Thanks to the UUA General
Assembly, which passed the following Action of Immediate Witness, as introduced by our consulting minister, Rev.
Dr. Marie deYoung: Gulf Coast Environmental and Economic Justice 2010
2010 Action of Immediate Witness
Because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, thirteen parishes (counties) in Louisiana and two counties
in Mississippi continue to work towards recovery from the devastating impact of the storms; andBECAUSE our Unitarian Universalist commitment to justice is rooted in compassion,
fairness, and respect for the interdependent web of all existence; and
BECAUSE of our Unitarian
Universalist values of compassion and equity, thousands of UU volunteers have worked to restore communities and infrastructure
across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; and
WHEREAS hurricane/flood recovery operations are at grave risk,
due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, an unprecedented accident that continues to inflict great environmental
damages; andWhereas the environmental damage
wrought by this industrial accident may permanently impact the habitat, the coastal economies, and the way of life for millions
of residents who claim the Gulf Coast as home—particularly high-poverty communities situated along the Alabama, Mississippi,
and Louisiana coasts; and
WHEREAS the complexity of this disaster has contributed to
divisive artificial solutions that pit the needs of American consumers and workers in the oil industry against the needs of
the environment and the survival of vital fishing and hospitality industries;Therefore be it resolved that the UUA General Assembly 2010 will witness to the suffering of all
residents and workers who make their homes along the coast, refusing to pit one suffering constituency against another; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we educate ourselves and our communities about how we are involved in these events
due to our demand for oil, and that we actively commit ourselves to reducing energy consumption from fossil fuels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we dedicate ourselves to restorative justice practices as we strive to hold the
oil industry and our government accountable for failed operations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that we promote stable green jobs for displaced oil workers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that we dedicate ourselves to help restore wetlands, habitats, beaches, communities and local economies that have been hurt
along the coast; and
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED that we urge President Obama and Congress to work with
stakeholders to develop a response strategy that meets the needs of the people and the environment; hold the responsible parties
accountable; ensure that help reaches those in need; commit to a long-term recovery; take steps to prevent future disasters;
and respond to yet-unknown needs.
