April 19th, 2011 | Uncategorized |
by Patty Whitney
originally posted on God’s Politics
This entry is part of our interfaith series of reflections and calls to action around the one year memorial of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and BP oil spill disaster. Find resources to commemorate the memorial in your own community here. (photo © 2010 International Bird Rescue Research Center)
For three months last year the Gulf Coast oil spill was the major topic of news reports all over the world. From the explosion on April 20, 2010, until the capping of the gushing well on July 15, 2010, the headlines were consumed with images and dialogue about the tragedy unfolding before our very eyes.
Shortly after the news of the capping, the government reported that “most” of the oil was gone, and that things were getting back to normal. The camera crews packed up. The reporters turned in their hotel room keys and gathered their deductible tax receipts. And they all left. Kumbaya, the oil was gone, and the world was normal again. The world could move on to other, more pressing interests. That is … the rest of the world could move on to other, more pressing interests.
For the people of the Gulf Coast the nightmare continues. Oil still washes up daily in marshes and beaches along the coast. Birds and marine animals are dying in unprecedented numbers, and scientists can’t seem to find the cause. (more…)
February 10th, 2011 | Uncategorized |
by Andrew Simpson
This blog post originally appeared on Sojourners God’s Politics blog
Ten months have passed since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and by now most of the nation has shifted its focus away from the gulf to more recent and pressing topics. But for many who live in the Gulf Coast region, the tragedy of last April is one they must relive every day as they come to terms with the destructive economic and environmental ramifications of the disaster within their communities.
Despite the relatively short attention span of our nation, the oil spill has once again become the topic of conversation in recent weeks as the presidential panel investigating the causes of the BP disaster has released its results. The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling included in its findings a detailed account of the factors which laid the groundwork for the disaster. It also enumerated the effects of the spill and issued strong warnings that such a catastrophe could occur again if industry practices and regulations do not improve dramatically. (more…)
October 6th, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Shabbat Noah: October 8-9
T
his year on Shabbat Noah, when Jewish communities worldwide read the Torah portion about the Flood, the Ark, the Rainbow and the Covenant, synagogues will celebrate an environmental Shabbat in response to the Gulf oil spill crisis and our ongoing climate and energy challenges. The Religious Action Center and partners throughout the community have created resources to help congregations commemorate Shabbat Noah.
September 28th, 2010 | Uncategorized |
Across the Gulf Coast, foo
d connects urban farmers, food banks, fishers, faith-based organizations, and others as they work towards social justice. The Food, Culture, & Justice: The Gumbo That Unites Us All conference will show first-hand the unique regional and multi-cultural approach to food organizing taking place in New Orleans. (more…)
August 31st, 2010 | Uncategorized |
1,500 Pounds of School Supplies Delivered
The Christian Coalition of Alabama, the Evangelical Environmental Network, and the Mennonite Central Committee Relief and Development (MCCRD) partnered together to help local school children by delivering over 1,500 pounds of school supplies to school children in Alabama in August. With the start of the school year upon us many districts lack adequate supplies given the Gulf Oil Spill and recent economic hardships. The groups secured trucks and were able to get the supplies in time for the start of school. Romar Baptist Church helped to deliver the supplies. We were blessed to have the opportunity to provide for families in need in Alabama.
Raised Gardens for Coastal Communities
Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) has been given the opportunity to work with communities across the Gulf Region to bring raised garden beds to those communities. (more…)
