Protection vital for future, locals tell Mabus
August 17, 2010Back-to-school road safety tips for children and parents
August 19, 2010It’s been Louisiana’s mission to put a halt to the Obama Administration’s deepwater drilling moratorium, and now that the Gulf Economic Survival Team (GEST) is an independent, non-profit organization, the push to end the moratorium is even stronger.
“GEST was created in the aftermath of the president’s May 27 announcement of a 6-month moratorium on oil and gas drilling in waters 500 feet or deeper in the Gulf of Mexico,” stated a GEST press release.
“The move to independent non-profit status will now allow GEST to accept private funds to increase governmental and public relations activities aimed at lifting the moratorium, as well as to have a greater presence in Washington, D.C.,” noted the release.
The organization is recognized as a non-profit within the offices of the South Louisiana Economic Council at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. Former Deputy Secretary Lori LeBlanc is the new Executive Director.
So far, GEST is pleased with the response it has received.
“The response GEST has received from individuals in south Louisiana, along the Gulf Coast and around the world has been phenomenal,” Lt. Governor Scott Angelle said in a press release. “We are pleased that tens of thousands of people have lent their voices in support of our call for expedited implementation of enhanced safety measures in the Gulf and an end to the moratorium.”
To date, over 175,000 people signed the online petition on the GEST website to end the moratorium.
