This Wednesday April 27th at 5 p.m. at UCSB Davidson Library, the Environmental Affairs Board is organizing a silent protest to observe the anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In response to the BP tragedy, the Obama administration issued a deep water offshore oil drilling moratorium which lasted until November 2010. Since the expiration of the moratorium, the Department of Interior has begun issuing new permits to expand drilling in the Gulf. As people in the Gulf of Mexico are still suffering from the repercussions of the BP oil spill, our government should not be supporting these unsafe drilling practices. In addition, despite enormous profits, British Petroleum has yet to contribute sufficiently to the clean-up efforts.
After one year, we still remember the great social, economic, and environmental impacts of this spill. As a way to both remember those who were affected by the spill and demand action from British Petroleum and the U.S. government, we will be holding a silent protest. People will be meeting in the courtyard of the Davidson Library (at UCSB) at 5 p.m. and we will walk through campus and Isla Vista in solidarity and silence. All attendees should wear black and bring a candle. Signs will be provided. We encourage all community members to join us in recognition of the ongoing crisis in the Gulf.