Explorations will be executed to search for oil and gas in Alaska, with the potential of harming polar bears and walruses. In reality, there ought to be regulations protecting all animals; but because the species of polar bears is in danger, special precautions should unquestionably be taken. Conversely, when little to no concern is shown for the polar bears, arrows point to what is truly important to the Bush administration.

According to the story published in The Columbian on June 15, “Oil firms get permission to disturb polar bears,” by Dina Cappiello of the Associated Press, “About 2,000 of the 25,000 polar bears in the Arctic live in and around the Chukchi Sea, where the government in February auctioned off oil leases to ConocoPhillips Co., Shell Oil Co. and five other companies for $2.5 billion.” While the sale happened before the polar bears were officially put on the list of endangered animals, it seems that the oil leases should have been halted once the listing occurred.

Instead, the Bush administration has shown neither steps nor care for the protection of the polar bears. In fact, it was said that even as the polar bears were being put on the list, it was made no secret that all operations were going to continue as planned.

Concern has already been brushed off by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. He says that the bears are already protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, citing that it would offer more protection than the Endangered Species Act.

In addition, H. Dale Hall, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, was no less sympathetic, asserting that the polar bears are endangered due to global warming issues and that the oil and gas exploration will have little effect on the bears. However, it is interesting enough that Hall can make such a declaration when the Fish and Wildlife Service had already been told by the Marine Mammal Oversight Commission that there was not enough evidence for such a claim.

Harm no creature

Yes, we could benefit from finding oil, especially on our own land. However, we must cease such hedonistic desires and focus on the other living animals we share the planet with. Humans have already endangered the polar bears enough, with our ways of living contributing to global warming; there is no need for further destruction to their habitat.

Perhaps if we had more credible and unbiased representatives to affirm that such oil exploration would do no harm, then we could give our own green light to the company. Until then, we should avoid any potential of creating more harm to the planet and its creatures.

VERONICA NGUYEN, 19, is a senior at Washington State University Vancouver. If you’re a student with an informed opinion, send it to The Columbian, P.O. Box 180, Vancouver, WA 98666, or e-mail it to letters@columbian.com.