Law and Policy

A Crisis of Democracy: Real Solutions to the BP Oil Spill

Mandy Birren at a rally of fishermen concerned about the safety of the Gulf. Photo: NRDC For Gulf residents, the BP oil spill has made the problem of unchecked corporate power painfully clear.

Check out this NPR story about Sharon Hanshaw and the hard fight on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

If you are having trouble with the player above, read the full story on NPR.org.

Fishermen tell Secretary Mabus: Reopening Gulf waters is unsafe

No Mere Oil Spill

I am but one of many front-line community members and NGO representatives who consider the Obama administration's response to the oil disaster to be slow, fickle and grossly under-scaled -- as well as alarmingly deferential to BP's science, math and broad self-regulation as the so-called responsible party.

Op-Ed: Oil reform must include citizen advisory committee

This Op-Ed was published in the Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald on July 30, 2010.

It is only fair that Gulf Coast residents should get the same chance to shape the future of oil and gas development in our region that Alaskans did following the Exxon Valdez spill. Unfortunately, citizens’ councils that have proved effective in guiding responsible development in Alaska are not part of a Gulf of Mexico drilling bill now before Congress. They should be.