I WAS shocked to learn that Shell is about to start drilling for oil in the Arctic off Alaska.
The experience of the oil spill from the tanker Exxon Valdez, which ran aground in Alaska in 1989 shows the long-term destructive effect of oil on a cold environment and the extreme difficulty of performing a clean-up operation. In fact, such an operation would be virtually impossible in ice-covered areas.
Offshore drilling is inherently risky and in the Arctic it is asking for trouble.
JONATHAN BOURBOUR Pebble Hill Radley
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