The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Protected … but … there are oil reserves there … And the Prudhoe Bay oilfield is nearly exhausted.

The debate is about the environment (conservation) Compared with the economy (exploitation) About local, national and even global interests But … You cant eat the scenery

The Arctic Tundra is a treeless plain by the Beaufort Sea Here you can see patterned ground made by the seasonal melting of the upper ground.

Depending on whom you listen to, ANWRs coastal plain is either a bleak, buggy land of misery deserving no special protection or a precious piece of Americas natural history.James Balog Is this place really so special? Outdoor enthusiasts think it is … and are against drilling for oil

Like Alaskas Prudhoe Bay (pictured above), ANWR may soon bear the scars of modern oil extraction. In summer the hollows fill with midge infested swamps.

The oil companies love photos like this - some environmentalists had feared that the pipeline would disrupt normal wildlife migrations. It turns out, however, that not only does the pipeline not bother the local wildlife, but some of the critters like to scratch their backs on the supports. Do the nature lovers overstate the threats to the environment ?

Polar bears, the largest bear and terrestrial predator, find prime habitat in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There are risks to endangered species if drilling is allowed… Shouldnt we cut back on fossil fuels anyway … to slow Global Warming?

The Inupiat of Kaktovik, Alaska The village of Kaktovik in 1995 What local people are affected?

Tool for survival: Kaktovik whaling captain Charlie Brower displays the harpoon he uses when his village goes after its quota of three bowhead whales in the fall (Autumn). Kaktovik is next to the Beaufort Sea and within the northern boundaries of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They tend to support the development – they want the money from the oil companies

Adeline Raboff, is a member of the Gwichin tribe The Gwichin Tribe live inland

They are Caribou hunters Some of their land is Taiiga – forested with pine conifers

Arctic Village home of the Gwichin Native Americans

The Gwichin have the inherent right to continue our own way of life; and this right is recognized and affirmed by civilized nations in the international covenants on human rights. The Gwichin object to the proposed oil development because the fear the caribou will be disturbed

Back in mainland USA Some right wingers back their government And the oil industry And the troops in Iraq And hate the other protesters who try to stop ant progress.

Environmentalists also campaign in Washington DC

The gist of the sales pitch was "we haven't spilled much oil up here, we haven't spilled much along the pipeline, the Exxon Valdez was someone else's fault... oh, and we're starting to run out of oil up here, so could we please please PRETTY please be allowed to start exploration in the wildlife refuge next The Oil Industry has been persuading people for years to try to get permission to drill in ANWR

A Website in favour! A website against A neutral view uconn.edu/ANWR/ How are you affected?

Your task Agent … since you are forced to accept it … is to: produce a report on ANWR called To Drill or Not To Drill use any medium – writing, poster, PowerPoint, movie etc. use the 6 headings in the iDG as your guide or writing frame You have TWO weeks of homework for this task. … To get you to do your homework.. Thats M.I.4!! GeogOnline Briefing Over