Gulf Oil Spill a Wake-up Call: Episcopal Charities Launches Environment Action Network

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – "We cannot just sit by and watch. We must do something to ensure this type of disaster never happens again," comments Episcopal Charities' Executive Director Jan Parkin. The Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has affected not only the waters, but the lives of thousands of working professionals including fisherman, lifeguards, and the countless others whose livelihood is directly connected to the Gulf. A letter written by Louisiana Governor’s Administration to BP cited that more than 12,000 jobs could be lost in Louisiana alone. Parkin explains, "This is a wake up call to all businesses and economies that are linked in any way to the bays and waterways that surround our coastal cities."

The San Francisco Bay, for example, is an example of a major estuary that is both highly valued and in many ways threatened by human influences. Through the disaster in the Gulf, as a nation we witness how chemical pollutants in the water, sediments, and food web affect not only the natural world, but the lives of thousands of individuals.

Episcopal Charities, Inc., based in San Francisco, has launched an Environmental Action Network to gather a taskforce of volunteers who are committed to addressing environmental issues in the counties surrounding the San Francisco Bay. The concerns in the Bay Area expand far beyond just the water. Particulate matter-related illnesses cause Californians to miss almost 5 million work days a year, a loss to the state's economy of more than $880 million. Additionally, in the Bay Area, more than 70 percent of estimated cancer risk from ambient air toxins comes from traffic.

Jan Parkin explains, “The The Deepwater Horizon disaster magnifies the link between a healthy environment and people’s ability to thrive.” She explains, “Any holistic approach to addressing the root causes of poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area must take into account the effect of the environment on one’s ability to succeed.” Episcopal Charities’ Environment Action Network meets monthly, and is seeking members. For more information visit http://www.episcopalcharities.org or contact Episcopal Charities’ Executive Director Jan Parkin at jparkin [at] episcopalcharities.org or (415) 869-7809.