On Sunday, Aaron Viles of the Gulf Restoration Network hosted a press conference backstage at the Voodoo Experience 2010 in City Park. Among the attendees were numerous musicians that have been active in dealing with community issues – Craig Klein, Paul Sanchez, Big Sam Williams and John Michael Rouchell – who had just returned from a visit to a fishing community affected by the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico this summer. Particularly incensed was Dr. John, who began his comments by asking, “Do they think we’re stupid?”
Katee Sackhoff, Tricia Helfer and Rehage Entertainment's Sig
Joining them were actresses Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, 24, Nip/Tuck, The Big Bang Theory) and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Dark Blue, Burn Notice, Two and a Half Men) who under the name “Acting Outlaws” have been riding motorcycles from Los Angeles to New Orleans, raising awareness about Gulf Coast wetlands issues on the way.
To start the conference, Viles announced that a letter had been sent to the White House requesting continued attention for those affected by the oil disaster, greater accountability for those responsible, and measure be taken to prevent future, similar events. This letter was signed by more than 50 musicians and bands including Pearl Jam, My Morning Jacket, Down, R.E.M., Trent Reznor and many of the local and touring bands playing at Voodoo. “The BP disaster is on-going and will have lasting impacts,” the letter reads. “There are still tens of millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf and much more dispersed oil – and chemical dispersant itself – below the surface. The BP drilling disaster was at least 15 times bigger than the Exxon Valdez spill, and we know from Alaska that the ripple effects of the disaster will be felt for decades. It will be a long road to restoration, and the Federal government needs to stay focused on the disaster and environmental impacts that are just beginning to play out.”
Here’s video from the press conference. The sound is a little raw as the press conference took place behind one of the main stages in the middle of the afternoon; forgive the technical deficiencies.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dORI0t8opg[/youtube]
