Don’t Drill Off the Gullah/Geechee Coast Ripples Like Waves as Climate Week 2015 Begins!
by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com)
Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) opposes oil drilling on the east coast especially within the Gullah/Geechee Nation!
As I continued my “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy World Tour,” I was invited to stand with hundreds of supporters along the shore
They stood together to once again say, “Don’t drill!”
Oil exploration off our coast will harm seafood, but that’s not all it will kill
The Gullah/Geechee culture is inextricably tied to the sea
Which is why “Don’t Drill” is the mantra in GA, NC, and SC!
Over 50 cities have stood with Gullah/Geechee Nation leaders to tell Capitol Hill
That no matter what you do, don’t come to our coast and drill!
While folks joined “Don’t Drill SC” and stood along the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina with banners written out and held high with pride, I was standing on Capitol Hill sharing the message of the negative impacts that sea level rise and ocean acidification were already having to our coast and our ability to protect our Gullah/Geechee cultural resources along that coast. This was a day when I truly wished I had a hologram of myself already so that I could be in the two places at one time, but I left the others to stand on the coast as I proceeded up the Hill because I knew that this timing had to be Divine. I was able to share the fact that amidst all that we were already going through on the Sea Islands, Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry, and Northeastern Florida, we did NOT need oil explorations added to that mix at all!
The protest and the message of our coastal progress against this issue I have now brought to New York City for Climate Week 2015. It is interesting to hear how United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon can mention the number of mayors that have signed up to reduce carbon emissions, but how President Obama and many United States Congressional members seem to be turning a deaf ear to the loud cry from over 75 east coast areas and the numerous mayors and county councils within the Gullah/Geechee Nation who have said that they do not want oil drilling here!
It does take time for things to rise and our voices will need to continue to rise and ripple like the tide to Capitol Hill to stop any of the plans to drill. Drilling will disrupt not only the lifestyles of the creatures that live in the water, but of the people that live along the coast as well. So, may our united message continue to ripple like waves and change the climate of consideration in oil exploration! Ef all a disya hunnuh ain unstan an caan yeddi, it all sums up as DON’T DRILL OFF THE GULLAH/GEECHEE NATION‘s COAST OF ANY CITY!
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The Gullah/Geechee Nation has consistently expressed its opposition to offshore drilling. Read and share these links:
Oppose Oil Drilling on the Gullah/Geechee Coast! Help Protect the Sea Islands!
From the Gulf to the Gullah/Geechee Nation, Do Not Drill! Stop the Oil Spill!
- Posted in: Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ Environmental Justice ♦ Gullah/Geechee Land Ownership & Rights ♦ Gullah/Geechee Ourstory ♦ Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio Education Links ♦ Gullah/Geechee TV Educational Links ♦ Queen Quet
- Tagged: #Don'tDrillSC, climate change, Climate Week, coastal areas, cultural heritage, east coast, environment, environmental justice, FL, GA, Geechee, Gullah, Gullah/Geechee Nation, NC, ocean acidification, oil drilling, oil exploration, Queen Quet, SC, Sea Islands, sea level rise, United Nations
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