EMERGENCY SUMMIT-THE PEOPLE MUST ACT TO STOP THE OIL CATASTROPHE

AN EXTRAORDINARY CRISIS REQUIRES AN EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE –

THE PEOPLE MUST ACT TO STOP THE GULF CATASTROPHE

Millions are sick at heart and looking for ways to act. Many individuals and groups have spoken out, offered suggestions, volunteered to help, protested. BP and the government – pursuing their own interests - have ignored people's ideas, blocked public participation, suppressed and harassed scientists, and prevented people on the Gulf from taking initiative to keep oil away from shore. This must not continue. A broad, determined, and powerful "peoples’ response" is urgently needed - to get the truth out, to protect the shores and oceans and deal with the ecological impacts, while exploring deeper causes and solutions. The Emergency Summit will bring together scientists, people from fishing communities, environmental activists, progressives, radicals and revolutionaries, artists, intellectuals and all who want to halt this horror. There will be testimony on the true scope and impact of the disaster and on what can be done to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and people. We’ll thrash out ways for people to act now – on different fronts and in different ways – and to galvanize many, many more, across the Gulf and beyond. The world is watching. We must not allow the Gulf and oceans to be devastated. Our mission is nothing less than stopping this catastrophe.

Saturday, June 19, 2010 10 am--End Time TBA First Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary 5212 South Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA Sponsored by: Emergency Committee to Stop Gulf Oil Disaster: 504-644-7214 website: gulfemergencysummit.org email: gulfemergencysummit@gmail.com

Draft Demands:

1) Stop oil drilling in the Gulf

2) The government and entire oil industry must allocate all necessary resources to stop the spill and clean up the devastation. Full support, including by compensation, must be given to efforts by people to save the Gulf.

3) No punishment to those taking independent initiative; no gag orders on people hired, contracted, or who volunteer.

4) Full mobilization of scientists and engineers. Release scientific and technical data to the public; no more lying and covering up. Full and open scientific evaluation of emergency measures like the use of dispersants. Fund all necessary scientific and medical research.

5) Full compensation for all losing livelihood and income from the disaster.

6) Provide necessary medical services to those suffering health effects of the spill. Protect the health of and provide necessary equipment for everyone involved in clean up operations. Full disclosure of medical and scientific studies about the effects of the oil.

Initial Endorsers: William Quigley, Loyola University; Legal Dir., Ctr for Constitutional Rights*; Michael G. Hadfield, Marine Biologist, University of Hawaii*; Larry Everest, author Oil, Power & Empire, Revolution newspaper; John Pearse, Prof. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UC, Santa Cruz* Eloise Williams, Lower Algiers Environmental Committee, NO; Elizabeth Cook, Women United for Social Justice, NO; Andy Washington, Civil Rights Activist, NO; Survivors Village, NO; Ben Gordon, Pax Christi, NO; Debra Sweet, Director, World Can't Wait; Sharon Jasper, public housing activist, NO; C3-Hands Off Iberville, NO * for identification purposes only