I'm surrounded by oil

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Dear Raul, I'm in a boat, looking at the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. I can't describe the horror of it, knowing that the black water surrounding me is literally killing thousands of birds and marine animals, and is devastating the local economy. The real horror of this has only just begun. This oil spill is already more than 3 million gallons and is growing by at least 210,000 gallons every day. I was here just 5 years ago, right after hurricanes Katrina and Rita delivered such a devastating blow to this region. I never imagined witnessing anything like it again. But this is no natural disaster — and it should never have happened. The government is taking aim at BP — the company leasing the rig — and BP has said they will be paying the bill for the cleanup. That's a good thing — Big Oil should be 100% liable for disasters that happen on their watch. But trying to clean up this spill won't address the problem at its source. Congress needs to pass a ban on new offshore oil drilling and pass laws that jumpstart the clean energy revolution, NOW.  As long as we are dependent on fossil fuels, we can expect more catastrophes just like this one. The bottom line is that oil will spill, period. And it can't be adequately "cleaned up." Let's hope the legacy of this disaster is not one of more oil drilling and spills, but of a meaningful shift away from our dependence on fossil fuels in order to protect human life, the economy, and the environment. For a greener future, Mark Floegel P.S. If you're in the Gulf region, you can also volunteer to help with the cleanup.         Click here to forward this message. 702 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 | 1-800-326-0959