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With each gush and with each hour the stakes grow higher for a moratorium on ocean drilling and a clean energy economy. President Obama has taken important steps in response to BP's oil spill disaster in the Gulf. He ordered a six-month moratorium on permits for new deepwater drilling, suspended the planned exploration off the coast of Alaska and canceled lease sales in the western Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Virginia. He took action to change the culture and expectations for the Minerals Management Service and its regulation of the offshore drilling industry. Now he is calling for BP to withhold its dividends payments and put the money into compensating the thousands of unemployed oil workers and fisherman in the Gulf region.
We need Obama to wade in further to save our oceans and combat the climate crisis. Please write to President Obama and ask him to lead a strong climate bill to passage, reinstate the moratorium for all new offshore drilling, and to establish a national ocean policy.
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Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) - An Ocean Champion -
Receives Ecosteward Letters For Clean Drinking Water
Congresswoman Capps, a co-sponsor for the new Clean Drinking Water Funding Bill, is a true champion for our oceans, rivers, and drinking water. ORI ecostewards wrote letters last month calling for a strong clean drinking water funding bill, one that expands the EPA's ability to enforce clean drinking water standards and requires the EPA to expand it's endocrince disruptor screening program. Rob delivered your letters and spoke with Lois Capps at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Awards event. Rob serves on the Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.
On Tuesday Lois Capps was given the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's Leadership Award. The award recognizes her championing for many ocean and coastal water issues. Capps is one of the co-founders and co-chairs of the National Marine Santuary Caucus, which works to strengthen the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. She has co-sponsored bills protecting sharks and coral, sea otters, salmon and marine turtles. Most recently, she co-sponsored the Harmful Algal Bloom bill, which passed the House, and led a successful effort to establish an independent commission to investigate the BP oil spill.
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7:00 pm Friday, June 25, 2010
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Master of Ceremonies: Philippe Cousteau
Music by the Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band
The Blue Frontier/Peter Benchley Awards recognize outstanding achievements leading to the protection of our coasts and ocean and the communities that depend on them. In addition, the awards provide an opportunity for leaders and innovators in different aspects and sectors of ocean work to meet and acknowledge each other, and to celebrate what we have accomplished and the wonders of our blue world.
The Ocean River Institute has, and continues to work directly with two of the awardees. Cynthia Sarthou, Executive Director of the Gulf Restoration Network, is receiving the "Hero of the Seas" award. ORI assisted her with a letter writing campaign urging DC to hold BP accountable for the oil spill, do everything possible to assist those affected by the spill, and reinstate the moratorium on new ocean drilling. Dr. Jane Lubchenco of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration is receiving the Ocean Policy award. ORI ecostewards have written letters to her twice for protection of the Cook Inlet (AK) beluga whales and their habitat.
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The growing oil spill disaster in the Gulf - now the largest spill in U.S. history - is at the top of everyone's concerns these days. It's wreaking immediate and lasting damage on wildlife and the economy in the Gulf. On this week's episode of Moir's Environmental Dialogues, Rob speaks with Mike Dunmeyer of Ocean Champions about turning this disaster into something positive. They discuss the actions being taken by Obama to halt new ocean drilling and get strong climate legislation. Mike and Rob talk about the various clean energy solutions out there to fight the climate crisis and grow a green economy. The first step is to reinstate the national moratorium on all new ocean drilling. Mike also talks about how setting carbon emmission reductions and establishing a cap and trade system will help industry and spur new jobs. Last, Mike talks about what's being done in Washington to turn this drilling travesty into a positive by getting a national ocean policy established. Rob shares the work the Ocean River Institute and its network of ecostewards are doing to call for clean energy, no new drilling, and a National Ocean Policy.
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More Ways To Get Involved!
Discover how with the knowledge of Rachel Carson and the courage of Achilles individuals are making a difference for healthier oceans, rivers, watersheds and skies. Choose from twenty-two podcast episodes of Moir's Environmental Dialogues, Ocean River Shields of Achilles. Also available free on iTunes, search "Moir's" or "Achilles."
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Ocean River Institute
12 Eliot Street | Cambridge, MA 02138 | 617.661.6647 |
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