010 offshore oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A study released by the Obama administration this year predicted that the likelihood of a major oil spill happening during Arctic drilling is as high as 75 percent. Source URL |
