An Open Letter to Michael Bromwich, Director of the Bureauof Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
Re: Shell's push to drill in the Arctic
Dear Director Bromwich:
You recently said that you were studying how to treat
In the wake of the largest environmental disaster in ournation's history – one
Shell is pushing an aggressive plan to drill 10 wells in theArctic's Chukchi and Beaufort Seas that more often than not, are covered inthick, vast sheets of ice. As part of its expensive and slick public relationscampaign, Shell claims that it has "perfected" Arctic oil spill response. Theoil giant's oilspill response plan for the Arctic states that it would be able to clean up
Part of Shell's slick propaganda campaign includes a
Shell does acknowledge in their
Shell also recently admitted that
Couple all this with the fact that Shell was recently foundto be responsible for
But that's not all. In May, Shell was
Shell says that it takes seriously its "
And these are just Shell's misdeeds in Arctic waters. Theseexamples don't come close to Shell's human rights abuses and grossenvironmental degradation in the Niger Delta. As Williams Mkpa, a communityleader in Ibeno, told the
The Inupiat peopleof Alaska's North Slope stand to lose everything if Shell is allowed todrill in Arctic waters. For thousands of years, they have survived off thebounty of "their garden," which is home to polar bears, bowhead whales, iceseals, walrus and so much more. Director Bromwich, you must not stand by andlet Shell do what has done throughout the world to a place that, if destroyed,can never be replaced. Together with the Inupiat people, I ask you to protectthe Arctic garden.
Sincerely,
Cindy Shogan
Executive Director
Alaska Wilderness League