Summary
The Biden administration officially approved a controversial oil drilling project in Alaska known as Willow. It is expected to produce some 600 million barrels of crude oil over the next three decades. Supporters hail the amount of energy and jobs it would create while opponents including Alaska Natives who live near the site and environmental groups who say it would accelerate emissions and the climate crisis. Liz Ruskin of Alaska Public Media joined Amna Nawaz to discuss. For a transcript of this story, click here . News wrap alternative : Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching! You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.Five Facts
- Who is interviewed for this story, and what is her background?
- Where is the oil project set to be developed? What Alaska Native village is it near?
- How much oil might be produced from the new project?
- What are some of the reasons opponents of the project have argued against approval?
- Why did the Biden administration approve the project?
Focus Questions
Journalist Liz Ruskin says that many in Alaska are in favor of the oil drilling project, but some oppose it including both environmentalists and the Alaska Native community that lives closest to the proposed site of drilling. What rights do you think the Inupiaq (Alaska Natives who live in northwestern Alaska) community near the site should have in determining the approval of such a project? Media literacy : Why do you think the reporters chose Liz Ruskin specifically to interview for this story? Alternative : See, Think, Wonder : What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?For More
What students can do : Dig deeper — read the following article about the Biden Administration and the Willow project and write out two columns. In one column, list the interests lined up behind the project (all those who support it and why) and in the other column, write out all the interests opposing the project. Then discuss: how did the Biden administration try to appeal to the interests in both columns?What is the controversy behind the Alaska Willow oil project?
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