What can you do to stop the controversial Willow Project?
The Biden administration has approved the Willow Project, a major oil drilling scheme in Alaska. Here are some ways to voice your opposition to the plan.
The Biden government has approved ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project, a major oil scheme that aims to drill in Alaska’s North Slope, a federal reserve.
ConocoPhillips claims the project could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day. Willow’s supporters argue that the plan will provide employment, generate federal and state income, and lessen the country’s reliance on foreign fuel.
The project’s opponents however have said that it could a negative impact on local communities, as well as wildlife and their habitats. There are also concerns about the risk of oil spills and increased greenhouse gas emissions. This includes a projected 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution per year.
Online activism against the project has increased the past week, and if you are among those who wish to express opposition to Willow, there are some ways by which you could do it.
Write the White House
The White House has received over a million letters regarding the Willow Project, and you could add your voice to theirs. You can send your thoughts via email, or go old school and mail a hand-written or typewritten letter. You can send it to the following address.
- The White House
- 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
- Washington, DC 20500
You could also call the following phone numbers.
- Comments: 202-456-1111
- Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Contact advocacy groups
There are many environmental groups and organizations conducting campaigns to stop the Willow Project, and you could get involved in grassroots campaigns. The petition of Change.org has gathered almost four million signatures at the moment.
Some of the groups that are involved in these campaigns included the Sierra Club, the Alaska Wilderness League, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Friends of the Earth.
Get in touch with your local representatives
Find out where your local representatives stand regarding the issue and get in touch with them to make your own position known. If you are not sure of your congressional district or who your representative is, use the government website that can help you by matching your ZIP code to your congressional district.
Research the project and its potential impacts
Doing research on the Willow Project and its potential effects can help you conduct a more informed campaign against it. In the process of gathering information, you may also find support from other concerned individuals and communities.
Use social media
Online activism is on the rise, and videos involving the Willow Project has received more than 50 million views in the past week. You can use your social media accounts using the appropriate hashtags (a popular one has been #StopWillow) to disseminate properly researched information.