Bahamas Chooses Environment Over Petro-Dollars

[WhoIsNumberNone]

Bahamas Bans Offshore Drilling

The Public is advised that The Ministry of The Environment has suspended consideration of all applications for oil exploration and drilling in the waters of The Bahamas. The Ministry seeks, by this decision, to maintain and safeguard an unpolluted marine environment for The Bahamas, notwithstanding the potential financial benefits of oil explorations.

Additionally all existing licenses will be reviewed to ascertain any legal entitlement for renewal.

Given recent events involving oil exploration and the efforts to prevent pollution, this prudent safeguard is essential to preserving the most vital natural resource of The Bahamas, its environment.

The Ministry will work diligently to complete and have in place, very stringent and environmental protocols for oil exploration prior to any further consideration of applications, given that oil is likely to be located in the marine environment of The Bahamas.

The Ministry of The Environment believes that this prudent policy requirement is in the best interest of The Bahamas and the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of future generations of Bahamian citizens and visitors.

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=98110

Much Applause

[Lucky 13]

1. If only we had half as much sense.

[Selatius]

3. Who is "We"? Congress decides. We are limited to voting Congressmen in every term.

If the oil industry had as much money to blow in the Bahamas as it does in Washington, you could bet the outcome would be different. Of course, this assumes the Bahamas has a privatized election system run on money instead of public financing of campaigns.

[SidDithers]

2. Excellent...

but it's more likely they chose tourist dollars over the environment.

Sid

[WhoIsNumberNone]

6. That thought occurred to me too

It still shows an inkling of farsightedness, since they could probably make more money in the short term if they opened their territory up to drilling. Of course it will be a moot point if the next Republican administration decides the terrorist regime in Bahama are the ones who've been blowing up our oil rigs, and must be removed for the sake of the Bahamian people- say about 6 months after large reserves are discovered down there...

[catzies]

4. It IS better in the Bahamas...n/t

[slay]

5. Forget drugs - just say NO to oil - that's our big addiction

and the oil companies know it.

They can bring down presidents like they did with Carter.

We're all oil addicts - I see ZERO marijuana stores where I live, but there's a goddamn gas station on every other corner!

Big oil OWNS us. Chavez's solution was to nationalize their oil. Know how much they pay for gas now in Venezuela? 12 cent per gallon. 12 cents per gallon!

Maybe one day we will learn to put the good of the human race above the profits of heartless, soulless corporations. Maybe.