Target: Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell
Goal: Praise decision to ban offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic.
On Tuesday, March 15, the Obama administration announced that offshore oil drilling will no longer be allowed on the Atlantic coast. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell passed this decision when the public reacted negatively to the earlier decision to permit Atlantic offshore drilling. She deserves praise for doing what is best for the environment, even though she’ll face great opposition from Big Oil.
With this ban, disastrous oil spills that hurt both the environment and the coastal communities will be prevented. Not only that, but seismic testing will no longer be necessary. If oil companies can’t drill off the coast, then they don’t need to issue the disruptive noises used to locate potential oil deposits. Marine life will be sure to thrive in the absence of offshore drills.
However, none of this could have been possible if citizens had stayed silent. In a statement to the press, Secretary Sally Jewell said, “We heard from many corners that now is not the time to offer oil and gas leasing off the Atlantic coast.” So while Secretary Jewell deserves praise for listening to protesters and implementing the plan, the protesters themselves also deserve praise for speaking up. Even though there is still a long way to go to eliminate offshore drilling, these people have proven that change is possible if you raise your voice.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Jewell,
Thank you for listening to the demands of the people and standing up against offshore oil drilling. You have shown to everyone that the government is meant to serve the people, not Big Oil interests. Because of this decision, marine life and local coastal communities will grow and thrive.
You are sure to hear from oil corporations that this was a mistake, that this will be a loss of energy and job potential. But when the drills are gone, there will no longer be the threat of oil spills that harm the marine life and the communities that depend on the marine life. Furthermore, this decision will also help preserve the Atlantic coast for future generations.
We applaud you for recognizing what is best for the people and the environment. We can not wait to see what else you and the administration have in store for helping the environment.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Ed Schipul
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