ConocoPhillips has confirmed that it has withdrawn from Arctic Power,
the lobbying group seeking to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
to oil drilling. This decision is important because it demonstrates
publicly that the Refuge is not a priority for the company, and it could
have an impact on the current Congressional debate over the Refuge's
fate. On the heels of this announcement, ChevronTexaco also acknowledged
for the first time that it had canceled its membership in Arctic Power
in 2000.
This leaves Exxon Mobil as the sole oil company that continues to
support Arctic Power in their efforts to allow drilling for oil in the
Refuge.
Please help to protect the Arctic Refuge by signing our letter to Exxon
Mobil Chairman and CEO Lee Raymond asking him to withdraw from Arctic
Power. Then ask your family and friends to help by sending this email to
them.
To take action, click here or paste this link into your web browser:
http://ecopledge.com/alerts/route.asp?id=836&id4=ES
Background:
The Arctic Refuge is one of America's last remaining pristine wilderness
areas. It is the only conservation area in the country that provides a
complete range of Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems balanced with a wide
variety of wildlife including caribou, polar bears, and over 130 species
of migratory birds. Oil drilling and development could forever alter the
fragile balance of nature in this unique landscape, and threaten the
plant and animal species that rely on the Refuge for survival.
Even if one were to ignore the environmental risks, drilling in the
Arctic Refuge does not make economic sense for oil companies or the
economy as a whole. The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated that that
there is no economically recoverable oil in the Refuge at prices less
than $17.05/barrel (in 2002 dollars). Using the oil companies' own
assessment criteria, which remains unchanged despite recent short-term
price spikes, drilling of any sort in the coastal plain of the Arctic
Refuge is unattractive. A company that drilled in the Refuge would not
only harm the environment, it would also risk losing substantial amounts
of money.
Despite the environmental and economic risks of drilling in the Arctic
Refuge, Exxon Mobil continues to support drilling. Exxon Mobil now
stands alone among oil companies in supporting Arctic Power's efforts to
convince Congress to open the Refuge.
Please help to protect the Arctic Refuge by signing our letter to Exxon
Mobil Chairman and CEO Lee Raymond asking him to withdraw from Arctic
Power. Then ask your family and friends to help by sending this email to
them.
To take action, click here or paste this link into your web browser:
http://ecopledge.com/alerts/route.asp?id=836&id4=ES
Sincerely,
Andrew Shalit
ecopledge.com Program Director
[email hidden]
http://www.ecopledge.com
--
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