Nuclear and Nimrods

To stand on the shore and look at the ocean, you would think that it simply goes on forever. And, as far as our eyes can see, it does. It is a blank canvas, an open stretch of nothing and everything that both begins and ends with where we stand right now. But, as rational and scientific human beings, we know that this is not the case: continents, islands and large sea ice floes are scattered throughout, although they are not visible from where we stand. But what if our perception was, to an extent, true? What if we could stand on the northern shore of Russia, look directly ahead, and know that it is a simple straight shot to North America? What if there was nothing that stood in our way? Some scientists predict that there will be NO sea ice remaining by the summer of 2030, making this a very real and very imminent possibility. 

And, so far, the Russians haven’t wasted any time capitalizing on this new development. With huge oil and gas resources waiting just off their shores, floating nuclear power plants have already been built to power the oil and gas expeditions. The lack of ice has opened up numerous possibilities for the Russians, not only in terms of drilling for oil but also for transporting it to “energy-hungry” economic superpowers such as China. 

The opening of the ice will make it easier for the Russians to transport fuel, but it is important to remember WHY this is possible. Global warming, and the effect that it has had on the Arctic environment, has ultimately led to this new economic opportunity. Ironically, a direct cause of global warming is the burning and usage of fossil fuels. If this plan goes ahead, the Russians will both make and break their fortune in one swift blow--they will be able to transport and drill for fuel, but, in doing so, they will be destroying the environment further. 

And while we’re worrying about the environment, lets not forget about the nuclear power stations needed to power these exploits. While Russian scientists say they can “guarantee the safety of [their] units one hundred per cent,” it is easy, and perhaps necessary, to be slightly skeptical of their claims. This is coming from the home of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, one of the worst nuclear power plant disasters in history, and one can only imagine the effects of a similar disaster on an already fragile and deteriorating Arctic environment.

Along with the potential danger to the marine life and their habitat, there is also the human aspect to consider. If a nuclear power plant was to explode (“unlikely," according to the Russians), wouldn’t it explode right above the oil and gas reserves that are being exploited? Wouldn’t this already disastrous explosion be magnified many times over just by the presence of such a flammable and dangerous substance? And what about the people who must be present to operate these machines? The risks associated with working in a nuclear power plant are already numerous--adding oil and gas to the mix would only amplify them!

In a world driven by money, money, and the potential for more money, I don’t find it surprising that the Russians are eager to capitalize on this opportunity. Luckily, they have met some resistance--although not in terms of environmental protection. Instead, the battle has begun over which country has legal rights to the oil and gas reserves! We can only hope that this conflict continues long enough for someone (anyone!) to stand up and question this endeavor, in an effort to protect and prolong the life of the Arctic habitat.