Morgan Freeman joins OCEANA’s ban against offshore drilling
Morgan Freeman speaks in support of Oceana, an international organization focused on ocean conservation, at that company's press conference in Gulfport on Aug. 24, 2010.
Channel 5 Belize | Over the past few weeks, we’ve told you about OCEANA’s tour and research along the coastline of Louisiana and other parts of the United States that have been deeply affected by the BP oil spill. OCEANA Vice President in Belize, Audrey Matura Shepherd gave an update last week on what she saw in coastal towns and has returned to the U.S. accompanying a significant partner, San Pedro’s Mayor, Elsa Paz, to learn how communities like San Pedro can be crippled by a petroleum leak.
Paz is also joined by award-winning actors Ted Danson, Morgan Freeman and Spanish model Almudena Fernandez. Mayor Paz spoke at a press conference earlier in the week and said QUOTE “this visit allows me to carry the message back to my hometown and country with the hope of enlightening those who have been blinded by the greed of allowing oil exploration to develop freely in our country” END QUOTE. Paz expressed her commitment to do her share in discouraging her government from allowing oil exploration and drilling in Belizean waters. Freeman also spoke to Matura Shepherd about offshore drilling in Belize. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.
Morgan Freeman, the Hollywood actor, has performed in notable movies such as the Shawshank Redemption, the Dark Knight and even Evan Almighty. The Oscar Award Winner is aboard OCEANA’s vessel, the Latitude, which is sailing along the Gulf of Mexico to visit areas which were damaged by BP’s Deep Horizon oil spill.
Morgan Freeman, Actor
“I am not a fan of what we’re doing in terms of so much use of fossil fuels. I agree—I hear the warnings about what we’re doing to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, we’re putting to much carbon dioxide into the air and we’re contributing to climate change, it’s dangerous. The recent oil spill here in the Gulf of Mexico is further proof that we need to be looking for—we need to be spending more time, more money, more effort on clean energy. If we wanted to do it we could do it; it’s as simple as that. And the fact that we’re not doing it means that we’re paying too much attention to those people to whom it is important that we continue doing what we’re doing. And what we’re doing is too dangerous for our own well being. I don’t know why we’re not paying attention to that fact.”
During an interview with Audrey Matura, OCEANA’s Vice President in Belize, Freeman became the most recent person to join the ‘say no to offshore drilling in Belize’ campaign.
Audrey Matura Shepherd, Vice President, OCEANA Belize
“In the U.S. you all have been doing it for over a century. In Belize we’re just considering it. However, our entire marine waters have been parceled off to different companies.”
Morgan Freeman
“I saw the map, it’s dreadful, it’s awful. There is no government oversight in Belize. The government officials just say okay go ahead and do it and as you can see from this experience here, that could work out to be very, very bad for Belize. You have wonderful waters around Belize, you’ve got that reef, you’ve got that wonderful ecosystem there. It’s too fragile.”
Before continuing the journey along the affected areas, Freeman gave a brief message to Belizeans.
Morgan Freeman
“Fight, fight, fight. Get rid of it. Don’t let it take over your life. It’s just not good for you.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has said that he is not convinced about a ban on offshore drilling.
