Dear Family and Friends across This Great Nation,
As you know the Gulf Coast is experiencing the worst man made disaster in the history of oil drilling in our nation. Even though you may not live on the Gulf Coast you are aware of the seriousness of the situation. We need your help as citizens of this country. These are the issues and questions that we are facing daily with this oil spill. We question the response from government and question why the oil spill has not been stopped. We question why we feel that our hands are tied on the clean up. We question why there is not more local control. We question why regulations were not followed. Surely things could have been handled differently. To sit back and watch wild life die (Turtles, pelicans, birds, fish, crabs, etc.), pristine white beaches destroyed, lives ruined (fishing industry ruined for decades, real estate destroyed, tourism stopped) is beyond me. This oil spill is having an effect on the whole nation and the world.
What can you do as family and friends to assist? Flood the President, Senate, and Congress with calls, e-mails, and letters. Attached are two sample letters that you may use and send by US Mail or by e-mail to our President, your Congressman, and your Senators. One letter is for people who live in the Gulf Coast Area and one is for people who live outside the Gulf Coast Area. Or you can write your own letters. But please send letters. Here is the link to email the White House, http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact. Also, here is the link for congressman’s addresses www.house.gov (Go to the upper left hand corner to the box that says find your representative by zip code, then hit go—this should get you to your congressman’s information, usually this information is at the bottom of the home page). Here is the link to your senators, www.senate.gov (Go to this site and click on Senators, drop down to choose your State, and you can obtain their addresses).
This is the President’s address by US Postal Services:
President Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania AV. N.W.
Washington, DC. 20500
Below is our nine point message. Refer to attached letters for greater information about each point.
1. Public Announcement and Publication of Line of Command
2. Reorganize Homeland Security to ensure there is more local control after disaster incidents.
3. Intensive study of oil drilling especially deep water.
4. Intensive study of alterative energy sources
5. Establish relief drilling procedures and practices
6. Establish and implement required redundancy safety measures
7. Stricter and stronger enforcement of regulations
8. Encourage, inspire, and give funding support so more young people go into
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEMS)
9. Lessons Learned
We are turtle volunteers and here is the message from our turtle captain. We want to assist with clean up but are being stopped. “First thing this morning, Nancy called to report a sort of oil on our 1st section. Since I was at the beach I went immediately out to confirm. Thousands upon thousands of what I will coin "tar paddies" were everywhere. These bits were readily evident as the tide coming in dumped them around the pass on the tide line. We called it in at 6:23 A.M. 4 hours later still no response as to a clean up crew. Using binoculars, eventually, I saw I guy to the west spin around a brief area far to the east on a gator (4-wheeler), apparently looking down for something. By this time the tide was higher and the tide pool covered the tide line and most of the tar paddies. An hour or 2 later I watched a guy ride by my house, stopping to talk to tourists. I saw 2 more gators with guys looking around the pass. I saw none of them pick up anything although they may have bags of it. As Share the Beach Turtle Volunteers we could lose our license if we touch oil. We will not risk that, Do not touch oiled trash. Do not touch oiled anything, we are here for turtles.”
As Kristen Campbell so eloquently writes in the June 5, 2010 Mobile Press-Register: “The best course, it seems, is to prepare for whatever danger or crisis may come while continuing to live your life. So it is that many along the Gulf Coast have spent time in recent weeks cleaning beaches and enjoying them. Many, no doubt, will continue to do so as long as they’re able. I think they’re wise. Though their deeds, they may remind us of a few truths, as well as help inspire those of us who may only be able to watch from afar.
Take action. Bad things happen. We can gnash our teeth, and lament all we like, but then we best do something to help those in need. Some may be able to care for families of the workers who died in the explosion, aid the wildlife affected by the spill, or support those who livelihoods have been negatively impacted in the aftermath of the accident. All of us no doubt may consider our own dependence on oil and contemplate ways in which we might alter our own everyday actions.
In the midst of life’s catastrophes, look around—up in into the sky, into the depths of the sea—and recognize the beauty and brilliance that still surrounds us. Then, work to preserve and strengthen those things, places, and people.
Recognize reality and dare to hope for a better future. When we’re in crisis mode, it can be easy to make the goal to recapture the past. What if we sought to imagine and create something better than what we have known?”
That is what we think we can do. Create something better for our future generations. We think working with our elected officials to get the nine point message across can do just that: Help us create a better future. Send the attached letters to our President, Senators and Congressman.
Please join the cause for a better future. We appreciate any help and assistance you may give us. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
The turtle volunteers.
Please confirm receipt of this e-mail. Thank you!
Linda B. Spangrud
Tom Spangrud
Spangrud & Associates
9268 Lakeview Drive
Foley, AL. 36535
251-955-6039 (office)
815-978-5976 ( Linda's Cell)
815-978-5844 (Tom's Cell)
251-955-6039 (Fax-call first)
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