Gulf oil spill: Pro-drilling rally pushes back at Obama moratorium
Thousands of Louisianans filled the Cajundome stadium in Lafayette Wednesday to protest the federal moratorium on exploratory drilling for oil in deep-sea waters.
“The greatest risk to our economy is the moratorium,” Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel said to huge applause. Lafayette is a city of about 110,000, a two-hour drive west of New Orleans and is heavily dependent on the oil and gas industry.
“We have come to send a message to Washington, D.C.: Let our people work,” said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, tieless with a blue button-down shirt.
“We are in a war to defend our way of life. We will win this war,” Jindal said. “We shouldn’t have to fight our own federal government. Just as we’re fighting one disaster, we’re fighting another disaster caused by Washington, D.C.
The rally was financially supported with major support of oil and gas companies, as well as other leading industries in the region, including ammonia producers, bankers, accountants and the local chambers of commerce.
It was clear that the rally was staged in hopes to reach an audience of national media, with some speakers urging the media to pick up the story.
Many employees said they were encouraged by their bosses to attend the rally, and some carpooled in vans and buses to arrive.
“People are going to lose their jobs,” said John Courville, 45, of Carencro, La., who works for a construction equipment company. He said his company hasn’t been hurt, but he’s worried that the moratorium will be a drag on the local economy. Courville said he understood the worry about wildlife safety, but said, “I don’t think it’s worth the job loss.”
On a nearby street corner, a dozen of counter-protesters held signs supporting the moratorium.
“Let’s quit blaming President Obama for this oil spill. He’s looking out for our safety,” said Wallace Senegal, 63, of Lafayette, holding a sign that said, “We support wildlife and fisheries.”
“Make sure the rig is safe,” Senegal said.
-- Rong-Gong Lin II in Lafayette, La.
Read an updated story on the Rally for Economic Survival here.
Come On People...... I think it is important for the public to know that there are some BIG players behind all of this and people are running scared!
The Oil Cartel’s Goal: Toppling the Obama Government
The largest oil spill in US history was caused by British Petroleum (BP), a prominent member of the international Oil Cartel. While this environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has lasted for months, the decisive question still remains unanswered: Who benefits from this escalating crisis? This public health information here provides an answer from a historical perspective.
http://just-me-in-t.blogspot.com/2010/07/background-information-about-british.html
Posted by: Just ME in TJust ME in T | July 21, 2010 at 05:52 PM
I was there and the protestors you mention weren't dozens it was six. I also walked passed them as CBS was filming and asked why not hold a sign that says "support jobs" I was only met with the utter uneducated response of "Bet I make more than you!" Well guess what... that protestor probably makes more than over 14,000 people currently out of jobs from this moratorium. The Administration had their own experts (that they picked out) say the rigs were safe and it was truly and unfortunate accident, but drilling should continue--- yet they ignore it. The news of the effect is not being properly reported and it is ashame that so many just don't get it. No one in Louisiana or other states from the Gulf want another oil spill--- but we also don't want 25% unemployment due to job loss, gas prices raised at the pump due to importing oil, and the loss of our seat at the global table. People in American need to wake up and realize that they will be footing the bill for all of these unemployed people that are just begging to work. OH--- and just a sidebar President told our Governor that anyone out of work should file a BP Claim. Governor Jindal asked "what if BP doesn't pay" and President said... tell them file unemployment. Louisiana doesn't want a BP Claim Check and we don't want UNEMPLOYMENT... we want to work. (Remember, someone has to be pedal the cart that is carring so many Americans!)
Posted by: Christine Pocorello--- BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA | July 21, 2010 at 02:43 PM
I live in this region, and the entire area is steeped in both the fishing and oil industries. To have both of them grind to a stop is destroying us. It's like watching our community die a slow, painful death. My heart breaks for my home.
Posted by: Dee | July 21, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Courville said he understood the worry about wildlife safety, but said, “I don’t think it’s worth the job loss.”
OH, so wiping out the Loosyana fishing, oyster and shrimping industry, charter boat business and the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS jobs in the Gulf tourist industry IS???
MORONS!
Visit the Petroleum Museum in Midland TX!(the American Petroleum Institute's very own PR museum)
As the sign on the wall surrounded by alternative methods to pumping out oil states:
"of all the oil wells drilled worldwide only 20% of the oil has been extracted from them; 80% is still in the ground".
These extraction methods DO cost more, so raise the gasoline taxes $3-$5 over five years to pay for it PLUS use some of that money for underwriting alternative energy sources.
Pump ALL current oil wells in the US until they're bone dry.
NO more drilling in the Gulf until then!
US needs to get off the heroin/oil spike - the sooner the better!
Posted by: First Coast refugee | July 21, 2010 at 12:44 PM
You failed to mention how the fishing and seafood industry was represented in the Cajundome, the speeches they made, and the standing ovations they received.
Posted by: JL | July 21, 2010 at 12:18 PM