WHY THIS MATTERS

With the summer season for Arctic drilling fast approaching, Shell is racing to get the permits they need to haul their drilling rigs north.

These permits cover critically important issues, like whether Shell should be allowed to injure or kill endangered marine mammals like walruses and whales if they drill for dirty fuels or if Shell’s oil spill response plan is anywhere near effective enough to avert a disaster. Our very own Bureau of Ocean Energy Management predicts there is a 75% chance an oil spill will occur if Shell drills in the Arctic, so we know it’s more a matter of when rather than if.

Fortunately, the answer is simple, and there’s still hope — President Obama can deny any or all of the remaining permits Shell needs to move forward with their plan. He’s feeling the heat thanks to activists who have sent tens of thousands of letters, flooded the White House with calls, and turned out to protest Shell in Seattle. Help keep the pressure on!