Green | December 04, 2007 | 4 comments

Tension at the Edge of Alaska

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/business/04alaskaoil.html?hp

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covelogibbs
BARROW, Alaska ? Each summer and fall, the Inupiat, natives of Alaska?s arid north coast, take their sealskin boats and gun-fired harpoons and go whale hunting. Kills are celebrated throughout villages as whaling captains share their catch with relatives and neighbors. Muktuk, or raw whale skin and blubber, is a prized delicacy.

But now, that traditional way of life is coming into conflict with one of the modern world?s most urgent priorities: finding more oil.

Royal Dutch Shell is determined to exploit vast reserves believed to lie off Alaska?s coast. The Bush administration backs the idea and has issued offshore leases in recent years totaling an area nearly the size of Maryland.
  1. groups:
    Green,   Indigenous
  2. tags:
    Green,  Oil,  Conservation,  Alaska,  6 more
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4 comments // Tension at the Edge of Alaska

  • dbocaz
  • amirct3
    • 0
      amirct3  

    • No offense but when ever has this government or any Western Civilization been truly concerned with the well being or lifestyle of natives in any country.

    • 5 years ago
  • Tori
    • 0
      Tori  

    • Check out this narrated slide show about the conflict between the native hunting culture and oil drilling.

    • 5 years ago
  • abbym0308
    • 0
      abbym0308  

    • Take a look at this pod about how climate change is already effecting the native culture in Alaska. Adding more offshore oil drilling will just add to the problem. It makes me want to bang my head on my desk when I hear about all of the blatant disregard for native people and cultures, and for our entire planet, on the part of big business, big government, big oil.

    • 5 years ago
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