Massive oil spill off Australia, stop this from happening in Florida

From: Mark Ferrulo, Progress Florida mark@progressflorida.org
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 11:41 AM

Progress Florida http://progressflorida.org/page/m2/30228c8b/4c07a42c/2f02d6aa/45179dc/1136629097/VEsH/

As you read this, a massive oil spill is happening off the coast of Australia (see photo right): beginning nearly a month ago, at
least 17,000 gallons of crude oil a day have been gushing into the ocean near critical habitat for sea turtles, dolphins and the
endangered pygmy blue whale*. The sick irony is that the lobbyists pushing to drill in Florida waters have touted Australia as a
model, and the oil rig that caused this ongoing ecological disaster was acclaimed as safe, new technology when it was built just a
year ago.

Many of you signed our petition supporting Sen. Nelson's threat to filibuster a bill allowing drilling off Florida's coast in
Congress. We delivered those petitions directly to Sen. Nelson two weeks ago. He was thrilled and his opposition to drilling was
further bolstered.

Now we must focus on the fight brewing in the state legislature, where Big Oil is trying to ram through a bill to allow drilling as
close as three miles from our coast. The fight to save Florida's coast will be won or lost in the State Senate, where Senator Jeff
Atwater is the Senate President.

Click here to send a fax to Senate President Atwater urging him to stop any effort to drill near Florida's coast.
http://progressflorida.org/page/m2/30228c8b/4c07a42c/2f02d6aa/45179d2/1136629097/VEsF/

The facts are clear: drilling off our coast won't do anything about gas prices or our dependence on foreign oil. In addition, oil
drilling poses a massive threat to our pristine coastline and our $65 billion dollar tourist industry.

We need to get a message to Senate President Atwater: don't give in to Big Oil's lies and distortions:

Click here to send Senate President Atwater a fax with our simple online tool today.
http://progressflorida.org/page/m2/30228c8b/4c07a42c/2f02d6aa/45179d1/1136629097/VEsC/

If our legislature wants to do something about gas and energy prices, then it's time to stop delaying what actually needs to be
done: significant investment in efficiency, conservation and support for renewable energy technologies like wind, solar and ocean
current power.

Thank you for your help thus far and please forward this message to friends and family.

For progress,

Mark, Damien, and the rest of the Progress Florida team

PS - Progress Florida is powered by folks like you. Your financial support helps us build a more progressive Florida, and make this
state a better place to learn, work, and raise a family for everyone. Click here to make a donation to Progress Florida right now.

* For more information on the massive oil spill happening off Australia's coast visit http://blog.skytruth.org