Scientists are saying that the Deepwater Oil Disaster could be more than 10 times worse than initial estimates — and the well could keep spewing oil into the Gulf for months before the oil companies figure out how to stop it.^[1]

Meanwhile, some elected officials who insisted all along that offshore drilling was safe are trying to tell us that we just need better “backup blowout preventers” on offshore oil rigs.^[2]

Here’s the truth: The only way to end catastrophic oil spills like Deepwater is to end our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels.

Waves of oil have reached land and the devastation of the Deepwater Oil Disaster could dwarf the Exxon Valdez disaster.

But, disasters like this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Oil spills are an inevitable part of offshore oil drilling — and just one of the many dangers of our dependence on fossil fuels.

We can move toward clean, renewable energy that will reduce the chances of environmental disasters, curb our reliance on oil from hostile foreign nations, and help solve the climate crisis.

We must do whatever we can to stop disasters like this from ruining our environment and our future.

1. Frank James and Alison Richards, “Gulf Oil Spill Far Greater Than Thought, Some Experts Say,” National Public Radio, May 13, 2010. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/05/gulf_oil_spill_more_than_10x_g.html

2. e.g. Senator Mary L. Landrieu’s floor speech, 4/29/10. http://landrieu.senate.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases/04-29-2010-1.cfm

Thousands of barrels of crude oil are gushing into the Gulf of Mexico each day, endangering coastal wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the workers who depend on them.

But instead of looking for ways to prevent disasters like this from happening again, those on the right who until two weeks ago were chanting “drill, baby, drill” are now looking for scapegoats.

Instead of acknowledging the simple truth that offshore drilling is inherently dirty and dangerous, Rush Limbaugh engaged in offensive and baseless speculation late last week, suggesting the rig disaster may have been caused by sabotage from “hardcore environmentalist wackos.”

“Well, the turtles may take a hit for a while,” Limbaugh added, “but so what?”

Then, this Monday, Texas Governor Rick Perry proffered a different answer, saying the spill might have been an “act of God” that “cannot be prevented.”

The truth is, we know exactly how to prevent spills like this — stop offshore drilling!

There are myriad ways to meet our nation’s energy needs without offshore oil. But the chief boosters of the “drill, baby, drill” mentality don’t want to admit this.

“Well, the turtles may take a hit for a while,” Limbaugh added, “but so what?”

Then, this Monday, Texas Governor Rick Perry proffered a different answer, saying the spill might have been an “act of God” that “cannot be prevented.”

The truth is, we know exactly how to prevent spills like this — stop offshore drilling!

There are myriad ways to meet our nation’s energy needs without offshore oil. But the chief boosters of the “drill, baby, drill” mentality don’t want to admit this.

Tell President Obama to impose a moratorium on all new oil drilling activities off our coasts until the causes of this disaster are known and the dangers fully understood. That moratorium must include Shell’s plan to begin exploratory drilling this summer in the Arctic, including in the waters off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.