Beyond Offshore Oil Drilling
The massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrates that the risks of offshore drilling are far greater than the rewards. Drilling technology is not reliable, and as BP has demonstrated, Big Oil does NOT have the capability to quickly shut down spills when they occur.
Ocean Champions is proud to have helped elect many of those in Congress who are leading the fight against offshore drilling and for renewable energy. Senators Boxer, Cantwell, Nelson and Lautenberg, and Representatives Pallone, Holt, Castor, and Markey have all introduced legislation to ban new drilling or to improve Big Oil accountability.
The spill is estimated to be pumping 35,000-60,000 barrels per day, or 2.5 million gallons per day. It is pumping the equivalent of one Exxon Valdez spill every four days (which dumped 11 million gallons). This is devastating estuaries and other critical habitat, shutting down sensitive fisheries, and threatening marine mammals and turtles. Many jobs will be lost, and the economic impact will be immense.
See the BP Oil Spill: Daily Dead Wildlife Tally for a running total of dead wildlife from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
These two wildlife rescue organizations are playing a big role in the Gulf response and can use additional support:
A disaster this big deserves an even bigger response. We must drive a paradigm shift that moves us away from offshore drilling and toward clean energy. To make that happen we need a strong climate bill passed before the end of the year.