“If we do nothing, it doesn't matter how we feel. And that’s exactly what oil companies are banking on: out of sight, out of mind” (Hart, 24). In his article, 50 Miles Out, Brandt Hart explains the controversy surrounding offshore oil drilling along the east coast. This argument on whether to end or continue drilling started when new oil and gas leasing programs were made for 2017-2022, which included plans for oil and gas “exploration and development” in federal waters (Hart. 24). This plan also includes more oil drilling along American coasts, more specifically the Gulf of Mexico and east coast of the U.S. The author, Brandt Hart, is an author, writer, and surfer. He has written for several magazines including Surfer, Vinyl, and Eastern Surf. Since Hart lives, works, and surfs on the east coast, he himself along with all the people surrounding him, …show more content…
This argument is supported by a list of examples showing the negative effects of the fossil fuel burned for oil demand. For example, “sea level rise, global temperature, and ocean acidification” (Hart, 26). This list of information is cited from NASA, and Hart invites the reader to further look at NASA’s research. This shows he gets his information from a government funded research base, and provides further information for the reader. He then further discusses the affect burning fossil fuel has on global warming. Hart questions whether, “extracting and using more fossil fuels for the sake of economic gain [is] in our best interest- or that of the future generations?” (Hart, 28). The negative effects of burning fossil fuel add up to create an overall warmer climate impacting not only this generation’s current environment, but also the generations to come. This makes the reader question whether the offshore oil drilling is really worth the environmental impact on climates for not only them but future generations as