Morgan Freeman joins OCEANA’s ban against offshore drilling
morgan freeman
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.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
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.
Like I said before, belize need a new party of wise people to lead and protect belize best interest against such as this one, etc. Unfortunately, many of us will not have the time, or chance to live long enough to see a great leader takes charge of Belize.
When the americans destroy the essence the (ecosystem) of belize with your experiments then all belizeans will suffer to till their last days.
Vote no.
I’m trying to get my head around that fact that they parceled off and sold the water rights for drilling.
NO DRILLING FOR OIL OFF THE COAST OF BELIZE……WE REALLY NEED TO FIGHT!!! on all levels.
Respect Mista Freeman. Belizeans let’s say HELL NO to oil drilling off our shores. PUP and UDP alike just want money in their pockets. Our ecosystem is not at their best interest here.
All companies can promise they can prevent a major spill like what happened in the Gulf. But we all know this is not so and it can happen. Tourism will be greatly affected and our kids will not enjoy the beauties we have enjoyed in this lifetime.
Please Please Please protest my people.
People lets pay attention now is the time to take action, lets not regret it tomorow.
I agree with Earl Grey NO DRILLING FOR OIL OFF THE COAST OF BELIZE AND WE WILL FIGHT TO STOP THIS NONSENSE AND THE GREED OF THE GOVERNMENT MINISTERS WHETHER IT BE PUP OR UDP
Elsa Paz was quoted as saying “this visit allows me to carry back the message 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”. HELLO Elsa, as it relates to offshore drilling…there has been no development of offshore oil exploration in Belize. Companies with contracts are still in the initial phases of studying past exploration data and have not even started any seismic activity much less drill (explore) and subsequently develop fields. We all need to stop being ignorant to the process of offshore drilling and learn the facts before we open our mouths and DON’T make any sense most of the time like Ms. Matura from Oceana and Mai from APAMO, not to mention Mr. Brackett from COLA. And whats up with one of my favorite actors Morgan Freeman talking about there is no government oversight in Belize. Come on Morgan, for your information there is government oversight in this process and governments ablility to oversee continues to be developed as the industry does. The leaders of these NGO are self interest driven. The oil industry will not only bring much need capital investment to this country but would also stimulate economic growth amongst BelizeanS. This translate into food on the table for hundreds of BelizeanS. Show me ten (10) mouths that APAMO or OCEANA feeding in Belize. What we need to DO IS get rid of most of these bogus NGO’s who have the personal enrichment of their leaders as the main goal and objective. Ask Greg and Christina from SATIM. Ask Will from TIDE. No one but them continue to enjoy the fruits and benefits of having these NGO. I AM BELIZE! United and Proud…Moving Forward (with offshore oil exploration)
Revolution…first u should change your name to pro-government….how can you guarantee that the revenues from offshore oil exploration will go to the poor??
I think you are singing alone here….we are the revolutionaries…..SAY NO TO OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION
I hope these people who are in favor of off-shore drilling knows that the jobs will not be given to Belizeans, but that all these companies who are involve will bring in their own workers. Belize will not reap the sweet of the fruit. I should hope the P.M. office print up these comments so he can know what the public feels.
Some times i may wanna diagree but look at the bright side of things people if oil is found there a hell of alot of things that we get here, just look at Trinidad&Tobago, thye got oil look at there country how it there country may be smaller thayn ours by far but the population id five times that of ours, they got educaton from kidagardine up to Masters for free you just ahve to got to school books everrthing is payed for by the government an they country soon to become a First world country, the only caribbean country this will be a first world country, look at the infrastructure eveything in place nicely paved road from there own, oil after they refine it come on my people we got to take the chance of thi s oil explaration its only once in a life time, it maybe a major ristk but thing about what will happen if we find commercial quantity as long as the we the people make shore that government put in place the proper process for us getting our royalties from our oil. Think my Belizean dont’t let anyone come and tell you lie bout no BP they made there mistakes and they will be paying for it daily, i hope my Belizean people will start thinking and get educated about is happen in this world cause we all will be lost sooner rather later, power to the people in this strugle.
i disagree with you revolution this gov cant even blow their nose because they will screw it up much less be able to handle offshore drilling if it was a competent gov i would agree with you but not this gov they are impotent and incompetent worse gov in history of belize period.
Dear Revolution,
You make some intereseting points; however, you forget to mention the that the tourism industry supports 1 in 4 Belizeans and the commercial fishing industry employs ~ 3000 fishermen. Combined…that’s a lot more “mouths to feed” than the oil industry could ever provide! As is, BNE only employs 160 people. If every single offshore concession hired double that amount, it would still be far less than the tourims and fishing industries. Do the math before you make ignorant claims.
It should be applaudable that Ms. Elsa Paz makes such a stance for her town and if we had more politicians like her that think about their district and belizean people more than a party, believee me this couuntry would not be where it is. As per the writer mentioning that there will be government oversight, he must be living in the wrong country.. This government cannot oversight what is happening behind his yard and now you really think we have the technological knowhow and manpower and corruption measures to really have this work properly when the most powerful country in the world could not do it. It only need one mistake to wipe us out as a country not a state.. Have you seen the size of belize and how the sea-coast goes along all our country. There is no vision to make this country productive and they take the easiest way and most dangerous way to find a solution. THINK, THINK….Minister Heredia we need you to step up to the plate and join your mayor. Lsten to the people unlike the PM who just listens to himself.
Well of corse not he’s getti g money out of it. Probably millions of dollars. Another stupid prime minister that needs to be kicked out and investigated.
MADDY, the Englisman did it to us and fortunately for us, they gave us a Country that we can call our own. If your statement is found to be right, then we will just have to suffer like we always do. Damn if we do and damn if we don’t my friend., the political circus will still perform and do as they please. How sad.!!!!!!.
Alan. Don’t you hear what the trini say when you all fightin and killin each other they are dancin and happy because there oil money is workin for their country. every family get their share of their oil money
Bulba,people living in Belize should start sending their petitions asking the PM to abandon his plan for offshore drilling in belizean waters. Is he blind or just ignorant.
Oil is still penetrating and destroying thecontent of the ocean as we speak, this should be proof for the Pm that drilling for oil in Belizean waters could only be a huge disater if something should go wrong.
offshore drilling could take years before they even find something, and even if they do find oil in the end it will not be that much anyway.
The PM should be planning to build some windmills in Belize, and stop wasting my darn time.
ARE WE READY FOR SOME …………..GREEN-PEACE ACTION??????
MADDYVANDIJK/surrealist………. China… not America is the culprit. They are the new Super Power and economic colonialist. The windmills are a good idea….. best you had all year!!!!
We have all seen whta the oil spill did in the Gulf of Mexico. Imagine that that had happened to Belize. What do you think would have had happened to us during the hurricane Richard. If a first world country like America can ban offshore drilling, why can’t our small country of Belize do it? Let us all support to help in the banning of offshore drilling in our beautiful jewel.