Florida Drilling.
Florida state legislation recently approved drilling at the shore of the Mexican Gulf. It was approved with the overwhelming majority of the state senate and sent to the governor for signing. Charlie Crist said that he is thinking about it. It is not signed yet into law, but it is close.
This would end a longterm ban on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
I have major concern about drilling for oil at the Florida Gulf and specially at the coastline!
Those who advocate for drilling are saying that it is "safe" and will bring wealth to the state. It is not safe and will cost more to the stae by driving away business, residents and touirists than what it will gain!
If someone says: it is safe to drill - they should go to the shores of the California coastline at Santa Barbara. I have been lived in California for many years. You lay down your towel on the beaches of Santa Barbara - where the oil platforms are - and it will be covered with tar; same applies to your feet. It is extremely difficult to remove it from your skin. You do not see the tar from a distance, but it is there. The crude oil is filtering through the sandy bottom of the ocean and has major effect on sea habitat: animals, fishes, birds, turtles and humans, even without oil spilling!
Drilling at the Florida shores would have a negative effect not just on the environment but on the entire Hospitality Industry as well.
It will influence the Housing Industry too!
One of the main reason why people are moving in to Florida is her beaches. If this main attraction is jeopardized by drilling than Florida may loose one of it's most important attractiveness which are her unspoiled beaches.
Just imagine the loss in revenue and the lack of people what this may cause for the housing industry, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, etc.
Does it worth it? No it doesn't.
We do not have to be a mathematician to figure out the result. Hundreds of thousands tourist and future residents may decide not to come to the polluted beaches along the entire Gulf coastline. Who wants to come to cities having polluted sea water and beaches?
I have serious concern about this "economical" driven idea which is fueled by the current recession.
I am against DRILLING at the Gulf of Mexico at the Florida shores!
We should rather advocate for clean energy! There is no better territory in the US capturing solar energy than in Florida - available all year round.
The Obama administration is supporting it financially. We should go in that direction.
The importance of this question would justify to put this topic on the voters ballot before deciding on behalf of the Floridians. Unfortunately this did not happen so far, but it was sneaked in to the legislation without having a public depate about it!
I certainly hope that Charlie Crist will choose to protect our environment and doing so protecting the ground of Florida!
Florida state legislation recently approved drilling at the shore of the Mexican Gulf. It was approved with the overwhelming majority of the state senate and sent to the governor for signing. Charlie Crist said that he is thinking about it. It is not signed yet into law, but it is close.
This would end a longterm ban on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
I have major concern about drilling for oil at the Florida Gulf and specially at the coastline!
Those who advocate for drilling are saying that it is "safe" and will bring wealth to the state. It is not safe and will cost more to the stae by driving away business, residents and touirists than what it will gain!
If someone says: it is safe to drill - they should go to the shores of the California coastline at Santa Barbara. I have been lived in California for many years. You lay down your towel on the beaches of Santa Barbara - where the oil platforms are - and it will be covered with tar; same applies to your feet. It is extremely difficult to remove it from your skin. You do not see the tar from a distance, but it is there. The crude oil is filtering through the sandy bottom of the ocean and has major effect on sea habitat: animals, fishes, birds, turtles and humans, even without oil spilling!
Drilling at the Florida shores would have a negative effect not just on the environment but on the entire Hospitality Industry as well.
It will influence the Housing Industry too!
One of the main reason why people are moving in to Florida is her beaches. If this main attraction is jeopardized by drilling than Florida may loose one of it's most important attractiveness which are her unspoiled beaches.
Just imagine the loss in revenue and the lack of people what this may cause for the housing industry, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, etc.
Does it worth it? No it doesn't.
We do not have to be a mathematician to figure out the result. Hundreds of thousands tourist and future residents may decide not to come to the polluted beaches along the entire Gulf coastline. Who wants to come to cities having polluted sea water and beaches?
I have serious concern about this "economical" driven idea which is fueled by the current recession.
I am against DRILLING at the Gulf of Mexico at the Florida shores!
We should rather advocate for clean energy! There is no better territory in the US capturing solar energy than in Florida - available all year round.
The Obama administration is supporting it financially. We should go in that direction.
The importance of this question would justify to put this topic on the voters ballot before deciding on behalf of the Floridians. Unfortunately this did not happen so far, but it was sneaked in to the legislation without having a public depate about it!
I certainly hope that Charlie Crist will choose to protect our environment and doing so protecting the ground of Florida!
I agree!! :)-
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. However I would be interested to find out more about the contra argument. For instance, how much "new wealth" would it be expected to bring to the state? Could a portion of that wealth be dispersed into the new energy plan? This is a great blog!
ReplyDeleteLike Dorika, I want to hear the argument for drilling. Not because I think the drilling should go ahead - I think Andras' argument is sound - but I want to know who are these people advocating the plan to drill.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine many of the people who live on the Gulf Coast are in favor of drilling. So who has the ear of the legislators if it's not the voters they represent?
I'd like them to step forward, and I'd like to see how those people earn a living. Are their interests aligned with Florida's interests?
Dorika and Hogan,
ReplyDeleteDrilling in Florida would certainly bring some money to the States from royalty and concessions, taxes, etc. but it would bring more wealth to the companies who would take out the oil from under the seabed. But on what cost? Hundreds of thousand of tourist may not come to spend their money here, many people would not buy property on the West Coast of Florida if the beautiful beaches are taken away. Not even talking about the damage in wildlife and fauna. It does not worth it. It is a bad business investment which would favor only to the oil industry and to those special interest groups and petrsons who may benefit from it.
Do not drill in the Gulf at Florida!
Ok, but Im sure the other side has some strong and valid arguments (and not just filtered through you) because if they dont, then this isnt even an issue!
ReplyDelete