Will the Long Cable be Sound? The Ecological Impact of the Cross-Sound Cable :: Research Papers

Will the Long Cable be Sound? The Ecological Impact of the Cross-Sound Cable There has been an unfortunate trend in the way that people of the Western culture treat the environment. Often times there appear to be two sides to this battle being fought by extremist perspectives. On one side stand the environmentalists who in some cases seek to block any move that may harm the environment, and on the other side stand the corporate people who seek to justify both a profitable and a logistical means to benefit those involved. A current battle being fought deals with the installation and usage of the Long Island Sound Pipeline. This project raises important issues such as the economic, social, and environmental importance of the Sound, as well as the present and possible future environmental consequences of the actions taken. All too often it appears as though if a change which seems to be beneficial towards humans will â€Å"only† effect the environment and most do not believe that effect will have a direct effect on humans, then we can chalk the change up to Darwin’s theory of evolution, implying that it is natural and necessary. On the other hand, if a change in the environment might harm or cause an inconvenience for humans, but would be beneficial to the environment, then we suddenly do not want to interfere with nature. Unfortunately, even some that have the title of â€Å"environmentalists† have failed to step on the other side of this Western wall that we have built ourselves which barricades and blinds us. Many bricks that that make up this Western wall are built upon the idea that humans and nature are two separate entities, and that humans are the more significant of the two. The most frightening thing about installing the cross-sound cable is not the particular environmental consequences, but the lack of concern that many have about the consequences. Why is it Important to Preserve the Long Island Sound? The Long Island Sound is extremely important not only to the ecosystems of New York and Connecticut, but to a much larger portion of the ocean than one might imagine. One of the reasons for its extreme significance is because it is an estuary. Although some animals are permanent residents of estuaries, there are many fish and other animals that use the estuary as a safe haven to protect their young. If this area is not protected, many of these fish and other animals would die off before they were able to mature and produce offspring. If these animals are not able to reach sexual maturity, it will ultimately lead to