Iowa PIRG : Tell Congress to remember the lessons of Katrina
By Alana Stamas
Hi ,
As America observes the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we remember those who lost their lives, the ongoing challenge of rebuilding the Gulf region, and the deep divides of race and class that the storm showed in such stark images.
Katrina also showed us that we are far too dependent on oil and other fossil fuels, with serious consequences. The storm sent gas prices through the roof, while storm-damaged off-shore drilling rigs spilled toxic pollution into the flooded Gulf coast. And because of our overdependence on fossil fuels, we face a future in which storms like Katrina could become much more common as a result of global warming.
Unfortunately, instead of moving America towards a new energy future, oil industry allies in Congress are pushing to make us even more dependent on oil and gas by allowing new off-shore drilling off our beaches, including the hurricane-prone Florida coastline.
You can help by emailing your senators today and urging them to oppose any bill that would increase our dependence on oil and gas by allowing new off-shore drilling off our coasts.
To take action, click here, or paste this link into your web browser:
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=2&id4=ES
Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this message to them.
BACKGROUND:
Our coasts and marine waters are destinations for thousands of vacationing families each year, sanctuary for fish and wildlife and a critical part of America's “sea to shining sea” natural heritage. They are the economic lifeblood for thousands of tourism and fishing communities, providing billions of dollars of economic activity and millions of jobs.
Oil and gas drilling would ruin our coasts and beaches. From 1990-1999, 1.8 million gallons of oil were spilled from offshore drilling platforms and pipelines in U.S. waters–an average of almost 500 gallons a day.
Additionally, each offshore operation produces 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year, and tens of thousands of pounds of mercury have been dumped around Gulf oil rigs.
There are cheaper, cleaner, faster, and longer-term energy solutions like efficiency and renewables that will start saving consumers and businesses money today and protect our coastal waters, beaches, and economies.
Adopting both energy efficiency and renewable energy programs would decrease natural gas prices by $2.05 per million cubic feet, or 37%, in the first year.
Meanwhile, offshore oil and gas would typically not be available for at least seven years. But we can immediately start saving money and energy by increasing the efficiency of our cars, appliances and buildings, and growing the amount of energy we generate from renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
Unfortunately, instead of moving America towards a new energy future, oil industry allies in Congress are pushing to make us even more dependent on oil and gas by allowing new off-shore drilling off our beaches, including the hurricane-prone Florida coastline.
You can help by emailing your senators today and urging them to oppose any bill that would increase our dependence on oil and gas by allowing new off-shore drilling off our coasts.
To take action, click here, or paste this link into your web browser:
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=2&id4=ES
Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this message to them.
Sincerely,
Alana Stamas
Iowa PIRG Field OrganizerAlanaS@iowapirg.org
http://www.IowaPIRG.org
P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.
Blog For Iowa 