Ted Danson Doesn’t Say “Cheers” to Offshore Drilling

Actor Ted Danson, a member on Oceana’s Board of Directors, and Philippe Cousteau, grandson of Jean Jacques Cousteau and Member of the Ocean Conservancy met with Senators today to jumpstart what will be a three part series of discussions between different panels and the Natural Resources Committee about the consequences, positive and negative, of offshore drilling. The major concern for anti-drilling activists such as Danson and Cousteau is to make sure that the moratorium for offshore drilling is reinstated. The moratorium was previously repealed by the Bush Administration. If we do not reinstate this moratorium “there is essentially no protection for land that may carry oil” and we will “perpetuate the belief that we can drill our way to energy independence” Danson commented. Senator Dave Hastings (D-ME) chaires the meeting and described how “few areas are more important to the American economy than energy.” A major conflict in anti-drilling activism is that America could multiply natural resources through expansion in Alaska drilling, and oil companies pay high salaries. Danson and Cousteau are both advocates for ocean protection. They both explained to Senators who attended the meeting, that there is still not an effective way to remove oil spills from the ocean. Cousteau argued that “the next 50 years are crucial in oceanic protection” and “since the united states has taken a leading role in the environmental protection movement we must reinstate the moratorium to maintain this role.”