Oil or Wildlife?

Oil or Wildlife? That seems to be the questions we must ask ourselves. With the passing of a new bill that will allow drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge we should be conncered with the affects that this drilling will have on the arctic wildlife. Envirmomentalists fear that the new oil equipment and the affects of drilling will have a harmful affect on the area's polar bears, caribou, migrating birds and other wildlife. Is gaining more oil worth risking the lives of a good deal of our arctic wildlife? As stated in the linked article, "Opponents argued the oil wouldn't be available for a decade and even then at levels that would not significantly affect oil prices or imports." If this is true then why take the chance of destroying something beautiful and serene to possibly help with our oil prices. If this drilling takes place, President Bush would stand to make a hefty amount of money from the new oil. Whether it is a sufficient amount to affect our oil prices, there will be enough to make our countries leaders a much weathier group of people. I'm not saying that the money they stand to make is their only reason for wanting this bill to pass but I am questioning what the motives are and if it is worth it?