Press Releases
Blog Post
Hundreds Rally at White House Against Offshore Drilling, Part of 800 Events Across the Globe
For immediate release: June 26, 2010
Contact: Whit Jones, Energy Action Coalition, 914-671-1880
Nick Berning, Friends of the Earth, 202-222-0748
**Photo and video is available** http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Citizens Bring 'Hands Across The Sand' Action to White House
To Demand an End to Offshore Drilling and Leadership from Obama
DC event brings voices of 800 events across the country to White House doorstep
Hundreds of people joined hands in front of the White House today to draw a line against offshore drilling and Big Oil handouts. They delivered the voices and messages of thousands of people participating in today's nationwide “Hands Across The Sand” rallies.
Over 800 communities are participating in “Hands Across The Sand,” lining up on beaches and coastlines and joining hands together to say “No” to offshore drilling and “Yes” to a clean energy future. The events will represent the largest-yet outpouring of grassroots activism in response to the Gulf oil disaster.
This message was delivered to the White House as polls show that the public wants President Obama to demonstrate more decisive leadership and lead the Senate towards bold climate and energy legislation.
“Young voters across the country are watching to see how political leaders handle this situation, and whether they choose to stand with Big Oil or future generations” said Ethan Nuss, Co-Field Director of Energy Action Coalition, “Today, we are drawing our line in the sand against Big Oil and seizing the moment to bring about a clean energy future. We call on President Obama and our elected leaders to stand with people, not polluters.”
People joined hands in front of the White House holding large banners that read “End Big Oil Handouts” and “Safe, Clean Energy Now.” They heard from people directly impacted in the Gulf.
"The citizens of the Gulf Coast are feeling the effects of oil companies' drilling and abuses. They are ready for clean energy. We need strong leadership now." said Darryl Malek-Wiley, a resident of the Gulf with the New Orleans Sierra Club.
“Today the Hip Hop community is drawing a line in the sand. We must separate oil and politics because the time has come for us to ban offshore drilling and ensure passage of strong comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year. Our future demands no less" said Rev Lennox Yearwood Jr., President of the Hip Hop Caucus
The event was sponsored by Energy Action Coalition, Sierra Club, 1Sky, Hip Hop Caucus, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 350.org, Friends of the Earth, Public Citizen, and Greenpeace.
Contact: Whit Jones, 914-671-1880, whit@energyactioncoalition.org
**Photo and video is available**
For more information visit http://handsacrossthesand.com or http://energyactioncoalition.
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Blog Post
Statement by Energy Action Coalition Executive Director Courtney Hight on the latest Society for Human Resource Management/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2010
Contact: Whit Jones, Field Director, 914-671-1880
Washington, DC - Energy Action Coalition Executive Director Courtney Hight issued the following statement in response to the latest Society for Human Resource Management/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll:
"The latest National Journal Congressional Connection poll confirms what we've long known; young voters are motivated by ambitious vision and action on clean energy and the climate crisis. In light of the Gulf oil disaster, young people are looking for courageous action from their political leaders and, as Rahm Emanuel, White House Chief of Staff, notes, leading boldly on clean energy is 'a way to get them engaged in the coming election.'
Energy Action Coalition, a coalition of 50-youth led environmental and social justice organizations, is committed to seeing bold action from our political leaders in the wake of the Gulf oil disaster and beyond. We've rallied to call for a Crude Awakening, and on June 26th will join with Hands Across the Sand to demand that President Obama and Congress shift Big Oil handouts to clean energy investments that can move us beyond oil in the next 20 years.
Moving into the fall, the Coalition will build on it's Power Vote 2008 campaign which mobilized 350,000 young voters for clean energy, to demonstrate that as the Millennial generation comes to power we continue to expect leadership on these issues."
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The partners of Energy Action Coalition are Black Mesa Water Coalition, CALPIRG, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, CONNPIRG, Campus Progress, the California Student Sustainability Coalition, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, The DC Project, Earth Day Network, Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative, Energy Justice Network, Grand Aspirations, Greenpeace, Green For All, Global Exchange, Indigenous Environmental Network, League of Young Voters, MASSPIRG, NJPIRG, National Wildlife Federation, Rainforest Action Network, Responsible Endowments Coalition, Restoring Eden, Southern Energy Network, Student Environmental Action Coalition, Southwest Workers' Union, Sierra Student Coalition, SustainUS, Sierra Youth Coalition, WASHPIRG, WISPIRG.
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Blog Post
45 Vigils and Rallies Call For a Crude Awakening, On 1-month Anniversary of Drilling Disaster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19th, 2010CONTACTt: Whit Jones, Energy Action Coalition, 914-671-1880, whit@energyaction.net
45 Vigils and Rallies Call For a Crude Awakening, On 1-month Anniversary of Drilling Disaster Young people call for BP drilling disaster to be turning point in nation's energy policy
Young people across the country are marking tomorrow -- the one-month anniversary of the drilling disaster -- with vigils and rallies across the country. The Crude Awakening day of action is calling for BP to take full responsibility for the cleanup and damages of the oil spill, and for our politicians to break their ties with Big Oil and bring about a clean energy economy, starting with re-instating the ban on new offshore drilling. These events are taking place in response to the ongoing spill and elected officials in Washington, DC continuing to advance dangerous energy policy, like the Dirty Air Act.
