Fonda and Min were joined by Orange County elected officials and environmental groups at a Laguna Beach Rally with 300 people in attendance
Laguna Beach, CA — California State Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) and environmental activist Jane Fonda appeared at a rally yesterday organized by Social Compassion in Legislation and its CEO Judie Mancuso to support Senator Min’s call for ending all offshore oil drilling. Min, who represents the coastal cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach which were most impacted by the recent Orange County Oil Spill, announced two weeks ago that he would be introducing legislation to end all offshore drilling and extraction, including under existing leases, and called on the federal government to do the same.
Min, Fonda, and Mancuso were joined by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach), who also represents the cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach and was recently named to chair a new Assembly Select Committee on the Orange County Oil Spill; Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), who chairs the Senate Environmental Quality Committee; Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee’s Subcommittee on the Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation; Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen and the entire City Council of Laguna Beach; Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley; and representatives from Center for Biological Diversity. Senator Henry Stern (D-Malibu), who chairs the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee, was unable to attend due to a family illness, but signaled his full support for Min’s proposal as well.
“The time for action is now,” said Senator Min. “And we know there is only one foolproof way to end oil spills. It’s by ending ALL offshore drilling, ESPECIALLY drilling done under existing leases. As long as there’s drilling, there’s going to be spilling. That’s a fact. As long as there is drilling, there is going to be spilling.”
“Oil drilling off the coast of California accounts for less than 0.3% of US oil production each year. It is not even a drop in the bucket. Meanwhile, our coastal economy in California accounts for $44 billion a year, employing over half a million people. Our beaches and coasts are also a central part of who we are as Orange County residents, as Californians. There is simply no good reason to allow offshore drilling to continue for another minute.”
“I want to thank Ms. Fonda, Social Compassion in Legislation, and our growing coalition of supporters. We know we are going to face a tough fight against Big Oil and its lobbyists, and we need each and every one of you if we are going to prevail and end offshore drilling in California waters.”
At the rally, Ms. Fonda spoke strongly in favor of Senator Min’s proposal, saying, “I’m here because I very much support and applaud Senator Min’s legislation to shut down oil production in our state’s waters immediately.” The Academy Award winning actor Ms. Fonda continued, “As we accelerate climate progress, as the Governor says we must, oil consumption will fall faster allowing the State to reduce in-state oil production and imports at the same time. I urge you to support the legislation that Senator Min is going to put up.”
“Here in Laguna Beach, we have taken for granted our pristine coastline. But sadly, our bubble has burst by this horrific and inevitable oil spill,” said Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation. “There is so much at stake already for our threatened marine and wildlife. The world’s species are suffering the sixth mass extinction due to our addiction to animal agriculture and fossil fuels. And now, this spill has killed countless animals and will silently kill many more underneath the ocean’s surface for months and months to come.”
A letter of support for ending all offshore drilling in California waters, including under existing leases, was signed by Senator Min, Assemblymember Petrie-Norris, Senator Allen, Assemblymember Bloom, and Supervisor Foley. A copy of this letter is available here.
