2011:01 BANNING ALL OFFSHORE DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC
Whereas 1
there has been widespread thawing in the Arctic due to climate modification, resulting in:
a. exposure of a very delicate ecosystem that, if damaged, cannot be repaired, and
b. more exposed areas that can be exploited or used for research; and
Whereas 2
it is known that there are vast, rich deposits of great variety in the seabed, thought to hold one quarter of the world’s undiscovered oil; and
Whereas 3
the effect of an oil spill on the delicate nature of the ecosystem is irreversible because:
a. oil cannot be cleaned up adequately in the cold Arctic waters;
b. the drilling of emergency side-pipes is not likely to be feasible when the spill occurs under the ice and the occurrence is not identified in time; and
c. these areas are only available for remedial action two months of the year; and
Whereas 4
a spill in Arctic waters could destroy the last rich reserves of fish and significant wildlife habitat; and
Whereas 5
with the expected surge in drilling and transportation of oil, accidents are expected to increase, accidents which are dangerous and impossible to control and have serious implications for the preservation of the now healthy ecosystem; therefore be it
Resolved 1
that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy the banning of all offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic waters; and be it further
Resolved 2
that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
a. proceed urgently to ban all offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic waters;
b. improve Canada’s capacity to monitor effectively the banning of all offshore drilling activity in the Canadian Arctic waters and enforce existing legislation;
c. ensure that the results of monitoring practices are verifiable and made public;
d. continue to work with the Arctic Council to promote the banning of all offshore drilling in the Arctic;
e. work with other countries with off-shore waters to ban off-shore drilling in Arctic waters; and
f. encourage the use of the connection with NORAD for oil-drilling monitoring; and be it further
Resolved 3
that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to work with the United Nations to achieve a ban on offshore drilling in the Arctic.