The Qwich'in Indians are a significant voice of dissent. Their lives for millennia have been economically and spiritually entwined with that of the Porcupine River caribou herd, whose migrations to and from the refuge afford abundant hunting opportunity. Oil exploitation will destroy this natural procession, fears the native tribe, which rejected oil royalties to protect their primitive lands. But ANWR, often called America's Serengeti as the home for scores of migratory bird species and Arctic animals, belongs to all Americans. A decision to drill must serve the national interest.
Oil production is a messy business.
Despite leaps of technological progress, roads and construction and drilling activity still leave a distinct mark on the fragile tundra. Spills and malfunctioning equipment are still too common on the North Slope fields. Vulnerable flora and fauna may adjust to the human incursions, but the ecosystem is permanently altered. To risk despoiling this unique wilderness for what amounts to maybe six months of U.S. oil supply is unconscionable. Sensible conservation and realistic efficiencies would provide more energy independence than the most optimistic projections of oil in this pristine setting.