Knocking on Doors for a Clean Gulf Coast
(Posted July 27, 2011 07:31 am)
By Les Coleman
TAMPA, FL - A year after the BP oil-spill disaster, the Gulf Restoration Network is working to engage community members in thousands of one-on-one conversations. The group believes it's one way to force the oil industry and the federal government to fix the damage done to the coast, and to invite individuals to do their parts to protecting the gulf's natural resources.
Gulf Restoration
Network's Florida director, Darden Rice, says the
pro-oil lobby has its own creative game plan to protect
its offshore drilling interest.
"The American Petroleum
Institute even tried to pull off these astro-turf
fake grassroots campaigns, and this was to give the
perception that there was ordinary citizen support for a
pro-drilling, anti-climate-change agenda."
Florida politicians and leaders have yet to take
adequate action to ensure that the gulf is protected and
restored, Rice claims. The oil industry responds that it
has pumped millions of dollars into cleaning up the
gulf's waters and coastlines.
GRN wants assurances that the state will give local
communities a say in future oil and gas-drilling
decisions that impact their lives and livelihoods, Rice
says, adding that the group sees the need to counter
demonstrations organized by pro-oil interests.
"The rally that was planned for Tampa, the Energy
Citizen Rally, was organized by David Mica, who is the
president of the Florida Petroleum Council and, of
course, the brother of Congressman John Mica, one of the
oil industry's strongest supporters in Florida."
Rice says many Florida households can expect GRN
outreach associates to canvas their neighborhoods this
summer, asking for support in the battle for a healthy
gulf.