News From Gulf Restoration

Take Action: From Your Home, For The Gulf   If you haven't already, it is not to late to register to host your very own screening of "Defend The Gulf". We supply you with the DVD and a pretty cool package of incentives. It is a great way to defend the Gulf from the comfort of your own home, so register today!

Blogging For A Healthy Gulf: GRN Spots Oil Near BP's Macondo Well   Yes folks, sadly it's true. GRN's Jonathan Henderson flew over the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster twice recently with On Wings Of Care, and he documented oil on the surface. Read Jonathan's blog from the first flight here and be sure to click on the slide show to see the photos. Then head here to see photos from the second flight.

Hundreds Of Environmental Activists Arrested Outside White House At issue is the Keystone XL Pipeline, proposed to bring tar sands oil from Alberta Canada all the way to the Gulf Coast and fueling refineries in Manchester and Port Arthur Texas. If you haven't heard about the tar sands and the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, please check out GRN's Aaron Viles' blog and see why GRN is opposed to it's development.

Massive Fish Kill Results From Pearl River Disaster Check out GRN's coverage form the ugly scene that played out on the Pearl River over the past couple of weeks. GRN surveyed the scene by boat and plane and we have footage to share with you.

Great Music, Great Cause Gulf Restoration Network has teamed up with two great supporters, and you can help support our work by voting for us and downloading some great music! Please join the fight for a healthy Gulf and consider supporting us today!

Don't Let BP Off The Hook For Turtle Deaths   The recent spike in sea turtle mortality along the Gulf coast has raised several concerns over the cause of these deaths. Strandings data shows that it is unlikely that the turtles would be washing ashore in historically unprecedented numbers solely on account of shrimpers’ nets.  Check out our blog for more on this and to see the data.

Creature Feature:  Physeter Macrocephalus On two recent flyovers above the Gulf we spotted sperm whales, so it is only natural that the species is this edition's creature feature.  Did you know that the sperm whale has the biggest brain out of any animal? Check out this video by National Geographic to see these splendid creatures in action.

GRN Featured On World Ocean Radio  Check out this episode of World Ocean Radio where GRN is recognized for the work we do to protect the Gulf. You will hear a pretty good description of our organization, the strategies that we use, and the issues we work on.

NIEHS Says Illnesses Impossible To Prove  So what does that mean for those who filed health-related claims with the Kenneth Feinberg and the Gulf Coast Claims facility for illnesses? Our friends at Bridge The Gulf break it down for you in this article.

Events***  REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Gulf Future Action Plan Grants Available To Gulf Future Coalition Members To support activities that help to lift up and strengthen local organizing and build gulf-wide movement. For more information, please visit here. Catalyst: Artists of Southern Louisiana Respond to the Gulf Oil Crisis July 8th through September 15 Space 301 at the Living Art Center Mobile, AL For more information, please visit here. Louisiana's 2012 Coastal Master Plan Meetings Various locations in South Louisiana For more information, and a full schedule of meetings please visit here. Stained--Photo Exhibit By Melanie Driscoll September th, 5:30-7:30pm Shaw Center For Performing Arts Baton Rouge, La. Volunteers Needed--Help Restore Elmer's Island September 10th, 10am-3pm Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Bayou Land RC&D Council Visit www.crcl.org for more information Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation 22nd Annual Beach Sweep September 17, 9am-noon, followed by a picnic for registered participants. For more information, please visit here. Unnatural Histories, Unnatural Waters Thursday, September 29, 2011, 6 to 8 p.m. Inman Gallery, 3901 Main Street, Houston, Texas www.healthygulf.org/unnatural Learn about the work of Gulf Restoration Network and view paintings of invasive species by artist Kristin Musgnug. Defend Our Coast, Defend Ourselves Sunday, October 9, 2011, 6 to 8 p.m. Mondo, 900 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana Join us at our annual fundraiser with great discussion, foods and music to benefit Gulf Restoration Network. ***For a complete listing of events, please visit here. JOBS Louisiana Green Corps3-month job-training program For more information, please visit here.    Global Green Coastal Restoration Coordinator (AmeriCorps VISTA) New Orleans, LA. To apply, please email resume and cover letter to: asickle@globalgreen.org. Global Green Coastal Restoration Intern New Orleans, LA. To apply, please email resume and cover letter to: asickle@globalgreen.org. Consortium for Ocean Leadership Project Administration Manager, Gulf Research Initiative (GRI) For more information, visit here. Environmental Defense Fund - Conservation Project Manager, Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Oceans Program For more information, visit here.  The National Wildlife Federation Senior Legislative Representative, Coasts & Floodplains For more information please visit here.

Oil Company Subsudies???? WTH???

Tell Congress: End oil subsidies

As Americans continue to struggle with outrageous, unstable gas prices, oil companies continue to benefit from them.
Exxon Mobile announced Thursday a first-quarter profit of $10.6 billion -- a 69% increase from last year, and a number so astronomical, Exxon executives felt the need to issue defensive statements before the announcement.¹ Also unveiling massive earnings were Shell ($6.3 billion, up 30%), ConocoPhillips ($3 billion, up 44%), and of course, BP (7.1 Billion, up 16%). In all, the five largest oil companies have reaped nearly $1 trillion in profits in the last 10 years.
But more outrageous than jaw-dropping oil company profits, is the fact that our government actually rewards these companies with even more of our money for maintaining this disastrous system - to the tune of $4 billion a year in tax credits and subsidies. It's time for that to end.
Tell Congress: End oil subsidies.
It is a testament to the influence of polluters, and the power of the money they shower upon Congress, that so many of our leaders have continued to defend these senseless subsidies.
As recently as this March, House Republicans - while simultaneously pleading poverty and fighting for crippling budget cuts elsewhere - voted unanimously against repealing these oil subsidies, at a total cost to us of 45 billion over 10 years.
But in the face of these huge budget cuts, painful gas prices and shocking oil company profits, it is becoming harder and harder for Republicans to defend this policy.
In a surprising move, Speaker John Boehner said Monday that repealing oil subsidies "is certainly something we ought to be looking at" and that oil companies "ought to be paying their fair share."² While his statement was quickly walked back the next day by an aide who said Boehner was simply trying not to "fall into the trap of defending 'Big Oil' companies"³ it's clear that cracks are beginning to show in the Republicans' brazen defense of senseless oil handouts.
On Wednesday, President Obama sent a letter to congressional leaders asking them to end oil subsidies, and Nancy Pelosi also sent a letter to Speaker Boehner asking him to schedule a House vote next week. Harry Reid announced he will hold a vote in the Senate as soon as possible.
Momentum is building. This is a key moment to keep the pressure on, and force every member of congress to choose: Americans, or the oil companies?
Tell Congress: End oil subsidies.
Between the ruining of our gulf, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events brought on by climate change, and now - once again - astronomical oil company profits and oil prices that literally threaten our economy, we don't need any more reminders that it's time to end our reliance on oil.
Yet we're handing oil companies billions as we slash funding for the investments in clean energy and transit we need to break oil's grip on our lives.
This must end. And if we raise our voices, we can finally end it.
Tell Congress: End oil subsidies.
1. "Exxon tries to preempt fury from first-quarter profits," The Hill, April 27, 2011
2. "Boehner opens door to ending tax breaks for big oil companies," The Hill, April 25, 2011
3. "Boehner aide: Tax comments were to avoid 'trap' of defending 'Big Oil'," The Hill, April 26, 2011