Editor’s Note: This declaration, issued on July 4, 2010, is a response to the calamitous BP oil spill. It charts a vision for energy use for the future that’s based on widespread use of renewable energy sources, and of technological innovations to help achieve this.
Declaration of Energy Independence
From the Green Collaborative of New Orleans
In 1776 the American Colonies declared independence from King George after enumerating a list of grievances that demonstrated how Great Britain was detrimentally exploiting the citizens of what then became the thirteen United States. Today, as a catastrophic gusher of oil in the Gulf of Mexico endangers our way of life, we call upon our nation to once again declare independence, in this case from the economic and environmental stranglehold associated with our dependence on fossil fuels.
On The Gulf Coast, JULY 4, 2010
Two hundred and twenty-four years ago, the founders of our Republic declared all people to be endowed with inalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. With reverence for that spirit, we declare the need for a new path for our country to lead us to energy independence and the ultimate preservation of those rights for future generations. In response to the current drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, we proclaim that fundamental energy changes must be enacted to safeguard the principles of the original Declaration of Independence.
The United States of America comprise less than 5% of the world’s population yet consume 26% of the world’s energy, of which more than 85% comes from fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas. And the extraction, production and utilization of these fuels are fraught with dangers to both human health and the environment. It is time to wean ourselves off of our addiction to fossil fuels. Clear, proven methods exist to reduce domestic demand for coal, oil and natural gas. These methods: energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation alternatives must be implemented rapidly, to tip the scale of energy consumption toward autonomy, expand job opportunities, strengthen our economy and bolster national security. The BP drilling catastrophe and similar recent disasters resulting from human dependence on fossil fuels underscore the urgency to act now. We hereby demand that our government establish and enforce fail-safe oversight of the fossil fuel industry to ensure consistent and irrevocable adherence to operating safety requirements. We further demand that accurate and effective plans for mitigation of the effects of accidents and spills be a non-negotiable condition for all further drilling and extraction of nonrenewable natural resources whether on land or sea. We also demand that those impacted by the disaster be made whole.
The Gulf Coast Region, and our nation as a whole, must embrace a future powered by the clean energy of solar, wind and other renewable sources. It is imperative that we aggressively develop this economic base, to create and retain the jobs associated with these expanding industries while maintaining leadership in — and improving the safety of — our existing mix of industrial and natural resource businesses.
We value the long-term health of the economy and the environment, the efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We therefore call upon our leaders to pass legislation that will rebuild and protect Louisiana’s fragile coast, quantifiably improve fuel efficiency standards, and strengthen national security by reducing our demand for fossil fuels. We call upon all officials in federal, state and municipal government agencies to establish enforceable policies committed to green building, public transit, energy efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy. And we call upon Congress to provide federal incentives which will leverage private sector investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies and clean fuel vehicles; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and leading to market transformation.
The Green Collaborative of New Orleans is a body of local, regional and national businesses and organizations dedicated to a more environmentally and economically sustainable future for South Louisiana. We, the Green Collaborative, offer this Declaration of Energy Independence in the interest of a healthier world for our children’s children. And we mutually pledge to work with all stakeholders to establish energy policies that will foster sustainable industries, create jobs and protect our environment, ensuring Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for us all.
Source: http://nolafemmes.com/tag/green-collaborative-of-new-orleans/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Photo Credit: Mike Linksvayer, Creative Commons
Further info:
