Opinion Article:
By Dawson Iasillo Opinion Writer 4/18/23 On March 14, the Willow Project was approved, signing away any chance of saving our Earth. The Willow Project is one of the most detrimental projects of the Earth.
It is a massive oil drilling project in Alaska. The project will happen over land containing an estimated 600 million barrels of oil, according to CNN. While the oil will produce tons of gas, enough to power two million vehicles, the oil will not be in Americans’ hands for several years down the road. The Willow Project may seem good on paper because it adds to America’s independent oil market and circulates plenty of money. But, the effects are far greater than what money can buy. The oil drilling will go through Native Alaskan land. Willow will destroy most or all of their cultured land. Alaskans and other Americans petitioned and protested the project getting approved resulting in over five million signatures on a Change.org petition. Despite the protests taking place, Willow is still in full force. Greenly reports this project will make it absolutely impossible for the United States to reach its goal of 50% lower emissions by 2030, which is what we needed in order to keep the Earth intact. Since this project is happening in the Arctic, it will increase melting and severe ocean rising. The Willow Project will emit over 287 metric tons of carbon emissions in just 30 years. |
The pollution released from this oil drilling will cause Alaska’s nature and wildlife to simply die. Polar bears are a prime example. We have all seen the heart-wrenching pictures of polar bears that are skin and bones. Noise pollution and oil spills causes the bears to deteriorate.
The drawbacks of the Willow Project are simply not worth what good could come of it. The benefits of the Willow Project would only last for a short time because scientists are now projecting the world to be in dangerous conditions in 30 years. Society will very slowly begin to need less and less oil because of alternatives, such as electric vehicles. America desperately needs oil and there is no questioning that. However, the U.S. should never be desperate enough to destroy its own country, and in the long run, the rest of the world. |