FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/15/2015
Sawant Statement on Shell Oil Rig Leaving Seattle
SEATTLE – Councilmember Kshama Sawant issued the following statement in response to Shell’s oil drilling rig leaving Seattle:
“Congratulations to all the activists, including Councilmember Mike O’Brien, who tried to block the departure of Shell’s oil drilling rig as it was heading out of Seattle to the Arctic this morning.
“Activists were not afraid to stare down the 400-foot Polar Pioneer. They understood that courageous actions are necessary to stop the moves by Big Oil that will exacerbate the climate crisis. Even with the presence of the Coast Guard, the symbolic delay of the rig is a real show of people’s outrage.
“Shame on Shell for threatening the Arctic, negotiating the deal with the Port in secret, and completely ignoring the growing concerns among millions about climate change. Actions like those this morning continue to make it clear that people are tired of waiting for elected leaders to push back against Big Oil and tackle the issue of climate change.
“Capitalism and Big Oil have shown themselves incapable of a global shift towards clean, renewable energy. It will take mass movements with workers and environmentalists collectively fighting to end the dependency on fossil fuels. The Obama administration could have denied Shell the permit in the first place. The failure of every level of elected leadership demonstrates the urgency to have independent, anti-corporate candidates occupy positions of political decision-making.
“This is a crucial fight of our time, and millions of people across the world are watching us.”
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