Earth Saving News: Gulf Oil Spill Resources
2010 Gulf Oil Spill Crisis: how you can help.
It was a sad and tragic end to Earth Month:
Many of you have been contacting us to find out what EarthShare and its member charities are doing in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill so you can get involved. To help you out, we’ve compiled a handy list of reputable links and resources from our members offering different ways you can make this tragedy a little easier for the affected wildlife and coastal communities.
This is just the beginning of what’s sure to be an extensive and ongoing response to the Gulf oil spill from our nation’s conservation organizations. After the cleanup, these nonprofits will need your continued support for the restoration efforts that will follow.
Volunteer for the Gulf oil spill cleanup.
We’re told that the first tier of responders to the Gulf oil spill will be those with the most training. This will include people with hazardous materials background and the associated safety gear. As the Gulf oil spill hits the shores there will be additional volunteer needs, from answering phones to helping collect and analyze data.National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana are building a list of volunteers to help with the response effort. You can connect with them here, too: GulfResponse.org
VERY IMPORTANT: The Florida Wildlife Federation has issued some cleanup tips to help ensure that well-meaning efforts don’t cause further harm to local wildlife. There have already been instances of uninformed volunteers disturbing nesting and other shorebirds. If you live in an area affected by the Gulf oil spill and you find injured or oil-coated wildlife, call 1-866-557-1401 to report sightings of affected wildlife.
Audubon of Florida offers a sign-up registry if you want to help rescue injured birds and clean oil off beaches.
The Galveston Bay Foundation is also developing a locally-based volunteer response team. Volunteers without specific oil spill response training will likely serve in a support role to trained responders and will not come in contact with any hazardous materials.
Make your voice heard in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill.
With the Gulf oil spill serving as a grim reminder about the inherent risks connected with this energy resource, many of EarthShare’s charities are offering easy ways for you to speak up for safer, cleaner energy:
- Oceana // Stop the Drill
- Surfrider Foundation // Not the Answer
- National Audubon Society // Support Full Funding for Coastal Louisiana Restoration
- National Wildlife Federation // Take Action for Climate & Clean Energy Legislation
- The Wilderness Society // No More Oil Disasters
- Defenders of Wildlife // Ban Dangerous Offshore Drilling
- Friends of the Earth // Stop the Drilling
- Union of Concerned Scientists // It's Time for America to Choose Cleaner Energy
Stay up-to-date on Gulf oil spill developments.
Many of our member groups are blogging, tweeting and otherwise addressing the Gulf oil spill and offshore drilling issues – here are just a few ways you can keep current:
- Get the on-the-ground perspective from locals with this online tool from the Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Conservancy and Sky Truth that lets Gulf-area residents document what's happening to their coast.
- Find out how Ocean Conservancy is working on response, recovery, restoration and reform in the wake of the Gulf oil spill.
- Keep track of Earthjustice's efforts to enforce stricter regulation by the Minerals Management Service. Why? According to an Earthjustice attorney, "..it is actually easier to get a permit for an offshore oil well than for a hot dog stand."
- Follow National Wildlife Federation's coverage on Twitter and help get those re-tweets out!
- Read Natural Resource Defense Council’s blog on the Disaster in the Gulf.
- Since it will be critical to recovery efforts to assess habitat conditions prior to the impact of the spill, National Audubon is planning to launch a Citizen Science initiative in Important Bird Areas throughout the Gulf coast. They’ll provide more information as the effort unfolds.
- Read about Environmental Defense Fund's five steps to limit the Gulf oil spill’s damage, and stay abreast of the latest on the crisis with video reports from their Gulf Coast team.
- Restore America's Estuaries is working to increase support for Gulf oil spill volunteers and future restoration work.
- Spend some time on The Nature Conservancy's The Gulf: Ways You Can Help resource section for the latest from Conservancy bloggers -- spread the word that one of North America’s most treasured places needs our help.
Are you planning to get involved in the Gulf oil spill cleanup and recovery efforts? Let us know, and share pictures of your efforts -- we'll feature you as a Gulf Oil Spill Hero on our Facebook page to inspire others to take action!
