Saturday, May 1, 2010

SOS! to Obama: Ban Offshore Drilling

April 30, 2010 - Right now, in the Gulf of Mexico, an oil-well drilled by the Deepwater Horizon, a modern and supposedly high-tech rig, is spilling as many as 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) of oil per day. The rig literally exploded into a fireball last week, killing 11 workers and opening up a hole in the ground over a mile deep.

A few years ago, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed over 100 drilling rigs and platforms and over 450 pipelines. The Minerals Management Service estimated almost one million gallons spilled during the hurricanes from offshore facilities. Many of us knew that a catastrophic spill, one that could close down fisheries and coastal tourism and result in the deaths of thousands of marine animals, was a real possibility.

Unfortunately, that possibility has become reality.

Today, the oil slick is beginning to reach the Louisiana shoreline, threatening fragile wetlands and the Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Some of the oil is even expected to make its way into the mouth of the Mississippi river, where it has the potential to travel upstream, wreaking havoc miles away from the Gulf of Mexico. As the oil advances into the marshes of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, we can expect oyster and shrimp beds, fisheries, and hatching grounds for seaturtles and shorebirds alike to be devastated. And the destruction and suffering will not end quickly. Oil from the Exxon Valdez spill is still harming marine wildlife in Alaska's Prince William Sound over 21 years later.

President Obama took many of us aback when he announced his plan for new offshore drilling last month. In fact, even as the spill has expanded to cover 2000 square miles of ocean, Obama has maintained his position, saying "I continue to believe that (offshore) domestic oil production is an important part of our overall strategy."

In the wake of the Gulf disaster, Obama has a unique opportunity to reverse his position, take leadership, and stop new offshore drilling, which is undeniably dangerous and environmentally unsafe.

SOS! is calling on the President to do everything possible to stop and clean up this spill, and to hold BP accountable for the damage done. Above and beyond this, we have to address the root of the problem - and that is America's addiction to oil. Instead of opening up miles of our coastline to seismic exploration and offshore drilling, we should be investing in cleaner, smarter choices like energy efficiency and renewable energy. Our environment and our coastal economy cannot afford the risk of new oil development. President Obama, it's time to reinstate the moratorium and ban new drilling off America's shores!


Here are some ways you can help with the campaign:

Donate. We need funding to run information campaigns, pay for oil spill cleanup materials, and to organize citizens across the state. Follow this link to give: http://www.sosfla.org/2009/12/donate.html


Write a letter to your elected officials. Simply follow the link below and enter your address. You’ll be able to send an e-mail or a printed letter to your senators, representatives, and the Governor: Contact your elected officials. 

Write a letter to the editor. Letters of support to your local newspapers are an easy way to educate the public about offshore drilling and to influence the opinions of local decision-makers. Here is the contact information for several major state newspapers:
The Miami Herald 
The Orlando Sentinel 
The St. Petersburg Times
The Tallahassee Democrat
Tampa Bay Online
Daytona Beach News Journal

4 comments:

Meredith Jones said...

This is so sad and disturbing. We do need to stop drilling now! for the good of the earth.

May 3, 2010 at 3:04 AM
Unknown said...

hermes, vans pas cher, lululemon, nike roshe run, nike roshe, nike air max, true religion jeans, nike air max, lacoste pas cher, air force, nike trainers, air max, nike blazer, ray ban pas cher, ray ban uk, north face, true religion outlet, nike air max, hogan, burberry, coach purses, sac longchamp, michael kors, air jordan pas cher, ralph lauren pas cher, hollister, true religion jeans, mulberry, tn pas cher, longchamp pas cher, timberland, longchamp, abercrombie and fitch, new balance pas cher, nike huarache, vanessa bruno, true religion jeans, michael kors, ralph lauren uk, oakley pas cher, coach outlet, nike free, hollister pas cher, converse pas cher, north face, michael kors, michael kors, louboutin pas cher, sac guess, replica handbags, nike free run uk

January 7, 2016 at 9:43 PM
Unknown said...

canada goose, swarovski, coach outlet, doudoune canada goose, louis vuitton, moncler, juicy couture outlet, pandora jewelry, bottes ugg, canada goose, ugg boots uk, converse outlet, wedding dresses, sac louis vuitton pas cher, moncler, moncler outlet, doke gabbana outlet, barbour, thomas sabo, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, louis vuitton, pandora charms, canada goose, canada goose outlet, pandora jewelry, moncler, toms shoes, marc jacobs, karen millen, barbour jackets, lancel, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, moncler, moncler, moncler, montre pas cher, hollister, swarovski crystal, links of london, replica watches, juicy couture outlet, moncler, canada goose outlet, supra shoes, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, canada goose uk, ugg pas cher, pandora charms, canada goose
ninest123 16.01

January 7, 2016 at 9:47 PM
Mohamoha said...

Air Max 270
Jordan 4
Pandora Outlet
Jordan Retro 11
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Red Bottom Shoes
Air Jordan
Pandora
Air Jordan 4

September 3, 2018 at 6:35 PM

Post a Comment