Polar Bears Hate Bush
The Bush administration has had its eye on the oil lurking beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for years. Environmentalists have been attempting to save the region -- home to a rich variety of wildlife including elk, polar bears and millions of migratory birds -- for decades. On Wednesday, Bush came one step closer to victory on the issue as the Senate voted 51-49 in favor of opening the refuge up to drilling. "This project will keep our economy growing by creating jobs and ensuring that businesses can expand," Bush said in a statement. At least 10.4 billion barrels of oil is believed to be within the refuge's 1.5 million acre territory.
Noting that the House of Representatives has yet to consider the issue, environmentalists have vowed to continue the fight. "It only strengthens our resolve to protect America's most pristine national wildlife refuge for our children's future," said Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation. For more background on the issue, you should also check out this award-winning multimedia special (有紀錄片的連接)from the New York Times.
來自Spiegel