it is what lies under the ocean floor, oil, which has the inupiat people concerned and conflicted. the inupiat people fear that an accident, like the deepwater horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill in the gulf coast in 2010, could jeopardize their entire way of life. however, the inupiat also need the jobs and regional economic boost that would accompany offshore drilling.

siikauraq whiting, the mayor of kotzebue, says, “to the rest of america, unless you come and eat our food, walk our land…unless you really know who we are as inupiat people, then you can’t really appreciate that this is inupiat life.”

after all 5,000 barrels of oil are leaking into the water everyday and among other things, that has a huge impact on the aquatic ecosystem. the supply of seafood from the gulf is being curtailed as the national oceanic and atmospheric administration has blocked fishing in federal waters from louisiana to waters off pensacola bay. louisiana alone boasts a seafood industry worth $2.4 billion. that will definitely be affected. that’s not all, in the coming days, you and i might be paying a little more for our favorite seafood meal at a local restaurant.

the writing on the wall is very clear, offshore drilling has a big risk involved. but didn’t president obama recently make a case for offshore drilling? well, yes he did and for now that issue might be put on the back burner. but the moment is ripe for him to renew the stalled energy and climate bill. he could push for cleaner energy options that will reduce america’s dependence on oil and fossil fuels. so will he or won’t he?