(K): Not enough that he messed up America and its economy. Not enough
that he killed thousands of his own citizens in the quest for wealth for
himself and members of his administration and for the cor****ations that
bought him his seat as President.
Not enough that he is the most hated President in American history through
his war on Iraq, and his lies to the American people. Now he wants to
destroy
- ie FURTHER DESTROY - the environment in his continued quest for
polluting
resources for polluting activities. This man doesn't know he's already
dead.
Why do primaries and elections take so long in the U.S. when you have
people like this guy creating havoc and doing so much major damage?
_________________________
June 19, 2008
Bush calls for end to drilling ban
Urges Congress to lift offshore moratorium ahead of global summit hosted
by Saudi Arabia
CALGARY -- As the global oil industry prepares for a rare meeting of
oil-producing and consuming nations and companies this weekend in Saudi
Arabia aimed at addressing skyrocketing crude prices, U.S. President
George W. Bush is seeking to take the brakes off U.S. production.
Mr. Bush yesterday pressed Congress to lift a moratorium on drilling off
the east and west coasts of the United States, which have long been off
limits to oil and natural gas firms. Opening up the country's offshore
backyard could allow fields holding 18 billion barrels of oil to be
developed, easing the economic pain caused by the high price of energy, he
said.
Lifting the ban faces staunch opposition from Democrats, including
presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi, who have already rejected the proposals. California Governor
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, also said he would oppose any
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
attempts at development.
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Mr. Bush's willingness to press such a controversial measure highlights
the stress posed to the U.S. economy by high oil prices, which hit a new
record of almost $140 a barrel (U.S.) earlier this week and has placed
producers under pressure to boost output.
Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, has convened a summit to
discuss the situation this weekend, which will attract energy ministers
and cor****ate leaders from around the world. Federal Natural Resources
Minister Gary Lunn will attend, reversing an unofficial yet long-standing
national policy of avoiding such meetings.
For the United States, the world's largest oil consumer, high prices and
concerns over supply have been exacerbated by dwindling output by major
producers such as Mexico and Venezuela. The weak U.S. dollar is adding to
the problem, and helped push domestic gasoline prices above $4 a gallon
this month for the first time.
As a result, Mr. Bush - whose views are backed by John McCain, the likely
Republican nominee in this year's presidential election - wants the U.S.
to reconsider developing regions seen as off limits.
While substantial drilling for offshore oil and gas does take place in the
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
western part of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, exploration elsewhere - such as
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
off the Californian or Florida coasts - is banned by congressional and
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executive prohibitions first put in place in 1981. Environmental groups
and coastal residents have long opposed more drilling because of concerns
about potential oil spills and damage to fragile ecosystems like the
Florida Everglades.
Those moratoriums - which are set to expire in 2012 - are "outdated and
counterproductive," Mr. Bush said.
"Unless members are willing to accept [gasoline] prices at today's painful
levels or even higher, our nation must produce more oil. And we must start
now," said Mr. Bush, who also called for restrictions on oil shale
drilling to be lifted and for more Alaskan acreage to be opened up for
development.
For the United States, even im****ts from reliable partners such as Canada,
its biggest oil supplier, may not be enough in the coming years.
Yesterday, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers trimmed its
2015-20 output estimates for Alberta's oil sands because labour and
materials shortages, along with high costs, are pu****ng new projects
behind schedule.
Companies are confident more oil and gas can be found offshore.
Chevron Corp., a leader in Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production,
previously found as much as three trillion cubic feet of natural gas at
its Destin Dome project, 40 kilometres south of Pensacola, Fla., before
the offshore moratorium was extended to prohibit further development.
"We discovered significant amounts of natural gas, but it became too
onerous to develop those," Chevron spokesman Mickey Driver said. "But we
know the resource is there."
Mr. Driver said Chevron may want to look at Florida again if the
moratorium is lifted.
"If everything was equal and we had access, we'd look at any resources
made available to us."
By the numbers
75 billion -
Estimated undiscovered conventionally recoverable barrels of oil in the
U.S. offshore area.
21 per cent -
Percentage of undiscovered offshore oil in the moratorium area.
362 trillion -
Estimated undiscovered conventionally recoverable cubic feet of gas in the
U.S. offshore area.
17 per cent -
Percentage of undiscovered offshore gas in the moratorium area.
Breakdown by region
Gulf of Mexico -
As of 2000, undiscovered conventionally recoverable resources in the Gulf
of Mexico were estimated at 193 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas and 37
billion barrels of oil, with the moratorium area in the Gulf containing
about 4 per cent of the gas and 7 per cent of the oil.
East and West coasts -
All estimated undiscovered conventionally recoverable resources (47 Tcf of
gas and 13 billion barrels of oil) are located in the moratorium area.
Alaska -
In the North Aleutian Basin, about 6 per cent of the estimated 123 Tcf of
gas resources and about 1 per cent of the estimated 25 billion barrels of
oil are in the moratorium area.
- Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
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It wasn't the Exxon Valdez captain's driving that caused the Alaskan oil
spill. It was yours. - Greenpeace
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