As the BP deepwater drilling disaster stretches into its second month, it’s clear that far more must be done to protect and restore the amazing coastal environments and communities of the Gulf of Mexico.  With oil coming ashore from the marsh and pelican rookeries of Terrebonne Bay in Louisiana, to the white sand beaches of the Florida panhandle, it’s time for the nation to stand behind a region-wide, community based response to this crisis.
Please show your support for the Gulf coast and our diverse and threatened communities.  Today we’re launching Gulf Future, a collaborative campaign of the Gulf Restoration Network and the Gulf Coast Fund, supported by national groups committed to the region, in order to empower a community response to the BP oil drilling disaster.
It could take months and even years for the scope of the environmental and economic effects of this disaster to reveal themselves.  In spite of this uncertainty, some things are evident:
We must hold BP accountable for the full cost of this disaster. This includes cleaning up all the oil still being spewed from the well and restoring the marine and coastal environments that were threatened even before April 20th;
We must ensure that coastal and fishing communities have the resources to fight for their future;
We must prevent future calamities by supporting the use of clean and renewable energy, stopping dangerous deep water drilling unless it can be made safe, and creating effective regulation of the oil industry
To celebrate the launch of this new campaign, live music venues across the country are hosting benefit concerts for Gulf Future on July 1st. To find an event near you visit http://www.gulfcoastbenefit.com/
Visit Gulf Future to donate today and receive a wristband to show your solidarity with the people along the Gulf Coast.

Aaron Viles
Campaign Director