Bank of America: Don't finance destructive drilling in the Arctic Refuge

Fossil fuel extraction poses a massive threat to one of America's last pristine wild places: the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Plans to drill in this ecologically sensitive haven are so irresponsible that three of America's biggest banks -- JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo -- have already agreed not to finance projects in the refuge.

Bank of America, the second-largest bank in the country, must join them if it wants to prove its commitment to sustainability.

Wildlife in the Arctic Refuge flourish because it's a place largely untouched by industry. Millions of migratory birds, families of polar bears and the 200,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd would be severely threatened by the intrusion of heavy industry that drilling plans would bring. An intact Arctic Refuge is also critical to the livelihood and culture of the local Gwich'in people.

I urge Bank of America to follow in the steps of other major financial institutions and refuse to finance drilling in the Arctic Refuge.