- Anti-offshore oil drilling petition for individuals.
- Anti-offshore oil drilling petition for businesses.
Offshore oil drilling is being proposed, which could impact our fisheries, marine life, working waterfronts, tourism, and beaches. Lusamerica has signed onto a surfboard campaign (literally) to oppose these efforts.
What is the Surfrider Foundation?
The Surfrider Foundation works to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches, and is calling on businesses to sign a surfboard going up and down our coast which will be taken to Washington, D.C., in April and presented to the White House and the Department of the Interior to showcase the number of companies and organizations that oppose the offshore drilling plan. Lusamerica added its name to the surfboard this past week while the board was in Monterey for a “People’s Hearing” event organized by Save our Shores, Oceana, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Surfrider, as a form of public protest against the offshore drilling efforts.
On November 20, the administration announced a proposal to open up California, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and the Arctic to new offshore drilling. The plan targets 1.27 billion acres of U.S. Ocean for oil and gas development, putting ocean ecosystems, fisheries, our communities, and businesses at serious risk. The plan is unnecessary; the U.S. is already the top exporter of oil globally and oil and gas companies have already stockpiled over 1,800 drilling leases that aren’t being used.
What’s at Stake
Offshore drilling is often framed as an economic gain through increased revenue, technological advancements, and energy production, but this overlooks the great harm it inflicts on marine life and fisheries like ours that rely on the stable, healthy marine ecosystems. One of the greatest risks associated with offshore drilling is oil spills, which spread as rapidly at the moment they hit the water, coating everything in their path.
Oil is often toxic to many marine species, affecting their organs and overall health for a long period of time. Aside from toxic ingestion of these oils, oil can coat fish gills, impairing their ability to breathe. As evident due to the many oil spills that have occurred due to offshore drilling, it is apparent that the downsides far outweigh its upsides. Offshore drilling inflicts harm on not only our fishery, but also the many others that provide food to countless communities around the world, and it is our job to make sure it doesn’t take over and damage our environment.
Does your Business want to get involved?
Businesses that want to support the campaign can sign this business petition and they’ll be added to regional business coalitions opposing offshore drilling including the Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC). The surfboard is now making its way to Los Angeles and San Diego. If you’re in that area and your business would like to sign the surfboard, please reach out and we can put you in touch.
Make your voice heard by signing Surfrider’s petition: Take Action
Photo Credit: Harry Parker Photography