The Amazing Cons of Offshore Drilling
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Many Americans feel that offshore drilling is going to solve the horrible issue of gas prices. While there is a need for something to change this problem, offshore drilling is not the answer. Even though offshore drilling will reduce the price of gas, it is in a manner that is ridiculous and unreasonable. The cons just out-weigh the pros.
1) It will be at LEAST 10 years from the start of drilling to make a difference. When drilling finally does make a change the actual difference will be a mere 1% or so which will lead to a wonderful 4 cents or so!
2) Negligence and/or severe weather (like hurricanes for example?) could cause major spills that take YEARS to clean up. These spills unfortunately can not be entirely cleaned therefore wash up onto shore. Spills lead to the contamination of wildlife including fish. In turn these "bad" fish can not be eaten and so deplete the coastal economy and cause food prices to rise.
3) Massive natural damage is caused not only to the wildlife but also to the ecosystems. Many may not know it but coral reefs that get affected by oil spills affect our health and air supply. Coral reefs supply not only life for a plethora of sea creatures but also medicinal resources, and help support the organisms that give off most of the oxygen in our atmosphere. Not to mention an abundance of other problems.
4) Even if there are NO spills other contaminates from the drilling process it's self are going to be released, including barium, chromium and arsenic. Over time these contaminates are going to really change otherwise pristine waters. [Revisit points 2 and 3 if you will.]
Even though these are only a few of the cons they are some of the most important. As Dianne Feinstein (the senior US Senator from California) said, "We need to promote conservation and develop clean technologies and clean fuels - like cellulosic ethanol. We need to continue to raise fuel economy standards for vehicles and improve the energy efficiency of our buildings by 50 percent."
And those are only a few of the things Americans can work towards.
All of these have the better chance of providing long term, safer jobs, and a cleaner Earth, all the while reducing our appalling dependence on oil. It's time that we start living up to our banner of Independence and reach the potential in leading everyone to a cleaner world.
1) It will be at LEAST 10 years from the start of drilling to make a difference. When drilling finally does make a change the actual difference will be a mere 1% or so which will lead to a wonderful 4 cents or so!
2) Negligence and/or severe weather (like hurricanes for example?) could cause major spills that take YEARS to clean up. These spills unfortunately can not be entirely cleaned therefore wash up onto shore. Spills lead to the contamination of wildlife including fish. In turn these "bad" fish can not be eaten and so deplete the coastal economy and cause food prices to rise.
3) Massive natural damage is caused not only to the wildlife but also to the ecosystems. Many may not know it but coral reefs that get affected by oil spills affect our health and air supply. Coral reefs supply not only life for a plethora of sea creatures but also medicinal resources, and help support the organisms that give off most of the oxygen in our atmosphere. Not to mention an abundance of other problems.
4) Even if there are NO spills other contaminates from the drilling process it's self are going to be released, including barium, chromium and arsenic. Over time these contaminates are going to really change otherwise pristine waters. [Revisit points 2 and 3 if you will.]
Even though these are only a few of the cons they are some of the most important. As Dianne Feinstein (the senior US Senator from California) said, "We need to promote conservation and develop clean technologies and clean fuels - like cellulosic ethanol. We need to continue to raise fuel economy standards for vehicles and improve the energy efficiency of our buildings by 50 percent."
And those are only a few of the things Americans can work towards.
All of these have the better chance of providing long term, safer jobs, and a cleaner Earth, all the while reducing our appalling dependence on oil. It's time that we start living up to our banner of Independence and reach the potential in leading everyone to a cleaner world.
