Oil Drilling - All Day Public Hearing and Rally

WHAT: US Government Sponsored Public Hearing. Discuss the future of offshore energy development on the nation's Outer Continental Shelf
WHAT ELSE: A free, large outdoor rally coinciding with the hearing, featuring: music, information tables, inspiring speakers, and more.


Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will host four regional public meetings in April to discuss the future of offshore energy development on the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

After opening remarks, the Secretary and Interior agency staff will present a brief overview of the Department's findings regarding Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy resources.

The rest of the day's meeting will be devoted to hearing from public and private interests on best approaches to developing a comprehensive offshore energy plan that includes the development of traditional and renewable sources of energy on the OCS.

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As you may already be aware, President Obama's Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, is holding a series of rare public hearings this month to accept civic comments regarding the government's 5-year plan for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil Exploration and Drilling- a potentially disastrous legacy left by the Bush Administration on the way out in 2008. New offshore energy development, especially oil and gas exploration/drilling close to the state coastline or along the US' outer continental shelf, poses serious threats to marine wildlife via extreme underwater noise, habitat damage, pollution, and the long-term risk of major toxic oil spills. There are only 4 scheduled public hearings taking place around the country, ending on April 16th in San Francisco. Full official details regarding the hearings, how to schedule speaking time, and alternative methods to comment can be found on the Dept of Interiors website: http://www.doi.gov/ocs
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Although public notice about these critical hearings was very short, a coalition of prominent west coast and national environmental organizations have banded together quickly to ensure a large turnout for the April 16 hearing in San Francisco. The coalition is also staging a large rally outside the hearing hall at the UCSF Campus in Mission Bay that will attract media attention (details below). We encourage you to make your voice heard on April 16 in person if possible, and join the hundreds of concerned citizens expected to come to this public hearing.

The coalition theme is "No Drilling - Clean Safe Energy Now!"

WHAT: US Government Sponsored Public Hearing. Discuss the future of offshore energy
development on the nation's Outer Continental Shelf

WHAT ELSE: A free, large outdoor rally coinciding with the hearing, featuring: music,
information tables, inspiring speakers, and more.

WHEN: Hearing: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 9am (doors open at 8am) until approx. 8pm.

Rally: All day with peak times at 12-1p and 4-6p during hearing breaks.

WHERE: Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF, Robertson Auditorium, 1675 Owens Street,
San Francisco, CA

This information is being provided to you on behalf of Sea Shepherd and Ocean Defenders Alliance ,
a grassroots ocean-protection group based in Orange County since 2004. Ocean Defenders was founded by Kurt Lieber, a Sea Shepherd Board Director, and is co-managed by Scott Sheckman, a long-time Sea Shepherd volunteer. Scott will be present at the hearing in San Francisco on April 16 and will be wearing his Ocean Defenders shirt and a Sea Shepherd hat if you'd like to find him. If you would like to volunteer to help with preparation for the hearing & rally in San Francisco the day before, please contact [at] oceandefenders.org
[mailto:contact [at] oceandefenders.org] for more information.
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Thank you for your support to help oppose offshore drilling legislation.

For the Oceans,
Captain Paul Watson
Founder and President