Five years since the beginning of the BP disaster, the Gulf’s people and wildlife continue to reel from the impacts of BP’s negligence. Coastal residents are struggling to maintain their livelihoods and culture, while they wrestle with health problems from exposure to oil and toxic chemical dispersants.

The abundant oyster, shellfish and finfish populations that helped sustain coastal communities for generations have yet to return to their pre-disaster levels. Scientists are documenting ongoing impacts on the Gulf’s ecosystems, including unusually high numbers of dolphin deaths.

In the face of this devastation, Gulf coast residents are banding together and rising up to call for the restoration of our Gulf communities, cultures and environment. BP must stop lying and pay what they owe. The oil and gas industry must be held accountable for their ongoing desecration of our bioregion, and ultimately we must work towards a just transition to a more sustainable clean energy economy.

Week of Action Events

This is a selection of some of the major events in the week of action.

• April 15, New Orleans, LA: On tax day, members of Gulf South Rising will present BP with a bill for what they owe to the Gulf’s people and wildlife.

• Come Fish off my Boat, April 16-20: Fisher folks from across the Gulf will take decision makers and media out on their boats to show how the BP disaster continues to impact their lives and livelihoods.

• Gulf South Rising Healthy Family Fest, April 18, Houston, TX: Community members will gather together in Mason Park for food, music, art-making, music and a theatrical performance by Cry You One.

• Memorial at BP Headquarters, April 20, Houston, TX: The week of action will culminate as citizens from across the Gulf converge at BP’s headquarters to remember the people and creatures that were lost to BP’s negligence, acknowledge the ongoing impacts, and call on BP to come clean for the restoration of the Gulf’s communities, cultures and environment.