The environment, improved safety measures, accountability are among the concerns The Epoch Times reporters from New Zealand to Norway heard about when they asked locals, “Do you think the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a reason to stop offshore oil drilling?”
Alessandro Grossi, 34, Physician
I think this is a warning for us to create, or develop those renewable energy technologies. Nowadays, as this is something that is still far from being a reality. What must be put in place are surveillance mechanisms, not just by companies, but mainly by the government for this kind of exploitation. I think the government has to invest in it rather than outlaw it. The planet is still totally dependent on that kind of energy. There has to be greater control, especially by the state, and parallel to this, there must be a development of renewable technology, electric energy, wind energy, etc.
Jill McCorkindale, 44, Administrator
No, I just think until we have a better system of energy production then we’re going to have to drill, the world is pretty dependent on oil. We need safer methods and a better method of containing spills, but I think at this point it’s not practical to discontinue offshore drilling. It’s a terrible disaster; it’s an environmental calamity.
Martin Stegemann, 38, Physiotherapist
Absolutely. I don’t think it will stop, but it may stop somewhere. In Norway, they talk about drilling more and more, for example at Lofoten Island in the north of Norway. And environmental activists are very upset about it, because they don’t want [an accident to] happen like in the Gulf of Mexico. So the government is now entering into a discussion with them. The government was determined before, but now they don’t know [whether to drill].
Miguel Marquez, 70, Architect
Not really. I don’t think we should blame it on oil drilling since every industrial process in the world has its own risks. But that said, there is no doubt that the riskier the industry, the bigger and better the controls that companies and governments should have. As the world is conformed nowadays, oil drilling is as necessary as, for example, nuclear energy. Both have their own risks, and we know which ones they are, so let’s just be more serious and strict with the supervision that should always be done by an independent agency, and we could avoid these disasters.
Juraj Mihalic, 30, Service Engineer
I think, it is not necessary to stop … but we should think about safety and reliability of equipment … and in this way prevent environment catastrophes.
Melvin Maccallaugh, 40, Medical Herbalist Assistant
Blimey, that’s a big question! (laughs) I’d say on its own, no. I think it’s a reason to look further into corruption at all levels, from government to business to regulation agencies. I think oil is still a needed resource at the moment, but hopefully society will change to allow other resources to become as important.
Steven Mogan, 45, Shoe Repairer
I think offshore drilling should be immediately stopped around the world. This is devastating for all ocean life because the technology available at the time is not up to the standard required to do the operations properly. I think, the scope of the disaster that is happening in the Gulf will soon spill out across the world, and we have yet to see the ramifications properly.
Gabriel Jazdzikowski, 18, Science Student
I think the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is of great importance to the environment and can be much more catastrophic in its results than it seems to us in reality. I think that until alternative sources of energy become more accessible, oil extraction should still exist, but it has to be systematically being reduced. The structure of an energetic economy should change to use alternative sources. … Unfortunately, now it is the most popular method, and it simply isn’t possible to change the profile of the economy from one day to another, but we should precisely strive for change.
Wassiem Shalak, 26, Auditor
I don’t think it’s a reason to stop the offshore oil operations, but better safety measures should be in place, and better backup plans should be in place.
Seckin Sert, 23, University Student in Economics
As I heard before, some companies made some investments in that area for offshore drilling, but because of this issue, they have to stop working. Moreover, because of that accident, the natural environment is ruined so severely, and no one can recover it.
Franco Ramella Livrin, 49, Yard Foreman
There should have been signals before that maybe it was better to try to improve those that could be alternative energies and not only use fossil fuel for energy. I do not think this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, unfortunately. Until the threads are pulled by the economy, things will always go like this.
Veronika Adamcikova, 20, Student
It’d be better to stop drilling. However, if you stop it, there’d be no oil. I could give up the convenience of cars if there is an alternative. I prefer the benefit of cars and means of transport to the environment.
Mia Falk, 44, Real Estate Assistant
Yes, I think so. We need the oil, but in the long run, we should stop [off-shore oil drilling]. A security review is indeed needed. This accident could have been prevented. This accident destroys so much of animal life and also for the people.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week. The Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “What traditional clothing do you consider most beautiful and best represents your traditions?”
