How the Iraq Invasion of Kuwait Impacted Kuwaits Environment

Part A: Plan The Investigation The purpose of this investigation is to assess the extent of which the Iraq invasion of Kuwait impacted Kuwait’s environment. This will be done by assessing the pollution created during the fighting portion of the war as well as the beginning of the oil fires. Furthermore the pollution of the oil fires will be looked at in regards to terrestrial pollution as well as wildlife pollution. This investigation will include an evaluation of the origin, purpose, value and limitations of 2 sources, The Environmental Consequences of War: legal, economic and scientific perspectives by Jay E. Austin and Carl E. Bruch, as well as John Loretz’s article titled The Animal Victims of the Gulf War. Part B: Summary of†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Last burning oil well was put out in November 1991.4 Terrestrial pollution from the oil fires: †¢ After the oil wells were set on fire the oil spewed out to the land surface.2 †¢ Hundreds of oil lakes had formed. †¢ Lakes penetrated and saturated 10-20% of the soil. †¢ 5,000 million gallons of seawater spray was used.10 †¢ Millions of land mines were planted around the oil wells. †¢ Residue from oil slowly seeped in to the ground, poisoning the desert. †¢ As the oil seeped it damaged the underground water supply and the soil.12 †¢ Miles of the Kuwaiti desert were decided to be inhabitable. Wildlife and Marine Pollution from the oil fires: †¢ Vast amounts of crude oil seeped into the Persian Gulf. †¢ The oil from the wells that was released into the Persian Gulf killed tens of thousands of birds and threatened numerous marine animals. †¢ Toxic smoke released from the fires killed migrating birds. †¢ Oil poured from the extinguished wells created huge petrochemical lakes.16 †¢ Petrochemical lakes drained in to the ocean and threatened marine life. 16 †¢ Tanks, trucks and other military vehicles destroyed wildlife habitats. 16 †¢ Oil that lured close to the water and threatened animals that were close to extinction. †¢ Various birds became trapped in the oil that was near the ocean as well as in the oils lakes. †¢ Many migratory birds died as a result of exposure to oil or polluted air. 17 Part C:Show MoreRelatedDubais Political and Economic Development: Essay38738 Words   |  155 PagesCulture, United Arab Emirates, UnitedArab Emirates Yearbook 2004 (London: Trident Press Ltd., 2004) 6 ; Personal interviews January 2005. 2 Ashfaq Ahmed, UAE Nationals in Private Sector Miniscule - Study, GulfNews (June 7,2004). Harrison; Nick Meo, How Dubai, the Playground of Businessmen and Warlords, Is Built by Asian Wage Slaves, The Independent (March 1,2005). Ahmed. 5 Meo. 6 Personal Interviews January 2005. ceilings, marble bathrooms outfitted with Jacuzzis, and personal butlers. In addition