Volume 20, 1970 - The Arctic Circle - Home

VOL. XX TIIE ARCTIC CI RCULARgovernment are moving at fantastic rates to exploit and controlarctic resources; and that we have little biological data bywhich to judge consequent environmental change. hte are 10 yearsbehind industry in our research, and there is no time to closethe gap. IIis remarks were echoed by many members of the audience,and several speakers said that the government should declare amoratorium for several years, until we haver the necessary data.Dr. l,antbert said that most conservationists were notasking that there be a complete ban on development, but only thatthcre should bc good land-use regulations, nore precautionstaken on operations in tire field, and clear el'idence that thegovernment is readl' and able to rnonitor and enforce itsregulations. One might ask, for example, "i.s the governrnentready to spend $2,000.00 to check on a single offshore drillingrig if it becomes necessorlztf , or "is the governrnent ready todestroy and burn a nulti-million dollar ship if it seems aboutto break up and nollute the sea hiith oil?". He showed thatcanada has had its 'tdisastersff already this past year with awell at Drake Point blowing gas and salt water freetry into theenvironment, and Dossibly other uncapped wells elsewhere, andthat only by good fortune have rve so far been spared a majoroil spillage. One wonders if lve are any better prepared todaythan Britain was itefore the wreck of the Torre), Canyon, orCalifornia was ttcfore the Santa Barbara disaster.Bioloqists are suspicious, &fl ecologist in the audiencedeclared. Too often conservationists have seen multiple-useplans result in multiple-abuse, and repeatedly the question wasasked: Ilow soon wi 11 land-use regulations be in force?Dr. Lambert concurred with these remarks, and he asked whatmotivated industry to seek and government to encouragedevelopment, when Alberta oi1 rvells today have their capacitycurtailed to 34eo of capacity because of limited markets.In summary, Dr. Chas. Jonk.el, Chairman of the Synposi-un,reminded the audience and the panel that there are manydefinitions of ffprogressrf . An area with few people, cleanwater, and clean air has what the whole world wants; progressin such areas just might mean maintaining the status- quo.Furthermore, he said, organisms in the Arctic still live inconditions most similar to those under rvhich they evolved, andarctic areas may provide us with our last chance to discoverimportant new principles of ecology, genetics, and evolution.