Over 45 events are planned, they include:
- Candlelight vigils along the coast of Florida and in Grand Isle, LA to remember the 11 lives lost in the tragedy.
- Public theatre and a vigil in San Antonio, TX at the site of a recent oil refinery explosion -- another reminder that fossil fuels are dangerous.
- A rally at Senator Graham's office hosted by the Southern Energy Network, and students from across South Carolina to urge him to renew his leadership on the climate and energy bill, and transition us away from dirty and dangerous energy like offshore oil drilling.
- Protests at BP stations, including in Edison, NJ, Santa Cruz, CA.
VISUALS: Photos of vigils, rallies and protests in response to the BP drilling disaster and Gulf oil spill.
WHEN: Beginning May 20thWHERE: Cities, campuses and communities across the country.For more information, or to be connected with event organizers across the country, please contact Whit Jones, 914-671-1880, whit@energyaction.net
Visit: http://bit.ly/CrudeAwakening for more info on the Crude Awakening events taking place across the country.
Energy Action Coalition is a coalition of Southern Energy Network, Southwest Workers Union, and 40 other youth-lead organizations working to bring about a transition to a clean and safe energy economy. For more info visit: http://energyactioncoalition.org
Blog Post
“Human Oil Spill” storms Senate offices on eve of Dirty Air Act Vote
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2010CONTACT: Ethan Nuss, (202) 631-1992 or ethan@energyaction.net
“Human Oil Spill” storms Senate offices on eve of Dirty Air Act VoteYoung people storm Mukowski’s office outraged for her support of another Big Oil Bailout
WHAT: Young people will deliver a “Crude Awakening” to Senator Murkowski in the form of a “human oil spill.” People will flood her office dressed in black demanding that she not give another big oil bailout with the Dirty Air Act, and instead commit to a clean and safe energy economy. This action takes place on the eve of the 1-month anniversary of the oil spill, which young people will be marking across the country with over 40 vigils and rallies.
STATEMENT of Ethan Nuss, Field Director for the Energy Action Coalition, which is coordinating this Crude Awakening event here in DC and across the country:
“With the oil spill devastating the Gulf Coast, it's painfully clear that this isn't the time for another big oil bailout with Senator Murkowski's Dirty Air Act. Young people here in DC and around the country realize that and we taking action to expose the dirty antics of politicians paid off by Big Oil.”
VISUALS: Young people dressed in black with signs reading “this is your Crude Awakening, no Dirty Air Act, no Big Oil Bail Out, Clean Energy Now”
WHEN: Wednesday, May 19th at 11:30 am
WHERE: Senator Murkowski's office, Hart Senate Office Building, 7th Floor
For more information, or to speak to an Energy Action Coalition spokesperson, please contact Ethan Nuss at (202) 631-1992 / ethan@energyaction.net
Visit: http://bit.ly/CrudeAwakening for more info on the Crude Awakening events taking place across the country.
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Blog Post
Clean Energy Supporters Deliver “Obama, This Is Your Crude Awakening” Banner to White House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Contact: Phil Aroneanu, 350.org, 551.486.5833
Whit Jones, Energy Action Coalition, 914.671.1880
Anne Havemann, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 202.997.2466
Clean Energy Supporters Deliver “Obama, This Is Your Crude Awakening” Banner to White House
In wake of grave environmental disaster, DC and Gulf residents unite for clean, safe, energy
Washington, D.C. (5/11/10)—DC-area residents marched from the Department of Interior to the White House today to present a 50-foot-long banner with the message, "President Obama: this is your crude awakening." The banner was signed by Gulf residents on Saturday and demanded that President Obama drop his dangerous support for offshore oil and gas drilling in favor of clean, renewable energy instead.
Since the initial oil rig explosion on April 20, millions of Americans have voiced outrage at what some are calling the worst environmental catastrophe in a generation. Approximately 3.3 million gallons have spilled so far.
"This just reminds us, in a powerful way, how dirty the energy we rely on is," said environmental writer Bill McKibben. "If anything good is going to come out of this, it'll be because it focuses our attention -- but more palpably, focuses the president's attention -- on questions of dirty energy."
After the rally, a number of participants planned on attending the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s hearing on the oil spill. Many wore black t-shirts that said “Energy Shouldn’t Cost Lives.”
"The American people know that energy shouldn’t cost lives. BP’s oil spill has reinvigorated a growing national movement to prevent Big Oil from writing our energy policy and hold President Obama accountable to his campaign promises of independence from oil," said Rebecca Tarbottom of Rainforest Action Network.
Many rally participants traveled into D.C. from Virginia to voice their opposition to offshore drilling. Virginia is on track to become the first state on the East Coast to open its shores to offshore oil drilling now that President Obama has announced plans to lift a 20-year moratorium.
Last Thursday the Department of the Interior postponed hearings on a proposed lease sale off Virginia’s coast. Despite the delay, Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell believes that the lease sale, planned for early 2012, will go forward as planned.
“Virginians don’t want dangerous oil drilling off their coast to satisfy just six days’ worth of U.S. demand,” said Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Instead of expanding offshore oil drilling, Virginia should be leading the way in developing offshore wind power. Wind, not oil, is the right direction for Virginia and for the nation.”
Photo, credit Chris Eichler: http://www.flickr.com/
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