Here's an update on the oil spill from Executive Director Michael Brune and Conservation
Director Sarah Hodgdon.
(It's directed to Club staff, but I'm sharing it more widely so all Club leaders can stay abreast of the Club's response.)
We are writing today with an urgent, timebound message. What we are
seeing in the Gulf Coast is no oil "spill" -- it is an oil disaster, a
catastrophe, for our environment as well as the Gulf coast fishermen and
businesses relying on tourism. As the offshore drilling disaster in the Gulf spreads to nearly 4,000
square miles, we are now witnessing one of the worst environmental
disasters in American history. It is changing the lives of many people
and destroying a coastal way of life -- possibly forever.
We are proud of the thousands of Americans who are working so hard to respond to the disaster, and especially our excellent staff and volunteers in the Gulf Coast who are working tirelessly on this issue. We know that despite our best efforts, we will be dealing with the impacts of BP’s drilling rig for decades to come.
This is now an all-hands-on-deck situation.
We must show people and communities on the coast our support by calling on the government for more federal assistance for the Gulf coast for as long as it takes and for BP to be held accountable.
This is a moment in history where we have an opportunity to show that this oil disaster changes everything. No more risky and dangerous off-shore drilling. It's time to move towards a clean energy future. We need to restore the federal moratorium on drilling off America’s most fragile coasts, immediately. Then we need to launch an aggressive plan to wean us from dirty oil over the next two decades.
This is a turning point for America. Many of you will be asked in the next week to drop other critical campaign projects and spend some time helping to elevate the national conversation around this issue. Thank you in advance for the dedicated work that you will do to help make sure that America realizes that this oil disaster changes everything and that we must move towards a clean energy future. If we respond quickly, this could be a game-changer, not just for the offshore drilling issue, but for all of the campaigns all of you are working so hard on.
For those of you who are receiving questions about how people can volunteer to help, and inquiries about our most recent press statements and materials, please visit:
www.sierraclub.org/oilspill We have updated information, press statements, and a link for those who want to volunteer to help.
Our organizing staff will be getting an update later today with more information about events that will be happening in the field. Our communications department will also be sending out additional materials and talking points for those of you who are getting media inquiries on the ground.
Thanks once again for all you're doing. We're proud to be part of such a powerful team.
Sarah & Mike
We are proud of the thousands of Americans who are working so hard to respond to the disaster, and especially our excellent staff and volunteers in the Gulf Coast who are working tirelessly on this issue. We know that despite our best efforts, we will be dealing with the impacts of BP’s drilling rig for decades to come.
This is now an all-hands-on-deck situation.
We must show people and communities on the coast our support by calling on the government for more federal assistance for the Gulf coast for as long as it takes and for BP to be held accountable.
This is a moment in history where we have an opportunity to show that this oil disaster changes everything. No more risky and dangerous off-shore drilling. It's time to move towards a clean energy future. We need to restore the federal moratorium on drilling off America’s most fragile coasts, immediately. Then we need to launch an aggressive plan to wean us from dirty oil over the next two decades.
This is a turning point for America. Many of you will be asked in the next week to drop other critical campaign projects and spend some time helping to elevate the national conversation around this issue. Thank you in advance for the dedicated work that you will do to help make sure that America realizes that this oil disaster changes everything and that we must move towards a clean energy future. If we respond quickly, this could be a game-changer, not just for the offshore drilling issue, but for all of the campaigns all of you are working so hard on.
For those of you who are receiving questions about how people can volunteer to help, and inquiries about our most recent press statements and materials, please visit:
www.sierraclub.org/oilspill We have updated information, press statements, and a link for those who want to volunteer to help.
Our organizing staff will be getting an update later today with more information about events that will be happening in the field. Our communications department will also be sending out additional materials and talking points for those of you who are getting media inquiries on the ground.
Thanks once again for all you're doing. We're proud to be part of such a powerful team.
Sarah & Mike
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