US government must abandon its plans to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge

After a recent oil pest in Alaska the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) appealed to the US Government on Tuesday to finally abandon its controversial plans to drill for oil in the "National Arctic Wildlife Refuge” (ANWR). "The expansion of oil exploration in Alaska, as it is planned by the Bush administration, would have catastrophic consequences for the resident indigenous peoples”, warned the Society for Threatened Peoples. "The increasing number of incidents of oil spills results in the annihilation or migration of the Caribou herds that provide for the economic and cultural livelihood of about 9.000 Gwich’in.”

On March 2nd, at least 800 000 litres of crude oil leaked from a broken pipeline and polluted pastures along the migration routes of the caribous. It is believed to be one of the worst environmental catastrophes in Alaska in the last few years. Each year, more than 500 oil spills are recorded.

In spite of the most recent oil spill, the US government remains keen on the expansion of the oil exploration in Alaska and the move into the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. The Bush administration has been trying to open the ANWR for years. So far they have failed as they ran against democrats, Gwich’in Indians, and environmentalists, who oppose oil drillings in the "Serengeti of the Arctic”. US-President George W. Bush, however, insists on the complete industrial development of Alaska. His plans for the Federal budget of 2007 include seven billion US-Dollars derived from oil drillings in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

The Arctic Wildlife Refuge has been protected under nature conservation laws since 1957 and is now the prime birthing ground for 130.000 animals, including the Porcupine Caribou herd. Intensified oil exploration would disturb them and cause them to change their migration route. The Gwich’in Indians, who live in 15 settlements along the route of the caribous, would thus be at risk of losing their physical and spiritual livelihood.