Blue Voces: ‘Protection of our coastal communities should take priority over offshore drilling’
It is not a secret that offshore drilling is a critical threat to the ocean –and to the livelihoods of coastal communities. However, proponents of offshore drilling often attempt to speak on behalf of the most vulnerable communities falsely claiming support for expanded offshore drilling with a false narrative of jobs and economic growth.
In truth, we all know offshore drilling has not only resulted in some of the worst environmental disasters, but it’s also a clear example of the cost that is passed on to taxpayers and an activitity that tends to impact the most vulnerable communities. “It takes only one spill or accident to deprive lower-income Hispanic communities access to the shore, which is an important form of escape from the stress of urban areas where many minorities live,” says Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s founder and Executive Director.
In our last installment of #BlueVoces, he wear from Alex Rodriguez, Community Organizer at Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, who shares his thoughts on why offshore drilling must be banned in the Atlantic Coast. “Protection of our coastal communities should take priority over commercial fishing and offshore drilling interests.”