Protests Growing Over BP, Oil, and Climate Change

As bad news continues to stream in from the Gulf of Mexico, more and more people in the US residentsand across the worldare turning anger and frustration into positive energy. They are seizing this moment to protest against the industries that caused the disaster in the Gulf, and which are pushing the planet toward catastrophic climate change. The growing list of anti-oil demonstrations is one of the most promising signs that the public is waking up to the damage caused by our dependence on fossil fuels, and is ready at last to confront the root causes of climate change.

One of the first national days of action in response to the spill occurred last month, on May 14th. Groups of activists rallied in front of gas stations and at other strategic locations in cities from Boston to Berkley to Portland, Oregonand of course throughout the Gulf region. Protesters called on lawmakers to reduce oil dependence and address the causes of climate change. Since then scattered actions have sprung up across the country, beginning with simple rallies and branching into more creative forms of protest.

During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, a shrimper from the Gulf region interrupted pro-oil Senator Lisa Murkowski to demand BP be held accountable for the spill. The activist, Diane Wilson, poured syrup over herself and shouted that Gulf residents are tired of being "dumped on" by the oil industry. June 12th marked an international day of action against BP, with more than 50 events taking place in cities around the world. In the online realm as well, BP and the oil industry at large have received a hammering. An anti-drilling Facebook group has ballooned to over 150,000 member (join it here), and has played in important role organizing many on-the-ground actions in response to the BP spill.

Now activists are gearing up for what could be the largest and most impressive step yet: an international day of action known as "Hands Across the Sand" (click here to get involved). Inspired by protests which took place in Florida after the Obama administration announced plans to increase offshore oil drilling, protesters will link hands to form a wall against offshore drilling on beaches and at other locations in the US and around the world on June 26th. The battle cry of Hands Across the Sand organizers is "No to offshore drilling; Yes to clean energy."

That slogan is a potent reminder that protesting BP's oil spill should be about more than criticizing a particular company's lackadaisical attitude toward safety. The oil and other fossil fuel industries are polluting air and water in countless communities, threatening innumerable ecosystems, and most importantly contributing to climate change. If all that happens in the wake of the Gulf disaster is that BP is forced to pay a heavy fine, the public will still lose out. Any effective national response to the spill must involve a concerted effort to eliminate oil dependence once and for all, and pass a climate bill to address the effects of climate change.

As oil continues to wash up on the shores of Gulf states, there's little doubt the protests will continue. Progressive activists are fed up with the damage wrought by the fossil fuel industries, and suddenly the public seems ready for a permanent shift away from oil and other fossil fuels. Check out one of the links above to get involved in oil protests in your own community. This may be the best chance there is to implement policies that move the US economy away from fossil fuels, and finally reduce the effects of climate change.

Photo credit: Christian Science Monitor