| By Jon Bleyer - Feb 5th, 2010 at 10:59 am EST |
| Also listed in: Front Page Posters |
The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the period ending 2-5-10:
Save the Date: Hands Across the Sand Happens on February 13th, 2010
The Audubon of Florida Advocate
More info at HandsAcrosstheSand.org.Thousands of Floridians from all walks of life will gather on beaches from Pensacola to Key West and Miami to Jacksonville Feb. 13, 2010, in a statewide coastal protest against legislative proposals to open Florida's waters to offshore oil drilling.
Candidates for governor agree offshore oil drilling a threat
By Bill Cotterell
Florida TodayCompeting candidates for governor agreed today that proposed offshore oil drilling is a threat to Florida's beaches but took sharply differing positions on national health care.
Florida CFO Alex Sink opposed to offshore drilling
By Abel Harding
Florida Times-UnionSink says the biggest question surrounding the offshore drilling debate is knowing who is actually behind it.
Gov. candidates cold toward drilling -- but not Crist, Rubio
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.comThe three major candidates for governor on Wednesday largely rejected the idea of allowing drilling off Florida's Gulf coast during remarks at the 2010 Associated Press Legislative Planning Session at the Capitol.
Candidates Cold to Near-Shore Drilling
By Lloyd Dunkelberger
Lakeland LedgerAlthough they may differ on other issues, Florida's top three contenders for governor appear united in their skepticism over plans to bring oil drilling rigs close to the state's beaches.
McCollum says oil drilling could 'terrorize our beaches'
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami HeraldAttorney General Bill McCollum told reporters that oil drilling three to 10 miles out "is very close,'' could interfere with the tourism economy, "It would just completely terrorize our beaches.….That’s a risk I would not be willing to take.''
Researchers warn of drilling dangers at symposium
By Jim Ash
Tallahassee DemocratSeismic testing associated with offshore oil and gas drilling could harm Florida's $6 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry, a Florida State University researcher warned on Monday.
Understanding of Gulf ecology lacking in drilling debate
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.comScientists' lack of understanding about the complex relationships between marine organisms should be considered in the debate about oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida State University researchers said today.
Cannon says oil lobby group's funding unimportant
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.comRep. Dean Cannon, chairman of a House council that is holding hearings on whether to allow oil drilling within 10 miles of Florida's Gulf coast, said today that he isn't interested in who's behind the firm that's been pushing for drilling legislation.
Sub-sea drilling technology shown to House
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.comMembers of a House panel today were told that oil and gas production platforms built more than 13 miles offshore would not be visible from the coast.
Offshore drilling could hurt military operations in Florida, group says
By Judson Parker
Tallahassee Environmental News ExaminerThe risk offshore drilling poses to Eglin Air Force Base Ranges is real enough to warrant careful consideration. When that risk is paired with the meager reward that exists off Florida’s shores, the idea of even potentially impairing military exercises in the Gulf becomes completely unthinkable
Offshore drilling resolution delayed again
By Drew Harwell
St. Petersburg TimesCity commissioners Thursday night discussed for the second time their position on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, a proposal opposed last year by nearly every coastal city across Tampa Bay.
Crews try to protect wildlife from Texas oil spill
By Schuyler Dixon
The Associated PressCrews worked Sunday to protect two sensitive wildlife areas after a crude oil spill shut down parts of a major southeast Texas port, state Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said.
Oil drilling: Protect state's beaches, economy
By Sarah Owen Gledhill
Florida Times-UnionFlorida's beaches and coastlines define and unite us as Floridians. They are what brought us here and they are what keep us here.
Oil drilling bill must balance our interests
Editorial
Ft. Myers News-PressLegislators have been moving forward with hearings on the costs and benefits of lifting the 20-year-old ban on oil drilling off Florida’s coast and a bill could be filed this year.
Big Oil’s idea of job creation?
TAKE ACTION NOW
Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"
Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.\Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.
