To the editor:

I have to say, I was confused by the article, “Artist sends out an SOS on oil spill” in the Eagle, June 16, page 11, along with the two “art installations” outside the Matlacha gallery saying, “Where is GreenPeace?” and “Obama SOS Save Our Shores.” So, I did a little research and found out that CROW did not refuse Leoma’s donation on the basis that the federal government will not allow CROW to use their funding for the oil spill clean up. Instead, the director of CROW stated that they did not want to mislead anyone who wanted their donations to help only wildlife devastated by the oil spill. At CROW, they help animals every day and while they would rather not refuse a donation, in good conscience they wanted people to be aware that donations would not just go toward oil spill-related injuries. CROW even offers a list of agencies working to save wildlife affected by the oil spill disaster.

As far as Greenpeace — they are an advocacy group with a very focused mission: “We ‘bear witness’ to environmental destruction in a peaceful, nonviolent manner. We use non-violent confrontation to raise the level and quality of public debate. In exposing threats to the environment and finding solutions we have no permanent allies or adversaries. We ensure our financial independence from political or commercial interests. We seek solutions to environmental dilemmas and promote open, informed debate about society’s environmental choices.”

Since the first day of the oil spill, Greenpeace put themselves on the front line with peaceful actions and protests as well as educating the public to take action. Their website is filled with pages of articles, photos, “take action” letters, FAQs and more, on the oil spill disaster in the gulf. So, if anyone wants to know “where is Greenpeace?” simply check out their website and support their efforts.

Everyone knows in order for a Democracy to work, it needs an informed and educated citizenship. So, for Obama to save our shores, we have to become involved. Right now the government has critical legislation in front of them which would lead this country to more efficient clean energy resources. This bill will create more jobs as well as reduce our dependency on oil. Let’s send out an SOS to our senators voting on this bill that “we the people” will not be controlled by oil money and we look to transition to a clean energy future.

So, CROW did not refuse Leoma’s donation because the federal government will not allow them to use money for the oil spill clean up, GreenPeace is out there doing their work without any political or business backing and Obama needs our support to hold BP accountable and set strict government controls on the oil companies so a disaster like this doesn’t not happen again.

The gulf oil disaster is not a time to blame and create division, but instead, a time for us to look deep within ourselves as individuals and a nation. When will our respect the earth and one another be stronger than our desire for money, power and prestige?

Maybe a more appropriate “art installation” would say: “Save us from ourselves!”

Diane Lampitt

St. James City