Emergency Summit
AN EXTRAORDINARY CRISIS REQUIRES AN
EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE -- THE PEOPLE MUST
ACT TO STOP THE GULF CATASTROPHE
The BP oil blowout is an environmental catastrophe, bringing
great peril to marine and wildlife in the Gulf and threatening
ecosystems of the planet. The spill is still out of control and
spreading. It jeopardizes communities and livelihoods. The
government and BP have proven unable and unwilling to stop the
disaster, protect the Gulf, or even tell the truth.
The people must come together now to stop this nightmare.
Millions are sick at heart and looking for ways to act. Many
individuals and groups have spoken out, offered suggestions,
volunteered to help, protested. BP and the government –
pursuing their own interests - have ignored people's ideas,
blocked public participation, suppressed and harassed scientists,
and prevented people on the Gulf from taking initiative to keep
oil away from shore.
This must not continue. A broad, determined, and powerful
"peoples’ response" is urgently needed - to get the truth out, to
protect the shores and oceans and deal with the ecological
impacts, while exploring deeper causes and solutions.
The Emergency Summit will bring together scientists, people
from fishing communities, environmental activists, progressives,
radicals and revolutionaries, artists, intellectuals and all who want
to halt this horror. There will be testimony on the true scope and
impact of the disaster and on what can be done to protect
ecosystems, wildlife, and people. We’ll thrash out ways for
people to act now – on different fronts and in different ways –
and to galvanize many, many more, across the Gulf and beyond.
The world is watching. We must not allow the Gulf and oceans to
be devastated. Our mission is nothing less than stopping this catastrophe.
Initial Endorsers:
William Quigley, Loyola University, Legal Director, Center for
Constitutional Rights*;Michael G. Hadfield, Marine Biologist, Kewalo
Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii*; Larry Everest, author Oil,
Power & Empire, Revolution correspondent; Lower Algiers
Environmental Committee, New Orleans; Elizabeth Cook, Women
United for Social Justice, New Orleans; C3-Hands Off Iberville, New
Orleans; Eloise Williams, Community Activist; New Orleans, George
Mahdi, Social Worker, New Orleans activist; Debra Sweet, Director,
World Can't Wait * for identification purposes only
Draft Demands:
1) Stop oil drilling in the Gulf
2) The government and entire oil industry
must allocate all necessary resources to stop
the spill and clean up the devastation. Full
support, including by compensation, must be
given to efforts by people to save the Gulf.
3) No punishment to those taking independent
initiative; no gag orders on people hired,
contracted, or who volunteer.
4) Full mobilization of scientists and
engineers. Release scientific and technical
data to the public; no more lying and covering
up. Full and open scientific evaluation of
emergency measures like the use of
dispersants. Fund all necessary scientific and
medical research.
5) Full compensation for all losing livelihood
and income from the disaster.
6) Provide necessary medical services to
those suffering health effects of the spill.
Protect the health of and provide necessary
equipment for everyone involved in clean up
operations. Full disclosure of medical and
scientific studies about the effects of the oil
disaster.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
10 am--End Time TBA
First Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary
5212 South Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Website:gulfemergencysummit.org
Email: gulfemergencysummit@gmail.com
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