nickaster’s Recent Comments

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Treasure America

  Thanks for the great report. I'm glad you guys got to experience the refuge!

  We rafted the Canning River in June and spent some time in Kaktovik.  The purpose of the trip (in addition to having a great time) was to look at some of the economic reasons why opening the refuge is a backwards idea, as well as to debunk some of the myths that drilling advocates have been passing off as truth.  Among them:

  1) Myth - ANWR will lower gas prices.
  Truth - Drilling in the Arctic Refuge will have no noticiable effect on gas prices.  Even oil industry execs admit that the Arctic Refuge contains a maximum of less than a 3 year's supply of crude. With worldwide demand surging, the impact of that amount of oil is likely to mean less than a nickle off a gallon at the pump.

  2) Myth - ANWR will reduce dependenceon Middle Eastern Oil.

  Fact - Only 31% of US oil imports come from Arab Countries.  Most is from Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Domestic Sources.
  Source - http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/saudigas.asp   Any small impact ANWR has will be dominated by reductions outside the mideast.

  3) Myth - ANWR means a stronger economy.

  Fact - Better fuel efficiency standards are much more important in keeping America strong.  If cars got 20% better mileage, the average person would have $500 more in their pocket every year.  Compare that to the one-time $300 Bush tax credit.  ANWR does nothing to encourage better fuel economy, in fact it moves us directly in the opposite direction - away from strength, and away from growth.

  4) Myth - ANWR oil will be used for the domestic American demand

  Fact - With China and India embracing a car culture, there is a strong likely hood that much, and possibly all, ANWR oil will be shipped overseas.

  Source - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002245699_export17m.html
  Source - http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/natural/nrgen-25.cfm

  5) Myth ANWR has no environmental/health impact

  Fact - Drilling in ANWR may or may not hurt wildlife.  But continued burning of petroleum products has immensly negative health effects for Americans in all areas of the country.  From asthma to cancer, many costly diseases can be traced directly to combusting gasoline.  Even in the pristine north slope, there is currently a smog cloud (caused by Prudhoe Bay operations) as brown as any over a major city.

  We have a video in the final stages of production and would be very interested in having it shown on Grist and other sites.  Please check out www.treasureamerica.org.

  Thank you!On David B. Williams sends dispatches from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge posted 4 years, 2 months ago 2 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Treasure America - The Economic Angle

  I just watched Oil on Ice for the second time and was equally impressed and moved as I was the first time. Aside from the cultural and environmental arguments presented by the film against drilling, exist a litany of economic reasons why drilling in ANWR is a profoundly backwards move.

  You will be interested to hear that I'm part of a project this summer at Kaktovik (on the refuge) promoting non-oil-based economic development in the region, as well as a more forward thinking energy policy for the country at large.  

  The project is called "Treaure America" and is cosponsored by Hunter Lovin's Natural Capitalism group.

  We will be on the refuge in three weeks and will be shooting a short film (15-20 minutes) that will try to tackle the economic arguments against drilling, and which we hope will be a compliment to the work that Oil on Ice has done, as well as the work of others.  

  Please have a look at our website for more information!

  Thanks very much,

  Nick Aster
  www.treasureamerica.org

  +++++++++++++++++++++++ Nick Aster www.triplepundit.com www.treasureamerica.org

  On Arctic Refuge documentary is beautifully made, but ultimately a tad too restrained for its own good. posted 4 years, 5 months ago 1 Response