By Jenny Coyle
It's the holidays, and as family members gather around the fire
and dig into plates of pumpkin pie a la mode, the conversation turns
to national security and the renewed call for energy
independence.
"What we must do," announces Uncle Burt, "is make use of the oil
and gas sources on our home soil, especially in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge. There is no longer a good reason not to drill
there."
Spoons stop in mid-air and the rooms falls silent as all eyes
turn to the environmental activist in the room - you. For a moment
you freeze up colder than your ice cream. And then you remember that
true energy independence isn't about more drilling, but about
reducing America's need for oil.
"Actually, the key to energy independence lies in renewables and
energy efficiency," you tell Uncle Burt. "We can make our cars and
trucks go farther on a gallon of gas, make our homes more energy
efficient, and develop new, clean energy sources such as solar and
wind power.
"True energy independence," you continue, "requires an energy
plan that reduces our reliance on nuclear and fossil fuels - not one
that extracts more coal, oil and gas from our wildlands and traps
another generation into an old-economy way of thinking."
Uncle Burt cries, "Uncle!" The spoons are returned to their
plates, and a collective sigh of relief can be heard in the
room.
These days, anyone who's talking about the tragic events of Sept.
11 is also engaging in a conversation about drilling in the
Arctic.
"Some people are saying that it's a matter of patriotism to drill
the refuge, like those who oppose it would rather leave the country
vulnerable," said Debbie Boger, a Sierra Club energy staffer. "But
when I explain to people about a better idea - freedom from
dependence on fossil fuels, and greater reliance on renewables and
energy efficiency - they start nodding their heads in agreement.
Energy independence is true patriotism."
There's also the fact that the U.S. Geologic Survey says the
refuge holds less than a six-month supply of oil that would take 10
years to bring on line. Raising fuel-economy standards for new cars,
sport-utility vehicles and other light trucks to an average of 40
miles per gallon would save 3 million barrels of oil every day -
more than we import from the Persian Gulf and could expect to get
from the Arctic Refuge, combined.
Although proposals to drill the Arctic were kept out of recent
anti-terrorism and airport-security legislation, President Bush in
late October renewed his call for Congress to take up the damaging
House energy package before adjourning.
The Club's message to Congress? "We're asking them to consider
the energy package in the spring, and focus now on the immediate
crises facing our nation," said Debbie Sease, the Club's legislative
director. "Recrafting America's longer-term energy policy will
require thoughtful deliberation, and time for such a debate just
isn't available now."
In the meantime, Club activists around the country are educating
the public about why drilling in the Arctic Refuge won't achieve
energy security.
Georgia is a long way from Alaska, but the two states share
something in common: several species of birds. The green-winged teal
- a small, colorful songbird - winters in Georgia, but nests and
raises its young in the Arctic Refuge. Other birds with similar
dual-citizenship include the mallard, northern shoveler and
sandpiper.
The Club's Georgia Chapter has formed the Alaska Coalition of
Georgia, along with other environmental groups, unions and faith
communities. Coalition members are working the phones and faxing
like crazy from the chapter office in Atlanta.
"Drilling the Arctic will do nothing to decrease our energy
system's vulnerability to terrorist attacks - last month one guy
with a gun fired a bullet into the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and spilled
300,000 gallons of crude oil," said Sam Booher, Georgia Chapter
chair. The Alaska Department of Environment and Conservation says
the oil industry is responsible for more than 400 oil and toxic
spills every year in Alaska.
"Our message to people here in Georgia is there are cheaper,
cleaner, safer and more efficient ways to move toward energy
independence," said Booher.
In Nebraska - whose sandhill cranes are among the migratory birds
that nest in the Arctic - the Sierra Club held a press conference
featuring Sandra Newman, an activist from the native Alaskan
Gwich'in tribe. The Gwich'in, who depend on the 129,000-head
Porcupine caribou herd for survival, oppose drilling in the
Arctic.
Newman appeared in native dress that evening at a slide show
presentation.
"I cannot find words to describe how moved everyone was by
Sandra's description of her peoples' relationship with the earth and
the caribou," said Nebraska Chapter Conservation Organizer Laura
Krebsbach.
Perhaps they should've invited Uncle Burt.
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