Picture this: you are having a calm evening at home watching TV or reading a book while you relax on your couch. Life is great and peaceful. Suddenly your neighbor begins to blare his music. The bass is turned up so loudly that all you can hear is the sound of your house's walls vibrating. Welcome to the world of sea animals located in areas that are being seismically tested.
To be sure that this oil even exists beyond our shores will require seismic testing and then well drilling. Environmentalists are outraged by the suggested developments in such a controversial location. I agree with their arguments. According to the Interior Department, up to 27,000 dolphins and 4,600 whales could be put at risk in their own environments. It is outrageous to think about what the greed of our nation could cause. If not death, then stress and behavioral changes are likely to occur in these magnificent sea creatures. The vibrations from the seismic tests could interfere with the underwater communication that these animals rely on. Even feeding and mating patterns could be altered by this outside stimulus.
The problem with all of this is that once it starts, it will not stop. The Atlantic coast will soon turn into an offshore development that guzzles American funds and drains the life out of natural underwater habitats. Disaster is inevitable if oil production is allowed to commence. This is not a project that will be over in a few years, rather, it will take decades to even begin it properly and the potential negative results far outweigh the possibilities of additional oil reserves. The environment should be more important than the deep pockets of greedy corporations.
Blog 6 Commenting on Colleagues work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the post, "Whales or Wells?," by my classmate's blog The Politics of Freedom. The drilling of oil any of the oceans would lead to a pandemic on global proportions. "Whales or Wells?," states that drilling in the Atlantic could lead to, "27,000 dolphins and 4,600 whales could be put at risk in their own environments," and ultimately, drilling, "will not stop." The Atlantic coast will soon turn into an offshore development that guzzles American funds and drains the life out of natural underwater habits." An idea that is debated on, but recent history proves offshore drilling has grave consequences.
In April, 2010, an offshore oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico spewed 200 million gallons oil into the marine/coastal communities; an incident that lasted 87 days.(1) Offshore drilling effects many aspects of environment that all lead to climate change. From the method of extraction of the oil, the procedural containing of the oil, oil leaks caused by drilling, and the added effect of the transportation of the oil is a long list negative points for the pro-offshore contingent. I have keen passion on everything that affects the ocean and its environment. Growing up in California, I personally encountered plastic, oil, the filth and byproducts of the "normal" or "business" operations of today's America. Even though I'm living in Texas, California, a hotbed of environmental awareness and organizations, is always on the forefront of my mind. These issues directly effect my family, friends, my passions in life and most importantly the environment. Whether the offshore drilling is in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, etc, this practice has a long list of consequences that could severely limit future options.
(1) http://oceana.org/en/our-work/stop-ocean-pollution/oil-pollution/overview
http://politiblog01.blogspot.com/2014/03/peer-critique.html
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with my peers post, "Whales or Wells?" in The Politics of Freedom blog. In her post, she states that the oil and petroleum industry have been contemplating the action of advanced testing in the Atlantic Ocean. The requirement of seismic testing could result in so many problems for sea creatures. From "stress and behavioral changes" to "underwater communication" these creatures lives could be ruined by America's greed.
ReplyDeleteIn an article I read from Oceana, the animals may endure "temporary and permanent hearing loss, abandonment of habitat, disruption of mating and feeding, beach strandings and even death". Temporary or not, that is not something that should happen just because of America's selfish desire for more oil, even when gas prices probably wouldn't go down in the first place.
Just like my peer stated, this is is a predicament that once starts, will not stop. It would take a certain number of years, and we always, truthfully, want more. Sea life should not be a victim to our wants and the environment isn't something to mess with.