Dear Friend of Defenders,
Crushed to death. Driven from their Arctic home forever.
That's the very real threat facing polar bear moms and cubs if the Trump administration's oil invasion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge proceeds as planned.
And as we observe Polar Bear Week, there's no better time to double down on our fight to stop this reckless exploration and drilling before it starts.
As you read this, the Trump Administration is preparing to open the Arctic Refuge coastal plain for oil leasing.
Oil and gas drilling is a dirty business, and would devastate this fragile ecosystem: the exploration phase alone would bring crews of hundreds of people, heavy machinery and utility vehicles, including 90,000-pound "thumper" trucks that send massive shock waves into the fragile tundra.
These shock waves can cause mother bears to abandon dens, which is harmful to the mother bear and fatal to her cubs. The massive trucks could also roll over polar bear dens and crush hibernating polar bears and their cubs to death.
Following exploration, development would bring permanent roads, pipelines and processing facilities.
You only need to look at the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay to get a glimpse of what's in store for the Arctic Refuge if we do nothing.
What will we tell our children if we fail? Can we live with letting the polar bears vanish for a few barrels of oil?
There's so much at stake right now. Please – I'm counting on your help with a gift of $15 or more.
Sincerely,
 |
Jamie Rappaport Clark |
P.S.: Our tireless fight for wolves and other imperiled wildlife is only possible because of supporters like you. The best way you can make a sustained impact to protect vulnerable wildlife is through an automatic monthly donation!