Complete Archive

Voices For and Against

Thursday, 29 July 2010

Interview excerpts regarding the Gulf drilling moratorium

In the process of covering the array of protests, town hall meetings, and study announcements surrounding the oil spill, I have had the opportunity to interview a diverse group of individuals. The primary point of concern has been the ongoing moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and I have sought to clarify why people support or oppose the moratorium and how they respond to the concerns of those with opposing views.

Click here to listen to the audio montage and read the full article.

BP Halts Use of Dispersants

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Disputes remain over toxicity of Corexit; EPA approval process too long for alternative

Since July 15th, BP has ceased all use of dispersants in the clean-up of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Although not widely publicized, BP’s decision was made in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard and came after three months use and 1.8 million gallons of the dispersant Corexit.

Click here to read the full article.

"Let Us Go Back to Work!"

Thursday, 22 July 2010

Rally for Economic Survival signals widespread hostility to moratorium on Gulf drilling

On Wednesday 11,000 people gathered in Lafayette to send a resounding message to Washington. The Rally for Economic Survival’s byline was “Lift the moratorium!” and Governor Bobby Jindal summed up the sentiment in the crowd: “We don’t want more BP compensation checks; we don’t want unemployment checks; we want to get back to work.”

Click here to read the full article.

New Study Demonstrates Severity of Moratorium Impact

Monday, 19 July 2010

Author estimates economic after-effects could be worse than that of the oil spill

On Monday in New Orleans, Dr. Joseph Mason of Louisiana State University presented a sobering assessment of the economic impact of a six-month drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico. His report, commissioned by the American Energy Alliance (AEA), forecasts that over the coming year the moratorium would result in Gulf states losing 8,000 jobs, $500 million worth of wages, and economic activity would contract by $2.1 billion.

Click here to read the full article.

Feinberg Encounters Packed Town Halls with Frustration to Spare

Friday, 16 July 2010

Stresses his independence, advises participation, and calls on community for collaboration

On July 15th, Kenneth Feinberg used three Louisiana town hall gatherings – in Houma, Port Sulphur, and Lafitte – to explain how the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) will work. Animated and lively, with a little Bostonian humor, Feinberg held the attention of each overflowing crowd for approximately 30 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of questions from the audience.

Click here to read the full article.

American Dream Coalition Conference

Thursday, 15 July 2010

Mobility and homeownership are under attack. The Secretary of Transportation says the goal of the Obama administration is to "coerce people out of their cars," and bureaucrats at all levels want to impose centralized planning masked by catch phrases like "livability" and "sustainability" that threaten property rights and homeownership.

Now more than ever, it's time to come together to fight these threats to the American Dream and defend freedom, private enterprise, and limited government. The 2010 Preserving the American Dream Conference in Orlando, Florida, on September 23-25 is your opportunity to meet dozens of experts and compare notes with activists from all over the world.

Click here to visit the 2010 Preserving the American Dream Conference site.

Grassroots Organizations Battle to be Heard

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Oil Spill Commission hearings attract advocacy groups to New Orleans

As the National Oil Spill Commission began in New Orleans, those not invited took to the streets to voice their concerns. No more than 60 people are to speak at the two-day hearing, and this sparked the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce to host a rally outside the venue (the Hilton Riverside).

Click here to read the full article.

Where's the 20 Billion?

Monday, 12 July 2010

BP falling behind on compensation pledge

As part of the $20 billion claims fund, BP announced it would make payments of $5 billion by the end of the year – a rate of more than $800 million per month and almost $30 million every day. However, almost a month has passed since the June 16 pledge, and still the Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is yet to make its first payment.

Click here to read the full article.

Exclusive: Kindra Arnesen’s Perspective on the Oil Spill

Tuesday, 06 July 2010

Fishing company owner, and now oil spill activist, describes the devastation of the current situation and gives her views on the way forward for the people of the Gulf Coast

Overloaded with superficial news stories, I wanted to get to the heart of the oil spill’s effects. So I drove from New Orleans to “the end of the world” – Venice, Louisiana – last stop on the Mississippi before the Gulf of Mexico. One outspoken resident, Kindra Arnesen, had caught my attention with her speech at a public forum, and she accepted an invitation to share her perspective in a more in-depth and targeted manner.

Click here to read the full article and listen to audio clips.

The Stealth Moratorium

Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Regulatory barriers and legal uncertainties keep deepwater operators on hold.

On June 22nd Judge Martin Feldman struck down the moratorium on American deepwater drilling. Yet not one of the 33 affected rigs has returned to work, nor are any set to return in the next few weeks.

Click here to read the full article.