Current Actions

• DIA Test petition1

  DIA Test petition1

• Tell Congress to Stop Mercury Pollution from Chlorine Plants

  Ask your Member of Congress to support HR 2190, the Mercury Pollution Reduction Act of 2009.

  Even though 95 percent of US chlorine is made without the use of mercury, four outdated plants in Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Ohio continue to use old technology and collectively release hundreds of pounds of mercury into our air and water every year. 

  When released to the environment, mercury ends up in our oceans, contaminating seafood. Humans and other creatures exposed to high levels of mercury in fish can experience health effects, such as delayed neurological development in children.  Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have advised women of childbearing age and children not to eat certain types of fish due to high levels of mercury. 
  

• (No Title)

  Tell Congress to Stop Mercury Pollution from Chlorine Plants

  The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act, H.R. 2190 in the House and S. 1428 in the Senate, would stop the "Foul Four" chlorine plants from emitting toxic mercury into our air and water.

  The bill is currently up for consideration by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and recently moved to the House floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives.

  Even though 95 percent of US chlorine is made without the use of mercury, four outdated plants continue to use old technology and collectively release hundreds of pounds of mercury into our air and water every year. When released to the environment, mercury ends up in our oceans, contaminating seafood.
  

• (No Title)

  Tell Senator Corker to Follow Through on S. 1428

  At a town hall meeting on August 17 in Chattanooga, Senator Bob Corker said that he's interested in supporting the Oceana-backed Mercury Pollution Reduction Act.  Help us turn his interest into action by asking him to co-sponsor the bill, which would stop mercury pollution from chlorine plants.
  
  Four outdated chlorine plants, including the Olin plant in Bradley County, TN, release hundreds of pounds of mercury into our air and water every year.  That mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that ends up in our oceans, contaminating seafood and threatening human health.
  

  Humans and other creatures exposed to high levels of mercury in fish can experience health effects, such as delayed neurological development in children. Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have advised women of childbearing age and children not to eat certain types of fish due to high levels of mercury. 
  

  In the Cleveland Daily Banner article about the town hall meeting, Senator Corker was quoted as saying "I think Olin knows they are going to have to make some changes." In addition, he said, "I want to set down with bill's sponsor and reach an agreement where I can not just support it, but actually be a co-sponsor."

  Tell him to follow through and co-sponsor the bill without watering it down with industry-backed amendments!

• (No Title)

  Keep Offshore Drilling Out of Climate Change Legislation

  In an effort to pass his climate change bill, Senator Kerry has mentioned he would be willing to accept offshore drilling in previously protected areas in a race for 60 supporting votes. Unfortunately, if Congress follows through on its threat to expand drilling, the climate bill may be so weakened by compromise that it does more harm than good. 
  
  Even though Big Oil likes to brag about its new “safe and clean” drilling technology, accidents still happen.  A brand new rig in the Timor Sea dumped millions of gallons of oil off the Australian coast for more than 70 days, putting marine wildlife and local residents at risk.  

  Tell President Obama that more offshore drilling has no place in climate legislation and ask him to send the message to Congress that he will not accept a climate package which perpetuates our addiction to fossil fuels and sacrifices our oceans.

• (No Title)

  Let's Lead By Example, President Obama - Sea Turtles Need Our Help

  Sea turtles have been swimming the oceans for millions and millions of years. They have seen dinosaurs come and go, the rise and fall of civilizations, but they may not survive much longer, without our help. Destructive trawls and plastic pollution threaten their lives at sea. Beach erosion and coastal development plague them on land. With six of the world's seven sea turtle species swimming in US waters, we need to be an example to the rest of the world on how to best protect these amazing creatures.

  Tell President Obama that you want comprehensive sea turtle protections.

• (No Title)

  Shark Conservation Act of 2009 Needs Your Support to Gain Senate Approval

  On November 19, 2009, S.850, the Shark Conservation Act was reported out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. This bill would end the barbaric practice of finning sharks in U.S. waters, which is an essential protection when globally tens of millions of sharks are caught for their fins each year to feed the growing worldwide demand for shark fin soup.

