It has officially been over three months since the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill started in the Gulf of Mexico. In that time President Barack Obama has appointed an oil spill team, met with BP executives, gone to Louisiana, and addressed the nation. He’s even appointed an Oil Spill Team to handle the crisis. Granted, none of this has stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf, but it at least gives the impression that Obama is committed to solving this climate crisis and preventing similar events from happening in the future. That we have a leader committed to environmental justice and corporate accountability for BP. How I wish that this were the case.
In his address to the nation President Obama stated that he had frozen all off shore oil drilling permits for at least six months in order for new and better regulations to be created and implemented. It was music to my ears. Finally someone was realizing that regulation of business is sometimes necessary to protect both people and the planet. However, recently it has been revealed that the Obama administration has approved plans by both BP and Shell Oil to drill a total of 11 exploratory wells in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas above Alaska. Wait, WHAT? We’re granting more permits to the very same company that has destroyed peoples lives, work, and ecological treasures in the Gulf? We’re allowing them to potentially ruin the Alaska wilderness? Really? Is our government incapable of understanding that a fossil fuel economy is no longer justifiable? When will our government finally wake up? After every ecological treasure in the country is destroyed and everyone is jobless?
Luckily for humanity, communities and activists are working on solutions to protect people and the planet. In cities across the country, youth are engaging in a Summer of Solutions and creating community based solutions to climate change and injustice. Today, Saturday the 26th of June, people across the world are joining Hand Across the Sand to stand up for the protection of coastal communities across the world. In September, people will spend 5 days biking for climate change with the Brita Climate Ride. Come fall, students will be back kicking coal off campus and voting for leaders that support climate legislation.
In this case I think the message is clear: the true leaders are not the ones in elected office but the ones working in our communities and on our streets to create a better and more just future for us all. I suggest that the next time you meet such a person you give them a hug and thank them.
