Egg Island Diary

28 July, 1997

When we began planning for our work here in the arctic, we decided it was important to practice what we preach when it comes to energy consumption. Here we are, far beyond the energy grid we all depend on for our modern lifestyle and yet we are using all of the sophisticated tools available to us back at home - computers, telephones, radios, cameras. Electricity. Energy.

We sat down together and thought about what sort of example we could make during our witness of the oil industry's activities here in the arctic. What model we could provide to people as we reach out to them with our campaign message about the need to end our fossil fuel addiction? We concluded that one of the most important decisions we could make was to power our equipment with a non-fossil fuel alternative. We wanted to set our efforts apart from the normal method of operating a remote base camp in the arctic and to emphasize the possibility that anyone can incorporate alternatives into their lifestyles.

We thought about what sorts of activities we would be involved in and how much power we would need to complete our campaign successfully. We researched alternatives. Here in the arctic we get 24 hours of sunshine each day (if it isn't foggy or cloudy), but the sun is weak and low on the horizon so solar power was not a good choice for us. Our research into the weather data showed steady winds along the arctic coastal plain. We investigated wind turbines to see how much wind they need to work and how much power they produce. We checked out battery systems to store power and voltage regulators to even out the highs and lows. We looked at our electronic gadgets to calculate how much power they would draw. We checked prices and equipment lifespans.

All of our research showed us that wind power could run all of our camp electronics and allow us to connect our campaign message to the world beyond the Beaufort Sea. Lots of people helped us make our choices and set up our system. Now here we are on Egg Island, in a tent beneath our little wind turbine designed for ocean-cruising sail boats, running our radios and computer and cell telephone with free and unlimited energy harnessed as it flows off the polar ice cap. It is an exciting feeling to see our generator spinning in front the looming mobile drill platform offshore of our temporary home. The wind has been enough to keep our camp running and to help us feel like we're part of the energy solution. Who needs their climate-busting oil?

Even though we are working with alternatives, we still use fossil fuels here. Though we would like to be oil-free, we still use gas for our outboard motors and camp stoves. Transitions are tough in our society, but degree of difficulty is no reason to avoid action. Each step is a step in the right direction. That is the logic behind our campaign to save the climate - we have the knowledge and technology to start the transition now. Our society must encourage the global consortium of oil producers to stop exploring for more oil and instead to put their efforts into developing workable and affordable alternative energy sources like solar and wind. We need them to help us by using their wealth and expertise to drive the search for alternative power systems, wealth they have amassed in the 100 years that the fossil fuel system has ruled our society. We need them to join us as part of the solution.

The wind is flowing over our island, driven by the sun shining down on us. Warm air over the tundra rises, drawing cold air in off the polar sea and ice. I can hear the quiet hum of our little generator as it spins the power I am using to write this message. We have come to this remote spot in the arctic to bear witness to the unsustainable and dangerous plans of the oil industry giants to push their insatiable quest for oil into the fragile environment of the Arctic Ocean. We are here in the middle of the world's most sophisticated oil development but we will not be limited to using oil to fuel our resistance to the reign of fossil fuels. Go wind, stop oil. Save the climate!

Tom

Arctic Base Camp