Seascape of floating pack ice in an open lead in springtime, Chukchi Sea, offshore from the arctic village of Barrow, Alaska. Photo by Steven Kazlowski.

Shell Oil has had its eyes on the Arctic for over five years now. Hundreds of meetings and billions of dollars later, this summer was supposed to be Shell’s year to finally drill in the Arctic Ocean. 

Thankfully, a series of embarrassing safety setbacks have held Shell back. The announcement that the company would abandon plans to start drilling this year came just days ago, and people across the country and in Alaska are elated.

Here is the response from Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, a resident of Barrow, Alaska, the countrys northernmost village, on the top of the world on the Arctic coastline. Rosemary is an Inupiat mother and grandmother who has been fighting for the health and safety of her people for decades. 

-- Fran Hunt, Director of the Resilient Habitats Campaign

Rosemary Ahtuangaruak's Story

Shell's drilling program means a lot more to my family and my village than to most people in the world. Shell's cancelled attempt to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean's Chukchi and Beaufort Seas came on the eve of our ...

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