ON TODAY’S OIL PLATFORM EXPLOSION IN THE GULF

For Immediate Release   Contact: Lisa Swann 202 518-0044 ext. 14   Statement of Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network On Today’s Oil Platform Explosion in the Gulf “We are saddened to hear that another offshore oil platform exploded in the gulf, injuring the workers on the platform and potentially causing even more environmental damage in the Gulf of Mexico. Shallow water or deep water, offshore drilling is a destructive practice that coastal communities cannot afford. “Earth Day Network and our partners around the region will continue to mobilize coastal communities on the east coast to prevent the expansion of drilling off our nation’s shorelines. Shifting energy sources from dirty oil and coal to clean renewable energy is the first major step in creating a green economy, an economy that Americans must lead and one that will create millions of 21st century jobs.  Such a transition will not only keep America on top, but will also prevent further contamination in our waters and on our coasts.” About Earth Day Network Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Our mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. Earth Day Network’s campaigns and programs are predicated on the belief that an educated, energized population will take action to secure a healthy future for itself and its children. The organization has a global reach with a network of more than 22,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. Earth Day Network is a 501(c)3 organization located in Washington, D.C.