Does it make any sense to drill for oil in the Arctic sea bed?

Question

Recently because of GW new international shipping lanes are starting to open up. Now there is an all out race between several superpower (i.e Russia, Canada, and the United States) for rights over the resources that exist there.

Isn't it completely mindless and greedy to go ahead and do so when what the world really needs is not more oil but an alternative way of doing things?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/08/070802-russia-pole.html

Answer 1

And just what viable ALTERNATIVE to petroleum products do you propose--- ????

That won't instantly run into DECADES of court time initiated by the environmental wachos!

Nuclear? It would take more than a decade to build each one!

Wind? Not in my backyard--- and migrating birds are being killed- plus too much noise.

Solar- wait!!! the production of that much silicon causes too many pollution issues, and creates toxic waste problems during disposal of old cells.

OIL-GAS-----  no no no can't drill here--- might hurt some caribou, and the fish won't like it either!

Hope you enjoy --- $5.00 gasoline!

Answer 2

It will be fine if u like walking that much.

Answer 3

Like Al Gore said, when a junkie runs out of room in his arms he starts looking for veins between his toes to use.

Answer 4

If the oil is there and can be recovered, it will provide us with even more useful and cheap energy.

Answer 5

Doesn't make any sense at all! as usual the 'big' powerful Countries, sticking their noses where they don't belong.....power,money go hand in hand with them they don't give a hoot as to the damage caused or (in some cases) the death of innocent human beings....a HUGE NO NO! in my book!

peace!

Answer 6

An alternative fuel will be great.  But we are not prepared for that yet, and won't be for years.  Oil is all we have going at this time, and for the foreseeable future.  The fact is, we have to have it, or economies around the world will crash and burn.  It's happening now.  Think about it.  Worldwide depression.  We need to develop an alternative fuel.  But it needs to be a viable one that people can afford.  Corn IS NOT the answer.  Until that time oil is.  It is proven that you can drill and pump oil and be clean and safe for the environment,  so the wackos need to get out of they way for the time being.

Answer 7

There are billions of dollars worth of oil in places environmental people say they can't drill.  It's a place that has thousands upon thousands of acres of land and we'd only leave about a 200 acre footprint.

It's ridiculous that we don't drill there, it would take us from needing oil from foreign countries to being completely self sufficient.

Heh, if we weren't meant to eat meat, god wouldn't have made animals taste so good.  on a side note.  :P

Answer 8

Yes of course it is greedy and mindless. It is going to be an economically and environmentally costly exercise. Which will be futile since the resource is limited any way.

It's so frustrating, there are so many green alternatives available but the government, industry, and selfish citizens refuse to invest or support any green initiatives.

True solar power requires silicon and it too may have *some* pollution involved in the production of the solar cells. But this pollution is infinitesimally small in comparison with the billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, monoxide, nitrous oxides, sulphur dioxide and hundreds of other pollutants being spewed from the petrochemical industry.

Nuclear power is not the alternative. A combination of renewable energy sources is the only way. The sun is a continuous source of free energy which is ready for us to harness. The tides, and water is another viable energy source. Wind may be noisy, but it's a small price to pay for a healthy planet and home. The noise from wind farms can be managed, and with careful engineering and planning it won't be an issue.

No one single alternative energy source will replace fossil fuels, rather it should be combination of solar, wind, hydro-electric, geothermal biofuels and other alternatives.

If we don't start investing in green research alternatives the day *will* come when we will pay $5 or $6 dollars a litre fro petrol. In some ways I wish that day would come, just to show the public the depth of the environmental crises the earth is suffering and the urgency with which we should be acting.

It is people like you boat man who are holding humanity back from a more sustainable and ecologically viable future. It's disappointing that you don't even care about the future of your own planet. The planet that your children and their children will one day inhabit. "Not in my backyard" well you soon won't have one if the earth is destroyed by humanities insatiable greed.

I hope one day soon people will wake up and realise what damage we have done. I just hope it's not too late.

Liss "on a side note" eating animals was not even mentioned in this question. Stop being irrelevant and offensive.

Answer 9

Oh my goodness! Someone who has some sense left in them! Thank you so much for letting me know that there are still non greedy, self centered people left in the World. Yes, yes, yes, the Arctic will continue shrinking at a much faster pace after this year because the La Nina effect will be over and done with. so yep, it is totally mindless and greedy.

Answer 10

It's all about the money.  If I was a leader of one of these countries you can bet i would stake claims in the arctic.

Answer 11

You might become informed?

Liberal Columnist - Paul Krugman - Grains Gone Wild

This is about the oil and food ties:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/opinio...

One thing for sure - the food riots will help depopulate the world -  this should make the Warmers Happy.

Answer 12

I really disagree with countries trying to drill in the Ar tic. It is bad enough that we just found out about new species and still learning more about that region of the world. Thinking about money instead of coming up with an alternative way of fueling the economy should be researched. With emissions being let out from factories could or may cause some of the glaciers to melt at a faster rate and places that are already at sea level will no longer exist.  More production of corn that can be used as fuel can be done just like how some military vessels are using and further in the northern United States. Some companies even reuse restaurant grease to fuel automovties.

Answer 13

you are soooo right

Answer 14

No, it makes no sense, does humanity have sense for something ?