[ Foreword ] I really wanted to express this issue sooner, but haven't found the time for it. Now here I am, writing this to spread awareness of the Willow Project. [ What is the Willow Project ] The Willow Project quite simply, is a giant carbon bomb waiting to detonate on Alaska. I don't really want to get into politics, so I'll just say this, the president of the U.S. defended it in court, and is planning on making it happen. They are doing this to promote economic growth and enhance U.S. energy security by increasing domestic oil supply. If approved, the Willow project could produce in excess of 180,000 barrels of oil per day. [ What harm does it do ] The project is estimated to be a significant source of carbon pollution and driver of climate change, potentially adding more than 250 million metric tons of carbon emissions to the atmosphere over the next 30 years. It would cause uncontrollable climate change that we won't be able to manage. What will this mean for the wildlife? Well, If approved, the Willow Project will also require new infrastructure such as drill sites, miles of gravel roads, bridges, an airstrip, hundreds of miles of ice roads and a gravel mine. Even before the oil drilling begins, the construction and transportation involved in the creation of it will destroy wildlife habitats, and put the lives of innocent animals at risk in their own homes. The Willow Project also is a dangerous threat to the Iñupiat People, whose traditional food and culture are tied to the region’s resources and whose ancestors have lived in this area for centuries. Few communities have truly felt the effects of the fossil fuel industry’s greed more than those living in the Arctic. Over the years, rising temperatures, intensified by the pollution from oil drilling, have changed the sea ice and impacted the critical species that they hunt for food. Fossil fuel development requires a great deal of water to operate, and the degradation of potable water sources will have a devastating impact on the people that depend on them. [ What will happen to us ] Each stage of the oil extraction process emits pollutants, from the methane that leaks from the equipment to the trucks that transport materials to the oil wells. A lot of these pollutants are cancerous, and others can cause serious kidney and chronic respiratory problems. The small Arctic community of Nuiqsut, surrounded by planned and active oil wells, has felt such sickness and pain firsthand. From 1986 to 2000, the number of inhabitants in Nuiqsut that were treated for respiratory illnesses increased. A Nuiqsut native Sam Kunuknana says that his daughter came home after a short 10 minute walk outdoor, later her temperature spiked…ears hurt…and was in a lot of pain. It took over a month for Kunuknana’s daughter to recover. Imagine that happened to all of us! [ How can I help ] There are many ways that help prevent this devastating project in actually happening. One way you can help is by signing petitions (if you are old enough), simply by searching "stop the willow project petition". Another way is to donate to organizations to support them in battling the Willow Project. Even small ways of helping still-... helps! You can help spread awareness of this project whether to the people at your school, social media, or just simply telling it to your family. By raising awareness, more people can know about the situation we are in right now, and might put a stop in this cruel project. By stopping the Willow Project, we can protect land, wildlife, and people’s lives.
