The article discusses the threat of offshore oil drilling off the California coast, particularly in areas protected as national marine sanctuaries. Richard Charter, a veteran environmentalist and former director of the Local Government OCS Coordination Program, is re-leading the effort to coordinate local governments in opposing offshore drilling.
Charter recalls his work in the 1980s and 1990s, where he helped organize cities and counties to pass ordinances that made it difficult for oil companies to build onshore facilities. He notes that even if oil were extracted from the ground, there would be no convenient place to send it, making drilling unnecessary.
The article also mentions a recent spill in Santa Barbara County, which resulted in 21 criminal counts against the company responsible, Sable Offshore Corp. Charter notes that "we keep having these spills, and we're tired of them."
Local fishermen, such as Dick Ogg, are also speaking out against offshore drilling, citing its potential impact on their livelihoods and the sustainability of the ocean's resources. They aim to commit to conservation and become stewards of the ocean.
The article concludes that areas off the Central and North Coast are thought to contain "marginal reserves" but still pose an existential threat to the sustainable blue economy, which includes tourism, commercial and recreational fishing, and thriving waterfronts.
Overall, the article highlights the ongoing struggle against offshore oil drilling in California, with local governments, environmentalists, and fishermen working together to protect the state's coastline and ocean resources.
Charter recalls his work in the 1980s and 1990s, where he helped organize cities and counties to pass ordinances that made it difficult for oil companies to build onshore facilities. He notes that even if oil were extracted from the ground, there would be no convenient place to send it, making drilling unnecessary.
The article also mentions a recent spill in Santa Barbara County, which resulted in 21 criminal counts against the company responsible, Sable Offshore Corp. Charter notes that "we keep having these spills, and we're tired of them."
Local fishermen, such as Dick Ogg, are also speaking out against offshore drilling, citing its potential impact on their livelihoods and the sustainability of the ocean's resources. They aim to commit to conservation and become stewards of the ocean.
The article concludes that areas off the Central and North Coast are thought to contain "marginal reserves" but still pose an existential threat to the sustainable blue economy, which includes tourism, commercial and recreational fishing, and thriving waterfronts.
Overall, the article highlights the ongoing struggle against offshore oil drilling in California, with local governments, environmentalists, and fishermen working together to protect the state's coastline and ocean resources.
news! I mean, can you believe we're even having this conversation? Offshore oil drilling is like, so not cool 
. I've been following Richard Charter's work for ages, and he's a total hero for his dedication to protecting our oceans 
. I'm all about that sustainable blue economy life 
- it's time to shift gears and prioritize the planet over profits 
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! It's time for us to listen to their concerns and take action. We can't just sit back and let corporations exploit our resources for their own gain 
. I mean, what even is the point of having national marine sanctuaries if we're just gonna drill all over them? 
- it's about time! We need more people speaking out against offshore drilling and fighting for our oceans. Let's make some noise and raise awareness about this issue 
. We can do this, California! 
... offshore drilling is a joke, like what's the point of even extracting oil when it's just gonna spill all over the place? I mean, Charter's right, no convenient place to send it, makes it a total waste of time and resources. and those fishermen, man, they're speaking truth, this could be their last livelihood... don't need any more pollution, let's keep our oceans clean 
offshore is like the nuclear waste issue they never actually fix it, just move the problem around. the 80s & 90s guys like Charter are heroes for keeping up this fight though, it's not gonna be easy but at least someone's trying to save Cali's coastline 
. And let's not forget those fisherman, they're on the frontlines of this - if their livelihoods are at risk, we need to listen to them 
. The whole 'marginal reserves' thing might sound like a buzzphrase, but it's all about context: how many times can we afford to spill oil into our oceans before we call foul? It's time for us to step up and protect this state's natural resources - it's not just an environmental issue, it's economic and social too 
can u believe it?! i was talking to richard charter online and he told me about his work back in the 80s and 90s and how they helped cities pass ordinances to stop oil companies from building onshore facilities... it's crazy to think that they're still having these accidents and spills 
anyway, local fishermen are super worried about it too, i talked to dick ogg online and he said that if the drilling happens it'll ruin their livelihoods and the ocean will be all messed up 
. I mean, we already have enough problems with climate change and pollution, and now you're telling me we need to drill more for energy? It just doesn't add up, you know? And what really gets my goat is the fact that there's no concrete solution if an accident happens, like that spill in Santa Barbara County 
. It's about time we start putting our money where our mouths are. And I gotta give it up to the fishermen – they've been warning us about this stuff for years, and now everyone's finally listening 
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. It's crazy to think about how far we've come... or rather, how far we still have to go 
. I mean, those guys were like the original environmental activists, organizing cities and counties to pass ordinances that made it hard for oil companies to build onshore facilities. And they weren't wrong, you know? Even if we extract all this oil from the ground, where are we gonna send it 
. I'm all for accountability, but it feels like we're still repeating the same mistakes over and over again. And those local fishermen, man... they're speaking truth to power 
. We need more people like them who care about our ocean's resources.
. It's a tough battle, but someone's gotta fight for it 
. I mean, we're basically just saying "no" to progress here. The oil companies have so much money and influence that they'll just find another way to drill elsewhere. And let's be real, the oil will still get extracted and sold somewhere else. What's the point of fighting it? We should just focus on making a buck from it too 
. I don't trust these local fishermen saying we're running out of time for conservation either - they want more money from tourism and fishing, so why not let them keep their jobs and make some profit? It's all about personal gain over the planet's well-being 
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. Meanwhile, I've been reading about how some folks in CA are totally against it, citing the risks to marine sanctuaries and local fishermen 
. If you haven't noticed, oil spills aren't exactly new news. I mean, just look at that recent spill in Santa Barbara County - 21 counts? That's a lot of lawsuits. And let's be real, even if they do extract oil from the ground, where are they gonna put it? Our oceans aren't exactly overflowing with storage facilities 
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. Our oceans are already struggling, what makes people think drilling more is a good idea? 
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! We need more people speaking out against this. It's not just about the environmental impact, it's about our economic future too 
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. I mean, it's one thing to say you're going to work on reducing waste, but when there are still massive spills happening, it feels like the system is just not getting it right. And what's with all these "marginal reserves" talking points? It's like they're trying to downplay the whole thing... 
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. We need to think about the long game here and prioritize sustainability over short-term gains 
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. I mean, we've seen what happens when a spill occurs - it's devastating for marine life and the ecosystem. It's like, why risk it? We've got beautiful national marine sanctuaries in place to protect these areas, and yet there are still people trying to drill and extract oil from them.