350.org Pacific coordinator Aaron Packard reports from New Zealand where the government's investments in deep-sea drilling is pushing ahead at pace, and dividing the country.
This time last year, the world began to bare witness to the catastrophic impacts of the Deep Sea oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Not only did it claim 11 human lives, but it devastated entire ecosystems all across the Gulf of Mexico. For a while it seemed like the World learnt an important message – that our dependence on fossil fuels – and particularly deep sea drilling – is killing the world. However, one year on it is almost as if this has been forgotten – as the New Zealand government steps up its Deep Sea Drilling investment and others around the world follow in suit.
On April 20th, in remembrance of the devastation wrecked by last years oil spill, communities are mobilising for a global day of action against extraction.
We here at 350.org are serious about being solutions focused and celebrating the steps we are making to address climate change. However there are times when we all need to stand in solidarity against the damage being caused by fossil fuels.
Groups all around New Zealand are mobilising, from Coal Action Network, Climate Camp, Iwi (tribes) – Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngati Porou, Greenpeace volunteer networks, to Climate Justice. Find out more about New Zealand actions here. Or check out the global site here.