I oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and believe destroying this last bastion of untouched wilderness is not the appropriate way to go about becoming more energy independent. The United States government should adopt a policy of developing other forms of alternative energy, and not focus on finding other ways to cultivate oil.

The U.S. accounts for 4 percent of the world population, but consumes approximately 25 percent of the crude oil in the world. Destroying more of the environment and drilling for more oil is not the answer. It is a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

Besides the myopia of this solution, there are thousands of species that will be affected by this legislation. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last untouched wilderness areas in the world. We must do everything to ensure this land is protected from fat cats and barons of the oil business.

The development of more solar power, wind power, and hydrogen power will offset the reliance America has on oil foreign or domestic. At the rate we are going, all the oil in the world will run out in our lifetime. If we do not invest in the resources and capital of alternative forms of energy, we will be left in the dark, literally and figuratively.

The need for alternative energy sources is inevitable, so the U.S. should be at the forefront of developing this necessary new technology. Please contact your senators and congressmen and let them know that you support investing in alternative forms of energy. It not only could save our planet from ravenous energy hungry humans, it could also solidify America as a superpower well into the next couple centuries.

George Christopher Thomas

Agoura Hills