  The finish line for passing the Shark Conservation Act is close, but we are not there yet. The full Senate now must vote on shark protections and your Senators need to hear from you.

• (No Title)

  Blue Whales, Rare Penguins and Dolphins At Risk

  

  Endangered blue whales, Humboldt penguins and diving petrels, along with permanent populations of dolphins and abalone, depend on the nutrient-rich swells of Chile's Punta de Choros.

  However, these cool, pristine waters - and the eco-tourism and fisheries they support – face a hot, toxic mess in the form of three proposed coal-fired power plants for the area. If built, these plants will poison or kill wildlife by emitting toxic mercury and dumping thousands of gallons of hot, chemical-infused water into the ecosystem.

  Sign the petition below to let the Chilean government know it has a responsibility to protect the pristine waters of Punta de Choros and the wildlife and economies they support.

• (No Title)

  Test

• (No Title)

  Keep Climate Change Legislation Oil-Free

  Florida’s coastal economies face very real threats from climate change. The specter of oil drilling close to Florida’s coast adds insult to injury. The threat to Florida’s oceans, coasts and wildlife is far too great to allow offshore oil and gas drilling. In Florida, coastal tourism accounts for more than 900,000 jobs and approximately $20 billion in wages . Meanwhile, there have been 38 reported oil spills, greater than 50 barrels, in the Gulf of Mexico in the last 2 years. But many Senators are saying that the only way we can address climate change is if we get more offshore drilling in exchange for a climate change bill.

  Tell your Senators that our oceans must not be compromised, especially not in a bill intended to address the climate change problem. The Senate energy bill (S. 1462, American Clean Energy Leadership Act) has already put Florida’s Gulf coast on the chopping block. Our oceans and coasts should not be sacrificed for a climate change agreement.

• (No Title)

  Tell Your Senators to Vote NO on the Dirty Air Act

  Dirty energy lobbyists and their friends on Capitol Hill are trying to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s progress towards regulating global warming pollution and cracking down on dirty coal-fired power plants by passing the Dirty Air Act. This bill (S.J. Res 26) would undermine the EPA’s authority in implementing the Clean Air Act.

  The EPA’s actions, which are required by the Clean Air Act and fully consistent with direction from the Supreme Court, are critically important because they give us a way to reduce emissions that are leading to climate change and ocean acidification.  Help us curb global warming and stop big polluters from further harming the world’s oceans.

  Tell your Senators to vote NO on the Dirty Air Act!

• (No Title)

  Offshore Drilling NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis

  In his State of the Union Address on January 27, 2010, President Obama said it was time to make “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development” as part of his plan to create more clean energy jobs.
  
  The President should make the only reasonable choice: use the oceans for safe and clean energy – like offshore wind power – rather than expanding offshore drilling into areas that were previously protected or that are particularly sensitive, like the Arctic.
  
  Renewable energy creates three times more jobs than fossil fuel production and no carbon emissions. Expanding drilling runs directly counter to the President's own policy goal of reducing carbon emissions.

  Obama has to make a tough choice for a safe, coherent and economically sound energy policy that creates jobs.  Pandering to Big Oil is not a tough choice, it’s just more business as usual.

  Tell President Obama to prevent expanded offshore drilling in areas that were previously protected or unique and to support the development of offshore wind power.

• (No Title)

  Ocean Acidification: We Need to Know More

  The Problem: the oceans' chemistry is changing. Nearly one third of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere is absorbed by the oceans, raising the acidity of the water by almost 30% since the Industrial Revolution. Scientists need to learn more about how ocean acidification affects marine ecosystems and the more than 60% of Americans who live in coastal states.

  The Solution: a Congressional resolution (H.Res 989) that will support policies to study and address the effects of ocean acidification, both on marine ecosystems and the coastal economies that depend on them.

  Join the fight agaisnt ocean acidification - contact your Representative today.