Media release - September 24, 2008
Washington—In response to the congressional decision to allow the ban on oil drilling on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire, Greenpeace USA Executive Director John Passacantando, issued the following statement:
"At a time when the American people are looking to our
leaders to stand up to the forces of greed, it's shameful that they
instead chose another taxpayer giveaway to Big Oil. The decision
makes it clear that Congress puts the shortsighted politics of
special interests over our long-term interest in kicking our
addiction to oil and building a clean energy economy.
"We know more drilling won't lower gas prices: the number of new
offshore drilling permits has tripled since 2001, yet the cost of
oil has tripled in the same period. There simply isn't enough oil
to satisfy the exploding demand in places like China and India. The
only way we protect our long-term interests is to transition to a
clean energy, carbon-free economy.
"More drilling won't deliver a drop of oil for ten years,
according to the Bush Administration's own numbers, which means it
doesn't even help us in the short-term. More drilling will only
increase the profits of Big Oil and the paychecks of Big Oil
executives, while the rest of us are left tied to a dirty and
dangerous fuel that is making food and travel more expensive,
crippling our economy, and destroying the climate that sustains us
all.
"Drilling threatens serious, irreparable damage to our oceans,
coastal communities, and fisheries. It means new roads, pipelines
and processing facilities on beaches that today are pristine. More
drilling also means more oil spills and more toxic waste near our
shores and more air pollution in our skies.
"On the road to the White House and the road to Congress, the
candidates' mantra is 'change'-yet they keep delivering the same
old favors to Big Business that has us hooked on a substance that
threatens to bankrupt our country and destroy our planet. It's time
for those in Washington to stop following the oil industry and
start leading America. We urge the next President and Congress to
put the interests of average Americans ahead of Big Oil and
lobbyists by reinstating the moratorium as soon as they take office
next year."
Other contacts: CONTACT: Mike Crocker, Media Officer Greenpeace USA, 202-215-8989