Whether we travel by car, bus or plane, oil is an important factor in most people's lives. Demand is huge and prices have risen rapidly, which is now pushing us to look for oil sources in other countries or through offshore drilling. This essay will address Taking Sides' (2013) question "Should we drill for oil offshore?" » First, I will talk about the benefits of offshore drilling, both economically and socially. Next, I will discuss various arguments against offshore drilling, paying particular attention to possible environmental threats. Finally, I will say my personal beliefs, taking into account both sides. Baird (in Easton 2013) argues in favor of offshore oil drilling, arguing that the benefits outweigh the environmental impacts and that it is necessary to satisfy popular demand. He also explains that it is impossible for us to become completely independent of foreign countries for oil, but that we still need to drill offshore to regulate prices and keep demand growing. The main weaknesses of this argument are that it focuses too much on popular demand for oil rather than ethical concerns and downplays the possibilities of alternative fuel sources in the near future. The ethical concerns that Baird overlooks include environmental impacts as well as worker safety, as accidents such as blowouts and spills are very common in offshore drilling, harming workers and devastating the local environment. This makes Barid's argument less effective, because even though his main concern is money and popular opinion, accidents and environmental concerns can end up being very costly, and alternative fuel sources are becoming increasingly popular. Rose (also in Easton 2013) argues against offshore. Drilli... middle of paper... "I think that rather than just investing money in more and more drilling sites, we should instead invest in technologies and research like that described here -above. Oil drilling has many benefits, but it can also cause many problems. There is no clear answer to the question of offshore drilling, because both sides have strong arguments. dependent on oil, we have to get it from somewhere and, from an economic point of view, offshore drilling makes more sense However, we also have to take into account the environment. This is why I strongly believe that it. We must apply the precautionary principle and analyze the possible consequences on the environment before starting any new drilling site. People must also become less dependent on oil, by developing alternative fuel sources and using transport methods. more durable..